How absurd. They looked like a pair of lovers deeply in love, while I, the wife in name, seemed like nothing more than an outsider.

"How do you manage to twist your ankle just from walking or getting out of a car?" Richard's voice carried over to me, laced with both reproach and undeniable affection.

Suddenly, it felt as if the years of our marriage were nothing but a complete joke.

I never realized how much he cared for Susan. If she was the one he truly loved, why did he marry me?

"I'll be more careful next time," Susan's voice chimed in, almost in a coquettish tone.

Even the butler and the driver seemed to pick up on the tension, quickly ushering me into the main house and guiding me to the living room.

The spacious living room was filled with members of the Blackwood family.

Richard's grandfather, Henry Blackwood, spotted me and waved me over. "Come and sit, Sophia. Where's Richard?"

"Susan hurt her foot, and he's personally tending to her. I didn't want to disturb them," I replied, unable to resist adding a touch of sarcasm to my words.

Susan's injury might not have been serious, but it seemed only Richard could be her doctor.

My words caused a noticeable shift in the expressions of everyone present. I wondered if perhaps they, too, knew something about the situation between Susan and Richard that I didn't.

Maybe I was the only fool here, completely in the dark.

"This is unacceptable." Henry slammed his cane against the floor. "Sophia, has Richard been mistreating you? You must tell me if he ever dares to hurt you. I'll stand up for you."

His worried look made my throat tighten.

I knew Henry cared for me and had always treated me well. Without him, Richard and I might never have made it this far.

"It's nothing, Grandpa," I said, shaking my head. "Richard and I are doing fine. Don't worry about us."

The old man's health wasn't the best, and I couldn't bear to make him worry.

"Is Susan hurt? Is it serious?" Richard's father, William Blackwood, asked, his face filled with concern.

He was Susan's stepfather and was said to treat her as his own daughter.

"Not serious, Father," Susan's voice suddenly cut in, and I looked up to see her limping over with Richard's support.

When Richard saw me, he quickly let go of Susan, and William immediately stepped in to help her to a seat.

"Richard, you really are foolish. Why aren't you with your wife? What are you doing with Susan?" Henry scolded, rapping Richard's leg with his cane.

"Susan was hurt, and I..." Richard stammered, looking uncertain. He walked over to take my hand, but I pulled away.

"It's just a twisted ankle. Does she need to all this fuss?" Henry scoffed, his disdain for Susan evident. "Richard, you need to remember that Sophia is your wife."

"Yes, Grandfather, I understand." Richard nodded, looking at me as if wanting to explain.

But I didn't look at him. Instead, I walked over to Henry and started chatting with him.

"Susan, there's no need for you to attend these family gatherings in the future," Henry said coldly, casting a disdainful glance at Susan. "The Blackwood family doesn't welcome you."

Susan’s face going rigid as if she'd been slapped.

I knew Henry had never been fond of Susan and didn't want to acknowledge her as a member of the Blackwood family, but I hadn't expected him to humiliate her so openly.

"Dad, Susan is Grace's daughter. Do you really have to do this?" William began trying to speak up for Susan.

Grace was William's second wife and Richard's stepmother, and William had always been protective of both Grace and Susan.

"That's enough, be quiet," Henry cut him off, then turned to me with a warm smile. "Come on, Sophia, let's go to dinner."

The elegantly decorated dining room was filled with a lavish spread of delicacies. The Blackwood family was wealthy, so Henry's birthday parties were always extravagant.

I sat next to Henry, chatting and laughing with him, deliberately avoiding looking at Richard. I could feel his gaze on me, but I was too exhausted to engage with him.

After dinner, Henry asked Richard to take me for a walk in the garden. We strolled around the garden in silence, neither of us knowing what to say. Perhaps Richard didn't know how to explain himself.

Even a blind person could see the tension between him and Susan.

Suddenly, Richard's phone rang. He answered it, then turned to me with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Sophia, but I need to check on Susan."

"What's wrong with her now? Did she hurt her ankle again? Are you a doctor? Do you think only you can help her?" I couldn't hold back my sarcasm any longer.

"I'm sorry. I'll explain later. Susan really isn't well." Richard's face paled, and with those words, he quickly walked away, leaving me standing there alone.