Until the Moonlight Spreads

My arranged husband, Ethan Carter, had been my nemesis since childhood.

When it was discovered that I was the Brooks family’s longlost biological daughter, both families pushed hard for our marriage.

With the union, business cooperation between the two families would flourish.

But Ethan flatly refused.

To get back at me, he deliberately “fell in love” with the fake heiress.

They booked a hotel suite together and even left my phone number on the reservation.

He postponed the wedding for five whole years, making me the laughingstock of New York’s high society.

The next time we met was at a gala dinner.

He wore an expensive suit, the fake heiress on his arm.

Everyone toasted him, showering him with praise—

Saying he and Sophia Brooks were a perfect match, a couple made in heaven.

“I love Sophia,” he said. “After all these years, I didn’t expect you’d still be waiting for me.”

“Since you’re so devoted, I’ll be generous and let you attend our engagement party.”

He tossed an invitation card down at me from his lofty perch.

I toyed with the wedding ring on my finger and didn’t even move.

“Sorry, I’m busy that day—I have to pick my daughter up from school.”

The moment the words left my lips, not a single person believed me. Laughter erupted.

“Stop making things up. You can’t even lie well. How could you possibly have a daughter in just five years?”

But I wasn’t lying.

My daughter is in preschool now.

Like her father, she’s been clever since she was little—

And she insists that only I pick her up; a nanny won’t do.

Some people’s eyes skimmed over my figure with open disdain.

“Your status might be low and you’re not favored, but at least your figure’s decent.”

“Yeah, you don’t look like you’ve ever had a child.”

“If you’re done with Ethan, why not give me a chance to pursue you?”

A ripple of mocking laughter spread around us.

They all believed that over the years, I had been clinging to Ethan just to secure the marriage and earn favor in the Brooks family—

Even calling me a pathetic lapdog in private.

What they didn’t know was that I had never cared about the socalled status of being the real Brooks heiress.

I didn’t even want anything to do with my biological parents.

“That’s right, me too, me too!”

“Lily Anderson, a leftover woman like you—dragged along for five years by Ethan—if you don’t get married soon, you’ll be an old maid nobody wants.”

“Why not lower your standards and marry me?”

“I wouldn’t mind becoming the Brooks family’s prized soninlaw!”

They shouted from below, but it was all for sport—

Passing glances, smirking, treating me as if I were a toy to be mocked.

One of them even stepped forward to lay hands on me.

Before he could touch me, Ethan kicked him hard.

“Watch your mouth.”

In his mind, no matter what, women who had once pursued him were offlimits to other men.

“Oh? Feeling protective, Ethan?”

Someone teased.

Ethan gave a cold chuckle, his gaze locking on me like a blade.

“Protective? I just think a woman like her isn’t even worthy of your attention.

If you know any farmhands out in the sticks, go ahead and introduce Lily to them—she’s better suited to slopping pigs.”

I looked at him calmly. After five years, he was still the same venomtongued man.

Once upon a time, his words might have driven me mad with anger.

Now, they barely caused a ripple inside me—

Because when you don’t care, he can’t hurt you.

A chorus of jeers rose around us.

“Ethan, you really are ruthless.”

“To say something like that—did you forget she’s the real daughter of the Brooks family?”

Ethan calmly pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. His lock screen was clearly a photo of a beautiful woman.

“See this?”

He held the phone up for everyone to see.

“My girlfriend is the Brooks family’s heiress. Robert and Margaret Brooks fully approve—unlike some people who are like stray cats, unwanted by anyone.”

The moment I saw the wallpaper, I recognized her—it was Sophia Brooks.

I had no intention of responding and was just about to stand up.

Every gaze in the room immediately shifted toward me, as if expecting me to finally lose my composure and confront Ethan.

After all, that’s how it had always been between us.

When we were kids, he once poured ink into my meat pie.

I put laxatives in his oatmeal porridge.

Neither of us ever let the other off easily—

And I never allowed him the last word.

But now? Now Ethan was as light as a feather in my heart.

I picked up my bag and headed toward the exit.

“Lily Anderson!”

His voice, tinged with irritation, rang out behind me.

I paused midstep.

Ethan rose from his seat, anger flashing in his eyes.

“Five years without seeing me, and you don’t have a single thing to say?”

For a split second, I thought maybe it was love turned to hate.

But no—that was just an illusion.

I turned back slowly, suddenly understanding his real intention for humiliating me in front of all these people.

He wanted to provoke me.

Five years later, he was still just as childish.

I shook my head honestly. “No.”

His stare bored into me like he wanted to pierce holes through my skin.

He didn’t love me—yet he still refused to let me go.

Since I had broken off the engagement and walked away five years ago, there had been nothing left to say between us.

“Mr. Carter, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave.”

I pulled my hand from his grasp and turned to go—

When a soft, syrupy voice drifted from the doorway.

“Sis, why are you leaving so soon?”

Wearing a white gown that highlighted her graceful figure, Sophia Brooks glided in.

“Ethan, it’s been five years since you’ve seen my sister. Be gentle with her—don’t be so harsh.”

She sat naturally beside him, leaning in without a hint of restraint.

Of course—by now they were widely known as the model couple.

After tonight’s gala, their proposal ceremony was set to take place.

Watching them side by side, the people around us looked at me with gleeful malice, certain I must be seething with jealousy.

But my gaze stayed calm and flat as I watched their little display.

Ethan shot me a cold glance, then turned back and wrapped an arm around Sophia’s waist.

“Gentle? Does Lily deserve that?”

“A country girl who wandered outside since childhood isn’t fit to be your sister.”

He idly toyed with her hair, a mocking glint in his eyes.

“Sophia, remember—I’m only gentle with you.”

The two of them leaned in, clearly about to kiss in front of everyone.

If not for the people nearby stopping them, I was certain they would’ve ended up stripping right there.

I let a small smile curl my lips and lowered my head in quiet amusement—

And I couldn’t help but recall five years ago, when we were preparing to get engaged, and I had tried to build some kind of connection with him by inviting him to a candlelight dinner.

Over the phone, he’d brushed me off with, “Depends on my mood. If you wait for me at the restaurant for five hours, I’ll come.”

That day, I really did sit there from sunrise to sunset.

When the restaurant finally closed, there was still no sign of him.

No surprise—he’d stood me up.

That very night, my phone lit up with a message:

“Hello, your reservation for the hotel suite with a kingsize bed…”

I’d laughed bitterly.

Just to spite me, even when they went to a hotel, they used my number for the booking.

That was the moment I knew—any relationship that required no effort or investment was doomed from the start.

Looking back now, it all feels impossibly far away.

“Sis, don’t be mad at Ethan. That’s just how he is,” Sophia Brooks said softly, her expression gentle but laced with false concern.

“You disappeared for five years without contacting us. Mom and Dad were so worried. Where on earth did you go?”

She spoke like a saint, but the undertone was pure malice.

“You don’t know the awful things people have been saying. Some claim you ran off with another man.”

Sophia covered her mouth with a dainty laugh. “But I know you wouldn’t—after all, you’ve always loved Ethan too much to accept another man…”

I chuckled along with her.

“How do you know I wouldn’t? Don’t act like you know me so well.”

I was smiling, but my tone was cold and distant.

“And stop calling me ‘sis.’ I’m an only child—my parents never gave me a sister.”

Her smile froze instantly, and the color drained slightly from her face.

I hadn’t held back one bit.

Everyone in our circle knew I—Lily Anderson—was the true Brooks heiress.

Sophia was the one who had been switched at birth, enjoying eighteen years of wealth and privilege that were meant for me.

When they found me, they couldn’t bear to part with the girl they had raised for nearly two decades, so they kept her in the family and told us to call each other sisters.

If not for what happened five years ago, I might have swallowed my pride and tried to coexist with her.

But we were always meant to be strangers.

My words clearly stung her; tears welled in her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I know I’m not Mom and Dad’s biological daughter. I don’t deserve it…”

“Lily, are you crazy?” Ethan snapped, hurriedly handing her a tissue while glaring at me.

“Don’t you know? Robert Brooks has already written his will, leaving everything to Sophia.

“So what if you’re the real daughter? They cut ties with you years ago.

“Five years ago, you humbled yourself to return to the Brooks family and agreed to marry me just to secure your position.

“Well? How does it feel hearing this now—are you furious?”

His eyes were full of triumph, clearly hoping to see me twist in rage.

But my face remained impassive. “Oh. Good for you.”

This was getting boring. I glanced at my watch—my husband and daughter would be arriving soon to take me out for hot pot.

I stood, picked up my bag, and headed for the door. Then, remembering something, I turned back.

“Correction—five years ago, I didn’t agree to marry you to secure any position.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

I gave Sophia a cool glance.

“A phoenix is a phoenix. No matter how many feathers you glue onto a sparrow, it will never be a phoenix.”

With that, I turned to leave—only for the door to slam shut with a loud bang.

Behind me, the laughter grew louder.

“Lily Anderson, you think you can just walk away after offending our Ethan? Not a chance.”

I tried the door, but it had been locked from the outside. The gala beyond was still in full swing, and the organizers hadn’t even noticed anything unusual in here.

My expression turned cold.

With my current status, I had no need to personally attend an event of this level.

I was here today only because the host had once done my adoptive mother a favor, so I showed up out of courtesy.

I never expected to run into such a pack of lowlifes.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

I turned toward Ethan, my voice like ice.

“Tell your people to open the door.”

He gave a mocking laugh, his expression smug—exactly like five years ago.

“Lily, it’s not every day we get to see each other. How can you leave after just a few words?”

“And you haven’t even settled the score for what you just said to my girlfriend.”

“You’d just walk away? Wouldn’t Sophia’s little pearl necklace have been lost for nothing?”

Sophia nestled pitifully into his arms, and Ethan clearly played the part of defending her honor.

“Since you’re here, don’t think about leaving so easily.”

Around us, the room buzzed with taunting voices.

“Sophia Brooks is the face of the Brooks family—the true heiress. Even with a boyfriend, she’s cherished, born to a life of privilege. Not like some barnyard stray, destined to be thrown out of her home.”

“And as for a certain illegitimate woman—so what if she’s got Brooks blood? She was kicked out five years ago, wasn’t she?”

“In three days, it’s Miss Brooks’ engagement party. And Lily? She probably won’t even have a man to show up with.”

“With her circumstances—no family power, no parental support—how could she possibly make it onto the social stage?”

“Exactly. She’s not even fit to carry Miss Brooks’ shoes.”

“And she had the nerve to call Miss Brooks a sparrow earlier. Well, now she’s in trouble—offending Mr. Carter. I bet she’s scared now.”

They were dressed like gentlemen, but every one of them was the type to fawn over the strong and trample the weak.

I ignored them, fixing my gaze coldly on Ethan.

“Cut to the chase—what do you really want?”

We hadn’t crossed paths in years, and I couldn’t fathom why he was so intent on making things difficult for me.

Ethan stood and stared straight at me.

“I want you to apologize to Sophia for what you said.”

Then, with deliberate slowness, he added, “On your knees.”

I gave a short, sharp laugh. “In your dreams.”

His eyes darkened with anger. “Say that again?”

“If it weren’t for an accident back then, I would be the real Sophia Brooks.

“I’ve already been more than generous by not demanding she pay me back. And you want me to apologize to a thief? Keep dreaming.”

Everyone thought Ethan would explode with rage.

They were ready to watch me make a fool of myself.

Instead, he gave a cold smile.

“Don’t want to kneel? Fine. There’s another option.”

He stepped right up to me.

“How about we make a bet? Loser strips naked and stands at the door for fifteen minutes.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by murmurs.

“Damn—it’s true. Ethan really does hate Lily Anderson.”

“If it hadn’t been for her back then, Ethan and Sophia would’ve been together already—maybe even with kids by now. Of course he hates her.”

“Still, making her strip if she loses—that’s brutal.”

“What’s the problem? She brought this on herself. Of all people to provoke, she chose Miss Brooks. Serves her right.”

I had no interest in engaging with them—much less in humoring Ethan Carter by playing some pathetic little game.

“Sorry, I don’t have time. My husband will be here to pick me up soon.”

A few people snorted in derision.

“Lily Anderson, if you can’t play, just admit it. Why bother lying?”

“Exactly. You’ve been gone for five years—how could you possibly be married? And now you claim you have a husband?”

“If you really were married, why wouldn’t you bring him to a gala like this?”

Sophia Brooks put on a mask of kindness.

“Sis, I know you’re upset and still blame me for taking Ethan, but even so, you shouldn’t lie.”

“I’m not lying.”

But I saw no need to explain myself.

In less than ten minutes, Daniel Hughes would be here anyway.

Still, my refusal to elaborate only made them press harder.

“If you’re not lying, then tell us—what’s your husband’s name? What business is he in?”

“If you make one up on the spot, we’ll know.”

Ethan took a drag from his cigarette and smirked.

“You pulled this stunt five years ago. Still trying the same trick? Do you think I’m an idiot?”

He clearly didn’t believe a word.

“I don’t care what you think. I don’t owe you proof. Open the door. If you don’t let me out, I’m calling the police.

“I’m not wasting my time on your stupid games.”

But in the next second, Ethan pulled out a small white porcelain urn.

My face instantly hardened.

“Give it back.”

I lunged to grab it, but he held it high, and I came up empty.

Looking down at me in my frustration, he slowly smiled.

“Turns out my words mean less to you than a dead person.”

“If I’d known this urn was so effective, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time talking.”

My gaze went glacial, edged with a hint of lethal intent.

“Watch your mouth.”

Years ago, though the Brooks family had publicly acknowledged me, they’d never truly accepted me.

My real family was my adoptive mother.

For my sake, she’d been willing to cut ties and send me back to the Brooks family to live as their heiress.

Sophia was her biological daughter, but she had no interest in poverty—and never even met her real mother.

To hide the truth, they’d staged a whole act, even hiring someone to hit her with a car and leave her in a coma.

The Brooks family was as laughable as Ethan—

Thinking I’d been desperate for the title of “real heiress” and eager to return home for it.

They couldn’t have been more wrong.

Back then, my adoptive mother was paralyzed, later slipping into a vegetative state.

The Brooks family came to the hospital and threatened me—

If I agreed to return to them, they’d bring in the best specialists from abroad, no matter the cost.

If I refused, they’d let her die, claiming she could suffer brain death at any time.

That was the only reason I agreed to an arranged marriage with Ethan.

But after my adoptive mother died, I had no reason to marry him—and no desire for the Brooks title.

Seeing my expression turn to stone, Ethan smiled with satisfaction.

“Then agree to play.

“If you win, I’ll give the urn back.”

I shut my eyes briefly, then asked flatly, “What’s the bet?”

His gaze locked on mine, and he spoke slowly.

“I bet that within five minutes… you’ll kiss me.”

The moment Ethan Carter said it, the entire room froze. Even Sophia Brooks stared at him in shock.

Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Ethan… what did you just say? Why would you want her to kiss you?

“Have you… not gotten over her after all these years?”

She bit her lip hard and turned to glare at me, a flicker of hatred in her gaze.

Ethan soothed her with a look full of feigned tenderness.

“Sophia, of course not.

“Back then, she ran away from our engagement party, humiliating me in front of everyone. I’ve carried that shame for five years—now I’m finally getting my revenge.”

He gently moved her aside and stepped toward me.

In full view of everyone, he pointed at his own cheek.

“Come on—just one kiss, and the urn is yours.”

The onlookers smirked and exchanged knowing looks, relishing the scene.

“If Lily Anderson actually kisses him, she’ll never survive in this circle again.”

“She’s such an obedient little lapdog—I wonder if she’d agree to spend the night with me if I asked.”

“Ha, trash like her isn’t hard to get. She’s probably easy for anyone.”

…

My fist clenched so tightly my knuckles ached, and then I slammed it into Ethan’s face.

“Here’s your kiss!”

Disgusting, pathetic scum—

I wouldn’t take him if someone paid me.

He hadn’t expected it, and the punch sent blood gushing from his nose.

The room erupted into chaos. I tossed my bag aside and headed for the door, but hands grabbed at me from all directions.

Ethan, one hand pressed to his bleeding nose, pointed at me with the other, his voice sharp with rage.

“Get her!

“She dared hit me—teach her a lesson she won’t forget!”

A mob surged forward. They clawed at my dress, and with a sharp rip, the milliondollar gown Daniel Hughes had given me tore open at the seam.

My gaze turned icy.

“Get your filthy hands off me. You couldn’t repay this dress if we sold you for parts.”

They only laughed louder, ignoring my warning. Blows began to rain down—fists, slaps—until I was buried in a haze of dull, numbing pain.

I don’t know how long it went on before Sophia stepped forward, planting her heel on my hand and grinding down hard.

Her voice dripped venom.

“Sis, weren’t you always so arrogant? Let’s see how arrogant you can be now.”

She wanted me to suffer here. Years ago, I’d beaten her so badly she’d ended up with a fractured shin. She’d never let it go.

Now her eyes gleamed with vindictive pleasure.

“Why should you be the true Brooks heiress? Why should Brooks blood run in your veins?

“If it weren’t for you, I’d be Mom and Dad’s only child!

“It’s been five years—why aren’t you dead yet?

“You should have died back then, and I wouldn’t have had to work so hard to get rid of you.”

I stared blankly at the ceiling, the corner of my lips curling into a cold smile.

So this was it—

All the hardships, the close calls, the trucks swerving toward me out of nowhere…

It wasn’t bad luck. Someone had been trying to kill me all along.

If I hadn’t been careful, I’d have been crushed into pulp long ago.

Sophia pressed down harder, and I felt the sharp crack of bones breaking in my hand.

Suddenly, there was a violent pounding on the door.

“Miss Brooks! Mr. Carter!”

“Open the door now—what are you doing in there?”