The year Julian and I were truly, irrevocably in love. For me, he took three blades: one to his brow, another to his ankle, a third slicing deep into his back. Everyone said Julian loved me like his own life. Until another woman showed up, heavily pregnant. “You must be Scarlett, right?” The woman tossed a stack of photos onto my face. “Julian stopped loving you ages ago. I suggest you be smart and get lost.” In the pictures, Julian’s eyes held a gentle softness. I watched the rain intensify, then lifted my hand. The woman’s shriek, muffled by the downpour, left a chilling promise behind. “Julian won’t let you get away with this!” But I merely stared, cold and unfeeling, at Julian who sat across from me, ready to make a spectacle of demanding justice. “Sign the papers.” “You disgust me.” “Scarlett!” Julian sat opposite me. Behind him stood Jax, his right-hand man, whom Julian had propped up over the past two years, along with bodyguards and dozens of men surrounding my spacious living room. It wasn’t a negotiation; it was a blatant intimidation. I watched Julian, his anger barely contained, tap the table. “She’s still in the ICU.” He raised an eyebrow, the strategically placed lighting highlighting his brow ridge, that scar strikingly prominent. “She’s innocent,” Julian’s voice was low, laced with a suffocating pressure. “She’s only twenty, and you almost ended her life at twenty. Do you know what the doctor told me?” “The doctor said she might never be a mother.” Julian’s voice blended with the rhythmic drumming of rain against the window. It brought back the woman’s dying shriek that day. “Julian won’t let you get away with this!” “So,” I met Julian’s furious gaze, handing my hot tea to Mr. Davies. “You’ve gone to all this trouble, made this grand entrance, to stand up for her?” “What,” I chuckled, finding it amusing. “Do you want half my life, or are you planning to take my womb to make up for her lost motherhood?” I smiled, pulling the blanket higher around me. Mr. Davies immediately adjusted the indoor temperature. I looked at Julian. “Who is she to make you come here and demand justice from me? Julian, have you forgotten that I’m the one who stood by you until today, not her? Are you planning to break ties with me for her, or are you here to end my life today?” My voice was calm, unhurried. Mr. Davies, who had been observing the tension, immediately drew a pistol and aimed it at Julian’s head. Julian’s right-hand men instantly tensed, but Julian simply smiled back at me. “Scarlett, we’re past the days of bloodshed. I don’t want to fight with you.” Julian pushed away the divorce papers I had prepared. “Divorce is destructive, I won’t do it. But you must apologize to her in person, or don’t blame me for getting ugly.” Julian rose from the sofa and walked over to Mr. Davies, grabbing his wrist and pressing the gun against his forehead. “You’d shoot me?” “You’re not worthy.” Julian yanked Mr. Davies’s wrist outward. A crisp snap of bone echoed, followed by a sharp cry from Jax. A fruit knife from my table landed precisely in the middle of Jax’s thigh. I met Julian’s incredulous stare and smiled. “Julian, my people don’t resist you out of respect for me. But that doesn’t mean,” I walked up to Julian, took his hand, and slowly, deliberately moved it away, “you can lay a hand on my people.” I understood then. Julian and I were done. While the doctor was setting Mr. Davies’s bone, he was still seething. “Miss Scarlett, you went through so much hardship with that Julian back then. Are you just going to let others walk all over us now?” 2 I didn’t answer. My phone buzzed with a new friend request. The profile picture was prominent. It was a photo of the woman kissing Julian. I accepted her request, and she immediately sent a voice message. “Scarlett, I told you Julian wouldn’t let you get away with it. Breaking your butler’s hand is just a small warning.” “Julian said he wants you to apologize to me in person.” “I’ll be waiting.” “Everyone outside says Julian loves you like his own life. I’d like to see how much love that is,” the woman sent a few more photos. “Which bed do you think is suitable?” “Julian said the most dangerous place is the safest. When I’m discharged tomorrow, I’m moving into your and Julian’s house.” “That door no one is allowed to enter? I’m coming right in.” Listening to her voice, I looked up at the giant wedding photo displayed in the living room, feeling only mockery. The dagger I was idly toying with precisely pierced the smiling Julian’s eye in the photo. “So dirty.” Stepping out of the living room, I saw Julian and his men unloading a bed from a truck, then instructing them to carry it inside. We ran right into each other. Julian’s expression stiffened for a rare moment. I leaned against the doorway, listening to Autumn’s joyful voice. “Julian, why aren’t you coming in?” Then, Autumn turned and met my eyes. “Oh, it’s the sister, isn’t it?” Autumn linked her arm through Julian’s, a defiant glint in her eyes. “Are you here to welcome me, sister?” “Have you decided to apologize?” Watching Autumn’s arrogance and the pampering in Julian’s eyes, a sharp, pervasive ache pierced my heart. Before I could respond, Julian spoke for her. “The doctor said Autumn needs rest,” Julian’s voice was gentle as he spoke her name. “You already have a nutritionist anyway, it’s just one more mouth to feed, Scarlett. Don’t miss the chance I’m giving you.” I couldn’t quite understand. Julian. What made him so certain. That I would be submissive, that I would repeatedly compromise my principles and boundaries for him. I listened to Julian’s self-righteous voice and chuckled. My laughter mingled with Mr. Davies’s voice as he had someone take down the wedding photo with the missing eye, asking me. “Miss Scarlett, where should this go?” I saw Julian’s face darken. I pointed to a nearby trash can. “Have it shredded and thrown away.” Mr. Davies nodded, sending someone for scissors. Julian, however, stopped Mr. Davies and walked up to me. “What kind of tantrum are you throwing now?” “Scarlett,” Julian’s voice turned cold. “I told you, this whole thing was your fault to begin with. My taking care of Autumn is accumulating good karma for you. Don’t be ungrateful!” “That’s right, sister.” Autumn followed him. “Julian told me everything. You lost your baby because of your reckless lifestyle, and the master said you need to accumulate good karma if you ever want to have a child. You don’t appreciate Julian’s kindness and keep creating trouble. You’re forcing Julian away!” Autumn’s words were like a needle piercing my heart, tearing open my scabbed wound, making it fester and weep anew. I looked at Autumn’s triumphant face, then turned to intercept Julian’s attempt to silence her, grabbing Autumn’s hair instead and laughing. “Who gave you the nerve to speak to me like that?” Before Autumn could beg for mercy, I dragged her and slammed her hard against the solid wooden door, producing a dull thud. Autumn shrieked. Julian grabbed my hand, stopping me from continuing. “Enough.” Julian looked at me. “Autumn is just young and speaks without thinking! But she’s not wrong. How long will you keep causing trouble?” I stared at Julian in disbelief. It was he who had encroached on someone else’s business, been ambushed, and I, ignoring the danger, rushed into enemy territory to take down the opponent’s leader. It was after I saved him that I lost our child. He knelt before me, slapped himself 99 times, and cried as he knocked his head against the ground. “Scarlett!” His face was swollen from the slaps, blood mixed with nosebleeds smeared all over it, his voice thick with tears. “If I, Julian, ever wrong you in this life! May the heavens smite me!” “I, Julian!” “In this life!” “Will be Scarlett’s dog!” Julian’s vows still echoed in my ears. He ordered all information sealed, forbidding anyone from discussing my child behind my back, understanding that the child was my taboo. We had tacitly avoided the topic, yet we had both prayed for the child. Now. I met Julian’s gaze, releasing Autumn. He seemed to sigh in relief, his tone softening slightly. “Scarlett, your temper—” I plunged a knife into Julian’s brow bone and smiled. “Julian, those who betray true love must swallow a thousand needles. This is the first!” The dagger pierced the flesh, then was pulled out. Blood splattered on my face. I watched the ‘medal’ on Julian’s brow vanish, replaced by grotesque, bloody flesh, and curled my lips into a mocking smile. Autumn then violently shoved me. I stumbled backward. When I looked up again, I met Autumn’s furious eyes. “How dare you hurt him?” The next second. I walked toward Autumn, raised my hand, and slapped her across the face. “If you really have any capability, don’t just be a trophy girlfriend.” “Either impress me,” I grabbed Autumn’s hair, kicking her knee, making her fall to the ground and look up at me, “make Julian divorce me, and become the next Mrs. Julian.” “Or else,” I leaned down, my smile close to Autumn’s ear, “just wait to be played to death by me.” Autumn’s eyes were red from crying, her body trembling like a dying deer, yet her gaze was defiant. “If you’re so capable, then kill me!” “If you don’t kill me, I’ll never leave Julian!” Autumn’s tears reflected the light of the setting sun. “I want to be with Julian forever.” I froze. I remembered that year, when I was sixteen, my father was ambushed and fell into the sea, my mother sacrificed her life to get me ashore. The sunset was stained crimson with blood. It was Julian who waited for me on the shore, with the fearless courage of a young man, he carved a path of life from death for me. It was Julian, with the scar on his brow and the grotesque wounds on his back, who crashed straight into my heart, shouting. “Miss Scarlett!” “Run!” I was panicked, but still plunged into the bloodied sea, and together with Julian, we fought to get to where we are today. Julian shoved me hard. Blood still flowed from his brow, sliding down his eyelashes like tears of blood, dripping onto my heart. “Scarlett,” Julian closed one eye in pain. “You truly disappoint me.” “I’m not divorcing you because of love.” Julian held Autumn in his arms. “It’s only because,” Julian said, “your parents were kind to me, and we’ve been through life-and-death situations together. Don’t push my patience any further, or you will regret it!” Autumn cried in his arms, screaming, “Julian! I don’t want to live here! I don’t!” “I’m scared!” Autumn cried, clutching his collar, hysterical. “I don’t want to live with this lunatic! She’ll kill me, she’ll kill me!” The air became still. I seemed to see my sixteen-year-old self, also frantic, pushing Julian away, only to be held close as he gently soothed me, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Julian held Autumn, gently stroking her back, saying. “Don’t be afraid.” “I’m here.” “I’m here,” Julian met my eyes with a wary gaze. “I won’t let you hurt Autumn. Since you’re unwilling, then don’t blame me.” The day Julian had all his belongings moved out, he took Autumn to a secluded island retreat. Autumn said she wanted a private island in her name, so Julian spent a fortune and bought her one. He took Autumn to Iceland to chase the Northern Lights. Autumn posted photos on Ins of the diamond the size of a pigeon’s egg Julian bought her, and even captioned a picture of a star. [From now on, whenever I look up, there will be a star just for me. Autumn & Julian, a romance for life.] Julian’s love came fierce and flamboyant, never hidden, as if he wanted the whole world to know. I observed Julian’s favoritism towards Autumn. Looking at the villa, now largely emptied, and the plain silver ring on my ring finger, which Julian had ordered for 520 (a symbol of “I love you” in Chinese numerology) that year, I smiled. “Mr. Davies.” My butler refilled my hot tea. I spoke softly, “If I’m not mistaken, the largest supplier for Julian Inc. should be honoring my parents’ kindness.” Mr. Davies immediately placed a stack of agreements before me. “Miss Scarlett.” He pointed to the clauses. “Your parents dedicated their lives to you; these are all paths they paved for your future.” I looked at the contents, remembering the sunset at the secluded island retreat and the Northern Lights in Iceland, and that star. I dialed Julian’s number. The phone rang busy. I tried FaceTiming him. Finally, Autumn appeared on screen, wearing a sexy nightgown, asking me. “What do you want?” “Julian’s in the shower.” Autumn angled the camera towards the bathroom. The misty glass was imbued with a hint of intimacy. “I thought you’d understand Julian’s attitude by now. Why are you still clinging on?” Autumn sat on the bed, revealing red marks on her neck. “Actually, there’s something I shouldn’t tell you, but I guess keeping it a secret isn’t good either.” “Scarlett.” “Guess why Julian loves me and not you?” The video call ended. I sat in the living room, feeling the air constrict my throat, then noticed my heart beating abnormally. I dialed a second number. Julian and Autumn’s gala dinner became local trending news. Everyone said Autumn had finally gotten her wish, becoming the woman by Julian’s side. No one who saw Autumn dared to call her a trophy girlfriend anymore. Instead, they respectfully called her. [Miss Autumn.] Those who were sweet-talkers would even smile and say, [Mr. Julian and you are so well-matched.] In the banquet hall. Autumn, her arm around Julian, walked onto the stage. Under the spotlights, they looked like a prince and princess from a fairytale. Just by standing there, they drew thunderous applause. “Today, using this occasion,” Julian looked at Autumn tenderly, “I want to introduce her to everyone.” “She, Autumn—” The grand doors were violently kicked open. Countless men in black suits poured into the banquet hall. The leader, holding a stack of debt papers, slapped them directly onto Julian’s face. “Julian, right?” Julian’s face was a mask of confusion, his anger reaching its peak. He was about to call security when he realized there wasn’t a single one of his own men in the entire banquet hall. “The debt you owe,” the man pressed a gun against Julian’s still-unhealed brow scar and smiled, “it’s time to pay.” Blood seeped from the bandage on his brow. The scene erupted in chaos, screams echoing everywhere. Someone even shouted, “What the hell is going on?! Isn’t today Mr. Julian’s big day to introduce his girlfriend?” “Who are you people?!” “How dare you point a gun at Mr. Julian? You have a death wish!” “Who doesn’t know that Julian Inc. rules this entire city?” Someone, a sycophant, spoke up for Julian. “Be careful, all ten of your lives won’t be enough!” The man paused his finger-pointing, enraged shouting at the stage. His eyes almost popped out of his head. Then, a scream tore through the entire banquet hall. A dagger pierced the man’s arm, perfectly still, suspended with his frozen movement. Drip, drip, drip. It was the sound of death. The man trembled, a wet stain spreading on his pants, and choked out, “Sc-Scarlett, it’s Scarlett.” I emerged from behind the stage, watching the man’s gun pressed against Julian’s brow, and Julian’s enraged face. I twirled the dagger in my hand, smiling as I asked Julian. “Julian.” “Is the private island in the Caribbean beautiful?” I weighed the cold blade of the dagger, looking at Julian. “Autumn & Julian, it sounds quite romantic, doesn’t it?” “And that diamond the size of a pigeon’s egg.” The dagger pointed towards Autumn. Julian, who had been silently fuming, finally couldn’t hold back. He roared at me. “Scarlett, what kind of crazy stunt are you pulling now?!” “What do you mean by bringing these people here? Are you planning to challenge me, to create a lose-lose situation?” Julian still thought I was acting out of jealousy. “I can’t stand your behavior. Look at you, you don’t act like a woman at all. A woman should be delicate and submissive, but you, always fighting and shouting, what kind of image is that?” I listened to Julian’s accusations and realized, surprisingly, that my heart no longer reacted violently because of him. Even facing Julian’s cold sarcasm, my heart was as calm as stagnant water. “Scarlett!” Julian took my silence as confirmation that I had been hit where it hurt. “I can overlook this, but if you continue to make a scene, don’t blame me for abandoning our past.” Autumn, wearing a bathrobe, sat on the bed, her smile poisonous, seeping through the screen and crawling up my skin, along my nerves, into my veins. “Do you know why Julian loves me and not you?” “Scarlett.” Autumn leaned closer to the screen, her voice soft, yet it made my soul tremble. “Because, to prove his own strength wasn’t lacking, the first big deal he ever made, the client demanded you be ‘delivered’ before they’d sign.” Autumn’s voice coiled around my throat like a venomous snake. “Julian said, the child you always thought was his, actually never was.” “And because of that, whenever you two were intimate, he would always remember how truly ‘dirty’ you were.” “Scarlett, you lost from the very beginning.” “If Julian truly loved you, how could he have let someone else sleep with you, let you carry another man’s child? Even that ambush, all of it was designed by Julian, just to get rid of that bastard.” That bastard. It had coexisted with me inside my body for nearly six months. I recalled Julian’s lack of enthusiasm back then, remembered how he insisted on an amniocentesis even when prenatal checks were normal. It wasn’t because he was worried about the baby’s health; it was for a DNA paternity test. From start to finish. It was all a lie. Only, Julian hadn’t anticipated that my parents had left me a fallback, a well-paved road for my future. Now. I watched Julian grab the gun in the man’s hand and smiled. “Do you know who I am? I’m your master’s husband, damn it! One word from me and I can cripple you! You damn useless piece of trash, get out of the way!” But I had already walked onto the stage. Ignoring Julian’s frantic outburst, I grasped the man’s hand on the gun, shifting it a few inches from Julian’s forehead. Julian thought I was trying to disarm him, and just as he let out a sigh of relief. [Bang!] The bullet whistled past Julian’s ear, a stinging pain slicing through his lobe. A bead of blood fell. I looked at Julian’s stunned face and smiled. “Julian, why do you think I’d want something so dirty?” I picked up the pistol, toying with it in my hand. “Debts must be paid.” I threw the stack of debt papers at Julian’s feet. “Pay your debts or make a wager with me.” “You can only choose one.” I was never one for a soft heart. Growing up, my parents taught me to survive in a cutthroat world, to protect myself first, and only then could I afford to love others. Since he wasn’t worth it. It was time to cut ties cleanly. I watched Julian’s incredulous face, pointing the gun at Autumn. “If you don’t wager, then I’ll cripple her.” [Bang!] A single shot. Autumn shrieked in terror, crying out, “Julian! I’m scared!” Autumn cried until she choked, calling out to Julian. “Julian, I don’t want to be here!” “Julian, I’m so scared!” As always, weak. As always, deserving of pity. Julian’s heart, as expected, ached. He called out my name. “Scarlett, whatever it is, deal with me. Don’t involve innocents.” “If we’re to wager,” Julian stared fixedly at me, “what do you want to bet on?” “We bet on,” my voice was flat, “Death Darts.” The year Julian and I first met, because of darts, my father held my hand, teaching me to aim at the target. But Julian suddenly ran out, holding my favorite cotton candy, calling my name. “Miss Scarlett.” My thoughts distracted, the dart hit the fish tank next to the target. The fish tank shattered, and my father made me kneel on a board of nails for an entire night. Julian stayed with me the whole night. “Miss Scarlett,” Julian said, his eyes red. “It’s all my fault. I was wrong.” Now. I had a target prepared. I told Julian, “If you lose, you tell everyone the truth about that year yourself.” Julian’s eyes flickered. “Otherwise.” My smile was cruel. “Don’t forget who gave you everything you have now.” “My not holding a grudge doesn’t mean I’m easily bullied,” I took a dart, having them blindfold me. “But if I do hold a grudge, Julian, you’re not as crazy as I am.” Having lost all my external support, I was my own greatest strength. Julian stood a few steps away from me. He was still completely out of sorts. “Scarlett, you’re not the type to hold a grudge,” Julian was blindfolded. “I don’t understand the point of you doing all this.” The target wasn’t the target from that year. It was Mr. Davies and Autumn, standing opposite me. Mr. Davies called out to me. “Miss Scarlett, I trust you.” Autumn was sobbing, choked with tears. “Julian, can we please not bet? Please, no! I’m so scared!” The guests below became witnesses to the high-stakes gamble. Even those who had initially supported Julian sensed something was wrong and began whispering among themselves. “They used to say Mr. Julian actually rose to power thanks to the Scarlett family. I heard he was originally brought back from an orphanage by Mr. Scarlett to be Miss Scarlett’s little companion, and he just became her entire world.” “Goes to show, men can be far more calculating than women when it comes to power.” “Look at Julian these past few years; he’s aggressively suppressed the Scarlett family’s old guard, pushing his own people up, and keeping Scarlett confined at home. If it weren’t for this ugly scene, who knows if Scarlett would ever make a move.” “Yeah, those who betray true love must swallow a thousand needles. This is just the beginning!” I listened to the whispers around me, remembering Julian had made that same vow when he swore to love me forever. “Scarlett, those who betray true love must swallow a thousand needles! If I ever betray you, may I die a horrible death.” The dart was in my hand. Julian’s voice came from beside me. “Scarlett, can we really never go back?” I didn’t answer. I raised my hand. The referee began the countdown. “Three.” “Scarlett, I’ve always had you in my heart. I miss our time together.” “Two.” “How did we drift apart after things became stable?” “One.” “Scarlett, maybe if we had never truly had each other, we might still be the same as before.” “Start!” Holding the dart, before I threw it, I told Julian, “There are only two outcomes in this world: the right people live peacefully.” “The wrong ones.” The dart flew. “Should die!” The dart landed precisely in the apple on Mr. Davies’s head. The scene erupted in an uproar, and a woman’s terrified scream echoed. I ripped off the blindfold and saw Autumn lying in a pool of blood, clutching the wound on her head, crying out to Julian. “Julian!” “Save me!” “Julian!” Julian roughly discarded his blindfold and roared, “Impossible!” “What’s impossible?” The referee played a slow-motion replay of the dart’s trajectory. It showed Autumn, out of fear, deliberately ducking from the dart, which caused her to get hurt. Ultimately, she didn’t trust Julian enough to fully surrender herself to him. I looked at Julian. “You lost.” “Will you tell them yourself, or should I?” Julian stared at me in a frenzy. “Scarlett, what do you want me to say?!” I clapped my hands. “Then I’ll say it for you.” A blurry video appeared before everyone. It was from before that bloody battle. Julian boarded the boat with us, exposed our location, then, with drugged soup, gave it to everyone to drink. That’s why my parents died tragically. That year. The Julian I saw on the shore at 16 wasn’t there to save me; he was there to kill me. Only. Julian hadn’t yet obtained the things my parents left for me, so he chose to share life and death with me. He used my most vulnerable moment to gain my true affections and we’ve supported each other until now. Julian, calculating every step, never expected me to investigate this far. The man who came with me, looking nonchalant, stared at Julian. “You designed that scheme back then, never thinking, did you?” The man removed his mask. It was Caleb, one of the companions my father had found for me. “I’m still alive.” “And.” “I’ve always been Julian Inc.’s largest supplier. Everything Julian Inc. has achieved today is because of me.” Caleb’s gaze at Julian was like looking at a dead thing. “I’ve been biding my time, waiting for this day.” “The debt you owe.” “It’s time to pay.” “Hands and feet are for walking and working. Since he’s a traitor, why keep them?” Mr. Davies handed me a dagger. I toyed with it, looking down at Julian. “Your hand and foot tendons, as compensation. Will you do it yourself, or shall I?” Julian’s face was filled with indignation. Then, as if realizing something, his expression shifted to comprehension. “No wonder you suddenly changed. No wonder you, who always obeyed me, suddenly became so cold, even wanting to divorce me repeatedly.” “It’s because of him, isn’t it? I always knew you liked Caleb more when we were kids. He outshone me in everything, and was so attentive to you. Everyone praised you two as a match made in heaven. You only got with me later because Caleb was probably dead, right?” “You thought Caleb died in that war, so you reluctantly settled for me? Now that he’s back, you can’t wait to be with him, can you?!” Julian’s voice struck me as ludicrous. So ludicrous that I actually laughed out loud. “You’re quite right.” “I should have seen Caleb from the beginning, not you.” I twirled the dagger. As Julian wore an ‘I knew it’ expression, I plunged the knife into his ankle. Beneath the ‘medal’ he had earned for me, I ruthlessly tore off what was once *my* medal, telling him. “The third needle.” Then, swiftly and accurately, I struck with the second and third blades. My medals were mercilessly torn away. “The fourth needle.” Blood splattered. Julian endured it, not screaming in pain, though cold sweat soaked his hair. He forced a bitter smile, looking at me. “Scarlett, you’re heartless!” He was so weak, he could barely whisper my name. “You have no heart.” I didn’t respond. I took the wet wipe Mr. Davies offered, cleaned the blood from my hands, and tossed the wipe onto Julian’s face. “So dirty.” “Lock Julian and Autumn together. Don’t let them die.” I told Mr. Davies. “As for the grand gift I prepared, take it to them.” Autumn shrieked, yelling, “Why are you arresting me?!” “Scarlett, why are you arresting me?” I watched Autumn, frantic like a cornered animal, and my gaze shifted from her to Julian. I was also curious to see how Julian would feel, knowing his deepest feelings had been betrayed. Julian’s hands and feet were bandaged by a doctor. He leaned against the wall in the solitary room, his mind filled with Caleb’s meaningful smile before he and I left. As for feelings. How could there be no feelings? He couldn’t understand where things had gone wrong. Until Mr. Davies clapped his hands, and several servants entered with a projector and tools, then politely stated. “Mr. Julian.” “Miss Scarlett has prepared something for you. We hope you like it.” Then. Julian sat on the bed, watching the screen light up. It showed me sitting in the living room, dialing his number after finding he was busy, then FaceTiming him. Autumn appeared on screen, her smile radiant. “Scarlett, guess why Julian loves me and not you?” Autumn lowered her voice, but it still reached his ears. “Because Julian didn’t know when the things your parents left you would surface, and he was desperate to gain a firm foothold in this cutthroat world. To get something, you have to sacrifice something.” “So, your child,” Autumn smiled cruelly, “was the sacrifice.” Everything seemed to make sense. Everything seemed to be unveiled. All the riddles that had bound Julian were revealed. He finally understood why I had gone to such lengths. No wonder I brought up old matters. He watched me sitting in the living room, lost in thought, until I asked Mr. Davies. “Mr. Davies.” “Julian Inc.’s largest supplier should be honoring my parents’ kindness.” I pulled out the documents, called Caleb, met with Caleb, and together we investigated the truth of that year, setting this trap to lure him into it. Autumn, sitting silently beside him, trembling, watched Julian’s face darken bit by bit. When Julian clenched his fists, his gaze finally shifting from the screen to her, she even tried to explain. “It’s all fake!” “Fake?” Julian’s heart was wrung with pain, even speaking became difficult. A despair he had never known weighed him down, making every step excruciatingly hard. “Didn’t I tell you,” Julian’s eyes were red as he walked up to Autumn, “you could provoke her, and I would cover for you?” “But these things, you were supposed to keep them buried deep inside!” “Didn’t I say that?” Julian choked Autumn’s neck. “Didn’t I tell you she’s a lunatic, and no one can mess with her when she goes crazy?!” “Why did you provoke her?!” “Tell me!” “Ah!” Autumn was dragged up from the floor by Julian, her neck brutally squeezed. She frantically hit Julian, her face red as she looked at him. “You, you let go of me!” “Julian!” “You yourself said she was too dirty! What did I say wrong?” Autumn’s tears streamed down her face. “You told me Scarlett relied on you, but in the end, you relied entirely on Scarlett!” “You can’t even outplay one woman. What kind of man are you?!” I watched the monitor screen. Autumn was tormented until she was barely breathing, her body covered in fine needles. Julian sat beside her, counting. Mr. Davies stood behind me, looking puzzled. “Why the needles?” I remembered a popular saying online that year: [Those who betray true love must swallow a thousand needles.] I smiled and asked Julian. “Would you betray me?” That year, Julian’s ambition was too sharp, he offended many people. We lived day by day, hiding, but we were also dependent on each other. I leaned into Julian’s arms, smiling as I asked him. “Would you betray me?” Julian didn’t answer me. He only held me tighter, telling me. “If that day ever comes, I’ll swallow a thousand needles.” So, when I pierced his brow, it was my mark of his betrayal, my needle. Now, Julian sat in the solitary room, counting, I wondered if he, like me, remembered that thousand-needle vow from that year. I wasn’t sure. I turned off the monitor and asked Mr. Davies. “Where’s Caleb?” “In the back garden.” My mother loved orchids. Orchids are delicate and hard to care for. It was amazing that Caleb had actually managed to keep them alive, and even filled the back garden with them. He stood in the sunlight, gently tending to those flowers, just like when we were children, every birthday, Caleb would bring me a bouquet of flowers. “Miss Scarlett.” Caleb called out to me. “Look,” he pointed to the most abundant cluster of flowers. “The flowers are blooming.” Yes. The flowers were blooming. Everything was getting better. As Caleb and I went to visit my parents’ graves, Mr. Davies rushed up to me. “Julian wants to see you.” He told me. “Julian has gone mad.” “Then send him to a psychiatric hospital.” I turned to leave, but Mr. Davies added, “Julian says he has the remaining truth from that year, and he wants to tell you personally.” Rain poured outside. Raindrops tapped against the window. Julian sat across from me, just like that year, his eyes soft and longing, yet also like that day, he was here to demand justice for someone else. The rain intensified. I was the first to break the silence. “What do you need to tell me?” I wasn’t eager to see Julian again. My therapist said I needed to maintain absolute calm and peace. I didn’t want my life to be disturbed. Before agreeing to go abroad with Caleb, I sat here, asking Julian. “Perhaps, this will be our last meeting.” Julian’s eyes flickered, his gaze tinged with red. He pulled a small voice recorder from his pocket and played it in front of me. A familiar voice, accompanied by thunder, forcefully pierced my ears. My soul trembled. “Julian.”
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