“Ms. Martin, your wedding with Mr. Cooper is only two weeks away. Are you certain you want to proceed with our ‘Runaway Bride Package’?” the bridal shop assistant asked. After a brief silence, Jasmin Martin nodded gently. “Yes, I’m certain.” Though visibly surprised, the assistant quickly regained her professional composure. “Very well. Your escape plan is scheduled for the wedding day itself, using our ‘Bride Substitution’ method. We’ll arrange for your complete disappearance and maintain secrecy until the wedding day, giving the groom and all guests quite the unexpected surprise.” After signing the contract, Jasmin walked out of the bridal shop, her attention drawn to the crowd on the street. Not far away, a long line had formed outside Mellow Jasmin, a well-known chain beverage store. People were eagerly waiting to purchase the seasonal limited-edition drink that Declan Cooper had personally developed, testing thousands of recipes over half a Christmas season. This was his exclusive gift dedicated to his beloved Jasmin. Declan had deliberately chosen Jasmin’s birthday for the global product launch, allowing the whole world to witness his endless, undying devotion to her. On a nearby advertising screen, a reporter was interviewing Declan Cooper, the CEO of Cooper Group. “As a president who routinely manages billions of dollars in assets, why would you spend so much time and energy on something as trivial as developing a beverage recipe?” Dressed in a suit and exuding noble elegance, Declan smiled slightly, his tone casual yet filled with deep affection. “Because Ms. Martin likes it.” Declan’s attentive and loving expression on the screen caused several young women near Jasmin to squeal excitedly. “Oh my God, they’re so sweet! Mr. Cooper is the ultimate doting husband!” “Absolutely! I heard Mr. Cooper fell in love with Ms. Martin at first sight when he was fifteen. He not only rescued her from her stepmother’s abuse but also helped her win a lawsuit to reclaim her family fortune.” “Ms. Martin loves the sight of blooming flowers, so he spent billions of dollars creating Cooper Manor, ensuring she wakes up to a view of gorgeous blossoms every day.” “When her favorite snack was discontinued, he contacted the manufacturer to restart production. When they said they lacked raw materials, he simply bought an entire mountain to grow the necessary ingredients, just to ensure she could enjoy her favorite snack anytime.” “As for jewelry and luxury cars? Those are just the basics. New items from luxury brands are delivered to Ms. Martin for her selection before they even hit the market. Some limited editions aren’t even available for others to see.” “Most importantly, other women can’t even get close to Mr. Cooper. He deals with any woman who approaches him before Ms. Martin needs to intervene.” “What do you think Ms. Martin did in her past life to deserve such a wealthy, powerful, handsome, and loyal perfect man like Mr. Cooper?” Hearing this, Jasmin couldn’t listen anymore. She suppressed the bitterness in her heart, feeling only mockery rising within her. She thought, “What good could I have possibly done in my past life? In the end, I still met a tragic death.” In her previous life, it wasn’t until she was dying that she finally learned the cruel truth. Declan, who everyone believed treasured her above all else and promised to love only her for life, had already betrayed their love long ago. Jasmin shuddered as she recalled her previous life. When she was young, her father’s affair had driven her mother to death. Shortly after her mother’s passing, her stepmother moved in with her half-sister. From then on, her life plunged into endless pain and torment. After her father’s death, her stepmother completely dropped the facade, seized all the Martin family assets, treated Jasmin like she was invisible—feeding her scraps when in a good mood and beating her viciously when not. Even the household servants felt entitled to abuse her at will. It wasn’t until Declan appeared that a glimmer of light entered her dark world. He was like a beam of masculine energy cutting through the haze of feminine despair, giving her hope when she was drowning in desperation. Declan stood up for her, driving out the venomous stepmother and her immature half-sister. Afterward, he pulled out all the stops to pursue her. He understood that because of her parents’ history, Jasmin couldn’t trust love. Even when she rejected his confession, Declan remained undeterred, proving his sincerity through his actions time and time again. Though neither was a celebrity, they became famous due to Declan’s persistent, high-profile displays of affection. They amassed a large following online, with fans even creating a dedicated hashtag: “Mr. Cooper and Ms. Martin.” Once, a fan edited a video chronicling Declan’s ten-year pursuit, showcasing his wholehearted devotion, his resilience through repeated rejections, and finally his success in winning Jasmin’s heart. When Declan saw it, he gifted that fan a villa as thanks. From then on, their fanbase grew exponentially, and their story was hailed as a modern-day Cinderella tale. On Declan’s 1,314th proposal, Jasmin finally gave in. She clearly remembered how Declan looked when he heard her say “I do.” He held her tightly, tears soaking her collar, too overwhelmed to speak—as innocent and happy as a child. At their wedding, Jasmin made a solemn promise to Declan, along with a warning: “From now on, I belong to you completely, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I will never leave you. But there’s one condition—you must never lie to me. If you ever deceive me, I will vanish from your world completely.” Without hesitation, Declan swore, “I pledge my life that I will never deceive or betray you. If I break this vow, I’ll livestream myself eating mangoes until I die.” Everyone who knew him was aware that Declan had a severe mango allergy. This convinced Jasmin to believe him and accept that this man was her destiny. After marriage, his adoration for her only increased, almost to an extreme. However, if she hadn’t discovered Declan’s affair with her half-sister Lilah Perry, she would have truly believed she was the happiest woman in the world. Unfortunately, there are no “what ifs” in life. Eight months into her pregnancy, Jasmin suddenly received intimate photos of Declan and Lilah in bed together. In that moment, she realized she had been deceived by Declan all along. The man who treasured her and promised never to change his heart had been keeping Lilah as his mistress for over a year. Those intimate photos left her devastated, unable to bear the shock. In the end, she suffered complications during labor, hemorrhaged on the operating table, and died with hatred in her heart. Fortunately, fate had given her a chance to be reborn. There was still time. This time, she decided to fulfill her promise and disappear completely from his world. Two hours later, Declan rushed back to Cooper Manor, his face full of guilt as he apologized, “I’m sorry, Jasmin. I was busy with the press conference last night and couldn’t make it back for your birthday.”
Meanwhile, Declan woke up, suddenly realizing that today was his wedding day. He sluggishly became aware that Jasmin hadn’t called him once in the past few days, and a wave of inexplicable panic immediately surged through him. He ordered the yacht to return to shore at once and rushed toward the wedding venue. However, no matter how many times he called or texted Jasmin, or dialed the landline at Cooper Manor, no one answered. Even his secretary and assistant were completely unreachable. It was as if everyone had suddenly vanished, like they had all planned it with Christian beforehand. Declan tried to reassure himself, “This must be a surprise Jasmin is preparing for me.” He drove anxiously to the hotel, and when he spotted the elaborately decorated entrance from a distance with guests gathering, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a hint of sweetness in his heart. But as he got closer and could clearly see the bride and groom’s posters, Declan completely fell apart. Not just the posters, but the flower arrangements, standing signs, and invitations—all information about the bride had been changed from Jasmin to his mistress, Lilah. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded. “Where is my Jasmin?” The butler and assistant hurriedly approached to explain, “Mr. Cooper, Ms. Martin has disappeared. We’re searching everywhere for her.” Declan was furious. “What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t believe it. You’re all in on this game together, aren’t you?” The butler and assistant were at a loss for words. Not getting a satisfactory response, Declan irritably pushed past everyone and stormed into the wedding venue, frantically searching for his bride, Jasmin. “Jasmin, Jasmin…” he called her name over and over again. But apart from the officiant on stage and guests whispering among themselves, there was no sign of Jasmin anywhere. Declan instinctively shook his head as the thought he had deliberately ignored yet deeply feared surfaced again. “Could Jasmin have discovered my affair?” No, impossible! He refused to believe it. He had always hidden it so well; Jasmin had never suspected him. She couldn’t have suddenly discovered it. Someone must have malicious intentions, trying to sabotage his relationship with Jasmin! Looking around at all the banners congratulating him and Lilah on their happy marriage, his anger exploded. Declan strode forward, grabbed a staff member by the collar, and roared, “Who told you to put up all this garbage? Take it down immediately!” With that, he shoved the person aside and began tearing down the posters himself. He didn’t want to waste time; he needed to clean up this mess quickly and bring his Jasmin back. He believed that if he just explained everything properly, told her it was all a prank, she would surely forgive him. The thought of Jasmin, who loved him deeply and might be hiding in some corner crying right now, made his heart ache unbearably. A flash of determination appeared in Declan’s eyes. He would find whoever was sabotaging his marriage, drag them before Jasmin to apologize, and then host an even grander wedding for her. Just then, the staff finally pressed the video play button. Accompanied by gasps from the crowd, the photos Lilah had sent to Jasmin appeared one by one on the big screen. The images showed the two of them in cars, offices, and bathrooms; role-playing as doctors and nurses, flight attendants and pilots; and even scenes from their recent group bachelor party. Declan stood frozen, his eyes wide, his head buzzing. Each photo on the screen mercilessly exposed the dirty secrets he had kept buried deep in his heart. The venue erupted in commotion, with bolder guests even taking out their phones to secretly record. Declan stared at the screen, with only one thought in his mind: “It’s over. Everything is over.” Despair spread from the depths of his heart throughout his entire body like a tidal wave. He suddenly remembered what Jasmin had told him when he proposed. “From now on, I belong to you completely, through poverty and wealth, sickness and health, I will never leave you. But there’s one condition—you must never lie to me. If you ever deceive me, I will disappear from your life forever.” Her voice echoed in his ears, each word clear, each sentence piercing his heart. Declan panicked, his legs weakening to the point where he could barely stand. In the next second, his eyes lit up, and he stumbled toward the video control panel, shouting repeatedly, “Turn it off! Turn it off now!” Jasmin wasn’t here—maybe she hadn’t seen it yet. He still had a chance to explain, a chance to make things right! However, no matter what he tried, the footage continued to roll, displaying the shameful content before everyone’s eyes. He fell into complete breakdown, his voice carrying a sob he didn’t even notice: “Why won’t it turn off? Jasmin absolutely cannot see this. I can’t let this filth reach her eyes.” With a sharp “smack,” a slap suddenly struck Declan’s face. Elliot Cooper furiously scolded him, “You’re falling apart over a woman? You’ve completely disgraced the Cooper family!” “What do you know?” Declan shouted at Elliot, tears welling in his eyes. “Jasmin will leave me! She’s going to leave me!” As Elliot tried to continue lecturing Declan, Lilah rushed forward to shield him. “If she doesn’t want you, I do, Declan! Jasmin is already gone. Forget about her and be with me, won’t you?” “Get away from me!” Declan shoved Lilah forcefully. “If you hadn’t seduced me, I would never have cheated! And the rest of you, my so-called ‘good friends,’ smiling to my face while secretly hoping to see me humiliated. I order all of you to find Jasmin—if you don’t, I’ll have your lives!” Watching his near-manic state, a staff member’s eyes flashed with a hint of satisfaction. He stepped forward at the right moment and said to Declan, “Mr. Cooper, Ms. Martin asked us to relay a message to you.” Hearing this, a spark of hope instantly ignited in Declan’s eyes. He grabbed the staff member’s hand excitedly and asked urgently, “What did she say?” The staff member replied, “She said, ‘I wish you both happiness.’” Those few simple words pierced Declan’s heart like a sharp sword. His vision darkened as every cell in his body seemed to experience excruciating pain. “Ahhh—” He could no longer control himself. He let out a hoarse roar, then collapsed to the floor as if all strength had been drained from him, covering his face as he broke down sobbing. His Jasmin was truly leaving him. What should have been a grand wedding that shocked the entire city ultimately became a joke. To minimize the negative impact, the Cooper family mobilized all their resources to contain the news. Declan returned to the Cooper estate in a daze. Even now, he still couldn’t believe that Jasmin would leave him at the altar. He thought, “How did my life go from perfect happiness to complete ruin in just a few days? How could ten years of love vanish so easily? Even if I made mistakes, why wouldn’t Jasmin give me even one chance to explain?” She was the woman he loved most, the only woman he had ever committed to. His feelings for her had never wavered. Pushing open the front door, Declan turned on the living room lights. The massive villa was empty, and he suddenly felt a wave of loneliness. He realized with a shock that everything related to Jasmin had disappeared from the house. Only his half remained in their wedding photos on the wall. Jasmin had been a beautiful, vibrant girl since childhood. He had specially built an enormous walk-in closet for her, filled with all kinds of clothes for her to dress up in. Now, all those items were gone. The closet contained only his black and white clothes, so empty it was as if she had never set foot there. At some point, tears blurred his vision. In his daze, Declan thought he saw Jasmin’s figure. “Jasmin! My Jasmin…” he murmured, “Where are you? Why did you so cruelly leave me alone?” The girl who always waited for him at home was truly gone. After a sleepless night, when the first ray of morning light fell on Declan’s face, his eyes suddenly brightened. He remembered that Jasmin had left him a wedding gift, which he was supposed to open on their wedding day. He staggered to his feet and stumbled to the study. He stood before the gift box for a long time, afraid to touch it. He feared it contained something that would make him even more desperate, yet he secretly hoped it might be the last thread of hope Jasmin had left him. After a long struggle, he finally gathered the courage to open the box. Inside was the diamond ring he had used to propose to Jasmin. This ring had cost him four full years of effort. He had traveled the world searching for white diamond rough stones, then spent a year learning jewelry setting techniques to personally design and craft it. Each diamond was engraved with “D&J,” symbolizing his commitment to loving only Jasmin. Declan clearly remembered how much Jasmin loved this ring. She said it represented his pure, sacred, and unique love for her, and she would wear it for the rest of her life. Yet now, the ring was placed on top of a photo of him and Lilah. So Jasmin had known about his affair all along. Declan laughed bitterly at himself. His actions over the past few days must have seemed ridiculous in her eyes. He thought he had hidden it well, not realizing that every time he made excuses to go out, Jasmin knew he was going to see Lilah. Declan felt utterly filthy. He tore the photo to shreds like a madman, then rushed to the bathroom to wash himself frantically. Over and over, until his skin turned red and began to bleed, only then did he stop and break down in tears. Only physical pain could temporarily mask the agony in his heart. He thought if he could just get clean enough, maybe Jasmin would come back. After his shower, Declan gradually calmed down. He found Jasmin’s phone that she hadn’t taken with her on the nightstand, filled with taunting messages from Lilah. [Jasmin, so Mr. Cooper likes to play with ties, huh?] [Jasmin, this time Declan is mine. If you’re smart, you’ll leave now. Otherwise, your fate will be miserable.] [So what if he went home? Whenever I want, I can take him away from you.] ***** The more he read, the more Declan felt rage and shame. He finally understood how Jasmin had discovered the truth about his affair. It turned out Lilah was behind everything! With determination in his heart, Declan picked up his phone and ordered his men to search for Jasmin with all their resources. He admitted his mistakes and would apologize to Jasmin, but he absolutely would not allow her to leave! She was the woman he had loved with all his heart for ten years, and he would never let her go! But before finding her, he would punish Lilah with his own hands. He said furiously, “Wait for me, Jasmin. I’ll make Lilah pay dearly and make amends to you!” When Lilah received Declan’s call, her heart filled with joy, thinking he had finally come to his senses, and she immediately headed to Cooper Manor. As soon as she stepped through the door, Declan violently grabbed her by the throat, his distorted face and bloodshot eyes looking as if he wanted to tear her apart. The suffocation terrified Lilah as she struggled desperately, pounding on Declan’s arms with all her strength. However, Declan showed no reaction, grinding out through clenched teeth: “Lilah, you’re asking for death!” Only when Lilah was gradually losing strength did Declan release his grip, throwing her violently to the floor before delivering a brutal kick to her stomach. “Ugh…” Lilah felt a sudden, intense pain and instinctively protected her abdomen, curling up on the floor in agony, unable to utter a word. Declan demanded: “From the beginning, I told you that while I couldn’t give you marriage, I could spoil you, love you, and satisfy all your material needs. Why are you still not content? I warned you not to provoke her, and especially not to let her know about us. You dared to send her that filthy content! You’ve clearly gotten too comfortable with the good life and are now seeking death!” With that, Declan violently hurled the phone Jasmin had left at Lilah. Lilah, face pale, picked up the phone through her pain to check it. Instantly, terror enveloped her, followed by intense hatred for Jasmin. She thought, “That bitch! She left a phone behind to frame me even after she left.” Lilah knew that Declan might actually kill her. In the next moment, she crawled to Declan, grabbing his pant leg and tearfully explaining: “Declan, everything I did was for you. In my past life, after Jasmin married you, she changed. She not only cheated with other men but wanted her lover’s child to inherit the Cooper family fortune. After you discovered this, they drugged your drink, planning to disguise it as a car accident. I was stabbed to death trying to save you, and when I opened my eyes again, I was reborn. After my rebirth, I wanted to prevent the tragedy, so I sent those photos to her to force her to leave you. Declan, Jasmin doesn’t love you at all—she only wants your money. Only I truly love you!” By the end, Lilah couldn’t help but sob with grievance, desperately hoping Declan would believe her. However, she had miscalculated once again. Declan, being an atheist, didn’t believe a word of Lilah’s absurd tale. Moreover, he was certain Jasmin would never betray him or have an affair. He looked down coldly at Lilah, all the former affection and admiration in his eyes completely gone, replaced only by hatred and disgust. “She loves me. I’m the one she loves most. Once I get rid of you, Jasmin will forgive me,” Declan said each word deliberately to Lilah, also trying to convince himself. He picked up a golf club from beside the cabinet and approached Lilah step by step. Watching Declan closing in, Lilah was terrified, her entire body trembling uncontrollably as she backed away, trying to create distance between them. She thought, “What is he going to do to me? Is he going to kill me? No, murder is against the law!” Lilah shook her head desperately, afraid to think further. She knew Declan had a hundred ways to make her life worse than death, so she begged him repeatedly to believe her, to spare her. Yet Declan wouldn’t relent. Finally, she played her last card: “Declan, I’m pregnant. You can’t hurt me.” Lilah had thought this statement would soften Declan’s heart and make him spare her, but it only earned a cold laugh and mockery: “So what if you’re pregnant? It’s just a child. I can have as many as I want.” Lilah was completely panicked now, staggering back a few steps, looking at Declan in despair. She couldn’t believe that this man—who had repeatedly abandoned his fiancée to be with her day and night, who had spoiled and cherished her—could be so heartless. Just then, the front door was violently flung open.
Amelia Cooper burst into the room with a group of bodyguards, hurriedly helping Lilah up from the floor, then angrily pointed at Declan. “What the hell is wrong with you? Lilah is pregnant with your child, don’t you understand that?” Declan stared silently at Amelia for a long moment before speaking: “She’s not worthy. I only allow Jasmin to bear my children.” Amelia’s chest heaved with anger. “Wake up! Jasmin is gone! I never approved of your relationship from the beginning. How could a girl with no power or influence possibly help you? Besides, she’s being too dramatic. You just cheated, was it worth causing all this? What man doesn’t cheat?” She took a deep breath and continued, “Let me be frank with you, give up looking for her. After what Jasmin has done, she’ll never set foot in our house again! Carter is still waiting for a grandchild. In my opinion, you might as well make the best of a bad situation and marry Lilah…” Declan interrupted Amelia: “Mom! If you want grandchildren, wait until I bring Jasmin back, and we’ll have as many as you want. As for Lilah, she must pay the price!” He waved his hand, and servants immediately stepped forward to drag Lilah away. Just as Amelia was about to intervene, the doors of Cooper Manor swung open again. Elliot stormed in with a grim expression, marched up to Declan, and slapped him hard across the face. Declan’s head jerked to the side, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. After a moment, he turned to look at Elliot. Elliot, furious, pointed at his nose and shouted, “You worthless fool! Look what you’ve done!” It turned out that videos from the wedding day and photos of the couple had somehow been leaked online. Worse still, someone had exposed a video of Lilah and Declan having an affair in the makeup room during the filming of a short drama. Topics about Declan’s infidelity and Jasmin’s escape from the wedding quickly dominated social media, shocking the entire city. Eight out of the top ten trending topics were about them. The remaining two were about Lilah’s past scandals uncovered by internet users. Soon after, someone released clips of Lilah having sex with a man during a livestream. Although the man’s face wasn’t visible, internet users keenly compared his voice with Declan’s, finding a 98% match. What angered netizens even more was that on the very day Jasmin accepted Declan’s proposal, his mistress Lilah was already pregnant with his child, and Amelia had personally accompanied her to the hospital for prenatal care. Countless fans who had supported Declan and Jasmin were devastated, publicly condemning Declan, with some even flooding the Cooper Group’s official accounts with angry comments. Overnight, the Cooper family’s reputation was destroyed, and their stock prices plummeted. Carter Cooper suffered a heart attack relapse and was rushed to the hospital. Carter’s first words upon waking were: “Get rid of that bastard child.” That’s when Elliot hurried over. Seeing that Amelia could no longer protect her, Lilah cried out desperately: “No!” She turned to escape but was blocked by bodyguards. Declan coldly ordered: “Tie her up and take her to the clinic to terminate the pregnancy.” Lilah struggled desperately. She couldn’t lose this child; even illegitimate children had inheritance rights. She firmly believed that if she could give birth to the Cooper family’s first grandson, she would secure her life and wealth. So she knelt on the ground, begging Declan to spare her life for the sake of their past relationship. But all she received was Declan’s cold, resolute answer: “Don’t worry, your punishment is just beginning.” After Lilah’s pregnancy was forcibly terminated, the Cooper family’s bodyguards threw her onto the street like garbage. Soon, a crowd gathered around her. Some threw trash at her, others spat on her, and many hurled insults. Some extremely angry fans even kicked and punched her to vent their fury. Photos of her in this wretched state were uploaded online, but no one showed any sympathy. Due to the severe negative impact, the film company not only terminated Lilah’s contract but also sued her for damages. The short drama she starred in was removed from all platforms, and the once-popular actress was now universally reviled as a slut. Her phone was flooded with abusive and threatening messages, as well as harassment calls. Some even mockingly asked how much she charged for her services. Lilah now spent her days hiding in a rented apartment, afraid to go outside. Late at night, Declan sat alone drinking at the bar. “Jasmin, where are you?” he mumbled. One shot of liquor after another burned down his throat, making tears stream down his face. For days, he had tried everything to find Jasmin, but came up empty-handed, as if she had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind. Forget about winning her back—even seeing her once had become an impossible dream. At this thought, Declan painfully slapped himself twice across the face. He recalled the first time he met Jasmin, when her parents were still alive. Fifteen-year-old Jasmin wore a crisp white school uniform, standing under a cherry blossom tree, her smile radiant and captivating. He had never seen such a pure and dazzling smile before. In that moment, his heart raced involuntarily, and he knew he had fallen in love with her. It was the first time he felt such an intense desire to possess a woman, unwilling to share her with anyone, including her parents. So Declan began secretly observing Jasmin’s life. Later, when he learned about her father’s affair, he realized his opportunity had come. To claim Jasmin completely for himself, he meticulously planned a dark and extremely selfish scheme. First, he had someone deliver evidence of her father’s affair to her pregnant mother, causing Jasmin to lose the mother who adored her and develop resentment toward her father. After her father’s death, he paid her stepmother handsomely to mistreat Jasmin. This way, Jasmin—once happy, loved, and cherished—was forced to become a vulnerable young woman, lonely and tormented. When Jasmin had nowhere to turn and was completely desperate, he appeared to rescue her, gradually winning her heart. After winning Jasmin over, he became even more attentive than before. His friends often teased him, saying, “You’re already with her, why keep up the act? I can only pretend until I get her into bed—once my pants are back on, the act is over.” They were all wealthy heirs with countless women around them, but Declan was different. He only had Jasmin. So, unsatisfied—whether out of envy or jealousy—they started making bets and blatantly sending women to Declan, trying to shake his resolve. At first, Declan firmly refused. However, gradually, at some point, he began to think it wouldn’t hurt to try, just as a way to relieve stress. He still believed his heart belonged to Jasmin. He set boundaries for himself: playing around was fine, but Jasmin must never find out. So he chose his favorite woman, Lilah. The reason was simple—she somewhat resembled Jasmin. The first time he slept with Lilah, an unprecedented thrill hit all his senses. Unlike Jasmin, Lilah was more open and passionate, offering an experience he had never had before. From initial novelty to growing addiction to complete obsession, Declan sank deeper into the quagmire of desire. He fell deeper and deeper, unable to turn back. Now, he slapped himself hard several times, tears of regret flowing from his eyes. “I’m such a bastard! A complete bastard…” he confessed. “If I had resisted Lilah’s temptation, if I hadn’t fooled around with those friends, would my Jasmin still be with me? “How could I fail to cherish what I had and lose her?” Through tear-filled eyes, Declan saw the private room door open as a man walked in. “Oliver, what are you—” he began. Before he could finish, the newcomer knocked him down with a powerful punch. This man was Oliver Meyer, Declan’s childhood friend. “You have the nerve to ask me what’s going on?” Oliver sneered. Declan rose, holding his bruised cheek, somewhat sobered, about to explain. Unfortunately, Oliver gave him no chance, delivering a hook that knocked him to the floor again. Declan couldn’t beat Oliver even on a good day, and now, drunk as he was, he could only take the beating. There were plenty of onlookers, but no one dared intervene. “From now on, stay away from Jasmin, or I won’t let you off so easily next time,” Oliver threatened before walking away. Declan lay on the floor for a full ten minutes before realizing that someone seemed to be preventing him from finding Jasmin. “Could it be Oliver?” he wondered. “Does he have feelings for my Jasmin? How dare he covet my woman?” Across the ocean, Jasmin began her new life as an immigrant. When she first arrived in France, she kept an extremely low profile, fearing Declan might find her. Based on what she knew about Declan, he would never easily let her go. After two weeks of worry, it proved that the wedding company’s runaway bride service was indeed trustworthy. Grateful for their help, Jasmin transferred another sum of money as a thank-you, earnestly requesting they keep her whereabouts hidden. Life in France was peaceful and serene. Jasmin could sleep in every day, unlike at Cooper Manor where she had to follow Amelia’s strict schedule. Outsiders assumed she was cherished and pampered by Declan, not knowing that Amelia had always looked down on her, believing she wasn’t good enough for Declan, and frequently imposing rules on her. Jasmin had silently endured it all, never mentioning it to Declan. Looking back now, she thought herself foolish for compromising so much for such a man. After resting for a while, Jasmin decided to find something to do. Initially, she wasn’t sure what to pursue until one day when she found a stray cat on the street. The kitten looked only about two months old, shivering under a bridge. It was pitiful, reminding her of herself after losing both parents with no one to turn to. In fact, Jasmin had always loved cats, but because Declan was allergic to cat hair, she could never have one. Now, with no interfering factors, Jasmin immediately decided to adopt it and named it Mac. Through adopting this cat, she met local pet lovers and, by coincidence, joined a wildlife rescue charity. The charity had just opened a new branch, and Jasmin’s days became busy and fulfilling. That day after work, Elise video-chatted with her as usual and forwarded three videos. The first was security footage from outside Elise’s company. Declan had gone there asking about Jasmin’s whereabouts. After not seeing him for some time, Jasmin could barely recognize Declan in the video. The man stood at the entrance, unkempt and unshaven, pleading: “Please tell me where Jasmin is. You’re her best friend, you must know.” Elise became angry at the sight of him and immediately tried to drive him away. “Get lost!” Declan waved his hand, and the bodyguards behind him opened two black leather cases filled with cash, probably around two million dollars. He said, “All this money is yours if you tell me. If it’s not enough, I can add more.” Seeing this, Jasmin scoffed inwardly: “Does he think everyone and everything in this world can be bought with money? Just as easily as he once paid my stepmother to mistreat me?” Elise became furious, went back into her office, and returned with a broom, hitting Declan directly. He neither dodged nor moved, standing still as Elise struck him. When Elise tired, he said with reddened eyes, “Tell me where Jasmin is, and I won’t bother you again.” Elise mocked him: “When she was by your side, you were out with other women. Now that she’s gone, you’re here pretending to be heartbroken? Who are you trying to fool? Declan, let me tell you, Jasmin doesn’t want you anymore, so just leave! Even if I knew where she was, I wouldn’t tell you! Take your money and go, or I’ll call the police!” After her tirade, Elise turned and closed the door. Declan stood there, his face pale and rigid, motionless for a long time. Watching the desperate, soul-lost Declan in the video, Jasmin felt nothing. The second video was in a bar. A man was repeatedly punching Declan, who lay on the ground, defenseless. Jasmin recognized the man and exclaimed, “Is that Oliver?” Oliver was Declan’s best friend. Oliver’s fists landed swift, vicious blows on Declan. Even through the screen, Jasmin could feel the pain. She was confused: “They’re such good friends. Why would Oliver attack Declan over me?” She had met Oliver at the gathering where Declan first formally introduced her to everyone. In her memory, they hadn’t interacted much, but Oliver had left a good impression. The breeding and humility he revealed in conversation, his perfectly measured politeness and care, gave her an indescribable sense of comfort and respect. Elise joked, “Maybe he has a secret crush on you and is getting revenge for you.” “That’s impossible,” Jasmin instinctively denied. She didn’t think too deeply about it, assuming he was just the kind of person who stood up for what was right—someone with good values.
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