After waking up from the car crash, Adrian clutched my hand. The very first thing he did was shove a statement of forgiveness for his mistress in my face. He snarled at me, “Vivian just barely grazed you. Why are you being so vindictive?” I refused, absolutely refusing to sign, and nearly threw myself out the window to make my stand. Until the hospital room door swung open, and the woman who’d hit me finally looked up— I froze for two seconds, then suddenly loosened my grip on the window ledge. “Give me the statement. I’ll sign it.” “She nearly killed you! Why are you signing it so easily?!” Adrian demanded, utterly baffled. My voice was calm. “Because she’s beautiful.” “Just because of *that*?!” Of course not. Because she was the little girl who once curled in my arms, calling me “Mommy.” …………………… “…Ellie? Eleanor? You’re awake? Oh my God, thank goodness! Doctor! Doctor!” I blinked my blurry eyes open, a stranger’s face wavering above me. His voice was urgent, his expression a performance of overwhelming relief. His grip on my hand was so tight, his nails almost dug into my skin. Who was this man? Hadn’t I… hadn’t I been dead for years? “It’s okay, it’s okay, you scared me to death. As long as you’re awake, that’s all that matters. Good girl, just sign this first, and we can go home, okay?” The paper in his hand fluttered before my eyes, the bold black letters at the top stabbing into my still-hazy vision: “Statement of Forgiveness.” Memories, not my own but the original owner’s, came crashing down like a tidal wave. The screech of a massive brake still roared in my ears. “…Where’s the person who hit me?” Adrian’s expression stiffened for a fraction of a second, then softened, his tone patronizing, as if talking down to a child. “I told you, it was an accident. Just an accident.” “The doctor said it’s a miracle I even woke up! The person who hit me almost killed me! And you just expect me to… forgive them?!” “The person who hit you didn’t mean to! She’s terrified, too, can’t eat, can’t sleep, she’s lost so much weight!” “I’m your boyfriend! If I tell you to sign it, you *will* sign it! Our family isn’t some charity case that can’t afford the medical bills!” “This is a crime!” My voice trembled. “I don’t care who the hell you think you are, I’d rather jump out this window than sign that thing!” I tore the IV needle from my hand like a madwoman, scrambling to throw myself towards the window. At that moment, the hospital room door was violently flung open. “Ms. Vance! That’s enough! Take it out on me if you want! Stop pressuring Mr. Blackwood!” “It was just a minor accident! You’re fine now, aren’t you?!” “What’s with this suicide act? Who are you performing for? Trying to use your death to make Mr. Blackwood remember you forever, is that it?!” I stared at her, for a long, long time. Then, slowly, I climbed back from the window ledge. “Give me the statement.” “Rip it up! I can print hundreds more! I won’t give up until you sign!” I took the pen and scrawled “Eleanor Vance” with a decisive flourish. Vivian and Adrian both froze, mouths agape, utterly speechless. “She nearly killed you… and you actually signed it like that?” Adrian asked, disbelief etched on his face. Vivian stared at me, her gaze piercing. “Signing it so quickly, what game are you playing?!” I met her eyes calmly, and said softly, “Because you’re beautiful.” “Just because of *that*?” Adrian scoffed. “I bet you saw I had a woman as gorgeous as Vivian, and realized how in-demand I am!” Adrian snatched the signed statement from my hand. “See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do this from the start? Why make things awkward for everyone?” Over the next few days, I was as cooperative as any patient could be. Taking my medicine on time, attending all check-ups, resting quietly. Adrian’s visits grew less frequent, his stays shorter. Each time he came, the conversation would inevitably drift to Vivian. “Vivian is incredibly capable. That tricky project we had last month? She swooped in and closed the deal. The client couldn’t stop praising her.” Adrian sat with one leg crossed over the other, practically spitting as he vividly described Vivian’s cutthroat tactics in the business world. “She’d once had a rival’s teeth pulled and tossed him into the ocean to secure a deal, for which the client had nothing but admiration.” *For people and things she cared about, she would stop at nothing. Like, to get Adrian, she could disregard the law and choose to run me over.* “Vivian’s beautiful, makes me look good when I take her out, and she helps me run the company. Now, the company practically grinds to a halt without her!” “And you? What do you have, besides a family that gives you money to spend? When it comes to empathy, to capability, you’re not even fit to tie Vivian’s shoes.” “From now on, just settle down. It’s not out of the question for two women to share one man, especially since your family still has some pull.” He said it like he was bestowing a great gift. “We’ll get married once you’re out of the hospital. As for the wedding, Vivian and I will handle that.” My fingers tightened around the spoon I was holding, a surge of pure rage shooting to my head. I slammed the bowl of porridge directly into his face. “Eleanor Vance! Are you out of your mind?! Vivian is a thousand times better than you, she deserves the most magnificent wedding!” Adrian’s luck held out. His phone screen lit up, preventing me from doing more damage. It was a SnapChat message from Vivian. Vivian: [Image] Ellie, Mr. Blackwood wants me to try this one. He says it looks best on me. What do you think? The image was Vera Wang’s latest wedding dress, indeed the dream of countless women. I remembered her at seven, twirling in a pink princess dress, asking me, “Do I look pretty?” My fingertips flew across the screen. I replied: *It’s truly beautiful.* Adrian frantically wiped the porridge from his face, his mouth still going. “Eleanor Vance, nothing you do will change anything! Vivian and I are having our wedding, mark my words!” A few more days passed, and I was mostly recovered. Before I was even discharged, Adrian called. His tone was his usual commanding, dismissive one. I was about to snap back, but then he said, “Vivian had an allergic reaction to seafood and is in the hospital. I have a meeting I can’t miss, so you go take care of her.” “Stay with her 24/7. Make sure she’s perfectly fine. If anything goes wrong, I’m holding you responsible!” “Okay.” “Finally learning some manners, huh? Looks like this car accident wasn’t completely useless. At least it taught you your place and how to appease me.” I hung up immediately. Spending another second talking to that lunatic was a waste of my hard-won second chance at life. Without even changing out of my hospital gown, I headed straight to Vivian’s VIP room. “What are you doing here?!” Vivian instinctively covered her face, which was covered in red hives. “Mr. Blackwood and I are getting married in a month. I’ll be completely fine by then, so don’t even *think* about trying to steal my place as the bride!” I said calmly, “Adrian said you had an allergic reaction and asked me to check on you. What did the doctor say? Is it serious? Are you still uncomfortable anywhere?” Vivian looked at me as if I were an alien. “It’s a little itchy, but I’ve already had medicine. You don’t need to worry about it!” I nodded, then turned to the bathroom to get a basin of warm water. “The doctor said cold compresses can help relieve the itching. Don’t scratch, you don’t want to scar.” Vivian stood rigidly, unmoving. Adrian sent a video call request midway through, probably checking up on us. “You don’t have to worry, Vivian’s much better. I’ll take good care of her.” On the other end of the call, Adrian patronizingly lectured me a few more times about “being diligent” and “not slacking off” before gracing us with a hang-up. “Tha…thank you…” “It’s nothing.” I smiled, tucking her blanket in. “You rest. I’ll be right here. Call me if you need anything.” “Eleanor, what exactly are you planning?” Vivian’s eyes were full of suspicion. “When you were sick, I called Adrian to come stay with me. When I was in a car accident, he forced me to sign a statement of forgiveness for you.” “Even then, I wasn’t willing to break up with him. I clung to him, we fought tooth and nail.” “You knew about my existence all along. You loved him so much, why are you being so kind to the woman who stole your man?!” I said calmly, “What exactly is so great about this man? Is he really worth hurting an innocent person to get?” Vivian sneered. “Eleanor Vance, finally showing your true colors, are you? You know Mr. Blackwood won’t leave me, so you’re trying to work on me instead?” Watching her stand with her hands on her hips, cheeks puffed out, putting on an act, I silently sat by the hospital bed, cherishing her for a long moment. Unconsciously, I raised my hand and gently pinched her cheek. “You… what are you doing!” She seemed like a punctured balloon, her arrogant posture instantly deflating. When she was fifteen, she had stood between me and that man, scared but still fierce, protecting me. “Let’s just say I like your face.” I said calmly, a slight smile curving the corners of my eyes. Vivian didn’t speak again, closing her eyes, but her long eyelashes trembled continuously. A few days later, Adrian came to my apartment. “That black card of yours has a high limit, give it to me.” I was pouring myself a glass of water, and my movement paused at his words. He wanted money from me, and with such arrogance? I tightened my grip on the glass. “Adrian Blackwood, are you addicted to being a kept man?” “Don’t waste my time! Just give it to me! Your money is my money, isn’t it? Why are you suddenly drawing such clear lines with me?” “Vivian has endured so much for me. What’s wrong with her spending a little of your money? Come on, hurry up, don’t drag your feet!” The anger on my face almost instantly vanished at the mention of ‘Vivian,’ replaced by a compliant expression as I handed over the black card. “That’s better. Glad you know your place!” Once he had the black card, Adrian’s spending statements started flooding my phone like snowflakes. Meanwhile, Vivian’s attitude towards me subtly shifted. She started calling me “Ms. Vance,” and the sharp edges and hostility in her voice noticeably softened. She would pour me a glass of water when I came to “visit” her, and occasionally even chat about inconsequential things. Until one day, she invited me out for afternoon tea. “Ms. Vance,” her voice was soft, laced with hesitation, but her eyes were earnest, “This is for you.” I paused, then took the bag and opened it. Inside was a silk blouse, simple yet elegant, in my favorite dusty blue, and exactly my size. Excellent taste, clearly chosen with care. “I noticed you really like this color and fabric. Consider it a thank you for taking care of me recently.” “Thank you.” My voice sounded a little hoarse. “I love it.” “The money Adrian splurged on your black card, I’ve already transferred it back to another account you don’t often use. I’ll send you the statement details later.” I looked up at her, the question in my heart yearning to escape. “You don’t love that man at all, do you?” Vivian stared at me, stunned. “What…” “If you don’t love him, why are you with him?” She was silent for a long time, then finally, as if she’d made up her mind, said, “Ms. Vance, I’m not who you think I am.” “I graduated from the top university with a degree in finance, both my bachelor’s and master’s. If it weren’t for my family…” “My father owes millions in gambling debts, my mother is critically ill and needs money for surgery, and my younger siblings still need to go to school. I wouldn’t have come to this.” My heart clenched painfully. “Adrian values my youth and beauty to show off and to help him secure projects and manage the company. I’m using his money to solve my urgent financial problems.” “This past year, I’ve pretty much gotten my hands on all the company’s major projects and key client resources.” I felt myself transported back to that scorching, death-filled summer, her young face pressed against my hospital bed, holding my hand— “I got my money back from that last part-time job! I threatened the boss that I’d call the police, and he was so scared of me! I got all the money I was owed!” “Aren’t I amazing? If I earn a little more, I can cure your illness really soon!” “He’s nothing but an empty shell now, dreaming big after being completely drained.” I looked at the girl before me, stripped of all pretense. She was never a clinging vine needing to climb for support. She was calmer, smarter, but… also carried deeper wounds… “Why are you telling me this?” I heard myself ask, my voice trembling with suppressed emotion and a catch in my throat. She paused, her gaze falling on the dusty blue blouse by my hand, her eyes softening slightly. “So, why are you being so good to me?” I met her deep gaze, and after a long moment, said, “Because you’re beautiful.” “Just because of *that*?” I nodded calmly. She was a proud child, and I didn’t think she was ready to know who I was. Nor did I want the *real* me to know she had become an unprincipled man’s mistress. Her confusion hadn’t dissipated, but she continued, “As for why I told you all that—” “I think I’ve come to see you as the most important person in my life. Besides my mom, no one has ever been this kind to me.” “The wedding in a week.” She paused. “I’m going to turn it into a stage for Adrian Blackwood’s public downfall.” —截断点— The first day I wore the blouse, Adrian noticed it. “What are you wearing?” “A blouse.” “No kidding! I’m asking where you got it! That brand, that style—isn’t that the one Vivian picked out a few days ago? How did *you* end up wearing it?”
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