CEO Liam Blackwood had finally recovered after three years of paralysis, and his buddies threw him a celebratory party at an exclusive private club. I stood by the entrance, clutching a carefully chosen gift. Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard Liam’s voice, mingling with his friends’ chatter from inside. “Liam, Sera has been absolutely incredible for you. Honestly, if it wasn’t for her these past three years, you wouldn’t have recovered this brilliantly.” “He’s right. She’s just a girl, yet she massaged you daily, pushed you through rehab, barely slept a wink, terrified you’d have a breakdown in the dead of night… You owe her for life, man.” “She is indeed a very good person,” Liam’s voice was low and gentle. My fingertips trembled slightly, a warmth spreading through my chest. The next second, I heard someone ask, “So, when are you going to marry her?” A terrifying silence fell over the room. My hand hung in mid-air, my heart involuntarily quickening its pace. I held my breath, as if awaiting a final judgment. After a long pause, Liam’s voice, flat and distant, finally broke the silence. “I think of her as a sister.” “A sister?!” His friends’ voices shot up. “She’s been with you for three years, and you just see her as a sister? Liam, you can’t still be pining for Genevieve, can you? She ditched you the second things went south, didn’t even bother to check in! Now you’re back on your feet, and suddenly she reappears? Liam, you can like *anyone* else, but not her!” Liam didn’t respond. I stood outside the door, my heart twisting in a brutal grip. Silence, in itself, was the clearest answer. I had foolishly believed three years of unwavering devotion would earn me his true feelings. Instead, his heart had always belonged to the one who abandoned him. Three years ago, Liam Blackwood was a golden boy, standing at the pinnacle of success. A top-tier university grad, heir to a massive empire, a natural at everything from skiing to equestrian. And his face? Sculpted by the gods themselves. Me? I was just a scholarship kid, lucky enough to be sponsored by the Blackwoods. I first saw him at a school awards ceremony. He stood on the podium, his expression cool and distant, his posture tall and unyielding, like an unreachable mountain pine. I sat in the very last row, clutching my scholarship check, too afraid to even clap loud enough to be noticed. Back then, standing by his side was Genevieve Sterling, the university’s reigning queen, gorgeous and from a family just as powerful as his. Everyone said they were like a prince and princess from a fairytale. Until that car crash. Liam’s spine was shattered, and the doctors said he might never walk again. Genevieve? She didn’t even make it to his hospital room. Just a cold breakup text, and then she vanished, poof, into thin air. The Blackwood heir, once the center of everyone’s universe, plummeted into absolute darkness overnight. He became volatile, moody, even attempted to take his own life. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood wept endlessly, completely helpless. I was the one who stepped up. I knelt by his wheelchair, my voice a soft whisper. “Liam,” I promised, “everything will be okay. I’ll be right here with you.” For the next three years, I dedicated myself to learning various massage techniques, sleeping only two hours a night, terrified he’d do something reckless in the dead of night. When he’d spiral, smashing his legs with a chair, I’d instinctively throw myself in front of him, taking every brutal blow. “My legs are already ruined!” he’d roared, his eyes bloodshot. “It doesn’t matter if I break them! Are you crazy? Can’t you tell what’s more important, your life or my legs?!” Sweat beaded on my forehead from the searing pain, but I clung to his legs stubbornly. “I can tell,” I whispered. “Precisely because your legs are so important, I have to stop you.” “Because one day, I *will* make you walk again.” In that moment, Liam, who had always been so proud, trembled as he pulled me into his arms, his voice thick with emotion. “Sera, please… don’t leave me…” Everyone called Liam’s recovery a miracle. But only I knew the truth. Miracle? There was no miracle. Just me, fighting tooth and nail, clawing him back from the edge of the abyss, piece by agonizing piece. And now… He’d climbed out of that abyss, but he no longer needed me. Just then, my phone vibrated sharply. I fumbled for it, and the name “Mrs. Blackwood” on the screen stung my eyes. I knew exactly what that call meant. Sure enough, as soon as I answered, Mrs. Blackwood’s gentle, yet unmistakably firm voice came through. “You see, dear, Liam’s the CEO of a major corporation now. His wife simply *must* be someone with a strong background, someone who can truly support him, not just… well, not just anyone.” “I truly appreciate your unwavering care these past three years. But you must understand, if it weren’t for the Blackwood family’s generosity, you wouldn’t have even seen the inside of a university. Consider all those past debts… paid in full, okay?” There was a pause on the other end, as if she expected a torrent of desperate questions, or perhaps a tearful, humble plea. But I simply lifted my gaze toward the empty hallway where Liam had walked away. The empty hallway seemed to echo with mocking laughter, a cruel testament to three years of unrequited hope. “Okay,” I heard my own voice say, eerily calm. “I’ll leave. I’ll never appear before him again.” I hung up the phone and went straight to the hospital. My forehead wound required three stitches, and the doctor advised me to keep it dry. I numbly nodded, and as I walked out of the clinic, I saw Liam’s Maybach parked not far from the hospital entrance. The car window was half-open. Genevieve was weeping, her head buried in his shoulder. “Liam, I’m so sorry for what I did back then…” Her voice was choked with sobs. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I had no choice but to leave you. My parents wouldn’t allow us to be together; they forced me abroad, even confiscated my phone. It’s not that I didn’t want to find you…” Liam sat in silence, the line of his jaw hard. I stood not far away, my feet rooted to the spot. “Then why are you back now?” Liam finally spoke, his voice deep. Genevieve lifted her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Because I couldn’t forget you… I know you have Sera now, but I don’t ask for anything else, just please don’t send me away… Just let me watch you from afar…” I stood in the shadows, watching Liam stay silent for a long time before finally reaching out to wipe away Genevieve’s tears. “I don’t blame you,” he said. “As for Sera… I just see her as a sister. It’s not what you think.” Genevieve’s eyes lit up, and she broke into a tearful smile. “Really?” Liam nodded. Genevieve cried tears of joy, burying herself in his arms once more. I let out a self-mocking laugh, turned, and headed straight to the immigration office.

At the immigration office, the clerk handed me a form. “Your visa should be ready in two weeks.” I thanked them, and by the time I walked out the door, dusk had already settled. I returned to Liam’s villa. For the past three years, I had lived here to better care for him. I’d foolishly believed this place was home. My carefully chosen slippers still sat by the door, the succulents I’d nurtured lined the living room, and my handwritten ‘Stomach-Friendly Recipes’ were taped proudly in the kitchen. Now, I was about to systematically erase every trace of myself. As I packed my suitcase, I found a photo at the bottom of a drawer. It was taken the day Liam successfully completed his rehabilitation. He’d actually *smiled* for the camera – a rare sight – and I stood beside him, my eyes crinkling into happy crescent moons. The edges of the photo were already soft with age, worn from my countless touches. I stared at the picture for a long time, then gently tossed it into the trash. Some dreams, I realized, were always meant to end. The next morning, Liam’s call came through. “I forgot my stomach medication. Can you bring it to the office?” His voice was a rough, morning-hoarse whisper, his tone as natural as if nothing had happened last night. I paused for two seconds. “Okay.” When I arrived at the company, the elevator doors opened, and I ran into Genevieve walking out, carrying a rather fancy bento box. “What a coincidence?” Genevieve smiled brightly. “I’m bringing Liam lunch. Want to join us?” I didn’t answer, following her into his office. Liam was looking at documents. Seeing us enter together, his eyebrow arched subtly. “How did you two end up together?” “Ran into each other on the way,” Genevieve said, smiling as she opened the bento box. The potent, fiery scent of spicy stir-fry instantly wafted through the air. “I made your favorite spicy stir-fry!” My face paled instantly. “His stomach can’t handle anything spicy!” Liam glanced at me, then picked up his fork. “It’s fine, just for once.” He speared a piece of beef glistening with chili oil and ate it, his expression unreadable. My knuckles whitened as I clutched the stomach medication in my purse. Not long after, a fine sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead, and his fingers, gripping his pen, trembled almost imperceptibly. “Liam? Are you not feeling well?” Genevieve asked, worried. “I’m fine,” Liam forced a smile. “I have work. You two should go.” I gave him a long, deep look, silently placed the medication on his desk, and turned to leave. Walking downstairs, I couldn’t help but say, “His stomach condition is serious. Maybe be more careful when bringing him food in the future.” Genevieve suddenly laughed. “Sera, do you still not understand your place?” “To Liam, you’re just a special kind of caregiver, so you *have* to remember these things. But I’m different. He loves me, so I don’t need to be so careful.” She leaned in closer, her red lips barely an inch from my ear. “Even if I gave him poison, he’d still take it. Understand?” My fingertips trembled, my heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest. I knew Genevieve wasn’t wrong. It took me three years just to get Liam to spare me a second glance. Genevieve, however, didn’t have to do anything at all, and he’d willingly swallow poison for her. That evening, Liam returned, looking terrifyingly pale. I was in the kitchen pouring water when I heard the commotion and turned around, almost dropping the glass in my hand. “You didn’t take your medicine?” My voice was tight. “It was too bad. I had to go to the hospital to get my stomach pumped,” Liam said weakly, collapsing onto the sofa, the fringe of hair on his forehead damp with cold sweat. My hand shook, and scalding hot water splashed onto the back of my hand, instantly turning it red. Did he love Genevieve so much he’d risk a stomach pump just to eat *her* cooking? I brought him a glass of warm water, kneeling beside him to gently rub his stomach. Liam finished the water, and under my soothing touch, his furrowed brow finally relaxed. He leaned against my shoulder, half-asleep. Just like so many times before. But this time, I didn’t linger, didn’t trace the lines of his face with longing. I gently laid him back on the sofa, covered him with a blanket, and went upstairs without a backward glance.

When I woke up the next morning, Liam was already standing in the living room, sharp in a suit. “Why are there so many things missing from the house?” He frowned, looking around. I opened my mouth, about to explain, but he had already changed the subject. “Genevieve’s art exhibition is today. She invited us to go.” “I…” “She just got back to the country; she doesn’t have many friends,” Liam interrupted me. “Just think of it as doing me a favor, being there for support.” I clenched my fingers, then finally nodded. At the exhibition, Genevieve saw Liam and immediately drew close, her arm slipping possessively through his. “Liam! This is the one I wanted you to see most…” She pointed to a snow-capped mountain oil painting, her voice soft. “I painted this in Switzerland. I thought of you every single day back then…” Liam listened, his gaze fixed on the painting, his expression unreadable. In the end, he bought every single one of her paintings. Whispers immediately broke out around us. “Isn’t that Mr. Blackwood? So generous with his date.” “I heard his girlfriend took care of him for three years; he really dotes on her.” “No, that’s not the Miss Hayes from the news. That’s the one who dumped Mr. Blackwood before…” Amidst the murmurs, someone mistakenly identified Genevieve as me. Liam froze when he heard, then seemed to remember something and turned to me. “What do *you* want?” Just then, a sapphire necklace was presented on stage, gleaming with a deep-sea luminescence under the spotlights. My gaze lingered on it for an extra second, involuntarily. Liam immediately raised his paddle. “Ten million!” “This necklace has quite a story,” Genevieve suddenly interjected. “It was a token of love from a foreign king to his queen, symbolizing loyalty and undying love.” She gave me a meaningful glance. “Perfect for Miss Hayes, wouldn’t you say?” Liam’s hand paused. After the necklace was purchased and brought to him, he handed it directly to Genevieve. “This suits you better.” “Oh, I don’t know,” Genevieve feigned hesitation. “Isn’t this the one Miss Hayes admired?” “I’ll buy her something else,” Liam said, looking at me. “What do you want?” I lowered my eyes, a self-mocking curve on my lips. A gift symbolizing loyalty, deemed unfit for me, yet perfectly suited for Genevieve. The difference between being loved and not loved was suddenly, painfully clear. After the auction ended, guests began to disperse in twos and threes. While Liam was surrounded by people exchanging pleasantries, Genevieve seized the opportunity to approach me. “Sera, surely you see it now?” Genevieve whispered, her red lips twisting into a triumphant, cruel smirk. “Liam loves *me*. The more you cling, the more he’ll resent you.” I looked at her, my eyes, however, were disturbingly calm. “You’ll get your wish.” “What do you mean?” Genevieve frowned. I didn’t answer, turning to leave. “Ah—!” A sudden scream erupted behind me. I turned to see Genevieve tumbling down the stairs! “Sera!” Liam’s enraged roar filled the hall. He rushed over and shoved me away, so hard I stumbled back and hit the wall. “What did Genevieve ever do to you, that you’d treat her like this?” he demanded, his eyes terrifyingly cold. “Even if I didn’t protect you properly before, if you have a problem, come at *me*! Why drag her into it?” My back pressed against the cold wall, my voice soft yet firm. “I didn’t push her.” “Liam…” Genevieve weakly clutched his sleeve. “It was just me being clumsy… it wasn’t Miss Hayes’s fault…” “You don’t need to defend her!” Liam gave me a chilling glance, then bent down and carefully scooped Genevieve into his arms. “I’m not dealing with you. Get yourself home.” I stood there, watching Liam’s retreating back as he hurried away with Genevieve. His suit jacket was still draped over her, and he held her with such agonizing care, as if she were the most precious thing in the world. He was always like this. The moment Genevieve cried, it was always *my* fault. I felt for the plane ticket in my pocket. A flight to London in a week, carrying away all my love and pain. He wouldn’t have to feel I was a burden anymore. Because soon, this burden of a woman would simply vanish from his life, forever. The auction house was far from the villa and in a remote area. I couldn’t hail a taxi, so I had no choice but to walk back. The rain started just as I was halfway home. The cold rain drenched my hair and clothes, and my shoes filled with water. Every step felt like a thousand needles pricking my feet. By the time I finally reached the house, my feet were raw with blisters, and my entire body was burning up. I forced myself to find some medicine, quickly tended to my wounds, then drifted off into a feverish sleep. The next morning, I was woken by commotion downstairs. As soon as I went down, I saw Genevieve’s luggage piled in the living room. Liam’s voice carried from the living room, “Genevieve’s parents are out of the country; it’s not safe for her to be alone, so she’ll stay here for a few days. And you, keep your schemes to yourself.” I gripped the banister, my face pale, as I walked down the stairs. “I won’t.” I wouldn’t play any more games. And I wouldn’t love him anymore. During Genevieve’s stay, I saw a completely different Liam. He’d remember Genevieve disliked cilantro, and he’d even swap out a dish I hated if I so much as frowned. On stormy nights, he’d be the first to comfort a frightened Genevieve. The study, once strictly off-limits to me, was now Genevieve’s to wander in and out of as she pleased. I finally understood. This was how Liam loved someone. I thought back to the past few years, when I used to secretly rejoice that he’d curb his self-destructive urges during his mood spirals just because I was there. I’d foolishly thought it was proof he was starting to like me. How utterly ridiculous. One day, as I passed the study, my peripheral vision caught Genevieve playing with something. I stopped, peering through the half-open door.

In Genevieve’s hand was Liam’s precious, creamy white jade pendant, the one his grandmother had left him! The pendant teetered precariously in her fingers, almost slipping several times. My heart hammered in my chest. I rushed in, snatching the pendant from her hand. “What are you doing? This is Liam’s grandmother’s relic, how can you just…” “What business is it of yours?” Genevieve snapped, snatching it back. Seeing how tense I was, a cruel smirk suddenly curved her lips. “Oh, you care that much? Then…” She deliberately let go. *Shatter—* The pendant hit the marble with a sickening crack, shattering into two pieces. My heart almost stopped beating. That was Liam’s most cherished heirloom, given to him on his grandmother’s deathbed! “What’s going on?” Liam’s voice came from the doorway. I looked up to see him standing there, his face grim, staring at the fragments on the floor. “Miss Hayes broke it,” Genevieve quickly interjected, her voice laced with feigned hurt. “I just picked it up to look at it, and she rushed over to grab it…” Liam’s eyes turned to ice. “How dare you…” “There’s a security camera in the study,” I interrupted him softly, my voice trembling slightly. “You can check it. See what really happened.” The air instantly froze. Genevieve’s face shifted, and she grudgingly changed her story. “I’m so sorry, Liam. It was… I accidentally broke it… Was it very important to you? I can just buy you another one, exactly the same.” To my surprise, Liam’s anger instantly evaporated. He strode quickly to Genevieve’s side, taking her hand. “Are you hurt?” I stood rooted to the spot, watching Liam carefully examine Genevieve’s fingers, a hollow ache spreading through my chest as if a piece had been carved out. No one knew better than I the significance of that pendant to Liam. Three years ago, when Mrs. Blackwood accidentally misplaced it, Liam had just undergone major leg surgery. He’d dragged his injured body through a snowstorm for three hours, searching for it. When he returned, he had a furious argument with his mother, then locked himself in his room, smashing things. It was I who braved the heavy snow, searching inch by inch in the yard, my fingers numb with cold, until I finally found the pendant at dawn. And now, the pendant was deliberately broken by Genevieve, and all he cared about was whether *she* was hurt. I laughed, a self-mocking sound. He loved Genevieve to such an extent. And I, how incredibly naive I was, to ever think Liam would marry me once he recovered. Countless nights, I’d watched over him, seen him suffer through grueling physical therapy, and secretly promised myself I’d stay with him forever. Even in his darkest, most self-destructive moments, I wrote in my diary, a silly, naive wish: “I’ll marry him the day he walks again.” Now, I realized I was a complete and utter joke. Thankfully, I was finally awake. My unappreciated devotion? I would never offer it again. After that day, I barely left my room. Until, during dinner one evening, Genevieve suddenly clutched her stomach, cried out in pain, and crumpled, pale-faced, into Liam’s arms. “What’s wrong?” Liam panicked, immediately calling his private doctor. After an examination, the doctor’s face was grim. “It’s poisoning,” he stated flatly. The entire villa was thrown into chaos. The house staff stood rigid with fear, and the butler immediately began grilling the kitchen for details about dinner prep. “I… I saw it…” a young maid spoke up, her voice trembling. “I saw Miss Hayes put something in the soup…” Liam’s gaze instantly turned to ice. He strode over to me, grabbing my wrist, his grip so fierce it felt like my bones would shatter. “Just because of that jade pendant, you’d try to kill Genevieve? Sera, what has gotten into you?” I looked up at him, my voice very quiet. “I didn’t.” “Still trying to deny it?” Liam’s eyes were cold and sharp. He turned to the maid. “Bring the rest of the soup.” My pupils constricted. “What are you doing?” “To teach you a lesson,” Liam squeezed my chin, his voice chilling. “So you’ll know what to do and what not to do from now on.” The maid brought the remaining soup, and at Liam’s command, forced the bitter liquid down my throat. I fought with all my might, but two burly bodyguards held me fast. The warm soup was forcibly poured down my throat, making me cough violently. The poison took effect almost immediately. I collapsed to my knees in agony, cold sweat instantly soaking my back. I curled into a ball, my nails digging deep into my palms, yet I stubbornly repeated, “I didn’t poison her…” Liam didn’t even spare me a glance. He stayed by Genevieve’s bedside the entire time, carefully feeding her water, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead with a damp cloth, his eyes dripping with tenderness. “Liam…” Genevieve weakly gripped his hand. “Miss Hayes…” “Don’t defend her,” Liam murmured, soothing her. “Just rest.” My vision blurred, my mind growing hazy from the intense pain. The last thing I remembered was being roughly loaded onto an ambulance. I lay in the hospital all night. Not a single soul came to visit me. When I returned to the villa the next day, the entire house was empty. My phone vibrated. It was a photo from Genevieve. Under a clear blue sky, Liam had his arm wrapped around Genevieve’s waist, both of them beaming at the camera. The caption read: `Someone brought me to the beach to clear my head. Says I needed to relax after such a fright~` I quietly locked my screen and began packing my suitcase. As I zipped up my luggage, I suddenly realized how few of my things there were in the place I’d called home for three years. A single 24-inch suitcase held every trace of my life here. I had never truly belonged here. Just as I had never truly entered his heart. “Have you learned your lesson?” Liam’s voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned to see him standing sharply dressed in a suit at the doorway, his brow furrowed, his gaze scrutinizing me. “Yes,” I said softly. My mistake was in loving you. My mistake was in stubbornly staying by your side for so many years. Liam’s expression softened slightly. “Good. Get dressed. We’re going to a party.” “A party?” I was slightly startled. “You don’t remember it’s my birthday today?” Liam’s frown deepened, a hint of disbelief in his tone, as if my forgetting was utterly incomprehensible. Only then did it dimly occur to me. Yes, it was his birthday. In previous years, I would have already prepared a cake, carefully chosen a gift, even decorated everything myself. I would remember his favorite flavors, the decorations he disliked, his wish every year. But now, I had forgotten. “You go ahead,” I said softly, my voice barely audible. “I’ll get changed and ready with a gift, then I’ll be right there.” “Liam!” Genevieve’s voice floated up from downstairs, laced with a hint of a whine. “Everyone’s waiting for you!” Liam nodded, giving me one last look. “Don’t be long.” With that, he turned and left, his footsteps fading into the distance. I stood there, watching his back disappear down the hallway, a self-mocking curve on my lips. Liam, this time, My birthday gift to you, is my permanent disappearance from your world. To let you and Genevieve have your deeply intertwined love, and to finally set myself free. I picked up my already packed suitcase, gave one last look around the place I’d lived for three years, then walked out without a backward glance. The airport buzzed with people. I stood before the boarding gate, pulled out my phone, and sent Liam one last message: `Liam Blackwood, I’m leaving. May your love for Genevieve be deep and unwavering, and may you grow old together.` Then, I turned off my phone and headed towards the boarding gate. Three years of foolish devotion, and now, finally, awake. Our paths diverge, never to cross again.

Meanwhile, in Metropolis’s most luxurious hotel. As one of the wealthiest families in Metropolis, the birthday celebration for Liam Blackwood, heir to the Blackwood Corporation, naturally attracted considerable attention. Guests were the most influential figures in high society. But the man at the center of attention seemed rather distracted. Liam’s friends also noticed his odd behavior. “Hey, that’s weird. Where’s Sera? Did she forget?” “No way! When have you ever known Sera to forget anything about Liam?” “True. But the party’s almost halfway over. This is the first time Sera’s ever been so late…” They exchanged glances, then all eyes turned to Liam. Seeing his mind was clearly miles away, Jason Miller couldn’t hold back any longer. He tentatively spoke, “Liam, maybe you should give Sera another call?” “No, she’s just getting a gift ready,” Liam instinctively shook his head, refusing. Hearing him, the others still felt something was off, but said nothing more. Perhaps they were just overthinking. Just then, the party reached the gift-giving segment. Jason and the other friends presented their gifts, and it was soon Genevieve’s turn. Although Jason and the others still harbored resentment towards Genevieve for abandoning Liam years ago, it was Liam’s birthday party, so they ultimately remained silent. Until she, flushed with bashfulness, presented her handmade gift with both hands. “Liam, this is for you…” But before her words were finished, Liam glanced at his phone, his face suddenly changing. Before everyone’s eyes, he shoved Genevieve aside and sprinted out. “Ah!” Completely unprepared, Genevieve stumbled and fell to the floor, the sharp pain bringing tears to her eyes. She instinctively wanted to call out to Liam, but Liam, who had always prioritized her, didn’t even spare her a glance this time, running straight out of the banquet hall. For a moment, everyone exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what had just happened. Jason and the others were also caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. Someone remembered Sera, who had yet to appear, and his face paled. “Could something have happened to Sera?” At that, the friends grew anxious and quickly rushed out after him, leaving Genevieve alone, sprawled on the floor, clenching her teeth in fury when she heard their last words. When Liam sped back to the villa, it was already deserted. Still unwilling to give up, he went straight upstairs, searching every possible place, but found nothing. Not only was I gone, but all my belongings had vanished too. He stood bewildered in the empty room, staring at the message that had arrived on his phone a short while ago, and the number saved under my name. After a long moment, as if suddenly remembering something, he dialed the number. He didn’t even realize his hand was trembling uncontrollably as he dialed. The busy tone rang in his ear, churning his insides into a tangled mess. But I didn’t answer. When the call automatically disconnected, the doorbell rang. He didn’t know how he made it downstairs to open the door. Seeing Jason and the others standing outside, looking worried, he still felt a sense of unreality. “Liam, why are you suddenly back? Did something happen to Sera?” He forcefully ignored the strange pang of bitterness in his heart, opened his mouth, and after a long silence, replied in a hoarse voice, “Sera said… she left.” “Left? Left for where?” Jason froze, the worry on his face instantly replaced by bewilderment. The shock on the others’ faces was equally obvious. No one had ever considered the possibility of me leaving. Over the years, they had witnessed Liam’s rise and fall after that accident, and they had seen people come and go from his life. Even they hadn’t had the courage to stay by his side when he was so temperamental and unpredictable. From beginning to end, it had only been me. I came to him in his most desperate and vulnerable state, giving him boundless patience and tolerance. No matter how he lashed out or pushed me away, I never once thought of leaving. So why would I suddenly… Just then, his phone rang again. Almost instinctively, Liam answered it first. “Sera? Where are you…” But before he could finish, Genevieve’s voice came through. “Liam, I twisted my ankle. Can you take me to the hospital?” If it had been before, Liam would have rushed over immediately. But perhaps it was my sudden departure that had rattled him, because he instinctively refused. “I’m busy right now. Find someone else.” At his words, even Jason and the others looked at him in surprise. However, seeing him distance himself from Genevieve, they were naturally pleased. Genevieve hadn’t expected him to refuse so bluntly. She bit her lip, her face stiff and grim, yet she forced herself to appear understanding, her voice thick with disappointment. “Okay. Did something happen with Miss Hayes? Is that why you were in such a hurry just now?” Liam then remembered that he seemed to have pushed something over in his haste. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke. “Wait, I’ll be right there.” He hung up and turned to head back to the banquet hall, leaving his friends to exchange glances. At the hospital. “Just a minor bump. Apply some cream, and rest for a few days.” After reviewing Genevieve’s examination report, the doctor handed the results back to Liam. Knowing that Genevieve was fine, he finally relaxed.

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A relentless blizzard had gripped the city for over sixty days, burying it under a suffocating blanket of ice and snow, bringing all life to a standstill. I volunteered to find supplies, only to be locked out by my family when I returned with them. I begged and pleaded, but they never opened the door. I froze to death right on my own doorstep. After I died, my dad dragged the supplies inside. My brother, Mark, then hauled my body out to the curb, kicking me one last time for good measure. “If you hadn’t been such a busybody, our Leo would have been born in the Year of the Dragon! This is all your fault! See? This is your punishment for messing with our true Dragon Child!” It was then I realized my whole family resented me for causing my little nephew to be born prematurely! When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the night my sister-in-law, Sarah, was about to go into labor. My mom, Debbie, was clutching my hand, her grip like a vice. “Our Leo is a true Dragon Child! He *must* be born in the Year of the Dragon!”

I was reborn on New Year’s Eve. “You stubborn girl, did you hear me? Leo *has* to wait until tomorrow to be born, no matter what!” My mom’s nagging voice finally brought me back to reality. The New Year’s Eve special was playing live on TV. I had…reborn? Back to the night Sarah went into labor! And half a month before the blizzard began. A wave of overwhelming joy threatened to sweep me away, but what little reason I had left screamed at me: I had to prepare, and fast, before the extreme blizzards hit. Since they loved the idea of a Dragon Year baby so much, I decided to let them have their way. “Mom, you’re absolutely right. So, I’m not taking Sarah to the hospital.” My mom stared at me, dumbfounded. She couldn’t understand why, just moments ago, I was so adamant about rushing Sarah to the hospital, and now my attitude had completely flipped. Of course, she couldn’t know. I had already died once. In my previous life, after Sarah got pregnant, my mom boasted everywhere, “We already have two Dragons in our family. Once this true Dragon Child is born, it will be a fated alignment of three Dragons! That’s an extremely auspicious sign, and Leo is destined for greatness!” In our family, my dad, Rob, was a Dragon, and my brother, Mark, was also a Dragon. They had been eagerly awaiting Sarah’s baby. But who could have imagined that Sarah’s due date would come early? Her water broke on New Year’s Eve – there was no way she could wait until midnight! To ensure their safety, I defied my entire family and rushed her to the hospital. She gave birth to a healthy seven-pound baby boy at 10:30 PM that night. It should have been a joyous occasion, but the atmosphere in the family was heavy. My mom complained more than once that I had ruined the true Dragon Child’s fortune. At first, I thought it was just minor family squabbles that time would heal. It wasn’t until they locked me out and left me to freeze to death that I finally saw the truth: they had always hated me! My thoughts snapped back to the present. I glanced down at Sarah, sprawled on the couch. Her water had already broken, and the intense pain made her forehead glisten with sweat. “Mom, it looks like Sarah’s about to give birth.” “What?! She can’t give birth now! She has to wait until after midnight!” My mom frantically let go of my hand and rushed to Sarah’s side. “Sarah, just hold on a little longer. It’s only five more hours until midnight.” Sarah cried out in pain. “Mom, I can’t hold on! Please, let Eleanor take me to the hospital!” My mom kept insisting she endure the pain. As for the other two men, one was glued to the TV, and the other was engrossed in a game on his phone. I watched the scene unfold with cold detachment, finding it utterly absurd. In my last life, I actually lost my life because of these cruel and poisonous family members! Thankfully, fate had given me another chance. This time, I wouldn’t interfere. It wasn’t until past 11 PM that my mom finally relented. “Eleanor, give me a hand. Help me get Sarah into the car and to the hospital.” While we were stuck at a red light, my little nephew’s head was already crowning. My mom, with a determined grimace, actually pushed his head back inside. Sarah’s face turned ashen with pain, her chest heaving violently. Hours of torture had left her too exhausted even to scream. By the time we reached the hospital, she was rushed straight into the delivery room. As the clock struck midnight, my mom cheered excitedly, “See? I told you Leo was a true Dragon reincarnated! He’s our family’s lucky star!”

The change came just over ten minutes later. My mom’s eagerly awaited Dragon Child was barely out of the delivery room before being whisked away to an incubator. Due to prolonged oxygen deprivation, the baby suffered from respiratory distress and nearly suffocated. My mom’s face was chalk-white as she repeatedly mumbled, “Impossible.” She insisted Leo was a true Dragon reincarnated, that his body couldn’t possibly have any problems. But the fact was, because of her outrageous actions, the baby was in an incubator right after birth. I didn’t respond to her. I just said I needed to go home to get toiletries to stay with Sarah, but it was really an excuse to escape. They all wanted to stay at the hospital, not wanting to lift a finger, which gave me the perfect opportunity to make a break for it. Back home, I quickly packed my bags. The blizzard was still half a month away. I had to prepare as quickly as possible. In my last life, my mom constantly called, complaining she wasn’t feeling well and worried she couldn’t care for Sarah during her confinement period. Out of concern for her, I took a month off from work and specially returned to help. This time, I wouldn’t be so foolish. Since they all believed that child was a true Dragon reincarnated, I was sure he’d protect them. As for me, I was obviously going to run as far away as possible and prepare for the upcoming blizzard. I drove for ten hours until I reached a completely unfamiliar city. The good thing was, no one knew I was here. I could stay without worry, but first, I needed to find a place to live. I scrolled through many listings on secondhand housing websites. Houses in the city center, though convenient and well-equipped, would be just as useless as a rundown shack in the mountains once the blizzard hit. Houses in the suburbs, both in price and condition, met my requirements better. Soon, I contacted a real estate agent and rented a two-story self-built house on the outskirts for a deposit of one month’s rent and three months’ upfront. The house was old, but thankfully, it had everything I needed. Since it was in a colder region, the house came equipped with a wood-burning stove and a coal furnace, which was a huge relief. Seventeen days into the last blizzard, the heavy snow had snapped power lines, crippling the city’s electricity grid for an entire week. So, neither central heating nor air conditioning would be my first choice. Things like coal, which were slowly being phased out, could actually be put to good use. I cleaned the house from top to bottom. By the time I finished, it was completely dark. My phone had rung over a dozen times. I checked the caller ID before slowly answering. The moment I picked up, my mom’s angry tirade blasted through the phone. “I told you to go home and get some things! Did you die on the way? Why aren’t you here yet? “Don’t you know Sarah just gave birth? Do you expect an old woman like me to take care of her?!” I used to think my mom had a harsh tongue but a kind heart. Now I know… she was all venom. A viper’s tongue, a scorpion’s sting, through and through. She had only ever seen me as a compliant tool. But I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with her now. With less than fourteen days until the blizzard, I had to procure massive amounts of supplies. After all, an extreme blizzard was coming, with no end in sight. “Mom, you’re right. I did die out here. Don’t call me again.” I didn’t wait for her to continue yelling. I just hung up. After hanging up, I thought about it and blocked all their numbers, swift and decisive. I needed to prepare for the impending blizzard, and I couldn’t let them distract me. Even with the heating facilities in the house, I lacked the raw materials. The wood stove needed dry logs, and for the coal furnace, honeycomb briquettes were the best. Checking the time, it was already past 7 PM. I drove back to the city, booked a room at a guesthouse, and enjoyed a luxurious hot bath. In the later stages of the blizzard, forget about showering. The sheets and duvet on the bed would be too cold to even pull off, and with temperatures plummeting below freezing, water would turn to ice instantly. No one would even dream of bathing. I slept soundly. The next morning, I drove to the town and bought a massive amount of lumber and honeycomb briquettes, arranging for delivery to my house. The delivery driver looked puzzled but didn’t ask too many questions. I paid an extra hundred dollars to have some of it moved inside, and the rest stacked right next to the window, within easy reach. In the later stages of the blizzard, temperatures would drop to minus sixty degrees Fahrenheit. Even stepping outside would require extreme mental preparation, as the brutal cold could freeze a person solid in moments. I certainly wanted to avoid that. Heating was sorted. Next up: stockpiling supplies. It was still the New Year’s season, and most families had plenty of food. But as the blizzard continued, these would quickly run out, and supplies would become scarce. A single head of cabbage could fetch an exorbitant price of five hundred dollars. In the later stages, even money couldn’t buy anything. So, I had to stock up now. I had saved a considerable amount of money over my years of working. Originally, I planned to buy a house. After all, I didn’t even have my own room at home, sleeping on the couch since childhood. So, I always dreamed of having my own place. Thanks to that dream, I had been frugal, working multiple jobs a day, accumulating six figures in my bank account. That money might not be enough to buy a house, but it was more than enough to stockpile supplies.

No sooner said than done, I immediately drove to the city’s largest wholesale market and went on a shopping spree. Seeds, nuts, dried fruits, instant noodles, frozen dumplings, sesame glutinous rice balls – and of course, rice, flour, and cooking oil. Anything long-lasting, I cleared off the shelves. As for other daily necessities, I bought whatever I saw. And most essential of all was water. So, I bought every single bottle of mineral water, completely clearing the stock. It was the holiday season, and the normally laid-back vendors, expecting a slow holiday, were shocked to see such a massive customer. They immediately called in their off-duty colleagues to help load the goods. After all, who would turn down a chance to make money? “Miss, what are you buying so much for, especially during the holidays?” One boss, curious, couldn’t help but ask. I smiled. “I plan to donate it to disaster areas after the New Year. Didn’t you hear about the earthquake a while back?” The boss’s expression was complicated. He probably thought I was some kind of saint, or maybe just incredibly naive. But since he’d stumbled upon such a big spender, he certainly wasn’t going to let me go. So, he flattered me: “Such a kind heart for a young lady!” Funny, I just made up an excuse, and they actually bought it. Wholesale market prices were much lower than supermarkets. Even after buying all that, it cost less than two hundred thousand dollars. I wasn’t familiar with the area. After loading up the supplies, I asked the boss if there were any generator sellers nearby. In my last life, the blizzard caused power and water outages. To avoid fumbling in the dark later, I needed a generator. The boss’s gaze on me grew increasingly strange, but adhering to the “customer is king” principle, he honestly told me the address. Following the directions, I bought a small generator and a complete set of cold-weather gear. The northern weather was harsh. Though not as extreme as the deep freeze during the blizzard’s peak, it was still in the single digits Fahrenheit outside, a natural giant freezer. Considering the inability to get fresh fruits and vegetables later, I made another trip to the farmers’ market. It was the eighth day of the New Year, and most people had already returned to work. The farmers’ market was bustling with people. Looking at the scene, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of melancholy. When the apocalypse came, none of this would exist anymore. “Miss, what can I get for you?” “Everything but the bitter gourds, please. Pack it all up.” The stall owner thought she misheard me. She looked at me, a little disbelieving, and asked, “Miss, you want *all* of it?” I nodded. While I could still go out, of course I needed to prepare more. Later, it would be impossible to buy. “Spring is almost here. Won’t stocking so much spoil?” Northerners are warm and simple. The vegetable vendor lady tried to dissuade me, but I was determined, so she could only comply. After loading all the vegetables into my car, the lady didn’t forget to remind me, “You can keep these outside for a few more days, but once it gets warmer, put them in the fridge, or they’ll all spoil.” My heart felt a little warm. I said goodbye to the lady and headed back. Everything was almost ready. All I had to do now was wait. Less than six days until the blizzard. Since I had blocked all my family’s numbers, no one bothered me anymore. The world was much quieter. I was about to lie down for a nap when my phone suddenly rang. It was an unknown number. I slid to answer. “Hello, who is this?” No sound came from the other end. Thinking they hadn’t heard me, I repeated, “Hello, can you hear me?” As soon as I finished, I immediately heard my mom’s shrill, piercing voice blare through the speaker. “You black-hearted witch, how dare you block all your family’s numbers? We couldn’t even find you! If someone hadn’t tipped me off, I wouldn’t have even known!” After more than a week, hearing my mom’s voice again, I no longer felt anxious. Instead, I was somewhat curious, wanting to hear what else she could come up with. “Why aren’t you talking? Are you mute?” “I’m just listening to you scold me. Done now? Then I’ll hang up!”

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**Chapter 1** Five years of dating, and my lawyer boyfriend had canceled our wedding 52 times. The first time, his female intern messed up some paperwork at the firm, and he rushed back, leaving me stranded on the beach for an entire day. The second time, in the middle of the ceremony, he learned that the same intern was being harassed by another lawyer. He left to help her, abandoning me to become the laughingstock of our guests. After that, no matter when or where I planned the wedding, Chloe always seemed to find some trouble that only he could solve. Finally, my heart turned into a barren wasteland, utterly devoid of hope. That was the day I finally decided to break free. But the day I moved out of Newport, he went insane, searching for me everywhere. … Today was the fifty-second time Daniel and I were supposed to get married. This time, I hadn’t invited anyone outside of our immediate families. I was burning up with a fever, yet I was the one confirming details with the wedding director. He didn’t even spare me a glance, let alone a word of concern. Instead, in the groom’s dressing room, he was meticulously massaging Chloe’s ankle. She’d apparently twisted it rushing over. My parents saw him and just shook their heads, their eyes full of pity for me. “Look at how many times you’ve put yourself through this, Ellie! Has he ever truly cared about your feelings?” Everyone knew how much this wedding meant to me, how desperately I wanted it to finally be perfect. But as the ceremony time drew near, Daniel, who should have been standing at the altar, canceled our wedding yet again. I bolted out, desperation clawing at my throat, but he caught my arm, his grip firm and unyielding. “Chloe’s ankle isn’t getting any better, I need to take her to the hospital.” “Let’s just cancel this wedding too. Next time, I promise, next time I won’t leave halfway through.” With that, he forcefully pulled his hand from mine, helped Chloe into the passenger seat, and sped away. Five years of dating. This was the fifty-second time he’d canceled our wedding because of Chloe. In the past, I would have erupted into a furious argument, demanding to know why he always had to leave in the middle of our wedding. But this time, I stood quietly, a gentle smile playing on my lips. “It’s okay, Chloe’s ankle really can’t wait.” Daniel paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, as if my easy agreement had caught him off guard. “It’s best that you understand. I’ll bring you a strawberry cake from your favorite place tonight.” I simply hummed in response, watching him roll up the window and drive off instantly. The moment his car was out of sight, my smile vanished. He’d forgotten. I hated strawberries. I hated cake. The person who loved strawberry cake wasn’t me. A long time ago, he’d bought one to cheer me up. Not wanting to disappoint him, I’d forced myself to take a bite, stifling my nausea. Later, I told him how much I disliked strawberries and cake. He’d immediately pulled out his phone, making a note in his memo app, vowing he’d never forget. Just one year later, “never” had already passed. The scorching sun overhead burned my skin, but my heart remained frozen solid. I let out a bitter laugh. After announcing the wedding cancellation, I publicly shredded the wedding dress I’d worn for fifty-two rehearsals. I knew then that five years of a relationship should be shredded along with it. **Chapter 2** In the end, my parents stayed behind to persuade me. “How about you come back to New York City with us, sweetie?” This wasn’t the first time they’d tried to convince me to return. I slumped onto a chair, looking up into my parents’ hopeful eyes. They were the founders of the largest law firm in New York City. It was their influence that led me to pursue a career in law. Originally, they had planned for me to gain experience at their firm after I grew up. But I met Daniel during grad school and followed him to Newport. He came from humble beginnings, and he absolutely hated it when anyone mentioned my affluent family background. So, for five years, I had never told him about my family’s true standing, letting him believe I, too, was from a modest background. Over those five years, I grew from a junior lawyer to a well-known one. Daniel and I won the firm’s annual bonus three years in a row; everyone joked that we were “the firm’s golden couple.” Our lives were getting better and better. I thought he wouldn’t mind now, but I never found the right moment to tell him. Lost in thought, I sighed. Ultimately, there wouldn’t be a need to tell him anymore. “Okay, I promise.” My parents’ eyes lit up. They tightly clasped my hands. “Good girl, your mom and dad will book your flight. We won’t let you suffer here any longer!” After settling my parents, I returned home. The entire house was as desolate as ever. I casually cooked a bowl of noodles and then opened Ins, only to see Chloe’s latest update. The picture showed her in a figure-hugging tracksuit, posing intimately with Daniel in a series of selfies. “Tricked my mentor into playing ball with me when he was supposed to be getting married! He was a little annoyed, but I told him we’d have dinner at my place later, and he cheered right up, hee hee.” Seeing that post, I involuntarily gagged. I knew he wouldn’t be coming home tonight, just like all the times before. Thankfully, we hadn’t legally tied the knot. Now, I wouldn’t have to compromise myself anymore. The next morning, I packed my luggage and headed to the law firm to resign. Given my excellent performance, my boss was trying to persuade me to stay. As we were talking, Daniel walked in, carrying some files. My eyes flickered to him, catching sight of a hickey on his neck and a distinct peach scent clinging to him. He’d clearly had a wild, indulgent night. He used to despise me leaving any marks on him, claiming it affected his professional image. So, even in moments of passion, I’d try my best to restrain myself, or just grip the bedsheets. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be marked; he just didn’t want *my* marks. Not from me. As soon as he entered, my boss sighed and spoke. “Perfect timing. You can talk some sense into your girlfriend. She’s resigning. Did you two have a fight?” “It has nothing to do with him.” “You’re resigning?” Both voices spoke at once. In my peripheral vision, I saw his eyes fixed on me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “See? You *were* angry about me canceling the wedding yesterday, weren’t you?” My boss, sensing the tension, discreetly left, giving us space. The moment the door closed, he stepped closer, confronting me. “I already told you, Chloe hurt her ankle, that’s why I canceled. Why are you being so petty?” I tried to keep my voice calm, looking up and lying. “I’m not angry. I’m resigning because I’m tired. I want to go on vacation and get some rest.” He crossed his arms, frowning in confusion. “If you want a vacation, just take your annual leave. Resigning so suddenly will make people think you have a problem with Chloe. How is a young girl like her supposed to work at the firm if you do that?” He’d forgotten. I’d used up all my annual leave this year, wasted on every single wedding he’d canceled. But all he worried about was what Chloe would do at the firm. A profound sadness washed over me. I redirected my gaze to the hickey on his neck, saying nothing. He noticed, instinctively covering his neck. “It’s just a mosquito bite, don’t overthink it.” I was somewhat surprised. He wasn’t arguing with me; he was actually trying to explain himself. But it was such a clumsy excuse. The old me might have actually believed it. I nodded, still silent. Daniel exhaled, relieved, assuming my anger had subsided. He smiled, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “That’s more like it. Being magnanimous is what makes a great lawyer.” “Don’t bother with resigning. How about I take you to Moonlight Restaurant tonight? Consider it my apology.” I remained silent. He took my quietness as acceptance. The intention I’d had to properly say goodbye to him was now suppressed. I no longer wanted to tell him about my move to New York City. “Mentor!” Chloe burst through the door without knocking. Daniel flinched, immediately letting go of me. Chloe smiled apologetically. “Oh, sorry to interrupt your date, Mentor and big sister! But I really can’t help it, I just don’t understand this case at all…” Daniel turned away from me without a second glance, walking straight to Chloe, taking the files from her hand, and bending down to patiently ask her what she didn’t understand. Chloe deliberately leaned in intimately. The two of them whispered together right in front of me, forming a world of their own, shutting me out completely. Then, Chloe linked arms with Daniel and led him out. As she closed the door, she glanced back at me, a triumphant, challenging smile on her face. Bang. The empty room echoed only with my breathing. The next second, the elegant bracelet he’d given me on our one-year anniversary, the one he’d said symbolized a lifetime of completeness and harmony for us, slipped from my wrist and shattered into countless pieces on the floor. There was no discernible reason for it to fall. I stood in silence for a long moment. Then, ignoring the sharp sting as shards bit into my skin, I carefully gathered the fragments, along with the last vestiges of my lingering affection for him, and threw them all into the trash. **Chapter 3** After firmly submitting my resignation to my boss, I went back to my desk to hand over my remaining work. Maya, the colleague I was handing over to, was usually quite close to me and seemed genuinely sad when she heard the news. “Ellie, are you really leaving?” she asked, her voice tinged with regret. “If you go, then I’ll be stuck watching those two disgusting people flaunt their affair in front of me every single day!” Following her gaze, I saw Daniel explaining a case to Chloe. Chloe seemed a little upset, perhaps Daniel had mildly scolded her. To cheer her up, Daniel conjured a Cartier bracelet from somewhere. She immediately beamed and slipped it onto her wrist. It was only then that her eyes met mine, and she stood up, flustered. “Ellie, there’s nothing going on between my mentor and me! This is just a regular bracelet!” Her words instantly drew everyone’s attention, their eyes flitting between her and me. Five years of dating, and Daniel had never given me anything expensive. And just like Daniel, everyone thought I was so naive, straight from the sticks, that I wouldn’t even recognize a designer brand. They all felt sorry for me. Even Maya, standing beside me, seethed with indignation on my behalf. “You two are still together, aren’t you? They’re practically playing you for a fool!” I pressed her hand, shaking my head repeatedly, signaling her not to start an argument. Then I looked back at Chloe. “That bracelet is beautiful. It suits you well.” Chloe, not seeing me lose my temper, seemed a little unwilling to let it go and continued. “No, really, Ellie, it’s just a normal bracelet. Please don’t be angry.” I just found it baffling. Angry? There was no need. I had plenty of bracelets like that, though they were all back home in New York City. Daniel heard her and stood up, frowning as he admonished me. “Ellie, don’t be so dramatic.” I sighed, shaking my head. “I’m really not angry. You two should stop making wild assumptions about me.” My tone was calm, which seemed to surprise Daniel. He then snorted. “You’d better not be.” He pulled Chloe down to sit beside him. Maya couldn’t help but ask me. “Are you just going to let them off the hook?” I shrugged, continuing to organize my files. “Yeah, well, as far as I’m concerned, I’ve already broken up with him, unilaterally.” Fifty-two canceled weddings. Not a single successful one. I was utterly exhausted. After work, Daniel, for once, came over to my desk to help me pack up. “Let’s go. I made an 8 o’clock reservation at Moonlight Restaurant. We’ll get there just in time.” Then his eyes drifted to my bare wrist. He froze, a hint of panic in his voice as he asked. “Where’s the bracelet I gave you?” “I was worried about breaking it, so I took it off and put it away at home.” He visibly relaxed, smiling at me. “You used to wear it every day. Why the sudden urge to keep it safe now?” Before I could come up with another lie, Chloe jogged over and stopped beside us. “Mentor, I’m all packed up!” Daniel’s attention was immediately drawn to her. He nodded, gesturing for her to wait in the car. I watched Chloe walk directly to the passenger seat and settle in. In five years of dating, I had never once sat in that seat. He always said that seat was reserved for his future wife, the woman who would truly be his partner. Meeting Chloe’s provocative gaze, I lowered my head, offering no response. My heart was utterly devoid of any ripples. At the restaurant, Daniel and Chloe sat on the same side, ordering their meals without once asking for my opinion. I was content to be left alone, propping my head up and gazing out at the scenery. After all, it would be hard for me to see it again after tomorrow. When the food arrived, Daniel surprisingly peeled a whole bowl of shrimp for me and placed it in front of me. “The shrimp at this restaurant is pretty good.” I looked up, meeting his somewhat gentle smile. I hadn’t expected him to still be considerate of me at a time like this. Chloe couldn’t resist interjecting, trying to take credit. “I’m the one who recommended it to Mentor! Last time we came here together, he ate three whole plates!” Daniel’s cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. “Chloe, how could you tell your *wife* about that funny little story…” Chloe giggled, covering her mouth, then looked at me, feigning awkwardness. “Oh, sorry, Ellie, please don’t let this little embarrassment ruin Mentor’s image in your mind, okay?” The two of them dissolved into laughter again, right in front of me. I looked at the bowl of shrimp meat, suddenly finding it utterly bland. I forced myself to eat one bite, suppressing my revulsion, then pushed the bowl back. “I don’t like it. You can have it.” Their playful banter finally stopped. Daniel carefully asked me. “Are you upset?” I shook my head. “No. This shrimp tastes too fishy. I’m not used to it.” *Just like you two—utterly disgusting.* After dinner, Daniel drove a seemingly drunk Chloe home. I was the one who had to lock our door after they left. Watching them drive away, I immediately hailed a cab for the airport. On SnapChat, Daniel was still messaging me, planning our next wedding. Perhaps feeling guilty, he volunteered to plan and organize this one himself. “Don’t worry, this time the wedding will definitely happen. No one will be able to bother us!” I replied expressionlessly. “Okay.” I knew it was impossible. This wedding would be canceled without reason, just like all the others. As I was about to board the plane, he sent another message. “Chloe drank too much and has a stomachache. I won’t be coming home tonight. You should be careful by yourself at home.” I scoffed, already knowing it. “It’s fine if you stay at her place. I’ve already packed my bags and left. From now on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other.” “Daniel, goodbye forever.” After sending him that final message, I immediately blocked and deleted him. Once on the plane, I looked out at Newport, still sparkling brightly, growing smaller and smaller beneath me. On the other end, Daniel was absolutely dumbfounded.

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I was hiding in my best friend Chloe’s closet, planning to surprise her for her birthday. “Creak…” The bedroom door opened, and the lights flickered on. I was just about to push the closet door open, ready to give her a shock. But the moment my hand nudged the door, pushing it open just a crack, Chloe’s head *rolled* right to my feet! Her long hair covered most of her face, leaving only her eyes exposed. Her wide, unseeing eyes swiveled towards my hiding spot, as if still alive. Her mouth seemed to be trying to say something, but all strength had left her. Terrified, I quickly pulled my hand back, but the closet door wouldn’t close. I heard footsteps approaching, and in sheer horror, I held my breath, not daring to make a sound. The next second, the closet door was yanked open! Chloe and I were best friends. Just yesterday, we’d been apartment hunting, talking about moving in together. Chloe had been in a bad mood for days, arguing with her landlord about the rent. Today was her birthday. I’d told her I was going back to my hometown, but in reality, I was already waiting at her place. Curled up in her closet, I was brimming with excitement, waiting for her to come into the bedroom, eager to surprise her. But the moment I heard a noise and prepared to jump out, I saw my best friend’s severed head. The gruesome sight chilled me to the bone! Her hair covered most of her face, but her eyes were wide open, bloodshot and staring. Right up to her last breath, her eyes were fixed on me! I held my breath in terror, my mind a blank slate, but my body moved on instinct. I instinctively slammed the open closet door shut. Just as I was regretting my impulsive action, I heard soft footsteps slowly approaching. I froze in terror, not even daring to breathe. The footsteps stopped right in front of the closet. I could even hear the strained, ragged breathing clearly. “Creak…” The closet door was opened! I squeezed my eyes shut, my limbs stiff as a board. In other words, I was waiting to die. But then, the next second. “Creak…” The closet door was closed again. The footsteps slowly receded, and the bedroom lights were turned off, as if nothing had happened. It suddenly hit me: the killer hadn’t noticed me because of the plushie costume I was wearing. I’d bought a giant teddy bear for Chloe at the supermarket. When I got home, I’d taken out the stuffing and climbed inside. Back then, I was fantasizing about the look on her face when a huge teddy bear suddenly popped out of the closet. Now, it had become my lifeline! It wasn’t until I heard the front door click shut that my heart finally stopped hammering in my chest. I was about to shed the heavy costume when I faintly heard the “Happy Birthday” song playing in the living room! That was… that was the music box I’d placed next to the cake on the living room table! He must have seen the cake I left on the table. So he never left the apartment! My fear had spread to my limbs, making my hands and feet tremble uncontrollably. But then, everything outside went silent. Apart from my own ragged breathing, I couldn’t hear a single sound. Maybe my nerves were just on edge. I peered through the crack in the closet door. A sliver of moonlight reflected in Chloe’s eyes from the window, making it feel like she was still watching me. The sight sent shivers down my spine.

Just as I was trying to calm myself, forcing my eyes shut, my phone suddenly rang. “Ding-a-ling…” A sharp, urgent phone ring pierced the silence. My nerves snapped taut again. This was it. My ringing phone was right there, on the bed, directly opposite me. “Creak…” The bedroom door opened again. This time, the footsteps were a little more hurried. The phone stopped ringing. He didn’t turn on the light when he came in this time, seeming to walk straight towards the bed without hesitation. I listened intently to every footstep, unable to control the sound of my swallowing. And then, he stopped right in front of me. The faint moonlight from the window cast his rough silhouette, but I couldn’t make out any details. I was praying he wouldn’t find me when I suddenly felt something warm moving closer to my side. My heart leaped. Before I could even react, I heard footsteps heading towards me again. He had turned around! The sound of his feet on the floor magnified in my ears, like a speaker blaring right next to me. My nerves were stretched to their breaking point. The air in the closet was already stale, and after being in this plushie costume for so long, I was drenched in sweat. Just as he stood in front of the closet, about to open the door again. “Knock, knock, knock…” The front door was knocked. It felt like a lifeline, and time stood still. Aside from the knocking, I couldn’t hear a single sound. After what felt like an eternity, the footsteps that were heading towards me changed direction. “Click.” He turned on the bedroom light, put his phone back on the bed, and left. I strained to see the phone screen. It was the delivery guy. [I’ll pick it up later, just leave it outside.] That was the delivery app’s chat screen. Sure enough, the knocking at the door stopped. It was then, through the crack in the closet, that I saw Chloe’s head suddenly contort. The hair that had covered her face now fell away, fully exposing it. Blood, like crimson paint, smeared her entire face, and her eyes looked utterly grotesque. She suddenly started to bounce up and down. My heart lurched. Had she become something… *undead*? Sweat dripped down my face, but quickly, through the crack, I saw a hand grabbing her hair and dragging her towards the door. Though I was still terrified, a wave of relief washed over me. “Phew…” I calmed myself down again, trying to listen for any movement outside. But this time, I heard no footsteps. The room was eerily quiet. It wasn’t until I heard the front door lock again that I regained my senses. However, the next second, when I looked back at the closet, I saw a pair of blood-red eyes staring intently at me.

“Ah!” After several attempts to steady my nerves, I finally broke down. A strong pair of arms pulled me into an embrace: “Shhh… Don’t scream, don’t scream, he hasn’t gone far!” I turned my head to look at the man in front of me. It was Mr. Davies, the landlord. I stared at him in horror. Could *this* man be…? “Calm down first. I was hiding right next to you earlier.” He explained frantically. I suddenly remembered the warm presence beside me. Was it him hiding next to me all this time? “Ashley, take off that plushie costume first. We need to talk properly.” Mr. Davies’s face looked as if he was about to cry. “I thought I was done for today. I never expected you to be here.” His voice trembled as he spoke, and his legs began to shake. “I just wanted to scare Chloe today. She always lagged on rent, and nothing I said worked. I just wanted to teach her a lesson.” “But, but who would have thought something like this would happen today.” The forty-year-old man burst into tears. “The moment I hid in this closet, I saw you, dressed as a teddy bear, sneak in. When I wanted to get out, just like you, I saw that head on the floor!” He finished, burying his face in his hands, his fingers unconsciously stiffening. “Did you see who it was?” I asked urgently. He shook his head. “I came in almost at the same time as you. From inside the closet, I couldn’t tell who that person was.” “Call the police!” I decisively pulled my phone from my pocket. It was then I noticed several missed calls from Julian, my boyfriend. I was suddenly grateful my phone was on silent mode, otherwise, I definitely wouldn’t have escaped tonight. A hand pressed down on mine. “Don’t call the police. If we do, we’ll be the prime suspects, and he’ll quickly find out we were in this apartment.” Hearing his words, I hesitated. The horrific sight of Chloe’s death was still vivid in my mind. Thinking of this, my hand involuntarily trembled. “Then what do we do? The police will investigate soon and ask where we were.” My heart was racing with anxiety, but I also felt Mr. Davies had a point. “It’s fine. We both go home now. We just tell the police you were at my place, that we were together.” He looked at me with an extremely serious expression. “No, Julian will misunderstand.” “Is your life more important, or your love life? Didn’t you see how terrifyingly Chloe died?” Mr. Davies’s eyes welled up again after he said that. A forty-year-old man now looked as small and helpless as a child. I glanced at my phone and deleted all the missed calls. Yes, I couldn’t be a suspect. I needed to catch the killer.

Mr. Davies was a man of misfortune. His wife had died years ago, and his child no longer wanted to stay with him. He lived alone in this large house. The first thing Mr. Davies did when we got back to his place was take a shower. The man was both timid and a germaphobe. I placed the deflated teddy bear in his living room. That crumpled plushie gave me a disturbing feeling. On his wall hung a family portrait; a family of three smiling happily. Just as I was about to examine the people in the photo more closely, my phone screen lit up. I looked down. It was Leo calling. Leo was Chloe’s boyfriend. His call right now felt like an interrogation. I placed my phone on the coffee table, watching the screen go dark automatically. Just as I was about to catch my breath, the screen lit up again. It was my boyfriend, Julian. He’d practically blown up my phone tonight. The messages on my phone irritated me, so I simply turned it off. “Want some fruit?” Mr. Davies emerged from the bathroom, carrying a fruit platter. “No, thanks.” I waved him off. He seemed to have composed himself. “The police will ask questions tomorrow. Have you thought about what to say?” He sat beside me, no longer flustered, but much more meticulous in his thoughts. I shook my head. What could I say? A man and a woman spending a night together, what else could it sound like? He seemed to sense my awkwardness, but then said, “What happened tonight, only we can know. Don’t tell anyone else.” I glanced at him. I knew who he was referring to. His implication was that the killer might be Leo or Julian. But I thought that was impossible. Leo and Chloe’s relationship was so good it made me jealous. She often said he was the best man in the world. As for Julian, it was even less likely. He barely had any interaction with Chloe. The only person who had recently been in conflict with Chloe was the man sitting in front of me. I looked at his harmless face, and a shiver of fear ran down my spine. “What are you thinking about?” His question made me jump. “N-nothing…” No, it couldn’t be him either. There was a third person present at the scene. I hugged my arms tightly. For some reason, despite the warm weather, I felt a sudden chill. “Do you know if Chloe had issues with anyone else?” He spoke cautiously. I looked up at him, the words I wanted to say ultimately swallowed back. “It couldn’t be just me she had issues with, could it?” Mr. Davies’s face paled. He quickly explained, “I only urged her to pay the rent or move out. I never meant to kill her.” Then, as if to prove his point, “If I killed her over rent, how would I ever rent out my apartment again?” He was right. If it was truly about rent, it would be a huge loss. Everyone would soon know someone died in that apartment. But if that were the case, I was completely lost. The police found me around noon. It was Leo, Chloe’s boyfriend, who had reported her missing. He couldn’t get in touch with Chloe, so he called the authorities. However, when the police investigated Chloe’s apartment, everything was so clean, as if no one had ever been there. A sudden cold sweat prickled my back. Because the birthday cake on the living room table was definitely still there when we left yesterday! “Where were you yesterday?” Facing the detective’s questions, I remained calm. “I was with Mr. Davies all day yesterday. He can confirm it.” “What did you say?” Julian stopped at the staircase, unable to believe what he’d just heard. The police officer glanced at me, cleverly guessing our relationship.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298825”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #校园School #重生Reborn #狼人Werewolf

“Lucia, are you really going to Chicago to handle the family business? The situation there is complicated. If you leave, what about Vincent’s arrangements?” At the mention of Vincent’s name, Lucia Moretti’s movements paused for a moment. Countless intimate memories flashed through her mind, like invisible hands gripping her heart tightly, bringing waves of sharp pain. After a moment of silence, she took a sip of bourbon from her glass and reaffirmed her earlier decision. “My people are watching him. Don’t ask too many questions, just go prepare. The private jet will be waiting at the usual place in two weeks.” “…Yes, Lucia. I’ll arrange it immediately.” After hanging up, Lucia leaned back into the leather sofa, her gaze falling on the entertainment news headline. “Gallo Group Spends Big on Hollywood Investment, Veteran Actors Support Newcomer Scarlett. With Such Massive Backing, What’s This Newcomer’s Real Background?” Online discussions about Gallo Group’s crossover move were heated, with many speculating about Scarlett’s relationship with the conglomerate. “Is this woman an illegitimate daughter of the Gallo family? Otherwise, why would Gallo, a financial empire that never touches entertainment, personally pave the way for an unknown newcomer?” “Not necessarily an illegitimate daughter, but possibly a kept mistress. A beauty like Scarlett fits perfectly with what those family bosses and rich heirs prefer.” This comment quickly received numerous likes. Lucia also gave it a thumbs up with her anonymous account. Because she knew better than anyone that this comment was completely accurate. Scarlett was indeed popular with wealthy young men, and Gallo Group’s big move was orchestrated by Vincent, the man she’d been with for seven years. To make Scarlett a star, Vincent—who was always ruthlessly cold in business—was investing so recklessly. This realization plunged Lucia into silence once again. She wearily turned off the screen and closed her eyes with a frown. Before she knew it, the bourbon in her glass had reached the bottom. After finishing the last sip, Lucia slowly opened her eyes and casually placed the glass on the table. She thought their relationship had probably reached its end. Or rather, their meeting had been a mistake from the very beginning. … Lucia had met Vincent seven years ago. At that time, as a top enforcer for the Moretti family, she was waiting in a Colombian bar for a traitor to appear. There, she saw Vincent, like a lost little beast. The young, handsome boy stared with clear eyes, curiously yet fearfully taking in the bar’s mixed crowd. So surprised was he that his mouth hung slightly open, as if he’d forgotten how to breathe. It was in that instant that Lucia became interested in him. Their eyes met in the dim lighting. When their gazes locked, Vincent’s eyes trembled slightly, and he unconsciously took a few steps toward Lucia. Only when he was about to bump into the table in front of her did he suddenly snap back to reality. He hurriedly looked away, not daring to meet her eyes again. Lucia found it somewhat amusing. A naive kid who looked like a clueless college student actually dared to come to such a place to broaden his horizons—wasn’t he afraid of getting torn apart? She was about to approach him with a warning when her long-awaited target appeared. Lucia had to refocus on her work. When she returned to the bar after efficiently handling her task, Vincent was nowhere to be seen. A pang of regret crossed her heart, immediately replaced by self-mocking acceptance. Lucia thought she must have been crazy to think that boy would wait for her in the same spot. She shook her head and prepared to leave, but someone gently tapped her shoulder from behind. In a split second, Lucia spun around sharply, and the boy’s handsome face came into view. He lowered his head somewhat shyly, his voice trembling with nervousness. “You… hello, I… may I get to know you?” A pure-hearted kid who probably hadn’t even held a woman’s hand dared to approach her, this thorny black rose. Lucia sneered inwardly. But he had actually waited in that spot, willing to gamble on whether she would return. In that moment, Lucia’s heart, silent for so many years, trembled gently. Less than half an hour after news of Scarlett being promoted by Gallo Group spread online, Vincent’s call came through. His voice was as clear and pleasant as always, carrying that gentle tone that seemed almost pleading—one reserved just for her. “Lucia, don’t believe any of that nonsense online. The company’s backing that newcomer is just a business strategy, nothing more.” “Today marks our seven-year anniversary. I’ll wrap up company matters as quickly as possible, then we’ll go out for lunch and catch a movie this afternoon, okay? We haven’t had a proper date in ages!” Without waiting for Lucia’s response, Vincent had already begun planning with anticipation. “There’s a remastered version of an old film playing recently. I’ve been wanting to watch it with you for a while, but I’ve been swamped. Since today’s our anniversary, let’s go see it together, Lucia?” “And… Valenti’s has a new head chef who’s supposed to be amazing. I had my assistant reserve a private dining room.” “After dinner and the movie, we could…” Vincent rambled on, and Lucia listened patiently throughout. Until she heard knocking from his end, followed by a sweet, coquettish female voice interrupting: “Mr. Gallo, I was hoping to invite you to lunch…” The rest was muffled—Vincent must have covered the phone. A few seconds later, his somewhat nervous voice returned: “Lucia, that was just… my assistant reporting on work. Let’s not talk now. Just head straight to Valenti’s at noon and wait for me. I’ll see you there.” With that, he hastily hung up, leaving only the cold dial tone. In that moment, Lucia realized with crystal clarity that the little beast she’d kept by her side and nurtured for seven years had truly grown up. He’d matured enough to lie to her face without batting an eye. She walked into her study and retrieved the seven-year anniversary gift she’d prepared long ago. It was a photo album she’d made by hand, documenting every moment she and Vincent had shared over these seven years. In the past, Vincent always liked holding her in his arms, stroking her long hair while complaining: “Lucia, why is it always me talking and you listening? You speak so little that sometimes I wonder if you even care about me.” As he spoke, he would reach out with both hands and gently pinch her cheeks. “Lucia, smile. You’re so beautiful—why don’t you smile more often?” Having grown up in a mafia family, Lucia had long been accustomed to hiding her emotions and rarely expressed her feelings directly. But since being with Vincent, she’d changed in many ways—half willingly, half reluctantly—gradually becoming more like what he wanted her to be. She opened the album and saw herself beaming in the photos. In one candid shot, her lips were caught mid-motion, saying “I love you” to Vincent. Without realizing it, Lucia was no longer the cold, ruthless enforcer of the Moretti family she once was. The thought made her heart ache. Seven years ago, Vincent had been drawn to her like a moth to flame, chasing her across the globe. He’d accompanied her through gunfire, walked with her through the mud of slums, witnessed humanity’s darkest moments alongside her, and weathered countless storms together. Eventually, Lucia couldn’t bear to let this young master, who should have been living comfortably in New York, continue risking his life following her around. She withdrew from the family’s core operations team and returned to New York with him, settling into a life under the sun. Lucia gave Vincent everything. When his father suddenly died and the family business was threatened, she stepped forward, using the Moretti family’s resources and her own savings to help Vincent stabilize the situation and establish Gallo Group as the perfect front. Every time Vincent was on the verge of breaking down, Lucia was there beside him, shielding him from storms and giving him space to breathe and recover. Vincent was like a sapling Lucia had planted with her own hands, growing from tender youth to maturity, eventually becoming a towering tree. But no matter how decisive and commanding Vincent was as president of Gallo Group in public, at home he still clung to Lucia just like before, depending on her. Seven years, day after day. Just this year, Lucia had even prepared to marry him, notifying all her overseas friends and planning a grand wedding. Then she discovered Vincent’s affair. He’d forgotten to log out of his tablet, leaving his chat history with Scarlett on the screen. Scarlett: Vincent, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. My agent treats me with such respect now. Vincent: Good girl. If you run into any trouble, just tell me and I’ll handle it. Scarlett: Thank you, Vincent. Tonight I’ll wear that little bunny outfit you like and wait for you! Vincent: Make sure my little bunny is all clean and ready to be devoured. … Those few short lines pierced Lucia’s heart. Just then, Vincent sent her a message: “Lucia, are you at the restaurant yet? Go ahead and order—I’ll be right there!” The contrast was absurd. The pure, innocent young man who’d been so clean and devoted in front of her had become someone else’s reliable “big shot” behind her back. How ironic, how laughable. Since he enjoyed being pursued by female celebrities, she’d let him enjoy it forever. As for her—she would turn and walk away. }}}###

Even though she left late, Lucia still arrived at the restaurant before Vincent. She ordered his favorite dishes and waited in the private dining room for over an hour before Vincent finally showed up with an apologetic expression. “Lucia, I’m sorry. A few old guys from the family suddenly called me over, which delayed me. I kept you waiting so long—you must be starving! Let’s eat quickly.” After Vincent sat down and saw the table full of his favorite dishes, he smiled sweetly at Lucia. “You’re the best, Lucia. You always remember what I like. I really can’t live without you—being with you makes me so happy.” The dishes had been kept warm the whole time. He skillfully picked up his fork, cut the best piece of steak, and naturally placed it on Lucia’s plate first. “You eat first. Be careful, it’s hot.” Throughout the meal, whenever Lucia’s wine glass was empty, Vincent would stop eating and refill it for her. After dinner, he also took care of helping her with her coat and tidying up, not letting her lift a finger. As Vincent put it: “You protect me in big things, I take care of you in small things. We’re a perfect match.” These had been their habits for seven years, but now, feeling Vincent’s attentiveness, Lucia couldn’t feel even a trace of happiness. In fact, every time he acted so considerate in front of her, she would think of his chat records with Scarlett. At the movie theater, Vincent didn’t book the entire venue, wanting to have a date with Lucia like an ordinary couple. Lucia didn’t mind either way, so she naturally wouldn’t refuse. They bought popcorn and Coke and followed Vincent into the theater. They had bought couple seats. When they sat down, two girls nearby looked at them in surprise and whispered to each other. “Oh my God, are those two celebrities? The guy is so handsome and tall, and the woman is so elegant and beautiful—they look like they walked out of a movie!” “Their interaction is so sweet! When they walked over, the guy always stayed half a step behind to protect her, and when she looked back at him, her eyes were full of tenderness and familiarity. So sweet!” Vincent heard this and smiled happily. Under the girls’ gaze, he leaned close to Lucia and suddenly kissed her. Suppressed excited squeals came from nearby. Vincent’s eyes crinkled with laughter as he gently traced his index finger in Lucia’s palm. “Lucia, they all say we’re sweet. I think so too—every moment with you is incredibly sweet.” Lucia met his bright eyes and reached out to touch his hair, saying nothing. The movie Vincent chose was somewhat dull, running three and a half hours long. During the screening, Lucia noticed that Vincent wasn’t paying attention. He kept looking down at his phone, and in the dark environment, the screen’s glow was particularly glaring as it lit up and dimmed repeatedly. Perhaps sensing that the atmosphere around Lucia had grown tense, Vincent nervously traced her palm again. “Lucia, it’s from the company—they keep sending messages. Don’t worry, I’ve already told them I’m spending the afternoon on a date with you and asked them to stop bothering me.” He claimed it was the company, but Lucia knew that from the morning call that was hung up to the afternoon’s constant messages, what was really disrupting them was never the company, but Scarlett. But she didn’t make an issue of it. Under Vincent’s nervous gaze, she simply ruffled his hair like she used to. “It’s fine. Let’s watch the movie.” Vincent immediately relaxed, sitting up straight with relief. Seeing Lucia turn to look at the screen, he quickly typed a message on his phone. “From now until tomorrow, don’t send me any more messages. Shut up!” Lucia caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye. After the message was sent, the other person immediately replied with a crying emoji. Then came another message: “Vincent, you don’t love me anymore. You only think about being with that woman—you don’t have me in your heart at all.” Vincent paused after seeing this, hesitated for a few seconds, and didn’t reply. Lucia thought he could finally focus and spend this last anniversary with her properly. But unexpectedly, after five or six minutes, Vincent restlessly picked up his phone again. His fingers quickly tapped on the screen: “I really don’t have time today. Be good, baby. Daddy will make it up to you tomorrow.” As soon as he sent it, Scarlett replied instantly. “Love you Daddy, you really do love me the most!” Vincent’s expression relaxed, and he replied with a smile: “Daddy loves you too. Wait for me tomorrow like a good girl.” After sending this, he carefully looked up and observed that Lucia was sitting upright with her eyes fixed on the screen ahead, assuming she was completely unaware. He thought he had pulled the wool over her eyes. But Lucia, who had witnessed everything, felt her heart riddled with holes, her chest tight with pain. After the movie ended, Vincent accompanied Lucia to the Coney Island amusement park, where he won her a giant stuffed bear at a shooting booth. On the way back, Vincent chatted excitedly about the day’s fun moments, circling around Lucia like an energetic puppy. But no matter how he tried to amuse her, Lucia remained listless. Vincent sensed something was wrong and looked at her nervously, asking cautiously, “Lucia, are you unhappy? Why aren’t you saying anything?” The concern in his eyes was utterly sincere, that worry almost spilling over from his handsome gaze. Just like every time before, whenever Lucia showed the slightest coldness, Vincent would notice immediately and then try every way to cheer her up. This time was no exception. Ignoring the driver in front, he leaned close to Lucia, took her hand and pressed it gently against his face. “Lucia, if you’re unhappy, you must tell me. I’ll always be here with you, to make you happy.” Lucia followed his movement and looked down, staring intently at his face. Seven years had passed, yet time had left few traces on Vincent’s face. He was still young and handsome, like a boy who had just walked out of college. The dependence on his face toward her didn’t seem fake, that intense love almost melting enough to melt anyone. But this was the very man she had personally helped rise to power, who was secretly keeping a starlet behind her back. Thinking of Vincent’s two completely different faces, Lucia couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Even her words of comfort came out perfunctory. “It’s nothing, there’s some trouble in Chicago that needs handling. I’m just thinking about business.” Vincent breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at her with some uncertainty: “Lucia, it’s really just business? You promise you’re not hiding anything else from me?” Lucia ruffled his hair, “What else could there be? I promised you I’d tell you if something was wrong, that I wouldn’t shoulder everything alone anymore. Don’t worry.” Only then did Vincent regain his energy, hugging her arm and chattering away again. After returning to the Long Island estate, Vincent went to shower on his own, coming out loosely wrapped in a bathrobe that revealed his well-defined abs. His tall frame embraced Lucia from behind, kissing her ear and making a suggestive invitation. “Lucia, today is our seven-year anniversary, tonight we…” Lucia instinctively leaned back into his warm chest. She was too familiar with his body and scent. Almost without any foreplay, her body had already responded to him, craving his kisses and embrace. But the next second, she thought of those explicit messages between Vincent and Scarlett. Her body’s passion instantly faded. Lucia calmly pushed him away and spoke indifferently: “Vincent, do you feel tired?” Vincent was stunned, “Lucia, what are you talking about?” Seeing he didn’t respond, Lucia continued asking: “In front of me, you always have to watch my moods, suppress yourself, play that role of someone who needs protection. Vincent Gallo, are you tired?” Perhaps Lucia’s tone was too serious. Vincent froze instantly, then was overwhelmed by crushing nervousness and panic. “Lu… Lucia, how could I be tired? As long as I’m with you, I’ll never be tired!” “Don’t say things like that anymore. We’ve been through so much, it wasn’t easy getting to where we are today… Being with you only brings happiness, no exhaustion…” Vincent spoke at breakneck speed, as if slowing down even a second would make Lucia disappear from before him. Tears streamed down his face as he buried his head in Lucia’s chest, his voice both aggrieved and choked. “Lucia, don’t ask me if I’m tired anymore. In front of you, I’m willing to forever be that boy who needs you, forever.” Watching Vincent desperately making promises, Lucia remained silent for a long time, finally sighing without saying anything. She gently stroked his back, “Sleep now, don’t overthink.” Vincent sobbed himself to sleep in her arms. Even in his dreams, he held tightly to Lucia’s arm, like a frightened beast clinging desperately to its last support, refusing to let go even in sleep. In the latter half of the night, Vincent slept peacefully, even wearing a relaxed smile on his face. But Lucia remained awake all night. Early the next morning, Vincent was awakened by the ringing of his phone. Still not fully awake, he instinctively hit the speakerphone button. A sultry female voice came through from the other end, and he jolted awake, quickly pressing mute. Meeting Lucia’s penetrating gaze that seemed to see right through everything, Vincent’s face flashed with panic as he explained awkwardly, “It’s one of my men with urgent business to report. I’ll step out to take it.” Lucia didn’t stop him, letting him rush out of the bedroom without even putting on his slippers. She knew perfectly well that the caller wasn’t one of his subordinates, but Scarlett, whom Vincent had promised to “compensate” yesterday. After all, in these seven years together, aside from the recently appeared Scarlett, Vincent had never kept any secrets from her. She could freely enter and exit his office, his encrypted phone was never password-protected around her, and he had even given her contact information for all his trusted associates. One of his confidants had once complained privately, “Vincent, don’t you think Lucia’s being too controlling? What kind of family boss lives like you do, with zero personal space?” Lucia happened to overhear that comment. Just as she was wondering if she really was being too demanding, she heard Vincent laugh and shake his head. “I don’t think so. Besides, it’s not that she wants to control me—I’m the one who chose to lay everything bare for her to see.” His subordinates all thought he’d lost his mind. But Vincent just smiled sweetly, saying it was an understanding between him and Lucia that outsiders wouldn’t get. “Lucia, I need to go to the office. I won’t be able to have lunch together.” Vincent quickly got dressed, dropped that line, and hurried off without waiting for Lucia’s response. Watching the door slam shut, Lucia let out a silent, mocking laugh. His words from back then still echoed in her ears, but the man who spoke them had already changed. Since Vincent wanted his freedom, she wouldn’t stay for him any longer. Lucia spent the entire day packing her belongings around the estate. They’d been together too long—seven years of living side by side had intertwined their lives and possessions until they were inseparable. But now, she had to personally peel apart everything that had once been so tightly bound together. Entertainment news popped up on her phone about Scarlett joining a film production. Right after that, Vincent called. “Lucia, the company’s new film investment is starting production, and as the major investor, I need to go discuss the follow-up with the director and producers. Since this is our first venture into Hollywood, I need to oversee it personally.” Halfway through, his tone became cautiously probing: “The crew is in Los Angeles, so I probably won’t be coming home for the next few days.” To Vincent’s surprise, Lucia agreed without hesitation. “Alright, go ahead.” After saying that, she hung up without even giving Vincent time to respond. Vincent stared down at the darkened screen, somewhat dazed. An inexplicable sense of panic rose in his chest, as if something important was about to spiral out of control. Just then, Scarlett walked over with a smile, looking completely pleased with herself. “Vincent, thank you for being willing to come with me to the set. The director and everyone are being so much nicer to me now.” She took his hand, stroking it suggestively. “The hotel suite the production arranged is amazing. Tonight we can…” One of Vincent’s lieutenants approached, and seeing Scarlett’s actions, gave Vincent a knowing smile before turning to leave. “Sir, it’s rare to find such an understanding young lady. You should…” Hearing his subordinate’s flippant tone, Vincent’s brow twitched sharply, and he jerked his hand away from Scarlett’s as if electrocuted. His expression turned ice-cold. “I’ve warned you all to respect Lucia. Her position can never be replaced by anyone. Stop making assumptions, or I’ll consider replacing you.” After reprimanding his subordinate, he turned to Scarlett. He wanted to refuse, but seeing her on the verge of tears, Vincent softened again. He sighed, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Next time I won’t indulge you like this, you disobedient little minx.” Scarlett’s face immediately lit up with an obedient smile as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Don’t worry, Daddy. I promise I’ll be good. Let me take real good care of you tonight~” }}}###

What Vincent didn’t know was that on the very night he was being intimate with Scarlett in Los Angeles, Lucia received a multimedia message from an unknown number. The message contained only one photo. In the picture, Scarlett was beaming as she leaned against Vincent’s chest, wearing a revealing nightgown with her bare shoulders exposed. Vincent wasn’t resisting—he held a wine glass in one hand while his other arm wrapped around her waist, a faint smile playing on his lips. Below the photo was a line of text: “Miss Moretti, after seven years with Vincent, you should be able to feel that his heart is no longer with you. Be smart and bow out gracefully.” Lucia knew this was Scarlett’s provocation, trying to get the “old flame” to disappear quickly so the “new woman” could take her place. She stared coldly at Vincent in the photo for a long time, a frigid smile curving her lips. Sweet words were indeed the most unreliable things in the world. Just the night before, Vincent had held her with bloodshot eyes, crying as he promised to be with her forever, saying he could never leave her. The very next evening, he was calmly embracing another woman. She didn’t reply to Scarlett or call Vincent to confront him. She simply quickened her pace in packing her belongings. For the entire following week, Vincent remained in Los Angeles. He would text Lucia as usual, sharing his daily life, sending her photos from the film set, even photographing roadside wildflowers to send to her. It seemed intimate and unchanged from before. But they both knew everything was different. In the past, when Vincent traveled for work, he couldn’t sleep without talking to her for at least a day. But this time, he never initiated a single phone call. After discovering that Lucia hadn’t called him either, Vincent pretended not to notice, and they both tacitly maintained a superficial calm. Finally, on the morning of the eighth day, Vincent called excitedly. “Lucia, I’ve finished everything here and I’m ready to come back! Let’s go out for dinner tonight—I’m craving that French restaurant downtown.” Lucia looked at her nearly empty walk-in closet and nodded with downcast eyes. That evening, Vincent went straight from his private jet to the restaurant. The moment he saw Lucia in the private dining room, he rushed over and buried his head in her shoulder. “Lucia, I missed you so much. We’ve never been apart this long.” He nuzzled against her neck, thinking he was being affectionate, not realizing that from this angle, Lucia could clearly see a telltale hickey on the back of his neck. Against his pale skin, that dark red mark stung her eyes. Lucia’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. After sitting down, she asked casually, “Are the mosquitoes in Los Angeles particularly vicious?” Vincent froze with a confused expression, and she reached up to gently touch the back of his neck. “There’s a red mark here.” Vincent’s knife and fork clattered to the floor. Despite the air conditioning running at full blast in the private room, Lucia could clearly see beads of cold sweat forming on Vincent’s forehead. The air fell silent for several seconds. Vincent spoke somewhat stiffly: “Yeah, that’s right. There are lots of bugs in California—probably got bitten without noticing.” Lucia didn’t expose his clumsy lie, simply replacing his utensils with clean ones. “Let’s eat.” Throughout the meal, Vincent was clearly distracted. The lively atmosphere that once filled their dinner table was gone, and they finished eating in silence. Back home, Vincent took the initiative to shower, then lay in bed waiting for Lucia. When she emerged from the bathroom with steam still clinging to her skin, he reached out to untie the sash of her silk robe, trying to kiss her in a placating manner. The room began to heat up with tension. The next second, a jarring phone ringtone shattered the mood. Lucia glanced at the phone on the nightstand, where “Scarlett” flashed across the screen. She pulled away, avoiding Vincent’s kiss, and looked at him with indifferent eyes: “The phone keeps ringing. Aren’t you going to answer it?” Before Vincent could reach for it, the ringing stopped. He breathed a sigh of relief as if he’d been granted a reprieve. Just as he was about to say something, the phone rang again. And this time, it was the special ringtone Vincent had set for Scarlett. Now Vincent could no longer maintain his composure. He fumbled for the phone and headed outside, not forgetting to turn back and explain: “Lucia, there might be an emergency with the family. I’ll step out to take this and be right back.” He deliberately put on an annoyed expression as he answered the phone: “I know, can’t whatever it is wait until tomorrow… Fine, I’ll get there as soon as I can.” Vincent ran back barefoot, threw on his jacket, and headed for the door. “Lucia, there’s an emergency meeting I have to attend personally. If it runs too late, I won’t come back—I’ll stay overnight at the downtown apartment.” “Tomorrow, I promise I’ll make it up to you properly.” It wasn’t until he was about to leave that he noticed Lucia hadn’t said a word the entire time, just quietly watching him. When their eyes met and he looked into her deep gaze, Vincent’s heart skipped a panicked beat. Something felt off. Lucia’s look made him inexplicably anxious. But soon, Lucia smiled naturally, waving him off and telling him to hurry so he wouldn’t delay important business. Vincent hesitated for a few seconds, repeatedly confirming she seemed normal before hastily closing the front door. Lucia watched him leave, not missing the flash of relief in his eyes as he turned away. She curved her lips slightly, then reached up to remove the necklace Vincent had given her—the one she’d worn for seven years—and placed it on the table. Since she’d decided to leave, she would leave everything behind, returning it all to him exactly as it was. After Vincent left that time, he didn’t return for a very long time. He seemed to be deliberately avoiding her, sending no messages, making no calls, as if pretending nothing had happened would make it so. In all their seven years together, Lucia had never experienced such profound silence. She looked at the photo of the two of them together, gently caressing Vincent’s face in the picture with her fingertip, then smiled as she tore away her half of the photograph. The floor was covered with picture frames, and she treated every photo the same way. After handling the last photo together, she twisted her stiff, aching neck and realized dawn had already broken. It turned out they had so many photos together that it took an entire night to completely clear them all out. Lucia lit the fireplace and threw all the photo fragments into the flames. As the fire blazed up, she noticed several unread messages—provocative texts from Scarlett. “Bet you didn’t see this coming—Vincent isn’t at some meeting, he’s here having a candlelit dinner with me. He even complimented my steak.” The message was followed by several intimate photos. Lucia didn’t even lift an eyelid as she casually deleted the messages. She began calling people to come over and replace all the dark-toned furniture and curtains that reflected her personal style throughout the estate, switching them out for the bright, modern aesthetic that Vincent preferred. Over the next few days, she personally worked to completely transform the home into something that belonged to Vincent alone. Standing at the entrance, seeing that not a trace of her remained in the house, Lucia smiled with satisfaction. Just then, Vincent called. Perhaps overwhelmed by guilt, or unable to bear the pressure of their cold war any longer, he was the first to give in. His voice carried a note of grievance: “Lucia, I’ve been away for so long, and you haven’t called me even once. Don’t you love me anymore?” Lucia smiled softly but said nothing. Hearing her low chuckle, Vincent’s heart instantly clenched with unease. “Lu… Lucia… what are you laughing about?” Looking at the completely transformed home before her, Lucia said with a cryptic smile, “A while back was our seven-year anniversary, and I sent you a gift. Did you look at it? Besides that, I prepared another surprise for you.” Vincent paused: “The gift… I’ve been so busy lately, I haven’t opened it yet. I’ll look at it as soon as I get home tonight!” “Lucia, what do you want for dinner? I’ll buy ingredients—it’s been so long since I cooked for you…” “No need,” Lucia interrupted coolly. She was planning to tell him that her people would come for her tonight. After this, there would be no “after” for them. But there were people talking constantly around Vincent. He glanced helplessly at the chattering Scarlett and said apologetically, “Lucia, it’s a bit noisy here. Let’s talk when I get home—I’ll be back soon anyway.” With that, he hurriedly hung up. Lucia looked down at the darkened screen and laughed softly. Dinner together tonight? No need. All her luggage had already been moved out. Lucia stood outside the estate and took one last look back. The warm light glowing from inside matched his preferred style perfectly. That was good. The thunderous roar of rotor blades echoed overhead as a black helicopter circled down through the night sky. The helicopter landed on the estate’s helipad, and Lucia walked toward it without hesitation. At the same time, Vincent, having bought fresh ingredients, was driving his Ferrari back home, just entering the estate’s main gate. He glanced up casually and saw the helicopter bearing the Moretti family crest, his eyes instantly widening. The next second, he caught sight of Lucia boarding the helicopter. The gas pedal slammed to the floor, the sports car roared, and he raced frantically toward the estate. Panic flooded his mind, as if something vital was being torn away from him, his heart pounding so violently it felt ready to burst from his chest. But he was still a step too late. When he rushed up to the rooftop helipad like a madman, he could only watch helplessly as the black helicopter roared overhead and disappeared into New York’s glittering night sky… }}}###

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In my past life, on the day my sister and I attended the Witch Covenant’s mate selection ceremony, I saved a fallen vampire prince. To repay his debt, the prince immediately announced upon returning to his clan that I would become his future bride. A year later, I gave birth to a pure-blood heir, the only successor in the entire vampire race. The prince was overjoyed. On the day of his coronation as regent, he completed the blood contract with me, making me his eternal companion and queen. From then on, I was revered by all races. Meanwhile, my sister chose to marry a powerful werewolf leader, only to become the most insignificant among his many lovers. Her jealousy drove her to madness. During a witch’s full moon festival, she pushed me off a cliff, leaving me to die from the fall. When I opened my eyes again, my sister was already running toward where the vampire prince had fallen on the day of the mate selection ceremony. I knew she had been reborn too. But she didn’t know that becoming the prince’s bride was easy. Winning his heart and bearing his child, however, was nearly impossible. …… A witch’s power stems from desire—this is an ancient law inscribed in our bloodline. Once a witch comes of age, the powerful magic within becomes restless, craving union with a strong partner to achieve balance. Otherwise, the long nights would be consumed by uncontrolled magic turning against us. The covenant elders, fearing we might indulge recklessly and invite unnecessary trouble, decreed that our first task upon coming of age was to select suitable partners, strengthening relationships with other races through marriage. Today we had just arrived at the altar, not yet having time to properly observe the various males before us. The girl beside me gently nudged me: “On our way here, I saw your sister Ella running frantically toward the Shadow Forest. No one could stop her. Isn’t she participating in the ceremony?” At these words, I immediately understood. It seemed I wasn’t the only one reborn—my dear sister had apparently returned from the previous life as well. Her urgent rush toward the Shadow Forest was likely for her dream of royal glory and wealth. Before I could respond, a fierce wind suddenly arose outside, and dark clouds gathered in the sky. In an instant, darkness fell. Several magnificent black-gold carriages pulled by nightmare beasts descended from above, and vampire emissaries appeared before us, announcing the prince’s decree. My heart sank. Having experienced this before, I knew this was Prince Alexander coming to claim his “savior” as his bride. In my past life, my sister had deliberately made things difficult for me, sending me to the Shadow Forest to gather moonflowers for her. Unexpectedly, through a twist of fate, I stumbled upon a man who had been ambushed by enemies and lay unconscious on the ground. Originally, I intended to use a witch’s life energy to revive him while satisfying my most primal desires. To my surprise, upon awakening, he gave me the vampire regent’s signet ring. Not only did he reveal his identity as a vampire prince, but he also directly announced through bloodline communication that I would be his future companion. Our Witch Covenant held neither high nor low status—we had never received such honor. Naturally, I had no choice in the matter. My fate was decided within a few words. Though vampires are lords of the night, they harbor unknown secrets. To nurture a pure-blood heir, the mother must use her own life essence as nourishment for the fetus to absorb. The vampire bloodline power is particularly domineering—ordinary females from other races simply cannot withstand it. Most die from life force depletion after a few months of pregnancy, taking both lives. But by chance, I survived. I directly gave birth to the only pure-blood heir of this vampire generation. The vampire regent was overjoyed and immediately formed an eternal blood contract with me. Decades later, when Alexander inherited the regent’s position, I naturally became his only queen, enjoying endless wealth and glory. Meanwhile, my sister, who had chosen the werewolf leader, discovered he was promiscuous with many lovers. She could never become his sole “moon companion.” Seeing him only once a month—how could that satisfy her nature as a witch? She washed her face with tears daily, living in unbearable pain. Finally, on the day of the witch’s full moon festival, she lured me to a cliff’s edge and pushed me over. I’ll never forget that dying despair. Suddenly, surrounded by covenant elders, Alexander appeared before everyone holding my sister’s hand, his face full of affection: “Ella is kind-hearted. She saved me in the forest. From now on, she is my chosen bride.” Following protocol, I knelt down. My sister looked down at the crowd with barely concealed triumph. However, where she couldn’t see, the corners of my mouth curved slightly upward. Dear sister, since you’re so eager to die, I suppose I’ll have to grant your wish. }}}###

The vampire prince’s wedding was a hundred times more important than our mate selection ceremony. My sister and I, along with several witch companions, were brought to the vampire’s Shadow Castle, forbidden to leave even a single step, to focus entirely on preparing everything for my sister’s pre-wedding arrangements. Stroking the blood crystal necklace that Alex had specially sent over, I felt nothing in my heart. Though beautiful, this thing was nothing more than a death charm in my eyes. In my previous life, the rewards I received were a hundred times more magnificent than my sister’s. Every word and action of mine was even imitated by other women across the continent. But behind it all, only I knew how much I suffered trying to give birth to the child in my womb. Before I could examine it closely, a maid from my sister’s side hurried over to me: “Miss Lila, Her future Highness requests your presence.” She wants to see me? At this time, shouldn’t my sister be preparing her wedding dress? Why would she think of her insignificant sister? Though I still had some doubts, she was now the prince’s publicly acknowledged fiancée, and I had no power to resist her words. As soon as I reached my sister’s room, I saw Alex with his shirt open, looking completely satisfied as he walked out from inside. I quickly lowered my head. He didn’t even glance at me. His scent was all too familiar—that unique aroma vampires emit after passion, a mixture of blood and roses. I knew my sister had already slept with him. There was no helping it. After witches come of age, they often lose control of themselves. Once they touch a man they desire, they can’t help but draw closer—this was our fatal weakness. My sister lay half-reclined on the bed with a smile, covered only by a thin silk sheet that did nothing to conceal her alluring figure. Seeing me enter, her expression instantly darkened. She slowly extended one finger, pointing at the embroidery pattern on the table: “You embroidered this? Very good.” I didn’t dare move. Since childhood, she had beaten and scolded me at will—why would she be so kind as to praise me now? Moreover, thinking of how she had pushed me from the precipice in my previous life, my heart began beating uncontrollably. Seeing I didn’t move, she suddenly sat up from the bed. She grabbed the silver candlestick beside her and hurled it viciously at my head. Blood blurred my vision as I forced down my inner rage and knelt on the ground. She seemed quite satisfied with my reaction and spoke lazily: “I brought you all here to watch carefully how I obtained all of this step by step. You’d better put away those restless thoughts and stop hovering around the prince, or else…” I looked up to meet my sister’s gaze: “As you wish, Your Highness.” She was momentarily shocked by the calmness in my eyes, then walked over and grabbed my hair: “Lila, do you think I don’t know that you’ve been reborn too?” Hearing the word “reborn,” a flash of darkness crossed my eyes. She snorted coldly and threw the embroidery pattern in my face: “You grew up in the witch’s forest—how could you embroider the blood rose emblem that only the vampire queen can use? You still dare to lie to me!” I sighed softly and stood up from the ground, supporting my forehead: “Sister, I never wanted to compete with you, and I absolutely won’t appear before the prince.” But she just laughed mockingly, her fingers caressing my face: “Do you think I would lose to an ugly girl like you? Even if you wanted to compete, you couldn’t beat me.” I fell silent. Some things I didn’t fight for because I wanted to live longer. Only fools would obsess over such beautiful poison. }}}###

The Blood Clan truly lived up to their reputation as distinguished ancient nobility—even a simple engagement ceremony was conducted with such grandeur. Not only did many mysterious supernatural beings attend the ceremony, but they also brought numerous treasures as gifts, showing tremendous respect for their dignity. My sister appeared in a bright red wedding dress, her face flushed as she held Alex’s hand, making her entrance under everyone’s expectant gaze. She had finally achieved the position she’d always dreamed of, and her happiness was written all over her face. When she saw me, she even tilted her head provocatively and silently mouthed two words: “Useless.” Well, I am useless. But she was about to step into hell—I wondered who was more pitiful. Her smile didn’t last long, though. Alex pressed a goblet into her hands: “Drink this, and our engagement will be officially sealed under the witness of all the elders.” My sister eagerly took it, ready to drain it in one gulp, when a sharp metallic scent wafted from the cup. She turned pale with shock and instinctively threw the goblet away: “Why is there holy silver powder in this wine!” Holy silver was the bane of our witch magic. Even grand wizards who had practiced for a thousand years couldn’t withstand the power of a cup of holy silver wine. One sip wouldn’t kill you, but it would temporarily dispel your magic and leave you bedridden for months in agony. In my previous life, I faced the same situation, but I never thought to refuse. I knew my life was worthless compared to the Blood Clan’s reputation. If I embarrassed Alex in front of everyone, our relationship would forever remain purely transactional. I forced myself to drink it, and throughout the entire ceremony, my head was spinning. But he didn’t care about my feelings at all. After all, in his eyes, I was just a tool for repaying debts and bearing offspring. Who cares about a tool’s emotions? But my sister clearly didn’t understand the situation. She pouted and threw herself into Alex’s arms, acting coquettish: “I don’t want to drink this!” She didn’t notice that Alex’s expression had darkened. Given all the guests present, he still tried to coax her patiently: “Ella, this is an ancient Blood Clan tradition. Don’t be willful in front of so many people.” Logically, when the noble Blood Prince himself said this, my sister should have backed down. But as if oblivious to the approaching danger, she continued to refuse: “I hate this stupid tradition! We witches despise holy silver the most—I never want to see it again!” This statement completely enraged the Blood Clan elders present. They viewed drinking their partner’s bane as a symbol of loyalty and conquest. My sister’s words were tantamount to slapping them in the face. Sure enough, several Blood Clan nobles began quietly complaining that the bride didn’t know proper etiquette, even questioning Alex’s judgment. When these murmurs reached Alex’s ears, his patience was completely exhausted, and his voice carried icy fury: “I’ll say this one more time—drink it.” My sister was terrified, never expecting him to treat her this way. She quickly picked up the holy silver wine and drained it in one gulp. But it was too late—everyone’s mood had already been ruined. After completing the ceremony, Alex stormed off without even sparing her a glance. My sister stood there bewildered. Just yesterday they had been so affectionate—how could they turn against each other over a cup of holy silver wine? I let out a cold laugh. She was too naive. Nothing was more important than the Blood Clan’s dignity. A bride meant to be decorative actually thought she could influence the prince’s will. This was just the beginning—her “good days” were yet to come. }}}###

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When I was eighteen, I met my father Grayson Cameron’s student Bennett Brooks, and we had our first intimate encounter. We’ve been together for ten years. This marks my ninety-ninth time hoping to marry him. But just then, I overheard his conversation with a colleague. The colleague asked: “Bennett, that girl is already twenty-eight. Don’t you plan on taking responsibility for her?” Bennett replied coldly: “There’s a ten-year age gap between us. I’m just following Grayson’s wishes to look after her a bit more. I don’t have any other feelings for her.” Not long after, he got engaged to a girl around my age. This time, I won’t cause a scene. From several candidates, I drew lots and selected Aiden Hunter, a teacher at the academy, and quickly set a wedding date. On my wedding day, the usually composed Professor Bennett actually burst into the ceremony, begging me not to marry Aiden. ***** When I was eighteen, Grayson called his most promising student Bennett into the study at home to discuss something important. That day, Bennett wore a well-fitted shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, standing straight with an outstanding demeanor. I was hiding nearby, peeking, when Grayson called me into the study. With a serious expression, he said: “I have to leave for ten years. What worries me most is my daughter.” Grayson placed my hand in Bennett’s, tears welling in his eyes. He said: “She only has me as family. Could I ask you to take good care of her?” I looked back and forth between them in confusion, my heart racing with panic. I asked: “Dad, what are you talking about? Where are you going?” Grayson sighed. He said: “The country has assigned me to conduct research. I won’t be able to contact family or return home for ten years.” I stood there, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Bennett held my hand firmly, his voice gentle yet resolute. He said: “Don’t be afraid. Grayson has been good to me. From now on, you’ll be like my little sister. I’ll take good care of you.” The entire room fell silent, with only the sound of wind rustling through book pages. I suddenly remembered that when I was five, my mother Ayla Cameron had also left me for similar reasons. Later, due to a laboratory explosion, Ayla was severely injured and couldn’t be saved. All I saw in the end was a handful of her ashes and three letters—one she had written for each year. Ayla’s colleague told me her final words. She said: “I know the current experiments are dangerous. I only regret that my daughter has grown up without her mother’s company. But national affairs are more important. I can only say ‘I’m sorry’ to her.” Ayla never saw me again, and I never saw her one last time. Now, Grayson would be gone for ten years. In the tenth year of my relationship with Bennett, Grayson faced a similar situation. However, this time, there was hope that Grayson could be rescued. At twenty-eight, this marked my ninety-ninth time hoping to marry Bennett. When no one else was around, I gripped Bennett’s hand tightly. I said trembling: “Bennett, I want to marry you.” Bennett sat upright beside me, slowly pulling his hand away. His tone seemed unnatural: “Adeline, now isn’t the right time for us to get married.” Adeline Cameron is my name. I cried out anxiously: “But!” What Grayson wanted most now was for me to get married. So whenever this topic came up, I became anxious. Just then, someone passed by nearby. Bennett immediately withdrew the hand he was about to use to pat my head. He said: “Don’t worry. Grayson will be fine.” Bennett rejected me once again. Even after seeing more and more people in the hallway, he quietly distanced himself from me. My heart suddenly ached sharply, and tears began to fall. After ten years, I still wasn’t used to his coldness toward me in front of others. I gripped my skirt tightly, lowering my head in grievance. The kiss marks he’d left on my waist last night were still there. Perhaps seeing how heartbroken I was, Bennett, standing a step away from me, sent me a message: [Don’t worry. I will definitely marry you.]

Afterward, Bennett quietly slipped a spaghetti package into my hand. He said, “You should eat something. The surgery will take a while longer.” Bennett thought I was just throwing a tantrum. Like before, he habitually offered me something small to cheer me up. This method always worked. But deep down, I knew Bennett would never marry me. Just two days ago, when I went to visit Bennett, I overheard his conversation with a colleague outside his office. His colleague asked, “Bennett, that girl is already twenty-eight. Don’t you plan to take responsibility for her?” Bennett replied indifferently, “To me, she’s my sister. We’re ten years apart, and there won’t be any feelings beyond sibling affection.” I clenched my trembling hands tightly, then carefully and quickly fled. That night at midnight, Bennett felt intimate desire for me. Holding onto the thought of “one last time,” I complied. I cried, but he only thought it was because I was in pain. Bennett doesn’t understand me, just like now—he still doesn’t understand me. I sat alone all night. Finally, at dawn, I received the good news that Grayson’s emergency surgery was successful. However, he still needed to be observed for some time. After Bennett and I settled Grayson in properly, we discovered a stranger had come to the hospital room. “Bennett!” A very pretty girl with bright eyes poked her head in. Upon seeing her, Bennett immediately panicked and let go of my hand. Before I could react, the girl opened the door and threw herself into his arms. She said, “Your mom asked us to come home for lunch. I didn’t expect to run into you here.” This girl had actually met Bennett’s parents. Bennett and I had been together for ten years, yet I didn’t even know what his parents looked like. The girl continued, “Your mom said she wants to discuss our engagement with us.” Looking at this girl who was about my age, I was stunned. I asked, “What?” The girl showed a surprised expression, looked me up and down several times, then tightly linked arms with Bennett. Then she smiled and said, “You must be the sister Bennett talks about, right? I’m Emma Roberts. In a month, Bennett and I will be engaged. Didn’t he tell you?” For a long while, I couldn’t find words to speak. I just stared at Bennett, hoping he could give me an explanation. But Emma stepped forward and took my hand. She continued, “Although I’m still a year younger than you, since you’re Bennett’s sister, that makes you my sister too. If you need anything in the future, just let me know.” Despite having the same age gap with Bennett, she could openly be with him and get engaged, while I could only be called “sister.” Bennett turned his head away, saying nothing. I coldly pulled my hand away from Emma’s. I said, “That won’t be necessary. My father only has one daughter—no sons. So I don’t have a brother. Please leave and stop disturbing my father’s rest.” After saying this, I turned and sat beside Grayson, ignoring them completely. Bennett still wanted to say something to me, but Emma pulled him back. Emma said, “Your father does need rest. We won’t disturb you anymore. Goodbye.” Her tone was affectionate, as if she didn’t mind my attitude at all. But I still remembered the look she gave me—one of scrutiny and smugness. At that moment, I really wanted to confront Bennett. But after they left, looking at Grayson who still hadn’t opened his eyes, my heart gradually calmed down. I had been entangled with Bennett for ten years. I didn’t want to continue this entanglement anymore. Ayla was gone. Grayson’s greatest wish was to see me marry a good man and not spend my life alone. I decided to make my choice by drawing lots. I wrote the names of the five candidates Grayson had previously selected for me on pieces of paper, then crumpled them into balls. After shaking my hands, one paper ball fell out. Seeing the name on the paper ball, I was stunned.

The name on the paper was actually Aiden. Among the five men Grayson had chosen for me, Aiden was the one I understood least. He was Bennett’s colleague at the same school, and he was notorious for being careless and half-hearted about his work as a teacher. Before turning eighteen, Aiden was constantly getting into fights, skipping classes, and dating around. As an adult, he spent money recklessly and nearly beat someone to death. Thanks to his prominent family background, he was able to settle that matter privately. To help him get his life together, Aiden’s family spent a fortune to arrange for him to become a teacher at the academy. However, he lacked real talent or knowledge. Students who actually wanted to learn refused to attend his classes, and many openly criticized him. The other four candidates were completely different. Some were self-made entrepreneurs who were honest and decent, while others were humble, polite, and had stable jobs. Not only did they have great personalities, but they were also quite handsome. However, when standing next to Aiden, their good looks paled in comparison. But Aiden’s family was the only one that owed Grayson a favor. Besides, his parents were good people. Even if I really did marry Aiden, I wouldn’t suffer too much. With this thought, I felt relieved and headed to Aiden’s house with gifts. When I explained my purpose and mentioned Grayson’s serious illness, Aiden’s mother, Cora Hunter, was both sad and happy. She asked, “Are you really willing to marry Aiden? He’s such a troublemaker. Did he do something bad to you?” I felt helpless and shook my head repeatedly. I said, “No. I’m doing this willingly.” As I handed over the gifts, Cora became so emotional that tears streamed down her face. She immediately removed the gold chain from her neck and put it around mine. She said, “Sweet child, I don’t have anything else nice to give you right now. Please make do with this for now.” My cheeks instantly turned red. I said, “Cora, don’t you need to ask Aiden what he thinks?” “No need!” Cora said with a smile. She continued, “Whether he’s willing or not, I’ve always hoped you could be my daughter. Just think of it as marrying me instead.” I laughed. Over the years, Cora had indeed been very kind to me. I knew she genuinely liked me. We quickly settled on a preliminary wedding timeline. We’d get engaged in a month, then hold the wedding ceremony six months later. Cora said she would inform Aiden about this. After arranging everything, I prepared to return to the hospital room to continue watching over Grayson. When I got back, I discovered he was already awake. The moment he saw me, Grayson smiled and said, “My dear daughter.” My eyes immediately welled up with tears. I ran over and threw myself into his arms, calling out, “Dad!” After ten whole years, I had finally seen him again. Grayson gently stroked my head with his hand. I could feel that his movements were much slower than before. Ten years had passed so quickly, and he had aged considerably. We talked for a long time. Afterward, Grayson asked me, “You’re twenty-eight now. Do you have a boy you like? I’m old and sick. What will happen if no one takes care of you?” I nodded and said directly, “I do have a boy I like, Dad. And he’s actually one of the candidates you selected for me before.” “Are you telling the truth?” Two voices spoke simultaneously. One filled with surprise, the other trembling with disbelief. I turned to look and saw Bennett, who had just opened the door to come in, staring at me intently with a panicked expression.   After a while longer, disappointment flickered in Bennett’s eyes. He shook his head, as if trying to stop me from continuing. His expression was like someone watching a child about to get into trouble. But I wasn’t a child anymore. As for my relationship with him, if it wasn’t necessary, I would bury these feelings forever in my heart and let them slowly fade away. I pulled out the gold chain from around my neck to show Grayson. “Look,” I said, “I even received a gift from his mother.” Bennett, who had just relaxed, froze in place, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He studied my expression carefully. After a moment, he finally regained his composure. Bennett probably thought I was deceiving Grayson. Grayson asked me with a smile, “If that’s the case, whose son is he? How come you’ve never mentioned him to me before?” My face instantly turned red. Then I lowered my head and said, “Anyway, you’ll definitely like him. He and I have been together for a while now. Our relationship is stable, which is why I finally dared to tell you.” Bennett’s face immediately darkened. But Grayson laughed. “Well,” he said, “my child has grown up and has little secrets now. You actually waited until you were about to get engaged to tell me.” Then Grayson turned to Bennett, who had just walked in, and teased him. “Bennett, you’re here too? Look at your sister. She’s been hiding her relationship from me, only willing to tell me when she’s ready to get engaged. But that’s okay. I trust your judgment. As long as you approve of him, he must be a good man.” Grayson gently patted my hand to show his encouragement. Bennett stood to the side, only able to force a happy expression. “Yes,” he said. “The person she chose must be good.” Since Grayson had always insisted we call each other brother and sister, he naturally didn’t know the true nature of my relationship with Bennett. But after hearing “sister” several times in a row, Bennett was reaching his breaking point. While I went outside to get Grayson’s medicine, Bennett grabbed my hand and quickly pulled me toward the empty stairwell. This was the first time he had ever held my hand in front of everyone. After all these years, Bennett had always been composed in his actions. But this time, he roughly pressed me against the wall. He questioned me in an icy tone: “Your father just recovered, and you have to lie to him now? What’s the point of forcing me like this? What are you going to do when you can’t produce an engagement party?” I looked up at him calmly. “What does this have to do with you?” I asked. Bennett frowned. He looked at me and sighed softly. “How does this have nothing to do with me?” he said. “Besides knowing me, do you know any other men? You even lied to your father about having a candidate. Where is this candidate?” I looked at Bennett quietly. He was still the same as before, scolding a misbehaving child from the position of an elder. I suddenly realized how quickly ten years had passed, and Bennett was already 38 years old. His youthful, handsome appearance from years ago was long gone, and his face now showed the marks of middle age. In that instant, I seemed unable to find the excitement I once felt when I was with him. Perhaps it was because I had felt insecure for these ten years. We constantly argued and gave each other the cold shoulder. My desire to get married had been extinguished by him time and time again. No matter how intense my love had been initially, it would slowly disappear. Watching Bennett’s mouth as he kept talking, I said calmly, “But I never said I wanted to get engaged to you. What are you so anxious about?” Bennett’s expression changed instantly, and he froze in place.

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The day Jacob Clark won the Nobel Prize, I was lying in my rental apartment, enduring the agony that stomach cancer brought me. During the interview, the reporter asked Jacob to call someone he could never forget. Without any hesitation, Jacob immediately dialed my number. After the call connected, he only asked me one question: “Evelyn, you broke up with me because you thought I had no future. Do you regret it now?” Evelyn Collins is my name. Looking at the IV tube inserted in my body, I smiled. “Jacob, you’re a great scientist now. Could you lend me $500,000?” Jacob immediately hung up the phone. Afterward, Jacob sneered at the interview camera: “Now, I don’t remember that person anymore.” But he didn’t know that when he had his car accident, I gave him everything I had, including one of my kidneys. ***** I thought that would be the end of it. But the moment the TV screen went dark, $1 million appeared in my bank account. At the same time, I received a text message: 【Consider those few Christmases we spent together as something I paid for. That’s all you’re worth.】 I smiled bitterly and turned off my phone screen. As long as the money came through, that was fine. As for everything else, I couldn’t change it. I dragged my heavy body out of the rental apartment to pay the rent I’d been behind on for a Christmas. But as soon as I reached the street, I was drawn to the crowd ahead. Jacob was surrounded by everyone, still wearing that cold smile on his face. He looked as if nothing in the world could stir even the slightest emotion in him. However, the girl standing beside him, Sadie Gomez, who was smiling at him, was an exception. When Jacob and I were still dating, Sadie, as his junior, often stayed by his side. The two of them were very intimate, going in and out of places together. Everyone thought they were the perfect match. Who would remember my existence? Now that I had left Jacob, they could finally be together openly. That was a good thing too. I smiled and turned to leave. But Sadie still recognized me. She called out excitedly: “Evelyn, what are you doing here too?” As soon as Sadie finished speaking, everyone’s eyes focused on me. Jacob noticed me too. He didn’t hide the disgust in his eyes and asked: “What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?” Stalking? With my current physical condition, it was a miracle I could even leave the house. Where would I find the energy to stalk him? I coughed a few times, then looked at Jacob’s luxury car parked by the roadside. I couldn’t help but reach out and touch it: “Jacob, could I sit in your car?” Jacob became even more disgusted with me. He couldn’t help but take a step back, as if saying one more word to me would make him sick. “Evelyn, where did that innocent, kind person you used to be go? How did you become like this?” That innocent, kind person I used to be had naturally disappeared along with my healthy self. When someone’s very survival becomes questionable, where would they find the extra energy to maintain their original appearance? I shook my head helplessly: “Don’t you have someone more innocent than me by your side now? What do you still need me for?” Jacob fell silent for a few seconds, while Sadie beside him had already linked her arm with his. “Jacob, is Evelyn still blaming me? But you and I were truly innocent back then.” Then, without waiting for my answer, Sadie looked at me with red eyes, as if she was about to cry: “Evelyn, if you have any complaints, just take them out on me. Don’t resent Jacob. This car is Jacob’s birthday gift to me. If you like it, I’ll give it to you, as long as it makes you happy.” Sadie was so considerate. Too bad it was me who stayed with Jacob through the hard times. I lived in basements with him. During our poorest days, we shared a single pizza between us and drank tap water together. We couldn’t even afford to see a doctor. When I had a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, I could only buy cheap drugstore medicine to bring it down. Just when we were at our most desperate, Jacob’s paper won an international award. I thought our hard days were finally coming to an end. Jacob was valued by our professor Caroline Wilson and was going to be sent abroad to compete. But then I received notice from the doctor that Jacob had late-stage kidney cancer. That day, I sat in the audience, watching Jacob give his speech on stage. I made a decision. I was going to donate one of my kidneys to him.

Since I’d already made the decision to donate my kidney, there was no point dwelling on it anymore. Now that Jacob had a bright future ahead of him, my sacrifice hadn’t been in vain. Though he didn’t know the truth about what happened that Christmas, just seeing him doing well was enough for me. I remained silent, but Jacob assumed I was acting irrationally out of jealousy over him and Sadie. Worried I might do something to hurt Sadie, he fixed me with a sharp stare and protectively pulled her behind him. Jacob said, “Evelyn, you’re the one who couldn’t handle the hardship and abandoned me when I needed you most. It’s too late for regrets now. As long as Sadie’s happy, I’d give her not just a luxury car, but everything I have.” Sadie smiled shyly and snuggled against Jacob’s chest. The two of them were clearly devoted to each other and seemed like a perfect match. Still, my heart ached uncontrollably. I said, “Then I wish you both all the happiness in the world. I have things to take care of, so I’ll be going now.” Seeing me about to leave, Sadie looked somewhat anxious. She said, “Evelyn, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Oh!” Sadie suddenly fell backward. To everyone watching, it looked like I had pushed her. Jacob immediately rushed forward to catch Sadie, then turned back to glare at me furiously. He said, “How can you be so vicious? Sadie was just trying to help you out of pity, and you actually hurt her!” I was stunned. It had been so long since I’d faced such baseless accusations. For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. All I could say was, “No. I really didn’t push her.” During our argument, the IV tube I was carrying became visible. Jacob reacted quickly, immediately pulling the tube from my grasp. He asked, “Are you sick?” I felt so ashamed that my face turned red, and I tried to hide the IV tube. But Sadie gripped my hand tightly. She said, “Evelyn, we understand you need money. But you can’t use these deceptive tricks. Your health has always been perfectly fine.” Jacob, who had shown me a moment of sympathy, immediately looked disgusted again. He said, “Evelyn, you’re really scheming! If Sadie hadn’t warned me, I almost would have fallen for your act.” I frantically snatched the IV tube back from Jacob and hung my head in panic. I said, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” I was like a stray dog now—where was that spirited, determined woman who had first gotten together with Jacob? Sadie smiled smugly, though she still tried to calm Jacob down. She said, “Don’t be angry with Evelyn anymore. She must be doing this because she’s in such desperate straits.” Compared to Sadie’s gentle demeanor, I appeared even more malicious. Jacob’s eyes were full of adoration for Sadie. He said, “You’re just too kind-hearted, which is why she keeps deceiving you.” Sadie seemed like she wanted to say a few more words in my defense, but Jacob didn’t give her the chance. The two of them left, leaving me surrounded by the crowd. I stood there numbly, listening to their mockery. One woman said, “Women who only care about money never end up well. She abandoned Mr. Clark when he was at his lowest point. Now she’s getting exactly what she deserves!” Another woman said, “Mr. Clark and his wife are so devoted to each other. She’s probably trying to become his mistress—how shameless!” I didn’t argue back at all, just quietly walked away from the crowd. Watching Jacob’s luxury car drive farther and farther away, I seemed to see that young man I had loved desperately for so many years, smiling at me. I thought to myself, “Jacob, do you know that part of your body belongs to me?”

After donating my kidney to Jacob, my already weakened body developed severe rejection reactions. The subsequent treatment and recovery would cost a lot of money. Jacob’s career was finally taking off—how could I drag him back into poverty because of my illness? I didn’t want to stay by his side too long and risk him discovering my physical condition. So I had to make up an excuse, telling him I couldn’t handle the hardships anymore and had found a man who could give me a better life. I wanted to break up with him. On the day we broke up, Jacob begged me desperately not to leave. He couldn’t believe that the woman who had stood by him when he had nothing, who had struggled alongside him, would leave him for such a ridiculous reason. Though my heart ached so much I could barely breathe, I steeled myself and walked away. Only if I left could Jacob focus on developing his career. That way, my illness wouldn’t burden him. Just as I was about to disappear from his sight, Jacob suddenly looked up at me. He asked, “Evelyn, if I succeed in the future, will you regret this?” My steps faltered for a moment, then I masked the pain in my eyes. I said, “No.” I thought to myself, “As long as you’re okay, I’ll never regret anything I’ve done.” But I would never get the chance to tell him those words. I huddled in my cold rental room, looking at the blood seeping beneath me. I knew clearly in my heart that even if I paid for medical treatment now, my body was beyond saving. Maybe this was for the best. If I died, Jacob probably wouldn’t hate me so much anymore. When people are about to die, they tend to remember the past. That day, looking at my extremely thin, pale reflection in the mirror, I suddenly felt an urge to visit the school where Jacob and I had once studied together. The school’s exterior hadn’t changed much. But the person who used to be by my side was no longer there. I slowly shuffled forward when I suddenly heard commotion behind me. Someone said, “Mr. Clark, as an honorary alumnus, your photo should certainly be displayed in the school. It’s just that in all your school photos, Evelyn is always beside you. What should we do about this?” After that livestream incident, almost everyone knew about the conflict between Jacob and me. The school administration, afraid of offending Jacob, left the decision about how to handle the photos up to him. In every single photo, I stood beside Jacob. Sometimes I smiled gently while looking at him. Sometimes I was laughing. More often, I simply stood quietly by his side. Jacob stared at my familiar face in the photos and froze for a moment. Seeing his silence, the school administrator assumed he was extremely annoyed by me and quickly reached out to take the photos back. He said, “I’ll have these photos destroyed immediately. Not a single one will be circulated.” But just as the administrator’s hand was about to touch the photos, Jacob suddenly put them in his pocket. He said, “No need. It’s just a photo. I’m not that petty.” Deep down, he still couldn’t bring himself to be completely heartless. Even though our relationship had changed, those happy times we shared had been real. Seeing this scene, I sighed. Let this photo be my final gift to him. Just as I was about to leave, a playful couple suddenly ran past behind me. They were so focused on each other that they accidentally knocked me to the ground. The couple immediately panicked and apologized to me. I wanted to say I was fine, but my body was in excruciating pain. I couldn’t even stand up. The commotion quickly caught Jacob’s attention. When Jacob’s gaze fell on me lying on the ground, his body trembled violently. He instinctively leaned forward, wanting to help me up. But in the end, his rationality overcame his emotions. Jacob pulled back his outstretched hand and said coldly, “Evelyn, you’re really shameless. You’ve been following me this whole time. Don’t you find it annoying?” Jacob stood at the center of the crowd, basking in flowers and thunderous applause. Meanwhile, I was covered in dirt, the only stain on his pristine life. I knew I shouldn’t be here. Silently, I picked myself up from the ground, wanting to leave. But Jacob had no intention of letting me off easily. He signaled for the people around him to block my path. “Evelyn, people can’t be too greedy. I’ve already given you plenty of money, yet you’re still not satisfied. No wonder you’ve become what you are now—you deserve it.” Sadie, standing beside Jacob, was already upset that he wanted to keep our photos together. Now, she finally found an outlet for her frustration. She quickly grabbed my arm: “Evelyn, didn’t I already transfer a million dollars to you privately? Why are you still bothering Jacob and me? Do you need me to divorce him before you’ll be happy?” Tears welled up in Sadie’s eyes, making her look pitiful and vulnerable. Jacob frowned deeply: “Not only do you ask me for money, but now you’re harassing my wife. It seems I need to teach you a proper lesson, or you’ll keep clinging to me.” He pulled out his phone and dialed the police. “There’s a beggar here committing fraud, and she’s even trying to extort my wife. Please send someone to take her away immediately.” Jacob’s eyes were filled with undisguised disgust. I couldn’t help but tremble all over. No, I couldn’t go with the police. Time was running out. Caroline and I had arranged to meet at school one last time. She was one of the few people who knew the truth about what happened at Christmas. Given my current physical condition, if I were thrown in jail, I would likely die there. I couldn’t go. Absolutely couldn’t go. Panicked with fear, I clutched my head and tried to run, but the crowd surrounded me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, so I looked at Jacob pleadingly. “I didn’t mean to appear in front of you. I didn’t ask her for money either. Please believe me.” Jacob thought I had done too many bad things and was afraid to go to the police station. The more I pleaded, the more disappointed he became. “You keep lying. Would Sadie lie to me? Evelyn, making mistakes isn’t scary—what’s scary is becoming a liar who can’t tell the truth.” The smugness in Sadie’s eyes became more and more obvious, though she hid it well in front of Jacob. “Jacob, why don’t we give Evelyn one more chance? If she’s willing to admit her mistakes, it shows she’s truly repentant.” I was stunned. She wanted me to admit fault at the busy school entrance, crushing the last bit of my dignity? Seeing me standing motionless, the people around began urging me on. A woman said: “What are you standing there for? Mrs. Clark is being kind and giving you a chance—hurry up and apologize!” A man added: “Exactly! Otherwise, just the fraud charge alone will keep you in prison until you die!” My already foggy mind became even more confused. The blazing sun hung high overhead, making me dizzy and blurring my vision. At that moment, only one thought remained in my mind: “It’s okay, I’m going to die soon anyway.” Like a robot, I moved my body and bowed my head before everyone. “I’m sorry, I was wrong. I’m shameless and have no dignity. I shouldn’t have appeared in front of you. Please let me go.” I bit my lower lip hard, drawing blood. Jacob hadn’t expected me to actually apologize. After all, I used to be so proud—I would rather die than bow my head. His expression grew increasingly ugly. The laughter of the onlookers sounded particularly grating in his ears. “All of you, shut up!” Jacob roared. Just then, I couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground. At the same time, Caroline, with her white hair, came running toward me from the school gate. When she saw Jacob, Caroline was both anxious and furious, delivering a hard slap across his face. “You fool! Evelyn’s body is severely compromised from donating a kidney to you. How could you treat her like this?”

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Setlla’s POV Every year, on the day college entrance exam results were released, the top scorer in our city would mysteriously commit suicide. The higher their score, the more horrific their death. In that case, the police formed a special task force to investigate, but no matter what they did, they couldn’t figure out why it kept happening. As fear spread among students, some even deliberately scored lower just to avoid becoming the top scorer. But not me. I studied harder than anyone else and ended up with a perfect score, the highest in our city’s history. Because three years ago, my sister was the top scorer, and I watched her die with my own eyes. So, I was going to make them pay for her. —— My dad died the year I was born. Since then, Mom raised me and my sister all on her own. She took on every kind of dirty, exhausting job just to keep us fed and in school. A lot of men offered to marry her, saying if she agreed, they’d help raise us. But Mom always turned them down. She was afraid we’d suffer if she remarried. Because of her, my sister and I studied hard as we wanted to give her a better life. Three years ago was my sister’s turn to take the college entrance exam. By then, the suicides of past top scorers had already become a terrifying pattern, and everyone knew about it. All the top students were anxious, afraid they’d score too high and meet the same fate. I remember warning my sister, begging her to aim lower, so she wouldn’t be the top scorer. But she just smiled at me and said, “I’ve worked this hard for years so you and Mom could have a better life. I’m not going to throw that away. Don’t worry, I won’t follow their leads.” “And besides,” she added, “I think all those suicides were just coincidences. I want to break the curse. I’m going to be the top scorer this year.” And she did it. She only made a few mistakes, making her the top of the city. But on the very day her score came out, my sister, who swore she would never take her own life, jumped off the rooftop without hesitation. She didn’t say a word before she died. Just looked at Mom with this strange, heavy stare, then stepped off the edge. She landed headfirst. The scene was brutal. Clutched in her hand was a bloodstained note with one sentence on it. [Setlla, whatever you do, don’t become the top scorer.] I held her broken body in my arms, screaming in agony. But Mom, who loved my sister very much, just stood there, watching with not a single tear in her eyes. I asked her why she didn’t cry. Her voice was cold and flat as she replied, “She wanted to be the top scorer. She had no one to point fingers at.” I didn’t understand. Mom used to fall apart if my sister got sick. But now, seeing her own daughter die like that, she barely reacted. I couldn’t forget the way my sister looked at Mom right before she jumped. Something about that look haunted me. It made me wonder if Mom had something to do with her death. But why would she? And how could my sister, who loved her life so much, suddenly decide to die? So, for the past three years, I studied harder than anyone else just to take this college entrance exam. This time, I was stepping into the same trap to uncover the truth behind the mystery. On the day the results were released, I walked into the kitchen where Mom was rinsing rice for dinner. “Mom, if I die… would you cry?” I asked. She paused, just for a second. Then turned to look at me, confused. “What kind of question is that?” I waited a beat, then said seriously, “I’ve already estimated my score. If I’m right, I’ll be this year’s top scorer.” I watched the light in her eyes fade visibly as if something inside her shut down. With barely a flicker of emotion, she looked at me and said, “Oh. Congratulations.”

Setlla’s POV Two words. Short and calm. Like she was talking about the weather, completely emotionless. I stared at her hard, trying to find even the slightest crack in her expression. But she just went back to rinsing the rice like nothing had happened. Right then, the early morning light reflected off her cold, distant eyes. Seeing that, a sharp pain shot through my heart. I still remember that winter when I was five. It was Christmas, and I suddenly came down with a high fever. My whole body was shaking, the fever wouldn’t break. It was ten below zero that day, and snow was everywhere, so Mom couldn’t get a taxi. Left with no choice, she carried me in her arms, running ten kilometers through thick snow all by herself. By the time we reached the hospital, her lips were purple from the cold, and her feet were bloody from being sliced open by sharp ice. But she didn’t seem to feel any of it. She only cared about getting me help. The doctors told her there was nothing they could do. But she dropped to her knees right there in the ER hallway, begging them, over and over, crying and bowing until they agreed to try again. That was the mom I knew. The woman who always put mine and my sister’s lives before her own. So why now? Why was she so cold and indifferent? I didn’t say another word. I just waited. When the results came out, it was exactly what I expected. A perfect score. The highest in our city’s history. News spread fast. First, the city, then the whole internet. Everyone was talking about me. [She must be insane! Everyone else was scared enough to hold back their scores, and she went and got a perfect one? Doesn’t she know all the previous top scorers ended up dead?] [I go to school with her. Her sister was the top scorer three years ago, and she died horribly! There’s no way she doesn’t know about it!] [Then what is she thinking? Is she trying to die? Seriously?] [I heard their mom raised both girls by herself, worked multiple jobs a day. The older sister died three years ago, and now the younger one scores full marks? How’s the mom supposed to survive losing both kids?] Some people were shocked by my score. Some felt sorry for my mom, thinking she’d have to bury another daughter. Others called me selfish, saying I was courting death and dragging my mom through more pain. While the world debated, I quietly started a livestream from my bedroom. I locked the door, adjusted the camera so the whole room was visible, and hit “go live.” Within minutes, the stream exploded. Hundreds of thousands of people tuned in, comments flying so fast they filled the screen. [Is this really the girl who scored full marks? Why does she look so calm?] [She’s livestreaming? Seriously? She must be fearless!] [Do you even care about your mom, who raised you alone?] [Your sister’s already gone. What if something happens to you too? How’s your mom supposed to go on?] [You’re so ungrateful! Is your test score really worth more than your life or your mother’s?] Criticism came hard and fast. People called me unfilial and selfish. They pitied my mom, saying she sacrificed everything for us, only to be left alone in grief again. But through it all, I sat still and spoke slowly, like I was telling a story. “Like everyone’s saying, yes, my mom raised me and my sister all by herself. It wasn’t easy. We’ve been through hard times—hunger, cold, loneliness. Every day was a struggle. But my sister was always so strong. So full of life. She used to tell me all the time to cherish my life and live it well.”

Setlla’s POV “She always said, ‘As long as you’re alive, life will get better.’ She also promised that, through her own hard work, she’d give Mom and me a better life. But three years ago, she took her own life.” As I spoke, I held up a folded piece of paper. “This,” I said slowly, facing the camera, “is the note she was clutching in her hand when she died. It has just one sentence written on it, read, ‘Setlla, whatever you do, don’t become the top scorer.’” Heaving a deep breath, I continued, “I’ve kept this letter safe for three years and studied it over and over. Sure, the handwriting matches hers exactly, and the police confirmed that the only fingerprints on it were hers. But I’m certain she didn’t write it. Someone forged her handwriting and left this fake suicide note to cover up the truth. My sister didn’t take her own life. She was murdered.” As soon as those words escaped my mouth, all of the viewers were astonished. The chat was instantly flooded with questions and disbelief. [No way! I thought all the top scorers died by suicide?] [If the handwriting and fingerprints match, how can you say it’s fake?] [I was there when your sister jumped! I saw it with my own eyes!] [Are you sure you’re not just confused?] The comment feed scrolled so fast it was impossible to keep up—shock, denial, suspicion, all mixed together. But I didn’t stop. My voice stayed steady and my words clear as I added, “My sister never called me by my whole name. Not in real life, not in letters. She always used my nickname. Yes, she jumped. But it wasn’t her choice. She was forced. For the past three years, I’ve been digging into every case of past top scorers who supposedly ‘killed themselves.’ And I can say this with confidence: none of their deaths makes sense. This whole thing is a lie. All of them were murdered.” Again, the chat went wild. [This is insane. I’ve got chills all over!] [Who the hell would do this? And why? What kind of monster targets kids who ace their exams?!] As their shock bombarded the stream, I looked directly into the camera, voice firm and unwavering. “I know none of them actually killed themselves. But I could never find proof. Whoever’s behind this is a master at hiding the truth. So this time, I gave it everything I had. I became the top scorer just to get close to the truth.” With bravery, I announced, “They say the higher your score, the more brutal your death, right? Well, today, I’m livestreaming this moment because I want everyone to witness it with me. To see whether I’ll die or not.” There was no fear in my voice, only purpose. My face also said it all that I was ready to risk everything. At this moment, my words shook people to the core. Everything they thought they knew was unraveling. Viewership exploded, and more and more people joined the stream every second. The whole country was watching. Even the police were watching. And once they realized what was happening, they jumped into action. Sirens began to echo down the street, growing louder as they neared my building. And then something changed. The chat, which had been filled with debate and speculation, suddenly shifted to a single frantic message flooding the screen. [Look behind you!] [Behind you!] [There’s someone behind you!] Reading that, I quickly turned around. And what I saw would haunt me for the rest of my life.

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I’d been the pampered princess of the Maxwell family for twenty years. Then, the real heiress showed up with a DNA report. That’s when I found out: I was nothing more than a fake daughter, mistakenly swapped at birth. Ashamed, I packed my bags, ready to leave. But on the night I planned to escape, Damien Maxwell hauled me into his car. My older brother, who had always been distant and cold, pinned me against the leather seats, making me break down completely. Three times. My throat was hoarse from crying, but he just gripped my waist, whispering over and over, “I’ve wanted to do this to you for a long, long time.” It was in that moment I finally understood— His coldness all these years? Nothing but forced restraint. Soon after, he announced our engagement. No one could talk him out of it. When our parents objected, he simply stripped them of their authority, becoming the sole power in the Maxwell empire. When the real heiress, Tiffany, cried and made a scene, he cut off all my credit cards and threatened to send me back if I caused any trouble. I couldn’t accept being with the brother I grew up with. I ran countless times, but he always dragged me back. His web was inescapable; I had nowhere to run. Until two weeks ago, when he drove out late at night to buy me a cake I was craving and got into a car accident. When he woke up… he remembered nothing. The Maxwell family was overjoyed. When they introduced me, they didn’t say I was the woman he was madly in love with. They just called me the household maid. Now, they wanted to get rid of me while Damien was still suffering from amnesia. “Here’s a hundred million.” Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell eagerly pushed a check across the table to me. “Damien doesn’t remember you now. Take this money and leave immediately. We raised you, and we’re begging you, never appear before him again. Never let him find you.” After a long silence, I finally spoke. “Alright. I’ll complete all my overseas paperwork within two weeks and never return.” I took the flimsy check, feeling like the past year had been nothing but a bizarre dream. They wanted me gone, and truthfully, I wanted to leave too. Damien had doted on me relentlessly for the past year, but I couldn’t bear this possessive, almost violent love. With Damien’s amnesia, this was my only chance to escape him. “What are you doing?” Just then, the front door swung open. Damien stood in the doorway, Tiffany behind him. The man wore a sharp suit, incredibly handsome, exuding a silent, oppressive aura that made the air itself thicken. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell’s faces changed. They quickly forced smiles. “Oh, nothing, nothing. Just giving some instructions to the maid.” Mrs. Maxwell nudged Mr. Maxwell, forcing a dry laugh. “We’re going upstairs for our afternoon nap now.” Before she left, she shot me a look that was pure venom, a silent warning. I lowered my gaze, clutching the hundred-million-dollar check. I was about to turn and head to the maid’s quarters… “Stop.” Damien’s voice was as cold as ice. I froze, head bowed, my heart practically seizing. The sound of his dress shoes on the floor grew closer. The next second, my chin was brutally yanked up, forcing my gaze to meet his dark, deep eyes. My breath hitched. My mind uncontrollably flashed to memories of him pinning me against the floor-to-ceiling windows, pressing me into the bedsheets, even pushing me onto the kitchen island. His thumb brushed my chin, his gaze icy. “What perfume are you wearing?” I opened my mouth, about to answer… “Don’t wear it again.” He let me go, his tone filled with disgust. “Maids should act like maids. Don’t think about seducing anyone.” My fingertips curled slightly. He used to always bury his face in my neck, chuckling softly as he asked, “What are you wearing? It smells so good.” I’d shake my head. “Nothing.” He’d bite my earlobe, a husky laugh in my ear. “Even your natural scent is this intoxicating? Iris, every part of you was truly born for me. You’re not allowed to leave. Wherever you run, I’ll hunt you down. Understand?” I once thought I’d never escape. But this time, fate had given me a chance… I didn’t explain or argue. I just nodded. “Understood, Sir.” Watching him turn and enter his study, I let out a sigh of relief. I was about to go back and pack my bags when Tiffany suddenly rushed over and slapped me hard! “Iris, how shameless can you be?!” she shrieked. “First, you seduced my brother, and now he has amnesia, and you’re still trying to hook him?!” “Let me tell you, my brother already has a fiancée!” She smirked triumphantly. “The engagement will be announced in a few days. This sister-in-law is a thousand, a million times better than you!” My body trembled. A fiancée? Right. With his memory gone, and the Maxwell family’s status, suitable partners for an arranged marriage would naturally line up. But that had nothing to do with me anymore. Yet Tiffany still wasn’t done. She snapped, “Guards! Grab her! Throw her into the freezer room! Let her know what happens when you try to seduce my brother!” The bodyguards exchanged uneasy glances. No one dared to move. Because everyone knew how much Damien Maxwell used to dote on me. Once, a business partner just brushed against me. The next day, his hand appeared on Damien’s desk. Tiffany was shaking with rage. “My brother has amnesia now! I’m the heiress, not her, and I’m not the one he likes anymore! What are you all so afraid of?!” She pointed at the bodyguards. “If you don’t grab her, I’ll fire all of you!” The bodyguards still hesitated. Just then, the study door flew open— Damien frowned. “What’s all this racket?” Tiffany immediately plastered on a fawning smile. “Brother, I’m not doing my job well. I want to punish Iris by sending her to the freezer room, but these guards won’t listen to me!” Damien shot the bodyguards a cold glance, his voice chilling. “What good are you? You won’t even listen to your mistress?” He looked at me, his eyes filled with disgust. “Drag her out. Don’t let her be an eyesore here.” With that, he slammed the door shut. With Damien’s words, the bodyguards no longer hesitated. I closed my eyes, letting them drag me away. I’d always been sensitive to the cold, which was why Damien always kept the villa warm year-round. At night, when my hands and feet were icy, he would even stoop to warm my feet against his chest. But now, he had personally ordered me to be locked away for punishment. The cold bit deep into my bones. I curled up in the corner, my consciousness slowly fading. It’s okay. Just bear with it. Soon, I’ll be able to leave. Soon, I can… be myself again, instead of Damien Maxwell’s personal property. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, I faintly heard someone screaming my name like a madman. “Iris!!” A figure burst into the freezer room, lifting me with trembling hands. The next time I woke, blinding white hospital lights assaulted my eyes. “Iris, how are you? Is anything still uncomfortable?” A familiar voice reached my ears, followed by the sight of Liam Miller’s gentle face. He sat by my bedside, his eyes bloodshot, looking as though he’d been watching over me for a long time. “…Liam?” Memories from before I collapsed slowly returned. I struggled to sit up. “You saved me?” Liam nodded, his voice tinged with lingering fear. “I couldn’t reach you by phone, and when I rushed to the Maxwell estate, I heard you’d been locked in the freezer room…” He stopped mid-sentence as the TV in the hospital room suddenly showed a news report— “The Maxwell Corporation and Henderson Group officially announce their alliance today. Mr. Damien Maxwell and Miss Seraphina Henderson will hold their wedding next month…” On screen, Damien Maxwell was impeccably dressed in a suit, his face stern, while Seraphina Henderson clung to his arm, her smile radiant. A handsome couple, a match made in heaven. Liam immediately grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. A brief silence filled the room. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and looked at me. “Iris, I know everything that’s happened recently.” “Before, you couldn’t escape. But now… Damien has lost his memory.” His voice was soft but firm. “Let me take you away, alright?” I lowered my eyes. “Thank you, Liam. I’ve already made arrangements to process my overseas paperwork.” “The Maxwell family has been involved in politics for three generations. He can’t leave the country.” I paused. “As long as I go abroad, he’ll never see me again.” A flicker of joy crossed Liam’s eyes. He instinctively took my hand. “That’s wonderful! I’ll go with you to handle the paperwork!” I stiffened slightly, then subtly pulled my hand away. He realized his lapse and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, I just… got too excited.” He paused, his gaze serious and gentle. “But I hope you understand my feelings.” “All this time, you must have seen it, right?” I remained silent, not answering. Of course, I knew. From the very first day Damien forced me into this, Liam had been secretly helping me. He had once offered to help me escape, but I knew Damien’s methods better than anyone. I had run ten times or more, never successfully. The longest I’d ever been gone was ten minutes before being dragged back. Once, a man at a bar simply struck up a conversation with me. The next day, his family business completely vanished from the city. Damien’s influence was an inescapable web. I couldn’t escape, and I certainly didn’t dare implicate Liam. So, I had never responded to his feelings. I closed my eyes, my fingertips trembling slightly. “Liam, I…” He seemed to sense what I was about to say and quickly interrupted. “I’m not asking you to respond right now!” “I just want to tell you…” He took a deep breath, his voice gentle and firm. “Once you leave here, you can finally live the life you deserve.” “Do work you love, go to places you dream of, and… fall in love with someone who truly makes your heart sing.” He smiled, a faint bitterness in his eyes. “Even if it’s not me, I’ll be incredibly happy for you.” “I just hope you can return to a normal life, untouched by this past year.” I froze, my eyes welling up. After a long moment, I whispered, “Thank you.” “Once I leave here, I’ll go back to a peaceful life.” I looked out at the bright sunshine, my voice soft. “Traveling, working, and… falling in love.” Liam finally relaxed, his brow smoothing. “Then I’ll go with you to get the paperwork done.” That afternoon, Liam accompanied me to complete the expedited overseas paperwork. “Your visa should be ready in about two weeks,” the clerk said, handing back my ID. “Have a pleasant journey.” Stepping out of the embassy, I took a deep breath. The sunlight on my face brought a long-lost sense of ease. Liam drove me back to the villa, chatting casually about my arrangements abroad. He said once my paperwork was ready, I should go ahead. His family also had businesses there, and he would apply for a transfer. “Iris, don’t feel pressured.” As if fearing I’d refuse, he quickly added, “Our company happens to be expanding into the overseas market. It’s not just for you.” The car pulled up to the villa. I was about to get out when Liam suddenly called out, “Wait.” He reached out, gently tidying a strand of hair the wind had blown loose, his movements as tender as if he were handling a fragile treasure. I instinctively looked up, only to be struck by a sudden chill the next second. Not far away, on the steps, an icy gaze was fixed on me! Damien Maxwell stood there, impeccably suited, his expression stern, his oppressive aura silently radiating. My fingertips trembled. I quickly told Liam, “You should go now.” Liam didn’t notice anything amiss, continuing, “When your paperwork is ready, you…” “Just go!” My voice was tight, almost pleading as I looked at him. He paused, then finally nodded. “Alright. Be careful, then.” Only after his car drove away did I dare to turn, walking step by slow step towards the stairs. Damien still stood there, watching me with a heavy gaze, the emotions in his eyes dark and unreadable. I trembled all over, practically hearing my own frantic heartbeat. Would he be angry? Or would he react like before, breaking someone’s hand just for touching me? But in the end, I heard his cold voice: “We have guests. Go make some tea.” With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps fading. I stood frozen for a moment before I dared to look up. He… was completely unfazed. It seemed he truly had lost his memory. I let out a sigh of relief and turned to the kitchen to make tea. But when I carried the tea into the living room, I found an additional person there. I recognized her immediately: Seraphina Henderson, the woman from the news who was announced to be engaged to Damien. Right now, Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, and Tiffany, were all gathered around her, smiling as they discussed wedding arrangements. Damien sat to one side, not interjecting, listening calmly. I kept my head down, offering the tea. “Miss Henderson, your tea.” Seraphina looked up at me, a subtle, knowing smile playing on her lips. She reached out to take it, but the next second, she suddenly “accidentally” knocked it over— The scalding tea splashed all over her. Before I could react, Tiffany had already slapped me hard! “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!” I opened my mouth, instinctively wanting to explain— “It wasn’t me…” But before I could finish, Tiffany shrieked, cutting me off, then turned to Damien to complain: “Brother! I’ve been meaning to tell you, this maid has impure intentions towards you!” She pointed at me with a look of disgust. “She secretly collects your things! She’s clearly trouble! Now that she knows you’re engaged to Seraphina, she’s gone mad with jealousy and deliberately scalded her!” I felt a chill run through me, unable to believe she could twist the truth like this. “I didn’t…” My voice trembled, but before I could finish, Seraphina also spoke up. She looked at Damien, her eyes slightly red, her voice delicate. “Damien, with your status, many people will try to cling to you. If we don’t punish her severely, I’m afraid more will imitate her later.” Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell immediately chimed in. “Exactly! She must be severely punished!” I froze, suddenly understanding— This was a setup. A trap they had collaborated to create. And Damien hated anyone who tried to seduce him most of all. Sure enough, the next second, I heard his icy voice: “Drag her away. Administer family punishment.” After he spoke, he leaned down, scooped Seraphina into his arms, and walked upstairs without a backward glance. “I’ll call a private doctor.” I didn’t even have time to utter another word of defense before two bodyguards seized my arms and roughly dragged me out. Outside the villa, the night was thick. Tiffany held the barbed cane, her face alight with barely concealed excitement and malice. “You’ve finally fallen into my hands.” She raised the cane and brought it down hard! “Whack!” The first lash landed, splitting my skin. “This lash is for stealing my identity!” “Whack!” The second lash, bloody and raw. “This lash is for seducing my brother!” “Whack!” “This lash is for being ungrateful!” … “Hahaha! Scream, why aren’t you screaming wildly now? My brother won’t defend you anymore!” I bit my lip so hard it bled, refusing to make a sound. But the barbs on the cane dug into my flesh, each strike feeling like it was tearing me apart alive. Blood flowed down my back, my arms, my legs… dripping onto the ground. Ninety-nine lashes. Tiffany seemed determined to unleash all her years of fury, hitting harder and harder. By the end, my consciousness was fading. All I heard was her shrill cursing and the dull thud of the cane tearing through flesh. When the last lash fell, I finally couldn’t bear it anymore and collapsed heavily into the pool of blood. I woke up again to find myself locked in a warehouse. The wounds on my back had formed a thin scab, tearing agonizingly with the slightest movement. I struggled to my feet and knocked on the door. A bodyguard’s cold voice came from outside. “Miss Tiffany said you haven’t learned your lesson, so you’ll stay locked up for three more days, no food or water.” He paused, then added, “Sir also agreed.” I slid down the door to the floor and suddenly laughed. Tiffany hated me; I knew that better than anyone. Through a twist of fate, I had unknowingly taken her place as the Maxwell heiress, leaving her to suffer outside. Just when I was finally reconciled with my birth family, Damien refused to let me, the fake heiress, leave. He spoiled me beyond all reason, making it impossible for Tiffany to even try to send me away. Now, Damien had lost his memory. He didn’t remember me, nor the crazy, obsessive love he once had for me. Tiffany finally had her chance to get revenge. I leaned against the cold wall, not struggling, not knocking again. Anyway… in a few more days, I would be completely free. There was no need to cause more trouble at the last minute. Let it be. There were no windows in the warehouse, making it impossible to tell day from night. I huddled in the corner, the pain from my wounds keeping me from sleeping. I could only count my breaths to pass the time. Every day, Tiffany would have someone throw in a stack of photos. The photos were all intimate moments between Damien and Seraphina— Him with his arm around Seraphina’s waist at a gala, leaning down to whisper in her ear; Him bending to adjust her skirt, a gentlemanly and gentle gesture; Him, in full view of everyone, placing a diamond ring on Seraphina’s finger and pulling her into a kiss; On the back of each photo, Tiffany had scrawled sarcastic words in red pen— “This is the fiancée my brother deserves.” “What are you, a nobody?” “Stop dreaming. He’ll never remember you.” Three days later, the warehouse door finally opened. Blinding light streamed in. I squinted, seeing Tiffany standing in the doorway, looking down at me. “Seraphina’s birthday party? My brother threw a huge one,” she said with a malicious grin. “What are you waiting for? Get to the party and serve!” I braced myself against the wall to stand, my legs so weak I almost collapsed, but there was no room to refuse. I hastily applied some medicine, drank some water, ate a little food, and then was rushed to the banquet hall. Just as Tiffany said, Damien had spared no expense for the birthday party. The entire hall was decorated like a starry night, crystal chandeliers reflecting brilliant light, champagne towers stacked higher than a person. And the most eye-catching thing was Damien’s gift to Seraphina. A blue diamond necklace worth over a hundred million. He personally put it on her, and the entire room erupted in applause. Even so, whispers could be heard— “Did Damien really lose his memory? He used to be so crazy for Iris…” “Shhh! Lower your voice! The Maxwell family has a lot of nerve, arranging a fiancée for him while he has amnesia. Who knows if he’ll tear the whole family apart if he ever remembers…” “I heard his memory can’t be recovered, the doctors said…” I kept my head down, quietly going about my tasks, as if these discussions had nothing to do with me. Until— A pair of high heels stopped in front of me. I looked up and met Seraphina’s smiling eyes. “Iris.” She swirled the champagne in her hand, her red lips curving slightly. “Are you satisfied with the ‘welcome gift’ I gave you last time?” I looked up at Seraphina. “You really didn’t have to do this.” I said softly, “Damien has amnesia now. He has no feelings for me, and I won’t disrupt your relationship.” Seraphina laughed, her red lips twisting into a mocking curve. “You say that so easily. I’ve loved him for so many years. Do you know how happy I was when the arranged marriage was finally settled?” Her nails dug into my arm, her eyes swirling with twisted hatred. “But what happened? He turned around and declared he couldn’t live without you! I loved him so much, I even went to him and offered a billion-dollar company as a dowry, but he didn’t even blink and threw me out…” My voice started to tremble. “That day, it was pouring rain, and I wouldn’t give up trying to find him. Then I saw him again, coaxing you into bed. I watched with my own eyes as he pinned you against the floor-to-ceiling window, so gentle, so deeply in love, saying that out of everyone in the world, he only wanted you…” “Do you know how desperate I was that day? And now, a simple ‘I won’t disrupt your relationship’ is supposed to erase all the pain I suffered?!” She stepped back, elegantly smoothed her dress, her smile sweet and malicious. “Iris, remember this. I will make you wish for death but be unable to find it.” With that, she turned and walked away. I stood there, cold sweat beading on my back, a strong sense of unease washing over me. I put down the tray and was about to leave when Seraphina’s panicked voice suddenly echoed through the banquet hall— “My necklace is gone!” The entire hall gasped. “That was the blue diamond necklace Sir Maxwell just gave her!” “Who would be so bold as to steal it?” In the chaos, Seraphina looked at me with pitiful eyes, her finger pointing directly at me: “I was just talking to Iris a moment ago…” In an instant, all eyes turned to me. Damien’s gaze was the coldest, like an ice-淬刀. Before I could react, Tiffany had already rushed over with bodyguards. “Search her!” she shrieked. I struggled to back away. “I didn’t steal it…” But the bodyguards roughly grabbed me, publicly stripping my clothes. “Found it!” Tiffany declared triumphantly, holding up the blue diamond necklace. She swung her hand back and slapped me again. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. “Haven’t you had enough of a lesson yet?!” I shrieked. My vision blurred, but I still insisted, “I didn’t steal it… There are security cameras here, you can check the ca—” “Whack!” Another slap cut off my words. Tiffany turned to Damien, her tone venomous. “Brother, it seems Iris still won’t give up on you. First, she deliberately scalded Seraphina, and now she’s come to steal Seraphina’s necklace. I think she needs to be taught a final lesson!” She flashed a cruel smile. “I just saw a homeless man outside the hotel. How about we let them spend the night together?” My blood ran cold. But the next second, I heard Damien calmly say, “Hmm,” his eyes filled with utter disgust. In that moment, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I no longer cared about anything else. I lunged, grabbing his sleeve. “I didn’t steal the necklace! I don’t have any designs on you! Damien Maxwell, check the cameras, I…” Tiffany’s face changed drastically. She snapped, “Drag her away!” The bodyguards roughly yanked my hair. I clung to Damien’s sleeve, my fingertips white with strain. But he pried my fingers off, one by one. An icy sensation spread from my fingertips to my heart. When the last finger was pried away, I heard him say— “Dirty.” In that moment, I bit my lip hard, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. Memories surged like a tide—the days he held me in the palm of his hand, the times he would worry endlessly if I so much as bruised myself…

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