“Cassidy, Julian’s been hurt. He’s at St. Mary’s Hospital! Get here, now!” The sudden ring of my phone ripped me awake from my sleep. I threw on the first clothes I could find and bolted out the door. The night was deep and heavy with dew, and a biting wind slapped my face. By the time I reached the hospital, a bone-deep chill had settled in my entire body – and it wasn’t just from the weather. I didn’t even stop to fix my messy hair or catch my breath. Just as my hand reached for the doorknob, a rush of voices, loud and jarring, suddenly spilled out from inside the room. “Julian, your wedding to Cassidy is next month, man. And you pulled that death-defying stunt, racing for Blair’s necklace? You almost got yourself killed, totaled your car! Aren’t you worried your obsessed little puppy, Cassidy, will finally wise up and ditch you?” My hand, already gripping the cold metal doorknob, froze solid. I didn’t move. I just stood there, holding my breath, waiting for *his* answer. It wasn’t long before I heard Julian’s familiar, arrogant scoff. His voice dripped with pure, venomous mockery. “Run? Her? Leave me? You gotta be kidding. She’s head-over-heels obsessed. I could literally kick her out, and she’d still find a way back!” His words weren’t surprising. Not at all. I pressed my lips into a thin, grim line. With a surge of newfound strength, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The sudden creak of the door snagged everyone’s attention. A few guys, lounging or standing in their racing gear, glanced over. Far from appearing flustered at being caught, their eyes glinted with mischievous amusement, their voices rising with a taunting edge. “Well, well, Aria Hayes, the hospital’s at least thirty minutes from your place, isn’t it? You made it here in fifteen. Guess you’re really scared something might happen to Landon, huh?” My gaze locked onto Landon Montgomery, who was sprawled on the hospital bed. I didn’t flinch or blush at their mockery. Instead, I simply nodded. “Yes. He’s very important to me.” My words unleashed a torrent of laughter from the group. One of them, a smirk plastered on his face, spoke up. “Landon just told us he’s bored out of his mind lying here. Since you love him so much, Aria, why don’t you entertain him? Do a little dance!” As soon as he finished, another chimed in, practically bouncing with excitement. “Just dancing? How dull! How about a striptease?” Their blatant malice stunned me. I knew Landon’s friends despised me, finding endless amusement in my humiliation. But I never imagined they’d demand something so… depraved. My lips parted, a refusal already forming on my tongue, but Landon’s voice cut me off, cold and sharp. “What, you won’t? Didn’t you say you loved me, that you’d do anything for me?” I stared at him, my head snapping up. His expression was utterly devoid of emotion, yet his eyes held an unnerving certainty. He clearly wouldn’t back down. It was obvious. If I didn’t perform this striptease, they wouldn’t let it go. Thinking of our wedding, now just a month away, I couldn’t risk any more complications. I swallowed hard and nodded. “Fine. I’ll dance.” The moment the words left my mouth, the shouts and catcalls erupted, louder than before. With them came a wave of crushing shame. Years of loving Landon had taught me to crush my own dignity, offering it up for their amusement, calmly enduring the brazen insults from him and his friends. But this was a hospital. Even with the door closed, his friends were here. The shame of dancing a striptease in front of them washed over me, making my body tingle with dread, each step I took stiff and unwilling. One by one, my clothes came off, a biting chill seeping into my bones. I bit my lip, silently repeating a mantra: *It’s okay. Just bear it a little longer, and it will all be over.* Finally, my trembling fingers reached for the last scrap of fabric covering me – a thin camisole. Amidst the whistles and jeers, Landon’s harsh voice suddenly cut through the air. “Enough! You’re truly shameless…” Landon’s face was a mask of disgust, his voice laced with a barely concealed snarl. When he spoke again, it was with pure arrogance. “I’m hungry. Go get me something to eat.” I kept my head down, his cruel words barely registering. I just let out a long, silent breath, gathered my clothes, and nodded as I walked out. “Seriously, Landon, she’s the city’s most notorious doormat. You’d think she’d be mad, but she’s still running off to get you food.” Their harsh taunts faded as I walked away. There were plenty of places to grab food outside the hospital, but I bypassed them all. Landon was particular. He only ever ate from a select few restaurants. By the time I returned to the hospital with his meal, his room was empty save for Landon, now fast asleep. I gently placed the food container on the bedside table. Then, I heard him murmur in his sleep, “Blair, if only you’d give in, if only you’d say you still love me… I wouldn’t marry her…” Hearing those words, my blood ran cold, a chilling torrent through my veins. My face drained of all color, turning ashen white in an instant. I stood there, utterly frozen. All I wanted was this one wedding. After it, he could do whatever he pleased. Was even that too much to ask? In the silent darkness of the night, a voice suddenly echoed in my mind. 【Host, mission progress has reached 99%. As soon as your wedding with Landon Montgomery is successfully completed, you will receive your reward.】 The system’s voice jolted me back to reality. I let out another long, shaky breath, trying to calm myself. *It’s okay. He’s just thinking out loud. He hasn’t actually suggested canceling the wedding.* I opened my phone, staring at the wedding countdown on the screen. Landon Montgomery was the golden boy of the city’s elite, and Blair Kingston, the darling socialite. Everyone in their circle called them a perfect match, a destined couple. They were each other’s first loves. Perhaps it was because they loved too fiercely, their relationship had been a whirlwind, and their breakup even more devastating. Blair, in a fit of rage, had gone abroad, leaving behind a chilling declaration: whoever crawled back first was pathetic. Landon, a man of immense pride, no matter how desperately he still loved her, refused to lower himself and chase her. He’d spend his days drowning his sorrows, claiming he didn’t care, yet he couldn’t stop obsessing over her updates – until he heard Blair had found a boyfriend overseas. That very day, out of spite, he’d agreed to marry me, me, Aria Hayes, who had always chased after him, always the object of his friends’ mocking “doormat” jokes. In the days that followed, Blair never returned home. Instead, she posted daily declarations of love with her new boyfriend on Instagram. Landon, consumed by a frenzied jealousy, escalated their silent war by announcing his engagement to me. Everyone laughed, saying I had been hopelessly in love with Landon for years, willing to sacrifice anything, even my life, for him. And through sheer stubbornness, I had actually waited for the day he would agree to marry me. But then, on the eve of our wedding, Blair came back. Years of devoted companionship vanished in an instant. He started abandoning me again and again. Everyone mocked me, saying all my efforts had been for nothing. But I didn’t care. I didn’t care whom Landon loved. I didn’t care if he would eventually cast me aside. All I cared about was whether this wedding could proceed as planned. Because that was the mission the system had given me when it brought me to this world – *Conquer Landon Montgomery and have a wedding with him.* For this, I had pursued him relentlessly for ten years, without complaint or regret. All because the system told me that completing the mission would grant me one wish. And my wish, my deepest desire, was to bring back my true love – Liam Thorne. I couldn’t remember when I’d fallen asleep. The next time I opened my eyes, it was already early morning. “Landon, thanks again for helping me get that necklace yesterday. To show my gratitude, I’ve rounded up the guys for a party at The Velvet Lounge tonight. You absolutely *have* to be there!” The sound of voices filtered into the room. I groggily opened my eyes to see Landon holding his phone, a soft, tender expression on his face – an expression I’d never seen directed at me. He was agreeing to Blair Kingston’s utterly unreasonable demand. “Okay.” He never showed me that kind of warmth. The call ended, and it was then he noticed I was awake. The softness on his face vanished, replaced by his usual indifferent mask. His voice, unlike his tone on the phone, was flat. “Go arrange my discharge.” I remained seated on the edge of the bed, hesitant. My face showed a hint of doubt. “You just got injured. You should really rest for a few more days…” I offered my quiet advice, but Landon’s face instantly hardened. “What, you’re not listening to me now?” It was as if one more word of defiance from me would make him cancel the wedding on the spot. I couldn’t risk it. After a moment of heavy silence, I finally rose and left the room to handle his discharge. Before long, we were both in a car, heading for The Velvet Lounge. By the time we arrived at the private room, everyone was already there. Blair, beaming, pulled us over to the table and pushed a few drinks towards us. “You’re late! According to the rules, you both owe three penalty shots!” Six brimming glasses sat before us, and everyone else immediately began to cheer. Watching Landon actually reach for a glass, an alarm blared in my mind. I quickly snatched them away. “You’re allergic to alcohol, you can’t drink. I’ll drink them for you.” With that, I picked up a glass and downed it in one go. The cheers grew even louder. “Amazing, Aria! Again, again!” Glass after glass, all six were quickly emptied. But the group, as if they’d found a new toy, started inventing reasons to get Landon to drink. Without exception, all those drinks ended up in my stomach. Over the years, I’d accompanied Landon to countless parties, always shielding him from drinks. I’d built up a strong tolerance, but even the best tolerance couldn’t handle this kind of onslaught. Soon, my stomach began to churn violently. Waving them off, I rushed to the bathroom again, throwing up until I felt empty. Enduring the burning pain in my stomach, I splashed water on my face and looked up. My reflection was ghastly, completely drained of color. I took a few deep breaths, not waiting for the nausea to subside before heading back. I was still uneasy leaving him alone in the room for too long. Landon’s allergic reactions were severe. If he succumbed to their badgering and drank, his injuries would only worsen. But our wedding was in a month. I couldn’t let his health become an obstacle to that. Sure enough, when I returned to the room, a fresh pile of drinks already sat in front of Landon. Blair saw me come in and glance at the drinks. She smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement as she turned to Landon. “I used to hear people say it, but I never believed it. Now that I see it, she really does love you, Landon. She’ll drink until she pukes just so you don’t touch a drop.” “Yes, she really does love me.” Landon’s lips curved upwards slightly. “Whatever I say, she does. Why else would I marry her?” Hearing his words, I quietly let out a breath of relief. *Thank goodness. It was just a dream. Thank goodness, he hasn’t actually planned to cancel the wedding.* Before I could fully relax, his voice started again. “But no matter how much she loves me, she’s still just a doormat. Blair, we’ve been playing this game for years. If only you would just…” He didn’t get to finish. Blair suddenly chuckled. “What a coincidence? I’m getting married too.” As she spoke, she pulled a stack of wedding invitations from her bag, handing them out one by one. The last one, she personally gave to Landon. “I wrote this one just for you. You absolutely have to come.” My gaze shot to Landon. Just as I expected, his face had turned dark as thunder. His eyes were fixed on Blair. After a long moment, he laughed, a cold, humorless sound. “Fine! Fine! Blair Kingston, you really are something else!” The party eventually broke up in discord. I quickly followed Landon out of the room and straight into the car. Just as he was about to drive away, I saw Blair step out of the building a short distance away, walking briskly. She got into a car, escorted by a man in a crisp suit. I’d seen him before. He was Blair’s boyfriend from abroad, now her fiancé: Rhys Sterling. “VROOM—” Landon’s face was grim as he floored the gas pedal, jolting me back to attention. I could tell he was furious. Furious that Blair had gotten into another man’s car right in front of him, even more furious that she was marrying someone else. I silently gripped the grab handle above the door, saying nothing, only watching as he repeatedly tried to cut off their car, then sped up in a fierce competition. The trees along the median blurred past. The nausea from all the alcohol surged back. I endured it for a long time, finally preparing to tell him to slow down just as I thought I couldn’t take it anymore. But the moment I turned my head, my eyes snapped wide open in horror! A deafening “CRASH!” exploded in my ears. I instinctively threw myself towards Landon. The excessive speed combined with the violent impact sent our car airborne before it slammed back down. The airbags deployed instantly, shards of glass slicing through my body. Pain flared everywhere. Fortunately, the intense pain also sharpened my senses, keeping me fully conscious. The distinct sound of dripping fuel from the gas tank warned me to get out of there, fast. I couldn’t just wait for rescue, so I tried to break the window and escape. Even after I struggled out of the mangled car, I didn’t dare rest. I pulled my cracked phone from my pocket, dialing 911 while trying to drag Landon out of the wreckage. “Landon, hang on, I’m getting you out!” Thankfully, thanks to my protection, he wasn’t seriously injured. But as soon as he was free, he bolted straight for the other utterly destroyed car. “Blair… Blair!” He stumbled towards it, just in time to see Rhys Sterling clambering out, disheveled and shaken. When Landon looked inside the car, he saw Blair, unconscious and covered in blood! Rage instantly consumed Landon’s reason. He lunged forward, grabbing Rhys Sterling by his collar, his eyes bloodshot. “How could you let this happen to Blair?!” “When it’s life or death, who doesn’t save themselves first? I’m the only heir of the Sterling family!” Rhys, still reeling from the shock, shoved Landon’s hand away and quickly ran to the roadside to flag down a car, desperate to get to the hospital. Landon was left alone, struggling to pull Blair out and hold her tightly in his arms. A second after he pulled her free, both cars erupted in a fiery explosion! The ambulance arrived quickly. We followed the vehicle to the hospital. I silently watched Landon pace frantically in front of the operating room, his face etched with anxiety and worry, yet he didn’t spare me a single glance. Finally, the doors swung open, and a nurse hurried out. “The patient is hemorrhaging badly and needs more blood, but the hospital blood bank is low. Who here is A-positive?” The words had barely left her mouth when Landon quickly volunteered. “I am! Take mine!” “No!” But just as quickly, I cried out, stopping him. I grabbed his arm, my gaze fiercely resolute. “You just got discharged. It’s not safe for you to donate blood.” He was about to snap at me, but then I continued. “I’m A-positive too. Take mine.” The nurse looked at my mottled injuries and blood-stained clothes with hesitation. “But you’re injured too. You shouldn’t donate blood…” “It’s fine. Take mine!” I stood stubbornly in front of Landon, and because of this, I missed the complex expression that flickered in his eyes. He truly hadn’t expected me to go to such lengths for him. I eventually followed the nurse to the blood donation room. Already injured, my lips growing progressively paler, the nurse tried several times to stop, but I refused. “It’s okay, I can hold on.” When it was finally over, my vision kept whiting out. I fought off the dizziness, leaning on the wall as I left the donation room, just as Blair’s surgery also concluded, and she was wheeled out of the operating room. Landon rushed to her side, his eyes overflowing with tenderness. He stayed by her, accompanying her all the way to her room, doting on her every whim. Behind him, I watched it all unfold. The exhaustion from blood loss made my body sway. I almost collapsed. As I was about to faint, the nurse who was supporting me sighed softly, unable to resist asking, “Do you really love your boyfriend that much, willing to hurt yourself for him? But I can clearly see that his heart is only with that girl who was rushed into the emergency room!” I smiled faintly, saying nothing, but in my heart, I had my answer. *No, I don’t love him at all.* But only this way could I ensure the wedding would proceed. Only this way could I save my true love. After that day, Rhys Sterling never reappeared. Landon naturally remained by Blair’s side. With each passing day, their relationship genuinely softened, no longer as antagonistic as before. My contact with Landon also dwindled significantly. The few calls or messages I did receive were always requests for me to prepare and deliver meals to Blair. But I continued to care for both of them without complaint, until one day, as I once again brought two portions of soup to the hospital, Blair looked at me and suddenly spoke. “Landon, none of the nurses are taking good care of me. Aria seems quite good at it. Why don’t you have her take care of me for the next few days?” Though it was a question, Blair’s eyes seemed to hold the certainty that Landon would agree. And she was right. He didn’t hesitate for a moment, didn’t even ask for my opinion, and simply agreed. “Aria, I’m entrusting Blair to you for the next few days. Take good care of her.” I paused, then quietly agreed, offering no protest. But it became clear that Blair’s intention wasn’t merely for me to care for her. I didn’t know what I had done to offend her, but she didn’t let up, coming up with all sorts of ways to torment me even in the hospital. On the very first day, Blair had someone bring over a bowl of nuts, handing it to me with an air of superiority and disdain. “I want to eat nuts. There are no tools here, so you’ll have to peel them by hand.” I lowered my head, said “Yes,” and dutifully squatted by her side, beginning to peel the nuts bare-handed. The shells were hard, and most were difficult to open. No matter how careful I was, my fingers inevitably got scratched. As soon as I painstakingly finished one bowl, a new one would immediately appear. All day long, my fingers were raw and bleeding, aching until they were almost numb. But when Landon appeared, I still discreetly hid my mangled hands, watching as he gently spoon-fed Blair and told her stories. The next day, Blair deliberately threw her necklace out the window. It arced through the air, landing with a soft splash in the man-made pond outside. “Oh no, my hand slipped! I lost my necklace. Go find it for me.” Step by step, I walked into the pond. It was late autumn, and the water was bone-chilling. The pond was large, and I shivered, groping inch by inch. Occasionally, I’d look up and, through the window, see Landon, who was always so domineering outside, gently wiping Blair’s hands in the hospital room. I lowered my head and continued searching. My hands were almost frozen when, as dusk settled, I finally found the tiny necklace in a corner. On the third day, a Golden Retriever appeared in Blair’s hospital room. I instinctively kept my distance, but the Golden Retriever was incredibly energetic, bounding around the room. I tried my best to hold it in, but I couldn’t stop a sneeze. The sound drew Blair’s attention. As if oblivious to my discomfort, she had someone hand me the leash. “Fluffy is very lively and needs to be walked for two hours every day. But I’m not really up to it right now, so you can take her.” I knew Blair had noticed my dog allergy and was deliberately making me walk the dog. I swallowed the words, “I’m allergic to dog hair,” forcing myself to nod. I took the leash and walked out of the room. Fluffy was very friendly. For anyone else, this might have been a pleasant task, but for me, with my dog allergy, every approach from Fluffy felt like a trial. Dog hair swirled everywhere, sticking to my clothes. I tried my best to cover my mouth and nose, but I still started to feel short of breath. Not only that, but my exposed skin began to itch, large red rashes appearing alarmingly. My eyes became bloodshot, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, yet I never let go of the leash. Finally, the agonizing two hours passed. Fluffy had had her fill of play, and someone came to take her. I hurried back to the room. In stark contrast to my disheveled state, the room was filled with laughter and cheerful chatter. Landon saw my miserable appearance, but there was little pity in his gaze. He merely glanced at me before turning his attention away. “Go clean yourself up. Don’t spoil Blair’s eyes.” “Okay.” I quietly agreed, then retreated from the room. Behind me, the laughter and playful voices continued. “Look at how pathetic she is! Isn’t it hilarious?” “So funny! Honestly, don’t you guys think Aria is like a personal maid on call?” “Like? She *is*! Hey, do you think Landon will just dump her and get back with Blair?” I anxiously awaited Landon’s answer. Thankfully, he said nothing. I let out a shaky breath, then turned and left. The day Landon discharged Blair, I finished the paperwork and instinctively opened the back passenger door of his car. As soon as I sat down, Blair’s face suddenly contorted. “Who told you to get in Landon’s car? I don’t want to ride in the same car as you!” I instinctively looked at Landon, and sure enough, heard his emotionless command: “Take a cab home yourself.” The rain poured down, drumming against the car windows. My fingers gripped each other, turning white. As I stood there in silence, he pressed the unlock button, his intention to kick me out undeniable. Under their mocking gazes, I miserably got out of the car. Without an umbrella, I was instantly drenched by the heavy rain. “Landon, I sent her out into the rain. You’re not mad, are you?” Though it was a question, I heard a note of triumphant gloating in Blair’s voice. “Of course not.” He replied with absolute certainty. As his words hung in the air, the car sped away. Watching the car disappear into traffic, I tried to hail a cab, but the rain was too heavy; not a single car would stop. Helplessly, I started walking home in the pouring rain. By the time I reached the villa, three hours had passed. The accumulated weakness and exhaustion of the past few days, compounded by the rain, completely overwhelmed my body. I found some medicine, took it, and vaguely lay down on the bed, soon falling into a deep sleep. In a daze, I thought I heard a sigh. I opened my eyes, and the face I’d yearned for day and night was right before me. He leaned in, his arms loosely around me, his gentle voice filled with heartache. “Aria, what happened to you?” “This is all my fault. I failed to protect you.” His words, meant to be caring, shattered my composure. All the grievances and sorrows I had bottled up poured out, tears streaming down my face. “Liam, I miss you so much. I was so close, so close to giving up…” “Liam…” I don’t know how long I slept, but the intense fever finally broke, and I woke up. Opening my eyes, I was met with Landon’s grim face. “Who is Liam?” I had clung to that name through countless agonizing days and nights over the past ten years, never imagining that one day, it would escape Landon Montgomery’s lips. My heart plummeted, a chill spreading down my spine. My throat felt tight, but I forced myself to remain calm, feigning confusion. “What’s wrong?” Landon’s deep-set eyes seemed to pierce through my pretense, straight to my soul. After a long moment, he replied, “You kept calling out ‘Liam’ in your sleep.” I felt a pang of annoyance, but kept my face carefully blank, even forcing a faint smile. “He’s my brother. Our parents died when I was young, so we grew up relying on each other.” “Then why have I never seen him?” “He passed away.” My voice grew mournful as I spoke. Fortunately, Landon, though sensing something was off, didn’t press for more details. He remained silent for a moment, then turned to leave, but paused before disappearing through the door. “There’s medicine for fever at home. Make sure you take it.” With that, his figure vanished completely. A few days later, Landon suddenly handed me a gown, telling me to change into it for an event. But when I arrived, I realized it was Blair Kingston’s birthday party. Soon after we walked in, he ditched me again, heading straight for Blair. As the city’s darling socialite, Blair’s birthday party was attended by the city’s most prominent figures. Guests mingled in small groups, clinking glasses, yet all of them, by unspoken agreement, avoided me. I was an outcast, isolated from the crowd, and I welcomed the solitude. I found a corner and watched him, always trailing Blair, attending to her every need with meticulous care. Soon, it was time for gifts. Landon was the first. He waved his hand, and several people carried in a castle made entirely of crystal. The entire castle was dazzlingly clear, without a single blemish, obviously crafted from carefully selected, expensive, high-quality materials. Gasps rippled through the room. “I heard Mr. Montgomery bid nearly ten million for a piece of crystal at an auction recently. Could it have been for this castle?” “One piece? No way! I heard he bought many pieces, all of top quality. The total value must be close to a hundred million!” “Look at this castle, doesn’t it resemble the master artist Huang’s work from a couple of days ago? Between the materials and the craftsmanship, some people probably haven’t seen this much money in their entire lives!” “You’re not talking about that doormat, are you? She’s got the title of fiancée but can’t capture Mr. Montgomery’s heart. What an embarrassment to women!” The guests’ whispers reached my ears clearly, their pointing fingers never ceasing. But when they looked at me, they didn’t see the sadness or forced endurance they expected. I looked as if I cared nothing about anything happening at the party. Others might have thought I was merely putting on a brave face, but I knew the truth: I genuinely didn’t care. After all, I didn’t love Landon, so it didn’t matter to me whom he loved. As long as he didn’t call off the wedding, I could ignore anything else he did. “Landon, it’s a bit stuffy in the ballroom. I’m going out for some fresh air.” The party was only halfway through when Blair waved to Landon, then walked out of the ballroom, leaving him to host. But it wasn’t long before a phone call shattered the calm. “Landon, a few thugs cornered me in the restroom! I’m so scared, please come save me!” Her tearful plea instantly contorted his face. He abandoned the business partners he was talking to and bolted towards the restroom. My heart inexplicably leaped when I heard that. A sense of foreboding rose within me. When I hurried after him, I arrived just in time to see Landon carefully putting his jacket around Blair, whose clothes had been half-torn off. Blair, nestled in his arms, was weeping like a wilting flower, but every word she spoke pointed directly at me. “I heard those thugs with my own ears, they said Aria paid them and brought them in, all to ruin my reputation! I know she doesn’t like me, but couldn’t she just say it to my face instead of resorting to such cruel tactics?” Landon, seeing her tear-streaked face, felt a mix of anger and heartache. Hearing her words, a wave of fury surged through him. He turned his head at the sound of my footsteps, and seeing it was me, his rage instantly doubled. “Aria Hayes, I only got with you because I thought you loved me too much and were kind and gentle. I never imagined you could be so vicious, to actually lay hands on Blair! From this day forward, our engagement is off!” He condemned me without even hearing a single word of explanation. My premonition of disaster had come true. Panic filled my eyes. Seeing Landon pick up Blair and start to leave, I frantically grabbed his sleeve, trying to explain. “No, Landon, please listen to me! I don’t know anything about any thugs, I didn’t do it!” “Landon, you can punish me however you want, hit me, scold me, I’ll take it all! I just beg you, please don’t cancel the wedding… Landon!” The hand clutching his sleeve was cruelly shaken off. He refused to listen to my pleas, striding away with Blair in his arms, leaving my desperate cries behind. I chased him all the way out of the ballroom, practically ready to fall to my knees and beg for forgiveness. But no matter how much I pleaded, he never looked back, leaving me abandoned outside the banquet hall. After that day, Landon avoided me completely, but I never gave up. I knelt outside the Montgomery family’s mansion day after day, repeating the same words. “Landon, I know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. Punish me however you want, please, just don’t cancel the wedding…” Staring at the perpetually closed gates, despair filled my heart. I longed to end my life, but I dared not. If I died too, the mission would fail, and Liam Thorne would truly lose his last chance at resurrection… At first, Landon ignored it all. But eventually, seeing me plead for forgiveness until my forehead was bruised and bleeding, scabs forming and breaking again, he finally frowned and opened the door, his voice filled with complex emotions. “Don’t you have any self-respect?” Tears blurred my vision, making Landon’s figure indistinct. Days of kneeling had almost drained all my strength, but hearing his voice, I felt as if I’d finally grasped a lifeline. “As long as I can marry you, I don’t need my self-respect!” My voice was hoarse, yet I desperately wanted to prove my resolve. Landon knew I loved him deeply, but he hadn’t realized it was to this extent. His eyes were complex, and after a moment of contemplation, he said, “Alright. You want me to forgive you? Then go atone for your sins to Blair.” Seeing that he was relenting, I was overcome with joy and relief, nodding repeatedly, afraid he might change his mind the next second. I followed him into the car, watching as it drove further and further out of the city, finally stopping at the foot of a mountain. He waved his hand, and several people began carrying bags up the mountain. Then, they scattered the contents downwards. I looked closely, and thumbtacks glinted coldly in the sunlight. The next second, Landon’s voice came from behind me. “Blair said that if you kneel all the way up here, three thousand steps, and finish, she’ll forgive you. And I won’t hold it against you either.” The words had barely left his lips when I took a step forward, without a hint of hesitation, and knelt down on the thumbtack-strewn stairs! Landon was instantly stunned. His original intention was just to scare me. After all, anyone seeing such a sight would naturally feel apprehensive and refuse. Looking at my slender yet determined back, he truly *saw* me for the first time. It was hard to imagine how deeply I must love him to go to such lengths. Just as he was about to pull me up, his phone suddenly rang, interrupting his thoughts. Seeing Blair’s name on the screen, he answered without a moment’s hesitation. “Landon, my head hurts so much…” Her tearful voice from the other end of the line made him forget everything else. He turned, got into his car, and sped off towards the hospital. Meanwhile, I continued my ascent, one knee after another. Thumbtacks pierced my flesh, but I seemed to feel no pain, crawling onward. Blood stained my knees, leaving crimson imprints on the steps. I knelt for an entire day, finally reaching the top of the three thousand steps. But I didn’t rest. I stumbled to my feet, ignoring the gruesome wounds on my knees, and immediately started asking for directions to the hospital. Through the small window on the door, I saw the scene inside clearly. Landon was gently holding Blair in his arms, softly coaxing her and feeding her medicine. It was an image I had pursued for ten years, yet had never once seen directed at me. My numb legs suddenly seemed to regain sensation, and waves of pain spread throughout my body. If Liam Thorne were still alive, I would be a pampered princess, cherished and loved. He wouldn’t let me suffer so many grievances, nor would he abandon me in such a wretched state. But at this moment, I lowered my eyes, suppressing all emotion. I pushed open the door and stumbled in, my voice choked with tears as I looked at him. “Landon, I finished kneeling. Can you please not cancel our engagement? As long as the wedding isn’t canceled, I’ll do anything…” Landon suddenly remembered he had forgotten about me. What shocked him even more was that I had actually completed the entire climb! Seeing the dark red stains on my knees, his heart stirred faintly. But he still didn’t plan to go through with the wedding. The marriage had been born out of spite, after all, and lately, he had spent a lot of time with Blair; their relationship was almost back to how it used to be. “I…” *Don’t love you.* He had barely started when Blair, still in his arms, suddenly pushed him away. “She’s so badly hurt, you should go take care of her. Rhys has already apologized to me, saying he failed to protect me last time, and I’ve forgiven him. He’ll be here soon, so you two should hurry and leave.” Her words struck him like a bolt of lightning. “Blair Kingston, what do you mean? You’re still marrying him?” Landon’s voice was full of disbelief. Blair, however, looked at him as if he were being strange, her expression matter-of-fact. “Of course. Before, I was just trying to spite him, that’s why I had to ask you to look after me. Besides, your girlfriend found those thugs to bully me, so it’s only right that you took care of me for a few days, isn’t it?” Landon trembled with rage, his eyes bloodshot. “Blair, I thought we…” “You thought what? You didn’t think we were getting back together, did you? We said whoever went back on their word was pathetic.” She interrupted him before he could finish, then feigned surprise. “Landon, you’re not trying to be pathetic, are you?” At her words, the anger in Landon’s chest surged even higher. He gritted his teeth, glaring at her. “Fine, Blair Kingston, you’re truly something.” After a long pause, he grabbed my hand. “Our wedding will proceed as scheduled.” Then, he turned back to Blair, a cold sneer on his face. “Blair Kingston, don’t you dare regret this.” Over the next few days, Landon acted as if he were in a fierce competition with Blair, becoming even more ostentatious in his actions. One day, Landon took me to try on wedding dresses. As soon as I changed into one and emerged from the fitting room, I saw his gaze, dark and brooding, fixed on another direction. Following his line of sight, I saw Blair Kingston, her arm intimately linked with a man’s, walking towards the bridal shop. When she entered and saw us, her expression was perfectly composed, as if she’d never had any conflict with Landon. She even greeted us. “Rhys and I are getting married next Wednesday. You’re both welcome to come…” At this point, her voice suddenly paused, as if she’d just remembered something. “Oh, I forgot, isn’t that your wedding day too? What a shame.” His face grew increasingly dark with her words. He didn’t reply, but his gaze never left her. After she finished speaking, a salesperson came to assist her, and Blair and Rhys Sterling moved away. But just as her hand pointed to a dress, asking the salesperson to take it down, a voice from behind her spoke. “Take that one down for her to try on.” Soon, a salesperson retrieved that very dress. Blair’s hand paused. She turned to Landon, and sure enough, saw undisguised provocation in his eyes. I simply watched as Blair picked out a dress, and Landon would quickly demand it for me. This continued until our side was piled high with wedding dresses, and Blair could no longer maintain her smile. The atmosphere instantly became tense, but then Rhys Sterling spoke up, smoothing things over. “Blair, I own another bridal shop we could check out. It’s a bit smaller, but the advantage is, no one will be causing trouble there. If you don’t like anything, just tell me, and I’ll have them alter it.” Blair’s expression finally softened. She looped her arm through his and shot Landon a triumphant glance. “Then let’s go quickly!” Watching them leave, despite having “won,” Landon showed no sign of happiness. He’d even lost his interest in looking at more dresses. I pretended to know nothing, picked up a wedding dress, and went back into the fitting room. After a few tries, Landon’s patience wore thin. “This one.” He impatiently pointed to a random dress. “No more trying.” He glanced at his watch, planning to head straight home, but just as he pulled out his phone, a trending topic popped up on the screen. 【City’s Darling Socialite Spends Fortune for Love: Books Giant Downtown Screen to Loop Pre-Wedding MV with Fiancé!】 His face changed. He abruptly stood up and stormed out of the bridal shop, completely forgetting that I was still in the changing room. When I finished changing and came out, his figure was nowhere to be seen. Just as I was about to call him, that trending topic appeared on my screen. The answer was obvious. I sighed, quickly hailed a cab, and chased after him. By the time I reached downtown, the roads were completely jammed. People were cheering excitedly, seemingly scrambling for something. I pushed my way through the crowd with great effort, only to find Landon throwing money into the air. “Next Wednesday is my wedding to Aria Hayes! Today, I’m celebrating, so everyone come share in the joy!” But it wasn’t long before a stretched limousine sped up from the other side. With bodyguards clearing the way, a distinguished middle-aged man walked over. It was Mr. Montgomery, Landon’s father. The cheers of the onlookers gradually faded with his appearance. Mr. Montgomery’s face was grim, radiating an oppressive aura. “Landon Montgomery, have you made enough of a scene?!” “I don’t care who you marry, but to marry into the Montgomery family, the woman *must* sign a prenuptial agreement. If you divorce, she won’t get a single penny from the Montgomery estate. Even if you don’t divorce, the family assets will have nothing to do with her!” At his words, the entire place fell silent. No one, not even Landon, had expected Mr. Montgomery to say such a thing. He instinctively glanced in Blair’s direction, but she remained silent, not speaking. The next second, my voice reached his ears, incredibly firm. “I’ll sign it!” I walked out from the crowd, took the agreement from Mr. Montgomery’s bodyguard, and carefully signed my name, stroke by stroke. After signing, I smiled at Landon. “I told you before, I only want to marry you. I don’t need anything else.” Meeting Landon’s stunned gaze, I merely smiled, looking to all the world like a woman utterly consumed by love for him. Only I knew that once the wedding was successfully completed, my mission would be over, and then I would be leaving. Other things held no meaning for me. All I ever wanted, from beginning to end, was to bring Liam Thorne back to life. After that day, Landon and Blair never caused such a public scene again, but their spiteful games never ceased. Blair would post a video flaunting her love with her fiancé, and immediately Landon would take me to spend a fortune on wedding rings. Blair and her fiancé would be photographed kissing, and immediately Landon would take me to choose wedding venues and have dinner together. Landon and Aria’s wedding, fueled by his rivalry with his first love, eventually grew lavish, with hundreds of millions invested, becoming increasingly grand. On the wedding day itself, he even launched a global live broadcast, declaring he wanted the entire world to witness it. The wedding was finally set at the most luxurious hotel in the city, with guests comprising top-tier celebrities and influential figures. I put on my wedding dress, looking at my perfectly made-up reflection in the mirror, feeling a sense of unreality. I had been in this world for ten years, chasing Landon Montgomery for ten years. Now, I had finally reached the wedding I’d sacrificed all my dignity for. Soon, everything would finally be over. A server knocked on the door, reminding me it was time to head to the ballroom for the entrance. I nodded, gathered my skirt, and walked out. The long train swept across the floor, making me appear particularly petite. Following the officiant’s directions, I walked alone towards Landon, who stood at the very front of the stage. Everything was going smoothly, but watching Landon’s distracted expression, a faint unease still gnawed at me. I was still afraid. Afraid Blair would call him. Afraid he wouldn’t be able to watch Blair marry someone else, and would abandon me to go to her. Most of all, I was afraid this wedding, in the end, would still not go as planned. “Now, will the bride and groom please exchange rings!” Only when I heard the officiant’s voice signaling the next part of the ceremony did I finally let out a breath of relief. Landon said nothing, taking the ring from the flower girl. The massive diamond glinted as it hovered over my slender finger. Just as he was about to put it on, his phone suddenly rang, a jarring sound. My heart instantly sank. I instinctively glanced at his face. His expression didn’t change at all, as if he hadn’t heard it, but the movement of his hand paused involuntarily. In that moment, I could almost hear my own heart pounding, threatening to burst from my chest. Thankfully, the call went to voicemail without him answering. But then came the second call, then the third… I could clearly see his expression shift from feigned indifference to hesitation, until finally, he couldn’t resist. He picked up the phone. A sob echoed through the phone, audible to both of us. I watched his face turn to panic. The ring, which had been frozen at my fingertip, was abruptly pulled back. He turned to leave, but his hand met resistance. When he looked back, he met my eyes, which were starting to redden. “I know you’re going to see Blair. I won’t stop you, but at least finish putting on the ring first…” His lips thinned. He reached out and painstakingly peeled my fingers off his arm, one by one. His answer sent my heart plummeting to rock bottom. “No, Blair says she needs to see me urgently.” “No, finish the ring first.” The system said that once the ring was on, the mission would be complete. But he refused, rushing to leave. I relentlessly clung to him. Landon was in a hurry, so he roughly shoved me away. The force sent me stumbling, and I crashed heavily into the corner of a table. Blood welled up. Ignoring the pain, I scrambled to my feet and chased after him, then, in front of all the guests present, I knelt down before him without hesitation. Panic seized my mind, tears streaming uncontrollably. I had no dignity left; now, only one thought remained in my mind: *At least, let this wedding have an ending.* “Landon, please…” My sobs were heartbreaking, causing a stir among the guests. “Kneeling at her own wedding just to get the groom to put on the ring—she truly is the city’s most desperate doormat!” “To go to such lengths, it’s truly astounding.” “I’d only heard rumors of her devotion before, but seeing this today, she’s really gone all out…” Landon was equally stunned. A flicker of unbearable compassion crossed his face. He couldn’t just leave like that. He pulled the ring from his pocket, hurriedly slipped it onto my finger, then turned again, leaving me with one last sentence before he left. “The wedding will continue when I get back.” But I knew the wedding wouldn’t continue. A sense of relief washed over me as I looked at the diamond ring on my middle finger. The system’s voice chimed in as promised. 【Wedding completed. Mission progress reached 100%. Mission reward has been issued. Liam Thorne has been revived. As soon as the host’s current body dies, you may exit this world.】 A genuine smile, one I hadn’t shown in ages, spread across my face. Ignoring everyone’s stunned looks, I raced out of the ballroom, took the elevator straight to the hotel rooftop. I ran towards the edge of the rooftop, my dress and veil rustling in the wind. Without a moment’s hesitation, I spread my arms and leaped! “CRASH!” Amidst screams of horror, I slammed heavily onto a car. Through the shattered glass, my eyes met Landon’s. “Someone died!” “Someone jumped!”
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