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Chapter 1

Ellen sat on the cold floor of the living room, her eyes red from crying, her whole body trembling. The echo of Andrew’s voice still rang in her ears, like whips that left scars on her soul.

"Are you really this stupid? How many times do I have to repeat that I don’t want you interfering in my work?" Andrew shouted angrily, casting a look filled with contempt at her.

All she had done was enter his office to place a cup of tea, but she accidentally dropped some papers he had been working on for hours. Papers whose importance she didn’t understand, but in his eyes, they seemed like the greatest disaster.

She tried to justify herself with a hesitant voice: "I didn’t mean to... I just wanted to help."

But he cut her off harshly: "Help me? You’re the last person who can help me. Your existence in my life is the biggest mistake I’ve ever made."

Those words were like a knife to her chest, but they weren’t new. She had grown accustomed to his cruelty, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

Andrew punished her by leaving her to clean everything in the house without rest, then he left without bothering to look back. She was left alone in that cold mansion, feeling as though the walls were closing in on her every time she remembered his words.

Ellen sat on the couch, burying her face in her hands. Her thoughts carried her far away, to that moment that had changed her life forever.

Only six months ago, her life was different. She loved Andrew with all her heart, always imagining a happy future with him. But he loved her sister, Caroline. That love was no secret; everyone knew that Andrew and Caroline were the perfect couple, the ones everyone envied.

But everything collapsed in a single night. A night when Ellen became the victim, accused of making an unforgivable mistake. She and Andrew were both drugged and pulled into a room under the darkness of a malicious plan, then accused her of being the one who orchestrated it, trapping Andrew.

She didn’t know how it happened. Photos taken, rumors spread, and whispers made her, in everyone’s eyes, an immoral girl who dared to take her sister’s fiancé. The worst part was that Caroline didn’t defend her. She remained silent, and her silence was more painful than any accusation.

To suppress the scandal that would tarnish the family name, her parents forced Andrew to marry her. He had no other choice; family respect and his professional reputation were at stake.

But that didn’t make it any easier for Ellen. From the moment they married, he treated her like a heavy burden, like an enemy who stole his life.

"You’re just a ghost in my life. Don’t try to play the role of a wife, because you’ll never be more than a burden I carry."

His words were like walls surrounding her, she couldn’t escape them.

Ellen snapped out of her thoughts when she felt the cold seeping into her bones. She looked at the clock—it was past midnight. Andrew hadn’t returned yet.

It wasn’t unusual. Since their marriage, he spent most of his time away from home. He didn’t care whether she had dinner or if she was okay.

Ellen sighed and stood up from her seat. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw a woman who was different from the one she had been six months ago. Her eyes had lost their sparkle, and her pale face bore the marks of countless sleepless nights spent crying.

She whispered to herself: "How did I end up here? How did my life end this way?"

But she didn’t find an answer. Only a heavy silence surrounded her.

After finishing her chores, she sat in her usual corner in the bedroom. She took out a small notebook she had hidden since their wedding day. She used to write in it her thoughts and feelings—the only thing she felt belonged to her in this world.

She began writing:

"To Andrew... If only you knew the truth. If only you would look at me once without that anger in your eyes. I’m not the girl you think I am, and I’m not the one you believe ruined your life. I’m just Ellen... the girl who loved you silently, the one who wished for your happiness even if it was with my sister. But now... everything is over."

She put the pen down and clutched the notebook tightly, as if it was the only thing that could offer her some peace.

In that moment, Ellen knew her fight wasn’t over yet. Maybe everyone was against her, maybe Andrew saw her as guilty, but somewhere deep inside her, there was a spark of hope. Hope that one day she would regain her dignity and reveal the truth.

Still, she knew the road ahead would be long and dark.

---

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The house was silent, except for the sound of her stumbling steps. Ellen sat alone, trying to catch her breath after another day filled with humiliation and cruelty. She placed her hand on her cheek, still feeling the sting of the slap she received from Andrew. The reason? A cup of tea that spilled accidentally on the table.

"You can't even serve something simple without ruining it!" Andrew shouted, his voice filled with contempt.

Although it was a minor mistake, the anger that filled his heart toward her made him punish her mercilessly. Those cruel moments when he forced her to clean the floor while he looked at her with disgust remained etched in her memory.

When he left the house to go to work, Ellen collapsed on the sofa. Tears poured down in abundance, and her memories began to flood her mind. Before the marriage, she had pure feelings toward Andrew. She loved him sincerely and thought that he felt the same, but he was infatuated with her sister, Caroline.

Caroline, who was always superior in beauty and sweet talk, made everyone believe she was perfect. But she had a heart full of malice. With a well-crafted plan, Caroline destroyed Ellen's reputation, making it seem like she had committed an unforgivable mistake. Everyone believed the lie, and they forced Andrew to marry her as a way of atoning for what she had done.

But the truth was that Ellen was innocent. And despite the passage of time, no one could see that. Andrew, who had dreamed of a future with Caroline, found himself in a marriage he despised.

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An Unexpected Visit

On this sorrowful day, there was a sudden knock on the door. Ellen quickly wiped away her tears and rushed to open it. She stood there, surprised, when she saw David, Andrew's younger brother. He was always the only one who trusted her. David had always been Ellen's only loyal supporter, who believed she was innocent, the only one who stood against the rumors about her, and he had always disliked Caroline because he felt she wasn't a good person. He never doubted her, and he was one of the people who opposed his brother marrying her.

Before she could say a word, he hugged her tightly and said softly:

"I'm here, Ellen. Don't be afraid, I won't let you face this alone."

She burst into tears in his arms, feeling the only sense of comfort she had felt in a long time. They sat together in the living room, and Ellen began to tell him about her suffering.

"I can't take it anymore, David. Every day I feel like I'm being buried alive."

He looked at her with his tender eyes and said:

"I know you're innocent. You're stronger than you think. Be patient, the day will come when the truth will come out, and I promise I'll always be by your side."

Before leaving, he took her hand and said firmly:

"Don't lose hope, Ellen. You deserve happiness."

---

Andrew's Return

In the evening, Andrew returned home. He was angry because of work problems he had faced. He entered the house like a storm, his face dark and his eyes filled with rage. Ellen sat at the dinner table, trying to avoid him, but she couldn't.

He began eating in silence, but suddenly, he threw his fork on the table and said angrily:

"Do you call this food? I can't even eat it!" There was nothing wrong with the food, but he was looking for an excuse to take out his anger on her.

Before she could say a word, he stood up violently and flipped the table, spilling the food and dishes onto the floor. He grabbed her arm roughly and threw her to the ground, then shouted:

"Pick all of this up now, with your hands, and don't leave until the place is clean!"

Ellen knelt on the floor, gathering the scattered food and broken dishes. That wasn't enough for him. He grabbed a bucket of cold water and poured it over her, making her shudder from the shock and cold. He said sarcastically:

"Maybe you need this to wake up!"

He left her kneeling on the floor and slammed the door as he left.

---

A Night Full of Thoughts

Ellen sat on the floor, her body drenched and her spirit broken. She began to wonder:

"Can I bear this? Can anyone live in this hell?"

Her tears wouldn't stop as she looked at her life, now filled with suffering.

At that moment, Andrew was at his best friend's house, talking about his marriage to Ellen. Andrew sat on the couch and said with frustration:

"I can't stand her. Every time I see her, I feel disgusted."

Meanwhile, at Ellen's family home, Caroline sat at the table with her parents, pretending to be kind and saying:

"I know what Ellen did was a huge mistake, but maybe we should forgive her. Everyone deserves a second chance."

But her words carried a hidden meaning, as if she was adding fuel to the fire. Her mother shook her head in disapproval, and her father's hatred toward his daughter increased. Caroline felt victorious, and she smiled secretly with malice. She felt triumphant for destroying Ellen's life.

She said to herself with cunning, "Ellen, we're not done yet. I won't rest until I see your miserable corpse in front of me. Just wait, things are about to get worse."

And at that moment, Ellen sat alone in the darkness of her home, wondering if she would endure until the end in this cruel life, or if the hope inside her had begun to fad.

------

The next morning, Ellen had barely slept on the cold floor beside the overturned table. The bruises from Andrew’s punishment were still visible on her body, and the echo of his anger rang in her ears. Yet, with great effort, she got up to tidy the house before his return—her fear of him was more overwhelming than her exhaustion.

As she was cleaning, a sharp knock at the door startled her. Panic set in as she feared Andrew had come back early, but when she opened the door, it was Andrew’s father standing before her.

"May I come in?" he asked coldly, his gaze filled with disdain.

Ellen stepped aside silently, allowing him to enter. The older man walked in with heavy steps, his eyes scanning the house critically before he sneered, "This is the house you’ve failed to make even remotely livable. No wonder Andrew is always angry."

Ellen couldn’t reply. The words stuck in her throat as if her defenses had entirely crumbled.

"Ellen, let me make something very clear. Andrew marrying you was the biggest mistake of his life. And you? You’re nothing but a stain on this family’s honor!" he spat angrily, throwing an envelope onto the table. "This is an invitation from your family. Apparently, they’re hosting a party but couldn’t even bother to invite you personally. That says a lot about how ashamed they are of you."

With trembling hands, Ellen picked up the envelope. The words written on it felt like daggers piercing her heart. Her parents had decided to host a family gathering without even informing her.

Andrew’s father added sharply, "Don’t worry; Andrew won’t be attending. He has better things to do than waste time with you."

He left the house, leaving Ellen alone. She sat on the floor, clutching the invitation as tears welled up in her eyes. Why did she deserve this?

She sat there, torn between attending the party or staying away. If she went, it would only bring her humiliation and pain. But if she didn’t, Caroline would seize the opportunity to make her appear guilty of neglecting her family. If Andrew’s father hadn’t delivered the invitation, she might never have known about the party, and they would have blamed her once again for something beyond her control.

Ellen whispered to herself in sorrow, "What should I do? If I go, I’ll face endless shame. If I don’t, I’ll still be blamed. At least Andrew won’t be there—that might make it a little less unbearable. Seeing him with my family, especially Caroline, would only add to my misery."

When Andrew returned that evening, his anger was terrifying. He threw his briefcase onto the couch with force and barked, "Ellen, where’s the food?"

She rushed to the kitchen to prepare his meal quickly. She placed the dish in front of him cautiously, but he took only one bite before shouting, "What is this garbage? Are you trying to poison me?!"

He grabbed the plate and smashed it onto the floor. Then he approached her slowly, his gaze piercing like daggers. "Do you know something? You’re completely useless. I can’t believe I’m stuck with you!"

Ellen began to back away, but his hand gripped her arm tightly. Her muffled cries echoed as pain flared in her arm. He shoved her forcefully, causing her to fall to the ground. "Clean up this mess you made!" he snarled.

He stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him, leaving Ellen in a state of despair. She sat on the floor amidst the shattered glass and spilled food, tears streaming silently down her face. Her tears mixed with the dust on the floor, but the ache in her heart was far more excruciating than any physical wound.

That night, as Ellen tried to clean the mess, her father’s words echoed in her mind: "Ellen, you’re always a burden, even to yourself."

The memory stung like an open wound, a painful reminder that she had never been wanted—not even in her own home.