Category: English

I spent twenty years married to David Miller, ten of those caring for his bedridden mother, and helped him climb from a struggling local teacher to a renowned professor. Everyone praised me as the epitome of a devoted wife and loving mother, the unsung hero of the Miller family. On her deathbed, my mother-in-law, Eleanor, held my hand, saying she hoped I’d be her daughter-in-law again in another life. David hugged me, expressing his gratitude. “Scarlett, you’ve worked so hard all these years. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” I thought my suffering was finally over, that happiness was within reach. But before her body was even cold, he handed me divorce papers and embraced Chloe, my best friend since childhood. He looked at me, his voice devoid of emotion. “Scarlett Stone, I’ve tolerated you for twenty years. Finally, I’m free.” “Chloe is the only woman I’ve ever loved.” I left with nothing, ended up on the streets, and a car accident took my miserable life. Then, I opened my eyes, finding myself twenty years in the past, right back at my blind date. Aunt Carol, the matchmaker, was practically gushing about David: “This young man is a real catch, truly good-hearted, devoted to his family. Any woman would be lucky to marry him!” I looked at the man across from me, appearing refined and sincere, and smiled. Then I tossed the blind date profile I was holding into the trash. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’re a good fit.”

David’s smile froze. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his voice still gentle. “Miss Stone, is there something I’ve done to mislead you?” “We can take our time getting to know each other. There’s no need to jump to conclusions.” Aunt Carol panicked, grabbing my arm. “Scarlett, dear, what are you doing? A promising young man like David is a rare find! Don’t be foolish!” I gently pulled my hand away, my gaze calm as it rested on David. In my previous life, it was this gentle, elegant demeanor that fooled me for an entire lifetime. I believed his humble background was temporary, that his character was beyond reproach. So, I took out all my savings, gave up the chance to study at a prestigious art college, and rooted myself in that small town with him. I managed our home, networked with his superiors, and slowly, meticulously, paved his way to a brilliant career. And what did I get in return? Once he achieved fame and success, the first thing he did was kick me aside like a useless stepping stone. I curved my lips into a slight smile. “Mr. Miller, it’s not a misunderstanding. You’re a great person; I’m simply not worthy of you.” With that, I stood up, grabbed my bag, and turned to leave. “Scarlett!” David grabbed my wrist. I turned back, looking at him coldly. He seemed to realize his lapse in decorum and loosened his grip. “Miss Stone, I just feel it’s such a pity.” “I promised my mother I’d find a gentle and virtuous wife just like you.” “I…” “Then keep looking.” I cut him off, forcefully shaking his hand away. “Mr. Miller, please stop following me. It’s embarrassing.” I walked out of the noisy cafe without looking back. The early summer breeze kissed my face with a gentle warmth, and I let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief. It felt so good; everything was still salvageable. Just then, my best friend Chloe called. I answered, and her sweet, concerned voice immediately filled my ear. “Scarlett, how was the blind date?” “I heard Aunt Carol say that David is a really great guy. Did you meet him?” I leaned against a maple tree by the road, watching the dappled shadows, and chuckled softly. “I did.” “That’s wonderful! What’s he like? Is he everything Aunt Carol said?” “Yeah, he’s a guy with potential,” I replied, my voice flat. Chloe seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her voice bubbling with delight. “I knew it! Scarlett, you have to seize this opportunity! For a woman, finding a good man is everything! Don’t worry, once you and David are married, I’ll be there for him, like a sister!” In my previous life, she said the exact same thing. Then, when I was overwhelmed caring for his mother, she’d be wearing the dress *I’d* bought, comforting David in my place. While I was scrambling to secure funding for his research, she played the role of his empathetic confidante, accompanying him to academic conferences. In the end, she wrapped her arm around my husband and told me, “Scarlett, I’m so sorry, love is beyond our control.” I closed my eyes, suppressing the searing hatred that pierced through me. “Chloe, if you think he’s so great, why don’t *you* have him?” Chloe’s breath hitched.

“Scarlett, you… what are you talking about?” Chloe’s voice suddenly grew flustered. “We’re best friends; how could I ever…” “Friends should share good things, shouldn’t they?” I cut her off smoothly. “Didn’t you always say you wanted a driven, family-oriented man who would treat you well? David perfectly fits all your criteria.” “But, but he was *your* blind date!” “I already rejected him.” I watched the bustling street, feeling like the whole world had brightened. “So, he’s a free man now.” “You have Aunt Carol’s number, right? Better act fast. A real catch like him won’t stay available for long.” With that, I hung up before she could react. I could just imagine the look on Chloe’s face right now – a mixture of shock and secret delight. In my previous life, she’d spoken endless praises for David, subtly nudging me to settle down quickly. All she wanted was for me to clear the path, navigate the thorns, and once I’d helped David rise, she’d swoop in and enjoy the fruits of my labor. This time, I’d make sure she got her wish. I wanted to see how, without my family’s resources and savings as his initial capital, without my connections and sacrifices paving his way, Chloe would manage to live the ‘good life’ with her beloved ‘catch’. Back home, my mom was waiting for me on the sofa. As soon as I walked in, she asked eagerly, “Well? How was it? Was David okay?” My dad also poked his head out of his study. My parents were working-class, a bit traditional, always believing that a stable home was the most important thing for a girl. In my previous life, they were incredibly pleased with their educated son-in-law, David. I sat down next to them, speaking calmly. “Dad, Mom, I didn’t like him.” “Oh?” My mom looked disappointed. “Why not? Aunt Carol said he was…” “He said his mother isn’t well and takes medication constantly,” I explained. “And he has a younger brother in college, all dependent on his single salary.” I stripped away David’s carefully crafted image of devotion and responsibility, revealing the raw truth. My mom’s face clearly changed. “That’s… quite a heavy burden, isn’t it?” “Yeah,” I nodded. “And, I don’t want to get married so early.” “Dad, Mom, I want to pick up my paintbrushes again. I want to apply for grad school at the art academy.” This was a dream I’d kept hidden for twenty years. In my previous life, I gave up direct admission to grad school for David. He had sworn to me, “Scarlett, once I’m settled, I’ll definitely support you in continuing your studies.” Later, when he was settled and a professor, he told me, “You’re almost forty, what’s the point of all this fuss? Isn’t it better to just be content at home?” My dad listened, silent for a moment, then finally nodded. “Alright, if you want to apply, go for it. Don’t worry about things at home.” My dad had always been more open-minded than my mom. My eyes burned, and I nodded emphatically. The next day, I was at a bookstore, looking for grad school materials, when David suddenly appeared, blocking my path. “Miss Stone, I know this is presumptuous, but I still wanted to try again.” I closed my book and looked at him. “Mr. Miller, I think I’ve made myself quite clear.” “I know,” he said with a bitter smile, his voice tinged with a plea. “My mom, she found out you didn’t like me yesterday, and she couldn’t sleep all night. She fell ill this morning.” A cold laugh flickered in my heart. In my previous life, I was too soft-hearted. After his mother fell ill, I went to visit, only to be morally blackmailed by his entire family. Eventually, I half-heartedly agreed to the marriage. I looked him straight in the eyes, speaking each word distinctly. “Mr. Miller, if your mother is ill, you should take her to the hospital and find a doctor.” “You shouldn’t come to me, a stranger you’ve only just met. I’m not a doctor; I can’t cure her.”

David’s face instantly darkened. He took a deep breath, his voice heavy. “Scarlett, I just want to ask you to go see her. She really likes you, she keeps talking about you, saying you’re exactly the daughter-in-law she always imagined. Just… have some pity for an old woman, and go see her, okay?” His voice trembled slightly, and his eyes were glistening. I placed the book back on the shelf and turned to leave. “Scarlett Stone!” David’s voice suddenly rose sharply. “Are you really so heartless?!” People around us started to stare. I stopped, meeting his slightly displeased gaze with a calm stare. “Mr. Miller, please watch your words.” “Between us, there’s nothing but a failed blind date. You’re causing a disturbance in public, and it’s making me uncomfortable.” His chest heaved violently; he was clearly furious. “Fine, fine, fine,” he repeated three times, a dark, brooding look in his eyes. “Scarlett Stone, I won’t forget this.” With that, he turned and walked away quickly, his back view showing a touch of humiliation. That evening, I received a call from an unfamiliar number. On the other end, a frail, elderly female voice asked, “Is this… Miss Stone?” I immediately recognized it as Eleanor Miller, David’s mother. “Hello, Mrs. Miller,” I replied politely but distantly. “Oh, Scarlett,” Eleanor sighed dramatically over the phone. “I know, it’s our David who doesn’t have the good fortune to be worthy of such a wonderful girl like you.” “But, but I just want to see you, to say a few words to you in person. Otherwise, my heart feels so heavy… I’m afraid I won’t… I won’t get over this.” As she spoke, her voice started to break with tears. I held the phone, silent. In my previous life, she was always like this. Whenever David wanted something from me, she would conveniently get sick, heartbroken, or couldn’t go on. And I, time and again, softened, time and again, compromised. “Scarlett, dear, I’m not asking for anything else, just for you to come to the hospital and see this old woman, please?” “Just… have pity on me.” Her voice was full of pleading, as if I had no choice but to agree. I took a deep breath, knowing that if I didn’t deal with this once and for all, they’d stick to me like a bad rash. “Alright,” I agreed. “Send me the address. I’ll be there tomorrow afternoon.” After hanging up, I looked out at the dark night sky, my eyes growing colder by the second. David, since you and your mother insist on putting on this show, I’ll gladly play along. This time, however, I’ll be writing the script. The next afternoon, I arrived at the city hospital as planned. As I reached the entrance of the inpatient department, I saw Chloe waiting there. She was wearing a simple white dress and light makeup. Seeing me, she immediately came forward, her face full of concern. “Scarlett, you’re finally here! Mrs. Miller… she hasn’t eaten since this morning, she’s been constantly asking for you.” She naturally linked her arm through mine, as if we were still inseparable best friends. “Really?” I gently pulled my hand away. “Then let’s go in quickly. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.” Chloe’s eyes flickered, but she quickly resumed her gentle, kind demeanor, leading me towards the病房 (hospital room). As she pushed open the door, a strong smell of medicine wafted out. Eleanor was lying weakly in the hospital bed, and David sat beside her, feeding her water. Seeing me enter, Eleanor’s eyes immediately lit up, and she struggled to sit up. “Scarlett, Scarlett, you’re here…”

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In my past life, my wife framed me as a serial killer. No matter what I did, I couldn’t prove my innocence. The victims’ families retaliated against my loved ones with the same ruthless methods. Some were brutally murdered, others were left unrecognizable, and I could do nothing but rot in prison. Then I opened my eyes again. I was back on the very day my wife went to the police station to file her report. Knowing that someone would die today, as in my past life, I tried to investigate the truth behind my wife’s accusations, only to find she had vanished into thin air. On my way home, I stumbled upon a bank being robbed. An idea sparked in my mind. “Yes, I’ll voluntarily take the pregnant woman’s place as a hostage.” … Detective Miller, the lead negotiator, froze for a few seconds. “You know those robbers inside have homemade guns, right? This could actually get you killed!” His eyes showed excitement, but mostly deep concern. He worried I didn’t understand the situation, or that I’d back out once I knew the real danger. But I just shrugged indifferently. “Doesn’t matter. If I die, just give me a Good Samaritan award or something.” I’d already died once, a death so utterly unjust. This time, I didn’t crave a heroic end. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t branded a serial killer again, and that my family wouldn’t suffer needlessly. That would be enough. “Alright, we’ll definitely make the most of this hostage exchange. Please, try not to be too nervous!” Detective Miller said earnestly, handing me a bulletproof vest. It was my first time wearing one of these things, and it felt strangely new. I almost thought I was playing some kind of military cosplay game. The police were already negotiating with the robbers inside the bank. I waited behind the line, ready for the exchange. “No! A woman should be exchanged for a woman!” “That guy clearly looks like your undercover!” The robber’s voice boomed. I rolled my eyes so hard. With my scrawny arms and legs, did I really look like a highly trained cop? “Stop messing around, watch this!” I bypassed the officers and walked directly into the center of the scene. Then, I started stripping, piece by piece. My jacket, bulletproof vest, sweater, pants, socks, even my shoes – everything came off until I was just in my boxer briefs. “Buddy, need me to take off more?” I asked, as the officers cuffed my hands behind my back. This move stunned not just the robbers, but even the police hadn’t seen anything like it. “This pregnant woman already has it hard enough. Why do you think she’s at a bank instead of a hospital? Probably because she has no one to look after her, right? She’s suffered enough, clinging on for her baby’s sake, and now you won’t even swap hostages? Are you trying to kill her?” I took two steps closer. The robber just stared, completely dumbfounded. With me looking like this, who could suspect I was up to something? “I’ve got nothing on me, and these handcuffs are on tight! If I *were* an undercover, you should be thrilled – you’d have a cop as a hostage! They’d have to be extra careful!” I continued to persuade the robber. Many onlookers were holding their breath. If even *this* didn’t work for a hostage exchange, then nothing would. Finally, a few minutes later, the robber shouted. “Walk in here with your hands up, no tricks!” Hearing that, I breathed a massive sigh of relief. I wanted to rush in immediately. In just a few hours, it would be the time “I” supposedly committed the crime in my past life, and then my loving wife, Eleanor, would go to the police station to give her false testimony. The police would find the murder weapon at my house, with my DNA on it. And there would be witnesses claiming to have seen me near the crime scene. ### 【Chapter 2】 Even surveillance cameras along the route, from when I left my house to the crime scene, would capture my face. But this time, I was going to find an alibi that would shatter all those lies! As I walked in, Sarah, the pregnant woman, was being released. She was trembling as she walked, but kept thanking me profusely. “You’re a good person, thank you!” “If you really want to thank me, help me out once this is all over.” I raised an eyebrow. Sarah looked stunned. She had no idea what I wanted her to do yet. But I was sure she’d find out soon enough. “Get in here!” The robber was cautious, always staying in a blind spot where the outside couldn’t see clearly. He dragged me inside, and the moment I entered, I felt a sharp blow to the back of my head. “You really aren’t a cop?” I could feel the cold barrel of a gun pressed against me. “Seriously, I’m not. See these handcuffs? Real enough for you?” I struggled a bit, and the cuffs only tightened. Only then did he come around to face me. He didn’t look like a vicious criminal. He scrutinized me. “Kid, aren’t you scared of dying?” the robber asked, frowning. “Scared of dying? Why? If I’m scared, I’m scared of dying unjustly. But I’m saving someone here, so this isn’t an unjust death!” I shrugged, looking at him. The robber stared blankly, then after a moment, he said, “You talk like you’ve died before. Let’s see if you’re still so tough when death is staring you in the face!” “You’re right, actually. I have died once before!” I sighed deeply. Remembering being executed as the most heinous serial killer of the century in my past life, the resentment in my heart threatened to burst. “You’re crazy, aren’t you? Get over there and sit quietly!” The robber gave me a weird look. I couldn’t be bothered to explain. All I needed was to stay here until nightfall. That way, no matter if someone died tonight, it would have nothing to do with me. Countless people could testify to my whereabouts! Time ticked by, minute by minute, and dusk began to fall. Outside, the police continued to negotiate with the robber, and the standoff intensified. “Stop your damn talking! Give me what I want, or I’ll kill one of them right now to show you I’m serious!” The robber’s emotions were clearly escalating. Even though he was alone, the three other hostages, besides me, were all women, tied together and completely helpless. “Chill out, man. You don’t seem like a bad guy. No need to go to such extremes, right?” I casually tried to dissuade him. The robber glared at me, then grabbed me and pushed me towards the bank entrance. “Listen up! I want a bulletproof SUV!” “I’m giving you five minutes to decide. One minute late, and I’ll break one of his legs!” By now, people outside were live-streaming the entire event, and a large crowd had gathered. The situation had dragged on for too long; even if the police wanted to control public opinion, it was useless. “Wait, isn’t that guy who stripped down Julian Sterling, the head of the Sterling Group?” “Holy moly, I think it really is him! I interviewed him once on the business channel!” Hearing the clamor of voices outside, I finally smiled. Come on, make sure my close-ups look good! The news spread rapidly online. The robber, too, unexpectedly learned my identity. His eyes widened in disbelief. “You, you’re the son of that huge company owner?” ### 【Chapter 3】 Along with his excitement, there was a hint of fear. While he might get a lot of money, it also meant much greater risk. I shrugged, unfazed. “Don’t worry, who I am doesn’t change anything.” At the same time, my dad got the news and rushed over, his heart pounding. His car hadn’t even fully stopped before he bolted out, trying desperately to break through the police tape. Seeing this, the officers quickly moved to stop him. “Sir, you can’t go in, it’s too dangerous!” Several officers managed to hold him back. “Our company pays so many taxes every year, contributes so much to society!” “And now you’re letting my son go in there to die? What kind of job are you doing?!” my dad roared furiously. The police understood his distress and didn’t fault him, patiently explaining the situation. “Mr. Sterling, your son volunteered to go in. He said he wanted to help others, and we’re doing our best to ensure his safety.” My dad froze at these words. He knew my personality well and couldn’t comprehend why I would make such a decision. But he didn’t dwell on it. He just grabbed a megaphone nearby and shouted into the bank. “Listen, robbers inside! Whatever amount of money you want, I’ll give it to you!” “Just please, don’t hurt my son!” “Or how about this, I’ll go in as a hostage, and you let my son out!” My eyes welled up. In my past life, he was just like this – no matter what I faced, he was always the first to step forward and shield me from the storm. In this life, I couldn’t let him suffer any harm again. I looked at the robber and said directly, “Don’t listen to him!” “Think about it, in this world, fathers save their sons, but do sons save their fathers? If you let me go, you can do whatever you want with *the old man*, and all the family fortune will be mine, won’t it?” The robbers exchanged glances, clearly stunned by my words. But after thinking it over, it seemed to make a strange kind of sense, so they didn’t agree to my dad’s exchange proposal. At this point, the robbers were even more curious, asking me why I was doing this. A rich kid like me, why not just enjoy life instead of getting mixed up in this mess? No matter how they looked at it, they couldn’t understand. “Are you really crazy?” They could only guess. Seeing their expressions, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Nothing much, just wanted to experience a different kind of life.” “You guys probably aren’t trying to kill anyone, just after money, right? Don’t worry, I’ll cooperate, and I’ll even get you the money.” They exchanged puzzled looks. While they couldn’t grasp my motives, they didn’t say anything more. By now, many small influencers had set up their equipment and started live-streaming online. On the internet, countless people were curious why I would willingly become a hostage. Some thought I had ulterior motives, that it was a stunt or some secret agenda. But most people praised me, seeing me as a selfless hero. My mom, Mrs. Vivian Sterling, had also arrived. After learning the situation, she broke down crying, pleading with the robbers from outside. “Please, don’t hurt my son! I’ll give you any amount of money, I beg you!” Hearing my mother’s voice, a pang of sorrow hit my heart. Remembering how tragically she died in my past life because of me, I became even more determined to protect her.

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On my birthday, I found a hidden playlist on Liam’s phone. It was titled: “Lost.” And the cover? His ex-girlfriend’s picture. He’d lost the girl he loved most. For three years, while we were together, Liam never truly forgot her. I was just a distraction for his loneliness. A compromise. A habit. Right in front of me, Liam deleted the playlist, his voice flat. “Happy now?” I stayed silent. He dismissively ruffled my hair. “That’s enough, Chloe.” “Be a good girl. I’ll take you home to meet my parents for the holidays, okay?” But Liam, I was going home for the holidays to get married. … Seeing my stunned face, Liam’s lips curled into a playful smirk. He flicked my forehead. “What, speechless? So happy you’ve gone silly?” We’d been together for three years, and he rarely even introduced me to his friends, let alone his family. I was genuinely surprised, taking a moment to speak. “I already told my parents for the holidays, they…” They’d set me up on a blind date. “Forget it if you don’t want to go.” Liam cut me off, casually. He was always like that – uninterested in anything about me, never patient enough to hear me out. Maybe my reaction wasn’t what he expected, and it annoyed him. He mechanically wished me a happy birthday. Liam grabbed his jacket and left, not even touching the cake. “I’m heading out.” I hummed, not clinging to him or begging him to stay a little longer, like I usually would. Liam paused at the door, glancing back at me. I was already clasping my hands, eyes closed, making a wish, completely absorbed in myself. He slammed the door shut. The deafening bang was followed by an eerily stretched silence. A little empty, but surprisingly, not sad. The sky slowly darkened. I looked in the mirror at my perfectly applied makeup and the outfit I’d carefully chosen. It felt like a waste not to use them. I met Harper, my best friend, at a trendy new bar nearby. After a few rounds, she leaned in, her voice serious. “You know, Seraphina is coming back to town.” That name hit me like a hammer blow straight to my chest. Seraphina. Liam’s ex-girlfriend, the one he hadn’t forgotten in five years. All our countless fights, silent treatments, and breakups, they were all because of her. She didn’t even need to be physically present; her existence was a thorn, tearing me apart. Liam said couple avatars were childish, but he used them with Seraphina. Liam disliked public displays of affection, but his old Ins profile picture and bio were all about her. The same starry nights we shared on campus, he’d already had with her in high school. The meals he cooked for me were always her favorite flavors. He complained about picking me up from the train station, yet he used to take six extra bus stops just to walk her home. … I’d pieced together their past from every little hint, every crumb of evidence. Again and again, I’d fall into endless self-torment and doubt. Was I not good enough? Not pretty enough? Not someone he could be proud of? Was that why he treated me this way? Across the table, Harper looked at me, her eyes full of pity. “Just today, I heard Liam went to the airport to pick her up.” “My Jax wanted me to keep it from you, so you wouldn’t fight again…” My best friend and Liam’s best friend were also a couple. Their relationship was solid; they were seriously talking marriage. “Chloe, what are you going to do? Are you going to keep dragging this out?” “I told you long ago you two weren’t a match. You’re such a catch, why waste yourself on a man who doesn’t love you?” I lowered my eyes, sipping my drink. “Why else? Stubbornness, I guess.” But this time, no matter how stubborn I was, it was time to let go. There was no dramatic breakup. Just me, slowly detoxing, peeling myself away from this relationship. Turns out, real goodbyes are always quiet. 2 In the early hours of the morning, Harper’s boyfriend picked her up. “Oh, my little wild child, how did you get so drunk…? By the way, Chloe, are you okay alone? Or maybe…” I smiled, waving him off. I didn’t quite catch what he said next before my stomach lurched. I used to envy their relationship so much. Why couldn’t Liam and I be that sweet, that in love? Why? Simply because he wasn’t that into me. Liam had told me himself that he wasn’t interested in the overly affectionate, clingy type. But he still got together with me. I thought I was special, but it turns out he was just lonely. After what felt like an eternity, a familiar voice, one that shouldn’t have been there, reached my ears. I lifted my head, my vision blurred. Liam was helping an elegant woman in a trench coat and high heels. “Seraphina, wait for me a moment, I’m picking someone up.” I crouched by the roadside, quietly watching Liam carefully steady her. Then he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The next second, my phone rang. He looked over, following the sound. His face, in the dim night, was unreadable. Our gazes locked for a long moment. I didn’t rush into his arms and act cute like I usually did when drunk. He was the one who spoke first, calling my name. “Chloe.” “Hmm?” “Do you have anything to tell me?” I thought about it. “No.” Liam walked closer, looking down at me. I finally noticed his brows were furrowed. I couldn’t tell what he was annoyed about. “Then let’s go.” Liam grabbed me, pulling me into the car without a word. He didn’t say anything else. He didn’t care why I was so drunk. And I didn’t question him about the woman beside him. The silence in the car was unsettling. Seraphina observed me through the rearview mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, a perfect hint of tipsiness. “Liam, I’m feeling a little dizzy.” Liam rolled down the window for fresh air, his voice helpless, laced with a tenderness I’d never heard before. “Always pushing yourself when you can’t even drink.” Seraphina chuckled, her words hinting at something. “Well, my mood’s good today, so a little drink won’t hurt, right?” “After all this time, why are you still so controlling?” They were high school classmates, from the same hometown. They broke up less than three months after getting together because of the long distance in college. The first time I sensed Seraphina’s presence was when I found Liam’s old QQ password was her initials. He said he hadn’t used it in a long time and forgot to change it. Initially, I didn’t think much of it. Everyone has a past, right? Just an ex-girlfriend he’d dated for three months. They had even broken up two years before he and I got together. I never thought I’d lose to her. But actually, the moment I subconsciously started comparing myself to her, I had already lost. They chatted about old times, you and I, back and forth, while I sat in the backseat like a ghost. The wind howled through the open window. Outside, the city streets, which I’d seen countless times, flew by in reverse. As we passed the shopping mall, the movie theater’s sign was still lit. Liam and I had watched our first movie there. I remembered being so sleepy in the car after the movie. My hand, hanging at my side, accidentally brushed his. Liam thought I was asleep and secretly held my hand the whole way home. My heart had pounded the entire ride. Fuzzy memories, like fragments of a dream, flashed through my mind. They were all from the暧昧期 (ambiguous period) before we made it official. When I loved Liam the most, I used to wish I had met him first. Later, when I was hurt the deepest, I wished I had never met him at all. Now, I didn’t want to think about anything. When I vaguely opened my eyes, we were at my doorstep. Seraphina was no longer in the car. Liam’s fingers, resting on the car window frame, held a cigarette, its cherry glowing faintly. “Chloe,” he asked, “was that necessary?” I sat up straight, not understanding. “I spent time with you today, didn’t I? Did you really have to pull this stunt tonight?” Liam’s voice was low and deep, suppressing an unknown anger. I didn’t know what he was mad about. After much thought, it must be because I’d interrupted his long-awaited reunion with his idealized ex. “I didn’t ask you to pick me up.” He scoffed. “Oh, so you getting this wasted, looking like a total mess, was for ghosts?” “I’m not drunk,” I said softly. “Even if you hadn’t come, someone else would have taken me home.” 3 Liam raised an eyebrow, his tone mocking. “Who? Some random guy you just met at the bar?” He eyed me up and down. “Chloe, can you stop being so childish? You’re dressed like that, out there… don’t you know what those guys are after?” “If I hadn’t come, you would’ve ended up getting ‘picked up’.” “If you want me to care about you, can you stop using such stupid methods?” I used to get myself drunk, hoping to see a flicker of concern for me in his eyes. But I wasn’t that foolish anymore. “Liam, you’re overthinking it.” Liam didn’t believe me, his frown deepening. “You know I hate it when girls drink. I don’t have time to baby you.” Maybe the alcohol numbed my nerves, making the pain less acute. Or maybe, I genuinely just didn’t care anymore. “Next time, even if Jax calls me, I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.” “Okay.” I turned, walking steadily upstairs on my own. The hangover headache kept me in bed until late morning the next day. My phone had several unread messages. None from Liam. He rarely texted me first, but every time my phone buzzed, I always hoped it was him. Eventually, I just put him on ‘do not disturb’. That way, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Harper sent me a screenshot: Seraphina’s Ins story from last night. No ambiguous text, just a casually snapped photo of the moon. Liam, who never liked posts, instantly liked hers. And commented: “Goodnight.” The doorbell suddenly rang. I opened the door and saw Liam standing outside. For a moment, I wondered if I was still half-asleep. “What are you doing here?” Perhaps the surprise on my face was too obvious; Liam’s lips curved, and he reached out to pinch my cheek. “Here, for you.” I silently looked at the hangover medicine in the bag. He was still like this, hot and cold, impossible to figure out. Too tired to bother figuring out why, I took it and politely said thanks. “That’s it?” Liam leaned against the doorframe, his initially smiling dark eyes slowly darkening. “Is there anything else?” I asked. Breaking character, he actually explained, “I picked her up yesterday because she didn’t know anyone else in town.” I hummed, “That makes sense.” Liam stared at my face as if trying to see through me. “Chloe, she and I are over. We’re just friends now.” “You don’t need to be mad at me.” “I booked a restaurant. I’ll take you out for dinner later, to make up for your birthday yesterday.” I shook my head. “No need. It’s already passed. Nothing to make up for.” “Besides, I already have plans today.” Liam looked a little taken aback. He clearly hadn’t expected me to refuse a chance to go out with him. His face turned cold. “Whatever you want.” But I never expected such bad luck. Liam had booked a table at the same restaurant as me. Beside him, Seraphina blinked, asking softly, “Liam, isn’t that your girlfriend, eating with another guy?” Liam and my eyes met in the air, then quickly darted away. He glanced at the man across from me, impeccably dressed in a suit, seemingly unconcerned. “What’s it to me?” Seraphina laughed, a hint of subtle triumph in her voice. “Aren’t you jealous?” “Back then, if I even talked to a male classmate for too long, you’d corner him after school and warn him to stay away from me.” “I called you the king of jealousy, and you’d get so mad.” You only get jealous if you care. Liam wouldn’t even bat an eye if he saw me sharing an umbrella with a male friend. He was an unmoving mountain, never changing his stance for me. Never reacting. However, that night, that long-dormant profile picture suddenly popped up with a question mark: “?” “Is that your new guy?” “Did you really meet him at the bar?” “Chloe, you’ve got some nerve.”

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That year, I was ten. I begged my brother to come home for my birthday. He died in a plane crash. Not a single trace of his body was ever found. From that day on, I became a festering wound, a constant source of their agony in my parents’ eyes. They resented me, blamed me for Caleb’s death. Every year, on the anniversary of his passing, they’d drag me to the cemetery and force me to my knees before his empty grave, a grim ritual of repentance. Eight years. Eight agonizing years. I thought I’d spend the rest of my life atoning, but on my eighteenth birthday, I was stalked and murdered by a killer. Before I died, I desperately tried to message Mom for help, but her voice was sharp, full of accusation. “You just don’t want to atone for what you did to your brother, do you? You’re a pathological liar! If you hadn’t forced him to come home, my son wouldn’t have died. This is nothing but the karma you deserve!” The call was mercilessly cut short. I stared blankly at the dark screen, and suddenly, all will to live drained out of me. She was right. What face did I, a jinx, a destroyer, have to live on? But then, eight years later, my brother, who everyone thought was dead, returned. And he brought his pregnant fiancée with him. When they learned of my death, they both shattered. **Chapter 1** On my tenth birthday, I made a fatal mistake. I caused the death of my own brother. Growing up, I lived in a happy home. Loving parents, an amazing older brother. I was everyone’s darling. But all of it, everything, was irrevocably ruined by a single phone call. It was my birthday that day, and I called Caleb, wanting him to come home to celebrate with me. Instead, he lost his life. A plane crash. Not a single trace of his body. From then on, Mom and Dad hated me with a burning intensity. They said it to me more than once. “Why did you force Caleb to come back? Why wasn’t it you who died instead?” That accident didn’t just kill Caleb. It killed me too. Guilt, regret, the constant accusations from my own parents – they pushed me deeper and deeper into an abyss. I must have asked myself a thousand times why I called Caleb back, why I caused his death, why God would take him away. If I hadn’t called him that day, would he still be alive? But there are no ‘if onlys’ in this world. And no one was willing to give me an answer. From that tenth birthday, my life was reduced to two words: atonement. Every year, on the anniversary of Caleb’s death – which was also my birthday. Mom and Dad would send me to the cemetery, making me kneel before his tombstone, begging for forgiveness. This kneeling went on for eight years. Just when I thought my life couldn’t get any bleaker, I was found by The Rain Reaper, and brutally murdered. Honestly, in that moment, I fought like hell to live. I pulled out the taser Dad had given me, disguised as a cute white lamb keychain. Dad worked a dangerous job, and he’d made a lot of enemies over the years. Once, Mom and I were kidnapped. Mom, trying to save me, was dragged for dozens of yards by the kidnappers’ car. Dad, fighting for us, was stabbed in the chest. With the help of the police, we eventually got out alive. So, from then on, Dad, worried for my safety, specially gave me that keychain, which concealed a high-voltage taser. After teaching me how to use it, he told me, “Dad can’t always be by your side. You have to protect yourself.” But for some reason, when the killer grabbed me, and I desperately fumbled with the pendant, trying to activate it and stab him— It just… didn’t work. It was broken. I lost my last chance to survive. Even now, I vividly remember everything I went through. A wrench, pliers, an axe – tool after tool, mercilessly used on me. My horrified expression only seemed to fuel the man’s twisted excitement. It hurt. It hurt so much that I sobbed uncontrollably, losing control of my bladder and bowels. I never imagined the sound of bones breaking could be so loud, echoing so clearly in my ears. Flesh tearing from bone, my vision blurring crimson. I drifted into unconsciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I was a spirit. To my astonishment, I found myself in the police station. Thunder and lightning crashed outside. Dad, dressed in his work uniform, his eyes filled with a deep, weary sorrow. Several young forensic pathologists were gathered around. On the examination table, there was a bag filled with expertly cut pieces of a body. This was what Captain Miller and his team had painstakingly recovered, the only body bag not completely washed away by the relentless rain. I never thought. That my death would be discovered so swiftly. Perhaps it was heaven’s pity for my tragic life. A homeless man rummaging through a dumpster found a bag, opened it, and thinking he’d stumbled upon some free meat, saw human fingers instead. A torrential downpour had just begun to uncover the gruesome dismemberment case. Outside, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and rain poured down. Every officer, along with their K9 units, scoured the city. Captain Miller’s face was livid. He couldn’t control his emotions. The brutal dismemberment case mirrored the methods of The Rain Reaper, a serial killer from seven or eight years ago. “Dave, doesn’t this case remind you of The Rain Reaper’s methods from eight years ago?” Dad’s expression darkened. The Rain Reaper was a killer who specifically targeted rainy nights, with a particular fondness for torturing and murdering young women. He had shattered countless happy families. Back then, Dad had finally gathered enough evidence to apprehend The Rain Reaper. But the killer, sensing he was cornered, escaped first. Then, for revenge, The Rain Reaper tampered with the plane Caleb was on, killing him in that accident. Neither of their bodies had ever been found. So Captain Miller immediately thought of that madman. If he hadn’t died, he would surely return for revenge. He couldn’t help but warn Dad. “Dave, if this really is The Rain Reaper, you have to make sure Eleanor and Skylar stay indoors. Most importantly, protect Skylar. She’s often The Rain Reaper’s preferred target!” But hearing my name, Dad’s anxious face instantly cooled. He spoke in a chillingly flat voice. “She should have died a long time ago.” Hearing those words. My heart ached. He was right. I should have died a long time ago. These past eight years, they were stolen years. Captain Miller knew about what happened back then. He wanted to offer comfort but could only frown, a deep crease forming between his brows. Back then, after learning of Caleb’s death, my parents searched the mountain where the plane crashed for three days and three nights. Finally, with bloodshot eyes, they knelt by the roadside, begging heaven to return Caleb to them. The pain of losing a child in their prime was something my parents could never move past. Thinking of this, Captain Miller sighed. “Dave, don’t think about it too much. The precinct is urgent; this case is high-priority!” Dad knew his duty and began his work. He carefully took out the pieces of flesh from the bag. But in that instant, he couldn’t help but curse under his breath. “Goddamn his whole ancestry.” “Is this even human?” Some of the younger forensic pathologists, seeing such a body for the first time, turned red-eyed. But for now, the most crucial task was identifying the victim. After the officers brought back all the body fragments they could find. Dad began piecing together the body. I floated beside him, watching him spend an entire day assembling a skinless torso. I felt a strange sense of relief. I knew how gruesome my death was, and I was afraid Dad would be scared if he recognized me. I was also relieved that my life, filled with so much guilt, was finally over. Captain Miller looked at the crimson body on the table. Even after years as a police officer, his face was disturbingly pale. He asked Dad the killer’s motive: was it to hide evidence, or was it a deliberate act of a psychopath? Dad’s face was grim. After a long silence, he spoke in a hoarse voice. “It’s not about hiding evidence. Our tests show the victim was flayed alive.” He clenched his fists, trying to control himself. “This was purely for revenge!” He pointed at my body. “Look, on this body, there are even traces of salt corrosion! The killer, to torment the victim, carved her flesh off piece by piece!” As he spoke, Dad’s face was filled with unbearable pain. He choked out, his voice thick with grief. “And she was just a young girl, sixteen to twenty years old! What kind of hatred, what kind of grudge could cause this?!” I floated beside Dad, silently applauding him. He truly was the best forensic pathologist in the city, able to accurately determine how I died. Captain Miller’s eyes grew colder and colder. “That sick bastard! A soulless monster!” His chest heaved with rage. Then he asked again. “We’re currently searching for missing females aged sixteen to twenty from the past two days. We hope to find the victim’s information as soon as possible.” Hearing this, Dad seemed to recall something and spoke again. “Right, the bag where the killer stored the victim’s remains is missing the right leg bone. It’s highly probable that the victim’s leg bone has congenital or acquired scars, deformities, or surgical marks that could identify her.” “And because the victim’s face was destroyed by acid, it will take time to restore her appearance.” He sighed, taking off his gloves. Next to Dad’s hand lay the blood-stained lamb keychain. Clearly, he had forgotten this was the very tool he had given me to protect myself. Having finished his work. My dad glanced at his phone, but seeing the content, he angrily called Mom. “Did you see Skylar Hayes’s calls? That liar, how could she say such a thing? I think she’s doing it on purpose, trying to provoke us!” Dad was clearly furious. “Doesn’t she know that if she hadn’t insisted Caleb come back, he wouldn’t have been killed by The Rain Reaper? And now, Skylar Hayes claims she was being stalked!” I watched Dad’s face, red with anger, and felt a pang of sadness. Dad, I wasn’t lying. I was really dying. How could I, the one who caused Caleb’s death, intentionally provoke you? How could I do such a thing? I was utterly helpless at that moment, which is why I sent you those messages, begging for help. But Dad couldn’t see me. Neither could Mom. I heard her on the other end of the phone, sounding just as angry. “I saw her messages too. I ignored them. She must just be trying to get out of her penance. That deadbeat girl, she doesn’t care about atoning for anything!” I listened to their accusations against me. Sadly, I covered my ears. Just when I thought my death would go unnoticed by them. My best friend, Chloe Jensen, rushed into the police station. She said I had been missing for two days. But just as an officer was about to take down my name. Dad stopped them both. “No need. Skylar Hayes is my daughter. She’s not missing; she’s just trying to blackmail me and her mother…” Hearing this, the officer looked awkwardly at Chloe Jensen. He knew Dad’s rank and could only turn and leave. I watched Chloe Jensen leave the police station, her face utterly distraught, tears streaming down. I wanted to chase after her, but I was bound to Dad’s side. Watching him process my skull, following him home after work. On the dining table, without fail, were roasted lobster, garlic butter shrimp, and baked salmon. Mom remembered Caleb’s preferences but never remembered that I was allergic to seafood. Once at dinner, Dad asked me why I wasn’t eating, and I thought he finally cared. I clutched my forks, gathering courage, “Dad, I’m allergic to seafood…” Mom slammed her fork down on the table, pointing it straight at my nose, her voice a furious hiss, “What sin did I commit to give birth to such an ungrateful child! I worked so hard to make this feast, and now I’m the bad guy?” I looked helplessly at Dad, the hero who used to protect me whenever I made Mom angry when I was little. This time, my hero just put a large piece of lobster onto my plate, “Eat your food, don’t make your mother angry.” Their gazes enveloped me, as if not eating would make me a sinner. In the end, all the seafood ended up in my stomach. That day, my throat swelled so much I could barely breathe, my eyes were so puffy I couldn’t see, and my whole body was in agonizing pain and itching. “H-help… help me…” My voice was terribly hoarse. I stumbled to the door, trying to open it, but the doorknob wouldn’t turn. Panic seized me. I pounded on the door, struggling to make a sound. “Help… help me… Dad, Mom… help me… I don’t want to die…” In a daze, I heard Mom’s voice from the living room. “It’s just an allergy; no one ever died from an allergy. Good thing I locked the door, she always fakes being pathetic, it’s disgusting! Last night, Caleb came to me in a dream and said he wanted the newest gaming console. Hurry, let’s go, the mall will close soon.” No! Mom, Dad, don’t leave me! I don’t want to die, save me… The living room door slammed shut with a bang, and I was utterly abandoned. Let it be. Maybe if I died, it wouldn’t hurt so much. I curled up in the corner, waiting to die. From downstairs, I heard the laughter of a father and daughter, clear through my only working ear. “You clumsy kid, you know you’re allergic to peanuts, and you still ate them! You almost died!” “I’m sorry, Dad, I didn’t do it on purpose, please don’t tell Mom.” “Your mom already knows. She was so worried her back started hurting, and she still made a table full of your favorite dishes for you. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. What parents would truly hold a grudge against their child?” I felt like a sewer rat peeking at someone else’s happiness, greedy and masochistically stealing glances at a joy that wasn’t mine. In that moment, I felt utterly ashamed, with nowhere to hide. I wanted Mom and Dad to love me too, to care about my food allergies, to cook my favorite meals, to fuss over me. But I was just the bad kid who killed Caleb, unworthy of love. But Mom and Dad, I don’t want to die, I really don’t want to die… I didn’t die that day. At the last minute, I jumped out the window and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor said I was lucky to arrive in time; any later and my life would have been in danger. An aunt by the bedside, peeling an orange for her daughter, said to me, “It’s a good thing you’re alright, otherwise your parents would be so worried!” I watched enviously as the aunt fed her daughter orange segments, one by one. My lonely reflection stared back from the glass. I comforted myself, as if announcing to everyone, laughing loudly, “Yes, Mom and Dad love me very, very much.” Suddenly, the hospital room door was violently pushed open. I saw Mom and Dad rushing towards me, their faces etched with urgency. A wave of grievance spread from deep within my heart. Enduring the pain, I struggled to sit up, tears dripping down. “Dad, Mom…” I’m so scared, I’m truly terrified of dying… Will you hug me? Just for a moment, just once… Mom grabbed my collar, yanking me off the hospital bed and onto the floor. The IV needle ripped out, blood spurting. “You damn slut! Faking being pathetic, eating yourself into an allergic reaction, and then deliberately jumping out a window to make a spectacle of yourself, trying to tell everyone your dad and I mistreat you, to ruin our reputation, right? Why didn’t you just jump to your death?!” I curled up, hugging my head, my body getting kicked again and again. I wasn’t trying to hurt Mom and Dad, I just didn’t want to die… I gambled on the three-story fall and won, but I didn’t win against the depth of Mom and Dad’s hatred for me. I saw Dad leaning against the wall on the glass, watching coldly as Mom clawed at me with her nails, while the aunt in the next bed comforted her frightened daughter, soothing her gently. The crowd gathered at the hospital room door looked at me with disdain and scorn, as if I were a vicious child. The fragile illusion that Mom and Dad loved me, which I had painstakingly built up, was completely shattered in front of everyone. I lied to you. Mom and Dad don’t love me. They… they hate me the most… After that, Mom and Dad cut off my allowance, and I applied to live in the dorms. I ate plain bread rolls from the cafeteria for a dollar each, alongside free vegetable broth. I slept in a cramped, bare room with a thin mattress on a metal frame, the kind meant for double the occupancy. The hundreds of dollars for accommodation consumed all my scholarship money each semester. As I moved from middle school to high school, accommodation fees increased, forcing me to study day and night, hoping to score just a few extra points each time to win scholarships and survive. I always thought that if I became outstanding enough, Mom and Dad would eventually love me again. The reality was that when I brought home near-perfect test papers, and visiting relatives praised me, Mom retorted without thinking, “She’s as dumb as a rock, not even half as smart as Caleb. How could she score so well?” Immediately after, her arm swung wide, and she slapped me across the face. “Tell me, who did you cheat off of?” My face burned with pain, and my heart burned with it too, wishing I could disappear. Later, when my homeroom teacher called to confirm my grades, Mom just glanced at the shredded test papers in the trash can and sneered. “What’s there to brag about with such low scores? Your brother got perfect scores in every subject back then. You’re so pathetic, not even ashamed of these scores!” Along with those test papers, my heart was also shredded. Mom and Dad liked smart kids like Caleb, so I worked hard to erase myself, to become like Caleb. I studied even harder. Spring, summer, autumn, winter – prickly heat, chilblains, mosquito bites always found me relentlessly each season. When I walked out of the exam hall after my SATs, I finally had a chance to prove I was as excellent as Caleb. Mom and Dad would start loving me, right…? But I died on the eve of my SAT results being released. Until my death, I never managed to become the excellent child, loved by Mom and Dad, like Caleb. I watched Mom and Dad fill Caleb’s empty bowl with rice, silently adding food to it. This scene repeated day after day for eight years. Wasn’t I, the one who caused Caleb’s death, the reason Mom and Dad became like this? Shouldn’t I also die? A knock at the door. A familiar voice from memory. “Mom, Dad, open up! I brought your daughter-in-law home!” I saw Dad, usually so cautious, stand up and accidentally shatter a bowl. Mom, usually so energetic, collapsed into a chair, tears streaming down, repeatedly asking Dad, “Is it him? Is it really him?” Dad almost stumbled to the door, his hands trembling on the doorknob for a long time before he finally twisted it open. The wide-open door revealed a tall man standing outside. I saw him; he was Caleb, my brother, the one I had supposedly killed eight years ago… He had faked his death eight years ago to elope with the woman he loved. **Chapter 2** Dad’s voice was hoarse as he asked, “Caleb, is that really you?” Caleb nodded emphatically, his eyes welling up too. “Dad, it’s really me. I’m back!” The usually reserved Dad wrapped Caleb in a tight hug, his hands forcefully patting Caleb’s back. “He’s alive! He’s warm! Son… your mom and I have waited eight years for you. You’re finally back!”

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The day before Valentine’s Day, my fiancée, Sera Hayes – who notoriously hated water – suddenly announced she wanted to learn to swim. Right then, a chilling suspicion seized me: she’d fallen for the swimming instructor downstairs. After attending one lesson with her, I calmly informed her: either the engagement was off, or she cut ties with that instructor. Seraphina stormed out in a rage, slamming the door, and didn’t return all night. She came back the next day, her legs shaky, her back aching, swearing she’d only ever be with me. On our wedding day, the city’s elite, the who’s who of high society, gathered. As the officiant declared, “Now, the groom may kiss his bride,” Seraphina abruptly pushed me away, her voice trembling: “I’m sorry, I can’t kiss someone I don’t love.” “I thought I could force myself, but I just can’t lie to my own heart.” With that, she ran, in her pristine white gown, straight into the arms of the red-eyed swimming instructor sitting in the front row. The entire ballroom erupted in gasps, camera flashes blinding us. Overnight, I became the city’s biggest joke. The top trending news? A video of Seraphina and the male instructor kissing passionately right at our wedding. In that moment, my heart died. If you choose to betray me again, then don’t blame me for eradicating you. … Staring at her retreating back, the last shred of hope in my heart evaporated. I swept my hand, shattering the champagne tower, glass shards scattering everywhere. My voice, cold as ice, warned: “If you walk out now, the Thorne empire and the Hayes family will be sworn enemies, utterly relentless!” Seraphina faltered, her eyes instantly brimming with tears. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t betray my own heart. I’ll make it up to you later.” Within half an hour. News of the Hayes heiress running away from her wedding for love had seized every media headline. 【LOL, is this some archaic ‘alpha CEO’ monologue? He totally deserved getting dumped!】 【If he acts this arrogant in public, imagine how despicable he is behind closed doors. They should investigate the Thornes!】 【Go, Sera! Women shouldn’t be pawns in dynastic alliances!】 Instantly, the Thorne family became the laughingstock of the entire metropolis, the talk of every dinner party. Yet Seraphina Hayes, the orchestrator of it all, was being hailed by public opinion as a brave, new-age woman chasing true love. I scrolled through the screen, my face devoid of emotion. Until I saw Seraphina’s latest “apology statement”: 【This decision, though it deeply hurt Alex Thorne, I simply couldn’t accept a marriage without love, destined to drown in numbness for the rest of my life… All the fault is mine. I humbly ask everyone not to blame Alex.】 The accompanying photo showed her with swollen, red eyes. What was particularly glaring was the cheap silver band on her ring finger. It certainly wasn’t the engagement ring I’d given her. Then, Brendan Miller poured gasoline on the fire of public outrage: 【Sera has been so consumed with guilt, she’s wasted away. Love can’t be forced; we’ll still be friends.】 I actually laughed, a bitter, furious sound. If she’d just been honest before the wedding, I would have let her go, wished her well. But she didn’t. She chose this moment, in front of everyone, with the city’s elite gathered. To utterly trample the Thorne family’s dignity! Now she expected to manipulate public opinion into forgiving me? In her dreams! “Immediately issue a directive: withdraw all investments from Hayes Industries, terminate all partnerships.” “Furthermore, mobilize every resource to support Hayes Industries’ competitors.” “If I don’t drive the Hayes family into bankruptcy, then I’ll disown my own name!” My assistant, Flick, broke into a cold sweat. She carefully advised, “Mr. Thorne, public opinion is strongly against us right now. Making a move at this moment might…” I cut her off sharply: “Afraid of what?” “An ungrateful viper, biting the hand that fed them – shouldn’t they be taught a lesson?” “This is the perfect opportunity to make an example of the Hayes family. Let’s see who dares to challenge the Thornes after this!” I massaged my throbbing temples. A cascade of past events flooded my mind. Years ago, when Mr. Hayes Sr. suddenly passed, his fortune was snatched by a conniving illegitimate son, a predator lurking in the shadows. Seraphina knelt in the pouring rain for an entire day and night, just to beg me to save the Hayes family. “Mr. Thorne, if you just help Hayes Industries, I’ll do anything you ask for the rest of my life!” Moved by a moment of weakness, I proposed a marriage of convenience. She agreed without hesitation. After our engagement, I kept my promise. Not only did I help her reclaim her company and put that illegitimate son in jail, I personally mentored her in business. I elevated Hayes Industries from a fledgling startup into a formidable corporate powerhouse across the city. But gradually, things between us changed. She started resisting my closeness, rejecting my plans, yearning for what she called “pure love.” Until that swimming instructor, Brendan Miller, appeared. She poured all her passion and affection onto him, holding nothing back. Actually, half a month ago, I’d given her one last chance. “Seraphina Hayes, if you still want to get married, watch your step.” She merely smiled faintly: “We’re just instructor and student. Your mind’s just twisted, seeing dirt where there’s none.” “Mr. Thorne, you’re not cheating on me, are you? Is that why you’re so paranoid?” My voice dropped to an icy tone: “If you cross the line, I’ll reclaim everything I’ve given you.” She flinched violently, her tone finally softening: “You’ve misunderstood. There’s nothing going on between me and Brendan.” “I won’t see him again.” In that moment, I actually believed we could go back to how things were. Sadly, she ultimately betrayed my final trust.

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Julian Blackwood had adored Rory Vance for over twenty years. She always thought they’d naturally end up together, marry, have children, and live happily ever after. Until Julian brought home a woman and told her, “Rory, she’s your sister-in-law.” … “Professor Davies, I’ve made up my mind. I’m moving to Europe.” On the other end of the line, Professor Davies chuckled joyfully. “It’s about time! With your talent, if you’d come sooner, you’d be an internationally renowned photographer by now.” Rory offered a polite smile. “Thank you for the compliment, Professor.” “So, when can you make it? I’ve met a few fashion magazine editors in Milan recently, and they’re very interested in your photography. They’d love to meet you.” Rory thought for a moment. “About half a month, I think. I need to sort out some things here.” “That’s good. Your brother dotes on you so much; he’ll never be at ease with you traveling alone. Make sure you talk it over with him properly.” Hanging up the phone, Rory looked at the woman trying on a wedding dress not far away, and the man standing beside her, smiling as he watched. A bitter smile touched Rory’s lips. Julian truly cherished her. Even Mrs. Blackwood used to tease him. “What kind of brother clings to his sister every day? Outsiders might misunderstand.” Julian raised an eyebrow. “Misunderstand what?” “Misunderstand that you’re not siblings, but a couple!” At that moment, Rory felt a flicker of confusion and surprise, but when her eyes met Julian’s gentle, deeply affectionate gaze, her cheeks flushed slightly. Julian, just like now, had a soft smile playing on his lips, looking at her tenderly as he replied, “Then let them misunderstand.” We live for those fleeting moments. That moment became the sweetest of Rory’s entire life. She waited and waited, for Julian to finally break through that unspoken barrier. She would have nodded without hesitation, saying yes. But all she waited for was his gaze to fall upon another woman. Candace White was his secretary. Julian had brought several resumes and placed them before Rory, saying, “Rory, help me pick one.” Rory felt a bit awkward. “I don’t really understand these things. You should let a professional HR person choose.” But Julian had insisted, “My secretary might be seeing you often in the future too. Pick someone you like, someone you’ll be comfortable interacting with.” Candace was the one Rory had personally chosen to be Julian’s secretary. But what she hadn’t realized then was that she thought she was choosing a secretary, but in a cruel twist of fate, she was actually picking out her own future sister-in-law. “Rory— ” Not far away, Candace excitedly called out to her. “Come help me look, how’s this wedding dress? Your brother is so unhelpful. No matter which one I try on, he just says it looks good, with zero opinions.” Rory sighed. “It’s your wedding dress. If you think it looks good, that’s all that matters.” Candace pouted, feigning helplessness. “Rory, you know I’m from a humble background. I’m afraid my taste isn’t sophisticated enough and might embarrass your brother. But you’re different! Our family’s famous photographer, your taste must be impeccable!” “I’m just a photographer. I’m good with composition, but I really can’t choose wedding dresses.” Candace looked a bit dejected, a hint of hurt coloring her tone. “Rory, are you still not accepting me?” Rory opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but she didn’t know how. She wasn’t rejecting Candace. She just couldn’t understand why Julian, who had always doted on her and treated her like gold, would suddenly fall in love with someone else. “Julian, why don’t you go check on Rory? I think she’s still mad at me about what happened last time.” Julian said, “She won’t be.” “Last time, I wrongly accused her. How about we postpone our wedding until Rory isn’t angry anymore?” Julian frowned slightly. “How can we postpone the wedding just because she’s unhappy?” “But she’s your sister. I want her blessing.” Julian pondered for a moment, then slowly walked towards Rory. His voice was somewhat distant. “Still upset about what happened last time?” Rory turned her head away. “I’m not.” “It was normal for Candace to misunderstand when you suddenly hugged me last time. What kind of sister throws herself into her brother’s arms? Rory, you’re an adult. You should know better and have some boundaries.” Rory looked at the slight expression of reproach on his face, and her eyes immediately welled up. When Julian still cherished her, it was almost always him clinging to her. If there were outsiders present and she tried to put a little distance between them, he would dissatisfiedly pull her back to his side. She went to the countryside for inspiration, and he followed. She went to Africa to photograph animal migrations, and he followed too. It was him who said that no matter when or where, he would always stand behind her. As long as Rory turned around, she would always see him. That day, her photography project had won a gold medal in an international competition. She had instinctively hugged Julian, wanting to share her joy. But Candace had walked in without knocking, coincidentally witnessing the scene. And from that day on, Julian had been cold as ice towards her, avoiding her whenever possible. Rory took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I’m sorry. Last time, I didn’t know my place and caused your fiancée to misunderstand. I promise to be more careful with my words and actions from now on. It won’t happen again.” Julian nodded slightly. “It’s good that you realize your mistake.” She softly hummed in acknowledgment. “You two continue looking at wedding dresses. I’m feeling a bit unwell, so I’ll be leaving.” As she turned to leave the bridal shop, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Rory roughly wiped them away with the back of her hand, then pulled out her phone and booked a flight. In half a month, she would board that plane and leave this place forever. Leave Julian. Rory stayed out until early morning before returning home. The decision to leave was made in an instant, but twenty years of past affection weren’t fake. She wasn’t strong enough to completely let go just like that. To prevent herself from regretting it, she felt it was best to avoid seeing Julian as much as possible during these two weeks. When she arrived back at the Blackwood villa, the house was completely dark. Rory didn’t turn on the lights, dragging her tired body towards her bedroom. But from the living room, a voice suddenly stopped her. “Rory.” She turned around and saw someone sitting on the sofa. “Can I help you, Miss White?” Candace was wearing a black lace camisole nightgown, seductively leaning against the armrest of the sofa, smiling slightly. “Julian bought this nightgown for me. Doesn’t it look good?” As she sat up straighter, the small red marks on her chest and waist slowly became visible. Against the black lace, they looked even more seductive and alluring. She lightly touched a red mark on her neck with her hand, letting out a pained “Ah,” and complained in a sticky voice, “Your brother’s taste in wedding dresses isn’t great, but his taste in nightgowns is pretty good. He said that when I wear this, he can’t control himself at all.” Rory stood on the stairs, looking down coldly at her performance. A mocking smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “Candace, cut the trashy vibes.” “Trashy vibes? Why?” “Sleazy.” Candace let out a giggle. “But your brother likes sleazy! He couldn’t wait for me to change into this nightgown as soon as he got home, and then…” “You don’t need to say anything more. I don’t want to hear it.” “It doesn’t matter if you want to hear it or not, it’s the truth. He’s completely obsessed with my body. So what if you had twenty years of affection? Men, they just pick whoever’s best in bed, you know.” Rory couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words with her. She turned to leave. “Go ahead and put on your show alone. I don’t have time for your performance.” But Candace was relentless. Tugging at her nightgown, she chased after Rory. “You can’t see the marks your brother left on me from that far away, can you? Rory, don’t leave! Come here, take a closer look…” As she spoke, Candace had caught up and grabbed Rory’s arm. Rory felt a wave of nausea rise in her stomach and instinctively pulled away. “Don’t touch me!” Not far away, Julian walked out of the bedroom and asked, “What are you two talking about so late?” Rory was about to speak when she saw Candace flash her a sly smile. Then, her expression instantly turned to one of terror. “Ah— ” Candace tumbled down the stairs. “Candace!!” Julian dropped the glass of milk he was holding and rushed over, holding Candace tightly in his arms. “Are you okay?!” Candace lay weakly in his embrace, feebly saying, “I’m fine. Don’t blame Rory, she didn’t mean to.” Julian looked up at Rory, his eyes filled with disappointment. “Rory, no matter how upset you are with Candace, you shouldn’t push her down the stairs! Do you know how dangerous that is?!” When he looked back at Candace, his tone softened with doting pity. He bent down and gently picked her up. “Let’s go back to the room, so I can check if you’re hurt.” Candace’s face flushed. “Perhaps we shouldn’t be so intimate in front of Rory in the future. It’s normal for a sister to be possessive of her brother. You used to only dote on her, and now suddenly there’s me. It’ll definitely be hard for her to accept at first. We should be more considerate of Rory and give her some time to adjust.” Julian said coldly, “She’ll have to adjust sooner or later.” He carried Candace steadily back to the bedroom. As she looked back from his arms, Candace flashed Rory a victorious ‘V’ sign. Rory suddenly felt as if this world had become unrecognizable. Candace’s appearance had completely shattered her world into pieces. She couldn’t understand why Julian would fall for someone like Candace. Was it really as Candace said, that when it came to affection and desire, men would always choose worldly thrills? Rory didn’t understand. But now, she didn’t want to anymore. The next morning, Rory went to the magazine office. She had worked there for three years as a columnist photographer, and she had a great relationship with her colleagues. The editor-in-chief was surprised to receive her resignation letter. “Is it about your salary? You can tell me directly, and I’ll speak to the publisher.” Rory smiled and shook her head. “Thank you, Mr. Thorne, but it’s not about my salary.” “Then why?” “I have other plans for my life.” Mr. Thorne immediately understood and said with a smile, “So, you’re finally going to marry Julian and become Mrs. Blackwood, right? That’s good. He’s been picking you up and dropping you off every day, rain or shine, he truly cherishes you. If you marry him, it’s a wonderful thing. I won’t stop you.” Rory had wanted to explain the first half of his sentence. Julian was getting married, but the bride wasn’t her. But after hearing Mr. Thorne finish, she lost the desire to explain. The entangled mess between her, Julian, and Candace was too complicated to clarify in a few words. Now, she just wanted to quickly complete her resignation and handover, then leave this heartbreaking place in two weeks. “Oh, by the way, Rory, when is your wedding date? Make sure to send me an invitation so I can celebrate with you!” Rory offered an awkward smile. Just then, Jenny from the front desk excitedly knocked and poked her head in. “Rory! Your boyfriend is here to pick you up again! Hehehe, there’s a surprise today!” Rory stepped out of the magazine office and saw Julian leaning against his black Rolls-Royce Cullinan, lost in thought. She got a little closer before she could clearly see what Jenny’s “surprise” was. The black interior of the car was completely filled with vibrant, crimson roses. Except for the passenger seat, the back seats and the trunk were overflowing with roses. Behind her, she could hear some of her female colleagues, with whom she usually got along well, giggling and pushing each other as they peeked from behind the company sign at the entrance. In the past, when Julian came to pick her up, he sometimes brought things she liked. Small cakes, bubble tea, or all sorts of her favorite snacks. Her colleagues had seen it many times, but they would always tease her ambiguously, “Every time your boyfriend comes, the whole office gets delicious treats. We’re all just enjoying Rory’s good fortune!” Rory had always implicitly accepted it, usually just smiling at their jokes and sharing the things Julian brought with everyone. Now, everyone was probably waiting to share the roses in his car. She called out, “Julian Blackwood.” Julian looked up, but his expression wasn’t good, and his attitude was still cold. “Don’t call me by my full name anymore. You should call me ‘Brother’.” Rory froze for a moment. Then slowly nodded. “Understood, Brother.” “Last night, my words were too harsh. Don’t take it to heart.” “Hmm.” “But you’re not a child anymore. Don’t do dangerous things like pushing someone down the stairs ever again.” Rory looked up in disbelief, a bitter laugh escaping her. “So, you came to see me today just to scold me?” Julian’s face darkened. “You still don’t realize your mistake, do you?” “Julian Blackwood, you’ve known me for over twenty years! Even if I wanted to harm her, I wouldn’t be so stupid as to do it in my own home!” Rory shouted in frustration, but immediately regretted it. She was leaving anyway. More explanations would be useless. “Forget it. You should go. Don’t disturb me at work.” When Rory returned to the company entrance, her colleagues, who had been chatting and laughing, seemed to sense that something was off between them, and their expressions turned to concern. “Rory, did you two have a fight?” “Don’t be mad! He brought all those roses to make up. Give him a chance!” “Yeah, Rory, you’re so lucky and you don’t even know it. A boyfriend like that is so hard to find!” Rory’s face was blank as she softly said, “Don’t stand around here. Go back to work.” Her photography skills were outstanding, and she held considerable influence in the magazine office. The young women below were quite obedient to her, so they all shuffled back inside, heads drooping. Jenny, who was closest to her, discreetly pulled her aside and asked, “Rory, can I go ask for a rose? I just saw his car full of flowers; he even prepared vases!” Rory felt a headache coming on. “I’ll buy you different flowers. Your vase won’t be empty.” Back at her desk, she was still agitated. After reluctantly processing a few photos she had taken earlier, her phone rang. [Image] [Image] [Image] [Which of these do you like? *blushing shyly.jpg*] Candace had sent several pictures of different styles of nightgowns. More than nightgowns, they looked like provocative lingerie. What should have been covered was exposed, and what shouldn’t have been was also exposed. Soon, these messages were unsent. [Candace: Oops, sent to the wrong person!] Rory turned off her phone and tossed it into her drawer. In truth, both of them knew Candace hadn’t sent it to the wrong person. She had sent it intentionally for Rory to see. It wasn’t until closing time that she took her phone out of the drawer and turned it on. No missed calls. No texts. No SnapChat messages. Nothing. In the past, if she was unreachable for more than half an hour, Julian would call and text repeatedly, or immediately rush to the magazine office to find her. But now, he wouldn’t. Her Ins feed, however, showed that someone had updated. She clicked on it, and there it was, a familiar scene— Inside the classic black Rolls-Royce Cullinan, filled with vibrant red roses. Candace was holding a bouquet of roses, standing in front of the car, smiling blissfully. The caption read: [Thank you, darling. This is the best birthday gift I’ve ever received.] Oh. So, it was Candace’s birthday today. The things in his car were now meant for Candace. After work, Rory didn’t feel like going home. But Mrs. Blackwood called, sounding worried. “Rory, why have you been working so late these past few nights? It’s not safe for you to be out alone. I’ll have Julian pick you up.” Rory didn’t want to ride in his car anymore. Neither the passenger seat nor the roses belonged to her. “No thanks, Mrs. Blackwood. I’ll take a taxi home.” “Alright, then be careful.” Rory called a taxi. When she arrived home, Julian and Candace were both there. Candace, carrying a large suitcase, was walking out of Rory’s room. “Rory, you’re back.” Rory immediately bristled with anger. “Who gave you permission to go into my room?” Julian, hearing this, slammed his cup down. “I did. What’s the problem?” “Without my permission, how dare you go into my room and touch my things?” “Rory, this is the Blackwood home. Candace is my fiancée. She can go into any room she wants in this house.” Rory felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. Candace gently “scolded” Julian. “Julian, how can you talk to Rory like that? Rory will be hurt.” Then she turned to Rory. “Rory, I just heard the house staff saying that Julian’s clothes and shoes were always in your bedroom. Girls have so many clothes, and he was taking up half your closet, so you didn’t have enough space for yours. So, I volunteered to move all his stuff out and into *our* bedroom.” Julian used to cling to her incredibly tightly. Growing up, she had never received a single love letter, all thanks to Julian. Later, he just moved all his clothes into her bedroom, claiming it was so he could wear the outfits and ties *I’d personally picked out for him* every morning for work. She knew where every single one of his clothes and ties was in the closet better than he did. Rory quickly rushed upstairs and burst into her room. The utter chaos on the floor made her almost think the room had been robbed! Her clothes, shoes, and cosmetics were scattered everywhere, in complete disarray! Rory furiously pointed at the mess on the floor and challenged Candace, “Is *this* how you move clothes?!” Candace’s eyes immediately welled up. “I’m sorry, Rory, I just accidentally…” “Accidentally turned my room into something that looks like a hurricane passed through? Your ‘accidents’ are incredibly destructive!” Julian, hearing this, frowned and reprimanded, “Rory, watch your tone!” Rory laughed bitterly. “So, this time, I didn’t do anything, but it’s still my fault, is that it?” “Candace is your future sister-in-law. You need to respect her.” “Julian, why don’t you come up and see for yourself?” Julian slowly went upstairs. When he saw the chaotic room, he paused for a moment in surprise. But it was only for that one moment. The next second, he looked at Candace with a touch of indulgence, a wry smile on his face. “Next time, let the house staff clean our bedroom.” “But I don’t want anyone else touching my clothes, especially… my nightgowns.” She emphasized the word “nightgowns,” and a blush quickly spread across her face. Julian nodded helplessly. “Alright, then I’ll clean up from now on. You just sit back and rest, okay?” Candace playfully stuck out her tongue. “Julian, am I a bit clumsy?” “It’s fine. With me around, it’s okay to be a little clumsy.” Rory closed her eyes. She had never hated the dreaded resignation handover period so much. Otherwise, she would have already flown across the ocean, never having to endure this chaotic and sickening scene. “Rory, look. How many of your clothes and equipment did Candace damage? Give me a total, and I’ll pay you back.” Rory let out a bitter laugh. Julian was actually using money to throw at her. At her, of all people. Candace even lightly nudged her arm and whispered, “Rory, you can exaggerate the amount a little. With me here, he has to give you whatever you say.” Julian said dotingly, “Are you taking her side now? Teaming up with an outsider to drain your husband’s wallet?” Candace playfully made a face at him. “From now on, I’m Rory’s sister-in-law. An elder sister-in-law is like a mother, so of course I’ll side with Rory.” Rory scoffed coldly. Taking her side. Outsider. Yes, now *they* were the closest people. And she, an adopted daughter of the Blackwood family, was indeed just an outsider. Her phone suddenly rang. It was Professor Davies. She composed herself and answered. “Professor Davies?” Professor Davies asked, “Rory, I remember a set of bird photographs you took a while ago. They were excellent. An editor here would like to see them. Could you send me the negatives again?” “Of course, Professor. Please wait a moment.” Rory went back to her bedroom. She preferred using a film camera, and she kept all her film negatives stored in a locked drawer. She instinctively reached for the key to unlock it, but then noticed the entire cabinet was damp. “Rory, I’m so sorry! I accidentally spilled coffee earlier, and I was afraid it would stain your cabinet, so I just rinsed the whole thing with water…” The more Rory listened, the colder her heart grew. She couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on Candace. She quickly unlocked the drawer. As she pulled it open, her suspended heart finally died. Row after row of film rolls were all soaked in water. Some had unraveled, some had discolored, and many were tangled together in a messy heap, even turning the water brown. These were all the negatives of her photography work from over three years! Completely ruined! Rory trembled with anger, unable to utter a single word. Julian had walked in at some point. Seeing the scene in the drawer, he said indifferently, “Just calculate how much all these film rolls cost. I’ll pay for them, along with Candace.” Rory finally erupted. “Can she even *afford* it?! She might not know what these film rolls mean to me, but don’t *you* know?!” Julian frowned slightly. “But the film is ruined now. Getting angry won’t change anything, will it? Candace was just trying to be helpful, trying to put away my clothes. Spilling coffee was just an accident.” “An accident, and it’s all magically clean? If you accidentally hit and killed someone with your car, would a simple ‘sorry’ make it all okay?!” “Rory!” Julian’s tone became stern. “Don’t be so unreasonable! Are film rolls and human lives the same thing? If photos are gone, you can just take more. Is it really that serious?” On the phone, Professor Davies sounded worried. “Rory, are you okay? Is something happening at home?” Rory let out a heavy sigh and replied, “Professor, my negatives… I might not be able to send them to you for now. I’ll try to find an opportunity to reshoot a series of photos and send them to you soon.” “Alright, no rush. It’ll take about half a month to get your visa processed anyway.” “Okay.” Julian, however, caught a keyword. “Visa? You’re going abroad?” Rory hung up the phone. She composed herself, then silently began cleaning up the mess on the floor. “Professor Davies’s visa expired. He’s too old to travel back and forth, so he asked me to help him with it.” Julian looked suspicious. “Doesn’t Professor Davies have a daughter here? Why wouldn’t he ask her to do it?” Rory retorted, “Why don’t you call his daughter and ask?” “I’m not that idle.” “Then stop asking so many questions.” Rory spent an entire night tidying her bedroom. She decided not to take any of the clothes and shoes Candace had ruined, simply piling them in the corner of her closet. She managed to salvage a few film rolls. But the negatives had been soaked in water, severely distorted, and unusable. As for the jars and bottles of cosmetics, the liquids had mostly leaked out, and the powders were all saturated, making them useless too. [Candace: This was just a warning.] Candace sent her a SnapChat message. It stayed for two minutes. Just before the two-minute mark, it was unsent. This ensured Rory would see it, but no evidence would be left behind. But after the last incident, Rory had become cautious. The moment she received the SnapChat, she took a screenshot. She scoffed coldly and sent the screenshot to Candace. This time, Candace was silent for a long time. Rory really wanted to laugh. Did she really think her tricks would succeed over and over again, and Rory would be completely unprepared? Candace underestimated her. After about ten minutes, Candace finally replied. [Candace: What do you mean?] [Rory: Nothing. Just a warning.] After sending that, she turned off her phone. She didn’t care if Candace unsent it or not. She also didn’t care what Julian would think when he saw it. From the day she decided to leave, she shouldn’t hold any expectations for him anymore. The next morning at breakfast, Mrs. Blackwood noticed Rory’s pale face and asked with concern, “Rory, did you not sleep at all last night? You look terrible.” Rory hummed. “Didn’t sleep well, but it’s okay. A few days’ rest will fix it.” Mrs. Blackwood said, “Yes, you should get some good rest these days. You’ll be busy with Julian’s wedding.” Rory looked up. “Their wedding date is set?” “Yes, it’s next weekend. Didn’t Julian tell you? That boy, he used to tell you about every little thing, and now he doesn’t mention something as big as his wedding. Really!” Next weekend. Rory looked at the calendar. That day was exactly when she was leaving. Just then, Julian and Candace came out of the bedroom. Candace, as if nothing had happened, cheerfully greeted Rory. “Rory, Julian and I have decided! You’ll be our chief photographer at the wedding! You have to make me look extra beautiful!” Rory flatly refused. “I have plans that day. I can’t make it.” Candace pouted. “Are you still mad about yesterday? I apologize. I’m so sorry… If you’re still angry, I… I’ll get down on my knees and apologize…” As she spoke, she stooped as if to kneel. Julian quickly pulled Candace up. “She doesn’t deserve you kneeling to her.” Mrs. Blackwood, seeing this, tried to smooth things over. “Candace, you don’t need to do that. Rory values her film rolls more than anything, so she’s definitely a bit upset, but it’s not to the point of kneeling.” Candace said plaintively, “I just feel like I can’t do anything right. I truly feel awful towards Rory.” Julian comforted her. “Just be more careful next time. Let’s eat first. Didn’t you say you were hungry just now?” Candace smiled and stuck out her tongue. “Well, that’s because of you, isn’t it? If you hadn’t insisted on being so… playful this morning, I wouldn’t be so tired and hungry.” “Alright, it’s all my fault. Now, sit down and eat.” Julian pulled out a chair for her, helped Candace sit, and then personally tied a napkin around her neck. After he had settled her, he finally sat down beside Candace. While spreading jam on a slice of toast, he said, “Rory, no matter what plans you have next weekend, cancel them. You’ll be our wedding photographer. Consider it fulfilling our twenty years of sibling affection.” The doorbell suddenly rang. The house staff opened the door, but outside stood an unfamiliar person. “Who are you looking for, please?” The visitor was a very simply dressed middle-aged woman. She smiled and said, “Hello, is Miss Rory Vance here? I’m from a charity organization. She contacted me, saying she has a batch of clothes she wants to donate to impoverished people in the mountains. We arranged to pick them up today.” Rory immediately stood up. “I’m Rory Vance. The clothes are all packed. Please wait a moment.” Rory went upstairs, packed all her clothes into several large bags, and handed them to the middle-aged woman. The woman was very grateful. “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Vance. The weather has turned cold recently, and many girls in the mountains don’t have enough clothes for winter. With these clothes, you’ll help a lot of people.” “No problem. Please deliver them as quickly as possible.” “Of course, you can rest assured…” “Wait—” Julian suddenly walked over, looking confused. He looked down at the six or seven large bags of clothes on the floor, his brows furrowed. “You donated all your clothes?” Mrs. Blackwood was also surprised. “Rory, even if you want to be charitable, we can just donate money. Why did you donate all your clothes? It’s getting cold; what will you wear?” Rory looked at Julian, a faint smile on her lips. “Didn’t you say you’d compensate me for Candace’s damages? These clothes are old, and I don’t want them anymore. With the money, I’ll buy new ones. Is that not allowed?” Julian stared at her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. How much do you want? I’ll transfer it to you now.” Rory held up one finger. Julian: “One million? Fine.” “No.” “Ten million?” Candace immediately grew anxious. “A few clothes, how could they be worth ten million?!” Rory scoffed at her, then turned to Julian. “One dollar.” These clothes were all things Julian had insisted on buying for her. Now that she had decided to leave, she didn’t want to take his things, nor his money. Just as he himself had said, this was the Blackwood home, and she was an outsider. One dollar, payment complete. Twenty years of affection, wiped clean. Julian became slightly impatient. “Rory, what exactly are you trying to do?” “Are you giving it or not? If so, transfer the money. If not, forget it.” Julian pondered for a moment, then transferred the money. He said, “My promise has been fulfilled. Consider this my compensation for Candace. Don’t ever give her attitude over this again.” Rory looked at the dollar that appeared in her bank account and smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I never will again.” “Also, my wedding. You will be the photographer. This is Candace’s wish, and you must come.” Rory thought for a moment. Her flight was in the evening. Their wedding night. So she nodded. “Alright.” In the following days, Rory barely returned to the Blackwood house. She went to the countryside and re-shot a series of bird photographs, which she sent to Professor Davies. Professor Davies was incredibly excited after seeing them. He immediately called her via FaceTime. “Rory, your composition and colors are even more refined than before! Several magazines here are practically fighting over you. When you get here, we’ll meet them all and choose the best one!” Receiving such affirmation, Rory was also very happy. “Alright, thank you, Professor.” “Oh, by the way, have you talked to your brother? Did he agree to you developing your career in Europe?” Rory smiled. “He’s actually very supportive of me going.” “That’s great! Then you have nothing to worry about. What a surprise, I thought convincing him would be a huge hassle…” Rory asked Professor Davies for his address and shipped all her equipment there. Professor Davies would hold onto them for her until she arrived and could pick them up from his home. On the day of Julian and Candace’s wedding, she simply borrowed a camera from the wedding planning company. Candace had gotten her wish, marrying into a wealthy family, and her triumphant joy was barely concealed. Especially when Rory was taking pictures, Candace posed like a victor. Julian was chatting with guests, but Candace insisted on pulling him back to pose for photos with her. Mrs. Blackwood felt sorry for Rory and advised, “Candace, you’ve taken plenty of photos. Let Rory rest for a bit.” Candace said, “Rory is so capable; how could she get tired from just a few pictures? Right, Rory?” Mrs. Blackwood looked displeased. “I’ll have the wedding photographer take pictures of you two. Rory needs to rest.” “But how can the wedding photographer compare to Rory? Today is Julian’s and my once-in-a-lifetime big day. We absolutely need Rory to capture our happiest moments!” Rory said nothing. After taking the last photo, she handed the camera directly back to the wedding planning company. Then she turned and walked away. Mrs. Blackwood chased after her. “Rory, where are you going?” Rory smiled. “Mrs. Blackwood, from now on, Julian will have Candace to take care of him. You should also take better care of yourself.” “Oh, you silly child, you’re my daughter too. Don’t I still have you?” Rory smiled, taking Mrs. Blackwood’s hand. “Yes, I’ll always be your daughter.” Mrs. Blackwood sighed. “Rory, I once… I truly thought you would be my daughter-in-law, and call me ‘Mom’. Who knew Julian would suddenly…” “It’s alright, Mrs. Blackwood. Let’s not talk about it anymore.” “Alright, alright, no more talk.” Her phone rang. It was Professor Davies. “Rory, are you at the airport? What time do you land? My wife and I will pick you up.” “I’m about to head there now.” “Good. We’ll see you in eight hours.” “Hmm.” She hung up the phone, checked the time. It was about right. Time to go to the airport. Rory didn’t even go back to the Blackwood house; she took a taxi directly to the airport. While waiting in line to board, Candace sent her another message. [Candace: Thank you for personally taking photos of Julian and me. We both love them. From now on, remember to call me your sister-in-law.] [Candace: Sister-in-law, I hope we can get along well in the future. (victory sign emoji)] Rory scoffed and took a screenshot. This time, she sent the screenshot directly to Julian. [Rory: Brother, congratulations on your wedding. Goodbye forever.] After sending it, she blocked Julian and Candace one by one. From then on, they would be permanently erased from her world. The flight attendant smiled and greeted her, “Miss, enjoy your flight.” Rory smiled politely. “Thank you. I’m very happy.” Then, she boarded the plane without looking back. The moment the plane landed at Milan Airport, Rory finally felt a sense of relief. Professor Davies had mentioned he and his wife would pick her up. But she clearly saw another person with them. “Rory— Over here!” Rory smiled as she walked over, first hugging Mrs. Davies. “Mrs. Davies, you’re as young and beautiful as ever!” Then she waved to Professor Davies. “Professor, if you don’t take better care of yourself, you won’t be worthy of my young and beautiful Mrs. Davies anymore!” Professor Davies laughed heartily. “You little rascal! It’s been years, and you start teasing me the moment we meet!” “How is this teasing? I’m complimenting you! That big beard of yours, it clearly marks you as a seasoned photographer, worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Max Rief!” Professor Davies laughed and chided, “Go on, go on. You, you’ve been spoiled by your brother since childhood, no manners at all.” Speaking of Julian, Mrs. Davies asked, “Did you come alone? Your brother didn’t see you off?” Professor Davies looked behind her. “Did he go to get your luggage? Rory, you’re empty-handed; someone must be carrying your bags.” Rory hooked an arm through Professor Davies’s and the other through Mrs. Davies’s, pulling them along. “I’m a grown-up now; I don’t need anyone to see me off. I came by myself this trip. Professor Davies, Mrs. Davies, let’s go quickly! I’m starving…” Professor and Mrs. Davies didn’t notice anything amiss, simply accompanying her as they walked out. But the other person who had come with them hurried a few steps and said, “Um, Rory…” Professor Davies suddenly remembered, slapping his forehead. “Oh, my memory! I completely forgot about the driver!” Rory had actually noticed him the moment she stepped out of the airport. He looked around thirty years old, with broad shoulders, tall and handsome, yet his demeanor was refined and gentle. He wore a grey cardigan, exuding a kind aura. Professor Davies said, “Rory, this is Daniel Hayes, your senior. Do you remember him?” Rory racked her brain, then shook her head, confused. “I’m sorry, but… is Daniel Hayes also one of Professor Davies’s students?” Professor Davies laughed heartily. “You really don’t remember him at all?” Rory still drew a blank. Daniel Hayes’s face flushed slightly, looking a bit flustered. “Professor Davies, please don’t bring up old stories. Let me keep some dignity.” Professor Davies laughed even harder. “Alright, alright, no more talk. Or you can bring it up yourself sometime.” Daniel Hayes became even more flustered and immediately ran ahead. “I’ll go get the car. Wait for me at the entrance; I’ll be quick.” Rory looked at Daniel Hayes, still feeling a bit bewildered. It wasn’t until Mrs. Davies saw her confused expression and clarified, “Rory, do you remember when you were in college, you sent a confession letter to a guy?” Rory: !!! She remembered. That whole incident was actually a huge misunderstanding. The confession letter wasn’t from her; she was helping her roommate at the time deliver it. Her roommate had a crush on a senior but was too shy to confess. Rory, hearing this, thought, *That won’t do!* So she volunteered to be the little matchmaker. Finally, she found an opportunity. She waited below the sketch building until she saw the target guy and handed him the confession letter. She had just opened her mouth to explain the situation when some boisterous guys nearby snatched the letter from his hand and read it aloud to everyone. Originally, confession letters were usually just filled with romantic words. But she hadn’t expected her roommate, who was usually timid as a quail, to write such a bold confession. The first line was: *You forgot to zip your fly.* The second line was: *Looks quite big.* Rory had been utterly mortified on the spot. The guy being confessed to was also stunned, looking at her with a mix of embarrassment and fluster, repeatedly apologizing, then quickly chasing after his friends who had run off with the letter. The end result was that, due to the incredibly powerful content of the confession letter, Rory became quite famous at school. But this incident made Julian very unhappy. Even though Rory had explained many times that she didn’t like the guy, and she hadn’t written the letter herself—it was a complete and utter misunderstanding— Julian was furious, and the consequences were severe. Eventually, he somehow orchestrated it so that the dean sent that senior abroad, officially for a “sponsored study program,” but it was really just Julian’s way of making him disappear from my world. Because of this, Rory felt quite guilty for a while. The senior went abroad, and her roommate’s budding romance was severed completely before it even started. Her friends couldn’t end up together, and she resented Julian for a long time over it. After waiting a while at the terminal exit, Daniel Hayes drove over. He slowly pulled up, rolled down the window. “Professor Davies, Mrs. Davies, and… Rory, get in.” Professor and Mrs. Davies were a couple, and a very loving one, so they both got into the back seat almost simultaneously. That left only the passenger seat for Rory. She stood outside for a moment, not moving. Daniel Hayes asked her, “Rory, why aren’t you getting in?” Rory thought for a moment, then asked, “Daniel, do you have a girlfriend?” This question once again shocked the other three present. Mrs. Davies covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, and ambiguously winked at Professor Davies, nodding as if to say, “There’s potential here!” Professor Davies immediately understood, a knowing smile appearing on his face. Even Daniel Hayes was stunned, somewhat confused by Rory’s meaning. Rory explained, “The passenger seat holds a lot of meaning for any girl. If you have a girlfriend, I can squeeze in the back with Professor and Mrs. Davies.” Daniel Hayes immediately waved his hand. “I don’t have a girlfriend. Please, take the seat.” Only then did Rory get into the car. After the car started, Mrs. Davies gently said to Rory, “Rory, you don’t have to be so formal. You and Daniel aren’t strangers.” Rory politely replied, “Even with familiar people, as adults, you still need to know your boundaries.” That was a vivid lesson Julian had personally taught her. She would never forget it. Mrs. Davies smiled at Professor Davies. “Look at our Rory, so polite and well-mannered. Clearly a good child.” Professor Davies nodded in agreement. “Indeed. Rory’s brother truly doted on her and raised her to be so outstanding. I’m surprised, he’s still a young man, and a man at that, to be so good at raising a child.” Mrs. Davies jokingly chided, “What do you mean ‘raising a child’? You talk as if Julian is our age! Julian is still very young, Rory. I remember your brother is five years older than you, right?” Rory hummed in affirmation. “So he’d be in his early thirties, right? Does your brother have a girlfriend now?” Professor Davies quickly pulled his wife’s arm. “You, are you addicted to matchmaking? Julian is different from Rory. Can his marriage be treated lightly?” Mrs. Davies nodded repeatedly. “You’re right. With his status and position, even if it’s not a business marriage, he’d probably marry a girl from a distinguished family, wouldn’t he?” “Exactly, and Julian has high standards. We shouldn’t meddle.” Rory, however, said, “Thank you, Mrs. Davies. He… he does have a girlfriend now.” Professor and Mrs. Davies were both surprised. “When did that happen? Why didn’t you mention it?” Rory gave a bitter smile. How could she tell them? Tell them that her decision to come abroad this time was also because of this “girlfriend”? No, Candace wasn’t a girlfriend anymore. On the day she boarded the plane, Candace had married Julian. Now she should be respectfully addressed as “Mrs. Blackwood.” “I’m grown up now. He and I both have our own lives. We don’t see each other much.” Her words carried a clear sense of distance. Mrs. Davies looked worried. “Rory, then is your decision to come abroad this time also because your brother’s girlfriend couldn’t tolerate you?” “What are you talking about?” Professor Davies quickly interjected. “Rory coming abroad is definitely for better career development.” Rory took a deep breath and nodded emphatically. “That’s right.” Rory had just arrived and hadn’t found a place to live yet, so she was temporarily staying at Professor Davies’s house. Mrs. Davies had already prepared a room for her. Rory lay on the soft, large bed, looking at the moonlight outside the window. Everything felt so strange, almost unreal. That’s right, she had decided to completely bid farewell to Julian and start a new life here. … In the newlywed home, red wedding decorations were plastered everywhere. But Candace didn’t dare say a word. Rory had disappeared. Halfway through the wedding, Julian couldn’t find Rory anywhere. He directly took people out to search for her, leaving Candace alone on the stage, surrounded by guests. Candace felt wronged. She finally waited for him to come home. She had planned to complain and cry in his arms, but Julian’s face was filled with disgust. “Stay away from me.” Candace gritted her teeth in hatred, wishing she could tear Rory limb from limb! She had done it on purpose! She had to stir up trouble at her wedding, just to ruin her and Julian’s big day! “Julian,” she cautiously leaned closer, nestling into his embrace. “You’ve been busy all day. Let’s get some rest early.” As she spoke, she unbuttoned her jacket, revealing the pink lace underneath, a silent invitation. But this action instantly enraged Julian. “I told you to stay away from me! Didn’t you hear me?!” He violently pulled his arm out of Candace’s embrace, scaring her so much that her face turned pale. “Julian, I know you’re worried, but Rory is an adult. She’ll be fine.” Bringing up Rory only intensified Julian’s cold aura. Just then, he received a phone call. Julian answered. He didn’t hear what was said on the other end, only Julian erupting in fury. “If you can’t find her, then keep looking! A living person can’t just disappear! If anything happens to Rory, you all know the consequences.” After hanging up, Julian’s face was still brewing with a storm. Coincidentally, another call came in. Julian didn’t answer immediately this time. He stared at the number on the screen for a long while. Candace noticed that his expression seemed to carry a hint of panic. Even the hand holding the phone began to tremble slightly. When he finally answered, his voice was also trembling. “Officer Miller, please… have you found her?” *Clang—* The phone dropped to the floor. Julian looked as if his soul had been sucked out, completely stunned. Fortunately, the phone was well-made; the fall had directly activated the speakerphone. Officer Miller’s voice came through the phone: “…We did find a female body in the East Lake reservoir. Based on the age and clothing, there’s a high probability it’s Miss Vance…” Candace was also stunned. Rory was dead? She committed suicide? Did she love Julian that much, to kill herself on his wedding day? But the next second, Candace thought of something else— Julian’s feelings for Rory were so deep. If Rory really died because of this, he would definitely resent her, and Rory would become his eternal ‘white moonlight’! No one could conquer, no one could replace the power of a deceased ‘white moonlight’; no one could shake that! But so what? She was dead. Julian would belong to her alone. No one would fight her for him anymore. Candace’s lips curved into a slight, triumphant smile, but she knew this wasn’t the time to smile. She forcibly pinched her thigh, the pain immediately bringing tears to her eyes. She sobbed, covering her mouth, letting the tears stream down as she said, her voice choked with sobs, “Rory! How could this happen? If you had any problems you couldn’t solve, you could have told your sister-in-law! Your sister-in-law could have helped you…” “Shut up!” Julian roared. “Who told you that person is Rory?!” Candace was so startled by his shout that she stopped crying. “Didn’t Officer Miller just say there’s a high probability it’s…” “A high probability doesn’t mean it definitely is! Rory is a strong girl; she wouldn’t take her own life.” With that, Julian stood up, about to leave. Candace bit her lip, on the verge of tears, and grabbed him. “Where are you going? Tonight is our wedding night! Are you going to leave me alone in our empty bridal chamber?” Julian turned back, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Candace, you should be clear about your own identity.” “I…” “What kind of sister-in-law are you?” He suddenly frowned, his expression tightening with suspicion. “Does Rory’s disappearance have anything to do with you?” Candace vehemently denied it. “I’m the bride today! I’ve been in my wedding dress all day, surrounded by makeup artists and bridesmaids. I barely even spoke to Rory.” Julian, eager to leave, only left her with one sentence: “If I find out Rory’s leaving has anything to do with you, Candace, you know what your fate will be.” Candace trembled, releasing his sleeve. Julian drove through the night to the East Lake reservoir Officer Miller had mentioned. He saw the body, already covered with a white sheet. Officer Miller pointed to an evidence bag, already sealed. “This was retrieved from the water. It should be her clothes. Take a look and see if it belongs to Miss Vance.” Julian didn’t even need to identify it. He recognized it at a glance— This light blue long dress was Rory’s favorite. It was the birthday gift he had given her on her eighteenth birthday. Seven years had passed. The style of the dress was old-fashioned, and the color wasn’t as soft and rich as it once was, but it was still Rory’s favorite. “Mr. Blackwood?” Julian softly hummed. “…It’s hers.” Officer Miller nodded, offering comfort. “Mr. Blackwood, please… accept my condolences. Such a young girl, gone from this world so soon. It’s truly a pity.” Julian didn’t speak for a long time. Officer Miller thought he was overcome with grief and didn’t press him, only offering solace. “I heard Miss Vance was a very talented photographer. Artistic people can sometimes be more fragile and sensitive…” “She’s not fragile.” Officer Miller paused. “I’m sorry, I spoke out of turn.” Julian shook his head. “She’s not Rory.” “But didn’t you just identify her clothes as hers?” “All her clothes have been donated.” Julian said, and then abruptly pulled back the white sheet covering the body. Everyone around them was startled. Especially Officer Miller. “Mr. Blackwood, what are you doing?!” Julian saw the girl’s face and immediately felt all strength drain from his body. “Mr. Blackwood, what’s wrong?!” Julian closed his eyes, sighing with relief. “It’s not her. It’s good that it’s not her…” “Mr. Blackwood, your phone is ringing. Do you want to answer it?” Julian looked at his phone. It was Candace. He immediately hung up. Candace called again, and he hung up again. When the phone rang for the third time, Julian had reached his limit. “What?!” The person on the other end was startled by his rage, their voice trembling slightly. “I’m sorry to bother you, Mr. Blackwood, but you have a package. Are you available to sign for it now?” A package? Julian frowned. “My package?” “Yes, I’ve delivered it to the front gate of the villa. Are you available to sign for it now?” “I’m busy right now.” “Alright, I apologize for disturbing you. I’ll contact you tomorrow then.” “Wait,” Julian suddenly remembered something. “Who sent it to me?” “It was Miss Rory Vance.” Julian abruptly stood up and sternly ordered, “I’m coming back right now. Wait for me there!” Julian drove home at the fastest speed he had ever driven in his life. He met the courier just at the main gate of the complex. But the courier was empty-handed. “Where’s my package?” Julian grabbed him. “Didn’t you say Rory sent me a package?” The courier was startled. “Mr. Blackwood? Your wife already signed for it. I just delivered it inside to her.” “I don’t have a wife?!” “Oh? You don’t? But the lady just now said she was Mrs. Blackwood…” Julian stormed into the villa. “Candace! Where is it?!” At this moment, Candace, in the bathroom, jumped with fright. She threw the item in her hand into the toilet and frantically pressed the flush button, but the next second, the bathroom door was kicked open by Julian. He snatched the box from Candace’s hand, frantically flipping through its contents. —It was full of photos. From his teenage years, gradually growing into a mature man. He was in his school uniform, basketball jersey, suit, and casual wear. Front-facing, profile, back shots, all of them. They were all photos of him. Rory had taken them. Some he knew about, some he had no idea of, all secretly taken by Rory in unguarded moments. From the initial rawness to the masterful use of light and composition, Rory’s photography skills had basically been honed by photographing him. The earlier photos, while not as refined in technique, were taken with such love that he seemed to be bathed in a golden glow. Her love, through the lens, was so full it almost overflowed. Later, through her lens, he became a tall, mature man. Sometimes he was focused on work, sometimes he was gently eating. Every single photo was of him. Julian frantically flipped through them, tears streaming down his face, then laughing through his tears. Rory liked him. She was using these photos to tell him that she liked him, had liked him since they were children. When he got to the last photo, Julian froze. It was his wedding photo. Taken by Rory herself. He was wearing a white tuxedo, and another woman’s hand was linked through his arm. His heart suddenly gave a violent lurch, a sharp, unbearable pain. He clutched his chest with one hand, but the photos slipped from his fingers. He ignored the pain, frantically trying to grab them, when he suddenly noticed there were words on the back of the photo. It was Rory’s handwriting! He picked it up, carefully deciphering it. [Julian, perhaps from today, I should truly start calling you Brother. Brother, I wish you happiness.] Julian felt as if a huge hole had ripped open in his heart, cold wind whistling through it. He frantically flipped through the back of every single photo. [Julian, you look so handsome playing basketball!] [Julian, I’m eighteen now, an adult. I want to choose who I like. I like you, did you know?] [Julian, I secretly took another picture of you! You’re actually quite scary when you’re angry, but you never get angry at me. Does that make me special?] [Julian, we’ll be together someday, right? I’m starting to feel less certain. Can you please give me a definite answer?] [Julian, that confession letter really wasn’t written by me, but seeing you get so angry for my sake means you still care about me, doesn’t it?] [Julian, do you like me, or do you just see me as your sister?] [Julian, ……] This last one was only half there, clearly torn. On the back of the photo, only the words “Julian” remained; the rest of the writing was gone. Julian went insane, grabbing Candace’s wrist. “Where’s the other half?!” “Julian, please don’t be like this, you’re scaring me…” “I asked you, where’s the other half?! Speak!!!” Candace, malice flaring, pointed at the toilet. “I tore it into pieces and flushed it away! Ah—” Julian violently flung her away. Candace fell heavily to the ground. “Julian…” Candace trembled as she explained, “Rory actually had such an inappropriate crush on you! And she sent these photos back to you! What if these photos fell into the hands of the media, it would greatly damage your reputation! I destroyed these photos for *your* sake!” “Get out!” “No, I won’t! I’m your wife, Julian. Rory’s gone. From now on, I’ll be with you… Ah!” Candace got up from the floor, trying to embrace him. But this time, Julian showed no mercy. He violently flung her to the ground again, then pointed down at her, warning, “I don’t like hitting women. Get out yourself.” “Julian…” “GET OUT!!!” Candace knew Julian was on the verge of exploding. “Then I’ll go make you dinner in the kitchen. You must be hungry, right? I’ll go right now…” Julian warned her, word by word, “Get out of my and Rory’s home.” The security guards came and threw Candace and all her belongings out. Only then did Julian feel that the house was finally much quieter. He held the box of photos, his fingers gently tracing the handwriting. Rory had come to the Blackwood home when she was little. Even her handwriting, he had taught her, holding her small hand and guiding each stroke. Rory, where are you now? Julian held the box of photos as if it were a priceless treasure. “Rory, where are you?” Rory woke up with a start from her dream. Mrs. Davies asked her, “Why do you look so pale? Did you have a nightmare?” Rory slowly came to her senses.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298608”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Our fifth year of marriage. That’s when Julian Sterling fell madly in love with a college student. They said she was poor, but carried herself with a cool pride, refusing Julian’s black card with a defiant, “I won’t be anyone’s kept woman.” Just those words, I later learned, completely captivated him. He was utterly obsessed. His pursuit of her became the talk of the town, an open secret whispered in every corner. He chased her relentlessly, seemingly forgetting about me, the wife he’d spent ninety-nine love letters wooing and bringing home. I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. Each time he hurt me for her sake, I simply burned a love letter. Ninety-nine letters. When the last one was gone, so would I be. The first letter vanished into flames on our wedding anniversary. He stood me up, choosing instead to spend the entire day at a coffee shop where she worked, just waiting for her shift to end. The thirty-sixth letter burned when he left me on a deserted highway, shivering with a 104-degree fever in a torrential downpour. He was rushing to comfort her, because she was scared of thunder. The seventy-second letter was ashes the day he took down our wedding photo from the living room, replacing it with a childish doodle she’d scribbled. All to make her smile. … The ninety-fifth letter burned during an auction. Julian was supposed to be there with me, to bid on my mother Eleanor’s cherished sapphire necklace – her last possession. But the moment the auction started, he spotted the college student, Willow Reed, working there as a caterer. She glanced at the necklace twice, and that was all it took. Julian didn’t just bid; he lit the sky with his offer, throwing out an astronomical sum, far beyond its worth, then presented it to her in front of everyone. “You liked it, so I bought it for you,” he said, his voice deep and tender. “Do you like it?” Wearing her server’s uniform, she pushed his hand away with righteous indignation. “Mr. Sterling, I’ve told you, I’m not interested in the elite, nor do I want to be your kept woman. Whatever you give me is useless. Please take the necklace back and don’t interrupt my work.” With that, she turned and walked away with an empty glass. Julian didn’t get angry. Instead, he let out a low chuckle, then abandoned everyone and chased after her. A sharp pang shot through my heart. I stood stunned for a couple of seconds before rushing out after them. On the windy yacht deck, Julian was still trying to talk to her. When she truly wouldn’t accept the necklace, he casually tossed it… The priceless sapphire necklace was thrown into the ocean with a flick of his wrist. “Since you don’t like it, I’ll find another,” he said, his voice ridiculously soft. “I’ll keep choosing until you’re satisfied.” Then, without a backward glance, he followed her away, completely oblivious… I had climbed over the railing and jumped, without hesitation, into the dark, freezing water. The moment the seawater flooded my nostrils, I suddenly remembered his proposal five years ago, on a similar yacht. He’d said, “Sera, from now on, even if you want the stars from the sky, I’ll pluck them for you.” Now, he could casually toss my mother’s last possession into the sea. It took me an entire night to crawl out of the icy water. The necklace was clutched in my hand, gleaming from the seawater, but my fingers were stiff with cold. On the way home, scrolling through my Ins feed, I saw his friends all posting the same thing… “Julian Sterling has really fallen for her this time, chasing a server and making such a fuss.” “He didn’t even make this much of a spectacle when he pursued his wife back then, did he?” My fingers paused, my heart squeezed tight by an invisible string. Yes, that was true. Back then, he wrote ninety-nine love letters and proposed ninety-nine times before I finally said yes. We’d been together since high school, from our uniforms to my wedding dress, and after we married, our life together had once been as sweet as honey, perfectly harmonious. Everyone said Julian was madly in love with me. Until our fifth year of marriage. He was in the hospital, getting an IV, when he encountered a clumsy intern. She fumbled the IV several times, leaving his hand bruised and swollen. He didn’t get angry; instead, he watched her panicked expression and smiled. Later, he showered her with money, cars, and even a house, wanting her to be his kept woman. But she, with a righteous face, refused: “Mr. Sterling, I’m not interested in the elite. Please respect yourself.” She even came to me and said, “Please control your husband, don’t let him harass me anymore.” With anyone else, Julian would have erupted. But for her, he not only wasn’t angry, but he chased her even more fiercely. When I confronted him, he casually said: “She’s interesting. I’m just playing around. When I’m tired of it, I’ll come back.” “Sera, I love you very much, but it’s too hard to love just one person your entire life. You need to allow me a little leeway, a moment to… wander.” Agony ripped through me, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave him. So, I found those ninety-nine love letters, deciding to give him ninety-nine chances… Each time he hurt me, I would burn one. The day the letters were all gone would be the day I truly let him go. Now, I lit the lighter and watched the ninety-fifth letter burn. As the flame consumed the paper, I thought, he only has four chances left. When the car arrived at the mansion, I walked through the door and saw Julian standing on the stairs, looking down at me. “You’re back? I need to talk to you.” I nodded, as I had countless times before, stepping onto the stairs without any guard. Who would have thought, as I reached him, he would suddenly extend his hand and shove me violently! “Ah…!” I tumbled down the stairs, my head hitting the steps with a sickening thud. Warm blood trickled from my temple, blurring my vision. I trembled with pain, looking at Julian in disbelief. He slowly walked down, crouched in front of me, and wiped the blood from my face. “Sera, just bear with it.” “Willow’s been looking for a nursing job recently… only if you’re injured will I have a reason to have her move in.” I never imagined Julian would go this far for Willow Reed. To pursue her, he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt his own wife. In the throbbing pain, I tried to speak, but my vision went black, and I passed out. When I next woke, a sharp pain pierced the back of my head. I struggled to open my eyes, seeing an unfamiliar ceiling, momentarily disoriented. “Mrs. Sterling, you’re awake.” A cool voice drifted over. I turned my head and saw Willow Reed standing by the bed, a medical kit in her hand. She wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans, her hair in a high ponytail, her face free of makeup, exuding a youthful freshness. “I’m your nurse, Willow Reed.” Her expression was calm, but her tone held a hint of aloofness. “Though I’ve moved in, please control Mr. Sterling. If he crosses the line again, I’ll leave immediately.” A sharp pain shot through my chest. How ironic. This young woman had moved into my home, yet she expected me, the mistress of the house, to “control my own husband.” “I want a different nurse,” I said, my voice hoarse. Willow seemed not to hear, calmly taking out a syringe. “Now I’ll give you an anti-inflammatory shot.” The first needle went in, missing the vein. The second went astray, and a small lump immediately swelled on my hand. The third time, she directly drew blood. “If you can’t do it, let someone else,” I said, my voice trembling from the pain. At that, Willow’s eyes instantly welled up. She said stubbornly, “What do you mean? Do you think I’d be here if my grandmother wasn’t seriously ill?” She reached for my hand again, and this time the needle sharply broke the skin, blood trickling down my fair wrist. I couldn’t take the pain anymore and shoved her away. “Enough! Don’t touch me!” Willow stumbled backward, knocking over the medicine tray, and glass bottles shattered on the floor. Just then, the door burst open, and Julian strode in. “What’s going on?” His gaze flitted between us, finally settling on Willow, who was sitting on the floor. His face changed instantly. “Since you don’t welcome me, I’ll leave!” Willow, her eyes red, scrambled up as if to rush out. Julian grabbed her arm. “Who said that?!” Willow struggled, shaking off his hand. “Your wife! I was kindly giving her a shot, and she pushed me! I’m just not skilled yet, wasn’t that clear from the start?” Julian immediately looked at my swollen hand. A flicker of pain clearly crossed his eyes, but it turned to compromise when he looked back at Willow. “What do you need to stay?” he asked, his voice soft and pleading. Willow lifted her chin. “I hate how superior you rich people act. I want her to apologize to me.” “Sera,” Julian turned to me, his tone brooking no argument. “Apologize.” I looked at him in disbelief. “She messed me up like this, and I have to apologize?” Julian’s eyes darkened. “If you don’t want to, think about your parents’ company.” A chill ran through me. “You’re threatening me… for her?!” “Sera, it’s just an apology,” Julian said, frowning in irritation. “It won’t kill you. Do you really want to watch your parents’ company go bankrupt?” In that moment, I felt as if a thousand arrows had pierced my heart. I bit my lower lip until I tasted blood. Seeing Julian’s expression grow colder, realizing he was serious, I had to struggle out of bed. Swallowing my humiliation, I bowed deeply to Willow. “I’m sorry.” Willow frowned. “Do you rich people apologize so quietly?” My nails dug into my palms. I bowed again, raising my voice. “I’M SORRY! Are you satisfied now?” Only when Willow reluctantly nodded did Julian’s expression soften. He carefully comforted her, leading her away to tend to her (non-existent) wounds. The moment the door closed, I couldn’t support myself anymore. I sank to the floor, weeping silently. I reached under my pillow and pulled out a yellowed love letter, trembling as I lit it. As the flame consumed the ninety-sixth letter, I remembered Julian at sixteen, writing this letter. Under the cherry blossom trees on our university campus, the young boy, his ears red, handed me the letter and said, “Sera, please be with me. I’ll be good to you my whole life.” Just as the flame was about to die out, the door suddenly opened. “What are you burning?” I clutched the remaining fragments of the letter in my hand, the lingering heat from the flames scorching my palm. “Nothing. Just burning some useless things.” Julian frowned at the remnants, finding them vaguely familiar, but before he could think deeper, Willow’s voice called from the doorway. “Mr. Sterling, are you going to the party or not? If you don’t leave now, I’m not going!” I looked up. “What party?” “I want to introduce her to my circle.” He paused. “But she said she’s your nurse, so she’ll only go if you go.” “Sera, please come with me.” My chest felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. I gave a bitter laugh. “Julian Sterling, what exactly am I to you?” He seemed to flinch, then after a long moment, he said, “Sera, I’ve already explained. Before this, I’d never met a woman so difficult to conquer, so she interests me greatly. You don’t need to be jealous of her. Once I’ve won her over and grown tired, I’ll come back and we’ll live our lives properly.” I slowly closed my eyes. The part of my heart that used to feel pain seemed numb now. In the end, Julian dragged me to the party. In the car, Willow suddenly pulled out a few white pills from her bag. “Mrs. Sterling, these are anti-inflammatory pills. They’ll help you heal faster.” I stared at the pills, not reaching for them. “Are you sure these are anti-inflammatory pills?” Willow’s face changed. “If you don’t trust me, then I have nothing more to say.” “Sera,” Julian frowned, immediately protective of her. “Take the pills.” Under his cold gaze, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. I closed my eyes, then finally took the pills and swallowed them with water. Inside the club’s private room, Julian’s friends had been waiting for a long time. As we entered, they immediately started to cheer: “Julian Sterling finally brought Ms. Reed out!” “Is this the Ms. Reed who has Julian so captivated? She’s definitely special!” I sat in a corner, watching these people who had once cheered for Julian and me. My heart ached. “Ms. Reed, Julian truly loves you,” one of the socialites said, smiling. “Just ask, and he’ll pluck the stars from the sky for you!” Willow didn’t believe them. “Really?” She was half-sincere, half-doubting, so they egged her on to try. “Then… give him the most expensive car in your garage?” she said, pointing to one of his friends. Without a word, Julian threw the keys over, smiling. Everyone cheered. She tried a few more times, asking for watches and houses, and he indulged her every time. The atmosphere in the room reached a fever pitch: “See? Julian is serious about you. I think you should just give in and agree to be his kept woman!” Willow’s expression was stubborn. “No way! I will never be a kept woman! If you keep saying that, I’ll leave!” Afraid she would actually leave, everyone quickly changed the subject and started a game. In every round, they deliberately made Willow lose. The dares were either to sit on Julian’s lap or interlace fingers with him. The tenth time Willow lost, the dare was to kiss the person on her left for three minutes. Cheers erupted in the room. Julian was sitting directly to Willow’s left. Her expression froze instantly. She stood up abruptly. “Are you doing this on purpose? If you keep this up, I’m not playing.” “It’s just a game, don’t be so serious.” “Exactly! How could we cheat? Julian has billions, is he really that childish?” I gripped my wine glass tightly, watching the smirk on Julian’s face. How could he not be? To create opportunities for intimate contact with Willow, this man, worth billions, was stooping to such childish tricks with his friends. The last time I saw him like this was when he was pursuing me. My heart felt like it was being slowly carved with a dull knife, bleeding me dry. What made it worse was that my breathing was becoming increasingly difficult. I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe, and only then noticed the terrifying red rash that had inexplicably broken out on my arms. This was clearly an allergic reaction. But I was always so careful about what I ate. As I gasped for air, a hazy memory of the allergy pills Willow had given me flashed through my mind. Amidst the cheers, Willow quickly kissed Julian’s cheek. He was clearly not satisfied. He suddenly cupped the back of her head. “What kind of kiss is that? Let me show you what a real kiss is.” The next second, I watched in horror as their lips and tongues intertwined, his fingers tangling in her hair. He didn’t notice that the rash had spread to my neck, and my breathing was becoming more and more labored. “Julian…” I struggled to grab his arm. “Take me to the hospital… I’m having an allergic reaction…” “Stop it.” He pushed me away without looking, his other hand still gripping the back of Willow’s neck. “Please…” I tried to pull at his sleeve again, my voice already a raw whisper. This time, he simply shook me off, pressing Willow onto the sofa and deepening the kiss. The kiss grew more forceful, more addictive, more entwined. As he was engrossed in this game, my vision blurred. I stumbled and fell against a champagne tower. Amidst the sound of shattering glass, I finally heard Willow’s scream: “She’s fainted!” When I woke again, I found myself in a hospital bed. Willow’s sobs drifted from outside the door: “What do I do… I didn’t mean to mistake the anti-inflammatory pills for sleeping pills…” “If something serious happened, this would be a major medical malpractice…” Then came Julian’s gentle voice, soothing her: “Don’t be scared. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.” “Even if they pursue it, I can sign a letter of understanding as her family member.” I bit my lip hard until I tasted blood. After what felt like an eternity, the hospital room door opened, and Julian walked in. “What happened to me?” I asked, trembling. “Why did I faint?” “Low blood sugar.” Hearing those three words from his own lips, I heard my heart shatter into a thousand pieces. I remembered when we first got married, a socialite at a party deliberately forced me to drink. The next day, Julian crashed her company’s stock. When that person knelt before me, apologizing, he had wrapped his arm around my waist and said, “Sera, with me here, no one can lay a finger on you.” Now, I was almost dying because of Willow’s mistake, and he was still protecting the culprit! Julian Sterling, how could you hurt me so deeply? I trembled with pain, but Julian didn’t notice my distress. Seeing that I was alright, he eagerly stood up. “Willow has been worried sick all night because of you. I’ll take her back first, then come back to be with you later.” But in the following days, I never saw him. I only saw on Ins that Julian had taken Willow to the beach, to concerts, to all the places we had promised to go to but never did. On the day I was discharged, Julian finally appeared. He stood by the car, holding a bouquet of chrysanthemums. When he saw me, he handed me the flowers: “The company has been busy lately, so I couldn’t be with you. Today is your mother’s death anniversary; I’ll go with you.” I silently took the flowers, only then noticing Willow was also in the car. Ignoring her, I got into the back seat, watching the scenery fly by outside the window, remembering my mother’s last words: “Sera, all Mom wants is for you to find someone who truly loves you.” I touched the three remaining love letters in my bag, thinking bitterly: Mom, I think I chose the wrong person. At the cemetery, before I could even pay my respects, I heard dreadful news. “We’re so sorry, Ms. Caldwell, but due to frequent rain and severe landslides recently, all the graves in this area need to be relocated…” I clutched my bag, my knuckles white. My mother loved peace and quiet in life, and now, even in death, she couldn’t rest. Julian appeared behind me at some point. He took the documents handed by the staff and signed his name with a flourish. “Sera, you go and retrieve the ashes first. I’ll handle the relocation procedures.” I nodded and turned to walk up the hill. The rain had dampened the steps. I dragged my weak body, each step feeling like I was treading on knife points. At my mother’s tombstone, the staff had already dug up the grave. I knelt on the muddy ground and personally lifted my mother’s urn. It was a simple sandalwood box, engraved with her name… Eleanor. “Aunt Eleanor must have been very beautiful,” Willow suddenly spoke, reaching out to help. “Mrs. Sterling, let me help you carry it.” “No need.” I shifted, avoiding her, carefully carrying the urn down the hill. But just then, Willow suddenly shrieked, “Ah! A bug!” In her panic, she abruptly bumped into me. Caught off guard, I tumbled down the steps. I clung desperately to the urn, my back hitting the stone steps hard, the pain making my vision black. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Willow scrambled down. “Let me pick it up for you!” She reached for the urn. Before I could stop her, Willow’s foot slipped… *Crash!* The urn hit the ground hard, shattering into pieces. The grayish-white ashes spilled everywhere, quickly soaking into the rain-drenched earth. “I’m so sorry! I—I’ll clean it up right away!” Willow fumbled, trying to scoop up the ashes, but only made a bigger mess. Washed by the rain, my mother’s ashes slowly dissolved into the mud. I trembled all over, unable to hold back any longer. I slapped her. “Enough! You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!” Willow covered her face, tears instantly streaming down. “I didn’t! I just wanted to help. I might be clumsy, but I had good intentions. How dare you hit me? I might not have money, but you can’t humiliate me like this!” “You just lost your mother’s ashes, but I lost my dignity!” Despair surged to my head. I raised my hand again, but it was caught by a strong grip. Julian appeared from nowhere, grabbing my wrist. “Sera Caldwell! What are you doing?!” Willow finally broke down, crying dramatically, “I was just kindly helping her carry the urn… and I accidentally spilled it… and she hit me…” “If you all can’t stand me, then I’ll just leave.” She took a step, but Julian pulled her into his arms. “Don’t leave. I’ll get justice for you.” Then, he coldly looked at me. “Apologize!” Rain streamed down my face, mixing with my tears. I watched Julian tenderly wipe away Willow’s tears with one hand, while with the other, he angrily told me to apologize. My heart felt as if a piece had been ripped out of me. I stared at him, my lips trembling. “Julian Sterling, did you hear me clearly? She shattered my mother’s ashes!” “That’s still no reason for you to lay a hand on her!” Julian’s voice was colder than the icy rain. He grabbed Willow’s wrist. “Don’t be afraid. Since she refuses to apologize, and she hit you, then you hit her back.” My pupils constricted. Before I could react, I saw Julian’s strong, well-defined fingers enclose Willow’s hand, bringing it down with the force of thunder. *Smack!* That slap was ten times harder than the one I’d given her! I stumbled backward, the entire world spinning. My lower back hit the hard tombstone, and my knees crashed onto the stone steps, a sharp pain exploding through every fiber of my being. But none of that compared to the pain in my heart, a tearing, suffocating anguish that split me in two. Julian didn’t even glance at me. He just bowed his head and used his thumb to wipe the rain from Willow’s face. “Do you feel better now?” Only when he heard her tearful “Yes,” did he let out a sigh of relief, wrapping his suit jacket around Willow and lifting her into his arms. As he turned, his leather shoes crushed the scattered ashes on the ground, leaving a trail of glaring footprints. I sat in the rain, my entire body trembling from the pain. I reached out a shaking hand, wanting to gather those grayish-white specks, but the rain washed them away too quickly, just like my years of feelings for Julian, impossible to hold onto. “Mom, I was wrong…” My voice choked. “I married the wrong man. I shouldn’t have married him…” After collecting the remaining ashes, I pulled out the ninety-seventh love letter from my bag and lit it with a trembling hand. As the flame consumed the paper, I remembered Julian’s promise to my sick mother that year: “Don’t worry, I will protect Sera with my life, and never let anyone bully her.” Julian Sterling, so this is how you protect me? By helping another woman hit me? I regretted it. Falling in love with you, I regretted it so deeply. I suffered a high fever all night. I dreamt I was submerged in icy water, my mother’s ashes swirling around me like snowflakes. I tried to grasp the grayish-white powder, but it slipped through my fingers. “Sera… Sera…” Someone was calling my name. I struggled to open my eyes, only to find myself not in bed, but in a speeding car. The scenery outside the window flew past. Julian gripped the steering wheel, his face terrifyingly grim. “Julian…” My throat was so dry. “Where are you taking me?” Julian didn’t look at me, only said coldly, “Willow has been kidnapped.” I froze, my muddled brain slowly clearing. “So?” “They specifically asked for you.” Julian finally turned to glance at me. “It’s Darian Thorne.” Darian Thorne. That name pierced my heart like a knife. The madman who had once relentlessly pursued me, and whom Julian had eventually driven out of town. “You… you’re going to use me to exchange for Willow Reed?” My voice trembled. Julian’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Darian used to like you. He won’t do anything to you.” I felt as if I’d fallen into an ice cave. I struggled to open the car door, only to find my hands were tied beneath the seatbelt. “Julian Sterling!” I screamed. “Are you insane?! You know what kind of person Darian is!” “Sera, calm down.” Julian’s voice was terrifyingly calm. “Once I drop Willow off, I’ll come back for you immediately.” The car stopped in front of a deserted warehouse. “I’ve brought the person,” Julian said, pushing me forward. “Where’s Willow?” Darian snapped his fingers, and two of his men brought Willow out. Her hair was disheveled, tears stained her face. Her eyes lit up when she saw Julian. “Mr. Sterling!” Julian immediately let go of me, striding forward to pull Willow into his arms. “It’s alright, don’t be scared, I’m here.” I stood rooted to the spot, a chill running through my body. I watched Julian check Willow for injuries, watched him gently wipe away her tears, watched him not spare me a single glance. “JULIAN STERLING!!!” I couldn’t hold back any longer and shrieked. Only then did Julian turn back, repeating, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back for you soon.” With that, he wrapped his arm around Willow and turned to leave, his back resolute. I tried to follow, but Darian grabbed my wrist. “Long time no see, Ms. Caldwell.” His breath on my ear made me shiver. Darian shoved me into a car and drove straight to a hotel. The moment the door closed, he threw me onto the bed. “Julian Sterling really doesn’t care,” he said, tearing off his tie. “To personally deliver a stunner like you to me.” I struggled desperately, but he easily overpowered me. He pinned me down, his fingers tracing my cheek. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted you?” “Let go of me…” My voice trembled. “Don’t touch me…” Seeing me trembling with fear, Darian suddenly smiled, his fingers caressing my face. “How about this? I’ll give you a chance. Call Julian. If he answers, I’ll let you go.” I trembled as I dialed Julian’s number. But, Once, twice, three times… Over a hundred calls, all went unanswered! “See, Sera Caldwell, to him, you’re worthless now.” “Come with me, and I’ll make you happy.” Darian leered, pressing down, tearing at my dress. Just as he was about to force himself on me, I finally snapped awake, grabbed the vase from the bedside table, and smashed it over Darian’s head. He grunted and collapsed. I seized the opportunity to escape. The night rain poured. I stumbled, soaked to the bone, with Darian’s bruises still on me, running home. The moment I pushed open the door, I saw Willow sobbing in Julian’s arms. “You really don’t care about your wife’s life, all for me?” Julian wiped her tears. “Yes, in my heart, you’re the most important.” Willow cried even harder. He helplessly cupped her face. “My little princess, didn’t I save you? Why are you still so scared?” “Anyone would be scared after being kidnapped…” Julian curved his lips. “I have a way to make you stop being scared.” “I don’t believe it…” “Want me to try?” he smiled. With that, Julian lowered his head and kissed Willow, pressing her onto the sofa. I watched this scene unfold, my chest aching as if it had been ripped open. I turned and walked away, the rain instantly drenching me again. I didn’t know how long I ran until I stood before our familiar old family house. This was where Julian and I grew up together. Our families were old friends, we were childhood sweethearts, living in adjacent mansions. Rain dripped from my hair. I walked to the old oak tree in the backyard. I remembered, when I was eighteen, Julian and I buried a time capsule here, promising to dig it up together ten years later. “Sera, in ten years, we’ll definitely be married,” young Julian had smiled brightly, placing a letter in the metal box. “I wrote a letter to my future self, telling him to love you forever.” I knelt on the muddy ground, digging up the soil by the tree roots with my bare hands. My nails broke, my fingertips bled, but I felt no pain. The metal box was rusted, but the letter inside was perfectly preserved. I trembled as I unfolded the letter, young Julian’s neat handwriting jumping off the page: *Julian Sterling, twenty-eight years old:* *If you dare not to love Sera, my eighteen-year-old self will never forgive you.* *Remember, she is your life.* Rain fell on the letter, blurring the ink. I pressed the letter to my chest, crying uncontrollably. How I missed that boy who would blush while writing me love letters, that Julian who swore to protect me forever. “He broke his promise… He broke his promise…” I cried out to the empty air, as if eighteen-year-old Julian could hear me. I sat under the tree for a long time, until the rain stopped. Then I took out the ninety-eighth love letter from my bag and lit it. “Sera!” Julian’s voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned around and saw him get out of his car, pulling me into a hug, his voice carrying a rare hint of panic: “Why didn’t you say anything after escaping Darian? And why didn’t you come home? Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?” I leaned into his embrace, smelling Willow’s perfume still clinging to him. I said softly, “Do you still care if I live or die?” “How could I not care about you?” Julian tightened his arms. “I took Willow home and came straight to find you.” I wanted to laugh, but couldn’t. I held up the damp letter. “Do you remember this? The time capsule we buried when we were eighteen.” Julian frowned. “What time capsule? Did we bury something like that?” He looked at the sky. “Alright, let’s go home. The wind’s strong, you’ll get sick, and then Willow will have to take care of you.” In that moment, I smiled. And as I smiled, tears streamed down my face. The thing I cherished so deeply, He had forgotten. Sera, do you hear? He forgot a long time ago! In the following days, I recovered at home, watching Willow’s attitude towards Julian gradually soften. The jewelry and bags he sent, she began to accept with pleasure; When he came home late, she would wait in the living room; Sometimes, I even saw Willow secretly holding Julian’s hand. A week later, the three of us attended a business reception. Julian had to go socialize. Before he left, he instructed me, “Take care of Willow.” The socialites around us whispered. “Did you see that? He’s making his wife take care of his kept woman. Julian spoils her beyond belief.” “Not just that, the mistress is dressed more expensively than the wife. He must truly adore her.” “But I heard Mr. Sterling used to love Mrs. Sterling so much? How did it come to this?” “He loved her before, but now he’s met someone he loves more. True love, it changes in an instant.” I listened to all of this silently. Until Willow, apparently bored, impatiently said to me, “I’ll just look around by myself, Mrs. Sterling. You don’t need to follow me. I won’t cause trouble.” With that, before I could respond, she disappeared into the crowd with her champagne. But less than ten minutes later, I heard a familiar scream from nearby. I rushed over and saw a rich brat gripping Willow’s wrist. “You little bitch, stop playing innocent. There isn’t a woman in this entire city I can’t touch!” “Bastard, don’t touch me!” Willow struggled, her eyes red. “I’m poor, yes, but I have dignity. I won’t let you humiliate me like this!” I was about to step forward when I saw Willow pull a small, delicate knife from her clutch bag. A flash of cold light, and blood immediately appeared on the brat’s face. The brat raged, raising his hand to hit her. But just then, a dark figure rushed in. Julian’s fist landed heavily on the man’s face. I stood rooted, watching him, like a furious lion, punch again and again until the man’s face was covered in blood. “Mr. Sterling…” the brat begged, his face bloody. “Our two companies still have a partnership!” “Not anymore,” Julian announced coldly, looking at everyone. “Remember, from now on, anyone who dares to touch Willow Reed is an enemy of my entire Sterling Group!” “And he… is their consequence!” In the dead silence, Julian ordered the half-dead playboy to be dragged away. As he turned, I instinctively took half a step back. “Sera Caldwell!” The violence hadn’t faded from his eyes. “Is this how you take care of Willow?” I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The light from the crystal chandelier was too harsh, making my eyes ache. I watched him carefully shield Willow in his arms and walk away. I suddenly remembered that on our wedding day, someone accidentally spilled red wine on my dress, and he had reacted just as furiously. Back then, he had said, “No one gets to bully my wife.” Now he said, “No one gets to bully my Willow.” They were right. True love, indeed, changes in an instant. After the reception, the three of us returned home together. A sudden, jarring phone ring broke the silence. “What?! Okay, I’ll be right there!” Willow hung up the phone, instantly bursting into tears. “Mr. Sterling, can you take me to the hospital first… My grandma… Grandma is critically ill…” Without a word, Julian sharply turned the steering wheel, making a U-turn. Amidst the screeching of tires, my forehead hit the car window hard, but he didn’t spare me a glance, only comforting Willow, who was sobbing hysterically in the passenger seat. “Don’t be scared,” he said, gripping the steering wheel with one hand and Willow’s trembling fingers with the other. “I’m here.” When we arrived at the hospital corridor, the doctor had just come out of the operating room. “The elderly lady’s liver is failing. A transplant might give her some time, but I personally don’t recommend it. She’s very old, and a liver source is hard to find right now.” “Do it! We must do the surgery!” Willow suddenly grabbed the doctor’s white coat, her nails almost digging into the fabric. “Whatever the cost!” Julian had already pulled out his phone. “I’ll have someone find a liver source immediately.” His back, as he made the call, was as straight as a pine tree, just like when my father had a sudden heart attack years ago, and he had swiftly called in the best specialists in the city. Only now, that decisiveness was for someone else. The assistant’s call came back quickly. I stood nearby, clearly seeing Julian’s brow furrow. “Who is it?” The voice on the other end stammered, then the assistant’s voice came through clearly: “It’s… Mrs. Sterling. A perfect match.” Willow’s head snapped towards me, tears still on her face, but she lunged forward, grabbing my hand. “Mrs. Sterling, please…” Her fingers were icy cold, slick with clammy sweat. I instinctively tried to pull my hand away, but Julian pressed it down. “Sera, just donate a part,” his voice was soft, coaxing gently. “You won’t die.” I looked up at him, a terrible coldness enveloping me. I had accepted the fact that in his heart now, I was less than Willow. But now, I couldn’t even compare to Willow’s grandmother, could I? “I refuse.” I sharply pulled my hand free. “I am not a living organ bank.” With that, I turned to leave. But the next second, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck. Julian’s hand chop was swift and brutal. I collapsed before I could even react. My last conscious thought was of him carrying me horizontally, telling the doctor, “Prepare the operating room!” When I woke again, a soul-wrenching pain radiated from my abdomen. I trembled as I lifted my hospital gown, seeing blood seeping from the bandaged wound. “You just had a liver transplant. Don’t move around.” The nurse gently restrained my attempt to sit up. I bit my lip hard until I tasted blood. He actually… For Willow’s grandmother, he had forcibly transplanted my liver! The wound beneath my hospital gown throbbed, like someone was twisting a dull knife inside my organs. But how could this pain compare to a thousandth of the pain in my heart? I traced the jagged scar on my abdomen with trembling fingers. How laughable, the deepest scar on my body was left by the man I loved most. For the next few days, I lay in bed like a puppet, listening to the cheerful laughter coming from the room next door. “The old lady is so fortunate, to have such a filial granddaughter and grandson-in-law!” “Mr. Sterling is truly a man of loyalty and righteousness, always busy caring for his wife’s grandmother…” Wife? I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t even have the strength to twitch the corner of my mouth. I spent an entire half-month in the hospital. Every day, I heard Julian’s solicitous voice in the corridor, inquiring about Willow and her grandmother, but he never once stepped into my room. On the day I was discharged, I was packing my things to leave when I accidentally overheard Willow, her voice tearful, questioning Julian in the hallway. “Mr. Sterling, why do you keep doing so much for me even though I keep refusing you? Even… even transplanting your wife’s liver to save my grandmother?” I stood rooted, listening to Julian’s deep voice: “I’ve told you many times, because I like you, and I want to be with you. My darling, do you need me to dig out my entire heart before you’ll believe me?” After what felt like an eternity, Willow seemed to finally make up her mind. “I… I can agree to be with you, but I have a condition.” Julian’s heart surged with joy. He eagerly pulled her into his arms. “Tell me,” his voice was hoarse with emotion. “Whatever you say, I’ll agree to it.” “I won’t be a kept woman.” Willow said, word by word. “I want to be with you openly and honestly… on the condition that you divorce.” A deathly silence. I counted my heartbeats, one, two… On the seventeenth beat, I finally heard Julian’s voice: “Okay.” Just that one word, a light, airy word. I slid down the wall to the floor. The wound on my abdomen burned, but compared to the pain of my heart being savagely carved out, it was nothing. Back home, I burned the very last love letter. As the flame consumed the paper, I remembered Julian when he sent that letter. The spirited young man stood below my apartment, snowflakes clinging to his eyelashes, saying, “Sera, this is the ninety-ninth love letter. Please be with me. I’ll love you for my whole life.” Now, ninety-nine love letters had turned to ash. His “whole life” was only ten years. The letters were all burned. It was time for me to leave. I opened my suitcase, folding clothes one by one. When I was tidying up the study, Julian’s computer screen was still on. His SnapChat was open, with messages popping up: [Bro, heard Willow said yes, but wants you to divorce? You seriously considering divorcing Sera?] [Bro, you really need to think this through. Willow is just a kept woman, but Sera has been your childhood sweetheart for how many years?] [And if you really divorce, how heartbroken would Sera be? She’s not easy to coax!] [@Julian Sterling, Bro, what are you thinking? Say something!] I stood there, silently watching the messages scroll by, and then, I finally saw Julian’s reply: [I want both.] [But right now, I want Willow more.] The group chat went silent for a few seconds, then erupted. [Holy crap, did I read that right? What kind of charm does Willow Reed have that she’s got you actually considering divorce?] [You better think carefully. Sera has a stubborn temper. If you suggest divorce, you guys are probably done for.] [No, I have an idea, Bro. Draft a divorce agreement, and trick Sera into thinking it’s a property transfer. She trusts you so much, she won’t even look at it and just sign.] [As long as you keep her in the dark, she won’t make a fuss or leave. Whenever you get tired of Willow, you can just revoke the divorce agreement.] The group chat was filled with approvals for this “brilliant plan.” [Wow, that’s genius! That way, Bro can have his cake and eat it too.] And Julian replied with three words: [Good idea.] I slowly closed the laptop, my fingertips icy. So, in his eyes, I didn’t even deserve to know the truth. The next morning, as I finished breakfast, Julian returned. He was impeccably dressed in a suit, holding a document, just as I expected. “Sera, sign this.” His tone was as casual as if discussing the weather. “I’m transferring the villa in the east district to you.” I quietly looked at this man who had once shielded me from drinks, fought for me, and knelt in the snow to propose to me. This was the man I had loved for over a decade. “Okay,” I said, feigning ignorance, taking the pen without a glance and signing my name on the “property agreement.” Julian visibly relaxed. “I’ll be taking Willow on a trip for a while, so I won’t be back.” As he turned to leave, I quietly said, “Julian Sterling.” “Hmm?” He turned back. “Nothing. Have a good trip.” After he left, I took the agreement straight to the courthouse. The clerk confirmed repeatedly, “Ms. Caldwell, are you sure you want to proceed with the divorce? Once it’s done, it cannot be revoked.” “Absolutely sure.” The moment the seal stamped down, my heart felt strangely calm. So this is what it feels like to truly give up: no pain, no itch, like having a dead tooth extracted. The airport lobby was bustling with people. I clutched my one-way ticket, taking one last look at my phone. On SnapChat, Julian’s friend had posted a photo of him and Willow at the airport. The caption: [Congrats to Julian Sterling for finally winning his beauty!] I turned off my phone, threw away my SIM card, and strode towards the boarding gate. Congratulations to me too. For finding my freedom, for a new beginning. News of Sterling Group’s CEO, Julian Sterling, and his kept woman traveling together frequently topped the Ins trending list. People often spotted them in various places, turning into amateur gossip reporters, snapping photos of their affectionate moments and uploading them online, sparking widespread discussions.

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I was known in our circle as the ultimate little vixen, with my lips always curled into a knowing smile and eyes that could charm anyone. Julian Sterling, on the other hand, was the most brilliant heir of the elite families, an untouchable enigma, known for his cold restraint. No one knew that two people so utterly opposite, like Julian and I, would be entangled in such a wild, desperate way—wrestling in the backseat of his Maybach late at night, clawing at each other in the charity gala’s bathroom, or pressed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of his private vineyard, his hands gripping my waist, pushing me against the glass until my legs turned to jelly. After another night of pure abandon, I heard the shower running in the bathroom. I leaned against the headboard, dialing my father, Robert. “I can marry that dying heir from Southwood City to bring him luck, but I have one condition…” On the other end, his voice was barely contained with glee. “Name it! Whatever you want, your father will agree, as long as you marry him!” “I’ll tell you the details when I get home.” My voice was soft, but my eyes held a chilling indifference. I hung up and was about to get up and get dressed when my eyes caught Julian’s laptop lying beside the bed. The SnapChat screen was lit up, the newest message from a girl named “Willow.” 【Julian, it’s thundering, I’m so scared…】 My fingers trembled. The bathroom door suddenly opened, and Julian walked out. Water droplets slid down his collarbone, his shirt unbuttoned casually at the top two buttons, giving him a lazy yet dangerously sensual look. “Something came up at the office. I’m leaving.” He picked up his jacket, his voice still cool and distant. My lips curled into a faint smile. “Is it really the office, or are you going to see your first love?” Julian didn’t quite hear me. “What?” “Nothing.” I got out of bed barefoot, my delicate feet sinking into the soft carpet. His eyes darkened slightly, and his thumb brushed against my swollen lips. “Be good, don’t cause trouble.” The moment the door closed, the smile vanished from my face. I hailed a cab and followed him. Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a hotel. Through the rain-streaked window, I saw Willow, dressed in a white gown, running out of the hotel entrance. Julian quickly stepped forward, took off his suit jacket, and draped it over her shoulders, then swept her into his arms. “It’s cold out. Why did you come out without a jacket, hm?” His actions were so practiced, as if he’d rehearsed them a thousand times. I clutched the car door handle, my nails digging deep into my palm. Watching Julian carefully carry Willow into the hotel, I suddenly remembered the first time I saw him. Back then, my father and I were at odds. After I’d cracked his head open one too many times, he sent me to his best friend’s son for ‘guidance,’ claiming it would temper my spoiled heiress temper. When we first met, Julian was in his top-floor office at Sterling Corp, his gaze through his gold-rimmed glasses as cold as ice. Of course, I didn’t want to be there. So I tried every trick in the book to cause trouble. On my first day, I spilled coffee all over his custom-tailored suit worth a fortune. Julian merely gave me a brief glance. “That cashmere was flown in from Italy. Put it on the Sterling family’s tab.” The next day, I deliberately shredded important meeting documents. Julian didn’t bat an eye, instead reciting the entire content from memory, leaving the executives in the room stunned. On the third day, I drugged his coffee, set up a camera, and planned to capture his embarrassing state to blackmail him. Instead, I became his antidote. Waking up the next day, every muscle ached. I was furious, ready to kill, but Julian pinned me against the floor-to-ceiling window for another round. “Blair,” he whispered, biting my earlobe, his voice hoarse. “Be good.” That one word, “Blair,” completely disarmed me. No one had called me that since my mother passed away. From then on, our relationship completely changed. Every time I caused trouble, Julian would simply haul me into his office. Outsiders thought he was scolding me, but in reality, he was pressing me against his desk until my legs gave out. Gradually, I found myself craving more. Was it his skill? Or was it just my loneliness? I didn’t know. All I knew was that I was completely hooked. So, on his birthday, I spent an entire day decorating his villa. Roses, candlelight, music—I even had an engagement ring ready. But I waited all night. The candles burned out, the roses wilted, and he never came. It wasn’t until 3 AM that a news alert popped up on my phone— #Elite CEO Spotted Picking Up His First Love Late at Night# The photo showed Julian carefully shielding a girl in a white dress as they got into a car, his gaze achingly tender. The comments section exploded: “OMG, a powerful CEO and his innocent first love. I’m obsessed!” “Holy sh*t! Isn’t that Mr. Sterling and Willow, the campus queen? Back in the day, they were the golden couple of our school!” “I went to the same school, I can confirm! Mr. Sterling was cold to everyone but always smiled at Willow! If she hadn’t gone abroad for her health, they’d probably be married by now!” My phone *clattered* to the floor. I couldn’t believe my eyes. If Julian already had someone in his heart, what was I? Just a convenient bedmate? I frantically dialed Julian’s number, desperate for an answer, but the call never connected. After the last failed attempt, I put down my phone and walked into Julian’s study, a room he never allowed me to enter. The moment I pushed open the door, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning— The room was filled with Willow’s photos. Graduation photos, travel photos, even candid shots of her sleeping. Julian Sterling, who was always so cool and self-controlled, had done something like this. Whether I got an answer or not, it no longer seemed to matter. I suddenly burst out laughing, my laughter echoing harshly in the empty room. As I laughed, hot tears streamed down my face, tracing my delicate jawline before splashing onto the floor. With red-rimmed eyes, I trashed the entire villa. The next day, Julian returned, looked at the mess, and calmly instructed his staff to clean up. He didn’t even spare me a glance, as if my actions were perfectly normal. I watched, helpless, as the maids swept away the engagement ring I had so carefully prepared, treating it like trash. He didn’t know what was in that box. He didn’t know I had wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. And he certainly didn’t know that the moment that ring was swept into the trash, I also decided I would no longer love him. “Miss Blair, where are you going?” The driver’s voice pulled me back to reality. “Home.” I opened my eyes, my voice icy. “Back to the Sterling family home.” Back at the Sterling villa, my father, Robert, immediately greeted me. “Blair, are you really willing to marry into the Southwood family?” On the stairs, my stepmother, Victoria, also looked at me expectantly. “Yes.” My eyes turned cold. “But didn’t I say I had a condition?” “What condition? Tell me!” “I want to…” I enunciated each word slowly. “…disown you as my father.” The air froze. Robert’s face instantly changed. “You’ve gone insane! Do you know what you’re saying?!” “Couldn’t be clearer.” My voice was as cold as ice. “You cheated on my mother, and to make way for that woman, you literally drove my mother to jump to her death. From that day on, I stopped wanting you as a father.” I stared at Robert’s ashen face. “Now the dying heir of Southwood City’s family is offering 50 billion for a propitious marriage, and you’ve been pestering me for three months. If I didn’t agree, were you planning to tie me up and drag me there?” “If that’s the case, what difference does it make if we cut ties?” I sneered, my lips twisting. “Perfect timing to bring your mistress’s daughter back and let her be the Sterling heiress.” Robert was trembling with rage. “Fine! Cut ties then! But the Southwood heir is rumored to not live past the end of the month, so you *must* marry him before then!” He sneered. “As for Victoria’s daughter, she returned from abroad two days ago and has been staying in a hotel. Since you’re willing to give up your position, she’ll move in tomorrow!” I laughed out loud, my heart aching and trembling. “Eager to pamper another woman while neglecting your own daughter, you truly are one of a kind.” I turned to leave, but Victoria, my stepmother, feigned concern and blocked my path. “Blair, how can you talk to your father like that?” I stopped abruptly. I slowly turned back, my eyes burning with years of suppressed hatred. “What? Do you think that once I’m married and out of this house, you can finally put on airs as the legitimate wife?” I stepped closer, one step at a time. “Victoria, listen carefully. Even if my mother is dead, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re a universally despised homewrecker! And your precious daughter, even if she becomes the Sterling heiress, can’t erase the stain of her mother being the other woman!” Victoria’s face instantly paled, and she staggered back two steps. I turned and walked away, each step feeling like I was treading on knife edges. It wasn’t until I returned to my room and closed the door that I slid to the floor, as if all my strength had been drained, burying my face deep in my knees. The next morning, I heard a noisy commotion and laughter downstairs. “What’s going on?” I threw open the door. “Are you trying to keep me from sleeping?” Mr. Davies, the butler, stammered. “Miss Blair… Miss Willow has moved in…” Before he could finish, a familiar figure appeared at the top of the stairs— Willow stood there in a white dress, looking soft and delicate. My blood instantly froze! I never imagined that my stepmother’s daughter, who had supposedly been “recovering from illness” abroad for years, was actually Julian’s first love. Fate truly played a cruel joke on me. The next second, Willow walked towards me, a sweet smile on her face. “I’m so sorry, big sis. Did I wake you up…?” Before she could finish, I slammed the door shut with a *bang*. “Blair! Have you no manners?!” Robert roared from outside. “Empty your room! Willow likes it; it’ll be her room from now on!” I sneered and immediately opened my closet to start packing. Fragmented conversations drifted from outside the door— “Mr. Sterling, is big sis angry?” Willow’s voice was soft enough to drip with honey. “Don’t mind her. She’s been spoiled since she was little.” “But…” “Don’t worry. She’ll be married off to Southwood City soon. After that, this house will be yours and your mother’s.” My hand paused, then my sneer deepened. I promptly booked a flight to Southwood City for the end of the month and continued packing. Half an hour later, I dragged my suitcase out of the room. In the living room, Robert, Victoria, and Willow were sitting on the couch watching TV, with fruits and pastries on the coffee table. They looked like a happy family, completely at peace. I walked past them without sparing a glance. “Stop right there!” Robert barked. “What are you trying to pull now? Don’t forget what you promised!” “Don’t worry, I’ll keep my word.” I said without looking back. “It’s just that for these next two weeks, I don’t want to stay here and feel sick.” I went directly to the most expensive hotel in the city and booked a presidential suite. For the next few days, I went on a shopping spree— I bought the most extravagant wedding gown, then splurged at an auction for antique jewelry as my dowry. Even if I was marrying him for a propitious marriage, I would do it with style and flair. My phone vibrated incessantly in my bag. I didn’t take it out until I bought the last diamond necklace. Thirty-eight missed calls, all from Robert. As soon as I swiped to answer, his roar came through. “Are you crazy?! You spent three hundred million in one day! Are you trying to bankrupt me?!” “What’s the rush?” I sneered. “Once I’m married, you’ll have 50 billion flowing in.” “But that money hasn’t arrived yet! If you keep spending like this, the company will declare bankruptcy tomorrow!” I sneered again. That was exactly what I wanted. I’d already planned to have the Southwood family transfer that 50 billion directly into my personal account after the marriage. Then I’d see if Willow and her homewrecker mother would still stick to a penniless old man. Did they really think everyone was as foolish as my mother? She helped Robert build his empire from scratch, toiled until she was spitting blood and hospitalized, only to be driven to jump to her death. Thinking of my mother, my heart suddenly twisted with sharp pain. My phone vibrated again. It was a text from Julian: 【What kind of tantrum are you throwing now? Why didn’t you come to the office today?】 I stared at the message for a long time. For the past year, because Julian was supposedly “mentoring” me, I had to report to the office punctually almost every day. But now I was getting married. What was there left for him to ‘mentor’ me on? I returned to the hotel with a dozen shopping bags, only to find my luggage piled up in the lobby. “What’s going on?” I demanded coldly. The front desk staff awkwardly explained, “Miss Blair, your card… it’s been declined. According to hotel policy…” My phone vibrated right on cue. A message from Robert popped up: 【Since you want to cut ties, don’t use my cards. I’ve frozen all your accounts.】 I stared at the screen for a long time, so long my eyes started to sting. Finally, I just replied with two words: 【Fine.】 I dragged my suitcase and walked down the street. My flight was at the end of the month. I couldn’t go anywhere now. Where would I live for the next two weeks? What would I eat? What would I use? My suitcase was filled with my wedding dress and dowry, not a single item could be sold. As for borrowing money… I’d rather sleep on the street than humble myself to those in my circle who were waiting to laugh at me. A nearby park bench was barely enough to lie on. I had just set down my luggage when a drunken man approached me. “Hey, beautiful, all alone?” “Get lost!” “Why so fierce? Come play with big brother…” As the man’s greasy hand reached for my shoulder, I raised my hand, ready to slap him— “Ah!!” A scream ripped through the air. Julian appeared out of nowhere, twisting the man’s wrist with a single swift motion. Before I could react, I was pulled into his car, along with my luggage. “Let go of me!” Julian gripped my flailing wrist. “What are you throwing a tantrum about now?” His voice was deep. “Homeless, and you still wouldn’t come to me?” That sentence made my nose sting. Whenever I’d fought with Robert and run away, Julian would always drive all over the city looking for me, then carry me back home on his back. “What are you throwing a tantrum about now?” He’d always say that then, too. I’d lie on his back, breathing in his crisp cedar scent, innocently believing he might have liked me just a little. Now that I thought about it— No one was more of a jerk than him! He didn’t like me, yet he slept with me. And after sleeping with me, he’d go back to his study and gaze lovingly at Willow’s photos. I didn’t understand what I lacked compared to Willow. In terms of family background, looks, or figure, how was I inferior to her? He could have liked anyone, but why Willow? Why her of all people? “Let go!” My eyes red-rimmed, I bit Julian’s hand hard. He frowned but said nothing, simply starting the car. Julian drove back to his villa, carrying my suitcase straight inside. “Same as before,” he said, unbuttoning his cuff, his tone brooking no argument. “Stay until you want to go home.” I stood in the entryway, my nails digging into my palms. “I’m only staying for two weeks. I’ll leave after that, I’ll pay you rent, and I won’t bother you again.” “Won’t bother me again?” Julian slowly raised his eyes to look at me, his gaze through his gold-rimmed glasses fathomless. “Can you actually do that?” His words pierced my heart like a knife, and my chest seized up in pain. He’d seen through me all along. He’d seen how I went from fierce opposition to needing him completely. I loved him terribly. And what about him? He kept his first love in his heart, yet watched me fall deeper into despair? “Willow…” I suddenly began. “She’s my stepmother’s daughter. Did you know?” Julian paused in untying his tie. “I only found out today.” After a long silence, I couldn’t help but ask, “What is your relationship with her?” “She’s a junior from school,” Julian said, pouring himself a glass of water and taking a slow sip. “We went to the same school, worked together in student government. Once, she saved me in a car accident. Afterward, her health wasn’t good, so she’s been recuperating abroad.” He looked at me, his eyes carrying a warning. “I know you have issues with your stepmother, but this has nothing to do with Willow. You don’t need to target her.” All my words caught in my throat. I had wanted to ask, “Do you love her?” But now, it just felt ridiculous. Given how he was defending her at every turn, what was the point of asking? I turned and went back to the guest room, slamming the door shut. That night, for the first time, Julian didn’t come looking for me. I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Right, his first love was back. Why would he still care about me? The next day, I deliberately slept until noon, hoping to avoid Julian. But when I opened the door, I found he was still home. He sat on the couch, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose, flipping through a finance magazine. “Awake?” He didn’t even look up. “Aren’t you going to the office?” “It’s the weekend.” I mumbled an “oh,” grabbed some desserts from the fridge, and prepared to go back to my room. But Julian suddenly spoke. “Change your clothes. You’re coming to a party with me later.” I had intended to refuse, but then I reconsidered. Rather than being cooped up alone with Julian, it would be better to get some fresh air. So I changed and went with him. But once we arrived, I realized it was Willow’s welcome-back party. I turned to leave, but Willow enthusiastically linked her arm through mine. “Big sis, it’s so good you could come. Don’t fight with Mr. Sterling anymore. After you ran away, he was so worried he didn’t eat all day.” I sneered. “Oh, so you *do* know he’s just ‘Mr. Sterling’ to you? Then whether I run away or fight with him, what does that have to do with you? Do you live by the ocean? Mind your own business.” I shook off Willow’s hand and walked into the private room, catching a glimpse of her red eyes, looking wronged as she turned to Julian. Julian gave me a dark look, his eyes warning me, Then he gently ruffled Willow’s hair, whispering something that made her smile through her tears. My heart stung. I lowered my head and chugged a glass of champagne. The private room buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses. I sat in a corner, watching Julian, surrounded by people, yet his attention never wavered from Willow. He would unscrew her drink bottle before she even reached for it; he’d hand her a napkin the moment a drop of wine stained her dress; he even subtly adjusted the air conditioning when she let out a soft cough. These gentle, thoughtful gestures were something I had never received. Numbly, I downed another glass of wine, my heart feeling like it was being slowly flayed by a blunt knife, trembling with pain. For the past year, Julian and I had done nothing but sleep together. Even during our most passionate moments, I had never seen a hint of losing control on his face. “The bottle landed on Mr. Sterling!” Someone suddenly cheered. “Time for a dare!” The crowd chuckled, handing him a tablet. “They say Mr. Sterling is the most ascetic man in our circle, so we won’t make it hard for you. Just a quick two-choice question: say the name of the person who moves you the most.” The first set of photos showed a popular actress and Willow. Julian glanced at them and said without hesitation, “Willow.” The room erupted in cheers. Willow blushed and lowered her head, but a smile she couldn’t hide played on her lips. My nails dug into my palms. Set after set of photos flashed by, and each time, Julian chose Willow without a moment’s thought. I couldn’t bear to listen anymore and stood up to go to the restroom. Just two steps later, an even louder cheer erupted behind me. I turned around and saw photos of Willow and me displayed prominently on the tablet. “Whoa!” Everyone got excited. “This is interesting! Miss Blair is the most beautiful woman in our circle; those actresses don’t even compare! If Mr. Sterling still chooses Miss Willow, it really says something…” All eyes were on Julian. But Julian was uncharacteristically silent. I froze, my heart practically hammering out of my chest. Three seconds later, I heard Julian’s deep voice: “Willow.” My world crumbled in that instant. Amidst the booming cheers in the room, I stumbled into the restroom, turned on the faucet, and splashed cold water on my face, but it couldn’t extinguish the burning pain in my heart. After a long time, I looked up at myself in the mirror. The girl in the reflection was breathtakingly beautiful, but also utterly defeated. When I emerged from the restroom, the hallway lights were dim. As I rounded the corner, three or four drunken men blocked my path. “Hey, beautiful, wanna exchange SnapChat IDs?” The leader reeked of alcohol, reaching out to touch my face. “Get lost!” I recoiled violently, my back hitting the cold wall. “What’s with the high-and-mighty act?” Another man grabbed my wrist. “Dressing like that, aren’t you just asking for it?” As I struggled, my gaze pierced through the crowd and met Julian’s eyes at the entrance of the private room. I saw him frown, about to step forward, when Willow’s cry of pain suddenly echoed from behind him: “Ah!” “What’s wrong?” Julian immediately turned around. “I think I twisted my ankle…” Willow said, her eyes welling up with tears. “I’m fine, you go help big sis Blair first.” Julian knelt down to examine her ankle. “Don’t worry about her. She can handle herself.” His words pierced my heart like a knife. The thug’s hand was already on my waist, his disgusting alcoholic breath heavy on my face. “Come on, let’s have some fun, beautiful…” I grabbed a fruit knife from the decorative table in the hallway and *smashed* it against the wall! “Get out if you don’t want to die!” Glass shards cut my hand, and blood dripped from my fingertips. While the thugs were stunned, I quickly slipped away. The party dispersed, and I didn’t want to get into Julian’s car, so I stood by the roadside alone, waiting for a taxi. Willow approached, holding an umbrella, her high heels splashing in a puddle. “Big sis, don’t you have a car? I can give you a ride home?” I looked at the keys to a brand-new sports car in her hand and suddenly smiled. Robert was certainly generous, buying such a nice car for his stepdaughter. “No thanks.” My red lips curled into a bright, almost mocking smile. “I find riding in a mistress’s daughter’s car… dirty.” Willow’s face instantly darkened, finally dropping her pretense. She grabbed my wrist. “Blair! Say that again?” “Will saying it again change the fact that you’re a mistress’s daughter? Let go!” Amidst our struggle, blinding headlights suddenly illuminated us! I turned my head and saw an out-of-control car hurtling towards us. In a flash of lightning, I saw Julian rush forward, pulling Willow into his arms. And I, with a *thud*, was knocked to the ground!

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When Iris married Julian, she was 22, and he was 32. He wasn’t just older; he was *more* in every way that counted. For three years, he showered her with endless tenderness, giving her everything she desired, promising her the moon and the stars. He pampered her, cherishing her like a precious gem. The only exception was their nights; his demands in bed were boundless, and even when she was crying, begging him to stop, he’d only chuckle, pulling her closer, never letting go. She knew he had vast wealth and even vaster love, all dedicated to her. Until the day her father, Mr. Miller, passed away. She called Julian ninety-nine times, but he hung up every single one. A second later, she received photos from her best friend, Chloe: “Iris, is this your honey? I saw him hugging a woman on the streets of Paris.” Opening the photos and seeing the man and woman, Iris felt like she’d been plunged into a freezing abyss. The man was Julian. And the woman… was her Aunt Seraphina. *** It was three days after Mr. Miller’s death when Julian finally returned home. The moment he pushed open the door, he saw Iris on the sofa, her eyes swollen and bloodshot from crying, her frame fragile and delicate. A wave of intense guilt washed over him, peaking as he rushed forward to embrace her. “Iris, I had to fly to Paris for an urgent meeting. I missed your calls due to the time difference, so I couldn’t be with you at the funeral.” He kissed her hair, his voice laced with regret. “It was my fault. Tell me, what do you want as compensation? Anything at all, my love.” Iris listened to his explanation in silence, her face eerily still, like a placid, lifeless lake, showing no ripple of emotion. She said nothing, merely pulled two documents from her bag, opened them to the last page, and handed them to him. “Honey, I want these two things. Please sign.” Julian breathed a sigh of relief, quickly taking the pen and signing his name. Watching him sign without hesitation, Iris’s eyes welled up with tears. “You didn’t even look? Aren’t you worried what I’m asking for might be incredibly expensive?” Julian pulled her into his arms, a tender,无奈 sigh escaping him. “Iris, we’re husband and wife. Everything I own is already yours. Once the baby is born, it will be ours, yours and the baby’s. You can have anything you want, you know that.” He then leaned down, listening to the subtle movements in her belly. “Are you scheduled for your prenatal check-up today? Is the baby active? I’ll come with you, okay?” Iris remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Julian took her silence as consent and helped her into the car. The atmosphere in the car was heavy and oppressive, no one speaking a word. Julian tried to find a topic for conversation, but his phone suddenly rang. “Julian, I’m back in the country. I want to see you.” Being so close, Iris could clearly hear Seraphina’s voice from the other end of the call. Her hand instinctively clenched. The next second, she watched Julian hang up. “Iris, I have some work to deal with. Can you go to your prenatal check-up by yourself?” Iris didn’t expose his lie. She simply opened the car door. In the biting cold wind, she hailed a taxi, and memories, like the fleeting streetscapes outside the window, flooded her mind. Years ago, Iris was in a car accident. A hit-and-run driver left her for dead, and bystanders, fearing complications, hesitated to help. As she lay bleeding, barely clinging to life, Julian appeared like a godsend and scooped her into his arms. That day, she fell in love at first sight with the man ten years her senior. Luckily, the mature and steady Julian also fell for her. After a year of dating, they walked down the aisle. Perhaps due to his age, he seemed to have endless patience. After they married, they never had a single argument, and he never missed a gift or an anniversary. In daily life, he always considered her feelings—except in bed. She couldn’t understand how, at thirty, his stamina was still so incredible. Many nights, she’d end up whimpering and crying, begging him to stop, but he’d only chuckle, kissing her over and over. “My silly girl, it’s because I love you so much.” “We need to make a baby, my love, so we can have our own little one.” And so, every night, they tried for a baby, until finally, in their third year of marriage, she became pregnant. Three days ago, Mr. Miller suffered a sudden stroke. She rushed to his side, only to hear him constantly calling for Julian, asking when his son-in-law would come, wanting to see him one last time. Everyone knew he wished to entrust his daughter’s happiness and security to Julian before his final breath and frantically tried to contact him. But despite everyone’s efforts, despite Iris calling him incessantly until her phone’s battery died, Julian remained unreachable. Mr. Miller passed away, heartbroken and with lingering regrets. Iris had believed he was simply busy. No sooner had she finished her father’s funeral arrangements than she received that photo from her best friend. She couldn’t understand why her husband was embracing her aunt. Her mind was a chaotic whirlwind. Finally, she mustered the courage to enter Julian’s study, a room she’d always been forbidden from entering. The moment she pushed the door open, she felt like she’d been plunged into a freezing abyss. Because the room was filled with things related to her aunt. Walls adorned with photos, meticulously preserved love letters, countless unsent gifts, and a thick, ongoing love diary. Through that diary, Iris learned everything. He had only ever been in love twice in his life. One was her. The other was her aunt, Seraphina. They had been college sweethearts, their passionate, dramatic love story lasting a full decade. At the peak of their love, he had crossed the Atlantic with her, trekked through the Amazon rainforest, and intimately kissed her under the golden glow of sun-drenched snow-capped mountains. At their most hateful, he had smashed millions worth of jewelry for her, swallowed his pride and chased her across continents to win her back after their breakup, even drinking himself into a stupor, day after day, until his stomach bled, when he learned she had started a new relationship. Every joy, every sorrow, every intense emotion of his adult life seemed to revolve around Seraphina. And the reason he had been with her? It was simply because, after breaking up with Seraphina, he had wanted a stand-in, a spitting image of Seraphina. He decided to set his sights on her niece. After all, her face was uncannily similar to her aunt’s! So, he orchestrated a hit-and-run incident to make her fall for him at first sight. So, he tirelessly pursued intimacy with her, day and night, solely to get her pregnant. But not to have *her* child, but a child that would be *like* Seraphina’s. The revelation hit her like a lightning bolt, shattering her world. She felt utterly devastated. All the tenderness, all the love, every bit of sincerity – it was all a lie. He had utterly deceived her! She might be young, but she knew that her heart needed to be cleansed, truly empty, for anyone new to ever enter. Besides, she was no one’s stand-in. She was Iris, the one and only Iris. But from the very beginning, he had been lying to her. So, as a twisted reciprocation, she decided to lie to him, just this once. She had deliberately not told him that what he had just signed was: One, a divorce agreement. Two, a medical termination request. A man whose heart wasn’t hers to begin with was never a man she’d keep… Iris walked into the hospital and handed the medical termination request directly to the attending physician. “Hello, I want to terminate this pregnancy.” *** Three hours later, Iris returned home, clutching her lower abdomen. After a day of rest, she looked at her ghostly pale face in the mirror, her hand trembling as she picked up her lipstick. After a quick makeup application, her complexion returned to normal, but cold sweat still slicked her body from the persistent pain. Bundled in a blanket on the sofa, she called for Alfred, the butler. “Have all the jewelry and handbags from the display cases collected and sent to an auction house. The proceeds should be donated to a local children’s charity.” Julian, who had just pushed open the door, froze mid-step upon hearing this. “Iris, why are you suddenly selling all these things?” Iris lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze. “I don’t like them anymore, so I’m donating them. It’ll be good karma for the baby.” Fortunately, Julian didn’t overthink it. He walked over, embraced her, and gently coaxed her. “Alright, alright. In a couple of days, I’ll take you to an auction. You can pick out whatever you like, and we’ll slowly fill up the empty display cases again, okay?” Listening to his voice, which sounded like he was pacifying a child, Iris didn’t respond. Instead, she changed the subject. “Are you done with work?” “All done. I know you’ve been through a lot lately, so I’ll stay home for the next week and be with you and the baby, okay?” As he spoke, he reached out to touch her belly, but Iris quickly pressed his hand down. He looked down and noticed her stomach seemed a little smaller. His brow furrowed slightly. Just as he was about to ask, Iris’s phone suddenly rang. Seeing ‘Uncle Robert’ on the screen, she answered. “Iris, your Aunt Seraphina came back yesterday. Everyone’s planning a family dinner at the old house. Are you coming?” “I’m not feeling well, so I won’t be able to make it…” Before she could finish, Julian took the phone from her hand. “I’ll bring Iris, and we’ll be there on time.” Watching him eagerly agree to the dinner, Iris’s chest tightened. She couldn’t help but remember the ninety-nine calls she couldn’t get through on the day her father died. It seemed that when he faced the person he truly loved, he would seize every opportunity to see them. He wouldn’t consider her wishes, nor care about her recent grief over her father. He would simply follow his heart, and rush to her side. After hanging up, Julian saw the expression on her face and realized he had lost his composure. He held her cold hand, trying to explain. “Iris, I know you’re not in a good mood, but you’re still pregnant. You can’t dwell in sorrow. I’ll go with you to the old house to see the family and clear your head.” Iris merely curled her lips, saying nothing. At seven o’clock, the couple arrived at the old house on time. Before entering, Julian handed a gift to Iris. “Uncle Robert said you and your aunt haven’t seen each other in years. We should still be polite.” In the past, Iris would have found him thoughtful and considerate. But now, she knew he was just using her to give a gift to the woman he loved. She didn’t expose his intentions and stepped into the bustling living room. Hearing the sound, Seraphina, who was chatting with someone, turned around and saw Iris, and Julian standing beside her, holding her hand. She paused for a moment, then hesitantly spoke. “Iris, and this is…?” Iris didn’t answer, unsure how to. Julian remained silent, but the surrounding relatives eagerly introduced him. “Seraphina, you’ve been abroad for three years and missed the wedding, so it’s normal not to know. This is Iris’s husband, Julian Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Enterprises…” Seraphina swayed slightly, a flicker of shock in her eyes. But having experienced grand occasions before, she quickly regained her composure and stepped forward to shake his hand. They exchanged polite pleasantries, as if meeting for the first time. Only Iris could perceive the subtle, invisible tension flowing between them. She handed the gift to Seraphina and said only one thing. “Aunt Seraphina, welcome back.” “Oh, no, I’m just back for a month, then I’ll return to Paris.” Julian’s face visibly darkened. Seraphina pretended not to notice, smiling as she opened the gift. Seeing the brilliant gemstone necklace, her eyes lit up with admiration. “Iris, your taste is impeccable. I’ve admired this necklace for ages.” Iris took in both their expressions, her tone flat. “Julian picked it out. His taste has always been excellent.” During the meal, Julian barely ate anything. Apart from drinking, he was busy serving Iris. Their relatives and friends all shared knowing smiles and began to tease them good-naturedly. “Iris is so lucky! She married such a wonderful husband. Look at how loving they are!” Iris curled her lips, looking at the beef and lamb in her bowl. She didn’t touch her fork. After getting pregnant, she suffered from severe morning sickness, unable to stomach any meat or fish. Julian knew this, having eaten vegetarian with her for a month. But today, he hadn’t remembered at all. Because he was busy rearranging the platters, making sure all the seafood on the table was placed directly in front of Seraphina. Her aunt, from childhood, had always loved seafood the most. After dinner, Julian was absolutely wasted. Their relatives and friends, worried about them returning home in that state, insisted they stay the night. Iris called a maid to help him back to their room. After washing up, she turned off the bedroom light, leaving only the bedside lamp on. A little while later, Julian groggily opened his eyes and reached out to pull her into his arms. “Seraphina, you came back for me, didn’t you?” Iris stiffened all over, not telling him he had mistaken her for someone else. It took her a long moment to respond with a question of her own. “And you? Who did you get drunk for tonight?” “It’s you, Seraphina. Always you. Don’t you understand?” Though she had long anticipated the outcome, hearing it with her own ears still made Iris’s heart ache intensely. Only then did she understand why a man who drank himself into a stupor for love would remain completely sober in front of her. Was he afraid that if he got drunk like tonight, he might reveal his true feelings, afraid she would find out? She clenched her hands tightly, unable to catch her breath, and could only struggle free from his embrace. It took Iris two hours in the bathroom to compose herself. When she came out again, Julian was no longer in bed. Iris opened the bedroom door and saw the motion-activated light on the balcony had gone out. She walked over silently and, through the window, saw Julian and Seraphina standing outside. The darkness of the night concealed the expression on his face, but she could clearly hear his suppressed voice. “Didn’t you tell me yesterday you weren’t returning to Europe? Why did you change your mind today?” “And you? Why did you marry Iris and not tell me?” Hearing Seraphina’s calm tone, Julian felt the anger inside him rage even hotter. What little sanity he had left crumbled instantly. He forcefully grabbed Seraphina’s hand: “Why I married her? Shouldn’t you know best? She looks so much like you, and she’s your blood relative. Only by being with her can I openly see you! Not like a few days ago, flying to Paris and waiting alone downstairs for dozens of hours, just for a stolen glance at you!” So, he went to Paris for Seraphina. That’s why he didn’t answer a single call. Iris’s heart jolted, her nails digging painfully into her palms. Seraphina hadn’t expected his true intentions either. She murmured, “You’re insane!”

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“$50 million. Leave the country within a week. And stay away from my son forever.” Mrs. Harrington sat opposite me, her perfectly maintained face etched with undisguised contempt. If this were years ago, my eyes would have welled up, and I’d have retorted, “I’m not with him for money.” But now, I just calmly nodded. “Okay.” Mrs. Harrington clearly paused, then sneered. “At least you know your place.” She emphasized those last words, as if highlighting the immense social chasm between her son, Rhys Harrington, and me. I lowered my gaze, took the check, and turned to leave. By the time I returned to the mansion, it was already dark. This place was too big; I often got lost. The only familiar thing was the photo on the coffee table. In it, Rhys had his arm around my waist, looking down at me with eyes so tender they could melt the deepest winter’s ice. I gently brushed over the photo, suddenly remembering that rainy night three years ago. That year, I found Rhys by the alley entrance. He was covered in blood, his eyes unfocused. “Who are you?” I asked him. “I… I don’t remember,” he murmured, shaking his head. Rain mixed with blood dripped from his hair. And just like that, I took this amnesiac man home. Our tiny, run-down apartment was cramped with the two of us. The paint peeled from the walls, the pipes leaked, and in winter, we needed three blankets just to stay warm. But it was in this most impoverished place that the purest love blossomed. We relied on each other, becoming each other’s sole world. He would wait three hours downstairs when I worked late, just to walk me home. He would stay up all night, rubbing my stomach when period pain made me break out in cold sweats. He even worked five jobs a day, secretly, just to buy me an expensive necklace I’d admired three times but never dared to buy. The only thing I couldn’t quite handle was his insistence on our intimacy every night. I’d blush and plead, and he’d nuzzle my earlobe, chuckling, “Baby, it’s because I love you too much.” During our most loving year, he even dragged me to a tattoo parlor, getting my name inked on his collarbone. The tattoo artist asked if he was scared of the pain, but he just smiled at me. “Pain is good. That way, I’ll never forget the one I love most.” I thought we’d be happy like that forever. Until he regained his memory. That’s when I learned he wasn’t some poor guy found on the street, but the scion of the powerful Harrington dynasty, practically owning half the financial world in Westwood. He’d only lost his memory in a car crash, orchestrated by a rival, and ended up on the streets. After reclaiming his identity, Rhys moved me into a sprawling mansion. Its bathroom alone was ten times the size of my old apartment. But he, too, became a different person. He wore custom-tailored designer suits whose brands I couldn’t even recognize, sported priceless watches, closed multi-million dollar deals, and spent nights away from home. I deluded myself, telling myself he was just too busy. Until the day entertainment headlines were plastered with rumors of him and the heiress, Serena Albright. In the photos, he was holding the car door open for her, wearing one of those designer suits. The way they smiled at each other stung my eyes. The comment section buzzed with “a perfect match” and “destined to be together.” In that moment, sitting alone by the window, watching the moon all night, I finally understood the truth. The Rhys who braved the wind and snow to pick me up from work, the Rhys who worked construction to buy me a necklace, the Rhys who tattooed my name on his collarbone – he had died the day his memory returned. The current Harrington scion and I were more than just worlds apart. He stood among the clouds, and I was stuck in the mud. Just like the moon can never reach the dust, someone like him was destined for someone equally brilliant. If that was the case, why humiliate myself further? It was better to let go. To let go of him, and to let go of myself. That night, the mansion remained empty. Rhys still didn’t return. I didn’t wait for him until dawn as usual. I went to bed early, and as soon as morning broke, I headed to the visa center. I used the expedited service, and my visa and passport would be ready within a week. It was noon when I left the visa center. I found a random restaurant. The moment I pushed the door open, my steps faltered slightly. By the window, Rhys was gently wiping Serena Albright’s lips with a napkin. His eyes held a tenderness that could melt the deepest winter’s ice, exactly as they had when he used to kiss me, laughing, in our old rental. I stood rooted to the spot, feeling my heart gripped by an invisible hand. I turned to leave, but accidentally knocked over a potted plant by the door. Rhys looked up at the sound. Seeing me, the warmth in his eyes vanished. He slowly walked towards me, his thin lips parting, his voice low and cold. “Are you stalking me?” Before I could even speak, he continued, “I already explained those online rumors were just about a business deal. How long are you going to keep this up?” I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, but my throat felt choked with cotton. Mrs. Harrington’s words from yesterday echoed in my ears: “Rhys and Serena’s marriage alliance was decided long ago by our families. He’s very fond of Serena himself…” A partnership? Was it that kind of partnership? “Rhys, don’t be so harsh.” Serena followed, smiling sweetly to smooth things over. “It’s fate that we ran into each other. Come, let’s sit together.” Before I could refuse, Serena pulled me directly to their table. I sat there like a puppet, placed in a chair, directly facing Rhys’s icy cold face. “Aubrey, what would you like to eat?” Serena pushed the menu towards me. “Their French cuisine is very authentic.” I stared at the French words on the menu, completely incomprehensible to me, a sense of embarrassment spreading in my chest. “I’m not hungry.” I pushed the menu back. “Then have some soup.” Serena spooned a bowl of seafood soup and placed it in front of me. “It’s very fresh.” I stared at the shrimp floating in the soup, my stomach clenching with a sharp pain. I was severely allergic to seafood. Just as I was about to politely decline, Rhys’s phone rang. He stood up to answer it, his back tall and straight. I’d seen that suit in a magazine; it cost more than my entire old neighborhood. “Go on, try it.” Serena suddenly lowered her voice. “After all, given your background, you don’t usually get to eat such expensive dishes.” I snapped my head up, meeting her smiling eyes. “You don’t really think that just because you had a fling with Rhys, you can marry into a wealthy family, do you?” Her fingertip tapped lightly on the rim of her glass. “If he hadn’t lost his memory, a low-class woman like you wouldn’t even be fit to polish his shoes.” I clenched the napkin, the fabric crumpling in my palm. I might have been poor, but I wouldn’t let anyone trample my dignity like this. “Serena, we don’t even know each other, you—” “Oh!” My words were cut short as Serena suddenly gasped, raising her hand and knocking over the bowl of seafood soup. The scalding liquid splashed onto her hand and all over mine. Rhys, hearing the sound, rushed back. His long fingers immediately clasped Serena’s hand. “What happened?” “It’s nothing…” Serena’s eyes were red. “It’s all my fault. Aubrey, as your girlfriend, seeing us having lunch together, she must have gotten angry, and it’s understandable…” Rhys instantly looked at me, a frosty frown on his brow. “Aubrey, I’ve explained countless times. Do you have to be like this?” “I didn’t, she just—” “Enough!” He cut me off. “I saw it with my own eyes. How could it be false? When did you become so unreasonable?” With that, Rhys put his arm around Serena and walked away without a backward glance. Serena, her head on his shoulder, slowly turned back and gave me a triumphant smile. I stood there, my hand trembling, red and blistered from the scald. Blisters were already forming, stinging like a thousand needles. But in Rhys’s eyes, there was only Serena’s slightly reddened skin. He left so quickly, so decisively, without even a glance my way. Yet, my Rhys, he used to be so concerned about me. Three years ago, when I burned myself cooking, he was so anxious his eyes turned red. He rushed to the pharmacy that night to buy medicine, and when he returned, he applied it to my hand, asking, “Aubrey, does it hurt?” Back then, his eyes were only for me. But the Rhys of today could no longer see me. Chapter 2 I went home alone. Once there, I found the first-aid kit in the living room and disinfected, medicated, and bandaged my own hand. A sharp, stinging pain radiated from the wound, like countless ants gnawing at my skin. As I turned to go upstairs, my gaze fell upon the grand piano in the corner of the living room. Rhys had bought it after he regained his memory, saying he’d teach me to play. But after all this time, a thick layer of dust had settled on the piano lid. Just like our relationship, it had long been covered in dust. My eyes welled up, and I quickly went to my room to pack my luggage. Clothes, documents, bank cards… I sorted each item slowly, as if bidding farewell to my past self. Halfway through, the bedroom door suddenly swung open. Rhys stood in the doorway, his suit jacket draped over his arm, his tie loose. He saw my open suitcase and frowned. “What are you doing?” “Packing.” I answered calmly, continuing to fold clothes without looking up. Rhys frowned and walked closer. A faint scent of perfume, the same one Serena had worn today, wafted from him. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it made me wince in pain. “Just because I had lunch with Serena today, you’re throwing a tantrum and running away? Serena didn’t even make a big deal out of you hurting her, and here you are, acting childish?” I looked up at him. The irritation in his eyes was painfully clear. “Serena and my family are old friends. Her parents asked me to look after her since she just returned. Can’t you be more understanding?” Understanding? The word pierced my heart like a knife. I clutched the clothes in my hand, the fabric crumpling in my palm. I was already preparing to exit quietly. How much more “understanding” did he want? “Speak!” Rhys suddenly raised his voice. I turned silently, resuming my packing. My silence completely enraged Rhys. “Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep this up.” With that, he slammed the door shut. The “bang” reverberated, making my chest tremble. The next morning, when I went downstairs, I saw Serena sitting in the living room, laughing and talking with Rhys. She was wearing a white dress today, her makeup flawless, looking innocent and elegant. Seeing me descend, she immediately stood up, smiling sweetly and harmlessly. “Aubrey, you’re awake? My parents insisted Rhys take me to today’s auction. Please don’t overthink it.” I glanced at Rhys. He was looking down, adjusting his cufflink, not even sparing me a glance. “I’m not overthinking it.” My voice was barely a whisper. “What you two do has nothing to do with me.” Rhys’s hand paused, his frown deepening. He was about to speak, but Serena quickly interjected. “Why don’t you come along, Aubrey? You don’t have anything else to do, anyway.” Before I could refuse, Serena affectionately linked her arm through mine. I was dragged into the car just like that. The auction house lights glittered, filled with distinguished guests. Rhys sat in the front row, his long fingers casually raising the bid paddle. One by one, pieces of jewelry and luxury watches were won by him, then casually handed to Serena by his side. Serena smiled gracefully, occasionally leaning in to whisper in his ear, their intimacy a painful sight. “Rhys, should we get something for Aubrey too?” she suggested, feigning thoughtfulness. Rhys’s tone was indifferent. “No need. She’s not used to such things.” Hearing this, Serena’s lips curled into a slight smile. In an angle Rhys couldn’t see, she shot me a victor’s smirk. I lowered my gaze, my fingertips gently tracing the auction catalog in my hand, my heart chilling. Was it that I wasn’t used to them, or that I didn’t deserve them? In his eyes, I was probably always that Cinderella from the wrong side of the tracks. Even standing beside him now, deep down, I didn’t deserve these luxurious things. But it didn’t matter. Soon, there would be no connection between us anyway. I sat quietly in the corner, watching Rhys lavish Serena with gifts, watching their open displays of affection, as if I were merely an irrelevant bystander. Until the final item was presented— A jade bracelet. My breath hitched. My fingers involuntarily clenched. It was Grandma’s heirloom! Three years ago, to buy me a birthday gift, Rhys had worked construction and ended up falling from the site, nearly losing his life. To pay for his surgery, I had no choice but to sell the only bracelet my grandma had left me. Later, when I saved enough money to buy it back, the bracelet had already been purchased by someone else. I searched every antique store in Westwood, but I never saw it again. And now, here it was, unexpectedly appearing before my eyes. A thrill of hope surged through me. Almost instinctively, I raised my bid paddle. “One million.” Serena turned to look at me in surprise, then let out a light laugh and raised her paddle. “Three million.” “Four million!” “Five million!”

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