All Dreams End at Some Point

There's an unspoken rule in the high-end society—married couples who are bound by marriage alliances are allowed to branch out romantically. But if they ever buy anything for their side piece, they must buy the same gift for their legal spouse. Raymond Johnson is a very particular person. That's why he continues sticking to the rule and gives Melanie Strickland the respect she deserves by showering her with gifts that are 100 times more than his mistress', even after the Stricklands have gone into bankruptcy. If his mistress gets 100 thousand dollars' worth of allowances every month, Melanie's bank account must receive ten million dollars in return. When Raymond gifts his mistress jewelry that's worth a million dollars, he'll go for the main highlight of the auction. After that, Melanie will receive an antique emerald ring worth 100 million dollars. The rich wives, who are too used to seeing wealthy men immersing themselves in booze and beautiful women, can only sigh wistfully whenever they witness Raymond and Melanie's lovey-dovey relationship. But at the same time, they can't resist dropping Melanie words of advice—mainly to tell her to appreciate what she has now. Appreciate, huh? Of course Melanie appreciates everything she has right now. That's why on the day Raymond gives a house of very little value that's located in the suburbs to his mistress, Melanie decides to ask him a question while receiving the land deed of Villa No. 1 that's located in Northshore. "I've grown tired of this marriage. Can we get a divorce?" Chapter 1 Seated with a digital tablet before him, Raymond Johnson was in the middle of picking out a birthday present for Tracy Lambert's 23rd birthday. When he heard Melanie Strickland speak, he didn't even look up as he said, "The house I'm giving Trace isn't worth that much. Even after factoring in the real estate agent's commission, the total is under 700 thousand dollars. "As for Northshore's Villa No. 1, which is under your name, it's in the best spot in Bell City, so it's not like you're losing out on anything. I still care about you the most, Melanie." While he spoke nonchalantly, Melanie's eyes were on the verge of welling up with tears. Raymond hadn't lied. Over the course of their seven-year marriage, Raymond had indeed treated her well. When Tracy was given a monthly allowance of 100 thousand dollars, Melanie would have ten million dollars in her account without fail. And after giving Tracy jewelry worth over a million dollars, Raymond had won bids on an antique emerald ring worth 100 million dollars for Melanie. That said, the ten million dollars was just the standard monthly allocation from the Johnson family's trust fund. As for the antique emerald ring, Raymond didn't even bid for it at the auction himself. He'd simply told the butler to handle it. When Tracy offhandedly said that she was hungry for seafood chowder, Raymond rolled up his sleeves to cook some himself, burning two pots in the process. Melanie's friends tried to talk her into accepting her situation. "Melanie, you have money and status now. Raymond's got another woman on the side, sure, but he hasn't mistreated you. Don't act like you don't know how good you've got it." "She's right, Melanie. With your dad gone and your mom in a vegetative state, you should count yourself lucky that Raymond still wants you." Melanie wanted to be content as well. It was just that she could never forget the night he had lit up half the city's skyline for her when they first got together. And there was also the time he had stood in the pouring rain after she insisted on breaking up with him to keep him from being caught in her family's bankruptcy. Completely drenched, he had stood there, his eyes red and swollen. "Melanie, you're the love of my life. I can't live without you." Now, seven years later, Melanie was asking for a divorce. In his usual unbothered tone, Raymond said, "Trace's birthday is just around the corner. Don't make trouble for no reason." Melanie's nose stung with emotion as she pulled out the divorce agreement she'd long prepared. She forced a calm tone. "Sign this. Once you do, I promise I will no longer act out." She thought Raymond would lose his temper, or at least snatch the papers from her hands, tear them apart, and snap, "Don't even think about it, Melanie. You're not allowed to leave me." But to her surprise, Raymond only looked at her once before turning the papers to the very end and signing them. "Be sure to keep your word. Once I sign this, don't misbehave again." Melanie nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I will. I won't act up again." Now, there were only 30 days left until their marriage was officially over. Chapter 2 After the divorce agreement was signed, Melanie went to the hospital. On her way there, she stumbled upon Tracy's Instagram post. It was a picture of an apartment. On the pale green couch, Tracy had her bare legs resting on Raymond's lap and was flashing a peace sign at the camera. The caption read, "I want to be part of your past as well." Melanie was just a college junior when the Strickland family went bankrupt. Her father, Morris Strickland, couldn't accept what had happened and took his own life by jumping off a building. Her mother, Bethany Adkins, was shoved down the stairs by debt collectors and left in a vegetative state. In a single night, Melanie found herself abandoned by the world, left wandering the streets with only a few of her belongings. On her third night sleeping in the hospital corridor, Raymond had a falling out with his family. After selling everything of value he owned, he appeared before her with 18 thousand dollars. "Melanie, I'm homeless now, just like you. If you feel sorry for me, could you let me stay by your side?" Melanie froze, then threw herself into Raymond's arms and cried her heart out while calling him a big dummy. Flustered, Raymond quickly wiped her tears and smiled. "Yeah. When it comes to you, Melanie, I'll always be a big dummy." They had rented a tiny apartment for six months with eight thousand dollars and used another three thousand dollars to make it feel like home. Melanie would fumble her way through cooking to make Raymond's favorite spaghetti bolognese, whereas Raymond would grumble before scooping her into his arms, chiding her for walking around barefoot. Even the proposal happened in that little apartment. After regaining his status as the Johnson family heir, Raymond twirled Melanie around the room and vowed, "This place will always belong to you, Melanie." Yet now, he had forgotten everything he had promised just because Tracy said she wanted to be part of his past. Tears slid down Melanie's cheeks before they were wiped away swiftly. Taking a deep breath, she left a comment under Tracy's post. "You can keep whatever I don't care for. They suit you just fine." She refreshed the page, only for the post to disappear. And just like that, Raymond's call came in, his tone furious and accusatory as he questioned, "Melanie Strickland, what in the world is wrong with you? You made Trace cry! "I don't care where you are right now. Get over here and apologize to her right this second. If you don't, I won't be paying your mother's hospital bills anymore." Upon hearing that, Melanie couldn't help scoffing. Seven years ago, when she refused the Johnson family's help and insisted on paying Bethany's hospital bills herself, Raymond had grabbed her hand, his face red with anger, and exclaimed, "Melanie, she's my mom too!" But now, just because Tracy had cried, he was threatening to cut off Bethany's medical care. Holding the phone with a slight tremor, Melanie simply said, "Fine." "What?" Raymond frowned, thinking he'd misheard. Melanie drew in a steady breath before speaking calmly but firmly, "I can handle my mom's hospital bills myself." Throughout her seven years in the Johnson family, Melanie had never stopped working. Now, she was already a fairly well-known designer in the country. Even without the Johnsons, she could afford the hospital bills. Raymond could be heard breathing hard on the other end before laughing in anger. "Fine. You've got guts—I'll give you that!" Chapter 3 Right when the call ended, Melanie arrived at the hospital. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Bethany's attending doctor rushing toward the hospital room. Her heart skipped a beat. She hurried after him. Arnold Hicks, the director of the hospital, grabbed her arm upon seeing her, looking visibly distressed. "Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Johnson has just issued an order forbidding any hospital under Johnson Group from treating your mother. "If you can't get him to change his mind within an hour, we'll have no choice but to remove your mother from the hospital." "What?" Melanie went pale instantly. She tried calling Raymond at once, but the call went unanswered. Her messages were also left unread. With nothing else she could do, she left with a bitter smile, hurrying over to Raymond and Tracy's new little home. She hadn't even stepped inside when the sound of laughter reached her ears. "Raymond, are you sure that'll work? What if Melanie takes her mother to a different hospital? If that happens, you won't be able to do anything to her anymore, no?" Tracy blinked innocently, her voice teasing. Raymond said in a lazy drawl, "She won't. Everyone knows that the one thing she can't let go of is that half-dead woman. If I didn't have her mother as leverage, I wouldn't be this open about us. She'll cave." Was this why Raymond had changed? He acted without restraint because he had leverage? Tracy chuckled, then paused as if a thought had struck her. She wanted to test the waters. "But she's still Melanie's mother. Don't you think you're taking it too far?" Raymond arched an eyebrow as the metal strap of his watch gave off a cold, steely shine. "Just thinking about how I once knelt in front of someone who's in a vegetative state makes me sick to my stomach." Standing by the door, Melanie felt her blood run cold. The kneeling he was talking about happened on their wedding day. Everyone had said that Bethany was a jinx as she was still causing trouble for her family even on her deathbed. Raymond, grim-faced, pushed aside anyone who tried to stop him and led Melanie to the hospital. He knelt before the lifeless Bethany. "Mom, don't worry about Melanie. I'll take good care of her and make her the happiest woman in the world. As long as I'm alive, I'll make sure neither you nor Melanie suffers." It would seem that the promises he made were only good for seven years. Feeling like a chunk of her heart had been ripped out, Melanie opened her mouth to say something, but the tears came first. So this was what being in agony felt like. Wiping away her tears, Melanie reached for the door. A glass came flying, shattering at her feet with a loud bang. Raymond, with his legs crossed, drew Tracy closer and gave a cold, mocking smile. "Thought you had guts? Why did you still come to me?" Melanie lowered her gaze, as still as stagnant water. "I'll do whatever you want as long as you ensure my mom's medical care continues." Raymond snorted, his smooth voice ringing clearly. "Fine. Since you said that, apologize to Trace first." "Okay," Melanie answered without any hesitation. Displeased, Tracy pouted in mock innocence and cooed, "Melanie doesn't seem sincere at all. I want her to be on her knees as she apologizes, like how they do it on TV." Raymond's eyes flickered with amusement. "You're right, Trace. Melanie, I can't help you if you aren't sincere. Now, get on your knees and apologize to Trace." Having said that, he settled into a more comfortable position, eagerly waiting for Melanie's reaction with an amused look on his face. Melanie knew he just wanted to see her flustered. It was just like that time at a friend's wedding. Even though they had been warned that the media would be there, Raymond still kissed Tracy in front of the cameras and left Melanie alone to face the media's onslaught. Afterward, he justified himself matter-of-factly by saying, "Trace is timid and easily intimidated by the media. You, on the other hand, are used to it anyway." Because she was used to it, she had no right to refuse. As such, while her heart ached, she still had to maintain a calm and unbothered front. And she had to do it right now as well. With Raymond and Tracy looking on expectantly, she set her handbag down and dropped to her knees with a thud. Shards of glass were embedded in her knees, causing blood to spill all over the floor. Yet, Melanie seemed unfazed as she spoke softly. "Ms. Lambert, I'm sorry." For a second, Raymond froze. He instinctively pushed Tracy away and reached for Melanie. Before he could touch her, Tracy started crying. "Raymond, I feel faint!" Raymond stopped, scooped Tracy up, and rushed to the hospital. Melanie tried to follow them, but her knees buckled. As she fell, the glass shards dug even deeper into her flesh. Yet she barely felt the pain as she grabbed Raymond's shirt tightly. "Raymond, my mom's medical care—" Raymond cut her off, "Melanie, how can you be so selfish? Can't you see that Trace has passed out? Even now, all you're thinking about is that half-dead mother of yours. I swear if anything happens to Trace today, you and your mother will pay for it!" With that, he kicked Melanie aside and stormed off, leaving her staring hopelessly after him. "Raymond, loving you really was a mistake." After calming herself down, Melanie called the hospital. Chapter 4 The paramedics arrived quickly. After a quick bandaging, Melanie rushed straight to Bethany's hospital room. As soon as she entered, she saw the head nurse preparing to remove Bethany's breathing tube. "Stop! All of you, stop! I'm Raymond's wife, and this hospital belongs to the Johnson family. Who gave you permission to touch my mother?" Melanie's voice was sharp and commanding. She bit her lip so hard that it bled. The head nurse looked troubled. "Mrs. Johnson, this was Mr. Johnson's direct order. We can't go against it. Maybe you can try talking to him again…" The call connected quickly, and Raymond's impatient voice came through. "What now?" Melanie sniffled, her voice trembling slightly. "Raymond, didn't you say that if I knelt and apologized, you'd help my mom? They're about to remove her life support. Can't you—" "I can't," Raymond cut her off coldly. "Even though Trace wasn't hurt this time, I'm still not happy with your attitude. Don't worry. I've already checked with a doctor. Your mother won't die just because I'm removing her life support." "But she's already brain dead. The doctor said—" Raymond frowned, not wanting to hear another word. He interjected, "What the doctors say doesn't matter. I still need to put Trace to bed, so I'm hanging up." As the call abruptly ended, the head nurse helplessly shrugged and removed Bethany's breathing tube. Her heart rate spiked on the monitor, the urgent beeping sounding almost like a cry of anguish. Brain-dead patients could only survive on ventilators. "No… Please no!" Restrained by the staff, Melanie could only watch as Bethany trembled and seized on the bed before going completely still. By the time the doctor confirmed her death, only three minutes had passed. In just three minutes, Melanie's last remaining family was gone. And the one responsible was Raymond, the man who once swore he'd take care of her forever. At that moment, Tracy updated her social media with an ultrasound photo and the caption, "Congratulations! Someone's officially going to be a dad!" Laura Becker, Raymond's mother, was the first to like the post. "You're amazing, Tracy! You got pregnant so easily, unlike a certain someone who keeps failing. Next week, have Raymond bring you home for dinner." Tracy responded with a shy emoji. Melanie's mouth twitched. If anyone seemed like a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, it was them, not her. Tears soaked Bethany's death certificate as Melanie sat alone in the morgue until dawn. There were 28 days left until her divorce from Raymond would be finalized. In the following days, Melanie handled Bethany's funeral arrangements alone. The embalming, cremation, and burial all took a full seven days to complete. During those seven days, Raymond didn't come home, whereas Tracy's social media was updated like clockwork. Raymond went with her to prenatal checkups, picked out a crib with her, and got protective charms for her and the baby. Everything Melanie and Raymond had once dreamed of doing together, Raymond did with Tracy. On the ninth day after the divorce agreement was signed, Raymond uncharacteristically bombarded Melanie with accusatory texts. "Where did you take your mother? I was just messing around. Did you really have to hide her? "My mom is right. You're spoiled. Bring your mom back to the hospital at once. Don't let her pay the price for your stubbornness." Speechless, Melanie simply replied, "There's no need." Because of that short reply, Raymond rushed back to the villa that night. Clutching Melanie's hand, he ground his teeth in fury. "What did you mean by there's no need? What, are you trying to cut ties with me? I'm warning you, Melanie, you—" "Congratulations on your upcoming fatherhood," Melanie interrupted him, her gaze mocking. Raymond let go of her hand, sinking onto the couch with a guilty look. Then, his features softened at a passing thought. "You only moved your mom because of Tracy's pregnancy, huh? "You were afraid I'd ignore you because of her, so you did that to get my attention. Melanie, you don't have to do that. Even if Tracy has a child, you will always be my one and only wife. That will never change." Raymond curled his lips into a smug smile. Then, he pulled out a red tourmaline bracelet from his pocket, acting all magnanimous. Melanie had seen that bracelet on Tracy's Instagram. It was a one-of-a-kind auction piece. Tracy thought it looked old-fashioned and had casually thrown it in the trash, claiming only old women would wear it. Raymond, seeing Melanie zoning out, thought she was shocked and thrilled. With a smile, he continued, "Since you've gone to so much trouble to win me over, you can come to the gathering at Johnson Manor tomorrow." Melanie furrowed her brows. Just as she was about to refuse, Raymond asked, sounding oddly curious, "What was that thing you made me sign last time? I never got a notification for the purchase." Melanie's heart skipped a beat. She unconsciously clenched her hands. So he didn't know that he'd signed a divorce agreement. That was for the best. At least she wouldn't have to get tangled up with him anymore when she left. With that in mind, Melannie adopted a dismissive tone. "It's nothing. I just didn't want it anymore." Raymond didn't dwell on it. As he stared at Melanie, who was dressed plainly, a warmth spread through his chest. Just as he was about to say something else, Tracy called. "Raymond, the baby is kicking me again. Come keep me company." Raymond instinctively turned to Melanie. In the past, Melanie would have thrown a huge tantrum if she heard that, demanding he stay, or she would have pushed him out of the villa and slammed the door to make her anger clear. But this time, Melanie did nothing. Without uttering a single word, she turned and went upstairs, leaving Raymond staring at her slender back. "Melanie!" Raymond called after her, a mix of anger and frustration in his voice. "Did you not hear that? Trace wants me to keep her and the baby company." Melanie nodded, her steps unbroken. "Go ahead. Drive safely." Raymond froze, momentarily stunned. In the end, Tracy's irritated voice snapped him back to reality, and he hurriedly replied, "I'm on my way." Chapter 5 The next day, Melanie went to the embassy to apply for a visa. At 7:00 pm, she arrived at Johnson Manor right on time. It was a grand birthday celebration, attended by all the renowned families in their social circle. The Strickland family used to be one of them. Back then, Laura had often said, "Out of all the ladies in Bell City, only Melanie is worthy of our Raymond. When she marries into our family, I'll treat her like my own daughter." But when the Strickland family went bankrupt, it was also Laura who, at Morris' funeral, flung a check for 100 thousand dollars at Melanie's face and told her to leave Raymond, warning her not to ruin his bright future. Collecting her emotions, Melanie entered Johnson Manor. As soon as she stepped inside, she felt mocking, disdainful, and amused gazes on her. At the center of the crowd, Laura was chatting warmly with the guests while holding Tracy's hand. "That's right. This is Raymond's beloved Tracy Lambert. She's three months along." A guest intentionally tried to cause tension, asking, "Isn't your daughter-in-law from the Strickland family? Aren't you afraid she'll flip out when she sees you acting so brazenly with Tracy?" Laura rolled her eyes, her disdain obvious as she replied, "What's there to be afraid of? She's nothing but a nobody who's now living off my son. If it weren't for him, she'd probably be dead somewhere on the street. "Besides, she can't even have kids. If she's so capable, she can try having children then." Melanie had been pregnant before. It was three years ago. Raymond was driving her to the beach when the brakes failed, causing a massive pileup. At the critical moment, Melanie instinctively shielded Raymond. As glass from the windows pierced Melanie's skin, she blacked out on the spot. By the time she woke up, she was in the hospital. The doctor told her she'd been pregnant, the child was lost, and she might never be able to have children again. Hearing this, Melanie cried all night. Then the butler told her that Raymond had been saved by a woman and planned to bring her into the company as his assistant, as a gesture of gratitude. That woman was Tracy. A mocking glint flashed in Melanie's eyes as she withdrew from the crowd, heading to the back garden to clear her head. Alas, Tracy wasn't about to leave her alone. She quietly made her way to Melanie's side. "Melanie, why aren't you heading in? Afraid you'll cry when you see how nice Mrs. Johnson is being to me?" She blinked, not even trying to mask her provocation. "See this? Mrs. Johnson just gave this to me. She said it's something every lady of the Johnson family has. It's pretty, right?" Tracy flaunted the emerald bracelet on her wrist. Melanie had long stopped caring about such things. "What exactly are you trying to say?" "I'm saying Raymond doesn't like you anymore, and Mrs. Johnson doesn't care for you either, so why are you still shamelessly clinging to the title of Raymond's wife? "You should have some sense and let me have it already. Just last night, Raymond promised I could be by his side openly and that neither the baby nor I would have to face mistreatment." In the face of Tracy's aggression, Melanie simply smiled. "Well then, congratulations." Whether it was the Johnson family or Raymond, Melanie no longer wanted anything to do with them. She then turned to leave after speaking. Tracy, struck by an idea, suddenly yelped and collapsed to the ground. "Help! Someone help me! My stomach hurts so much!" Raymond came running and saw Tracy clutching her stomach, crying out in pain. Almost instinctively, he slapped Melanie hard across the face. "How can you be this vicious? You'd even hurt a pregnant woman?" Melanie covered her face, disappointment evident in her eyes. "I didn't." "I literally saw you!" Raymond grabbed her wrist, squeezing so hard that it felt like her bones would shatter. "Did you forget your last lesson already? If anything happens to Trace, I swear I'll reduce your mother to ashes!" "You don't need to wait. You can do it right now." Laura stormed over with bodyguards, ordering them to hold Melanie down. Sobbing, Tracy shook her head. "Mrs. Johnson, Raymond, it's fine. Melanie didn't do it on purpose. She's just jealous because I'm pregnant with Raymond's child. I understand." She turned around and dropped to her knees in front of Melanie with a dull thud. "Melanie, you should just hit me two more times. I'll do anything to appease your anger. Just… don't hurt my baby." Melanie almost laughed from sheer rage. "I already said I didn't touch her. If you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance footage. There are cameras here." Tracy abruptly went pale. Gritting her teeth, she collapsed. Raymond completely lost it, dragging Melanie to the pool and forcing her head under the water by yanking her hair. As Melanie's head was shoved into the water the second time, pool water rushed into her mouth and nose, flooding her lungs. Pain blurred her vision. Her throat burned, and her ears buzzed. By the pool, Tracy had woken up at some point and was nestling in Laura's arms pitifully. The guests whispered among themselves. "Isn't Mr. Johnson going too far? He's going to kill her at this rate." "She deserves it for hurting others…" Half an hour later, Raymond finally let go of Melanie. He approached Tracy, his voice gentle as he said, "Don't be afraid. I've already avenged you. Does your stomach still hurt? I'll take you to the hospital." He then carried Tracy in his arms and left without looking back. Laura kicked Melanie contemptuously before storming off. Soon, everyone left, leaving Melanie lying on the floor, limp and motionless. When her tears finally ran dry, she looked at the wedding ring on her finger. A mirthless laugh escaped her lips. Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number she'd never called before. "You said before you'd pay 300 million dollars for evidence of the Johnson family's tax evasion. Does that offer still stand?" Chapter 6 From that day on, Melanie never went home again, opting to stay in a hotel for over ten days. During that time, Raymond deliberately kept updating his social media with all things Tracy as a form of punishment to Melanie. He gave Tracy the jeweled brooch Melanie had once wanted as Tracy's early birthday present. He moved Tracy into the villa and used the sheets and bedding that Melanie had personally picked out. He promised Tracy a wedding at the same church where he had married Melanie. Friends and acquaintances in their circle offered their blessings, saying they were a perfect match. They also said that Raymond had finally realized he should have dumped Melanie a long time ago, calling her a hag. Someone even commented, "Forget about the ceremony. Just divorce Melanie and marry Tracy already. You might as well go all the way!" That comment was the most liked. Raymond didn't respond, and it was already deleted the next day. Melanie couldn't care less about such petty things, focusing entirely on her deal with Vincent Corbett. The day before the divorce was finalized, Melanie returned to the villa. Unsurprisingly, everything inside had been changed to suit Tracy's taste. Melanie's photos and clothes had all been shredded. Fortunately, the documents and divorce agreement hidden in the wardrobe weren't discovered. With the documents in hand, Melanie was about to leave when Tracy blocked the door, her belly protruding. "Melanie, I seriously didn't expect you to be able to put up with so much. I've made you the laughingstock of high society, and yet here you are, still clinging to the Johnsons. "I guess it's understandable, though. Now that both of your parents are gone, it's only natural that you'd hang onto the Johnson family for dear life. After all, who else in Bell City would want you besides Raymond?" Suddenly, Tracy had an amusing thought, and she looked at Melanie, grinning innocently. "Do you know why Raymond likes me so much? Because I told him that on the day of your car accident, you ran away to save yourself and left him behind, and that I was the one who got him out of the car. "When I took Raymond to the hospital, you were still stuck in the passenger seat, bleeding heavily, so I literally watched your miscarriage happen. "And I was the one who paid off the doctor and had him tell Raymond that taking a vegetative patient off life support wouldn't be a problem. I made you watch helplessly as your mother died. "After all I've done, there's just no way you can beat me, is there, Melanie?" Melanie's handbag fell to the ground with a thud. Unable to take it anymore, she slapped Tracy across the face. The next second, a sharp pain shot through the back of her neck. Someone had knocked her out. She woke to find herself and Tracy trapped in a wrecked car, just like three years ago. Only now, Raymond was the one who would decide their fate. After the rescue team assessed the situation, one of them said, their expression solemn, "Mr. Johnson, both Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Lambert are trapped in the wreck. Time is of the essence. We can only save one first. Who do you want us to save?" Without a second thought, Raymond said, "Save Mela—" "Raymond, save Melanie. She's been with you for seven years. All I did was save your life once. Choose her. The baby and I will be fine," Tracy muttered weakly while clutching her stomach before Raymond could finish speaking. Raymond hesitated as the words caught in his throat. "Save Tracy." The first responder frowned. "Are you sure? Ms. Lambert is only stuck between the airbags, but your wife's whole leg is trapped. Her injuries are far more serious. If we don't act fast, she could end up losing the leg—" "I said, save Tracy," Raymond cut him off coldly. "Melanie is my wife. Even if she loses a leg, the Johnson family can take care of her for life. Tracy is different. She saved my life before. I have to put her first." The first responder didn't argue further and started prying the car open. Melanie watched as they carefully lifted Tracy out. On her side of the car, a piece of metal had pierced her thigh when the front end crumpled, sending a sharp pain shooting through her body. In her daze, she seemed to be reliving a moment from seven years ago. She had tripped, and Raymond was half-kneeling in front of her, gently blowing on the wound to ease the pain. "Melanie, are you trying to kill me with worry?" Now that she was trapped in a car and bleeding profusely, the last thing she saw was Raymond striding away with Tracy in his arms, their figures growing smaller until they were gone from her sight. Chapter 7 When Melanie came to for the second time, she was lying in the ICU. The doctor examined her wounds, looking relieved. "That piece of metal missed your femoral artery by a hair. You're really lucky. If you'd been brought here a minute later, forget your leg, you might not have made it." Melanie managed a weak smile, but her mind was still replaying what she'd heard when she was in a semi-conscious state a while ago. "The patient's lost a lot of blood. Why hasn't there been blood from the blood bank yet?" "Don't even get me started. Mr. Johnson's girlfriend complained of stomach pain, so he ordered the entire blood bank locked. All the blood had to be reserved for his girlfriend, just in case." "That's insane! If we can't get blood from the hospital's blood bank, what happens to this patient?" "She's on her own." So Raymond really did want her dead. Perhaps she was in so much pain that even her heart had gone numb, because Melanie couldn't shed a single tear at this moment. At least their divorce would be finalized in just a few hours. That evening, Raymond came to see her. Upon seeing her bandaged thigh, he froze for a long moment before speaking. "Trace saved me… I have to look out for her." Melanie said nothing, merely studying the man in front of her, the one she had sacrificed seven years for. She wanted to ask him if he remembered how much he had once loved her and if he remembered that she had lost a child for him during that car accident. But more importantly, she wanted to ask if he had ever considered what would happen if she actually died. Although she had a lot on her mind, she merely said, "I understand." She knew that he didn't love her, had never cared for that child, and wouldn't even bat an eye if she died. And she was very much aware that after that day, they would no longer have anything to do with each other. Taking a deep breath, Melanie slowly said, "Raymond, we're divor—" The sound of a phone ringing interrupted her. Soon, Tracy's coquettish voice could be heard. "Raymond, your mom hired a photographer to take our family portrait. You're the only one missing." Raymond's expression faltered. He instinctively turned to the hospital bed, only to find Melanie with her eyes closed. Did she not care about him anymore? The thought crossed his mind, but he quickly shook it off. No. Melanie loved him too much not to care. Besides, Bethany still needed the Johnson family to survive. At that thought, Raymond's gaze became gentler all of a sudden. "Get some rest, Melanie. After you're discharged, I'll personally bring your mother back here." Once the door was shut, Melanie pulled out her phone to call the butler working in the villa. "Send the bag full of documents that's in my room to the hospital." She then messaged Vincent. "Come get me." An hour later, Melanie deleted all of Raymond's contact information, got into a wheelchair, and left the hospital. Meanwhile, Raymond, who was in the middle of the photoshoot, got a message from a lawyer. "Congratulations, Mr. Johnson. Your divorce from Ms. Melanie Strickland is now officially finalized."