hapter 3
The Bennet family had always looked down on me because of my humble background.
To complete my college education, I worked part–time while studying and served as a nanny in their household, specifically caring for Marcus’s grandfather, Daniel Bennet, who was seriously ill.
Daniel was an antique collector and a renowned archaeologist.
Because our fields were related, we always had engaging conversations.
He once proposed adopting me as his goddaughter and was even willing to cover all my tuition fees at Christmas University.
At that time, Marcus had just broken up with Sienna and was completely lost, spending his days racing cars and drinking heavily.
Marcus and I had no connection since he rarely came home.
Although we were college classmates, he had never noticed me.
He only returned to Bennet Manor to visit Daniel during holidays.
Until the day Sienna got engaged abroad, Marcus got drunk
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again.
+2 Bonus
Because of his drunken state, I accidentally became pregnant and gave birth to Aaron.
After that incident, Marcus was nearly beaten to death by Daniel.
My marriage to Marcus was also arranged by Daniel before his death.
matter how much Ember opposed it, nothing could change
Honestly, when I learned I was going to marry Marcus, I was secretly delighted.
I had harbored a crush on him since freshman year.
But after marriage, we slept in separate rooms, and our married life was as cold as a routine obligation.
Only after incidents involving Sienna would Marcus stumble drunkenly into my room, possessing me with an almost frenzied desperation.
I became pregnant with my second child on the day Sienna got married.
But I never expected Sienna to run away from her wedding.
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At the ceremony, she cried, saying her selfishness had cost her the person she loved most, and now that she had finally come to her senses, she had to return home to win him back.
So she came back.
Upon hearing the news, Marcus didn’t even care about me lying in bed, covered in bruises from his roughness, and rushed straight to the airport to pick up Sienna.
From then on, Sienna gradually invaded my marriage and family.
Eventually, both my husband and son became her most steadfast supporters.
The car pulled up steadily in front of the museum staff dormitory building.
I carried my luggage upstairs and opened the single apartment that my supervisor Russell Gordon had been keeping for me.
Before I could even finish unpacking, Russell’s call came through.
He said, “Aubrey, we just received an urgent assignment. They’ve discovered a large ancient tomb in the Mojave Desert and desperately need artifact restoration experts. I’ve already booked your flight for tomorrow, so pack up and get ready to go!
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Don’t worry, this assignment is urgent, but when you get back, I’ll apologize to your husband with you.”
“That won’t be necessary, Mr. Gordon. I’m planning to get divorced and focus entirely on artifact restoration work from now on,” I replied quietly.
Marcus had never liked how I devoted all my energy to artifact restoration. He looked down on my profession and said it would leave me no time to take care of Aaron.
Since I used to care about him and felt sorry for Aaron, I always tried to decline whenever Russell assigned me business trips.
Now I finally understood that the only things that would never betray me were those seemingly cold artifacts in the museum.
When Russell heard my words, though his tone carried a hint of regret, he was clearly relieved: “Aubrey, I’m glad you’ve come to your senses. You’re excellent, and honestly, we all think Marcus doesn’t deserve you!”
A warm feeling surged from the bottom of my heart. All these years, Russell had treated me like his own daughter.
I smiled with relief: “Yeah, I think so too.”
That night was the most peaceful sleep I’d had in years. I didn’t have to prepare late–night snacks for Marcus when he got off work, nor did I have to comfort Aaron through his nightmares. I
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slept straight through until morning.
After a quick wash, I dragged my luggage directly to the courthouse entrance.
+2 Bonus
But after waiting three hours, Marcus never showed up. I called him over a dozen times, but he didn’t answer once.
With my flight departure time approaching, I had no choice but to leave.
I completed my check–in procedures, and just before turning off my phone, I suddenly saw a news headline:
【Bennet Group CEO to Personally Invest in Film Based on Award–Winning Screenwriter Sienna】
[Friendship Truly Conquers All】
So Marcus was going to personally promote Sienna’s career.
I couldn’t help but sneer, closed the news page, and turned off my phone.
Looking at the city landscape gradually shrinking outside the window, I felt unusually calm. Whatever their future held, it no longer concerned me.
I put on my eye mask and fell into a deep sleep.
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Suddenly, violent turbulence jolted me awake. Passengers around me were in panic.
Before I could react, the plane suddenly went into free fall, and my head slammed hard against the overhead compartment.
*****
In the CEO’s office at Bennet Group, Marcus had just finished a film planning meeting organized for Sienna when he noticed his phone, which had been on silent, showing over a dozen missed calls, all from Aubrey.
His business partner joked, “Mrs. Bennet is still as clingy as ever. I really envy you.”
Marcus sneered, “She’s begging for my forgiveness. I’m deliberately not answering to make her realize her mistakes.”
Suddenly, an unknown number called: “Hello, is this Aubrey’s husband? At eleven o’clock this morning, the flight your wife was on crashed due to mechanical failure.”
B
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