Chapter 1 With The Same Man Elaine Valentine and her sister Stacy Valentine had fallen in love with the same man . Cordell Decker . Now , he was her brother - in - law . When she first heard that her sister , Stacy , was going to marry Cordell , she made a firm decision to leave the country . Her eyes reflected a sense of defeat and despair . " I'm never coming back , and I won't bless you both . " After leaving for abroad , she cut off all contact with everyone , even avoiding logging into WhatsApp for a long time . That was , until one day when she suddenly called Marcelo Valentine , asking for a large sum of money . That was the first time she'd reached out to her family . As she stepped out of the airport , Rubin Krueger , who had come to pick her up , immediately spotted her . He hurried over and took the suitcase from her hands . " Ms. Valentine . " She glanced around . Aside from Rubin , there was no one else to greet her . A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips . At home , Stacy came forward to greet her . " Elaine , you've finally come back . " Three years had passed , and Stacy , now married , was even more beautiful than before . She wore a light blue dress , with delicate butterfly embroidery at the collar . The high slit revealed her long , flawless legs . Her hair , once long , had been cut short . The ends curled slightly , dyed a soft chestnut brown , accentuating her fair skin . She looked effortlessly chic and stunning . She descended the stairs slowly , exuding the calm elegance of a wealthy young woman . " Stacy , " Elaine called softly , her voice lacking the usual softness and coquettish tone . Stacy reached the bottom of the stairs and took in Elaine's appearance , noting how much thinner she had become . She looked almost skeletal . Stacy's heart ached . " Was life in Drego that tough ? " " It wasn't tough . Everything's fine , " Elaine replied , always sticking to 288 Vouchers her default answer when asked about Drego- " Fine . " Stacy knew Elaine's stubbornness . If Elaine didn't want to share , asking was pointless . Noticing the fatigue in Elaine's eyes , she suggested , " Why don't you rest upstairs for a while ? After you wake up , I'll have the servants make your favorite dishes . " " Okay , " Elaine murmured , too tired to argue . She nodded and went upstairs , familiar with the house and making her way to the guest room with ease . After a hot shower , she dried her hair a her eyes . lay down on the bed , closing But her sleep wasn't peaceful . As usual , her dreams were strange and unsettling . When she woke up , the evening had already settled in . She reached for her phone on the nightstand - it was already . She hadn't eaten much on the plane , and now she was starting to feel hungry . She changed clothes and decided to head downstairs . As she stepped out of the guest room , she glanced down the hallway . Stacy was on the sofa , watching a variety show , while the maid had placed a fruit platter on the coffee table . Just as Elaine took a few steps down , she saw Cordell walking back inside . A servant quickly went to take his shoes and place them at his feet . Her footsteps froze . She gripped the golden handrail tightly , her fingers curling into a fist . Compared to three years ago , he was even more mature and charismatic , wearing a well - tailored dark suit and a white shirt , exuding a cold , clean aura . He was bent over at the entrance , changing his shoes , and hadn't noticed her on the stairs . She hesitated , wondering if she should continue down . She thought it would be awkward for all three of them , and just as she was about to turn back to her room , she heard Stacy's voice calling her name . " Elaine . " Her body stiffened . She instinctively bit her lip , her nails digging into her palm , the sharp pain spreading through her hand . After a long pause , she turned around , her expression returning to its usual calm , with no hint of emotion . Stacy was sitting on the sofa , looking at her , while Cordell , still at the entrance , had also turned his attention toward her . She glanced at him briefly before subtly shifting her gaze , walking down the stairs . " Stacy , I'm hungry . " 4 Stacy smiled warmly and called out , " Janine . " Janine Zavala emerged from the kitchen , and upon seeing Elaine walking down the stairs , she cheerfully greeted her , " Ms. Valentine . " Before Stacy married Cordell , Elaine used to visit the Decker family frequently , so the household staff all knew her . Elaine had never been haughty , despite being from a wealthy family . She used to call Janine sweetly , and the maid had a good impression of her . Cordell entered the living room , and Stacy effortlessly took his coat , hanging it up in the cloakroom . The way they interacted felt like an old married couple . Elaine couldn't help but feel a sharp pang in her chest , as if a blade was cutting through her heart , leaving a painful , aching tightness . Janine brought out the food prepared for her , and Elaine walked to the dining room . She casually asked , " Where's Annie ? " Annie Ortiz was an old servant of the Decker family who had always been very fond of Elaine . Whenever she visited , Annie would prepare her favorite dishes and fruits . Stacy , noticing the faint smell of alcohol on Cordell , asked the servant to prepare some coffee . Hearing Elaine's question , she replied , " Annie's grandson is sick , so she took the day off . " Cordell , looking tired , leaned back on the sofa . He glanced over at the dining table , where Elaine sat . Her face had lost its youthful roundness . The white dress she wore made her skin look porcelain - smooth , and her features were sharp and delicate . She had lost a lot of weight , the baby fat completely gone . Her sharp chin made her eyes appear even larger and more striking . They were still as dark and bright as before . Elaine wasn't eating much . She took only a few bites before setting her fork down . Noticing the uneaten food , Janine asked , " Ms. Valentine , isn't the food to your liking ? " It shouldn't be the case , as everything was prepared just as she liked it . Before Elaine could respond , Cordell spoke up , " You shouldn't eat too much at night . " As soon as he said that , Elaine looked up and met his gaze . 10