"I played the part of the perfect, submissive wife to Logan Crestmore for four years. Four years ago, after the video of Sienna Vance running down my sister, Clara, surfaced, my then-boyfriend, Ethan Cole, hired a top-tier legal team for Sienna, helping her evade justice. I was alone, desperate, when Sienna’s stepbrother, Logan, stepped up, seemingly choosing righteousness over family. He hired lawyers for me, scoured for evidence, and ultimately, Sienna was sent to prison. When it was all over, Logan proposed. I accepted. In our fourth year of marriage, I found an email in Logan’s inbox. It was a birthday message from Sienna. Attached was a happy selfie of her on a beach, the date in the bottom right corner: yesterday. 【Happy Birthday, bro!】 【Clara’s heart has been doing great in me for four years now, no issues at all. Thanks to you and Ethan, I got a new lease on life.】 【It’s just tough on you, having to stick with Lyla to keep her from making trouble.】 Logan had replied: 【As long as you’re happy, brother will do anything.】 Reading it, I actually laughed, a wild, unrestrained sound. These three murderers thought they deserved happiness? Four years. Their reckoning was finally here. … I carefully saved screenshots of Logan and Sienna’s exchange, then quickly left the study. Wouldn't you know it, I bumped right into Logan as I opened the door. Logan’s brow furrowed instantly. “What are you doing in my study?” Married for four years, he’d lavished affection on me, even involved me in the Crestmore family business, but two places were strictly off-limits: the study at home, and one specific room in his corporate office. Before he could finish, I threw myself into his arms, feigning terror, my voice choked with tears. “Logan, I had that nightmare again… Clara, all covered in blood when she… I was so scared. I looked everywhere for you, even in the study…” The iciness in Logan’s demeanor melted away. One arm wrapped around my waist, the other gently patted my back. “Shhh, I’m here, baby. Don’t be scared.” “I know Clara’s death is still a raw wound for you, but the person responsible paid the price. We need to move forward.” I trembled in his embrace, a pretense masking the inferno of hatred inside me. Logan had no idea I’d long known he was complicit in my sister’s death, even if Sienna was the only one publicly named. Our marriage was a sham, a performance to help his beloved stepsister escape true punishment. Thinking this, I fought back a wave of nausea and cried harder into his chest. Logan dropped everything, patiently comforting me for a long time. Once I’d calmed down, he began, somewhat hesitantly, “Honey, there’s something I need to tell you… Sienna’s been released. She’s coming back tomorrow.” Seeing me freeze, he rushed to explain, “I wasn’t going to say anything yet, but she is family, after all. Even if she made a mistake, she has to come home. I was worried…” This usually decisive CEO’s voice trailed off, laced with apprehension. Asking a victim’s family to welcome the perpetrator home was cruel, especially since I was his wife. But I just wiped my tears, managed a gentle smile, and said calmly, “I understand your position. I’m okay.” I looked up, softly caressing his face. “You’ve done so much for me, even turning against your own family. It’s time I let go too.” At my words, Logan’s arm tightened around me fiercely, and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Lyla, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” I laughed, pushing him away playfully. “We’ve been married this long, and you’re still so cheesy.” “Since Sienna’s coming back, we should throw a welcome home party, you know, clear the air. Let me handle it.” Logan breathed a sigh of relief, holding me tighter, his eyes filled with guilt. “Lyla, my sweet Lyla, you’re so understanding. I’ll never let you go.” I leaned against his shoulder, a smirk playing on my lips, unseen by him. Oh, really? Let’s just see how “understanding” I can truly be. 2 For these four years, I wasn’t just the respected Mrs. Crestmore; I was a key player in Crestmore Industries. Many profitable projects were my initiatives, and I’d fought for numerous employee benefits. Two years ago, Logan said the company was facing a downturn and urgently needed to partner with Cole Enterprises. I agreed without hesitation. Ethan Cole was my ex-boyfriend, the one who abandoned me when I was seeking justice for my sister, choosing instead to help Sienna. But for Logan’s company, I’d buried the hatchet with Ethan without a second thought. Now, again for Logan, I was offering to throw a welcome party for my sister’s killer. How could he not be moved by such “devotion”? And how could our social circle, those who knew the barest, twisted version of the story, not praise my magnanimity? The welcome home party was a who’s who of Harborview’s elite. Sienna made her entrance in a stunning red gown, arm-in-arm with Ethan, looking every bit the poised socialite. Her confident air and arrogant demeanor bore no resemblance to someone just released from prison. She looked more like she’d just returned from a luxurious overseas vacation. Which, of course, she had. Logan himself had picked her up from the airport. Sienna spotted Logan by my side immediately. She practically ran over, throwing herself into his arms. “Logan, I missed you so much! Four years in that awful place for nothing, but we can finally see each other again!” Then, her gaze, sharp as daggers, landed on me, followed by a possessive, coquettish whine to Logan: “This party is gorgeous! Did you do all this for me, big brother? I love it!” Logan chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. “Actually, Lyla planned all of this. Come on, say hello to your sister-in-law.” Sienna’s smile froze on her face. Her eyes shifted to me, and she forced a saccharine smile, murmuring a hello. The party officially began, and Sienna flitted through the crowd like a social butterfly, her witty banter drawing peals of laughter. But I could feel her gaze, subtle yet persistent, following me. Finally, when Logan stepped away to the restroom, Sienna approached. I was taking a breather in a quiet corner of the ballroom. Without a word, she flung a glass of red wine in my face. “Oh my god, I am so sorry, Lyla! I just wanted to come over and toast you, thank you for throwing such an amazing party for me. My hand just slipped, and it went all over you.” “Are you okay? Do you need me to help you clean up?” She said the words, but she just stood there, a mocking smile on her face, making no move to assist. I pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing at the wine on my face, and offered a calm smile. “It’s fine, Sienna. Go enjoy yourself. I’ll just freshen up.” My nonchalant demeanor, however, seemed to ignite her fury. She slammed her empty glass onto a nearby table, abandoning all pretense of civility. “Lyla, who do you think you’re fooling with this saint act? Don’t think I don’t see your little games. Trying to look pitiful so my brother will feel sorry for you? You’re pathetic!” Her eyes darted to a point behind me, then she leaned in close, her voice a venomous whisper. “What do you think? Will my brother let someone who bullies his little sister stay his wife?” With that, she raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the face, her eyes instantly welling with tears. Logan was there in a flash, protectively scooping up a seemingly fragile Sienna. “Sienna, what happened?” Sienna burrowed into Logan’s embrace, her lip trembling, fat tears rolling down her cheeks like broken pearls. “I just wanted to offer Lyla a drink, and she… she called me shameless, slapped me, and then grabbed my wine and threw it on herself to make it look like I attacked her!” Logan’s gaze immediately shot to me, taking in my wine-stained face and the reddened fabric of my dress. “Brother, I don’t understand why Lyla would do this to me. Is it still because of that car accident?” “But I swear, it wasn’t on purpose! I even did four years for it. Why won’t she just let it go…?” Logan’s face darkened instantly, but not at me. It was at Sienna. 3 His brow furrowed deeply. He immediately released Sienna and snapped, “Nobody is bringing up what happened back then! Why are you obsessing over it?” Sienna’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Logan. I stepped forward, playing the mediator. “It’s okay, Logan. I’m sure Sienna didn’t mean any harm. I’m fine.” “Today’s supposed to be a happy occasion. Let’s not spoil it over something so small.” Logan’s expression remained grim. He coldly pulled Sienna away. The curious onlookers dispersed, and the party resumed. I, however, discreetly followed them. In a secluded corner on the second floor, Sienna finally yanked her arm free from Logan’s grasp, her voice a petulant whine. “Logan, you’re hurting me! And why won’t you believe me? Why are you siding with an outsider over me?” Seeing Sienna’s distress, Logan sighed heavily, his tone softening. “We both know the truth of what happened, Sienna. Lyla’s been through enough. Can’t you just let it be?” Sienna’s eyes widened as if she were seeing a stranger. “What are you talking about? Bro, don’t tell me you actually see Lyla as your wife. You only married her to help me get off the hook!” “That whole thing was years ago, and I’ve done my ‘time.’ It’s time for you to dump her!” Logan shook his head. “We owe her too much. I’ve already resigned myself to spending the rest of my life making it up to her.” But as he turned to leave, Sienna threw her arms around his waist from behind. “I don’t believe you! Logan, you love me, don’t you? We’re not blood-related! I know you love me, otherwise, why would you do so much for me?” Logan froze as if her words had struck a nerve, his hands trembling slightly. Finally, succumbing to his desires, he spun around, cupped Sienna’s face, and kissed her with a desperate ferocity. I silently stopped the recording, saved the video, and turned to leave the second floor. By the time Logan and Sienna came downstairs, the party was winding down. He couldn’t find me anywhere. It wasn’t until he got home that he discovered me, crying in the utility closet. Hearing the door open, I pretended not to notice, my sobs growing louder. “Lyla!” Logan rushed over and pulled me into his arms, his brow creased with concern. “I was looking all over for you. What happened? Why are you crying like this?” I quickly turned my head away, frantically wiping my tears with my sleeve, then forced a smile as I faced him. “I’m fine. I just twisted my ankle tidying up and didn’t want you to laugh at me, so I hid in here…” Logan stared at me, his eyes filled with an aching tenderness. “Lyla, don’t you know your smile is the most strained when you’re lying? I can see right through it.” “I…” I flitted my gaze away, flustered. He gently brushed away a tear threatening to fall. “Tell me, why are you hiding in here crying?” I bit my lip, trying to hold back, but the next moment, I threw my arms around his neck, the dam of my tears finally breaking. “At the party… Sienna mentioned Clara… and I just started thinking, if Clara were still alive, she’d be about Sienna’s age…” “But I’ll never get to see her grow up.” At the mention of my sister, a flicker of panic crossed Logan’s eyes, quickly replaced by guilt. His grip on my waist tightened, his voice laced with self-reproach. “It’s all my fault. I was so caught up with the party, I neglected your feelings. Tell me, honey, what can I do to make you feel better?” I lowered my gaze, shaking my head. “You don’t need to do anything. Just… just let me see you more often.” “Logan, can I… can I come to your office more? I’ve been having these awful nightmares lately, dreaming that you leave me. I… maybe if we could have lunch together, talk more, maybe they’ll stop.” Logan frowned, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. He’d always kept me away from his office. Because it held so many secrets he didn’t want me to know. I pulled my hands back, forcing a lighthearted laugh. “If you’re busy, it’s okay. It was just a thought.” “Lying again,” he tapped my forehead gently, his smile tender. “Of course, I can do that for you. Such a small request.” My face lit up, and I leaned in to kiss his cheek. “You’re the best, husband!” The surprise on his face seemed genuine, a spark igniting in his eyes. Logan joyfully swept me up in a princess carry. I shyly buried my face in his neck. Just barely… managed to hide the disgust in my eyes. 4 For the next two weeks, I became a frequent fixture in Logan’s office. Not only did I bring homemade lunches for us to share there, but I often waited for him to finish work so we could go home together. Sienna, having returned, also worked at the company. Initially, she was openly resentful of my constant presence around Logan, making snide remarks both overtly and covertly. But after Logan reprimanded her a few times, she toned it down considerably. Today, I was waiting for Logan to finish up so we could have lunch, as usual. I ran into Sienna right outside the company breakroom. She seemed to be in a foul mood today. Upon seeing me, her eyes narrowed, ready to launch into a sarcastic tirade. But the next second, snippets of conversation drifted from the breakroom: “Mrs. Crestmore and the CEO are seen together so often! And he really dotes on her. They’re so cute together!” “Totally! Mrs. Crestmore is beautiful and has such a gentle personality. She and the CEO are a match made in heaven. Not like… that one…” “Hahaha, you mean Sienna, right? I’ve been sick of her for ages.” “Sure, she’s technically the CEO’s sister, but anyone can see she’s got a thing for him, right?” “Seriously, it’s laughable. Does she even think she’s worthy? No talent, and such a horrible temper. She can’t even compare to a single strand of Mrs. Crestmore’s hair!” I watched as Sienna’s face contorted into a mask of pure fury. She stormed into the breakroom, slamming her mug onto the floor with a deafening crash. “You goddamn gossips! Talking about me behind my back! You want me to have my brother fire all of you right now?” “And you think Lyla is so great? My brother only married her for my sake!” As Sienna ranted, her brow suddenly furrowed, and she clutched her chest, sinking to the ground in apparent pain. Just then, Logan rushed over in a panic and swept Sienna into his arms. As he carried Sienna past me, he was still anxiously cautioning her, “Sienna, calm down, take deep breaths. Your heart can’t take this kind of stress.” After they left, I immediately took the elevator to the top floor, to Logan’s office. He always had his trusted secretary, Alex, guard it when he wasn't there. Normally, Logan would be in his office at this time, but Sienna's little episode had disrupted things. And Alex, as it happened, had something else on his schedule. I slipped into the office with surprising ease. In his haste to leave, Logan hadn't locked his computer. I quickly found traces of Sienna everywhere. Logan had saved photos of Sienna all over his computer, so he could see her image at any moment. Even when he claimed to be on business trips abroad, he was actually vacationing and taking pictures with Sienna, who was hiding out overseas. A humorless laugh bubbled up from within me. Logan’s affections were truly a fickle thing. Suddenly, my eyes landed on a folder. Its name was ordinary, but it was marked with the highest level of security. A voice inside me whispered, this is it. For security, three incorrect password attempts would trigger an alarm. I suppressed the turmoil in my chest, my fingers trembling as I typed in Sienna’s birthday. 【Incorrect Password】 I tried my own birthday. Still the same: 【Incorrect Password】 Then, a string of numbers flashed in my mind. I carefully typed them in. Just as I moved the mouse to click ‘confirm,’ I heard Alex’s voice from outside the door: “Mr. Crestmore, you’re back.”"
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