Chapter 1

After my ninety-ninth fight with Peyton, I changed.

I got rid of all the bad habits Peyton didn't like.

I stopped checking his phone constantly, stopped asking about his whereabouts,

And when I saw the lipstick marks on his shirt, I just calmly put it in the washing machine.

But he wasn't satisfied anymore. He held me with grievance in his eyes:

"Why aren't you keeping tabs on me anymore? You're still the one I love most."

Love me most?

His so-called love meant constantly sleeping with his mistress, letting her bully me until I lost the baby.

My five-month pregnancy. Gone. Just like that.

Peyton's love was the most useless thing in the world.

I turned around and joined the secret space program at the aviation base.

From then on, whether Peyton lived or died had nothing to do with me anymore.

Giana's POV

After my ninety-ninth fight with Peyton, I changed.

I got rid of all the bad habits Peyton didn't like.

I stopped checking his phone constantly, stopped asking about his whereabouts. When I saw the lipstick marks on his shirt, I just calmly put it in the washing machine.

Even when I got into a car accident and the traffic cop wanted to help me contact my family, I stopped him.

"I don't have any family. I can just take a taxi to the hospital myself."

Then, fighting through dizziness and severe shoulder pain, I took a taxi to the hospital alone.

But unexpectedly, I ran into Peyton in the hospital corridor.

He frowned. "How did you end up like this?"

I lowered my eyes. "Just a car accident. You're busy, don't worry about me."

"What kind of thing is that to say?"

Peyton's voice turned cold, suddenly angry.

"You're my wife. You got hurt this badly in a car accident. Of course I'm worried about you."

I lifted my gaze to look at him.

"Isn't that what you said? That adults need to solve their own problems, and I shouldn't bother you with trivial matters."

Peyton froze in place like someone had dumped cold water over his head.

He had indeed said those words.

When I had a high fever and called him, he'd said it.

On my birthday when I waited alone at the restaurant until closing and texted asking if he remembered, he'd said it.

During a typhoon when I was trapped at the research institute and asked if he could pick me up, he'd said it too.

Now I'd finally learned my lesson. Even though I was injured in a car accident, I no longer turned to him. But he was unhappy about it.

"You were in a car accident. How can you act like that's no big deal?"

Peyton irritably loosened his tie. "Come on, I'll take you to-"

Before he could finish, a slender figure came running over.

Summer threw her arms around his. Her eyes rimmed red.

"Mr. Lancaster, why did you come here? I sprained my wrist and you didn't even care. You made me look for you forever..."

Peyton's body stiffened slightly. He glanced at me somewhat awkwardly and gently pulled his hand back. "Stand up properly and talk."

Summer seemed to notice me only then. She shrank behind Peyton, her eyes gradually filling with pitiful, vulnerable tears.

"Are you still mad at me? I'm sorry. Last time I really didn't mean to cause your miscarriage..."

She was always like this. Apologizing with her mouth while every word precisely stabbed at the most painful spot in my heart.

Always looking innocent and pitiful. Never doing anything on purpose.

If this were before, I definitely would have lost control. I would have hysterically demanded answers, would have told Summer to get out of my life.

But now, I just turned my face away. "I'm going for my examination. Do whatever you want."

Then, leaning against the wall, I walked past them step by step without hesitation.

Peyton instinctively wanted to follow.

"Giana."

"Mr. Lancaster, this hand hurts so much."

But the moment he stepped forward, Summer suddenly held her injured wrist in front of him. Fragile, anxious tears floated in her eyes.

"Do you think this hand is broken..."

Peyton's steps halted.

He frowned and said to Summer,

"Let's go. I'll take you to see the doctor first."

I registered myself and got X-rays taken. Since I had no family, I signed the surgery consent form myself.

After the wounds on my forehead and left arm were treated, I was wheeled out of the operating room and transferred to a ward.

As the anesthesia wore off, I slowly woke in pain. Faintly, I could hear the nurses talking in hushed voices, all thinking I was pitiful.

"So tragic. She was in a car accident, her head was injured and bleeding so much, her left arm is fractured, and there's no one by her side. Meanwhile that patient named Summer in the VIP room just has a simple sprained wrist, but Mr. Lancaster won't leave her side for a second. He gives her whatever she wants and coaxes her with a gentle voice."

"Who told her not to know how to cry, make a fuss, and act cute to win sympathy? I heard she's a scholarship student sponsored by the Lancaster family. Her test scores rank in the top three in the state. Now she's a key talent the Lancaster family is cultivating. They treasure her like a gem. Of course Mr. Lancaster has to coax her well."

"The way they act, if you didn't know better, you'd think that Summer patient is Mr. Lancaster's wife."

Lying in the hospital bed, I gently tugged at the corner of my lips.

Perhaps Summer really would soon replace me and become Peyton's wife.

Just then, my phone on the pillow rang.

I reached out with my right hand to grab my phone. Seeing it was a call from the Aviation Bureau, I answered.

"Miss Morgan, we've reviewed your application. Are you certain you want to participate in the Zenith Ladder program? This is a classified national project. Once you join, you'll need to stay at the aviation base for decades, completely cut off from the outside world. You won't be able to contact anyone, including your family."

I pressed my lips together and said calmly,

"I'm certain."

"Have you discussed this with your family and your husband, Mr. Peyton Lancaster? Does he agree to your participation?"

"My parents are no longer alive, and I don't need Peyton's consent."

I said flatly,

"Because I've already filed for divorce. I'll have my divorce certificate by then. I have no attachments left. This program is perfect for me."