Chapter 2
After signing the divorce papers, Lila called her advisor.
“Professor, I’ve changed my mind,” she said. “I want to rejoin the research team in the Atlantic.”
“Really? That’s wonderful!” her advisor exclaimed. “The team departs in ten days. The military will send someone to escort you. But I should warn you–this drug development is a classified national project. Once you join, you’ll effectively disappear from the world… Will your controlling husband agree to that?”
Hearing this, Lila gave a bitter laugh: “It doesn’t matter. He already has a new wife. I won’t be his prisoner on a golden leash anymore.”
She had once willingly accepted Callan’s control because she loved him. But now that love had been shattered by his
own hands, and it could never be repaired.
After hanging up, Lila began packing her belongings in a daze.
But before she could finish, Callan returned home.
“Lila? Why is your suitcase out? Are you going somewhere?” Callan frowned. “Where are you going? Why didn’t you tell me in advance? I’ve only been away for a week, and you’re already planning to leave without my permission?”
Lila lowered her eyes. “Am I not even allowed to leave the house anymore?”
“Of course that’s not what I meant,” Callan softened his tone. “I’m just worried about your safety. When I first took over the company, I made a lot of enemies with my ruthless methods.”
“If you want to travel, I can go with you. Lila, you’re my life–I can’t bear having you out of my sight.”
Lila remained silent, thinking to herself: Too bad, because in ten days I’ll vanish from your world completely.
“I just got back from my business trip. You’re not going anywhere right now except to stay by my side,” Callan said, taking Lila’s suitcase away. Then he leaned down to kiss her. “Be good. I’ve prepared a surprise for you in the rose
garden.”
Whenever Callan returned from a business trip, he would bring Lila gifts.
He’d hide them throughout the house and watch adoringly as Lila played their treasure hunt game.
This had once been the couple’s favorite activity. Whenever Callan traveled, Lila would eagerly await his return.
But now, there was someone else in the rose garden.
“Aunt Lila!” Zara rushed over and grabbed Lila’s arm. “Cal invited me. He said he brought back gifts for me too,
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My Husband’s Second Wife… Was My Niece?!
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Chapter 2
hidden in the rose garden.”
Lila was Zara’s aunt by blood. Logically, after Lila married Callan, Zara should have started calling him “Uncle Cal.”
But Zara refused to change how she addressed him. Even after three years of marriage, she still called him “Cal”
with inappropriate familiarity.
“Aunt Lila, let’s go treasure hunting together,” Zara said excitedly. “Let’s see what Cal got for us.”
What was once a private game between husband and wife now included Zara, and Lila’s face showed her
discomfort.
Seeing this, Callan gently coaxed, “Lila, don’t be so stingy. Yesterday was Zara’s birthday, and I missed it. I just want
to make it up to her with a gift.”
Yesterday had been Zara’s eighteenth birthday–she had just come of age, and he had immediately married her.
Lila felt utterly desolate. The treasure hunt game she once loved now seemed meaningless.
In the end, Zara found a pile of gifts, while Lila found only a single bouquet of thorned roses crafted from rare
blood–red diamonds.
“Lila always was the best at finding things,” Callan said, his eyes filled with undisguised love for Lila. “She may have only found one item, but it’s the most precious.”
Jealousy flashed in Zara’s eyes. She pouted and said softly, “Cal, I want the diamond roses too.”
“I’ll give Aunt Lila all the gifts I found if she’ll give me the roses,” Zara said, turning to Lila. “Would you trade with
me, Aunt Lila?”
Lila said nothing, just quietly looked at Callan..
After three years of marriage, she wanted to know how much she truly meant to Callan compared to Zara.
Callan’s expression became troubled. After a moment of silence, he took the diamond roses and gave them to Zara.
‘Lila, today is to make up for Zara’s birthday. Just let her have this one,” Callan said. “If you like the diamond roses, I’ll buy you an even bigger bouquet another day.”
In that moment, Lila’s heart sank to the bottom of the ocean: He chose Zara.
The man who once put her first in everything now prioritized Zara.
‘Don’t bother,” Lila said, yanking her arm from Callan’s grasp and walking away. “I only want something that’s one–of–a–kind. If you’ve already given it to someone else, I don’t want it anymore.”
The same goes for you, Callan. You could only belong to me. If you belong to someone else at the same time, then I don’t want you anymore.
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My Husband’s Second Wife… Was My Niece?!