After My Sister Crazed, I Got Close To Him

When Marcus Sterling returned to Caoport City after his out-of-town business trip, his wife, Vivian Sterling, flew into his arms like a joyful, skittish bird. Envious glances lingered all around them, fixed on the couple everyone believed was untouchable. They'd grown up side by side, marrying young and building a reputation for inseparable, devoted love. No one in the elite circle doubted their bond. A severe car accident during his trip had left Marcus with a traumatic head injury. Doctors had confirmed he needed ample time to recover, with lingering cognitive confusion and memory lapses as common symptoms. The second Vivian heard the news, she'd planned to rush to Areano City to keep him company. But Marcus's mother, Rebecca Sterling, had stopped her cold. "I've consulted Mr. Fleming, the top astrologer. Too much proximity right now will do more harm than good for your bond." As the undisputed head of the Sterling family, Rebecca held absolute authority. Marcus had lost his father at a young age, and she'd single-handedly built and ruled the family empire for decades. No one dared to defy her word. With that single, casual statement, she'd confined Vivian to Caoport City, forcing the young wife to wait alone. Vivian had no choice but to swallow every ounce of her bitterness back then, hiding her frustration behind a patient front. Now, when she finally stood face to face with her recovered husband, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I've been so worried about you. If Rebecca hadn't forbidden me from traveling, I would've never left you to recover alone," she murmured, her tone thick with suppressed grievance. No response came after her words. The expected gentle reassurance never arrived. Blinking in confusion, Vivian lifted her gaze. A faint, unfamiliar smile tugged at Marcus's pale, gaunt face. His eyes were fixed straight ahead, and he lifted a hand in a soft gesture of comfort. "Sophia, don't be afraid. Come here." Following his line of sight, Vivian finally noticed me, a quiet figure standing in the background. I kept my eyes lowered, stepping forward hurriedly to stand behind Marcus. I toyed with the hem of his shirt, feigning timid confusion. "Marc... who is she?" Vivian's flawless expression faltered for a split second. Disbelief washed over her features as she scanned the surrounding crowd, searching for any sign of a joke. Slowly, her frantic gaze locked back on Marcus's face. "Marcus, tell me who she is. And tell her who I am to you." The shrill edge in her tone pulled a faint frown from Marcus. He glanced sideways at Rebecca, a wordless question in his eyes. He was asking her to identify the woman before him. It was clear the head injury had scrambled his memories. In his current state, he could no longer recognize his own wife. Stunned silence fell over Vivian. Sensing the perfect opening, Rebecca stepped forward to address the room, introducing me in a clear, deliberate tone. "This is Sophia Quinn. She's the one who saved Marcus's life. The road where his accident happened was remote and completely desolate. No one would've found him in time without Sophia. She stayed by his side and tended to his injuries around the clock. We would've lost Marcus entirely if not for her." Warm praise dripped from Rebecca's voice, stirring curious, speculative glances from the guests. Eyes flicked constantly between me and Marcus. The unspoken undercurrent of intimacy in her words pushed Vivian to the brink of collapse. She lunged towards me without warning, screaming accusations as she moved. "You seduced him! You're nothing but a scheming vixen who's poisoned his mind!" Long, sharp nails sliced across my arm before I could flinch away. Before she could land another blow, her fingers clamped tight around my wrist, her bloodshot eyes blazing with a feral, consuming rage. The second her raised hand was about to strike my face, Marcus moved. He caught her wrist firmly, his brows drawn into a cold, hard line. Every trace of his usual tenderness was gone, replaced by unmasked distance and disapproval. "Did your family raise you to be this rude? How dare you lay a hand on Sophia?" The words had barely left his mouth when a crisp, resounding slap landed across Vivian's cheek. The sharp sound cut through the place, stunning every guest into frozen silence. Everyone in Caoport City knew the story of Marcus and Vivian's marriage. Vivian was notoriously jealous and possessive, yet Marcus had always coddled her, calling her jealousy a cute, endearing quirk. Whenever Rebecca clashed with her over the lack of an heir or Vivian's spoiled temperament, Marcus always took his wife's side. He'd never once spoken harshly to her, let alone raised a hand. Now, for a stranger he'd known barely a month, he'd struck his wife. The surroundings hummed with quiet shock and pity. Rebecca burst into loud, triumphant laughter, clapping her hands in clear satisfaction at the scene. A hand flying to her stinging cheek, Vivian stared at Marcus in utter disbelief. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks one after another. She swept a resentful look over the staring crowd, then turned and fled the room alone, jaw tight with pain and hatred. Hiding safely in Marcus's shadow, I couldn't help but lift a faint, secret smile.