Jasper’s childhood friend insisted on climbing a rugged mountain on her birthday, despite the bad weather. And I, three months pregnant, was the only one experienced enough to lead the climb. Ignoring my desperate pleas, he casually remarked, “Adeline, take Fiona to the summit for her birthday, and I’ll allow you to stay by my side.” I stood frozen, silent for a long time, then replied, “Okay.” Suddenly, a storm hit the mountain. I got drenched while saving Jasper, who slipped off a cliff, and was struck by falling rocks that broke my arm, causing severe bleeding and excruciating pain. Jasper, however, took the only survival blanket and wrapped it around Fiona, who remained dry and comfortable in the cave. “Fiona has never climbed a mountain and is weak. You have rescue experience, so don’t compete with her!” I lay in the mud, developing a high fever, clutching my painfully aching abdomen, my throat too hoarse to utter a word. Even so, Jasper didn’t spare me a glance. On the brink of death, I shakily took out a yellowing photo from my pocket. The person in it smiled gently, resembling Jasper by seventy percent. I softly pressed the photo to my cold lips and closed my eyes. Seven years ago, Asher died from exposure during a storm trying to save me on a wild mountain, leaving no remains behind. His dying wish was for me to take care of his only brother. Now, a life for a life, the debt is repaid, and it’s time for me to go.
Waking up in the hospital, I was wrapped in bandages, with nowhere that didn’t hurt. My intact hand instinctively moved to my abdomen, only to feel cold emptiness. —The child I had longed for was gone. Tears rolled down my cheeks, cutting into my heart like knives. Suddenly, my phone rang with Jasper’s special ringtone. I pushed through the pain to answer the call. “Hello…” “Why are you only answering now? How many times have I called you?” Jasper’s voice was extremely impatient, with faint sobbing in the background. “What nonsense have you been feeding my parents? Fiona just came and got scolded, and now she’s crying.” “Isn’t it just losing a child? You keep pulling these stunts that can’t be shown in public, do you really think I’m blind?” “I’ll give you ten minutes to call my parents and clear things up, or don’t blame me for being unsympathetic!” The next second, the call ended with a “snap,” not allowing me a word. How many times has this happened? I stared at the white ceiling, feeling a sting in my eyes, finding it absurd. Despite my diligent care and cautious efforts, no matter how much I gave, in Jasper’s eyes, it was all just a way to marry into the family, an unworthy trick. My child, bonded by blood, couldn’t even compare to a single tear from Fiona. The clock’s hands circled again and again. When the ninth lap was halfway through, I finally picked up the phone and dialed Jasper’s mother’s number. She answered almost immediately. “Adeline, you’re finally awake, your dad and I were worried sick. That brat Jasper…” “Aunt.” I softly interrupted her. “I don’t want to be with Jasper anymore.” The “mom” and “dad” I had called for seven years needed to change. Jasper’s mother understood my meaning, her voice choked with emotion. “Adeline, I know you’re heartbroken about losing the child, it’s our family’s fault.” “But you know Jasper, he’s a good kid, just blinded by that woman’s lies. Can you… can you give him another chance…” Jasper’s mother had a weak heart, prone to fainting from too much joy or sorrow. I was silent for a long time, then said: “If he can fold a thousand rainbow origami cranes for me, I’ll forgive him.” Jasper’s mother cried tears of joy. “Okay, okay, I’ll have him start folding right away, you’ll see them when you’re discharged.” She hung up hurriedly, just like countless times before, off to pester Jasper with chatter and reminders. But each time, Jasper never looked back. I reached into my pocket close to my heart, only to find it empty. The origami crane that had been with Asher’s photo had long been lost along the bumpy mountain path. The year after Asher died, Jasper folded a thousand origami cranes for me. Rainbow paper, page by page, densely filled with the intense affection of a young man. He didn’t know his brother once promised me a lifetime. Nor did he know that in the corner of my study, there was a half-filled jar of origami cranes folded by Asher himself. Both brothers used the same method to win over a girl. Looking at the origami cranes and his features resembling Asher’s, my heart skipped a beat, and I nodded. Later, when Fiona returned from abroad, she cried and made a fuss over those cranes. To appease her, Jasper burned them all. I rushed into the fire with red eyes, ignoring the scorching pain, and desperately saved the last crane. At that time, Jasper looked at my hands covered in blisters with disgust: “It’s just some origami cranes, you can get someone to fold more.” But he didn’t know that the company producing rainbow paper had closed years ago. Now, the last rainbow origami crane was lost in the stormy mire. I opened my contacts and found the mountain climbing team’s number. But before I could press dial, the hospital room door was kicked open. Jasper stormed in with bodyguards, throwing a stack of cheap colored paper at my face. “Adeline! How long are you going to keep this up!”
The thin paper’s sharp edges cut my cheek painfully. “Do you think you can pressure me into changing my mind by using my mom?” “This kind of shamelessly using my family to climb up to the Jasper family only makes me despise you more!” Jasper sneered, commanding the bodyguards to throw out all the decorations, furnishings, and fruit trays in the room, leaving only a barren, cold, white space. “From today on, you’re only allowed one meal a day. You can leave this room once you’ve folded a thousand origami cranes!” “In ten days, for Fiona’s birthday party, you’ll be tied up with the cranes and brought there!” My plastered right hand still throbbed with pain. My heart felt icy cold as I bit my lip hard, my voice hoarse. “…Why?” Jasper, why? What did I do wrong to make you treat me like this? Suppressed screams crashed around in my chest. I looked at Jasper, my eyes involuntarily turning red. Jasper met my reddened eyes, his breath hitched. He subconsciously reached out to me, almost like an embrace. The next second, he jerked his hand back, his face cold. “You know what you did!” “If it weren’t for Fiona’s kindness, still thinking of inviting you to the birthday party, I wouldn’t even bother looking at a woman as fickle as you!” My mind exploded. Confusion and grievance surged within me. I searched my memories for clues but found none. Emotions suppressed for so long suddenly surged and tore at me. I stubbornly looked at Jasper, my throat aching. “…What are you talking about?” Jasper’s lips pressed tightly together as he stared at me, then sneered. “With acting skills that good, it’s a pity you aren’t aiming for an Oscar.” “Do you really think you can hide it from me? On April 21st, five years ago, at 3 p.m., Fiona saw you on West Street…” I froze in place. April 21st, five years ago. —It was the sixth month of my relationship with Jasper and the third day since Fiona returned from abroad. I received a call. “When will you pick up the item Mr. Asher left at our club?” I couldn’t let go of Asher’s belongings, and I was afraid Jasper would overthink if he knew about our relationship, so I pretended it was a girls’ gathering and went alone. But when I arrived, I found that the club was a luxury club Asher would never have stepped into; the so-called belongings were a thick stack of white paper in an envelope. That club bore the name of the Aiden family. My heart sank bit by bit. I opened my mouth to explain: “Jasper, I…” A “ding” from the phone interrupted me. Jasper’s brows furrowed slightly, but relaxed as he saw the caller. It was Fiona. “Jasper, I’m worried Adeline might not have a nice dress for the birthday party, so I ordered her one. She shouldn’t mind, right—” “It’s a style that’s really popular among girls lately.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the screen and froze. —The dress in the photo was tight-fitting, with a neckline plunging nearly to the navel, barely covered by lace on the sides. The hem was so short it could hardly cover anything. I instinctively grabbed Jasper’s sleeve, my eyes pleading. Jasper paused, then glanced at me with a smirk, easily shaking off my hand: “She doesn’t mind, she loves it. She’ll definitely wear it.” My hand fell limply, and I closed my eyes, feeling dead inside. The call ended, and Jasper turned to leave, leaving two solidly built bodyguards behind. As the door was about to close, I called out to him. “Jasper.” He stopped in his tracks. “What if I told you… Fiona lied to you?” I croaked, my voice so faint it was almost inaudible. Jasper turned back, staring at me, his gaze icy and disdainful. “Fiona and I grew up together. She’s never lied to me, and I’ll always trust her unconditionally.” “Trying to sow discord between us? Do you think you’re worthy?” The door slammed shut with a loud bang, shattering my last hope. I picked up the phone again and dialed the mountain climbing team’s number. “Senior, is there still a position available in this year’s International Mountain Rescue Team?” “Yes, I’ve decided.”
The hospital didn’t dare defy Jasper’s orders. To make me fold origami cranes, they removed the cast they had just put on and replaced it with a simple splint. Jasper turned back, his gaze cold and filled with disdain. “I’ve known Fiona since we were kids. She’s never lied to me, and I’ll always trust her without question.” “Trying to come between us? Who do you think you are?” The door slammed shut with a loud bang, shattering my last hope. I picked up my phone again and dialed the number for the mountain climbing team. “Senior brother, is there still a spot on the International Mountain Rescue Team this year?” “Yes, I’ve made up my mind.” — The hospital, under Jasper’s orders, took off my cast and replaced it with a simple splint, all to make me fold origami cranes. My broken bone kept dislocating, and the pain was excruciating, with no relief in sight. Despite this, by the time the birthday party arrived, I had only managed to fold fewer than a hundred cranes. My fractured arm was numb with pain, I was so hungry I had lost weight, and my lips were pale and colorless. When Jasper found out, he simply dismissed me as “useless.” Even the bodyguards looked at me with sympathy. On the day of the birthday party, I couldn’t dress myself because my fracture hadn’t healed. After begging repeatedly, even kneeling at Jasper’s feet, sobbing and crying, he finally had two female bodyguards roughly squeeze me into a makeshift “gown.” They then tossed me, trembling and curled up in pain, into the back seat of the car. “Roll down the window, take down the partition. Since you like being watched so much, let them have a good look!” Jasper’s voice was icy. It was then I realized, as I was hunched over in pain, that the short dress I wore was indecently revealing. Desperately, I straightened my body, enduring the excruciating pain to pull down the hem of my dress, turning my head in embarrassment. He sneered and finally told the driver to close the window. Maintaining this stiff posture until we arrived at the venue, my forehead was already covered in sweat. Jasper remained indifferent. He opened the car door and glanced at me coldly. “Get out by yourself. Don’t make me do it.” I gritted my teeth, protecting my fractured arm as I struggled to get out of the car, only to stumble from hunger— In an instant, I instinctively leaned toward the car, avoiding Jasper’s outstretched hand. My arm hit the car door, and my face turned pale. Jasper’s face darkened. “Even learned how to play hard to get, did you? I underestimated you.” Before I could respond, he turned and walked into the hall, not giving me a chance to explain. But fortunately, I didn’t need to explain anymore. My phone showed a message from my senior brother from the rescue team, sent half an hour ago. [I’ve entered the country. The mentor has already arranged the rehabilitation hospital, I’m coming to get you.] [The rescue team is thrilled you’re joining. The welcome party is ready, just waiting for you to arrive.] I lowered my eyes and followed Jasper into the banquet hall. Countless strange and curious gazes pierced into me like needles, making me tense up. “Oh, isn’t this Jasper’s person? Dressed like this… tsk tsk.” The malicious voice was unmistakably from Fiona’s toxic friends. I pressed my lips together, not wanting to engage. “Hey, Adeline is here.” The star of the party, in a pure white gown, approached with a bright smile. Jasper stood behind her in a white suit, holding her dress. Like a wedding scene, how fitting. I curled my lips into a sarcastic smile. In a tone as calm as water: “Happy birthday, Fiona.” “And, congratulations on your union.” Fiona’s smile froze, then she tearfully clung to Jasper’s arm, large tears falling. “I’m sorry, Jasper. I shouldn’t have worn this dress to make Adeline misunderstand, I’ll go change right away…” “Change what? You’re not changing a thing!” Jasper pulled Fiona into his arms, his eyes locked on me with disdain. “Inviting you was more than enough.” “Following me around shamelessly and still wanting to dictate terms, don’t even think about it!” “Don’t even mention misunderstandings. Even if I got engaged to her now, you have no right to intervene!” The surrounding jeers drowned me, making me feel like a complete joke. Seven years of companionship, and all I got was “no right to intervene.” Pain, shame, embarrassment, despair… When emotions hit their peak, all that’s left is endless numbness. “So can I leave now?” I looked calmly at Jasper, waiting silently in his cold gaze for three seconds, then turned to leave. The next moment, a foot suddenly stuck out from the crowd. Caught off guard, I lost my balance and fell forward. Simultaneously, the champagne tower beside me suddenly collapsed! Ninety-nine tiers of glasses crashed down with a piercing “crash,” shattering into a sea of glass shards. The thin dress soaked with wine, the broken glass cutting through fabric and skin, the wounds mixed with alcohol, spreading a pool of crimson blood. Everyone, including Jasper, was stunned. “Adeline! You…” “Jasper, I’m scared…” He instinctively wanted to step forward but was held back by Fiona. I couldn’t bear it any longer, standing up amidst the glass shards, dragging my tattered gown as I staggered outside. A modest sedan was parked at the entrance, my senior brother rushing out of it towards me anxiously. Behind me was Jasper’s shouting voice. “Adeline! There are doctors here, come back and sit down!” “Adeline! Come back!” I clenched my trembling hands, palms covered in cuts, blood dripping. I didn’t look back, nor did I glance at Jasper again. Until I was admitted to the hospital, I couldn’t stop trembling. “Your fractured arm has been repeatedly injured. Even when it heals, you’ll only be able to do normal activities. Strenuous exercise is out of the question.”
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