Chapter 6

Chapter 6

From my hairstyle to my dressing style, he had been shaping me to look like Sophia Wilson.

He had even been trying to change my preferences little by little.

I didn't like wax apples—I always thought they had no taste and were hard to swallow. But he had said: Ella loves wax apples. Just try them slowly.

I had thought he was telling me to eat them because they were nutritious.

I didn't know how to play the piano, but whenever he had time, he would teach me: Ella looks so elegant and beautiful when she plays the piano.

I didn't really like bright, showy clothes—I felt like my temperament couldn't pull them off. But he had said: Ella looks really nice in this style.

It turned out that he had been trying to turn me into someone else all along. Thinking back on all those little things, I felt like there was a heavy stone pressing down on my chest. I couldn't breathe, and my heart ached terribly.

Ryan Bennett had been the only ray of light in my twenty years of life. I didn't want to let go—I couldn't let go.

And I couldn't understand why he could marry me whenever he wanted and divorce me just as easily. Was I really that unnecessary?

I had been unnecessary at home, and now I was unnecessary here too. All I wanted was to live a good life with the person I loved. What was wrong with that?

Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face: I don't want your compensation. I just want you.

What?

Ryan Bennett frowned slightly. The look in his eyes changed from guilt to impatience.

Ella Carter, let's get a divorce. There's no future for us.

When it was clear that Ryan Bennett and I were at an impasse, Sophia Wilson said softly:

Ryan, let me talk to her alone.

"Ryan"? When I heard that nickname, my heart ached even more. After marrying Ryan Bennett, I had always called him "husband,"

but he had said he preferred me to call him "Ryan." It turned out that was the nickname Sophia Wilson used for him.

Every time he looked at me and heard me call him "Ryan," he must have been thinking of Sophia Wilson.

Ryan Bennett always listened to Sophia Wilson. He turned around and walked out of the room. Sophia Wilson walked straight to the sofa in the living room and sat down.

She looked so calm and composed, as if she were the real mistress of the house.

I heard your original name was Ella Carter. Do you know why Ryan wanted you to change your name to Ella Carter?

Because my nickname is Ella. Ryan and I got together when we were sophomores in college. We had agreed to get married after graduation.

But then something happened. I never thought that after I left, you would steal my place.

Every word she said chipped away at my mental defenses. I tried to argue:

No! If he really loved you, if your relationship was really that unbreakable, then no matter what happened, you wouldn't have broken up. Right?

Sophia Wilson stood up and walked towards me: Look at yourself. Every part of you screams "me."

Ella, wake up. You're just my substitute. Can't you see that this is proof of how much Ryan loves me?

After I left, he even found someone to replace me. Your existence is a sign of his love for me.

Looking at Sophia Wilson's confident eyes, I felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. She was right—I had stolen her place.

If it weren't for my face, Ryan Bennett would never have noticed me, and I would never have married him.

I stood there, unable to think of a single thing to say to refute Sophia Wilson. She continued:

Think about it. Ten million yuan is enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life.

With that, Sophia Wilson turned around and left. Ryan Bennett didn't come back that night either.

In fact, at that time, I was already pregnant with Ryan Bennett's child. I didn't want my child to be born without a father.

I also wanted to take a chance—maybe Ryan Bennett would be touched by me and choose me instead.

But touch wasn't love. Unfortunately, I was too stubborn back then—I wouldn't give up until I hit a wall.

After Ryan Bennett realized I was determined not to divorce him, he stopped coming home altogether, leaving me alone in that big house.

He even fired all the nannies. I was the only one left in that huge mansion.

I was afraid to tell him about the pregnancy—I was worried he would just take me to get an abortion. But in the end, I still lost the baby.

Now that I think about it, you can never hold onto a man whose heart isn't with you. Why couldn't I see that back then?