C1 Her Husband's Indifference.

The winter in City A was colder than any year before.

Sonia Reed sat emotionlessly on the sofa, the sound of her mother-in-law's scolding drifting up from downstairs.

"Sonia, I could forgive you for not being able to get pregnant, but why haven't you started cooking dinner yet? Are you trying to starve me and Axel?"

Her mother-in-law, Ruth Lee, had spent the last three years since Sonia married Toby Fuller scolding her in secret.

What no one knew was that her husband Toby had never slept with her since day one.

"Come down and help me with my backpack already; I need to get to school!" a young voice called out urgently.

Axel Fuller, Toby's younger brother, was a veritable little demon who took every opportunity to torment Sonia.

In his eyes, his sister-in-law was weak and an easy target.

Sonia descended the stairs and went into the kitchen to cook, her movements robotic. Afterwards, she organized Axel's schoolbag and lunchbox.

"The dinner's ready, Mom," Sonia announced.

Ruth's irritation flared at the sight of Sonia's lethargy. She slammed her cup down on the table and snapped, "Sonia, you've grown bold, haven't you? Spending my son's money, living in his house, and now you dare disrespect me? Do you think I won't call Toby right now and have him divorce you?"

Sonia's hand shook, causing the plate she held to quiver. She inhaled deeply and managed a strained smile. "Mom, I would never."

Ruth scoffed, not buying it for a second. "Sonia, don't kid yourself into thinking you're really Toby's wife just because his grandmother is on your side. You're nothing compared to Khloe!"

At the mention of that name, Sonia's face lost all color.

Axel Fuller's eyes gleamed with mischief, clearly privy to some inside information. "Haven't you heard? Khloe's getting out of the hospital soon. My brother wants to bring her home to live with us."

Sonia's eyelid twitched, her grip on the plate unsteady.

Ruth, fed up with Sonia's pitiful act, huffed dismissively. "Stop standing there; you're ruining my appetite. Get out of my sight."

Sonia retreated from the dining room and returned to the solitude of the sofa.

As evening approached, a Maybach pulled up to the house.

Sonia leapt from the sofa and hurried to the balcony to peer down.

A man with a tall, elegant figure stepped out of the car, his suit fitting him perfectly.

His looks were striking, his presence more captivating than any movie star's.

Feeling Sonia's gaze, he looked up, their eyes meeting briefly.

His were icy, devoid of any warmth.

Sonia was all too familiar with that look. She forced a smile, though her lips barely curved.

When Toby entered the room, Sonia attended to him as usual, helping him change and preparing his bath. "Honey, grandma has been at the temple for nearly a month. She called the other day wanting to buy you a talisman for protection."

"I need to talk to you," Toby interrupted her bustling.

Sonia turned to face him.

Toby's dark eyes held a mix of indifference and distance, but not a trace of affection.

His voice was low and firm, "Khloe is coming home tomorrow. You'll need to move out."

Sonia felt a chill settle in her heart. Axel's words had been true.

"What if I don't go?" Her voice was faint, almost ethereal.

Toby's frown deepened. This was the first time Sonia, who had always been so compliant, had defied him.

His tone was icy, "Don't forget why you married me five years ago."

How could Sonia forget?

Khloe had been in a car accident; Sonia was the one who called for help and donated blood. Toby had been grateful and promised to fulfill a request for her.

Her only request had been to marry him, a desire rooted in her heart since she first saw Toby in high school.

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