After five years in prison, the first thing Anya did was book a sky burial. “Ms. Anya, this is for your sky burial service. After your death, your body will be sent to the Tianshan Mountains for the ceremony. You need to pay the deposit first, and the remaining balance within two weeks.” Anya nodded, pulling a plastic bag from her faded denim jeans. She carefully counted the crumpled bills and coins she’d saved up in jail, her movements clumsy, before finally handing over the deposit. She’d been diagnosed with late-stage cancer in prison, with barely a month left to live. She remembered years ago, she and Asher Hayes had promised each other they’d get married in a sacred mountain range, letting all the spirits of the Tianshan Mountains witness their unwavering love. Now, that wedding dream was impossible. Let her rest forever in that pure land; it would be some comfort. The cost of a sky burial wasn’t cheap. After leaving the agency, to settle the remaining balance, she applied for a server position at The Velvet Club. With a criminal record, she couldn’t find a legitimate job, and that place was the city’s most notorious high-end hotspot for the wealthy, offering decent pay for servers. The manager gave her a quick rundown of the rules, then handed her a uniform and told her to start that very evening. After a brief training, she carried a tray of drinks into a VIP room. The lights in the room were dim, with many wealthy elites playing games. She lowered her head,crouching beside the coffee table, carefully setting down the bottles. Just as she was about to turn and leave, that familiar, cool voice suddenly drifted over from nearby. Her body stiffened. She froze on the spot! Sure enough, there he was on the elevated sofa, Asher Hayes, surrounded by fawning admirers. His sharp, handsome features, softened by the shifting lights, made him look even more distinguished and aloof. Five years had passed, but his appearance hadn’t changed a bit. Only now, there was a chilling coolness about him that warned others to keep their distance. She couldn’t help but stare for a moment longer, then noticed a woman clinging to him. And that woman was her best friend, Celeste. They seemed to be talking about their wedding. “The wedding will be just as you like it, in a seaside chapel, with pink roses covering the beach.” “If you didn’t like the dress the designer made last time, I’ll arrange for a new one. Everything will be exactly to your taste.” Anya listened to that familiar voice, her thoughts drifting back. Five years ago, she was so close to becoming Asher Hayes’s bride. They had been childhood sweethearts, growing up together. When Anya’s parents died unexpectedly, Asher was the one who stayed by her side through those agonizing years. He’d biked her to school, stood up for her when she was bullied, and even, blushing fiercely, bought her sanitary pads the first time she got her period. Then, naturally, they fell in love, taking step after step towards the altar. Until the eve of their wedding, when she accidentally hit and killed Asher’s mother with her car! She would never forget that night. Asher’s eyes were bloodshot, crimson with rage. He cornered her against the wall like a madman, demanding to know why, if there was some hidden reason. Anya had never felt such despair. She looked up and smiled, her voice hollow. “No hidden reason. She saw me sleeping with another man and threatened to tell you. In a fit of anger, I just… ran her over.” She would never forget the look Asher gave her then. Fury, hatred, disappointment, all interwoven like an impenetrable net, trapping her, suffocating her. The story ended with Asher himself sending her to prison. During her five years in prison, she’d often wondered if, had she told the truth, she and Asher wouldn’t have ended up like this. But logic reminded her: she couldn’t. Because Mrs. Hayes had been suffering from severe depression. On the eve of their wedding, her illness flared up, leaving her disoriented. She’d mistaken her bodyguard for Mr. Hayes and had an affair. Anya, coincidentally, had gone to discuss wedding plans with Asher and stumbled upon the scene. Mrs. Hayes, lucid again, was filled with regret. She tearfully begged Anya not to reveal what she’d seen. Though conflicted, Anya eventually agreed. But to her horror, as she started her car to leave, Mrs. Hayes, unable to bear her guilt, suddenly threw herself in front of it. Asher had always been the golden boy, destined for greatness. If his mother’s scandal got out, it would bring devastating ruin to him and Hayes Enterprises. Society would look at him differently, and some might even question his parentage. So, for Asher’s sake, she had to bear the burden alone, taking the fall for everything. And now, terminally ill, there was even less need to reveal the truth. If he hated her, let him continue to hate her. That way, when she finally left, she could do so cleanly, with no lingering attachments. Her body trembling, she was about to slip away when someone behind her suddenly called out her name. “Anya? You’re out of prison!” She flinched, not daring to meet the sharp gaze she felt from the elevated sofa. Just as she moved to leave, someone extended a leg, tripping her as she passed. Unprepared, she crashed into the coffee table, falling heavily to the ground. Several bottles clattered and shattered, and her hand was cut in multiple places, bleeding freely. The room erupted in laughter. Everyone stood up, scrutinizing her disheveled, pathetic state. “Anya, it really is you! You just got out of prison and you’re already working? You’re really desperate, aren’t you?” She kept her head down, saying nothing, just pressing her hand against her bleeding wounds. The person spoke again. “What are you waiting for? You spilled wine all over the floor. Clean it up, now.” “And remember, get on your knees when you do it.” Another wave of laughter washed over her. She could only pull a rag from her apron and kneel on the floor, wiping the wine stains again and again. She didn’t look up, but she could feel Asher’s hateful gaze, cold and sharp, fixed on her. It was like a dagger, poised above her head, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment. He hated her so much; seeing her tormented must make him happier than anyone. After quickly wiping up the wine, she tried to stand and leave, but the person wasn’t willing to let her off so easily. “Trying to leave already? Those bottles you broke are worth a fortune. How are you going to pay for them?” Anya clutched her hands, flustered, not even daring to look up. “I’m so sorry. I really didn’t mean to.” “You think an apology is enough? I doubt you can afford to pay. Tell you what, I’m not saying I won’t give you a chance. Just crawl under my legs, and we’ll call it even.” The person sneered, propping a leg on a stool, his gaze mocking her. A roar of laughter erupted from the crowd, followed by shouts of encouragement. “Crawl under! Crawl under!” She bit her lip, her cheeks burning. The mocking stares felt like daggers stabbing into her back. There was no escape. She had no money to compensate them, and this person was clearly trying to exact revenge for Asher. If she didn’t kneel, they’d find other ways to torment her. During those five years in prison, dignity had long since become worthless to her. Her vision blurred. She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. Finally, in front of everyone, she sank to her knees before the man. Just as she bent down, preparing to crawl under his leg, the coffee table was violently kicked over. A voice, cold as ice, rang out. “Enough!” Then, a sharp pain shot through her arm. Before she could react, she was yanked out of the room. In the dim hallway, Asher slammed her against the wall, his eyes burning with hatred and cold fury. “Anya, are you really that desperate to degrade yourself?” Her back hit the cold marble, and she flinched uncontrollably. It took her a moment to turn her head. “You shouldn’t have defended me. If you do this, can your mother truly rest in peace down there?” Her words, predictably, ignited his anger. He shoved her away. “Defend you? You’re overthinking it. I pulled you out here to talk about a deal!” “You’re so desperate for money, aren’t you? Stay outside my room tonight, and I’ll pay you. From now on, you’ll follow me around. I guarantee I’ll pay you more than you’d earn serving drinks.” He finished, and without waiting for her refusal, he pulled out a stack of cash and roughly slapped her across the face. Anya’s head snapped to the side, and her cheek immediately started to bleed. She knew his demand was nothing more than an act of revenge. And he certainly achieved it. That night, standing guard outside his door, she heard him and Celeste making love. The man’s muffled grunts and the woman’s moans echoed ceaselessly. She stood there like a zombie, numb even as tears streamed down her face. The moans continued all night. It wasn’t until dawn that Asher opened the door, looking at her coldly. “Clean up the room.” She looked at the “battlefield” of used condoms scattered across the floor, her heart sinking, but she said nothing, just nodded silently. Celeste emerged from the bathroom, covered in hickeys, and paused when she saw Anya. Then, she took Asher’s arm and pleaded, “Asher, it’s all in the past. Please, let Anya go.” Asher curved his lips, but no warmth reached his eyes. “She wants money, I’m giving her money to do my bidding. It’s a fair transaction. Why would I ‘let her go’?” He then pulled Celeste closer, his voice softening. “Don’t worry. Before the wedding, I’ll make sure she completely disappears.” In the following days, wherever Asher and Celeste went, he brought Anya along. If someone proposed a toast, he’d make Anya drink on Celeste’s behalf, until Anya was dizzy and ran to the restroom to throw up repeatedly, yet he wouldn’t call a halt. During meals, he’d make her serve Celeste like a maid, peeling shrimp, deboning fish, wiping her hands, even accompanying her to the restroom. And he, in front of everyone, showered Celeste with affection. After every social engagement, he would expressionlessly take a stack of cash from his car and forcefully throw it at her. “Today’s payment.” Facing his humiliation, she never reacted, simply bending down in silence to pick up the soiled bills, carefully tucking them into her bag. Yes, she needed the money. Once she had enough, she could disappear from his world completely. A sky burial, leaving not a single bone, not a piece of flesh. As if Anya had never existed in this world. On Celeste’s birthday, Asher hosted a lavish party for her. His devotion to Celeste was evident to everyone. The entire venue was decorated according to Celeste’s preferences; it was rumored that over a million roses were used just for the flowers. Celeste’s dress that day was the very one Asher’s mother had designed for his future daughter-in-law. The two walked in hand-in-hand, instantly becoming the center of attention. Asher was as handsome and distinguished as ever, but now, the woman by his side was no longer Anya. Her mind involuntarily drifted back to their own engagement party. It had been just as grand and extravagant, their friends and family witnessing his deep love for her. They had walked hand-in-hand, believing they were stepping into a life of happiness. He had presented her with the heirloom ring, placing it on her finger, telling her that with his ring, she would forever be his, and they would never be apart. The murmurs of conversation around her snapped her out of her memories. “What was Anya thinking, anyway? Childhood sweethearts with Asher, he practically put her on a pedestal, cherished her like gold, and she still went and ran over his mom.” “Exactly! Everyone in the city knew how much Asher loved her. I can’t believe she’d do something so twisted.” “If that hadn’t happened, they’d probably have kids in elementary school by now.” “Don’t even bother. Can you understand the mind of a snake-hearted woman like her? She deserves everything she’s getting now.” “Yeah, women like her should just die!” Anya listened to the curses, her face devoid of expression. As they wished, she would soon be dead. The party ended, and Asher was still saying goodbye to guests. Anya and Celeste waited by the lake near the entrance for him to come out. It was the first time they had been alone since Anya’s release from prison. Celeste remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. “Anya, do you know? I’ve always been deeply in love with Asher. I fell for him even before you two got together.” “Back then, you two were so happy, so I’d already given up on him, prepared to bless your happiness. But why did you betray Asher?” “Do you know how much Asher suffered all these years? I finally managed to calm him down, so why did you have to show up now, upsetting him again!” Anya looked at the woman before her. She’d never imagined that her best friend, who had been by her side all these years, had secretly loved her man. But now that she’d reappeared, she had no intention of disturbing their lives. A woman who “killed” his mother, a dying woman, was destined to contend for nothing. “Celeste, I’ll be leaving soon.” Celeste looked at her coldly, her eyes glinting, clearly not believing her words. Suddenly, she took off the ring on her finger and forcefully threw it into the lake. “Anya, you threw my ring in the water. You should help me get it, right?” As Celeste’s words fell, Asher’s figure appeared, rushing over. He angrily grabbed Anya’s arm, his eyes burning with fury. “Anya, can’t you stay out of trouble for a minute? What does the ring I gave Celeste have to do with you? Why did you suddenly throw it away!” Anya looked directly into his eyes. In his furious gaze, there seemed to be a hint of expectation. Was he expecting her to have thrown Celeste’s ring out of jealousy? Her heart ached with bitterness, but she forced a smile. “Why would I throw away a trivial ring? To me, it’s not even as important as a stack of cash you give me.” Asher’s eyes instantly turned cold and merciless. He violently pushed her into the lake. There was a splash, and her startled cry, but he had already turned his back, not looking at her again. “I don’t care how you do it, but you *will* get that ring back for me.” With that, he took Celeste’s hand and hurried away without hesitation. It was winter, and a fresh snow had just fallen. The weather was bitterly cold. Sparse ice floes drifted on the lake; just looking at them made one shiver. Anya plunged into the lake. The icy water numbed her entire body, and the muddy bottom was filled with sharp debris, cutting her feet until they bled freely. She bit her lip, diving under again and again, surfacing again and again. She searched the lake mechanically for an entire night, until the blood stained a large part of the water. Finally, at the bottom of the lake, she found the ring. When she appeared before Asher, bruised and battered, looking utterly pathetic, he frowned, then coldly pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and mercilessly threw it at her feet again. Just like every time before, she picked up the money in silence and left. For the next few days, Asher unusually didn’t bother her. Until one day, she returned home from an errand. As she stepped out of the car, she saw the entire Hayes mansion enveloped in thick, rolling smoke. A surge of unease gripped her heart. Asher was in danger! The thought flashed through her mind, and she rushed towards the raging fire without hesitation. Asher always preferred quiet, so the house staff only came to clean when he wasn’t home. He’d been home these past few days, so there wouldn’t be anyone else in the house besides him! Familiar with the mansion, she quickly found Asher unconscious in his bedroom. The fire had spread incredibly fast. He must have taken sleeping pills and been resting, which was why he was trapped in the fire and overcome by smoke without any warning. She struggled to hoist him onto her back, laboriously moving towards the door. The fire grew larger, almost completely blocking their path. As she hesitated, a burning beam suddenly fell. Without thinking, she shielded Asher with her body. The hot timber crashed onto her back, and the pain nearly made her pass out. But looking at Asher, sprawled on her shoulder, his brows tightly furrowed in unconscious sleep, a fierce determination she’d never known before surged through her. She *had* to save Asher, even if it cost her life. With a desperate resolve, utterly disregarding her own safety, she somehow managed to drag the six-foot-tall man out of the blazing inferno. They collapsed onto the lawn, Anya gasping for fresh air, her entire body battered and bruised. Seeing Celeste frantically rushing towards them, Anya used her last remaining strength to push Asher into Celeste’s arms. “If he wakes up, tell him you saved him.” Celeste looked at Anya, wondering what game she was playing. She called out to Anya, who was trying to get up, and asked again. “Tell me, Anya, did you really kill Mrs. Hayes on purpose?” Anya swayed as she stood, her body stiffening at the question. After a long pause, she finally spoke. “Yes.” With that, she hurried away, not looking back. In the following days, Celeste meticulously cared for Asher. When he learned that Celeste had risked her life to save him, he became incredibly doting towards her, granting her every wish, to the envy of others. Their intimacy also grew more frequent. Anya, standing guard outside their room, distinctly heard their passionate encounters and the sweet nothings he whispered to her. She thought, perhaps now, Asher truly loved Celeste. That was good. He deserved to find his true happiness. And she, like a rat in the sewers, could only darkly glimpse at others’ joy. The wound on her back still throbbed. She could only secretly apply medicine when no one was around. One day, as usual, she was hiding in her small room, taking off her jacket to apply ointment, when the door suddenly opened. It was Asher. His gaze landed on the grotesque wound on her back, and his eyes instantly reddened. Then, he walked towards her, step by trembling step. “What are those burns?” “Were you the one who saved me that day?” Anya didn’t know why he suddenly appeared there. She reflexively sprang up and immediately put her clothes back on. Looking at Asher’s shattered eyes, she almost blurted out the truth. But reason immediately returned. She forced herself to put on a reckless smile. “Saved you? What are you talking about?” “These scars? Oh, those are from prison, from fighting with other women over men. They got jealous because the men preferred me, so they used hot water to get back at me.” Asher’s face went pale with anger at her words. The flicker of compassion in his eyes vanished. He grabbed her neck with furious strength, wanting nothing more than to choke the life out of her. “Anya, you’re heartless!” “Are you that desperate for men? Was I not enough for you? What did our relationship even mean back then?” She choked, her face turning crimson, coughing desperately. But when he finally released her, she started to laugh. “What did it mean? It meant you were devoted, it meant you were stupid.” “Asher, I truly wanted to marry you. But it’s so hard to love only one person your whole life. Honestly, those other men were just flings. If your mom hadn’t caught me cheating, I wouldn’t have had to run her over, and we wouldn’t be like this now. After all, no matter what, they could never treat me as well as you did, right?” Asher’s face fluctuated between green and white, clearly pushed to his limit. He disgustedly flung her hand away, his voice now devoid of any emotion. “Anya, you sicken me. Loving you was the biggest regret of my life.” With that, he didn’t spare her another glance, storming out and slamming the door behind him. Finally, she was alone in the room. She sank weakly to the floor, wrapping her arms around herself, leaning against the bed frame. Wasn’t this what she wanted? For him to completely despise her, to never think of her again. But why did her heart ache so much? It felt as if someone had brutally torn her heart open with a knife, then sprinkled salt on the wound. It would pass, she told herself. After she got dressed, Celeste approached her and asked Anya to drive her out to buy some things. The Hayes family had a driver, and Anya didn’t know why Celeste insisted on her driving, but she didn’t ask any questions. She got into the driver’s seat and started the car. Just as the engine roared to life, Celeste, who had been standing nearby, suddenly rushed to the front of the car and collapsed onto the ground, covered in blood. Anya froze, utterly bewildered. The car had only just started, it hadn’t even moved. Even if it had hit Celeste, it wouldn’t have been this severe. So where had all that blood come from? Before she could figure it out, Asher rushed over. He quickly helped Celeste up, his voice filled with urgency. “Celeste, are you okay?” Celeste leaned weakly into his arms, her eyes fixed on Anya with a piteous gaze. “Asher, don’t blame Anya. I’m sure she didn’t mean to.” With that, she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. The vivid red sharply stung Asher’s eyes. He looked up, his gaze cold, at Anya, and the image of his mother being hit by a car involuntarily flashed in his mind. In that instant, he completely lost control. “Anya, you never learn, do you? Did Celeste catch you with another man again, that you’d do this to her!” He gritted his teeth, picked up Celeste, and placed her in the car, then got into the driver’s seat himself. As the engine roared, Asher’s eyes grew redder and redder. He stared at Anya, the image of his mother’s death and Celeste vomiting blood constantly overlapping, like a net, trapping him completely. His heart felt suddenly gripped by an invisible hand, hurting so much he could barely breathe. But those images and Celeste’s moans reappeared, and he finally steadied himself, slammed on the accelerator, and drove straight towards Anya. *Bang!* With a screech of brakes, Anya was flung into the air. For those few seconds she floated, her world was chaos. The moment her body hit the ground, she thought she heard her bones shattering. Then, she completely lost consciousness. She seemed to be dreaming, a dream where she was back with Asher, when they were still in love. She’d just gotten her driver’s license then, and wasn’t used to driving. Asher would sit beside her, teaching her hand-in-hand. “Anya, don’t be scared. Drive boldly. I’m here with you.” But the scene shifted. The person beside her suddenly vanished, replaced by him, his eyes red, angrily slamming the accelerator and charging towards her. Anya awoke from the dream with a start, her forehead drenched in sweat, her back soaked. She realized she was in the hospital. Her chest ached terribly. It wasn’t until a nurse came to give her an injection that she learned several of her ribs were broken. During her time in the hospital, Asher never visited her. She hadn’t expected him to; after all, he hated her so much now. When she was discharged, Asher was already busy preparing for his wedding with Celeste. He demanded that she be involved in every step. Because he wanted her to watch him marry another woman, to watch everything that was once hers be given to someone else. Anya didn’t refuse. She obediently followed behind him and Celeste, watching him pick out wedding dresses for her, accompanying her for wedding photos, and finalizing the wedding venue. She had walked this path once before. Now, walking it again, the bride was a different person. On the anniversary of Mrs. Hayes’s death, Anya bought flowers first thing in the morning and went to pay her respects. She sat beside the tombstone, resting her head against it, looking at the kind and gentle face in the photograph, talking to herself. “Mrs. Hayes, are you doing well wherever you are? Are you lonely?” “I remember how much you loved me when you were alive. You said I was like your own daughter. And in my heart, you were like my own mother.” “Don’t be afraid. I’ll be joining you soon.” In fact, before Mrs. Hayes’s death, their relationship had been very close. Anya, who had lost her mother at a young age, found the maternal love she lacked in her. They were supposed to become a true family. But fate was cruel; they ultimately lacked that last bit of destiny. Lost in thought, she suddenly heard a familiar voice. She looked up and realized it was Asher and Mr. Hayes, coming to pay their respects. Seeing her, Mr. Hayes’s face instantly darkened. “You wretched girl! Who let you come here! How dare you show your face!” With that, he stepped forward without a word and forcefully tried to push her away. Anya had just been in a car accident and had no strength to resist. She fell heavily against the tombstone, her head striking it hard, gashing her forehead. Blood streamed down her cheek, but she simply covered the wound, not saying a word. Mr. Hayes’s anger didn’t subside a bit because of her injury. A torrent of furious curses followed one after another. “You! You don’t deserve to be here!” “Murderer! You’re the one who should be dead!” “What did our Hayes family ever do to you? Asher loved you so much, and my wife cherished you like her own daughter. Why did you have to run her over?!” By the end, his voice choked, almost dissolving into sobs. Her face was pale, but she remained numbly crouched on the ground, utterly silent. Asher watched her coldly from nearby. Knowing she had just had several ribs broken from his car, he couldn’t help but step in. “Don’t dirty my mother’s tombstone. Get to the car and wait for me.” Anya struggled to her feet, stumbling out. It was only then that Mr. Hayes realized Asher had kept Anya by his side all this time. His face turned ashen, his brows furrowed deeply, tinged with a new sorrow. “Asher, tell me honestly, do you still love this woman?” Asher averted his eyes, unable to look at him, his body trembling slightly. “No, I haven’t loved her for a long time.” “My feelings for her now, apart from hatred, are nothing else.” Mr. Hayes’s tall figure, for the first time, seemed somewhat frail. He looked at Asher, his hair full of white, his eyes showing the weariness of age. “You’re my son; you can’t hide it from me.” “Asher, Anya is your mother’s killer!” “No matter how much you like her, it’s impossible between you two. How can you love your mother’s killer? How can you let your mother rest in peace knowing this?” His words completely froze Asher, leaving him almost unable to move. For days, he had been trying to numb himself, telling himself he only hated Anya, that keeping her by his side was merely to torment her. But he knew that was just a lie he told himself. He remained silent for a long time, then finally spoke. “Dad, don’t worry. I’ll marry Celeste as soon as possible.” “And Anya, I’ll make her leave, disappear from our lives forever.” In the final days before the wedding, Asher didn’t devise any more schemes to torment her. Instead, he drove her out alone. They went to “Lover’s Lock Bridge,” a place they used to frequent. The first time they came, she’d sprained her ankle halfway, and he’d carried her onto the bridge, where they’d hung a padlock symbolizing their eternal love. But this time, the once-intimate lover was a different person. Asher searched for a long time before he found their padlock. He pulled out a pair of scissors, silently snipped the lock, and then unhesitatingly threw it into the lake. Then, he took her to the Cold Mountain Temple outside the city and untied the wish ribbon they had tied together. The wishes they had written on the red ribbon were still vivid in her memory: “Asher and Anya, forever together.” But in a blink, the red ribbon was carried away by the wind, falling over the cliff, never to be seen again. Next, they went to the beach where they first fell in love, to the park where they had planted a wishing tree together… Anya knew he was systematically erasing all traces of their love. He, like her, had decided to completely cut each other out of their lives. After visiting all the necessary places, Asher leaned against the car door, smoking several cigarettes, fiercely. When the ground was littered with cigarette butts, he pulled a check from his pocket and handed it to Anya. “The money here is enough to cover the broken bottles at the club. With the rest, buy a plane ticket and never appear in front of me again.” “Don’t tell me where you’re going. And don’t let me find you.” Her palm was digging into her skin, her heart felt tightly clutched, making it hard to breathe. After a long moment, she took the check and quietly agreed. “Okay.” They looked up, their eyes meeting unexpectedly, and almost simultaneously spoke. “Anya, goodbye forever.” “Asher, goodbye forever.” Asher lowered his gaze, not looking at her again, and turned to leave with finality. Anya silently watched his retreating figure, until he disappeared completely, then she walked in the opposite direction. Three days before the wedding countdown, Anya paid the full amount for her sky burial. That same day, news of Asher and Celeste’s impending marriage hit the headlines. Their wedding would be held by the sea, attended by all the city’s tycoons. Celebrities in their circle flooded Ins with congratulations, and dozens of trending topics filled the feeds. Two days before the wedding, Anya booked a flight to the Tianshan Mountains. That day, Asher, to celebrate in advance, spent tens of millions on a grand fireworks display across the city. Under the dazzling, sky-filling fireworks, everyone congratulated him and Celeste, wishing them a happy marriage and a long, loving life together. The day before the wedding, Anya packed a box, then set it on fire, burning everything to ashes. Inside were gifts Asher had given her, all her memories with him, and the treasures she had cherished most in prison. But now, she was dying. These things held no meaning anymore. Asher, her beloved, would walk down the aisle hand-in-hand with the woman he loved. She thought, he would be happy. They would have children, and live every day sweetly, just as they had promised when they were still together. The flames danced before her eyes, silhouetting all their loving memories into fragments, gradually disappearing with the fire. That night, in the restaurant, Celeste looked at Asher’s distracted expression, feeling a sudden unease. “Asher, are you still thinking about Anya?” Asher snapped back, reaching for her hand, his voice gentle. “No.” “Celeste, I’ve completely let her go. Don’t worry, I’ll love you well from now on.” “From this moment forward, you are the most important person in my life.” Celeste finally smiled, nodding contentedly. After their meal, they planned to return to prepare for tomorrow’s wedding. But just as they stepped out, the chandelier above them suddenly fell, hitting Celeste’s head. Blood gushed out instantly, and she collapsed, unconscious. Asher’s face instantly changed. He scooped her up and ran frantically to the hospital, rushing her into the emergency room. The doctor said she was bleeding heavily and needed an immediate blood transfusion, but the RH-negative blood bank was critically low. Someone needed to donate enough blood to save her life right away. Asher became frantic. He immediately ordered Mark, his assistant, to arrange a city-wide search to find a compatible blood type for Celeste and bring them in for donation. Mark quickly searched and finally found a name in the blood bank. Anya! He rushed to Asher. “Mr. Hayes, there’s only one person with a compatible blood type for Ms. Celeste, but it’s…” Before he could finish, Asher interrupted him. “I don’t care who it is. Celeste must be saved, even if it means draining that person’s blood. At any cost, do you understand?” Mark said no more and quickly arranged for Anya to be brought to the hospital. At that moment, Anya was holding her plane ticket, preparing to head to the airport, when she was suddenly taken to the hospital and escorted into the blood donation room. Unsure what was happening, she struggled fiercely. The nurses couldn’t proceed, so they had to call Asher’s assistant. Seeing Anya, Mark’s face was filled with disgust. He had followed Asher for many years and knew everything that had happened, so he had no fondness for her whatsoever. “Ms. Anya, Mr. Hayes ordered you here. Ms. Celeste had an accident and is bleeding profusely. Only your blood type matches hers.” “Mr. Hayes said that as long as Ms. Celeste can be saved, he doesn’t care if your blood is drained dry.” “We have people everywhere, inside and out. I advise you not to struggle. Besides, you owe Mr. Hayes a life, don’t you?” As his words fell, Anya froze. Her struggles grew weaker and weaker. Yes, she did owe Asher a life. And whether she donated blood or not, she was going to die anyway. It was just a matter of dying sooner or later. Thinking this, she completely gave up resisting. The needle was forcefully plunged into her vein. She watched her blood slowly drain away, her face growing paler and paler. 400ml 600ml 800ml 1000ml … As more and more blood was drawn, the alarm on the machine began to blare, and her vision gradually blurred. She weakly closed her eyes, feeling her life disappear, little by little, with the blood. Asher, this time, it was truly goodbye… The alarm grew louder and louder, until finally, it became a flat line. Seeing this, the nurse screamed, quickly pulled out the needle, and ran down the hallway. “Her blood’s drained, she… she’s stopped breathing!” Mark, standing at the door of the blood donation room, heard the nurse’s cry, and felt as if struck by lightning. He rushed inside. His gaze fell upon Anya’s pale face. That once vibrant and moving face was now devoid of color, like a cold sculpture. The needle was still in her wrist, blood no longer flowing. The flat line on the monitor screen was a jarring sight. “Anya… is dead?” Mark murmured to himself, as if unable to believe what he was seeing. Though he wasn’t a fan of Anya’s, and even harbored deep disgust for her, at this moment, an indescribably complex emotion surged within him. He knew Anya had betrayed Asher, knew she was a fickle woman, but… he had seen Asher’s feelings for her all these years. That torment of love and hate, that unresolvable pain, he understood better than anyone. Now that Anya was dead, what would Asher’s reaction be? Mark’s mind was a mess. He instinctively shouted to the nurse, “Quick! Save her! You have to save her, no matter what!” The nurse shook her head, her voice heavy. “She’s already stopped breathing. She had cancer, and with so much blood drawn, she can’t be saved.” “Cancer?!”
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