Everyone knew Julian Blackwood nearly lost his life pursuing Skylar Hayes back in the day. Yet, just three years into their marriage, his heart had strayed. When Skylar heard the news, the talk of Julian chasing after a spiritual guru named Luna Sterling was already the scandal of the city, known to all. Rumor had it, this woman always wore plain, serene dresses, chanted meditations daily, followed a strict plant-based diet, and frequently advocated for releasing captive animals. Her social media was filled with “Namaste” and “Blessings.” Julian, however, seemed utterly bewitched. He lavished her with gifts, followed her everywhere, as if ready to tear out his heart and lay it at her feet. Skylar’s chest tightened, making it almost impossible to breathe. She rushed into Julian’s study, her voice trembling as she asked if the rumors were true. Julian looked up from his documents. His eyes, behind gold-rimmed glasses, were as deep as ever, but the warmth she once knew was gone, replaced by a unsettling, unfamiliar calm. He admitted it, direct and cold: “Yes, I’ve fallen for Luna. Skylar, if I had met her sooner, I wouldn’t have married you.” Skylar stumbled back, her face ghost white. He paused. “But rest assured, I told you on our wedding day that I wouldn’t divorce you. So, my wife’s position is still yours. However, you need to stop interfering with us. She is my true love.” True love? What did that make her? What did those three years mean? What about the past, when he’d almost died for her?! She wanted to question him, to scream, but all sounds choked in her throat, unable to escape. She couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe Julian Blackwood could change so quickly. She tried to comfort herself, telling herself he was just infatuated, that he’d tire of Luna’s platitudes and realize she was dull, and he would come home. Clinging to that pathetic hope, she waited day after day. But what came was Julian himself bringing Luna into *their* home. He even handed over the household’s financial control to her. And the very next day after Luna moved into the Blackwood estate, Skylar received a call from the hospital. Her mother, Eleanor, had been in a severe car accident, urgently needing surgery. The cost? At least a million dollars! Skylar was utterly distraught, her mind a blur. Her first thought was to go to Luna for the money. Luna was in the conservatory, arranging flowers. After hearing Skylar’s desperate plea, she calmly snipped a withered leaf from a lily, not even lifting her eyelids. “Surgery cuts into the body, disturbing its natural balance. It’s an unnatural interference. Perhaps it’s better left undone.” Skylar couldn’t believe her ears. “What did you say? That’s my mother! She’s in critical condition! The doctors say if she doesn’t get surgery now, it’ll be too late!” Luna finally raised her eyes, her gaze serene and undisturbed. “Miss Hayes, please calm yourself. If your mother accumulated good karma during her life, she will receive divine protection and recover without surgery. If her spiritual debts are not cleared, then this is her fate. Forcing surgery would only hinder her transition to a higher plane. I will chant prayers and meditate for her. That is the true path.” With that, she actually stood up, intending to go to the hospital and stop the surgery. Skylar, frantic, blocked her path. “You can’t go! You’ll be murdering her!” The two began to argue and push each other. In the chaos, Skylar, in a desperate burst of strength, pushed too hard. Luna gasped, her foot slipped, and she fell to the ground. Just then, Julian returned. He saw Luna on the floor, his face instantly darkening. He rushed forward, helping her up, his voice laced with a tension Skylar had never heard before. “Luna, what happened? Are you hurt anywhere?” Luna leaned into his arms, her brow delicately furrowed, and recounted the “story.” She finished with a soft, sorrowful tone: “Julian, don’t blame Miss Hayes. She’s just desperate to save her mother, but her methods… they were too aggressive. But I couldn’t stand by and watch her create such negative karma, harming both her mother and herself…” Julian listened, then his gaze, ice cold, swept over Skylar, who stood pale and trembling. Without a moment’s hesitation, he issued a command: “Guards! Take my wife to her room and keep her there! She is not to leave without my permission! Luna, you go to the hospital. Do as you see fit to bless Mrs. Hayes.” Skylar felt like she’d been struck by lightning. She clutched Julian’s sleeve, her voice shattered. “Julian Blackwood! You know that’s nonsense! It’s superstition! It will kill my mother! Are you really going to sacrifice my mother to prove your devotion to her?!” Julian meticulously pried her fingers off, his touch not harsh but utterly cold and resolute, carrying an undeniable authority. “Don’t be dramatic. I told you before Luna came home that, for now, everything in this house goes by her word. It’s the only way she agreed to my courtship.” He waved his hand, and bodyguards immediately stepped forward, forcefully dragging the nearly hysterical Skylar away. “Julian Blackwood! Let me go! That’s my mother! You can’t do this! Julian Blackwood!” Skylar struggled and screamed wildly, her fingernails scraping an awful sound across the doorframe. The door was cruelly shut, then locked. No matter how she pounded, pleaded, or shrieked, there was no sound from outside. She slid weakly to the floor, tears blurring her vision. How could this be? Not long ago, he had been the man who loved her more than life itself. That year, she was just a struggling college student, able to finish her education only with the help of the Blackwood Group’s scholarship. He was the powerful CEO, noble and aloof, yet he fell for her at first sight during a campus event and pursued her with fervent intensity. She didn’t believe in true love among the wealthy, rejecting him repeatedly, but he was relentless, pouring all his patience and tenderness into chipping away at her hardened exterior. The most terrifying moment was when she was kidnapped. He went alone to rescue her, taking multiple stab wounds, almost dying in a deserted warehouse. The first thing he asked upon waking was if she was hurt. It was that blood-soaked body and his weak voice that finally shattered all her defenses. At their wedding, he held her hand and swore before all their guests: “Skylar, in this life, I, Julian Blackwood, will love only you. I will never let you suffer a single grievance.” His words still echoed in her ears, now a bitter mockery. That night stretched on, long as a century. Not until the next morning was her bedroom door finally opened. Blinding sunlight flooded in, and Skylar, like a rag doll drained of its soul, stumbled out. Luna stood calmly at the door, wearing her usual serene, compassionate expression. “My mother? How is my mother?!” Skylar grabbed Luna’s arm, her voice desperate. Luna looked at her, sighed softly, her face showing a hint of regret. “Miss Hayes, please accept my condolences. The universal energy… has taken your mother’s spirit. This indicates that your mother did not accumulate enough good deeds in her lifetime. This was her fate.” Skylar’s vision swam, and she almost collapsed. “As for your mother’s remains,” Luna continued, her tone as flat as if discussing the weather, “cremation pollutes the air and harms spiritual merit. I had her body taken away last night for a natural disposition, a release of the spirit. News came this morning that the scavengers picked your mother’s body remarkably clean. This is a good sign, showing that the divine ultimately granted her forgiveness.” With that, she even pulled out her phone, opened a video, and handed it to Skylar. On the screen, in a desolate, open area, a flock of vultures frantically pecked at a body whose features were no longer discernible… Skylar felt as if struck by lightning. Overwhelming grief threatened to crush her. She let out a piercing scream, violently knocking the phone from Luna’s hand. Her eyes instantly became bloodshot. “Luna Sterling! I will kill you!!!” She lunged at Luna like a madwoman, but Julian, who had arrived just in time, seized her. “Skylar Hayes! What new fit of madness is this?!” Julian held her in a vice-like grip, his voice sharp with impatient reprimand. “Luna meant well! Your mother’s death was an accident, it had nothing to do with her! At most… I’ll buy you some more jewelry to compensate!” Compensate? Jewelry? Skylar stared blankly at him, at the man she had loved for so many years. A sharp pain tore through her chest, and a metallic taste flooded her throat. No amount of jewelry could bring back her mother. This realization, like the sharpest blade, severed her last thread of life. She suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, scarlet stains splashing onto the expensive carpet, a shocking sight. Her vision blurred, and she could no longer stand. She completely lost consciousness. Before plunging into total darkness, she vaguely saw Julian on their wedding day, holding her hand, putting a ring on her finger, his eyes filled with gentle sincerity… She woke up again in her cold bedroom. Her heart was dead. Her tears had run dry. She got up, expressionless, and drafted a divorce agreement. Then, holding that light-as-air yet heavy-as-lead document, she went to the Blackwood Group. The receptionist, however, stopped her, formally informing her: “Mrs. Blackwood, Mr. Blackwood is in a crucial meeting and has given instructions not to be disturbed by anyone.” She could only sit in the cold waiting area, like a soulless puppet. Just then, Luna also arrived. “Miss Hayes, you look unwell. I saw you coughing blood yesterday; why aren’t you resting more today? Life and death are fated, wealth and poverty are divine will. Your mother has found ultimate peace, which is a release. Why cling to such sorrow and harm yourself? Do you need me to chant prayers to help you dispel this attachment?” Skylar couldn’t even bother to lift her eyelids, her heart ashen. She handed the document to Luna, her voice flat and emotionless. “If you really want to help me, then help me get him to sign this.” Luna took it, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “What is this?” “Didn’t he say he would compensate me with jewelry yesterday?” Skylar forced a faint, cold smile. “I’ve chosen it already. The list is at the back. He just needs to sign off on the allocation.” “Why don’t you go in and give it to him yourself?” “He won’t see me if I go in.” Skylar looked at her, her eyes hollow. “Don’t you know? He only wants to see you now.” Luna sighed, seemingly helpless. “Blessings, blessings. Fine, I’ll help you this once.” She took the document and walked directly towards the CEO’s office. Without even knocking, she pushed open the meeting room door. The high-level meeting inside instantly halted. All the executives stared in astonishment at the unexpected intruder. However, Julian, seated at the head of the table, not only didn’t get angry, but his eyes instantly lit up with that familiar, yet no longer hers, doting affection. “Luna? What brings you here? Is something wrong?” Luna walked over, whispered a few soft words in his ear, and then placed the document in front of him. Julian didn’t even glance at the contents. He simply picked up a pen, signed his name at the bottom, and then gently stroked Luna’s hair. All the executives exchanged glances, audible gasps faintly heard. Through the crack in the door, Skylar silently watched the scene, her heart no longer aching, only a numb, icy coldness. Luna soon emerged, handing the signed document back to Skylar, not forgetting to “advise”: “It’s signed. However, Miss Hayes, jewelry and such are external possessions, mere illusions. Clinging to them is not conducive to spiritual practice. You should stop being so greedy for these things in the future. Perhaps you should join me in cultivating your character, meditating, and chanting…” Skylar simply hummed in response, took the document—which was, in reality, her divorce agreement—and turned to leave. She didn’t go home. Instead, she went directly to a law firm. Handing the divorce agreement to the lawyer, she said calmly, “I want to file for divorce.” The lawyer opened the document, paused, then understood. “Ms. Hayes, this divorce agreement is valid. Given your circumstances, after a one-month cooling-off period, your marriage can be dissolved.” Skylar nodded, a dead calm settling in her heart. After returning home, she stayed indoors, awaiting the end of the divorce cooling-off period. In the mansion, she constantly saw Julian’s meticulous care for Luna. In the past, her heart would have twisted in pain, but now, she watched with indifference, yearning only to escape this suffocating place. One day, Mr. Davies, the butler, approached her carrying a cardboard box, his expression sorrowful. “Mrs. Blackwood, the belongings of the late Mrs. Hayes, which you asked me to collect from the countryside, are all here.” Skylar took the heavy box. Seeing her mother’s familiar old possessions inside, tears finally streamed down her face once more. Grief and regret gnawed at her heart like venomous snakes. Luna, an unwelcome shadow, appeared again, asking, “Miss Hayes, what is causing you sorrow now?” Skylar remained silent. Mr. Davies explained in a low voice, “Mrs. Blackwood is thinking of her mother…” Hearing this, Luna immediately pressed her hands together, intoning, “Namaste. Your mother has ascended to a higher plane, escaping the sea of suffering. This is a joyous occasion. Everyone must go through this transition. Why do you cling to crying and needlessly accumulate more negative karma?” Skylar snapped her head up, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Luna. “If it weren’t for you, my mother would never have died!” She refused to utter another word to this viper. She picked up her mother’s belongings and turned to retreat to her room. Luna watched her retreating back, finally sighing and murmuring to herself, “Alas, she remains misguided, truly pitiful. I will help her one last time, to dispel this spiritual block.” She called Mr. Davies and instructed, “Go, catch some snakes.” Mr. Davies’s face changed. He hesitated. “Miss Sterling, but… Mrs. Blackwood is terrified of snakes! What do you need them for?” Luna’s expression darkened, clearly displeased. “Julian said everyone in this house is to obey me. Are you defying his orders?” Mr. Davies, recalling Julian’s indulgence of Luna, bristled with unspoken anger but could only grimace and comply. Late that night, Skylar slept restlessly. In a haze, she felt something cold and slimy crawling on her. She woke with a jolt and switched on the bedside lamp. “Ah—!!!” A piercing scream sliced through the night! Her bed, the floor, the table… they were swarming with snakes of all sizes, twisting and wriggling! They flicked their tongues, their cold, vertical pupils glinting eerily in the light! Extreme terror instantly seized her. She scrambled, crawling, toward the door, desperate to escape, only to find it locked from the outside! “Help! Open the door! Let me out! Snakes! So many snakes!” She frantically pounded on the door, her voice distorted by extreme fear. Luna’s calm voice drifted from outside the door. “What are you screaming about in the middle of the night? Disturbing one’s spiritual peace.” “Snakes! It was you! You put them there, didn’t you?! Luna! Let me out!” Skylar was on the verge of a breakdown. “Yes, it was me.” Luna admitted candidly, her tone even carrying a hint of “for your own good” reproach. “You couldn’t sleep due to your mother’s passing, could you? Snakes are creatures of yin energy, deeply serene and spiritually attuned. Letting them keep you company will help calm your mind and dispel your grief and attachments. Why are you so agitated and speaking such nonsense again?” “You’re insane! You’re an absolute lunatic! Let me out! Please! Julian Blackwood! Julian Blackwood, save me! I’m scared!” Skylar cried incoherently. The commotion finally drew Julian. He walked over in his bathrobe, looked at the locked bedroom door, and frowned. “What’s going on? What’s all the noise about?” Skylar clung to him like a drowning person clutching a lifeline, pleading through the door: “Julian Blackwood! It’s Luna! She filled my room with snakes! You know I’m terrified of snakes! Please, let me out! Get them away! I’ll die!” Luna, however, linked her arm through Julian’s, explaining softly: “Julian, don’t listen to her wild claims. I merely wanted to help her. Snakes can soothe the mind, I meant well. She’s always so emotional; it’s not good for her well-being.” Julian was silent for a moment, his gaze shifting between the closed door and Luna’s delicate, pitiable face. Skylar’s heart sank deeper and deeper, yet she still clung to a faint hope. In the past, if she even saw a snake on TV, he would immediately change the channel, holding her close to comfort her… Finally, Julian spoke, his voice as cold as ever, but making the most cruel decision. “Skylar, stop being dramatic. Luna’s intentions are pure. Anyway, these are just harmless garden snakes; a few bites won’t matter. And… Luna is right, they’re gentle creatures. With them around, perhaps you won’t dwell on your mother’s passing so much.” He even paused, adding, “You might be scared now, but if you stay with them long enough, you’ll get used to it, and then you won’t be scared anymore.” With that, he put his arm around Luna’s shoulder and said gently, “It’s late. Let’s go back to bed. Don’t worry about her.” Their footsteps gradually faded. Outside the door, the world returned to silence. Inside, Skylar completely collapsed, slumping to the floor, as if all her bones and soul had been drained. A few cold snakes slowly crawled over her ankles, her arms… She even forgot to scream, just staring with hollow eyes at the dim light on the ceiling. One snake, seemingly confused by her stillness, lifted its head and tentatively bit her arm. A slight sting. Darkness, like a tidal wave, surged forward, completely engulfing her last shred of consciousness. Julian Blackwood, your love, it only lasted three years. … When Skylar woke again, her nostrils were filled with the distinctive smell of disinfectant. Her eyes met the pale hospital ceiling, and then Julian, sitting by her bed, his face showing a hint of imperceptible fatigue. Seeing her open her eyes, he spoke, his voice devoid of much emotion. “You’re awake? How are you feeling?” Skylar turned her head, not wanting to look at him, her voice dry and hoarse. “You refused to open the door for me last night, so why bother asking now?” Julian frowned, seemingly displeased by her attitude, but eventually, he patiently said, “I know you’re still angry. But Luna… she doesn’t have any malicious intent. She just meant well, wanting to help you dispel your spiritual block. You shouldn’t be rude to her anymore. After all, you both need to coexist peacefully under the same roof.” Peacefully coexist? Skylar scoffed inwardly, a cold chill spreading through her. No. Soon, she would leave him, forever, completely! Over the next few days, Julian stayed at the hospital to care for her, attending to every detail, even personally feeding her water and medicine. But Skylar watched him with cold eyes, always catching him picking up his phone, his fingers flying across the screen. The flickering avatar was unmistakably Luna’s. When he looked at the screen, his gaze would soften unconsciously—a tenderness she once knew intimately, now utterly out of reach. She felt nothing but bitter irony and spoke flatly, “If you want to see her, then go. You don’t need to stay here guarding me.” Julian put away his phone, looked up at her, his tone flat. “No need. You are the most important thing right now.” Skylar closed her eyes, saying nothing more. He wasn’t truly concerned about her. He was only staying here because he feared that once she was discharged, she would unleash all her resentment and anger on Luna, the woman he adored. He truly… was desperately in love with that spiritual guru. But what about the woman he once held in the palm of his hand, whom he couldn’t bear to speak a harsh word to, whose every tear broke his heart? What did she count for now? A joke, that’s all. The day she was discharged, the weather was bright and sunny, but the sunlight couldn’t penetrate Skylar’s cold heart. Julian finished her discharge procedures. As they sat in the car, he casually mentioned, “Luna’s birthday is in a few days. For the sake of you two getting along in the future, you should prepare a gift. A rare, blessed spiritual text from a revered monastery, I’m sure Luna would be delighted.” Skylar looked out the window, her voice devoid of emotion. “I won’t. And I will not coexist peacefully with her.” Julian’s face instantly darkened, and the air in the car grew heavy. He turned his head, his gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses as sharp as a blade. He spoke slowly. “Skylar, I’m not asking you. If you don’t go… think about that box of your mother’s belongings in your room.” Skylar snapped her head around, staring at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. Her heart felt as if it had been brutally stabbed, the pain almost suffocating. He… he was actually threatening her with her mother’s possessions?! “Julian Blackwood…” Her voice trembled uncontrollably. “Do you really… love her that much? Love her enough to humiliate me in this way?” Tears streamed uncontrollably, blurring her vision. She grabbed his arm, as if clinging to her last hope, sobbing uncontrollably. “Do you remember? Do you remember the vows you made to me? You said you would only love me, and that we would be together forever! How long has it been? Three years! In just three years, your heart changed! How could you do this… how could you…” She cried hysterically, all her grievances, pain, and despair exploding at once. However, Julian merely looked at her calmly, even slightly frowning, as if watching a drama unrelated to him. When her sobs eventually subsided, he spoke coldly, every word like an ice pick piercing her heart. “Your tears, they don’t work on me anymore.” Skylar’s crying stopped abruptly. She stared blankly at his cold profile, then suddenly laughed, a desolate, tragic sound, even as her tears flowed more fiercely. Yes, when he loved her, a single tear from her would break his heart. Now that he no longer loved her, even if she cried her eyes out, it would only annoy him. She raised a hand, fiercely wiping away her tears, and took a deep breath, her voice frighteningly calm. “Alright, I’ll go.” That supposed rare, blessed spiritual text required sincere prayers at an ancient monastery to be obtained. The rules were strict: one had to kneel on cold flagstones outside the temple for a day and a night to show sincerity; then, one had to walk barefoot over a path of glowing hot coals to prove faith. To protect her mother’s last memory, Skylar did it all. The spring chill was biting. She knelt on the cold, hard stone slab from sunrise to moonset, and then until the first hint of dawn the next day. Her knees went from aching to numb, then to losing all sensation. Her lips were cracked, her face ashen, but she bit down hard, keeping her back straight. Then came the path of hot coals. Scorching heat waves washed over her, and the glowing coals crackled. The moment she took off her shoes and socks and stepped onto it barefoot, the excruciating pain almost made her faint. The faint smell of burning flesh was discernible. She bit her lower lip fiercely, drawing blood, taking one step after another, as if walking through a hell of blades and fire, leaving behind blurry, bloody footprints. When she finally held the cool, ancient manuscript in her hands, her feet were a bloody mess, and she was utterly exhausted, barely able to stand. She dragged her broken body down the mountain, nursing her injuries for several days before she could barely walk. Just in time for Luna’s birthday party. The Blackwood mansion was brightly lit, filled with guests. The extravagance far surpassed any of Skylar’s own birthday celebrations. Whispers constantly drifted into her ears. “Mr. Blackwood truly spoils Miss Sterling to no end.” “Indeed, he was never this extravagant with his wife.” “Ah, only the laughter of the new, never the tears of the old.” Skylar stood expressionless in a corner, watching Julian meticulously attend to Luna, fetching her drinks, draping a coat over her shoulders, his eyes dripping with a tenderness that could melt stone. Her heart was a dead calm, no longer stirred. When it was time for gifts, Julian presented a priceless antique jade necklace, glistening and translucent, drawing gasps of admiration and envy from the entire room. Then, his gaze turned to Skylar in the corner, a silent but undeniable command. Skylar clutched the manuscript in her hand, her nails digging into her palm. She walked forward, step by step, and handed the manuscript to Luna, her voice flat. “Happy birthday. This is for you.” Luna took it, opened it, and her face instantly lit up with surprise. “Oh! It’s a hand-transcribed ancient spiritual text from a revered monastery! Miss Hayes, how did you know this is what I’ve been wishing for? Thank you so much!” “Julian Blackwood told me,” Skylar stated plainly. Luna immediately looked at Julian, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. “Julian, you’re so good to me. You remember everything. Thank you.” Julian’s lips curved into a doting smile. He reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning down to whisper in her ear. His voice was low, but close enough for Skylar to hear clearly: “Just a ‘thank you’? No more… practical display of affection?” Luna blushed shyly, stood on tiptoes, and quickly pecked him on the cheek. “Is that enough?” Julian’s eyes deepened. He touched his cheek, savoring the moment, then chuckled softly. “What kind of display is that?” He cupped the back of Luna’s head, his voice husky and sensual. “Sweetheart, *this* is a kiss.” With that, in front of all the guests, he deeply kissed Luna’s lips, a passionate embrace, as if they were utterly alone. Skylar stood by, watching them kiss intimately, her heart squeezed by an invisible hand, twisted until it bled. The pain made it almost impossible to breathe. When the kiss ended, Luna melted into his arms, her face flushed. Skylar suppressed the surging nausea, looking at Julian, her voice hoarse. “My task is done. May I leave now?” Just then, Mr. Davies, the butler, rushed in from outside, frantic, shouting, “Mr. Blackwood! Terrible news! Many eagles have appeared outside! They’re circling above the mansion and won’t leave!” The guests stirred with commotion. Luna’s eyes, however, lit up with delight. “Namaste! Eagles circling on my birthday! This is a great omen! It’s a divine message for me! It calls me to offer flesh to the eagles, an act of supreme compassion!” Julian frowned instantly. “No!” But Luna was insistent. She looked up at him, her tone carrying a fervent piety. “Julian, if you truly love me, you should support my spiritual path! This is an opportunity for me to accumulate good karma!” Julian’s face was grim. He pressed his lips together, looking at the dark shapes circling above, then at the determined woman in his arms. Finally, he said in a low voice, “Alright! If you insist… then I’ll do it for you.” Luna’s eyes welled up with tears of gratitude. “Julian… you would do this for me…” But then she shook her head, her gaze shifting to Skylar, whose face was pale. “No, I can’t bear for you to do it. Why not let Miss Hayes? I spent so much energy chanting prayers to bless her mother before. Now, let her repay that karma and fulfill this act of offering flesh to the eagles.” Skylar looked at Luna in disbelief, then at Julian, shaking her head frantically. “No! I won’t…” Luna, however, looked anxiously at the sky. “The eagles are about to fly away! This opportunity is fleeting! Never mind, I’ll do it myself…” She started looking for a knife. Julian immediately stopped her, his eyes cold, no longer hesitating. He directly ordered the bodyguards nearby, “Hold her down!” Several bodyguards immediately stepped forward, holding down a wildly struggling Skylar. “Julian Blackwood! You can’t do this! Let me go! Ah—!” A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the garden. The cold blade sliced through the flesh of her arms and legs. Blood gushed out. Pieces of flesh were cut off and thrown into the sky, drawing the eagles down to peck and devour. Intense pain and extreme terror engulfed Skylar. Her vision went black, and she completely passed out. When she woke again, she was, once more, in the hospital. Her body was covered in bandages, and excruciating pain was everywhere. Julian was, surprisingly, still sitting by her bed. The moment she opened her eyes, before she could even feel the relief of surviving, she heard his cold voice. “Luna has faced a lot of criticism and attacks online because of this ‘offering flesh’ incident. You need to do a live stream and clarify to the public that you volunteered to offer flesh to the eagles, as an act of gratitude for her chanting prayers and blessings for your mother. And that the eagles came because of her good karma.” Skylar couldn’t believe her ears! She was covered in wounds, yet he was here, not to ask about her injuries, but to rush to clear the name of the woman he loved? “I won’t!” her voice was hoarse. Julian’s face darkened, his tone full of menace. “You don’t have a choice. Think about your mother’s belongings.” Mother… belongings… Skylar closed her eyes in despair, tears silently tracing paths down her cheeks. He always knew how to twist her Achilles’ heel. Soon, Liam, his assistant, had set up the equipment, and a global live stream began. Skylar’s face was ghostly pale. Facing the camera, she repeated Julian’s words, syllable by syllable, her voice flat and devoid of emotion. “…I willingly offered flesh to the eagles, to express gratitude for Miss Sterling’s blessings that brought good fortune to my mother… it had nothing to do with her…” The live stream’s comment section exploded, a torrent of abusive comments and doubts scrolling furiously. Skylar looked at the scrolling words, her eyes bloodshot, yet no tears would fall. As soon as the live stream ended, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She lunged out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, vomiting violently, as if trying to expel her very insides. Teary-eyed, she looked up, seeing Julian, who had followed her in, in the mirror. Her voice was shattered. “Is this… enough for you?” Julian looked at her disheveled, pained state, and for a moment, an imperceptible flicker of something stirred within him, but he quickly suppressed it. He averted his gaze, his voice still hard. “You need to understand me. Luna is the woman I love now. I won’t let her suffer a single grievance.” Hearing this, Skylar’s heart ached to its absolute limit, then went numb. Even her tears had dried up. Julian was about to say something when his phone rang. It was Luna. He didn’t know what she said, but his tone instantly became anxious and gentle. “Okay, don’t worry, I’m coming right back.” After hanging up, he told Skylar, “Luna’s feeling a bit unwell. I’m going back to check on her. Take care of yourself.” With that, he actually turned and left, without a single backward glance. Skylar watched his retreating back, feeling an overwhelming mix of ridiculousness and tragedy. Over the next few days, she took care of herself. Her wounds hurt, but her heart hurt even more. She finally made it home from the hospital, and Mr. Davies coincidentally brought back her golden retriever, Buddy, whom she had boarded at a pet hospital. Buddy, a loyal companion for many years, was one of the few sources of warmth in her bleak life. Buddy affectionately rubbed against her, whining comforting sounds. Skylar hugged him, feeling a long-lost warmth. She felt incredibly weak and wanted to nourish herself, so she asked a maid to stew a bowl of chicken soup for her. She had barely taken two sips when Luna appeared, like a cat drawn to the scent of fish. Luna looked at the chicken soup, her eyebrows instantly shooting up. She declared sharply, “Skylar Hayes! How can you eat chicken?! How many times have I said that all living beings are interconnected, and all beings are equal! Eating meat is taking a life, it’s creating negative karma! You must immediately come with me to the meditation room to confess and atone!” With that, she reached out to grab Skylar. The pent-up anger and hatred within Skylar instantly exploded! Skylar violently flung Luna’s hand away and, with a swift movement, slapped her hard across the face! “Get out!” Skylar trembled with rage. “Julian Blackwood might tolerate you, but I won’t! Can you just stay away from me?! You make me sick!” Luna clutched her face, staring at Skylar in disbelief, then her eyes welled up with tears of indignation and anger. “Skylar Hayes! You… you dared to hit me?! I was doing this for your own good! Taking a life leads to deep spiritual debts! I know it’s hard to abstain from meat, but you must persist…” “I can’t persist!” Skylar interrupted her sharply, pushing her hard. “Just get away from me!” Luna, wearing high heels, stumbled with the push, gasped, and fell to the ground, her forehead hitting the sharp corner of a nearby plant stand. Blood immediately flowed! Just then, footsteps sounded at the door. Julian had returned. He immediately saw Luna on the floor, bleeding from her forehead, tear-streaked and looking like a delicate flower drenched in rain. He also saw Skylar standing nearby, her face pale but her eyes blazing with fury. “What happened?” His face instantly darkened. He quickly went forward and helped the weeping Luna up. Luna leaned into his arms, her tears flowing even faster. She recounted the “story,” punctuated by sobs, and added sorrowfully at the end, “Julian, I just didn’t want to see her create negative karma… I was too eager, my approach was wrong, so it’s not Skylar’s fault… but her temper… she’s truly a hopeless case…” Julian’s eyes, cold as ice, swept over Skylar. He told the maid, “First, help Luna upstairs and call the doctor to tend to her wound.” He paused, then added, “I will have a serious ‘talk’ with Skylar.” Luna nodded submissively and was helped away. Once her figure disappeared up the stairs, Julian’s gaze turned utterly cold. He looked at Buddy, who was wagging his tail, unaware of what had just transpired, and ordered the bodyguards, “Take that dog, and dispose of it.” Skylar felt as if struck by lightning. She lunged forward, hugging Buddy tightly, screaming in terror, “No! Don’t! Julian Blackwood, you can’t touch Buddy! He’s my dog! No! Please! I was wrong! I won’t ever talk back to her again! Please, don’t hurt my dog!” Julian remained completely unmoved, his eyes cold and ruthless. “This is the price for laying a hand on her. If you dare to bully Luna again next time, it won’t be just a dog.” The bodyguards forcibly snatched the wailing Buddy from her arms. “No! Buddy! Give me back my Buddy!” Skylar cried and struggled, but she was held down firmly. Soon after, a piercing dog yelp echoed from the backyard, then fell silent. Skylar froze, her pupils dilated, as if even her breathing had stopped. Then, an even more horrifying scene unfolded. The bodyguards actually dragged Buddy’s lifeless body into the kitchen! Before long, a steaming bowl of “meat soup” was placed in front of her. The heavy smell of meat overwhelmed her. Skylar’s stomach churned, and she recoiled in horror. “Take it away! I won’t drink it! Take it away!” Julian lost his patience and gave a bodyguard a look. The bodyguard stepped forward, roughly grabbed her chin, and with a sharp jerk! A soft “click” sound, followed by the excruciating pain of her jaw dislocating! Tears streamed down Skylar’s face, but she couldn’t close her mouth. That warm, oddly fragrant meat soup was forcibly poured down her throat… “Ugh… cough, cough, cough…” The soup, mixed with tears and snot, smeared all over her face. Skylar collapsed to the ground, coughing and retching violently, feeling as if her liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys were being churned, in agonizing pain. Julian watched her, cold and distant, as if observing an insignificant performance. “Remember this taste. Next time, don’t challenge my bottom line.” Skylar completely broke down. That night, she developed a high fever and became gravely ill. In her semiconscious state, Luna came again. She held several homemade black pills and insisted on feeding them to Skylar. “Miss Hayes, I truly can’t bear to see you so ill. These are special pills I prepared for you, using many precious herbs. You’ll get better quickly after taking them.” Skylar clamped her lips shut, refusing to take the pills. Luna seemed to sigh, then told the maid beside her, “Help her.” The maid immediately stepped forward, forcibly pried open Skylar’s mouth, and stuffed the pills in! Not long after the pills went down, Skylar felt a searing, knife-like pain in her abdomen. Cold sweat instantly soaked her clothes. She couldn’t help but curl up, then vomited a mouthful of black blood. “It hurts so much… send me to the hospital…” she pleaded weakly. Just then, Julian returned. Luna immediately went to meet him, complaining tearfully, “Julian, I kindly gave Miss Hayes my special pills, but she seems to be even more uncomfortable and insists on going to the hospital… Perhaps she still doesn’t trust me, still has issues with me… I think it would be better if I just left…” Julian immediately pulled her back, his face darkening as he looked at Skylar. “Luna meant well, why are you so ungrateful?” “That’s not medicine… she’s hurting me…” Skylar’s voice trembled with pain. “Enough!” Julian didn’t believe her at all, his eyes filled with annoyance. “It seems you’re not sick enough if you still have the energy to accuse someone! Take her back to her room! She’s not allowed to leave, and no doctor is to be called without my permission!” Skylar was roughly dragged back to her room and locked in. Excruciating pain tormented her. She began to cough up blood, her consciousness growing increasingly hazy. Finally, Mr. Davies, unable to bear it, secretly called a trusted private doctor, who prescribed medicine and barely saved her life. The next day, just as she was recovering slightly, Luna came again. She looked at Skylar and smiled triumphantly, “See? I told you my medicine was effective. Aren’t you feeling better?” Julian also came over, warning her coldly, “Luna is compassionate; she would never harm you. Don’t ever betray her good intentions again.” Skylar was utterly exhausted, unable to utter a single word. A few days later, Luna announced she was going to perform her “daily acts of compassion” again. This time, she insisted on bringing Skylar. “Miss Hayes is too agitated and carries too much negative energy; she needs to perform good deeds to clear her karma,” she explained. Skylar refused to go, but Julian’s bodyguards simply “escorted” her into the car, coldly relaying, “Mr. Blackwood instructed that Miss Sterling is not to be disappointed.” The first nine “good deeds” were merely feeding stray cats and dogs, donating money, and releasing captive animals. For the tenth act of kindness, Luna, as usual, handed out money to a group of ragged beggars. But the beggars exchanged glances, pushed the money away, their eyes leering at Luna and Skylar. “Miss, we don’t want money… We haven’t been with a woman in a long time… why don’t you let us have some fun with the boys?” Luna immediately recoiled, pressing her hands together, her face showing distress. “Namaste! I am a woman of spiritual practice; how could I engage in such impure acts? What a sin, what a sin…” But then, seeing the beggars’ “piteous” faces, she sighed again, her gaze suddenly shifting to Skylar, whose face was pale. “I see you are truly suffering, tormented by your desires. It’s a苦楚. So, let my friend here help you find some release. It would be an act of good karma.” With that, she abruptly shoved Skylar into the midst of the beggars! Then, she turned, got into the car, and started the engine. “Luna!!!” Skylar’s terrified scream was drowned out by the beggars’ lecherous laughter and foul language. She struggled and fought desperately, but the grinning beggars surrounded her, dragging her toward a dark alleyway nearby! In utter despair, she found a surge of strength from somewhere. She bit down hard on one beggar’s hand, seized the opportunity to break free, and ran for her life towards the main road outside the alley! She ran blindly, straight out of the alley— Blinding headlights suddenly flared! Accompanied by the screech of tires and a tremendous impact! Skylar was thrown through the air like a broken kite, landing heavily on the cold pavement. Blood rapidly spread from beneath her. Before losing consciousness, she vaguely saw Luna’s cold face in the driver’s seat of the stopped car. Once again, she woke up in a hospital. Her entire body ached as if it had been shattered. And Julian, sitting by her bed, didn’t ask about her injuries first. Instead, he presented her with a letter of understanding. “Sign it,” his tone was unyielding. “Although Luna accidentally hit you, it wasn’t intentional, and she’s very remorseful now. I won’t let her go to jail.” Skylar looked at his cold face, her last shred of hope completely extinguished. She spoke with difficulty, her voice hoarse. “I won’t sign… She did it on purpose… She pushed me to the beggars first… then she drove into me… She’s guilty of attempted murder… she must face legal consequences…” Julian’s face instantly became terrifyingly grim. “Stubbornly refusing to cooperate!” He lost patience and directly ordered the bodyguards, “Take her away! Lock her in the high-temperature steam room! She’ll be released when she’s willing to sign!” It was a specially built steam room in the mansion, with the highest temperature setting, capable of dehydrating and suffocating a person. Skylar was dragged inside. High heat and lack of oxygen instantly enveloped her. Sweat evaporated as soon as it formed, her skin felt scorched, and breathing became extremely difficult. Her lungs felt like they were bursting. The fear of death seized her once more. Just as her consciousness began to waver, and she thought she would truly die there, she finally surrendered. “I’ll sign… I’ll sign…” Only then did Julian order them to let her out. She lay on the floor like a dehydrated fish, coughing and gasping for air. Julian shoved a pen into her hand, watched her sign her name, then said, “Luna is very upset about this incident. I’m taking her out to clear her head. You stay quietly at home for the next few days. Don’t cause any more trouble.” With that, he once again left without a second thought. Skylar lay on the cold floor, watching his resolute retreating back, too exhausted even to cry. Heartbreak couldn’t be more complete. A week later, Julian still hadn’t returned, but she received news from her lawyer. The divorce procedures were complete; she could pick up her divorce certificate. She went to the civil affairs office alone and received the dark red divorce certificate. Touching the cool, gilded letters on it, she actually felt a sense of release. Back at the mansion, she quietly began to pack her bags. She didn’t have many belongings; one suitcase held everything. On the day she left, she called a car to the airport. In the airport departure hall, she happened to see Julian walking out of the international arrivals gate, holding Luna’s hand. His face held a rare, relaxed smile as he spoke softly to Luna, who looked equally blissful. The two seemed to have just returned from a romantic getaway abroad. Watching their intimate closeness, and then looking at the divorce certificate in her hand, Skylar suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of irony. He liked global live streams, didn’t he? Good. She would give him what he wanted! She pulled out her phone, logged onto a global social media platform, and started a live stream. The camera was aimed at herself, and at the bright red divorce certificate in her hand. On the other side, Julian and Luna arrived back at the mansion. The moment he stepped inside, Julian felt an unusual sense of emptiness and quiet. He felt an inexplicable unease and frowned, asking Mr. Davies, “Where is she? What is Skylar Hayes doing?” Mr. Davies stammered, “Mr. Blackwood… Mrs. Blackwood… Mrs. Blackwood is…” “What is she doing?!” Julian demanded impatiently, his voice sharp. Mr. Davies closed his eyes, then bravely held out his phone. “Mrs. Blackwood… she’s… she’s live streaming globally… live streaming her divorce!” On the phone screen, clearly visible, was Skylar Hayes’s pale but serene face, and the glaring divorce certificate in her hand! The live stream viewer count was skyrocketing! The airport departure hall’s announcement looped boarding information. Skylar stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, her finger hovering over the live stream button on her phone. Behind her, travelers bustled by, oblivious that this seemingly fragile woman was about to ignite a storm that would shake the entire internet. She tapped to start the live stream, and a few viewers trickled in. Skylar took a deep breath and aimed the camera at the dark red divorce certificate in her palm. The gilded words “Divorce Certificate” gleamed particularly harshly under the lights. Her voice was as calm as if recounting someone else’s story, yet it carried a power that pierced through the heart. “Hello everyone, I’m Skylar Hayes, Julian Blackwood’s ex-wife, from Blackwood Group… Today, I’d like to talk about what I experienced during my three-year marriage to Julian Blackwood.” “Three months ago, my mother was in a car accident and urgently needed a million dollars for surgery. Julian Blackwood handed over the family finances to a woman who calls herself a spiritual guru—Luna Sterling. When I went to her for the money, she told me, ‘Surgery cuts into the body, disturbing its natural balance. It’s an unnatural interference. Perhaps it’s better left undone.’ She even threatened to go to the hospital to stop the surgery, claiming that if my mother’s spiritual debts weren’t cleared, forcing surgery would hinder her transition.” As she spoke these words, she trembled uncontrollably, and her voice became choked with tears. She brought up screenshots of hospital payment records on her phone, with the date clearly marked for that day. “And Luna’s supposed ‘chanting prayers and blessings’ was nothing more than watching my mother miss her critical window for surgery!” At this point, the number of viewers in the live stream was rapidly increasing, and the comments were filled with outrage. “The day after my mother died, Luna told me she had sent her body for a natural disposition.” Here, her voice trembled slightly, but she maintained her composure. “But the neighborhood surveillance cameras recorded her having workers move the body at dawn. Neighbors also heard my arguments with her. These recordings and evidence have already been uploaded.” “Because of her… my mother’s remains are still nowhere to be found…” The live stream viewer count soared, and the comments began to flood the screen. Tears streaming, she continued, “On the week following my mother’s death, I found my room filled with snakes. Luna had put them there, saying they would help me calm my mind. When Julian came back, he told me to just get used to it…” As she displayed screenshot after screenshot of evidence, the live stream viewership surpassed three million. She raised her hand to brush back her hair, revealing the still visible scars on her arm. “Two weeks ago, at Luna’s birthday party, Julian Blackwood forced me to obtain a hand-transcribed ancient spiritual text from a revered monastery. I knelt for a day and a night, walked barefoot over a path of hot coals, my feet a bloody mess. But at the birthday party, Luna claimed that circling eagles were a good omen and demanded to offer flesh to them. They both then ordered bodyguards to hold me down and cut my flesh to throw to the eagles!” “A week ago, I drank a bowl of chicken soup, and Luna claimed I was taking a life and creating negative karma. When Julian came back, not only did he order bodyguards to dispose of my dog, Buddy, but he also forced me to drink a soup made from Buddy’s meat.” She pulled out a photo of herself with Buddy, both smiling at the camera. Skylar, however, was now sobbing uncontrollably. “Buddy was with me for five years, but he became Julian Blackwood’s sacrifice to please Luna…” Within half an hour, the live stream viewer count exceeded five million. Hashtags like #JulianBlackwoodColdHusband, #LunaSterlingFalseGuru, and #JulianLunaAdulterers quickly topped trending lists in multiple countries. The comment section was filled with condemnation for the two. [Is Julian Blackwood blind?! He just watched his wife get abused like that! Blackwood Group is absolutely heartless!] [Luna truly embodies the phrase ‘a viper with a saint’s tongue.’ Chanting ‘Namaste’ while committing murder. She should be excommunicated from any spiritual practice!] Simultaneously, Blackwood Group’s stock price plummeted, dropping 10% within half an hour. Numerous partners urgently sent letters suspending their collaborations. Watching the discussion heat up, Skylar knew she had achieved her goal. She wanted the whole world to see how vicious these two people were. Remembering her deceased mother and her tragically killed dog, she wiped her tears and ended the live stream. After the live stream, Skylar immediately blocked all of Julian Blackwood’s contact information. After backing up the evidence on her phone, she deleted all content related to her past. She dragged her suitcase and boarded a flight to a small coastal town in the south. When the plane landed, the salty, humid sea breeze greeted her. She rented a ground-floor apartment with a small garden, spending her days painting small pictures and tending to her flowers. Watching the sunlight fall on the petals, she finally smiled, a genuine smile she hadn’t shown in a long time. The pain of the past might never fully disappear, but she knew that from this moment on, her life would begin anew, completely severed from Julian Blackwood and Luna Sterling, moving towards her own fresh start. Julian Blackwood stepped into the mansion. A faint trace of Skylar’s presence still lingered in the air. But this familiar sensation was quickly shattered by the phone screen Mr. Davies handed him. In the live stream replay, every incident Skylar calmly recounted felt like an ice-cold knife, plunged into his cherished sense of control. “Fabrications! All fabrications!” He violently slammed the phone onto the marble floor. The shattered screen’s cracks mirrored his current uncontrolled rage. A jarring crash echoed through the study as he swept an expensive antique vase off his desk, sending porcelain shards scattering everywhere. Julian’s eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving. He couldn’t calm down. “She did it on purpose! Even after the divorce, she won’t let it go, she wants to destroy me!” When Liam, his assistant, rushed in, Julian was already beside himself with fury. “Immediately launch a PR offensive!” His voice was hoarse, his command absolute. “Delete all negative information, issue a statement! Say Skylar Hayes is maliciously slandering me due to marital dissatisfaction, and all her claims are baseless!” But the PR team’s efforts couldn’t keep up with the speed of the public outcry. The statement was barely out before it was drowned in a flood of mockery from netizens. [Can Blackwood PR stop wasting money on statements? Instead of trying to delete comments, how about you figure out how to apologize to Skylar Hayes!] [Blackwood Group’s PR move practically screams ‘guilty conscience’! It’s hilarious, if you’re so innocent, show us proof!] Some people posted screenshots of the various records Skylar had displayed, others copied the audio recordings released in the live stream, Luna’s voice clearly discernible. The speed of deleting posts couldn’t match the rate at which new topics emerged. Even business partners sent strongly worded letters suspending collaborations, Liam reported, drenched in sweat. “Mr. Blackwood, the PR campaign… it’s a complete failure. Now, netizens are waiting for us to provide counter-evidence.” Julian slumped into the leather armchair, his knuckles white from clenching his fists. He stared out at the gloomy sky, anger churning within him, yet also a strange sense of confusion. He couldn’t understand how the woman he once protected, the woman he feared would cry if he hurt her, could have become so “ruthless.” Did three years of marriage, of tenderness and sacrifice, truly mean nothing against the bitterness of a divorce? As he fumed, Luna, dressed in a plain, serene dress, softly walked into the study. Her eyes were red-rimmed. Seeing his disheveled state, she immediately went to him and nestled into his arms, her voice choked with feigned sorrow. “Julian, don’t be angry… Skylar must have misunderstood me. She’s just been through a divorce and is hurting. Perhaps she’s saying these things out of sadness; please don’t blame her.” Her fingertips gently traced his furrowed brow, her eyes filled with concern. “It’s all my fault. If I had been more accommodating, perhaps things wouldn’t have come to this.” Her delicate vulnerability acted like a temporary sedative, slightly easing Julian’s strained nerves. He raised a hand to embrace her shoulder, his voice softening a little. “Perhaps Skylar will understand your good intentions in a few days.” But he didn’t see the flicker of malice in Luna’s downcast eyes. That night, while Julian was still in his study working, Luna quietly called a trusted confidant, whispering instructions: “Back up all the sky burial videos on my phone, and delete all chat records with the hospital staff. Not a single trace must remain.” After the confidant left, Luna secretly clenched her teeth, a sense of panic stirring within her because of Skylar’s revelations. “That woman… she actually dared to plot against me…” Late that night, while Julian was sound asleep, Luna stealthily crept into his study. She located the file folder and quickly typed on Julian’s computer keyboard. Just as she was about to permanently delete the files, her anxious fingers slipped, and instead of deleting, she accidentally uploaded a copy of the attachments to the cloud for backup. She didn’t notice this flaw. After confirming the files were gone, she quickly shut down the computer and stealthily left the study. But in the room, a faint “cloud sync successful” notification flashed briefly in the darkness. The next morning, Julian, observing that the public opinion had not improved, irritably rubbed his temples. Luna brought him a warm cup of ginseng tea, gently advising, “Julian, why don’t we just ignore the online noise for now? Everyone will forget about it after a while…” Julian took the teacup, his doubts about Luna momentarily suppressed. He thought of the plummeting stock prices, the billions lost in market value, the disrupted plans, and his hatred for Skylar deepened. He stared into the bottom of the cup, muttering to himself. “How could she do this to me… three years of shared memories, did they mean so little?” Hearing that name, Luna’s face instantly darkened. But neither of them knew that, in the cloud system, those accidentally saved files were like a buried bomb, waiting to explode Luna’s carefully constructed facade at some point in the future. The sea breeze in the coastal town always carried a salty warmth. Whenever Skylar looked out her apartment window, her mood would always relax, and she stopped dwelling on the past. With the last of her divorce settlement, she opened a small flower shop on the street corner. Hand-knitted wind chimes hung on the glass door, making a clear, tinkling sound when pushed open—her favorite sound. The shop didn’t have the rare, exotic flowers from the Blackwood mansion, only common sunflowers, daisies, roses, and a few thriving succulents. Every morning, Skylar would go to the flower market to select fresh flowers, then return to trim leaves and arrange bouquets, finding endless joy in the process. At the Blackwood mansion, even her water glass was handed to her by a maid. Anything she wanted to eat, no matter how exotic, a word to Mr. Davies would make it appear. But now, she wore gloves to prune thorns, and when tired, she would sit in the wicker chair by the window, sipping warm lemon water, watching pedestrians stroll by at a leisurely pace. This life, though lacking the extravagance of the past, gradually relaxed her nerves, which had been stretched taut for three years. At night, she finally slept peacefully. During this time, a regular customer named Leo Maxwell often visited. Leo first came to the flower shop on a weekend afternoon. He wore a clean white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his wrists. The wind chimes tinkled as he entered. “Hello, I’d like a bouquet of sunflowers.” His voice was gentle. His gaze swept across the array of fresh flowers, finally resting on Skylar, who was bending over, trimming roses. “Your flowers are of excellent quality. I’d like to buy a bouquet to take to the children in my department who are ill. They love them.” Skylar looked up, pausing for a moment before nodding. “Alright, just a moment.” She turned to get the flowers, her fingertip accidentally pricked by a rose thorn. A bead of bright red blood immediately welled up. She instinctively froze, about to wipe it away casually, but Leo called out to her. “Don’t move.” He quickly walked over, pulling a small bottle of iodine and a band-aid from his white coat pocket. As he knelt, a faint scent of disinfectant wafted from him, yet it wasn’t unpleasant. “I’m a pediatrician; I’m used to carrying these.” He didn’t ask why she was flustered. He just carefully took her fingertip, gently dabbed iodine with a cotton swab, his movements as delicate as if tending to a fragile flower petal. Skylar stood rigid, watching his focused profile as he treated her wound. Her heart inexplicably quickened. For the past six months, Julian had been lost in Luna’s embrace, never showing her such meticulous tenderness. “All done,” Leo said, affixing the band-aid and smiling as he stood up. His gaze fell on the bouquet she had just arranged. “Your shop’s flowers are beautiful, especially when you’re tending to them.” He gave her a few instructions about the wound, then, holding the sunflowers, paid and quietly bid farewell. Left standing there, Skylar’s fingertip still held the warmth of his touch. Over the next few weeks, Leo came precisely at the same time every week to buy sunflowers. They would sometimes chat for a few minutes, their conversations always revolving around the small town’s weather. “The wind is strong by the sea today; remember to close the windows securely when you shut the shop.” Sometimes, Leo would share amusing stories from the hospital. “Yesterday, a little boy pinned a sunflower at the nurses’ station, saying he wanted the nurses to be happy every day.” Occasionally, he would invite Skylar to admire the seaside scenery with him. “You can see beautiful sunsets by the sea in the evening. You should go check it out if you have time.” He never asked too many questions, nor did he pry, acting merely as a regular customer, sharing the small, warm moments of life. Skylar gradually let down her guard. Once, when Leo came to buy flowers, she proactively spoke. “Today, a little boy bought a small bouquet of daisies with his pocket money. He said he wanted to give them to his mom, hoping she wouldn’t be angry when she saw the flowers.” She had a slight smile on her face as she spoke, and her eyes were brighter than before. Leo paused, listened intently, then responded with a smile, “We have a little girl in our department who always resisted treatment until I brought her sunflowers. Then she started taking her medicine. Yesterday, she was discharged, and she even drew me a sunflower, saying she’d come here with her mom to buy flowers when she’s better.” Sunlight streamed through the glass window, falling between them. The air was filled with the fresh scent of flowers and a faint warmth. Skylar looked into Leo’s gentle eyes and suddenly felt that perhaps she didn’t have to live in the shadow of the past forever. This coastal town, this small flower shop, and this person who was willing to listen to her share small things, were slowly piecing together the life she once dared not dream of—a life truly her own. When Leo left, the wind chimes tinkled once more. Skylar watched his retreating figure disappear around the street corner, then looked down and touched the band-aid on her hand. She then turned to continue arranging flowers, the smile on her lips more genuine than before. The evening downpour in this coastal town arrived abruptly. Large raindrops hammered against the flower shop’s glass, splattering fine water droplets that quickly converged into streams on the ground.
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