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.
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