Time is the best remedy.

“Ms. Anya, you’ve successfully purchased the private island. It’s completely secluded; once you’re there, no one will ever find you. Also, your bespoke family experience has been arranged. They are all professionally trained and will offer you absolute, unconditional love.” The respectful voice of the attendant came through my phone. I hummed in response. “I’ll move in after I’ve taken care of everything here, in about 30 days.” I hung up and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was ethereal in a pure white wedding gown, countless sparkling rhinestones adorning it, hinting at its exorbitant value. “Ms. Anya, are you done trying on the dress? Mr. Thorne has been waiting outside to see you.” The soft voice of the shop assistant pulled me back to reality. I paused, then answered, “I’m ready.” With my reply, the assistant stepped forward and pulled back the curtain. I turned at just the right moment, meeting Damien Thorne’s gaze. He was waiting outside, and I clearly saw a flicker of awe in his eyes. “Anya, you’re so beautiful.” He froze for a second, then walked over and hugged me, his voice thick with emotion and a slight catch. “Seven years, and I’m finally going to marry you and bring you home.” How deeply must someone love you to get so choked up when they’re about to marry you? As I was lost in thought, the assistant next to me enthusiastically chimed in, “Ms. Reed, Mr. Thorne personally helped design this gown! He even hand-picked every single rhinestone. Each one would fetch a fortune at auction, and this dress has ninety-nine of them!” “Usually, men get impatient waiting while their fiancées try on dresses, but Mr. Thorne has overseen everything himself and never complained once. He truly adores you, Ms. Reed.” Listening to the assistant detail Damien’s efforts, I couldn’t help but look at him. His eyes, whenever they met mine, were always brimming with love and tenderness, utterly unlike the aloof, unattainable persona of the elusive scion of the city’s most powerful dynasty, as portrayed in the media. So, not only the entire world, but even I had been fooled into believing he genuinely loved me. After the dress fitting, we left the bridal boutique together. He thoughtfully opened the car door for me, placing his hand protectively over the top of the frame to prevent me from bumping my head. Only after making sure I was safely inside and the door was closed did he get into the car from the other side. As the car slowly pulled away, Marcus, Damien’s assistant, began to report something to him. “Mr. Thorne, the opportunistic woman who tried to get close to you has been dealt with. She won’t be appearing in the city ever again.” Damien sharply reprimanded him, “Keep these matters private. Don’t upset Anya.” Then, he quickly and gently took my hand. “Anya, please don’t be angry. That woman didn’t even touch me. Her perfume scent lingered, so I washed ten times before coming home. I’m not dirty at all. You know my heart has only ever been for you all these years.” I knew he wasn’t lying. Given his wealth and status, countless women had tried to get close to him over the years, but he had handled every single one perfectly, never crossing a line. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to be happy. I merely forced a small smile. “I know.” Damien didn’t notice my subtle shift. He gently squeezed my hand, then pulled out his phone to deal with some work. Suddenly, he saw something that made his expression change slightly. “Stop the car!” The screech of tires ripping against asphalt followed the abrupt brake. Before I could even ask what was happening, Damien pushed open the car door and got out. “Anya, something urgent has come up. Marcus will take you home first, alright?” It was a question, but it was clear he wasn’t giving me a second option. He left me, rushing off in a hurry. I watched his retreating back silently, then pulled out my phone and tapped into Seraphina Reed’s SnapChat. A minute ago, she had updated her status. It was a picture of a swollen, red ankle, captioned with five simple words: “Sprained my ankle, it hurts so bad.” Seeing that post, and remembering Damien’s barely concealed panic just now, my eyes welled up. I couldn’t understand why everyone in my life seemed to favor my sister, Seraphina. I’d had two fiancés. The first was Sterling Vance, heir to the Vance Corporation. Our families had arranged our engagement when we were children. I fell for him at first sight, trailing after him since we were kids, but Sterling only had eyes for Seraphina. He despised me, his fiancée. That went on for seven long years. Finally, broken by his coldness, I gave up all hope and turned to Damien Thorne, who had always silently stood by me. All those years, I chased Sterling, ending up utterly shattered. Every time, it was Damien who wiped my tears. He appeared as my devoted savior, silently caring for me, asking for nothing in return, always there if I turned around. So, I cleaned out my heart, letting Damien in. I thought this time, I’d finally chosen the right person. But on the eve of our wedding, I accidentally overheard Damien talking to one of his friends. “You don’t even like Anya Reed, are you really going to marry her?” Damien’s voice, husky and laced with alcohol, replied, “Yeah. Only then can Seraphina be happy.” His friend sighed. “Seriously, you’re one of a kind. A fool for love. Not only have you secretly liked Seraphina for years, but after finding out she liked Sterling Vance, you went and pursued Sterling’s fiancée, Anya Reed, just so Seraphina could have her happily ever after as Mrs. Vance.” “And now you’ve succeeded. Anya Reed is finally out of the way for your beloved. But do you even realize the consequence of what you’re doing? You’re throwing away your own life.” Damien’s voice was low, yet filled with immeasurable devotion. “As long as Seraphina is happy, I’d do anything.” I stood outside the door, listening to those words. It hit me like a thunderbolt! It was only then that I understood: Damien Thorne’s seven years of pursuit and tenderness towards me had all been a lie. His true beloved was also Seraphina Reed. How noble he was, willing to sacrifice his entire life for Seraphina’s happiness! He’d hidden it so well that I never once suspected his years of devotion were an act, never imagined he pursued me only to make way for Seraphina. That night, I cried my heart out, drenched in the rain. Growing up, my parents always favored my sister, Seraphina, never showing me any real affection. Later, my fiancé also loved Seraphina, never reciprocating my feelings. Now, even Damien Thorne, the only one who seemed to genuinely love me, was also in love with Seraphina. Everyone loved Seraphina Reed. No one loved Anya Reed. That day, I made a decision. If there was no one in this city who loved me, then I would go to a secluded private island, pay to customize a family—parents and a boyfriend—just for me. I would leave this place completely and live my life in peace. Even if the parents and boyfriend I bought were fake, their lifelong companionship would be enough. From now on, Mom and Dad, Sterling Vance, Damien Thorne — they would all have nothing to do with me! The car soon stopped in front of the villa Damien had prepared for our wedding. After getting out, I started packing. I threw out everything that belonged to me in that house, destroying every trace of my presence there. Then, I began preparing to sever all legal ties. Only by making myself untraceable could these people never find me again! I gathered all the necessary documents, only to realize the most important one, my vital identification documents, wasn’t with me. Left with no choice, I had to return to the Reed family home. An hour later, I stood at the entrance of the Reed residence. It was my home, yet I didn’t have a key. Even knocking required a great deal of courage. Because I knew my biological parents didn’t welcome me. The housekeeper who answered the door was slow to arrive. As soon as I stepped inside, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Reed pacing the living room, visibly agitated. Hearing the door open, they rushed over. The moment they saw it was me, their faces twisted in disgust. “What are you doing here?” “Since you haven’t been back in years, why are you suddenly barging in now? Why can’t you be more like Seraphina? You’re from the same mother, yet the difference is like night and day!” The familiar scolding washed over me. I’d heard that voice for over twenty years, and now I truly couldn’t bear to hear it anymore. My expression remained indifferent; I acted as if I hadn’t heard a thing. I walked straight upstairs, found my vital identification documents, put them into my bag, and came back down. Seeing my calm, almost detached expression, Mr. and Mrs. Reed grew even more furious, their words growing increasingly venomous. “What, you’re ignoring everything your mother and I say now? Do you have any respect for us? You’re utterly disrespectful, how could we have given birth to such a disgrace?!” Just as they were in the middle of their tirade, the front door suddenly opened again. Damien Thorne walked in, carrying Seraphina Reed. His eyes immediately met mine, standing in the center of the living room. I glanced at their intimate pose, then calmly shifted my gaze away. My eyes were so placid, yet a sudden panic surged in his heart. He hastily put Seraphina down and walked towards me. “Anya, please don’t misunderstand. Seraphina sprained her ankle, and I just happened to be in the neighborhood, that’s why I carried her back…” He didn’t finish, and I didn’t bother to expose his transparent lie. “Sterling is away on a business trip right now, otherwise I wouldn’t have troubled Damien. Sister, please don’t mind.” Seraphina, barely set down and already being doted on by Mr. and Mrs. Reed, was not to be outdone. Her words were meant as an explanation, yet they reeked of subtle boasting. “It’s my fault, I suppose. Being spoiled by Mom and Dad since childhood, even a slight sprain hurts terribly. Luckily, Damien arrived in time. He blew past several red lights to take me to the hospital and then carried me back. It was such a hassle for him.” As Seraphina spoke, her eyes twinkled, fixed on me, trying to provoke a breakdown or an argument. But I remained impassive, taking none of it to heart. Not getting the reaction she wanted, Seraphina’s eyes sparkled with a new idea. “If it wasn’t for Damien, my ankle would be even more swollen. Since we’re all home now, why don’t we just stay and have dinner together? As a thank you!” Her tone was lively and effervescent, a stark contrast to my silent presence. No one bothered to ask my opinion; they simply made the decision for me, opting to stay for dinner together. But when all the dishes were prepared and laid out, and I stood by the dining table, I saw that everything served was Seraphina’s favorite — spicy food. I wasn’t surprised; I simply sat down quietly. In the past, I had once mildly mentioned to Mr. and Mrs. Reed that I had a sensitive stomach and couldn’t handle spicy food, but their reply had been a dismissive, “Don’t be so fussy.” Later, when I was with Damien, he always paid attention to my preferences and even learned many soothing dishes for my stomach. But this time, although he sat beside me, his eyes were solely on Seraphina. At the slightest sign, he would quickly offer her a napkin or serve her food. I suddenly recalled that in the past, even when Damien came to the Reed house specifically for me, his gaze would often subtly drift towards Seraphina. On Seraphina’s birthday, he would subtly probe or feign casual interest in her preferences. When Seraphina had a fever or was sick, he would always claim he had urgent company business and had to leave. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Damien’s attention to Seraphina had always been so obvious, how could I have only realized it now? But no matter how much he liked Seraphina, he should never have used me as a tool. His blatant deception, using years of my life, hurt me even more than Sterling’s rejection. Dinner ended, and I hadn’t eaten much. On the way back, we were silent. I was thinking about severing all legal ties, and he, about reliving his moments with Seraphina. Finally, I broke the silence. “I’m not going home. I’m going somewhere else.” My voice finally pulled Damien back from his thoughts. Hearing my words, he quickly refocused and gently asked, “Anya, where are you going? I’ll come with you.” “No need.” I shook my head, declining his offer. But he held my hand, stubbornly insisting, “No, I can’t let you go alone. I’d be worried.” I couldn’t refuse, so I ultimately let him have his way. I didn’t explicitly state the destination, merely opened my navigation app and showed him. There wasn’t much traffic on the road, so we quickly neared our destination. Just as we were about to turn in, Damien’s phone suddenly rang. As soon as he answered, Mrs. Reed’s voice came through. “Damien, Seraphina’s wound is inflamed, and she has a bit of a fever. Can you take her to the hospital again?” “I’ll be right there!” He was about to anxiously turn the car around when he suddenly seemed to remember something, and looked at me, conflicted. “Anya, I…” He opened his mouth, hesitating, and just as he was about to say something, I spoke first. “Go ahead. It’s just a short walk from here, I can manage.” With that, I opened the car door and got out. Seeing that I had already gotten out, his concern for Seraphina ultimately took precedence. He restarted the car and sped away. Watching his car disappear into the traffic, I remained silent for a long time, quietly swallowing the bitterness in my heart. Damien, if your car had just driven a little further. You would have found that I was going to the Registry Office to sever my legal ties. You would have seen the signs of my departure. But you didn’t. Because you didn’t care. The process of severing my legal ties was quick. After completing it, I took a cab back to the villa. Not long after, Damien came in, carrying a box of red bean pastries, his face full of apology as he looked at me. “Anya, you’ll be marrying me soon. Then Seraphina and I will be family, which is why I’ve been looking out for her more. Please don’t misunderstand, I’ve pursued you for so many years, you should know that my heart is only for you.” I couldn’t understand how his acting could be so flawless. This particular red bean pastry shop was in the south of the city, requiring a trip across half the city. Its unique flavor meant there was always a continuous stream of customers, and you often had to wait in line for over three hours to get a single box. To ensure Seraphina got what she wanted, he went to such lengths, perfectly embodying the “devotion” others spoke of. Only, that devotion wasn’t for me, but for Seraphina. I was tired. I simply didn’t have the energy to keep playing along. I shook my head, refusing his gesture for the first time. “I’m not feeling well. I’m going to rest.” With that, I turned and walked back to my room without looking at his expression. Damien paused, clearly noticing I wasn’t in a good mood. But he didn’t think much of it, assuming I was still angry about him leaving to find Seraphina. To appease me, he canceled all his work for the next few days and took me out on dates. We had candlelit dinners, he accompanied me shopping for luxury items, and finally, he bought movie tickets for us to watch a film together. As soon as we settled into our chosen seats, a group of girls walked into the theater. And the person surrounded by them was unmistakably Seraphina Reed! Although his expression remained unchanged, I clearly felt his mind wander. His gaze repeatedly drifted towards Seraphina, not far away. The movie was already halfway through, but seeing his distracted look, I guessed he hadn’t absorbed a single thing. It wasn’t until I called his name that Damien finally snapped back to attention. “What is it, Anya?” “I’m not feeling well. Let’s go home.” My voice was light, as if I genuinely felt unwell and was just suggesting an early departure. He glanced at Seraphina, a hint of reluctance in his eyes, but still chose to stand up and leave with me. But just as we stepped out of the cinema, a sudden commotion erupted behind us. A surging crowd, accompanied by chaotic shouts, rushed towards us. “Fire! The cinema is on fire!” Upon hearing what they were shouting, Damien’s face turned ashen. Just as he was about to rush against the human tide, he saw the girls who had entered the cinema with Seraphina also running out. He quickly stopped them, asking each one, his voice laced with uncontrollable panic and desperation, “Where’s Seraphina?!” At his urgent question, the girls exchanged glances. After a moment of frantic recollection, their faces paled, and they stammered out, “Seraphina… she… she might still be inside…” At their words, a furious rage instantly surged within him, burning away all his reason. He roared, “Didn’t I tell you to look after her?!” Before he even finished speaking, he didn’t bother to talk to them further. He lunged, determined to rush into the burning cinema. He hadn’t run far before the driver stopped him. “Mr. Thorne, the fire is too big, you can’t go in. Rescue personnel will be here soon…” But the driver’s words of caution were cut off by Damien’s furious yell, “Get out of my way!” With that, ignoring everyone’s attempts to stop him, he ran against the tide of people, straight towards the cinema! The moment rescue personnel arrived, Damien finally emerged, covered in blood, carrying an unconscious Seraphina Reed. He carefully, tenderly, placed her on a stretcher. Only after confirming Seraphina was safe did he collapse. His collapse fully exposed the severe injuries on his back. The gruesome wounds, bloody and raw, made even me, who thought I could no longer feel pain for him, well up with tears. Not out of pity, but from a sudden rush of memories. Back then, Damien pursued me for a long time. I wasn’t truly heartless, ignoring his efforts. It was just that I couldn’t let go of Sterling Vance, and thus couldn’t accept Damien’s advances. Until one time, I suddenly fainted and was rushed to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with kidney failure. I called my parents, crying, begging them to get tested for a match. Mr. and Mrs. Reed flatly refused, saying they were going on a trip with Seraphina. They even added that kidney failure wouldn’t kill me, and if it did, they’d wait until I was dead before they were notified. My own biological parents mercilessly hung up on me. Desperate, it was Damien who quietly got tested, then just as quietly went into surgery. After the operation, I learned he had donated his kidney. I cried by his bedside for a long time. The first thing he saw when he woke up was my tear-streaked face. He immediately pulled me into his arms, saying over and over, “Shh, don’t cry, I did it willingly.” But hearing those words, I cried even harder. In that moment, I thought perhaps I should give up that pointless waiting and look at the person who was truly there for me. But just as I succumbed to his tenderness and fell completely in love with him, I discovered it was all a deception. Now, looking back, he had always been someone who would fight for love, but the person he was always willing to fight for was Seraphina Reed. Damien was severely injured this time and spent a long time in the hospital. I, who once would have cried endlessly over his slightest injury, this time refused to even mention visiting him in the hospital. Even when his assistant came to tell me Damien wanted to see me, I pretended not to hear, busying myself with my own affairs. Until one night, I was half-asleep when I suddenly felt a weight on me. Startled, I opened my eyes to find Damien holding me tightly. He was wearing a striped hospital gown, clearly having escaped from the hospital. A bandage was wrapped around his forehead, indicating his injuries weren’t fully healed, yet he held me close, silent and unwilling to let go. I struggled a few times, pushing him away before I spoke. “Why are you back here?” “I missed you.” His voice was muffled as he buried his head in the crook of my neck, pouring out his longing. He paused, then spoke again, a hint of complaint in his tone. “Didn’t you get the message I sent through Marcus? Are you not coming to see me all these days because I went to save Seraphina?” “I’m sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have left you to go find someone else. But she is your sister, after all, and the situation was quite urgent at the time, that’s why I went for her. But I promise you, you’re the only one I’ve ever loved, from start to finish. Any extra concern for Seraphina was purely because she’s like a sister, absolutely no other intentions!” “Anya, please don’t be angry with me, okay?” Damien spoke with such sincerity that if I hadn’t known who he truly loved, I probably would have believed him. His frantic return wasn’t out of concern for my feelings at all. He was afraid I would see through his feelings for Seraphina, afraid our wedding would hit another snag, afraid Seraphina wouldn’t get her wish. Honestly, he didn’t need to keep up this act. He could relax. Soon, Soon, none of these people would have anything to do with me. I would completely vanish from their lives and live happily ever after with my customized family. Even if they were fake, the real ones had never given me an ounce of love anyway, so what did “real” or “fake” even matter? “I’m not angry.” I looked at Damien, explaining earnestly. I paused, as if afraid he wouldn’t believe me, then added, “I just caught a cold recently, and I didn’t want to infect you, so I didn’t visit.” “You caught a cold? Did you catch a chill? Is it serious?” Hearing that, he showed no intention of avoiding me. Instead, he pulled out his phone and quickly did something. “It seems a bit colder lately. Do you not have enough clothes? I’ll have someone send over some new seasonal clothes for you.” His movements were too fast for me to stop him. But then I reconsidered; fine, let him buy whatever he wants. I wouldn’t use them anyway. Worst case, when I leave, I’ll just leave them all for his beloved. Thinking this, I didn’t dwell on the matter. “I’m fine. You just take care of yourself. Your injuries aren’t fully healed; you should go back to the hospital.” My words sounded like concern, but my expression remained neutral, making it sound more like I was trying to get rid of him. Damien felt a strange unease, but he didn’t know why, thinking it was just his imagination. He obediently rose to leave. But as he turned around, he saw me still lying in bed, with no intention of accompanying him. Immediately, he refused to move. When I looked at him, he spoke, a hint of complaint in his voice: “If you’re not coming with me, then I’m not going.” After a stalemate, I sighed and resignedly got up, changed, and went downstairs with him. At the hospital, Damien remembered I said I had a cold, so he quickly found a doctor. He only relaxed after being told it was nothing serious and I just needed rest. Because his injuries weren’t healed, he stayed in the hospital for a few more days. During this time, Damien clung to me constantly. Wherever I went, he followed, even waiting nearby when I went to the restroom. Every time the hospital nurses saw one of us, they would subconsciously glance around and always find the other nearby. And every time, I would hear people around us sighing. “Mr. Thorne and Ms. Reed have such a strong relationship. I wish I could find a boyfriend who treats me so well.” “Who wouldn’t? But for that, you’d better go to sleep. You can have anything in your dreams.” … I absorbed the murmurs and discussions around me, but felt nothing. Envious? In love? Only I knew it was all an illusion. His clinginess now wasn’t because he truly loved me. It was just that my behavior had been unusual lately, and he was afraid of another hitch before the wedding. After all, in his mind, if this wedding didn’t go smoothly, I might go back to pestering Sterling Vance. And then, how could his beloved Seraphina find happiness? A few more days passed, and Damien finally recovered and was discharged from the hospital. As soon as we got into the car, his phone rang. It was a call from one of his friends. “Damien, there’s a meteor shower tonight. Bring Anya and let’s all hang out?” Meteor showers were rare, and since he was invited along with me, Damien didn’t hesitate and immediately agreed. I didn’t want to go, but afraid he’d sense my detachment, I went along. When we arrived, I found that not only Damien’s friends were there, but also Seraphina Reed. The moment I saw Seraphina, I keenly sensed the wild joy in Damien beside me, but he quickly composed his expression, making his concern for Seraphina imperceptible. Night slowly fell, revealing tiny specks of stars. Suddenly, a meteor streaked across the sky, followed by more and more. People who came to watch, whether in groups like us or couples on a date, gasped in wonder at the sight of the large meteor shower. After a brief burst of exclamations, everyone quickly closed their eyes and made a wish. At that moment, a vendor pushed a small cart through the crowd. “Want a wishing bottle? Write your wish on a slip of paper under the meteor shower, and I’ll hang it on the tree for you. It’ll make your wish come true even faster!” Although we knew such claims were baseless, seeing Seraphina’s eagerness, everyone bought one. When it was Damien’s turn, he bought all the wishing bottles. His friends couldn’t help but tease him. “Damien, you bought so many wishing bottles, can you even write all your wishes? Share a few with me?” “Seriously, Damien, you already have everything. Why do you need so many wishes? That’s just greedy!” Damien curved his lips into a smile, then turned to look at me, his eyes brimming with tender affection. “I don’t need anything, but I hope Anya can have everything she desires.” At his words, another wave of murmurs and teasing rose. “Damien, you really are the ultimate simp among us, a total slave to his wife!” Someone else might have blushed or been shy in the face of such teasing, but I, the subject of conversation, simply looked at the cart full of wishing bottles and said nothing. Seeing me diligently writing my wish, Damien leaned in curiously. But as soon as he glimpsed a single word, I quickly hid the slip of paper. “It won’t come true if you see it.” Hearing that, he didn’t insist further, instead reaching out to gently ruffle my hair. “Anya, your wish will definitely come true.” I smiled, saying nothing, but wholeheartedly agreed with him in my heart. Yes, my wish would definitely come true. As I slipped the paper into the wishing bottle, I opened it one last time to confirm. There was only one line of text on it. *May Anya Reed and Damien Thorne never meet again in life or death!* By the time Damien finished writing all the wishes for the huge pile of wishing bottles he’d bought, the meteor shower was almost over. Just as we were about to leave, a gasp rang out. I turned to see Seraphina Reed slumped on the ground, her eyes red with distress. “I think I sprained my ankle again. It hurts so bad…” At her words, everyone immediately swarmed around her. Damien could no longer maintain his composure, pushing through the crowd and rushing to her. He hoisted her onto his back and headed down the mountain. I didn’t say a word to stop them. Instead, as they all surrounded Seraphina, I turned and walked up the mountain alone. I found the vendor who had helped us hang the wishing bottles and transferred another sum of money to him. “Sir, can you help me take down all those wishing bottles I just hung up?” Not long after, I returned to the mountaintop with the retrieved wishing bottles. I found a random spot to sit down and began to open Damien’s wishing bottles, one by one. “May Seraphina be happy and joyful year after year, and all her wishes come true.” “May Seraphina be joyful and triumphant, and all things be possible.” “May my beloved Seraphina live a life of blessings, free from illness, and meet only good people.” “May my beloved girl, Seraphina Reed, live a life of joy and peace.” … Ninety-nine wishing bottles, ninety-nine wish slips. Every single slip bore Seraphina’s name. Not a single one mentioned me. My eyes welled up. Finally, I left the scattered wishing bottles on the ground and turned to walk down the mountain. As soon as I reached the bottom, I saw Damien pacing restlessly. Seeing me, he rushed forward and pulled me into a tight embrace, his voice filled with lingering fear. “Anya, where did you go? I came down the mountain and couldn’t find you anywhere! Thank goodness you’re alright. From now on, you’re not allowed to leave my sight for a single step!” Seeing his anxious demeanor, his friends gathered around, teasing and trying to smooth things over. “We told him there’s only one way down the mountain, Anya would be fine, but Damien just wouldn’t believe it. He really does lose his head when he’s worried!” “You wouldn’t believe it, Anya, Damien was so frantic when he realized you hadn’t come down, he was almost in tears, a grown man!” Their words seemed intended to prove how much Damien cared about me, yet my gaze drifted past them, straight to Seraphina Reed at the very back. Her foot was clearly bandaged, and her emotions had stabilized considerably. Listening to their words, her eyes held an inexplicable air of smugness. That knowing smile on her lips, as if she, too, saw through Damien’s true feelings, was a subtle taunt – *See? Everyone says he loves you, but in truth, I’m the one he cares about most.* A sharp surge of humiliation welled up inside me, which I then forcefully suppressed. It’s okay. All of this will be over soon. Not long after that day, Seraphina’s birthday arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Reed spared no expense, booking an entire cruise ship for her birthday banquet and even inviting Damien and me. They had completely forgotten that my birthday was on the very same day. I was used to it, but on the day we received the invitation, Damien hesitated to accept. “That’s your birthday too. Maybe we shouldn’t go?” I could tell he really wanted to attend, but in front of me, he had to patiently keep up the act. I took in his hesitation and granted his unspoken wish. “It wouldn’t be good not to go. Let’s go.” He struggled to suppress his joy, pulling me into a hug, his words full of apology. “I couldn’t spend your birthday alone with you this year, but I’ll make it up to you next year.” I let out a soft laugh at his promise. Next year? There wouldn’t *be* a next year. In just a few days, I would completely vanish from their world. At the birthday banquet, Seraphina, dressed in the latest haute couture gown, was surrounded by everyone, showered with compliments, truly the center of attention. Sterling Vance, who had been away on business, finally returned to the country. He stood beside Seraphina in a sharp suit, a picture-perfect couple. When it came time for gifts, everyone presented their carefully prepared presents. Mr. and Mrs. Reed and Sterling, being closest to Seraphina, naturally drew the most attention with their gifts. And they didn’t disappoint, presenting everything from expensive jewelry to nationally limited-edition supercars. When it was Damien’s turn, he produced a certificate. As everyone looked puzzled, he opened the certificate, revealing a splendid, rose-hued nebula within. “Seraphina, you already have everything. After much thought, I believe this is what suits you best. From today on, the naming rights to this nebula are yours.” This gesture immediately sparked gasps throughout the room, and discussions erupted. “To buy the naming rights for a nebula, Mr. Thorne must have gone to great lengths!” “I’d say Mr. Thorne is absolutely smitten with Ms. Reed, so his love for her extends to everything connected to her, even a grand birthday gift for her sister.” … The murmurs of admiration were endless, but only I knew that his meticulously prepared gift wasn’t born out of extending his love to Seraphina’s family. It was for his true beloved. Unwilling to stay in the main hall, I went out onto the deck for some air. The sea breeze ruffled my hair, and my long-suppressed heart finally felt a degree of ease. Seraphina chose that moment to approach. She stood behind me, her eyes filled with disdain and mockery, but her words were dripping with boastfulness. “Sister, what should I do? It seems not only Sterling, but Damien, too, loves me.” I couldn’t understand. From childhood, she had already taken everything I possessed: my parents’ favoritism, my friends, my crush, and now, my fiancé… Why wouldn’t she leave me alone? Why did she continue to flaunt herself so openly in front of me? I thought that, and I asked her that. Hearing my question, Seraphina didn’t even bother to hide her disdain. She curved her lips into a smile. “No reason, really. I just love seeing you suffer. And I’m so happy, because I’ll get to see it again very soon.” I frowned, just about to ask what she meant, when the next second, Seraphina suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me with her into the sea. Seawater engulfed my mouth and nose. I instinctively tried to call for help, but the gushing water choked me, a sharp pain searing my throat. The icy touch invaded my senses bit by bit, and the terror of death instantly consumed my mind. As I was churned and tossed by the waves, I saw that people were finally noticing the commotion. Soon, several more splashes sounded. Mr. Reed, Sterling Vance, and Damien Thorne—all three jumped in. But without hesitation, they all swam straight for Seraphina! From the distant cruise ship, I could faintly hear Mrs. Reed’s frantic screams: “Save Seraphina! Make sure you save Seraphina!” In that moment, a crushing despair of being abandoned by everyone washed over me. I closed my eyes, resigned to death’s embrace. But just then, the sound of swimming grew closer, as if someone was approaching me. I vaguely opened my eyes, only to freeze when I saw the face. It was Sterling Vance. I didn’t have time to wonder why Sterling was saving me before my consciousness was completely swallowed by darkness. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital. I blinked my dry eyes, my gaze shifting from the pure white ceiling to the man sitting by my bedside. After confirming several times, I still couldn’t believe it. The only person by my side was Sterling Vance. I hid my surprise and spoke calmly. “Aren’t you going to see Seraphina?” “I just came from there. She has a crowd of people around her, Damien Thorne is there too.” Sterling had expected me to react strongly to the mention of Damien, but to his surprise, I remained expressionless. My next words were merely to dismiss him. “Then you should go too. I prefer peace and quiet.” When my words fell, the man beside me remained motionless. I glanced at him, slightly puzzled. “Is there something else?” “Don’t marry Damien Thorne.” Sterling was silent for a long time, seemingly choosing his words, but eventually, he spoke. Once he started, the rest poured out. “He doesn’t love you at all. He only got close to you to make room for Seraphina!” With the secret on his chest finally revealed, he seemed to feel a sense of relief. But when he looked at me again, he saw my expression hadn’t changed, still perfectly calm and unruffled. As if I had known all along. In an instant, his eyes widened in shock. “You already knew?” “If you have nothing else to say, then leave.” I didn’t answer his question, still urging him to go. But he didn’t leave; instead, his reaction became even more agitated. “You knew and you were still going to marry him? Are you out of your mind?” At his words, I laughed. “What does it matter to you? Haven’t I already broken off our engagement and given you back to Seraphina, who you’ve always held in your heart?” At that, Sterling was speechless. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. He should have been happy, but lately, whenever he looked at Seraphina, he couldn’t help but think of me, who used to trail after him. Even in his dreams, it was me. In the midst of the silence, Damien Thorne suddenly pushed open the hospital room door. The moment he saw Sterling, his face darkened instantly. “Sterling Vance, what are you doing here?” With him present, the conversation naturally couldn’t continue. Sterling gave me a deep look, and ultimately said nothing, turning to leave. He hadn’t gone far when Damien anxiously embraced me. “Anya, I’m sorry. It’s not that I didn’t save you; I just mistook someone else for you at the time.” “Please don’t be angry with me. From now on, I won’t care about Seraphina anymore, and you won’t have anything to do with Sterling, okay?” “You finally stopped loving him and agreed to be with me. If you get involved with him again, I’ll truly go mad.” Listening to Damien’s fragmented apologies, my face remained calm, I said nothing. As I closed my eyes, only one thought remained in my mind: *Let all of this just end quickly.* In the following days, perhaps to demonstrate his resolve, Damien didn’t visit Seraphina again, nor did he pay any attention to news about her. He simply stayed by my side, constantly bringing me all sorts of gifts to try and win my favor. And this continued until the night before the wedding. That evening, I inexplicably began packing my belongings. Damien saw me but didn’t think much of it, even offering to help me pack. But as he packed, he realized that everything I was putting into the boxes were things he had given me during his pursuit. Hundreds of photos he had taken of me; Letter after letter he had written for me; Gift after gift he had sent me; Finally, he found a memo pad. He opened it, only to discover it was filled with my preferences. 1. Anya has a sensitive stomach, can’t eat spicy food. Learn 365 soothing dishes for her. 2. Anya is afraid of thunder and always forgets her umbrella. Always be there for her before it rains. 3. Anya loves cherries. Plant an entire backyard full of cherry trees for her. 4. Anya is lonely. No matter when, if she turns around, you must be there. … Damien read out the full memo pad, item by item. By the end, he let out a soft laugh. “Anya, it was so hard to win you over. I’m glad I persevered.” Looking at his earnest expression, I couldn’t help but feel a little dazed. He really had done so much to pursue me. If I hadn’t personally heard those words from him, perhaps it would be hard for me to believe that this devoted Damien was thinking of someone else entirely when he was with me. Damien didn’t notice my subtle shift. He reached out and hugged me. “Anya, I’m finally going to marry you and bring you home. Tell me, after today, will you finally be mine…” I shook my head. No. From the moment you deceived me, it was clear there would be no future for us. Just then, the butler walked in. “The bride and groom shouldn’t see each other before the wedding. Young master, you should head to the hotel now.” Hearing the butler’s words, he remained motionless, still holding me tightly. “I want to stay with Anya.” The butler looked at him, distressed. “Young master…” As he was about to continue persuading him, Damien’s phone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, he paused, then finally released me and walked to the side to answer the call. I didn’t know what was said on the other end, but when he returned, his attitude had changed. He just held me, reluctantly. “Anya, see you tomorrow.” I knew he wasn’t leaving because of the butler’s words, but because of that phone call. It was Seraphina Reed calling him. But I didn’t try to stop him. I just watched his back disappear out the villa door. Then, I moved all the packed boxes to the front yard of the villa. I had already instructed the housekeepers to prepare a fire pit. Although they didn’t know why, they didn’t ask, simply placing the fire pit in the garden. Now, I threw the contents of the boxes into the fire pit one by one: photos, memo pads, diaries. As the last photo was tossed into the flames, I watched the ashes, a faint smile on my lips. Damien, all our memories are burned away. And we, too, have no future left. In the vast darkness of the night, no one noticed the bride of tomorrow walking out the door with a suitcase, resolute, without looking back… I got into the car without looking back. The moment the vehicle started, I snapped my phone’s SIM card in half and threw it out. No one loves Anya Reed? Then I will love myself! Goodbye forever, this city. Goodbye forever, everyone. There were no direct flights to the private island. I had to fly to the nearest country and then take a boat. By the time I arrived at the private island, whose ownership had already been transferred, a full day and night had passed. A manor, built according to my specifications, was already there on the island. I just needed to move in. My funds were plentiful, and when I first considered coming to the island, I had already thought about how inconvenient it might be to travel in and out. So, I simply bought a yacht. Although I doubted I’d need to leave the island much, I wasn’t sure if my purchased parents and boyfriend would feel the same, so it was better to be prepared. Pushing open the manor gates, I found the facilities fully equipped. I looked around, quite satisfied. This would be my home from now on. I pulled out my phone, about to ask when my customized family would arrive, when the villa’s front door suddenly opened from the inside. A handsome, refined young man appeared before me. Seeing me, he paused, but quickly understood my identity. He flashed a smile, stepped aside to invite me in, and called out to the other two inside. Having been told their employer would arrive today, the three had been waiting for a long time. Once I was inside, the other two also introduced themselves. “My name is Eleanor Grey, I’m your customized mother. And this is Arthur Grey, your customized father.” The first to speak was a kind, elderly woman, who also introduced the man beside her. When it was the young man I had first met’s turn, he spoke before the woman could. “Hello, I’m Caleb Hayes, your… customized boyfriend.” *** Damien Thorne and Anya Reed’s wedding was set for the city’s grandest hotel. This highly anticipated wedding banquet saw almost every prominent figure in the social circle in attendance, all eager to witness this momentous occasion. It wasn’t until the wedding was about to begin that a breathless staff member finally rushed to Damien, whispering in his ear. Those in the audience couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they could see Damien’s smiling face suddenly freeze, then gradually darken. He waved the person away, then turned, avoiding the gazes of those below. “Mr. Thorne, the wedding is about to start, but the bride hasn’t arrived yet. Perhaps you should check if something has happened?” Recalling the staff member’s words, Damien felt his heart hammering in his chest. The unsettling feeling that had lingered since yesterday intensified. He pulled out his phone, found the number he knew by heart, even without saving it, and dialed. After a long series of beeps, the call was abruptly cut off. In that instant, his heart plummeted. But Damien couldn’t believe it. He stubbornly redialed her number. This time, he only heard the ‘call in progress’ tone. He was in disbelief. Was he… blocked? He then called the villa. After a few rings, it connected. Without waiting for a greeting, he went straight to the point. “Where’s Anya? Have you seen her? Did she forget the wedding time? Go remind her, the wedding is about to start…” By the end of his sentence, Damien’s voice grew softer, losing its conviction. Anya was never someone without a sense of time, let alone blocking his number. Yet, he still hoped to hear a different answer from the housekeeper. There was a frantic commotion on the other end, as if people were being dispatched to search for her. But soon, a nervous voice came through. “Young master… Ms. Reed wasn’t found in the villa, but the housekeepers found… her wedding dress burnt to ashes in the garden, and the wedding ring you gave her…” At those words, Damien’s mind went blank. He rushed to the stage, oblivious to everything else, his gaze sweeping the audience. When he realized Sterling Vance was also absent, that tense string inside him instantly snapped. He frantically dialed, his mind consumed only by the fact that Anya had run away. He didn’t care about anything else. In front of everyone, he bolted out of the banquet hall, leaving all the gasps and commotion behind. Sterling Vance answered quickly. Hearing Damien’s breathless voice, he was a little puzzled. Just as he was about to ask, Damien’s near-hysterical voice came through. “Where are you?” The bride hadn’t appeared, and the groom had publicly walked out. The entire wedding banquet instantly dissolved into chaos. Ultimately, Mr. and Mrs. Reed went on stage to stabilize the situation. No one had expected this highly anticipated wedding to end in such a way. After sending the guests away, Mr. and Mrs. Reed made several inquiries and learned that Anya had run away first, leading to this farce. They immediately frowned. “She’s truly a trouble-maker. Even her wedding ended like this. What a disgrace to our family name!” Mr. Reed’s face was dark, but Mrs. Reed considered things more deeply. She glanced at Seraphina, who stood beside her, looking utterly oblivious, and a sudden unease stirred within her. “Anya and Damien were getting along so well, but now she’s suddenly run away. Sterling didn’t show up today either. Could it be that she regrets giving up Sterling and has gone to pester him again?” Her initial thought was a mere guess, but as she spoke it aloud, the others found it increasingly plausible. Their faces changed instantly, and they rushed towards the Vance family home. People often exhibit uncanny synchronicity in the wrong circumstances. The few who knew about the situation all assumed Anya had run away to find Sterling. Luckily, Sterling was not at the Vance residence at that moment, preventing a scene where everyone converged on his home. Sterling had not expected that just the thought of Anya marrying someone else today would leave him so gloomy. Especially knowing she was fully aware of Damien’s intentions, yet still chose to marry him, had only intensified his frustration. So, he went to a club owned by the Vance family. Upon entering the private room, he ordered a table full of drinks and proceeded to drown himself in alcohol. He didn’t want to attend her wedding; he didn’t want to see her walk down the aisle to someone else, uttering those words, “I do.” Drowning in his drunken stupor, he suddenly received a call from Damien Thorne asking for his location. His mind was hazy, unable to comprehend why the person who should be getting married was calling him. An address slipped out directly. Just as he was about to ask something, Damien had already hung up, so fast that Sterling, whose mind was already unclear, thought everything that had just happened was merely a hallucination. He picked up his glass again, poured a full one, and drank it all in one gulp. The thought of breaking off his engagement with Seraphina grew stronger with each drink. He stared fixedly at his phone on the table, a voice echoing in his mind, urging him to pick it up. Just as he was about to dial Mr. and Mrs. Reed’s number, the private room door was kicked open with a bang. Blinding light streamed into the dimly lit room. If it weren’t for the scattered liquor bottles and Sterling, sitting on the sofa, phone in hand, motionless, Damien might have thought he had come to the wrong place. Frowning, he switched on all the lights in the room. The sudden brightness made Sterling instinctively shield his eyes. But as soon as he raised his hand, Damien rushed forward, taking three steps at a time, to stand before him. “Where’s Anya? Has she come looking for you?” Hearing Anya’s name, Sterling’s mind cleared for a moment. Looking at Damien’s angry face, he suddenly smiled. “Isn’t Anya at her wedding with you? Why aren’t you at your wedding, running around looking for me?” As the words left his lips, Sterling seemed to finally grasp the implication of what Damien had said. He suddenly stood up, his eyes wide with shock. “What do you mean?” Seeing that Sterling was indeed unaware, the anger on Damien’s face faded, leaving only confusion. Although Anya had grown up in the city, she had no friends due to her introverted, timid, and insecure nature. She hadn’t come to Sterling, and given the Reed family’s character, they would never help her escape the wedding. So, where else could she have gone? “Anya… she’s gone… She burned the wedding dress and the wedding ring, and disappeared without a trace…” Damien collapsed onto the sofa, his eyes staring blankly ahead, his gaze unfocused. Sterling, too, was incredulous upon hearing this. After all, even when he had told Anya that Damien had no genuine feelings for her, she hadn’t considered leaving. But it was precisely this memory that made a flicker of insight cross his eyes. So, it wasn’t that she didn’t care who Damien loved; it was that she had already planned to leave? But she hadn’t come to him after leaving. So where could she have gone? Sterling was lost in his thoughts, completely oblivious to his sudden silence catching Damien’s attention. It wasn’t until his collar was suddenly grabbed, and Damien’s face loomed large before him. Damien’s eyes narrowed, carrying a dangerous glint, and his voice was chilling. “You know where she is?” All of Sterling’s drunkenness evaporated in that instant. He grinned, a hint of malice in his smile. “I don’t know where she is, but I know why she ran away from the wedding.” Damien froze, his grip loosening slightly. He instinctively asked, “Why?” After all, he still had no idea what Anya was thinking. He had assumed she ran away to find Sterling, but now that it proved otherwise, a pang of annoyance, mixed with a surge of jealousy, churned within him. He didn’t even know why Anya ran away, so how could Sterling? But Sterling opened his mouth and delivered an answer that was a fatal blow to Damien. “Do you remember the day she woke up after falling into the sea? Guess what we talked about during the time we were alone?” Looking at Sterling’s expression, Damien felt his heart hammering in his chest. Unease and anxiety intertwined within him. Finally, in a panic, he stumbled, wanting to flee. He was actually afraid to hear the answer. But Damien’s frantic steps couldn’t outrun Sterling’s voice. Seeing that he wanted to run, Sterling no longer held back, striking directly at Damien’s heart. “I told her that you approached her not out of love, but for another purpose. I told her that the person you truly loved was Seraphina Reed, and that marrying Anya was just to make her clear the way for Seraphina. Now, guess again, what was her reaction after I told her?” The last sentence was a question, but it was clear Sterling had no intention of waiting for an answer. He answered himself directly. “She wasn’t surprised, wasn’t sad, and didn’t disbelieve me. Before I told her, she already knew. Back then, seeing her utterly unresponsive, I thought she loved you so much she didn’t even care that you didn’t love her, that you approached her with ulterior motives.” “At that time, I was quite jealous of you.” “But now, it seems I was wrong. She wasn’t simply letting it go; she was just waiting for the most opportune moment to strike the hardest blow against you.” As Sterling’s last words fell, Damien’s figure had completely vanished outside the private room door. He seemed not to have heard him, yet as Sterling slowly walked to the doorway and watched Damien hurriedly descend the stairs, the desperate scramble to escape in his back said it all. He felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. He wasn’t the only one who had wronged Anya Reed, so why should he be the only one suffering? In fact, compared to Damien, his actions were at least not as despicable. Sterling looked back at the messy private room, called for someone to clean up, then walked directly out of the club. The cool night air brushed his cheek. He exhaled a heavy sigh, looked at the number he had been about to dial before Damien arrived, and then turned off his phone screen. He hailed a cab. Since a wedding escape had happened, if he wasn’t mistaken, Mr. and Mrs. Reed and Seraphina would probably all be at the Vance residence now. Those people’s speculations about Anya were not much different from Damien’s. Fifteen minutes later, he pushed open the door to the Vance family home and saw the three members of the Reed family sitting neatly on the living room sofa. He let out a sardonic laugh. See? He was right. Hearing the door open, the Reed family’s gazes instantly shifted. Seeing that he had returned alone, they still looked behind him, unwilling to give up, trying to find Anya’s tracks. “She didn’t come looking for me,” he shrugged and said. Sterling’s words, however, did not earn the Reed family’s trust. Mr. Reed frowned, his eyes filled with disapproval. “If she didn’t come to you, where else would she go? With her personality, she doesn’t even have a single friend in this city, a disgrace of a girl, and now she’s caused such a scene.” Mrs. Reed echoed her husband’s words, her expression cold and annoyed. If an outsider saw her, they might think Mrs. Reed and the Anya she spoke of were not mother and daughter, but enemies. “With her timid, shrinking demeanor, what else can she do besides snatching things from Seraphina? Sterling, I know you’re too soft-hearted, but you don’t need to cover for her in this matter.” Seraphina leaned against Mrs. Reed, her gaze fixed on Sterling, a smile playing on her lips, but her eyes held no warmth. She didn’t know why Sterling was suddenly helping Anya, but she knew she had to do something, otherwise, Sterling’s heart might truly drift away. “Sterling, marriage is no child’s play. Since Sister agreed to marry Damien, how can she act so childishly at the wedding? If you know where Sister is, please tell us quickly. We can’t just let her continue acting recklessly, can we?” Looking at the three of them united in their shared condemnation, Sterling was somewhat dazed. Were they really Anya’s family? Now that she had disappeared without a trace, no one was worried about her safety; instead, every word was an accusation. It was laughable that he hadn’t noticed any of this before. Had Anya truly grown up in such an environment for over twenty years? How much pain must she have accumulated? He didn’t know, but at this moment, he refused to be an accomplice any longer. “Uncle and Aunt, I truly don’t know where she is right now. But I do have something I’d like to discuss with you.” Seeing all their gazes fixed on him, he cleared his throat and delivered the words he had prepared. “Uncle and Aunt, I want to break off my engagement with Seraphina.” At his words, everyone in the room froze. No one had ever imagined that Sterling Vance, who had previously insisted on breaking off his engagement with Anya Reed to marry Seraphina, would suddenly propose breaking off *this* engagement. After a brief愣怔, Seraphina’s eyes immediately welled up. She, too, was utterly bewildered, unable to understand why he had returned from a short outing with such a declaration. Instinctively, she blamed Anya, who was now nowhere to be found. “Sterling, did Sister say something to you? I…” But her words were cut off by Sterling. He frowned, his eyes filled with confusion. “If I remember correctly, I just said that Anya didn’t come looking for me. Moreover, even if she did, what could she possibly come to tell me?” Not wanting to see their cherished daughter distressed, the stark contrast between Sterling’s aggressive demeanor and Seraphina’s pale lips and tear-filled eyes irritated Mr. and Mrs. Reed. They quickly went to Seraphina’s side, comforting her softly. Mr. and Mrs. Vance, who had been observing the drama, finally realized what their son had said. They quickly tried to smooth things over. “Son, what nonsense are you saying? This is no joke! Marriage isn’t child’s play; you can’t just break it off like that. Right, Sterling? Apologize to your uncle and aunt immediately! And Seraphina, look at how upset you are!” Hearing Mrs. Vance’s words, Mr. and Mrs. Reed’s expressions softened slightly. Remembering Sterling’s earlier statement, they couldn’t help but scoff again. “What good words could that Anya Reed possibly have? All day long, it’s just excuses or trying to snatch things from Seraphina. Not a trace of a proper older sister.” Mr. and Mrs. Reed’s complaints continued, one after another, but they failed to resonate with Sterling. He only found it ironic. No wonder Anya chose to leave alone. With such parents, such a sister, such a fiancé, anyone would want to escape as far away as possible. This was good. Let Anya bloom in her own light. Five years later. After closing off her private island for five years, Anya Reed finally opened it for visitors for the first time. Of course, the private island was no longer called the private island. After much searching, Anya named it “Reunion Isle.” *Life’s partings and meetings are always so; let us rejoice when we meet.* She had bid farewell to a mistaken past and met the right people here. She felt the name was perfectly fitting. Reunion Isle had a beautiful environment, which caught the eye of a director vacationing nearby. After months of negotiation, he finally got permission to film on the island. However, Anya also set conditions: they could film on the island, but they couldn’t damage the environment, nor could they film her family without permission. The director readily agreed to the first condition, but hesitated slightly at the second. Because the director’s variety show opted for a live broadcast premiere, with an edited version for replays, it was inevitable that some things might be missed. After discussion, they both compromised. During the live broadcast, filming would try to avoid the four of them. If they accidentally appeared on screen, the director would have people blur them out immediately. Subsequent broadcasts would also edit out any scenes where they appeared. Anya then decided not to quibble over brief appearances. A month after the contract was signed, the director brought the guests to the island. Since their identities had been disclosed beforehand, no one dared to make any trouble in Anya’s presence, and they generally tried to avoid meeting. However, living on the same Reunion Isle, it was unavoidable that they would appear on camera. Fortunately, the director kept his word, blurring them out promptly whenever they appeared. Anya didn’t take it to heart. Until… after the variety show became a massive hit, a blurred screenshot went viral across the internet. Damien Thorne didn’t usually pay much attention to entertainment news. But for the past five years, he had searched every place imaginable, all to no avail. He couldn’t even trace where Anya had last been seen on the day she disappeared. Only after a thorough investigation did he discover that Anya’s identity information had been canceled half a month before their wedding was supposed to take place. That meant she had been planning her departure for at least half a month. Shocked and distraught, he felt immense regret. His Anya had been planning her departure without his knowledge, meticulously for so long, yet he had shared a bed with her daily, completely oblivious. It was only then that Damien realized his feelings for Seraphina had long been depleted by unrequited devotion, much like Anya’s feelings for Sterling. Love required reciprocity. He had poured ten years into a hopeless pursuit. For Seraphina’s happiness, he had even gone to another woman, playing the role of a suitor madly in love with Anya. But the person he spent every day with was her, the person he had promised forever to was her, and when he was sick or injured, she was always by his side. No matter how much Damien resisted, he had to admit that he had actually fallen in love with Anya long ago. It was only stubborn obsession, only his habit of chasing Seraphina’s footsteps, that had prevented him from seeing his own heart. He wanted to find Anya, wanted to tell her that his love for her had become real. Five years of relentless searching, five years of repeated failures, had shattered his confidence into countless fragments. Even Sterling Vance, who later chose to break away from his family to call off his engagement with Seraphina, began to mock him, laughing at his foolish pipe dreams and his overestimation of himself. Damien had asked him why he was so determined to break off the engagement. Sterling said he hadn’t seen his own heart clearly back then and had made the wrong decision. Now that he finally realized it, he didn’t want to make another mistake. But when it came to mistakes, Sterling wasn’t the only one; Damien had made an even greater one. But unlike Sterling, who chose to let go, Damien wanted to return to Anya’s side. That photo went viral across the internet under these circumstances. Someone was watching the variety show when they saw Caleb Hayes, who appeared for a second before being quickly blurred out. The blur was fast, but not faster than netizens’ eyes and lightning-fast screenshotting skills. A blurry image was quickly posted online. “This man is so handsome! I need all his information in three minutes!” The post garnered many supportive comments and sparked a lot of discussion online. By rights, Damien wouldn’t usually look at such entertainment news, but for the past five years, he had tried every method to find Anya. By the end, he naturally wouldn’t ignore the most widespread channels of information. So, the photo found its way to Damien. He initially didn’t pay much attention, it was just a picture of a man. But for some reason, he couldn’t resist taking a closer look. In that glance, he saw a woman tending to a flowerbed in a blurry corner of the enlarged image. Even though it was so blurred he could barely make out her features, Damien inexplicably felt it was Anya. To confirm his suspicion, he contacted the director through the variety show’s brand representative. The director, suddenly approached by a CEO worth hundreds of millions, thought his show had found another patron. He quickly accepted the friend request. Just as he was wondering how to initiate a conversation without appearing arrogant or too subservient, Damien’s message came through. “Where was this filmed?” Attached was the screenshot that had gone viral online. Realizing Damien was trying to inquire about the island’s owner, the director hesitated. If he told the truth, he might build a good relationship with this CEO. But it was a private island, and if he divulged information without permission, his crew might be kicked off the island. The island owner was already displeased about the photo spreading. Thinking this, he reluctantly refused Damien’s inquiry. “I apologize. We have an agreement with the owner, and I cannot disclose her personal information.” He still couldn’t bring himself to delete Damien, so after much deliberation, he put his phone aside and didn’t pay it any further attention. Seeing that the director was stubbornly refusing to reveal any information, Damien didn’t get discouraged. Instead, he became even more convinced that the woman was Anya Reed. Sterling Vance had the same thought, but his actions were more decisive. Before the variety show began, it was announced that it was being filmed on a private island. Combining this with the already aired segments, he quickly narrowed his focus to a specific region. He flew directly to North America and, armed with the photo, inquired with countries that sold islands. It wasn’t long before he located Anya’s private island. He docked his boat by the island’s shore but didn’t go ashore. He simply waited silently on the boat. Anya didn’t think much of it at first. These days were when supplies usually arrived on the island. Seeing a yacht dock, she assumed the provisions had come and quickly went to the shore with Caleb Hayes. To her surprise, when they rushed over, it wasn’t supplies they found, but Sterling Vance, standing silently on the deck. “Anya!” I turned to leave, but he called out to me. His voice was soft and gentle, yet inexplicably complex. I didn’t turn back, but I also didn’t leave. I just stood there quietly, waiting for him to continue. There had been no opportunity for us to have a proper conversation for a long time. Sterling didn’t care about my attitude towards him. At least from his perspective, seeing me again was already a blessing. But if he could find me, Damien Thorne certainly could too. So he cleared his throat and said earnestly, “I actually only came to tell you two things. Seraphina and I broke off our engagement, and… Damien Thorne might also come looking for you. Anya, do you… want to come home?” Hearing that, I turned back, a little puzzled. “What does your broken engagement with Seraphina have to do with me?” My rhetorical question left Sterling momentarily speechless. As he tried to explain, I had already turned away, no longer looking at him, and didn’t answer his other question. And that question… *Home?* Hearing that word, I found it somewhat amusing. This was my home now. Where else could I go back to? As for Damien Thorne, as long as he didn’t set foot on my island, he could go to the moon and it would be none of my business. I reached out and took Caleb Hayes’s hand. I didn’t linger, walking directly towards the island. Sterling recognized him. That was the man from the photo that went viral online. Seeing their hands naturally clasped, a slight pang of bitterness touched his heart. So, in these five years, she truly had found someone else and no longer needed them. But then he smiled wryly. She had never truly needed them, or rather, when she did need them, they had never been there for her. The island’s terrain wasn’t complicated. From the boat, he could clearly see the guests filming nearby and the villa in the opposite direction. Evidently, the filming had deliberately avoided that area. It seemed that the viral photo was indeed an accident. He turned back to look at Anya, walking away. The manor gates opened, and an older man and woman emerged. Their demeanor was gentle and kind. The four of them stood together, looking remarkably harmonious, just like a true family of four. “Anya, I wish you happiness.” He murmured that phrase, then turned and waved. The boat restarted, slowly pulling away from the island, eventually disappearing into the boundless horizon. On the island, the variety show’s filming had reached its final day. After today, Reunion Isle would return to its usual tranquility. Not only Anya Reed felt relieved, but also Eleanor and Arthur Grey. While they weren’t averse to interacting with others, they disliked being on camera, especially after Caleb’s accidental appearance and subsequent screenshot. They grew even more cautious. Fortunately, the crew was very considerate, mostly filming on the other side of Reunion Isle. Even so, they all breathed a sigh of relief knowing the crew was leaving. I also sighed, deciding I wouldn’t accept such ventures again in the future. “Anya, hurry inside, lunch is ready.” Eleanor Grey was still wearing her apron, smiling sweetly, and Arthur Grey, who followed close behind her, was also beaming. “Eleanor made your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs today. Come try some, it won’t be as good cold.” After five years, my interactions with them had become much more natural. Eleanor and Arthur had always wanted children but, unfortunately, neither could conceive. After becoming my customized parents, they truly loved me as their own child. Through our time together, they grew even more fond of me. I was sensible, filial, and well-behaved. Even though they were hired, I treated them with exceptional respect. They had heard I was also an orphan, which only strengthened their belief that we were destined to be a family. It happened that they had no children, and it happened that I had no parents. The dinner table was filled with warmth and laughter. Caleb Hayes sat beside me, attentively serving me food and peeling shrimp. The island was rich in seafood, but I found it too much bother to eat. It was Caleb who later realized I simply didn’t like handling it, and he naturally took over the task. After eating my fill, I went to the other side to watch the variety show’s filming. Since it was the last day, the production team was uncharacteristically lenient with the guests. A group of young men and women laughed and played, creating a lively atmosphere. I recalled that over these past five years, aside from supply deliveries, there had been almost no other visitors. After all, it was a private island; without my permission, others couldn’t come ashore. It had indeed been a long time since it was this lively. Lost in thought, Caleb came over with a fruit platter. Seeing me staring off into the distance, he offered the platter to me, then sat casually on the ground beside me, not bothering with a chair. “Here.” I didn’t take it. I was sitting on the ground too, with no table. If I took the plate, I’d have to hold it constantly, and I didn’t want to, so I simply didn’t reach for it. I just looked at him, opening my mouth slightly. Understanding my unspoken request, Caleb smiled, speared a small piece of fruit with a toothpick, and fed it to my mouth. I happily accepted it. In the past, I had no privilege to be willful and was accustomed to putting others first. But here, I was the center of attention and had the privilege to be spoiled. Coupled with the genuine affection from Eleanor and Arthur, and Caleb, I had grown a bit lazier. But I felt it was a good thing. Damien Thorne didn’t come alone. With him were Mr. and Mrs. Reed and Seraphina Reed. The Reed family hadn’t fared well over the years. Sterling Vance had started his own venture, and the first thing he did after succeeding was to compete with the Reed family in the market. They had wanted to stabilize their position through marriage alliances, but Seraphina, spoiled rotten by them, was extremely headstrong. After Sterling broke off their engagement, she threw daily tantrums at home. They, too, doted on their youngest daughter and couldn’t bear to force her into an arranged marriage. Worse, their eldest daughter’s two engagements had failed, and then she had completely disappeared without a trace after canceling her identity. They didn’t even know where to look for her. If Damien hadn’t told them he had found her, they would still be unaware of this unfilial daughter’s whereabouts. Mr. and Mrs. Reed secretly resolved in their hearts that when they met her, they would thoroughly reprimand this unfilial daughter. They had heard she bought her own island and lived so luxuriously, yet she hadn’t thought to help her own parents. Their expressions were already unpleasant on the boat, and upon seeing the discreetly luxurious manor on the island, their anger festered. They completely forgot Damien’s earlier instruction to resolve misunderstandings with Anya peacefully. But perhaps there were no misunderstandings between them to begin with. The day I saw Sterling, I guessed Damien would eventually find me. I even wondered if I should hide, but then I thought, they were just some unimportant people. I really had no need to hide from irrelevant people, as if I were someone to be ashamed of. But I truly hadn’t expected Damien to bring Mr. and Mrs. Reed with him. Initially, I had never understood why. Back in the city, I was always the extra person. My parents didn’t love me, my sister rejected me, the person I loved loved my sister, and the person who “loved me” actually loved my sister too. Shouldn’t my departure have been exactly what they wanted? Why did they have to put on such a show, pretending to be frantic about finding me? Was this performance so important, so crucial that even after I, the supporting character, had left the stage, he still had to play out the final act? But I only thought about it briefly. If I couldn’t understand, I wouldn’t dwell on it. Anyway, from now on, they would have nothing to do with me. Whatever they wanted to do was entirely up to them. Damien and his group arrived quickly. When they reached Reunion Isle, we were having breakfast. The door was suddenly pounded on, then just as abruptly, the noise stopped. Not long after, a gentle knocking replaced it. I had just begun to frown when Caleb Hayes stood up to open the door. The door swung open, and the moment he and the people outside came face to face, they all froze. Damien had actually started regretting bringing Mr. and Mrs. Reed when they began pounding on the door. But now, seeing someone else inside my house, a furious jealousy ignited his reason. His chest heaved violently, indicating his extreme agitation. If he hadn’t yet seen me, he might have already resorted to violence. “Who is it?” At the thought of me, my voice drifted from inside. Damien didn’t care who this man at the door was. The moment he heard my voice, his gaze repeatedly swept the interior, hoping to see the person he was looking for. And the moment my voice was heard, Mr. and Mrs. Reed, whom he had brought along, couldn’t even hold back. They completely disregarded their composure and started shouting. “You rebellious daughter! Now you’re pulling a runaway act! Five years, and you haven’t come home once. Do you have any respect for us, your parents?!” “Aren’t you ashamed enough? Get out here and come back with us!” Damien hadn’t even had time to stop them when Seraphina, who had walked in with Mr. and Mrs. Reed, also spoke with her falsely innocent charm. “Sister, I know you’re angry with me, but no matter how much you sulk, you can’t abandon Mom and Dad! They’ve been frantic looking for you these past few years. Come home with us now!” Seeing these people, who claimed to be Anya’s family, immediately launch into insults, Caleb Hayes, with all his good temper, finally snapped. He sneered, “Where did these dogs come from, barking at people for no reason?” He moved his body further, completely blocking Damien’s view of the interior. Before they could erupt in anger, he added another chilling warning, “This is Anya’s island. Trespassing without permission, especially not in your country, means you might end up in a shark’s belly.” His cold gaze swept over them, striking a momentary fear into the four outside, but it was quickly replaced by rage. “Who are you?! How dare you…” Bluntly rebuked, Damien was furious. Just as he was about to say something, the door slammed shut. Damien, who had been about to step forward, ended up getting a nose full of dust. None of the rejected group had expected to be unceremoniously dismissed without even seeing me. Inside, because Mr. and Mrs. Reed and Seraphina hadn’t bothered to lower their voices, I still vaguely heard parts of their conversation despite the distance. So when Caleb approached, saying a group of liars claiming to be my relatives had arrived, my face showed no surprise. Instead, I explained for them, “They’re not liars.” My words caused everyone in the dining room to look at me, puzzled. After all, when I had arranged for my customized family and boyfriend, I had said I was all alone. So how was it that now… Before they could figure it out, a violent pounding on the door suddenly started again. Caleb frowned deeply. Just as he was about to go and send them away again, I shook my head at him and got up to open the door myself. Whatever their reason for coming, I had to clarify things with them. Naturally, I was the most suitable person to face them. I walked to the front alone. The violent pounding and those unfriendly words just moments ago made Eleanor and Arthur, and Caleb, all uneasy about letting me face them alone, so they hurried after me. When they caught up, I had just opened the main door. Whether it was a loss of control from pounding, or if they had intended to strike, the moment the door opened, a slap came flying towards me. Caleb’s heart lurched, fearing I would be hurt. But I was prepared. The instant the slap descended, I stepped to the side, and all that was heard was the thud of flesh hitting the ground. Mr. Reed, having lost face in public, his complexion alternating between pale fury and flushed rage, scrambled awkwardly to his feet, gasping for breath, almost unable to speak. Seraphina quickly rushed forward to help him up, her eyes full of disapproval, her voice thick with accusation. “Sister, how could you treat Dad like this? Dad is an elder, after all. If you have a problem, just take it out on me, why do you have to do this to Dad? He’s getting old; if anything happens to him, can you bear the responsibility?” Mrs. Reed was also visibly anxious. Only after seeing Seraphina help Mr. Reed up did she relax. When she turned to me, a surge of uncontrollable fury pierced through her. “Anya Reed, you unfilial daughter, how could I have given birth to such a heartless thing! Not only did you snatch Seraphina’s fiancé, but you even dare to lay hands on your father! You truly are not half as sensible as Seraphina!” She angrily stepped forward, raising her hand to slap me. But her raised hand never landed. Caleb Hayes, who had followed closely behind me, blocked it. Then, with a slight push, she stumbled backward. Luckily, Damien Thorne was quick to catch her, preventing her from falling flat on her face as well. This, in turn, fueled their rage even further. Not only did they curse me, but also Caleb and the others, incessantly yelling that we had no manners and demanded we all leave. I paid no attention to their insults, my gaze turning towards Damien Thorne, who was pushed to the back of the group. My expression was indifferent. The moment our eyes met, he looked into mine, not with the excitement and joy he expected, but with annoyance and coldness. Not like lovers reunited after a long separation, but like complete strangers. Damien felt a pang of deep unfairness. He had purposely brought the Reed family here, initially thinking that after years of not seeing them and Seraphina, we could catch up. He knew our past relationship wasn’t close, but they were still family, and what parents and children held grudges overnight? Couldn’t they just talk it out? So, on the way, he had specifically instructed them not to be so aggressive when they met me, to sit down and talk things through. Mr. and Mrs. Reed and Seraphina had all readily agreed. He truly hadn’t known they would start a scene like this! But if he were truly honest, Damien knew this was his fault too. So he managed to suppress the bitterness in his heart and reorganized his words before speaking. “Anya, it’s been a long time.” Damien had missed me terribly, thinking of our reunion every waking moment for five years. But countless failed attempts had made him almost believe he would never see me again. Now that we finally met again, he had countless words he wanted to say to me, but he didn’t know where to begin. But while he wanted to reminisce, I, the Anya he had longed for, had no interest whatsoever. “You brought them here just to make trouble for me? Damien Thorne, aside from running away from the wedding, have I ever wronged you? The person you love wasn’t me to begin with, and your claims of loving me and wanting to marry me were just to stop me from hindering Seraphina and Sterling Vance, right? I’ve already chosen not to dwell on how you deceived my feelings for Seraphina, couldn’t we just call it even? Why do you insist on appearing in front of me again?” I paused, then turned to look at Mr. and Mrs. Reed and Seraphina, who were still glaring at me, my voice filled with bewilderment. “You say I’m unfilial, but have you ever fulfilled a single day of your responsibilities as parents? Have you ever treated me like your daughter? And you say I snatched things from Seraphina? That’s laughable. No matter what it was, if Seraphina liked it, I always had to give it to her—my room, my academic achievements, your love, my friends, my lovers. I gave everything to her. Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? From now on, you’re only her parents. Sterling Vance, Damien Thorne, whether it’s the person she wanted or the things she desired, what did she not get? What else do you want me to give?” By the end, my emotions were running high. These two speeches encapsulated the heartbreak of my past twenty-odd years. My chest heaved violently, yet my words left everyone present in stunned silence. Caleb Hayes had guessed there was a story behind me, but I hadn’t told him, so he pretended not to know. Even if our remaining lives were intertwined, he had never intended to pry into my secrets. He had never imagined that the truth hidden in that past, which we all instinctively avoided, would be like this. He stepped forward and gently took my hand. His warm touch banished the cold from my palm. Eleanor and Arthur Grey also approached, shielding me. Although they had initially been confused upon learning I had birth parents, and their relationship with me began purely as a financial arrangement, they had, after all, cherished me as their own daughter for five years. Now that they knew my history, their eyes were filled with overwhelming pity. Sensing their concern, I couldn’t hold back, my eyes reddening. I squeezed their hands tightly in return. It was only at this moment that Damien and his group finally saw this family in its entirety. Their relationship was clearly not that of employer and staff. My accusations against them still echoed in the air. Seeing my clear dependence on these people now, Mr. and Mrs. Reed’s eyes twitched. A sense of unease rose within them, and they instinctively blurted out, “What do you mean by this?” Hearing their voices, my attention returned to them. Looking at their disheveled state, I suddenly laughed. I spread my hands, then pointed to each person beside me, introducing them. “He is my husband, legally protected. They are my parents, also in the legal sense. And as for you, you actually ceased to have any connection with me five years ago.” At my words, they all froze, utterly unable to believe their ears. Damien’s face was filled with incredulity. He unconsciously released Mrs. Reed’s hand, stumbling a few steps forward, trying to grab my hand. But Arthur Grey blocked him, slapping his outstretched hand away, his brows deeply furrowed. “Say what you need to say, but don’t get handsy here.” Arthur had no goodwill towards these people now. They had children, then neglected them, favoring one to the extreme, yet still claiming to be my parents. From the moment they arrived until now, had a single kind word left their lips? Especially this Damien Thorne, who acted like he loved Anya, yet didn’t even know her family situation, and still dared to bring such parents to her doorstep, prattling on about “long time no see.” What a hypocrite. Arthur used considerable force, making Damien’s wrist sting. He bit down hard to keep from crying out, but while he could endure the physical pain, the anguish in his heart was unbearable. He didn’t dare to get closer. Instead, from behind Arthur, he explained to me, his face pale, “Anya, no, it’s not like that. Actually, I had already fallen in love with you even before you left. I was just too slow to realize it. But in these five years you’ve been gone, my heart has been ripped to shreds every single day. I dream of seeing you again, of telling you that I truly know I was wrong. Can you give me another chance?” Looking at his heartbroken expression, I felt absolutely nothing. I watched his performance in silence, calculating how much genuine emotion he had in that moment. After all, with his acting skills, he could fake 100% love for me even while loving someone else. Who knew if his words now were true or false? Seeing I didn’t answer, Damien’s gaze fell on my hand, tightly clasped with Caleb Hayes’s. He seemed to suddenly understand something, and his expression grew agitated. “I know, you’re just still angry with me, right? Anya, I’m sorry, can I apologize to you? I’ve checked, he’s just someone you hired with money, but our seven years together were real! Look, I even brought our wedding rings. I had yours re-forged and engraved with our names. I promise you, from now on, whatever you say goes. You don’t like the Reed family? I won’t associate with them anymore either. Please… Anya, don’t leave me…” By the end of his plea, his voice was choked with sobs. His overly sincere performance made Arthur and Eleanor hesitate. Could he truly love Anya? They turned to look at Caleb Hayes, a hint of apprehension in their eyes. Their relationship with me was born of money, and they couldn’t be sure if five years of companionship could truly replace Damien Thorne, who had been by my side for so long in the past. My feet shifted slightly. I stepped past Arthur. Caleb’s heart lurched. He instinctively tightened his grip on my hand. I turned back, gave him a small smile, and patted his hand reassuringly. “Wait for me.”

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