His Shame, My Crown

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Because my husband Adrian froze all my bank cards, I went to his company to ask for money for my prenatal checkup.

I accidentally walked in on him having sex with his childhood sweetheart, Summer Cole.

I touched my still-unborn child, swallowed my tears, and walked in calmly. Give me two thousand dollars for the checkup, and I'll leave right away.

Adrian sneered.

"We're in the middle of having sex, and you scared Summer. Apologize to her, and I'll give you the money."

For the sake of my unborn baby, I immediately bent down to apologize, took the money, and left.

Everyone thought I was a gold-digger clinging desperately for money.

He cursed me the same way.

It wasn't until after I disappeared that Adrian realized his "embarrassing" wife had, by his own hands, become the woman every elite family wanted most.

And when he knelt before me, begging me to look at him one more time in his bloody, broken state, I was holding another man's arm, walking down the red carpet toward my wedding.

Joanna POV

Three years after marrying Adrian Blackwood, I saw him passionately kissing his childhood sweetheart Summer Cole in his office.

On the leather sofa I'd personally chosen, Adrian had Summer pinned beneath him.

"Summer, I want you."

"So when are you signing the divorce papers to marry me?" Summer wrapped her arms around Adrian's neck, her cool voice still tinged with fading desire.

Standing outside the door, I froze. Tears streamed down my face without me even realizing it. My hand instinctively moved to my abdomen.

I hadn't forgotten my purpose for coming here-to ask Adrian for money for my prenatal checkup.

Two months ago, after Summer returned to the country, Adrian made her the household manager and simultaneously cut off all my cards.

I took a deep breath, wiped the tears from my face, forced a smile, and pushed open the door to walk into the office.

"Sorry to interrupt."

Hearing my voice, Adrian's brow furrowed quickly. His body, which had been pressing down on Summer, immediately straightened, pulling distance between them.

Summer's expression darkened as she buttoned her shirt, concealing the kiss marks on her neck.

Ignoring the awkward atmosphere in the room, I looked straight at Adrian. "I need to go to the hospital for a checkup today. I applied to Summer yesterday, but she didn't reply, so I came here."

"How much do you need?"

"Two thousand dollars."

Summer frowned, her cool face covered with a layer of frost.

"Joanna, I already manage all the household affairs, and on top of that, I'm Blackwood Corporation's Design Director. I don't have time to approve every little expense you come up with. Don't tell me you can't afford two thousand dollars. Or are you just trying to make a scene in front of Adrian?"

Adrian's scrutinizing gaze shot into my heart like a knife, cutting it into countless tiny pieces.

I smiled bitterly inside. After marriage, I hadn't worked. Adrian cut off my cards, and the money I'd saved before marriage ran out in a month.

My mother was still hospitalized, and everything required money. This month, even working three jobs a day wasn't nearly enough. If I hadn't been truly desperate, I wouldn't have humiliated myself by asking.

I looked up at Adrian. "Adrian, I'm still your wife. Are you giving me this money or not?"

Deep in my heart, I still held hope for the man before me. If Adrian could choose me over Summer, for the sake of the child, I could pretend nothing had happened.

"Give it? Of course I'll give it." Adrian sneered. "You married me for the Blackwood family money, didn't you? But my money doesn't grow on trees."

"Today you ruined my mood. Apologize to us, and you can take the money."

The humiliation was overwhelming. I could barely breathe.

Mrs. Blackwood was right. Adrian truly loved Summer. I was just a stand-in.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you two."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied with my apology.

I turned to Summer and bent at the waist.

"The money's been transferred to you. Don't come to the company unless it's necessary from now on."

I looked at the notification showing two thousand dollars deposited, lowered my head, and left the office.

I don't know how I walked out of the company. In a daze, I remembered three years ago when Adrian fell for me at first sight and pursued me frantically.

He picked me up and dropped me off every day, gave me endless small gifts, and created various surprises for me.

Just because I said I didn't know what flowers I liked, he rented ten thousand acres of flower fields and let me choose one by one.

Having never been treasured like that before, I fell.

On our wedding registration day, Adrian looked like he owned the whole world, his eyes full of happiness and longing for the future. "Joanna, we'll be happy for a lifetime."

But only three years later, he cheated with another woman.

I picked up my phone and sent a message to Mrs. Blackwood.

"You win. I accept defeat. Please fulfill your promise."

Soon I received a reply.

"The divorce papers will reach you within three days. I'll arrange your mother's hospital transfer process. Three days from now, you leave New York and never come back."

I put away my phone and hailed a car to the hospital.

Watching the scenery outside the window, I let out a long breath.

Soon it would all be over.

Three months ago, my mother's small company was sabotaged, creating a huge funding gap. Mother didn't want me to worry, so she faced those vicious debt collectors alone.

I didn't find out until the company went bankrupt and Mother was driven to a heart attack and admitted to the ICU.

When I was desperate, not knowing how to ask Adrian for money, Mrs. Blackwood found me first.

"I can pay for your mother to get the best treatment, but you have to make a bet with me."

Mrs. Blackwood had opposed my marriage from the start. Back then, Adrian fought his family elders for me and was severely punished, nearly losing half his life before Mrs. Blackwood relented.

"Adrian's ex-girlfriend is returning tomorrow. She and Adrian are perfectly matched, but three years ago, family circumstances forced her to go abroad. I'll arrange for her to enter Blackwood Corporation. If within three months, Adrian still insists on only you, from then on I won't make things difficult for you."

"But if he chooses Summer, you leave New York. In either case, I'll give you money so your mother can get treatment."

At the time, I was supremely confident in our relationship, thinking this was a gamble that could both get Mother treatment and make Mrs. Blackwood fully accept me.

Mrs. Blackwood handed me a card. "Don't tell Adrian about this, and don't play any tricks. I still have the final say at Blackwood Corporation."

I returned home to pack, constantly replaying the doctor's words in my mind.

"The baby's developing well, but you're already showing some signs of threatened miscarriage. During pregnancy, you need to maintain your physical and emotional wellbeing. Don't overwork yourself."

I had no choice. Mother in the ICU was burning through money every day. Given Adrian's current attitude toward me, he wouldn't give me a cent. I could only rely on myself.

Perhaps with my current situation, I shouldn't keep this child at all.

Closing my suitcase, I noticed a glaring red color in the bed crack. I walked over and picked it up.

It was women's underwear with traces of fluid still remaining.

In that instant, my mind went blank.

Adrian and Summer-they did it in our marital bedroom?

Joanna POV

I wanted to wait for Adrian to come home and ask him clearly, but I waited until dawn without seeing anyone.

I smiled bitterly. Adrian hadn't come home much this past month-why did I think he'd come back today?

My phone suddenly rang. It was Adrian calling.

"Bring two boxes of condoms. I've sent you the address and the brand."

I opened the address Adrian sent-it was "Mystique," New York's largest nightclub.

"Do you really have to humiliate me like this?" My voice trembled as I bit my lip hard.

Was it because I'd already seen them this morning, so there was no need to hide it from me anymore?

Adrian's voice carried not a trace of emotion. "If you want to enjoy the glory and wealth of being a billionaire's wife, you need the appropriate tolerance. Did you think you could just take my mother's money for free?"

Adrian's words struck me like a bolt of lightning.

So he'd been treating me so differently because he knew I'd taken money from Mrs. Blackwood.

"Adrian, I didn't-"

"I only use this brand. If she can't deliver it, don't touch me anymore." Summer's cool voice came through the phone, extinguishing the hope that had just kindled in my heart.

It was never just about the money. If Adrian loved me enough, trusted me enough, he wouldn't think of me this way.

His heart had long since left me. Nothing I said would matter.

"I'll order delivery for you. Hope you have fun."

I hung up and had just opened the delivery app when I received a message from Adrian.

"This brand isn't available for delivery. Get it here within thirty minutes, and I'll give you a hundred thousand."

Thinking of my future with Mother, and the child in my belly, I replied: "Deal."

The Blackwood family driver had already finished work. At this hour, I couldn't get a car at all. Walking down the street, I scanned a bike-share bicycle.

Getting on it, I remembered two years ago when Adrian personally taught me to ride.

Back then, I never would have imagined there'd be a day when I'd ride a bike to deliver condoms to him and another woman.

I rode as fast as I could to the adult store, then headed to the nightclub.

The sky suddenly started drizzling. I had no choice but to pedal desperately.

Finally, right on time, I pushed open the private room door at the 29-minute mark.

I was soaked through, my face pale, my lower abdomen aching faintly. I pulled the bag from inside my clothes and walked to Adrian.

"Transfer the money."

Adrian took the bag and promptly transferred the money. "You really are willing to do anything for money. I transferred three hundred thousand-the extra is my compensation for sleeping with you these three years."

I ignored Adrian's words. I'd already decided to leave, so I wouldn't hold any more expectations for him. Now, except for money, nothing else mattered to me.

Summer laughed lightly beside him. "Girls from ordinary families just can't be presented in society. As long as someone gives you money, you'd sleep with anyone, right?"

Hearing Summer's words, the other men in the room all turned their gazes on me.

Those naked stares made me feel sick.

"How come I never noticed Joanna had such a good figure before?"

"Adrian's got Summer now-why not let us have some fun with her?"

"Hahaha, a woman a billionaire's had-just thinking about it is exciting!"

Adrian's expression darkened. He grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it at the feet of the jeering men.

The glass shards cut several men's faces, but not one dared dodge.

"Shut up!" Adrian turned to look at me, picked up his jacket, and draped it over me to block the others' gazes.

"Joanna, who are you trying to seduce looking like that? Can't live without a man? Can't get money from me so you're sizing up other targets?"

I instinctively protested: "I didn't. I rode a bike here. It's raining outside..."

Summer, sitting on the sofa, took a sip of wine and spoke softly. "It's raining and you don't know to have the driver take you or call a car? You deliberately rode a bike here-trying to scheme against Adrian like you did three years ago?"

Three years ago, it was also a rainy day. I didn't have an umbrella and got drenched like a drowned rat hiding at a bus stop. That very bedraggled appearance made Adrian fall for me at first sight.

I looked at Adrian's darkened face, knowing nothing I said would help.

"Joanna, three years and you haven't even upgraded your tactics? You really take me for a complete fool?"

Adrian gripped my chin tightly, using so much force he nearly crushed my bones.

I was pregnant, and combined with intense exercise and the rain, I was already at my limit. After a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, I lost consciousness.

In the last moment before losing consciousness, I saw the blood spreading on my pants. Adrian completely panicked.

"Get the car! To the hospital! Hurry!"

Joanna POV

When I woke again, I was in the hospital. Adrian sat by my bed, tightly gripping my hand.

Seeing me awake, Adrian quickly picked up the water cup and brought it to my lips.

I turned my head away, my voice hoarse. "Where's the baby?"

Adrian showed a regretful expression. "Joanna, we'll have another child."

I closed my eyes. Two lines of tears fell from the corners of my eyes. There would be no "next time."

Perhaps it was better the baby was gone. Rather than being born into an incomplete, unhappy family, better to be reborn into a good home.

I don't know how much time passed before I opened my eyes and looked at Adrian.

"Adrian, did you ever love me?" I paused. "Or rather, do you really think I approached you for money?"

Adrian froze for a second, then held my hand. "Joanna, of course I love you. Even if you approached me for money, it doesn't matter. The baby's gone. Can we erase the past and start over?"

"What about Summer?"

"Summer and I grew up together." Adrian pressed his face tightly against my palm. "I love you and I love her, but don't worry-you'll always be Mrs. Blackwood. I'll only have you two women, not like others in our circle with so many women."

Looking at the man before me, the last beautiful memory related to him in my heart collapsed.

I understood. Adrian believed I approached him only for money. Now that the baby was gone, he'd decided to magnanimously forgive my past "scheming."

I couldn't understand how someone could be so hypocritical, making infidelity sound so refreshing and sanctimonious.

Summer entered the room. I seized the opportunity to pull my hand from Adrian's.

"Am I interrupting you two?" Summer stood at the door with sarcasm.

Before Adrian could react, she spoke again. "I checked the hospital records. Yesterday morning you just had a prenatal checkup, so how come by evening you knowingly rode a bike in the rain while pregnant?"

Adrian's expression instantly darkened, his scrutinizing gaze sweeping over me.

"Was it an accident..." Summer paused, then smiled meaningfully. "Or did you not want this baby and deliberately do this to frame me?"

Summer walked forward and threw the documents in her hand into Adrian's lap.

"Look carefully. This crude tactic might fool Adrian, but it can't fool me."

Adrian flipped through the documents, then looked up with a complex expression. "Do you have anything to say?"

I opened my mouth but ultimately said nothing.

What could I say?

That the driver had finished work? That you couldn't get a car in the villa district at dawn? Or that Mother was in the ICU and I desperately needed money?

No matter how much I explained, in their eyes it would all just be excuses.

My phone suddenly lit up. I opened the message.

"Joanna, your mother's condition is very poor. The account funds are depleted. If you wish to continue treatment, please pay promptly."

I immediately transferred the three hundred thousand Adrian had given me to the hospital account, then put down my phone and grinned at Adrian.

"Yes, I did it deliberately. You and Summer are perfectly matched. Of course I need to make room for her. Considering how hard I worked and risked half my life, can you give me some money? A million dollars would be enough."

Adrian's brow furrowed tightly, veins bulging on his forehead. "Joanna, you're so money-crazy you'd even trade our child for cash?"

"It was a life, after all. If you're unwilling, would Summer be willing to pay?"

It didn't matter anymore-however Adrian saw me didn't matter. I only needed money now. I had no time to contact Mrs. Blackwood. Even casting aside all dignity, as long as I could get money, I'd do anything.

Summer placed her hand on Adrian's to comfort him, indicating he should leave everything to her.

Adrian silently stepped back, his eyes still fixed on me.

"Want money? Of course you can have it. Though I don't need you to make room for me-what's mine will always be mine, not yours to give. But you did look after Adrian for three years. A million isn't expensive."

Summer's tone changed. "But I'm not as soft-hearted as Adrian. If you want money, you'll have to pay a price."

"What price?"

"Blackwood Corporation's amusement park in New York is about to open. We need someone to personally test the extreme rides. Are you willing to contribute to the company?"

I had no room to refuse. I changed clothes and went with them to the amusement park.

Looking at the various high-altitude projects, my legs trembled uncontrollably, my face white as paper.

When I was young, I was bullied by classmates who made me ride a roller coaster over a hundred times consecutively.

Though my life wasn't at risk, that rapid rising and falling sensation of weightlessness became a nightmare I could never forget.

After marriage, Adrian discovered my unusual fear of heights and took me to see famous psychologists.

Every time I woke from nightmares, he'd pull me into his arms to comfort me.

I instinctively cast a pleading look toward Adrian, but only saw his cold eyes.

I forced down my fear and looked at Summer with forced composure. "Transfer the money first."

Summer sneered. "You really will do anything for money. I'll transfer five hundred thousand first. When all the projects are finished, I'll transfer the remaining five hundred thousand."

I saw the notification of five hundred thousand arriving on my phone, nodded, and walked toward the tallest roller coaster and got on.

As I was checking the safety measures, a roaring sound rang in my ears-the equipment had been started!

Though it was only a dozen seconds, it felt incredibly long. The powerful airflow scraped my skin like sandpaper, my brain rapidly filling with blood.

In a daze, I seemed to see Adrian proposing to me years ago.

He knelt on one knee in the flower field and put a ring he'd made himself on my finger.

Back and forth like this, I don't know how many times. Finally stopping on the ground, I collapsed, unable to stop dry heaving.

A staff member walked up to me. "Joanna, Adrian and Summer have already left. I'm in charge of the subsequent project testing. Each test will be fully videotaped. Can you continue?"

I wiped away the blood seeping from my fingertips from gripping too hard and stood up supporting myself on the railing.

"Let's continue."

Joanna POV

Three hours later, I dragged my body, which had reached its limit, back to the villa.

The villa's main gate was tightly closed. I used my last bit of strength to press the doorbell, then uncontrollably slid to the ground.

One minute... two minutes... ten minutes...

No one opened the door for me. The electronic doorbell made a rustling sound as the camera turned toward my direction.

"Joanna, Summer set a curfew. After nine o'clock, no one is allowed in or out. Find somewhere else to rest tonight."

After a beep, the sound completely disappeared, and the camera returned to its original position.

My spirit, which I'd been forcing to hold together, reached its limit. Scenes related to Adrian flashed through my mind like a slideshow.

On the manor lawn, Adrian once held me in his arms teaching me to weave flower crowns. By the Trevi Fountain in Rome, he and I threw coins together, making a wish to heaven for a lifetime together.

I remembered again how Adrian fought the family elders for me that day, ultimately being severely whipped until bloody and mangled, yet still forcing a smile to comfort me.

And the first time I was pregnant, the way he was genuinely happy from his heart, as if he wanted to give me the whole world. After the child was lost, he barely smiled for a whole year.

The scene shifted, and I saw Adrian in the nightclub gripping my chin, humiliating me to the extreme.

Tears flowed unconsciously. I seemed to have grown accustomed to this pain.

If I could be given another chance, I wouldn't want to fall in love with Adrian again.

I completely lost consciousness and fainted outside the villa gate.

Early the next morning, the servants woke me at the door. I swayed as I walked into the villa.

I felt feverish all over, single-mindedly wanting only to get my luggage and leave the Blackwood home.

Halfway up the stairs, I encountered Summer coming out of the bedroom.

Summer wore only one of Adrian's shirts. The red marks on her neck and chest all proclaimed how intense their night had been.

I knew what she meant but didn't want to pay attention. But Summer blocked my way first.

"Joanna, you really have no shame. Even like this, you still want to stay by Adrian's side?" Summer mocked in a voice only the two of us could hear. "I thought you'd have figured it out last night and wouldn't have the face to come back."

Her finger slid toward the kiss marks on her body. "Adrian's heart no longer has you in it. Or rather, he never loved you. From beginning to end, you were just my substitute."

I slowly raised my head, looked Summer in the eye, and said, "Excuse me. You're in my way."

I wouldn't show weakness before Summer. Regardless of her reaction, I strode to the room where I'd left my luggage.

In my suitcase was a doll my father had made for me with his own hands. This was the only keepsake he'd left me. I had to take it.

The moment I stood up, my vision went black. I steadied myself against the wardrobe for a while before returning to normal. During this time, I seemed to hear a scream from downstairs.

I shook my head and carried my suitcase downstairs.

Whatever happened had nothing to do with me anymore.

As soon as I reached the living room, I saw Summer holding her arm with red, swollen eyes, leaning in Adrian's embrace.

Adrian's face was dark. Seeing me, he immediately ordered the bodyguards: "Grab her!"

Before I could react, a huge force came from behind my legs. My legs gave way and I knelt on the ground. The next second, my head was pressed firmly to the floor, and my lips were cut by my teeth, seeping blood.

"Adrian, I just asked her a couple questions about where she went last night. I didn't expect her to do this to me."

"She scattered nails in the living room! If I hadn't reacted quickly, the nails would have pierced my foot instead of just scratching my arm!"

I looked up in disbelief. "What nails? I didn't!"

The next second, the bodyguard searched me. Soon, he pulled out a dozen nails from my pocket. Adrian's face darkened. "What do you have to say now?"

I immediately looked at Summer.

It was her!

She was the one who stuffed them in my pocket on the stairs! I struggled desperately.

"It wasn't me! It was Summer-she framed me!"

Adrian didn't even give me a glance. He turned and carried Summer to the hospital, pausing at the door.

"Even now you don't know to repent. Since you like playing dirty tricks, take her to the basement for punishment."

"Count carefully for me. If it's not a hundred lashes, you'll make up the rest."

Joanna POV

I screamed until my voice was hoarse, but no one stopped.

The bodyguards took me to the basement of the Blackwood estate-a place specifically for punishing people.

On the cold concrete floor sat a punishment rack, still bearing bloodstains from the previous victim.

Tremendous fear enveloped me. After these hundred lashes, I'd probably be torn to shreds.

I desperately hugged a bodyguard's thigh, shaking my head constantly. "I'm Adrian's wife. You can't do this to me. He's just angry with me temporarily. If you really do this, he'll hold you accountable later."

I had no confidence at all, but this identity was the only thing I had left to offer.

"Let me go, please. I can give you money, as much as you want."

But the bodyguard completely ignored my words, only raising his hand to point at the surveillance camera in the upper right corner.

"Joanna, don't make things difficult for us. The boss has already given the order. The entire basement has complete surveillance coverage. We're just following orders."

My hand dropped limply as I allowed the bodyguard to tie me to the rack.

The rough whip fell mercilessly. Intense pain instantly swept through my entire body. My whole back was struck without mercy.

My face instantly turned pale, cold sweat streaming from my forehead. I couldn't help curling up, but it only brought me greater pain.

At first, I could still feel the pain, even wishing I could pass out immediately. But soon, I lost all perception of my body, as if my soul had left and was watching this cruel punishment indifferently.

The massive blood loss made me feel an exhaustion from deep within my body. I even felt it would be good if I just fell asleep like this.

I don't know how much time passed. In a daze, I felt someone lifting me up. The restraints that had bound my wrists and ankles disappeared.

The smell in the air became pungent. Many people in white clothes seemed to be constantly moving before my eyes. After that, I couldn't remember anything clearly.

When I regained consciousness again, my entire body was wrapped in gauze. I couldn't move at all.

The nurse making rounds noticed my movement and immediately called a doctor.

The doctor shone a flashlight in my eyes twice, looked at the monitoring equipment indicators, and spoke to me.

"You lost too much blood. Although we've given you a transfusion, you definitely won't recover quickly. We've applied medicine to your wounds, but you need to be prepared. The wounds are too large. They'll definitely scar."

I blinked to indicate I understood.

"We couldn't contact your family, but the person who brought you left sufficient funds in your account. Don't worry. Rest and recover. You can be discharged in about two weeks."

I lay in the hospital for three days before I could finally get out of bed and move around. During this time, Adrian didn't visit me once, but Summer hired a caregiver for me.

Hospital life was boring. Every day I just stared at the ceiling or listened to sounds from the next room.

The next room housed a newly married young couple. Because the wife had signs of threatened miscarriage, they'd been staying in the hospital for observation.

Their room was always lively, with many visitors every day. They even sent me fruit twice.

A child would be happy in such a family.

Two weeks passed quickly. After the doctor checked my condition, he approved my discharge application.

Before leaving, I wanted to see what my "fellow patient" next door actually looked like.

I walked to the hospital room door. What I saw made me freeze in place as if struck by lightning.

That couple I'd always thought was happy-it was Adrian and Summer.

The happy family I'd envied all this time, even hoping my lost child would be reborn into-

It was my husband and another woman.

Just one wall apart. Adrian came to the hospital every day but never visited me once.

Summer, lying in Adrian's embrace inside the room, casually glanced at me by the door. First showing a bit of surprise, she then revealed a victor's smile.

I don't know how I walked out of the hospital.

I mechanically hailed a taxi, went back for my luggage, and picked up the divorce agreement Mrs. Blackwood had given me.

Then I went to the airport, bought a ticket, and went through security. The whole process went smoothly, without a trace of hesitation.

As if going faster would prevent the pain from catching up with me.

Three hours later, I got off the plane in a small southern city.

Feeling the air's moisture so different from New York's, I couldn't help but redden my eyes.

I was free.