With the idea in mind, I began right away—nervously, the first time, when I hesitantly told Hallie about my plan to help her through massage.
At first, she resisted, but as I gradually became more skilled, she began to accept it. Half a year passed, and I became so familiar with human acupressure points that I could recite them backward in my sleep.
What started as reluctant tolerance turned into quiet dependence. She eventually waited for me every day to give her a thirty-minute massage. I even felt my hands growing stronger.
Life was uneventful otherwise.
One day, while delivering a forgotten document to Hallie’s office at Barnes Corporation, I caught the eye of a short drama editor. She asked if I’d be interested in playing a role—the third male lead, a top student—saying I gave off the perfect scholarly vibe.
Without thinking too much, I said yes. Surprisingly, Hallie didn’t object.
What I didn’t expect was for that little web series to become a breakout hit. Even my character—the humble third lead—gained a followers.
It was all new to me. I never imagined stepping into the entertainment world, a place so far from my reality.
Barnes Corporation owned many businesses; BY Entertainment was just a small branch. Hallie told me as long as I didn’t use the Barnes name for personal gain, I was free to do whatever I wanted.
So gradually, I signed with a manager—Tessa Whites—hired a personal assistant, and landed supporting roles in several major IP dramas, playing the fourth, fifth, sometimes even sixth male lead.
I became a bottom-tier celebrity—a so-called 18th-line actor. Sometimes I’d scroll through Instagram and laugh at the funny things fans said.
One night, I lay on the bed, massaging Hallie’s leg with one hand while reading out fan comments with the other.
Absentmindedly, my hand slid upward. She let out a soft gasp.
Startled, I dropped my phone, thinking I had hurt her. But when I looked down and saw her flushed cheeks, and I froze.
The kiss that followed felt natural.
One thing led to another.
We grew closer—more in sync, more intimate. And we both found happiness in it.
From then on, our relationship progressed rapidly.
She began bringing me little gifts—LEGO sets I liked, new clothes, watches. Sometimes she’d drag me to the movies or suggest taking a walk by the lake.
We started living like an ordinary couple.
And Hallie’s leg? My daily massage worked miracles. Even her doctor called it astonishing.
Now, as long as she didn’t walk too fast, no one could tell she’d ever been injured.
In our third year of marriage, Connor returned.
On the day he came back, Hallie, for once, didn’t cling to me.
Even my parents, who had barely contacted me since the wedding, called and asked us to return to Gardner's house.
Connor had been gone for three years. Not once had he come back.
Even during our rare New Year gatherings, Dad and Mom would awkwardly mention how “busy” he was with school.
Hallie’s expression turned frosty. She said nothing. I had no idea what she was thinking.
Truthfully, since marrying into the Barnes family, I had barely returned home myself.
Still, the Gardner family's favoritism never waned—they continued treating Connor as the golden child.
When Hallie and I arrived at the Gardner estate, we saw a familiar figure rush in like the wind, throwing himself into Hallie’s arms.
I stood beside them, watching.
And she... didn’t push him away.
Nestled into her shoulder, Connor looked more mature than before, but he still called her “sister” over and over again, crying as tears soaked the hem of her white dress.
Watching that scene felt like a needle driving into my chest.
At that moment, I bitterly regretted agreeing to come back.
Seeing me, Connor straightened up. “Sorry, Brother. I was just so happy. Hallie—oh, wait, should I call you sister-in-law now?”
Hallie’s temple twitched. With a cold expression, she took my hand and led me to our seats.
Connor stared at us in shock.
Dinner was uncomfortable.
Not once did Dad or Mom ask how I’d been.
Instead, they kept pushing for Connor and Hallie to talk—repeating how “Connor’s always thinking about Hallie.”
