"Mrs. Heimann, the report is out. I'm sorry to tell you, but you had bone cancer, in its late stage."

A sharp pang struck Cecilia's heart, as if half of her heart had been ripped out.

"How much time do I have left?" Lately, she had been plagued by nosebleeds, restless nights filled with haunting dreams, and intermittent pains in her chest. But she never thought them to be omens for death's looming.

The doctor's pen paused in mid-air.

"Roughly three months."

The news made Cecilia plummeted into a deep abyss, as if a thunderbolt had shattered the clear sky right upon her, and dark clouds overshadowing her whole life.

She rose abruptly, a flurry of panic urging her to escape from here.

Just a week ago, Cecilia's mother had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor, and now fate was poised to snatch away her own life! How could it so cruel!!

Tears welled up, breaking the dam of her restrained emotions, as well as a deluge of despair she had held back for so long.

In the frigid winter, Grythwill Town had just emerged from a heavy snowfall.

Cecilia Payne, clad in a thin coat, stood before an opulent villa, repeatedly pressing the doorbell. Her every move movement was laced with bitterness and urgency.

The biting cold had rendered her numb, her entire being trembling uncontrollably, while a twinge of pain emanated from her breastbone. The pain grew more distinct, yet she refused to succumb. Her mother awaited the funds for her surgery, and Cecilia must procure that sum.

At that moment, a black Maybach, screeched to a halt by the entrance.

Cecilia turned her head and beheld a pair of polished leather shoes touching the ground as a man strode out, walking past without even a glance at her.

Cecilia grabbed hold of him hurriedly. "Theo, could you do me a favor..."

Theo Heimann paid her no heed, but casting a derisive glance over her before entering the house. Cecilia hung her head, contemplating for a moment, suppressing the pain in her chest, and trailed behind him.

Inside the house, Cecilia stood there in a daze.

Three years of marriage never changed the way he treated her like strangers, maybe worse.

Observing Theo, who sat on the sofa exuding an aura of authority, his expression ice-cold, Cecilia mustered the courage. "Would you... lend me a million?"

"Humph." Theo scoffed, squinting his eyes. "Are you planning to take my money and elope with that bastard?"

A sharp pang jabbed at Cecilia's breastbone, and she struggled to defend herself. "No, the man you saw that day wasn't..."

"Save it!" Theo interrupted, his eyes filled with disgust. "Cecilia Payne, stop playing innocence! You should have foreseen the consequences at that time you schemed against me, drugging me and hurt Maeve' s legs!"

"IT WAS NOT ME. I had no hand in planning against you or causing her harm." Cecilia retorted desperately, her heart brimming with sorrow and indignation.

In the eyes of everyone, Cecilia was a heartless ***** who seduced her own sister's fiance and pushed her sister down the stairs, hurting her both legs.

His silence Cecilia's anguish to intensify, while she found herself trapped with no way out. She knew he didn't believe her. She no longer wished to explain. There were more pressing matters at hand. Her mother and she both needed money for medical treatment.

She decided to make compromise. "If you lend me that one million, I'll do anything you ask... I will agree to divorce you, and you can marry Maeve. She added.

Raising an eyebrow, Theo lit a cigarette, the smoke enveloping him as he curled his lips. That's a smile that hung between doubts and scorn.

With a cold glance over Cecilia, he rose from his seat. He reached out to lightly brush away the snowflakes that clung to her shoulder. His voice dripped with frost. "I know you enjoy being Mrs. Heimann that much, right? Very well. Then as you wish, I won't divorce you."

"I know you despise me, but I genuinely need that one million. I..."

The butler approached at this time, his face slightly troubled. Theo turned his head and inquired, "What's the matter?"

Cecilia stood nearby, suddenly at a loss for words.

"Miss Maeve Payne called, asking if you will be returning home tonight?" The butler conveyed.

"Tell her I will return." Theo replied curtly, shooting a cold glance at Cecilia before striding out of the door.

Watching his retreating figure, Cecilia murmured, "Theo..." I went to the hospital today. I have been diagnosed with bone cancer.

She cast her eyes downward. He never had the patience to listen to her words in their entirety.

What should she do? For the past three years of their marriage, Theo had never spent a night at home. Who was she? Just the most venomous woman in his eyes.

He allowed her to occupy this position as his wife, yet he refused to accept her advice to divorce because he didn't want to offer her a single penny.

Cecilia was on the verge of despair. Theo was cruel to her, but she never expected him to be so callous, seeing her wither away while standing aside. It didn't matter whether she herself could receive treatment, but her mother needed medical expenses. Helpless, Cecilia could only turn to Grandpa Adam, Theo's grandfather.

Adam and Cecilia' s grandfather, Mr. Payne were old acquaintances. However, Adam thought Cecilia's past deeds had brought shame upon Mr. Payne. Though Adam reluctantly agreed their marriage, he still disliked Cecilia' s acts. Now, if she were to seek financial assistance again... Grandpa Adam would likely be disappointed, perhaps even withholding his support.

The pain in her chest intensified, and she had the option to forgo treatment, but her mother's condition could not afford any delays. She had exhausted all other possibilities and now could only beg Adam for help.

Grandpa Adam was taken aback when he saw Cecilia. However, upon hearing her plea for money, he let out a deep sigh. "Ceci, despite you drugging Theo in the past, resulting in Maeve losing her ability to walk, I still let Theo marry you."

Cecilia's throat tightened, tears clouding her vision. "You know that your grandfather and me were close friends. How righteous and kind your grandfather used to be... How did he..."

Adam sighed. "How did he end up with a granddaughter as unscrupulous as you?"

"Ceci, I always believed that your actions back then were a momentary lapse of judgment, and I hoped you would eventually realize your mistakes."

"But I never expected... that you married Theo solely for money."

Cecilia's tears cascaded like a waterfall. "It's not like that..." Cecilia shook her head. "I truly did not commit those deeds, please believe me, grandfather..."

The pain became unbearable, and Cecilia's strength waned. Leaning against the wall behind her, she slowly knelt on the ground, overcome by sobs. "I marry Theo because I love him, but now I am in dire need of money. I will find a way to repay you, Grandfather, please trust me this time, for the final time... My mother is still in the hospital..."

The agony grew more profound, and Cecilia's consciousness faded as she slipped into a coma.

Three years ago, Maeve lured her to the hotel where Theo awaited. By the time she arrived, Theo had already been drugged, mistaking her for Maeve. The next day, she awoke to find the clamor of media and reporters outside the door. Compelled by the circumstances, Theo was coerced into marrying Cecilia. On their wedding night, Theo left her with only these words. "You will regret it.'

Cecilia believed that this was her retribution. Retribution for falling in love with him.

Bang! Suddenly, the ward door was forcefully flung open. Just as she lifted her head, she was startled with the fury etched upon Theo's face. "What... has happened?" She muttered.

"Cecilia Payne, in the years you've been married into Heimann family, you haven't learned much, but you've certainly mastered the art of feigning innocence." Theo raised an eyebrow, his eyes tinged with sarcasm.

Her throat went dry, and she was puzzled. "I haven't..."

"Haven't?" His anger intensified, and his slender fingers clamped firmly on her chin. In a cold voice, he said, Still pretending! When will you remove this mask of hypocrisy? You even had the audacity to as my grandfather for money. How shameless you are!"

Cecilia opened her mouth but didn't retort. The image of her baseness had been deeply ingrained in his mind. If possible, she would rather never have loved Theodore Heimann.

However, her silence only increased Theo' s rudeness.

"Huh!" Theo stared at her, as if he wanted to crush her chin. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Why silent? You always put on a pitiful facade. If it really isn't true, why did you conveniently pass out in front of Grandfather? Just to gain his sympathy by cheating, right?"

"Theo, what are you doing?!" Grandpa Adam hurriedly approached, sighing. Release her first. You shouldn't be so rude." "Grandpa, she's just acting. She's using your kindness to manipulate you. Theo said with disgust, looking at Cecilia as if she were garbage.

"This $500,000 is my alms for you. After all, you've been demeaning yourself for charity for so many days! But from now on, don't even think about tricking a single penny out of me and my family! Don't come to Grandfather again, you're unworthy!" With that, he pulled Grandpa Adam away, feeling nauseated at the mere sight of Cecilia.

Cecilia bit her lips and cautiously picked up the check that was thrown onto her face. Although it was only $500,000, it was better than nothing. It could save her mother's life. Even if he hated her, despised her, she didn't care.

At that moment, a doctor holding a medical report entered. He furrowed his brow and said, "Mrs. Heimann, if you continue to refuse medication, it's likely you won't have more than three months."

Cecilia forced a bitter smile. Where would she find money for treatment? In this world, besides her mother, she had nothing to worry about.

She used to believe she had Theo by her side, but over the years, she discovered that she could never warm his heart. Instead, she only intensified his hatred, making him loathe her even more. She had never possessed anything and wasn't afraid of losing anything after death. They all wished for her to die, especially her husband, who harbored deep resentment towards her. Well, then as them wished, she was dying.

Regaining her composure, she withdrew the infusion needle from her hand and tremulously left with the check.

"I will definitely raise the remaining money to pay for your treatment." Standing by her mother's sickbed, seeing her face pale as plaster due to illness, Cecilia s heart felt as if it were being twisted. Her mother looked at her with a tender gaze, struggling to say, "Ceci, there's no hope for me. Let's go home..."