Chapter 1 A Rare Smile

• New Year's Eve was a day I knew I would never forget for the rest of my life.
• After spending hours hustling in the kitchen, preparing dish after dish, I was utterly exhausted. My back ached, and I was just about to take a break when my mother-in-law, Alice Hill, interrupted. She asked me to add a few more dishes, emphasizing that I should avoid using chili and limit the use of oil.
• Her request baffled me. I knew everyone's preferences well—each of them loved their food with a spicy flavor. Why the sudden need for such mild, bland dishes? Is someone else joining us for the celebration?
• I felt a wave of confusion but dared not ask any questions. Alice had always been critical of me, and I had no desire to provoke her, especially not on New Year's Eve.
• "Madam Hill, Mr. Eckman said he'll be a bit late. He's stuck in traffic coming from the airport," the butler informed Alice just as I was about to head back to the kitchen.
• Upon hearing this, my confusion deepened.
• The butler was referring to my husband, Marcus Eckman. Marcus' office is downtown. Why had he been at the airport?
• I had no idea what he was doing there. Despite seven years of marriage, we barely spent time together, and he never bothered to share his plans or whereabouts with me.
• The only reason I was married into the Eckman Family was because of my dad, Fred Bolton.
• He had once been the driver for Marcus' grandpa, Kelvin Eckman. During a tragic accident, he sacrificed his life to save Kelvin.
• His only wish was that I would have a good life after he was gone.
• In response, Kelvin promptly decided that I would marry his grandson, Marcus.
• Once my mourning period ended, I married into the Eckman Family.
• Back then, I thought I was the luckiest woman in the world. Because of my dad's job, I often visited the Eckman residence during my childhood. From the very first moment I laid eyes on Marcus, he firmly rooted himself in my heart.
• Fifteen years had passed since then.
• I had loved Marcus for fifteen years, and I had been his wife for seven. However, deep down, I knew I had never truly found my way into his heart.
• No matter how indifferent he was to me, I remained committed to being a good wife, holding on to the hope that one day, he might see me differently.
• The thought of him coming home filled me with excitement. My heart fluttered like that of a girl in love for the first time, and even the weariness of cooking seemed to fade.
• "Mr. Eckman has parked his car. Madam Hill wants to know if the food is ready," the butler relayed as I continued working in the kitchen.
• His tone carried a certain coldness, as if in his eyes, I wasn't truly regarded as Mrs. Eckman, but merely a servant ranked even lower than himself.
• In this grand residence, there were no other servants. Despite my title as Mrs. Eckman, I handled all the household chores.
• But I never complained. The Eckman Family had allowed me to marry Marcus, and for that, I was grateful. After all, it was a wife's duty to maintain her home.
• Sometimes, I chuckled at the irony. If only the house were smaller, perhaps I'd have fewer tasks to manage.
• After finally setting the last dish on the table, Marcus still hadn't arrived. I exhaled in relief, eager to remove my apron and freshen up. I planned to take a quick bath, change into something more presentable, and maybe even put on a little makeup.
• Covered in the scent of oil and sweat, I couldn't bear to face him like this.
• Just as I was about to slip into my room, Alice called everyone to dinner. Within moments, the house filled with relatives and friends, all gathering for the feast.
• The Eckman Family was vast, and tonight's gathering was just a small fraction of the family.
• Yet, it was these cousins, aunts, and even uncles gathered together that filled three whole tables.
• I felt a secret relief that we weren't at Kelvin's house, where I would have been utterly overwhelmed, attempting to prepare enough food for the entire family by myself.
• When Alice announced that it was time to eat, a wave of frustration washed over me, for this signaled that Marcus had already arrived, leaving me with no opportunity to tidy myself up.
• At that moment, I felt tears welling up inside me.
• Glancing across the living room, I spotted a tall figure at the doorway. His presence introduced a chill to the lively atmosphere of the residence, drawing all attention to him.
• The man, clad in a flawlessly tailored black suit, stood tall and striking. His slightly disheveled black hair grazed his broad, cold forehead, and his dark, piercing eyes revealed no warmth. Like his lips, pressed into a thin, blade-like line, he exuded an air of aloofness and indifference.
• Marcus—my husband, the man I cherished deeply.
• It had been thirty-four days since I last saw him, but he remained unchanged. He was just as cold, arrogant, and breathtakingly handsome, capturing every gaze in the room.
• Instinctively, I yearned to hide, terrified that he would see the small, pitiful version of myself I felt I had become.
• Summoning all my composure, I approached him, intending to fulfill my duty as his wife by taking his briefcase.
• However, he turned slightly, casting his gaze into the shadows behind him.
• A woman clad in a white mink coat emerged, stepping into the light. She intertwined her arm with Marcus', and for the first time, I witnessed a rare smile illuminating his face.