《Remembered the Fake, Forgot Your REAL WIFE? Karma's Here, Face-Blind Billionaire!》 Face Blind 1 Bad news: My husband has face blindness. Worse news: He only has face blindness when ites to ME. New haircut? ¡°Sorry, miss, wrong house.¡± Different dress? ¡°Are you the new housekeeper?¡± So for three fucking years, I kept the same clothes, same hair, same perfume-just so he¡¯d recognize me. But in the end? Nothing fucking worked. Until I flew to Paris for his birthday. Watched him cut through a packed airport terminal, straight to one girl. No hesitation. Perfect aim. urns out his face blindness was just because I wasn¡¯t the one he loved. Vell then¡­ Time to make myself IMPOSSIBLE to forget! barely had time to turn around before foreign cops surrounded me. hey thought I was some wanted criminal, and my broken French only made their expressions grow harder, more suspicious. Without warning, they mmed me to the ground, a knee pressed firmly into my back. 1 the chaos, I looked desperately toward Alex. Alex! Help me! They¡¯ve got the wrong person!¡± I screamed until my throat was raw. le looked over, his eyes sweeping across my face for a brief moment. hen he simply looked away, as if I were aplete stranger. I don¡¯t know her.¡± hose four words, were the coldest I¡¯d ever heard in my life. a the next fifteen days, I spent a whole three hundred and sixty hours in windowless interrogation rooms and freezing cells. Intil a DNA report finally cleared my name. When I walked out of that police station, it wasn¡¯t Alex waiting for me-it was his assistant. David adjusted his sses, voice full of me. Miss Grace, what the hell were you thinking? Do you know Mr. Carter waited at the airport for two hours?¡± At that moment, whatever warmth I had left for him died in that cold foreign wind. The moment I stepped off the ne back home, cameras and microphones swarmed me from every direction. Apparently, my arrest had be front-page gossip. I finally fought my way through the chaos and got home, only to have Alex¡¯s first words be pure me. But Alex¡¯s first words weren¡¯t ¡°Are you okay?¡± or ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°How many times have I told you to wear the white coat when you¡¯re out? Why don¡¯t you listen?¡± He frowned like I was some disobedient child. ¡°You know I have face blindness. I can¡¯t tell women apart.¡± Hearing this, my hands clenched into fists. He flipped another page in his file, not even looking up. ¡°PR drafted a statement. Press conference tomorrow.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll apologize to the public and clear this up.¡± Apologize? For what? For his coldness? Or for his so-called ¡°face blindness¡±? I stared at his indifferent face. ¡®At the airport. That girl you hugged-who was she?¡± Follow current nov?ls on find~novel His hand froze mid-page. For once, he looked rigid. After a few seconds, he said: ¡°There were too many people. I thought it was you.¡± almostughed. hat girl wore a zing scarlet dress and had big curly waves-hair I¡¯d NEVER worn in my life. nd I? I don¡¯t even own anything red. Alex, I called your name that day.¡± The question slipped out before I could stop it. So?¡± He barely nced up. ¡°You want me to apologize for having a medical condition?¡± Grace, you knew about this before we got married.¡± ooking at his nk expression, I felt utterly drained. le was right. This was all on me. Fine. I¡¯ll do the press conference.¡± turned to leave, but then noticed Alex¡¯s attention had shifted. His gaze drifted toward my bag, where an airline magazine was poking out the top. followed his gaze and saw the open page-a group photo of some symphony orchestra. Dozens of people crammed together, and in the most forgettable corner sat a girl with a cello. The same girl he¡¯d hugged at the airport. The photo was so blurry you could barely make out faces. But Alex spotted her. In just one nce. It turned out¡­ he doesn¡¯t have face blindness. He just can¡¯t see people he doesn¡¯t love! My chest felt crushed. Every breath hurt. But I still managed to smile as I pulled out the magazine and shoved it into his hands. ¡°Here. Take it. I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡± This whole Mrs. Carter thing. Those three wasted years. I¡¯m done with all of it! Face Blind 2 The next day, I showed up to the press conference right on time. Spotlights hit me like knives from every angle. I wore a rose pink dress-the exact opposite of the white Alex demanded. Then I took the microphone and spoke calmly. ¡®I was wrongfully arrested because my husband, Alex Carter, told the police he didn¡¯t know me.¡± The room erupted. paused, staring straight into one of the cameras like I was looking right at Alex. I think being trapped in a marriage with someone you can¡¯t even recognize must be torture.¡± So I¡¯m setting him free.¡± Alex Carter and I are getting divorced.¡± ack in the car, only then did I noticed that my hands were shaking. lot from fear-from relief. hen my phone buzzed nonstop. ¡°Alex¡± shing on the screen. turned it off. ut we hadn¡¯t driven two blocks before Alex cut us off. He jumped out of his car, face ck with rage. Grace, have you lost your mind?!¡± le yanked me out so hard I thought he¡¯d snap my wrist. Who the hell gave you permission to say that shit on live TV!¡± stared at his furious face. Which part wasn¡¯t true?¡± hat shut him up for a second. Then he got angrier, Do you have any idea what this could do to other people?¡± What if they dig up airport security footage? What if Maya gets dragged into this? She just made it into the Vienna Orchestra!¡± Ha. There it was, The pain spread through my chest like poison. ¡°Alex, you do recognize her.¡± His face twisted with irritation. ¡°So what? She means something different to me, but I still married you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget-you¡¯re the one who begged for all this.¡± Right. My obsession. My mistake. Alex can¡¯t even remember my face, so how could he remember a promise from twenty years ago? Chapter 2 Find the newest release on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel I wiped my tears. ¡°Alex, I changed my mind. Let¡¯s get divorced.¡± He went quiet. But he didn¡¯t look relieved like I expected. Finally, like he¡¯d made some big decision. ¡°Stop being dramatic. Just keep wearing white like before. I won¡¯t lose track of you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not divorcing you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I smiled up at him. He¡¯d probably forgotten about the document he signed this morning. ALL I did was put on a wig and change clothes. And Alex assumed I was his new secretary. Didn¡¯t even look before signing those divorce papers. ven told me to clean out his office safe. hat¡¯s where Alex had carefully cut out Maya¡¯s photo from yesterday¡¯s magazine. When I opened the safe, what weed me was all clippings of Maya. ed dress, blue dress, ck dress. To matter what Maya wore, Alex could spot her instantly. he oldest photo showed Maya in high school. White dress, long ck hair. xactly how I¡¯d styled myself for three years. /hile I was lost in thought, Alex suddenly grabbed my hand, his grip desperate. Grace, I won¡¯t lose you again.¡± or a moment, hope flickered in my chest. I was about to tell him everything when he suddenly shoved me aside and bolted. followed his gaze-Maya¡¯s figure disappearing into the crowd. alfway there, Alex seemed to remember something. He spun around and shouted back, ¡°Grace, wait for me! I¡¯ll be right back!¡± ut he wasn¡¯t even looking at me. le was facing apletely different woman who happened to be wearing the same rose-pink dress as me. he irony was almostughable. Vithout another word, I turned and walked away, never looking back. Face Blind 3 Alex was furious that I¡¯d left on my own. But I spent that entire afternoon at the coffee shop next door, handling paperwork with awyer. Until dark, Alex never came back. I didn¡¯t bother calling him. Why would I? One outfit change and I¡¯m invisible to him anyway. Once my overseas paperwork was done, I hit the mall for new clothes. For years, I¡¯d worn nothing but white, hoping Alex would notice me. My closet looked like a funeral home. Now the sight of it made me sick. sales associate held up a fire-red dress. was about to pay when a cold voice cut in. I want that one too.¡± turned. Maya¡¯s arrogant face stared back at me. he looked me up and down. Grace, what are you still fighting for? Wasn¡¯t the airport enough of a wake-up call?¡± Alex doesn¡¯t love you. You could buy designer everything and he¡¯d still treat you like air.¡± didn¡¯t waste words and pulled out my ck card. Wrap up everything she touched, plus this entire collection.¡± And escort her out.¡± he sales associate moved to clear her out, but then Alex appeared. He walked straight to Maya without even ncing my way. Package the dress for Miss Torres.¡± The associate looked stunned. ¡°But Mr. Carter, thisdy is your-¡± I¡¯d done smoky eye makeup and wore a wild orange wig with loose curls. Of course Alex didn¡¯t recognize me. ¡°Who is this chick anyway?¡± Alex¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but the whole store heard him clearly, ¡°Some random woman thinks she canpete with Maya?¡± He turned to the frozen sales associate, his tone brooking no argument. ¡°Starting today, memorize Miss Torres¡¯s face. Every single Carter enterprise will give her priority service.¡± Maya tossed the dress aside with fake generosity. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°Let the unloved have their scraps.¡± For original chapters go to f?ndnovel Alex didn¡¯t argue. ¡°Whatever makes you happy.¡± I stood there watching Alex¡¯s eyes stay glued to Maya, and whatever warmth I had left diedpletely. Back at the house I¡¯d lived in for three years, the security system rejected me. I was about to call the housekeeper when the door opened from inside. Maya stood there in my slippers, wrapped in Alex¡¯s bathrobe. She frowned like she¡¯d stepped in something gross. ¡°I thought you had some ss, that you¡¯d know when to back off.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of chasing Alex? What¡¯s the point of copying me in white dresses?¡± I stood outside in the night wind, shivering. She was right. What was the point? What was I even hoping for anymore? pulled off the diamond ring Alex had designed himself. ck card. Car keys. Even our marriage certificate. Then I turned around and walked away, never looking back. Outside, I pulled out a new phone and dialed a number I hadn¡¯t called in years. Hey, it¡¯s me.¡± Starting now, Mrs. Carter doesn¡¯t exist anymore.¡± Face Blind 4 Alex didn¡¯t contact me after that-probably thought I was throwing some childish tantrum. Fine by me. I was too busy to care anyway. The gossip headlines kepting though. ¡®hotos of him and Maya everywhere, looking like the perfect couple. hat cold face of his showed tenderness I¡¯d never seen. lex wouldn¡¯t confirm or deny anything about Maya. scrolled past the news, shut off my phone, and went back to liquidating my assets. verything I¡¯d used to chase after Alex got converted to cash and donated to an anti-trafficking organization. he coordinator was so grateful he could barely speak. ut I found myself captivated by photos of rescued children. lex and I had escaped from traffickers once. We got lost in the mountains. ittle Alex gave me thest wild berries he¡¯d found and filled his own stomach with mud. ut they caught us anyway. ¡®hen that rusty iron bar came down, I screamed. Alex threw himself over me, taking every blow while barely making a sound. he smell of blood filled the air as he faded. hile the traffickers got drunk, I finally found my chance-crawled through a dog hole and called the police. ater, the Carter family came for Alex. I never even got to say goodbye. nd his promise to marry me before he passed out became my only obsession for years. fought my way to his side, became his wife, ut it was all just my one-woman show. lex had forgotten everything. ack at my short-term rental, Maya was sitting there casually. he even smiled when she saw me. Oh, you¡¯re back?¡± The next second, sirens wailed outside. The door exploded inward. ck-d bodyguards stormed in and mmed me to the floor. ¡®Don¡¯t move!¡± Then Alex burst in, pulling Maya into his arms, voice shaking with relief: ¡°Maya, it¡¯s okay. This was my fault for not protecting you better.¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel He held her like she was some precious treasure he¡¯d almost lost. ¡°I promised you¡¯d never get hurt again.¡± That sounded familiar. The head bodyguard recognized me. ¡°Mr. Carter, this is-¡± Alex finally bothered to look at me. Like I was his worst enemy. SLAP! My head snapped to the side, mouth flooding with the taste of blood. I didn¡¯t cry. Hell, I almostughed. ¡®I don¡¯t give a damn who she is.¡± Alex¡¯s voice was ice cold. Anyone who hurts Maya pays the price-even if she¡¯s some billionaire¡¯s daughter!¡± Show her what happens when you mess with Maya!¡± he bodyguard captain tried to say something, but Alex¡¯s murderous re shut him up. hey dragged me into an empty room. Fists and bootsnded everywhere. My body screamed with pain, but all I could think about was how much it must have hurt when Alex took those beatings for me. lood filled my nose and mouth, but I wasn¡¯t scared of dying. lex had given me this life in the first ce. Tow I was just returning it. he door opened eventually. Laya leaned against Alex¡¯s chest. ¡°She¡¯s learned her lesson. Just get rid of her.¡± I never want to see her again.¡± lex didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Done.¡± le personally escorted me to his private airfield, is they shoved me up the ne steps, my ne chain snapped. he jade rose pendant hit the ground. lex had picked it out himself-the only birthday gift he¡¯d ever given me, and only because his secretary reminded him. hadn¡¯t been able to leave it behind at the house, Alex frowned and picked it up. ¡°This thing¡­ looks familiar.¡± My heart jumped despite everything. But Maya just coughed softly and tugged his sleeve. ¡°Alex, it¡¯s windy. I¡¯m cold.¡± Then his moment of doubt vanished instantly. He dropped the pendant and crushed it under his heel. ¡°Get her on that ne. Make sure she never sets foot in this country again!¡± The jet engines roared, pinning me to my seat. Fine. He¡¯d sent me away himself. Ended everything himself. We¡¯d never see each other again! This was Alex¡¯s fiftieth visit to a therapist. The face blindness from his childhood trauma was seriously screwing up his life. Grace had been pissed for almost two weeks now-not a word from her. It was his fault for being too busy with Maya. But he¡¯d already broken his childhood promise to Maya by marrying someone else. The least he could do was spend time with her when she asked. This therapy session involved hypnosis-drawing the face of that little girl from his memories. Step by step reconstruction of the kidnapping to heal the psychological wounds. Alex figured it would be easy. The drawing would obviously look like Maya. But when he handed over the sketch, the therapist gasped. How is this HER?!¡± Face Blind 5 The therapist took off his sses and turned the drawing toward Alex. On the paper was a thin little girl. Torn white dress, dirt smudged on her cheeks, but her eyes zed with startling brightness. Alex¡¯s pupils contracted sharply. This wasn¡¯t Maya. The face looked familiar, but he couldn¡¯t ce where he¡¯d seen it. The therapist hesitated. ¡°Mr. Carter, you really don¡¯t recognize this person?¡± So the doctor knew who this was? Alex caught the pity in the therapist¡¯s eyes and felt irritated. This isn¡¯t Maya. Why would I know some random kid?¡± ¡®he doctor sighed. ¡°But this person lived with you for three years.¡± hat irritation red into rage. Impossible.¡± The word came through gritted teeth as he grabbed the drawing. There¡¯s no fucking way!¡± he therapist tried to calm him. ¡°Mr. Carter, the subconscious doesn¡¯t lie. This might be your truest memory.¡± My memory is fine!¡± Alex snapped. ¡°Maya saved me. It was always Maya!¡± le threw the drawing on the floor like trash and stormed out. fis car tore down the highway straight to Maya¡¯s apartment building. he¡¯d just finished a private recital, still in her elegant gown. When she saw him, she threw herself into his arms with delight. Alex! What are you doing here?¡± Alex grabbed her wrists, his grip almost painful. ¡°Maya, tell me the truth. Back then-was it really you?¡± fer smile froze for a split second. Then her eyes filled with tears. ¡®Alex, how can you ask me that? Don¡¯t you remember how I rolled down that hill trying to find help? I still have scars on my legs.¡± She started to lift her dress hem. Alex immediately stopped her, guilt washing over his face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maya. I just¡­ had a nightmare.¡± Maya pressed against his chest, a sh of something dark in her eyes, though her voice stayed wounded. ?????? ???? ¡°Did Grace say something to you again? She¡¯s always been jealous of me. She¡¯s been copying my white dresses since forever, and now she wants to steal our past too.¡± ¡°Alex, don¡¯t listen to her. She¡¯spletely crazy.¡± 10.00 ¡°I know.¡± Alex tightened his arms around her, voice firm. ¡°I won¡¯t let anyone hurt you again.¡± Maya¡¯s tears washed away hisst trace of doubt. But Grace-that name stuck in his mind like a thorn, making him restless and angry. He pulled out his phone and called his assistant. ¡°Find out where Grace is now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to make her pay for trying to rece Maya!¡± Face Blind 6 I rented a Mn apartment with a studio and picked up my paintbrush again. All those colors Alex had drained from my life slowly came back. I even held a small solo exhibition. The theme was REBIRTH. Opening day brought a modest crowd. A distinguished silver-haired woman stood in front of one painting for ages. She introduced herself as the founder of a renowned local gallery. ¡®Dear, your work has soul. There¡¯s real life in these pieces.¡± She extended an invitation, ¡°Would you like to hold a proper exhibition at my gallery?¡± could barely speak from excitement. But just as I was about to sign the contract, the gallery manager walked in looking ufortable. I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am. We just got word-Carter Industries bought out our gallery.¡± The new owner specifically requested that all exhibition space be reserved exclusively for a Maya Torres.¡± My blood turned to ice. Alex? Had he followed me here? The old woman¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°This is outrageous! Art isn¡¯t some rich man¡¯s ything!¡± but against absolute power, her words meant nothing. Outside the gallery, a ck Rolls-Royce sat parked at the curb. The window rolled down, revealing Alex¡¯s cold face. He looked at me with curiosity andplete unfamiliarity. Miss.¡± His voice carried that same icy tone. ¡°Do you happen to know a woman named Grace Carter?¡± I stared at him, struck by how absurd this was. He still didn¡¯t recognize me, Before I could answer, Maya stepped out from the other side of the car. She linked her arm through Alex¡¯s possessively, eyes challenging me. ¡°Alex, don¡¯t bother with these social climbers.¡± She turned to me with that arrogant smile. ¡°Lady, if you want to meet Mr. Carter, you need to know your ce first.¡± ¡°Someone like Grace-kicked out of the Carter family like a stray dog-will never get another chance.¡± Then she pulled Alex away. He didn¡¯t spare me another nce. I stood there watching their intimate silhouettes disappear, my heart sinking into ice water. It¡¯s okay, Grace. I told myself. You¡¯re not the same person anymore. [turned around and called the old woman. Latest content published on FindN0vel ¡®Ma¡¯am, does your offer still stand?¡± Let¡¯s open OUR OWN gallery.¡± Face Blind 7 The old woman admired my courage and used her connections to secure a prime location in the city center. Gallery opening day was a massive sess. Pretty much every big name in Mn¡¯s art scene showed up. I wore a forest green velvet gown I¡¯d designed myself, standing under the spotlights epting congrattions from everyone. Then I spotted Alex and Maya in the crowd. For the first time ever, Alex¡¯s gaze lingered on me for more than three seconds. But still-he didn¡¯t recognize me. Maya looked pissed. She probably never expected the ¡°stray dog¡± she¡¯d stepped on tond on her feet in Mn¡¯s art world. he walked over with a champagne flute, voice low: ¡°Grace, you really don¡¯t know when to quit.¡± You think this will make Alex notice you? Dream on.¡± He¡¯s only here to support me.¡± ight on cue, Alex headed our way. e walked past me straight to Maya. ¡°Congrattions, Maya.¡± he immediately put on her sweet act. ¡°Thanks, Alex.¡± Il eyes turned to them eporter torres dating?¡± buy that gallery to promote Miss Torres¡¯s career?¡± answer, just looked at Maya with eyes so tender they could melt ice. silence said everything. hat¡¯s when uniformed cops suddenly stormed in. hey walked straight to me and shed an arrest warrant. Grace Carter, you¡¯re under arrest for corporate espionage-stealing client data and exhibition ns from Carter Industries¡¯ gallery subsidiary. You eed toe with us.¡± My head buzzed. Not again. Another bullshit charge. Maya covered her mouth in fake shock. ¡°Oh my God, Grace, how could you do something like this?¡± She turned to Alex with instant tears. ¡°Alex, I knew she wouldn¡¯t let this go. She¡¯s trying to get back at us!¡± Alex¡¯s face went dark as thunder. He walked up to me step by step, eyes like poisoned daggers. ¡°This is what you¡¯ve been hiding for? You¡¯re that jealous? Had to prove you¡¯re better than Maya?¡± ¡°This is so immature. You tricked me into divorce when you could¡¯ve had anything as Mrs. Carter.¡± ¡°Grace, I gave you a chance.¡± ¡®You chose to humiliate yourself.¡± He raised his hand. The cops immediately moved in, cold handcuffs clicking around my wrists. stared at him, feelingpletely empty inside. Alex, you¡¯re going to regret this.¡± Heughed like he¡¯d heard the world¡¯s best joke. Regret? My biggest regret was marrying you in the first ce!¡± he cops pushed me toward the exit while Maya¡¯s triumphantughter and the guests¡¯ disgusted whispers followed behind. espair nearly drowned me. Get full chapters from F¦Énd£Îovel 1st as I was about to be shoved into the police car, a voice rang out-old but powerful. Stop right there!¡± he crowd parted. The silver-haired woman walked through, leaning on her cane with an old butler supporting her. ehind her was a man in an old police uniform, gray-haired and weathered. he old cop¡¯s eyes swept the crowd and locked onto my face. His cloudy eyes suddenly zed with recognition. Found her! That¡¯s her!¡± le rushed forward excitedly, pointing at me, then turning to Alex. Mr. Carter, do you remember me? Twenty years ago, I¡¯m the one who rescued you from those traffickers.¡± lex frowned-clearly had no memory of this random old man. ut the cop didn¡¯t care. He carefully pulled a yellowed document from his briefcase. This is the incident report from back then. It clearly states that the person who called for help was another little girl who¡¯d been kidnapped with you.¡± le unfolded the report and held it in front of Alex. The report says when that girl escaped, she was wearing a torn white dress and had a rose-shaped red birthmark on her wrist.¡± Alex¡¯s body went rigid. His eyes locked onto my left arm where the handcuffs had pushed up my sleeve. There, bright as blood, was a rose-shaped birthmark. Face Blind 8 The entire ballroom went dead silent. Every eye in the room focused on that tiny birthmark on my arm. Alex¡¯s face drained of color inch by inch. He stood frozen like he¡¯d been struck by lightning, lips moving soundlessly. Those eyes that had looked through me countless times now zed with shock, disbelief, and crushing regret. No¡­ that¡¯s impossible¡­¡± He muttered to himself, trying to make sense of it all. Maya looked even worse. She lunged forward and snatched the report. It¡¯s fake! This has to be fake!¡± she screamed hysterically. ¡°You¡¯re all cons that Grace hired!¡± he old cop frowned. ¡°Miss, forging official documents is a felony. This report came straight from police archives-that¡¯s my signature and fingerprint hen he pulled out a photo. Faded, but still clear enough. 1 it, young Alexy unconscious in a police officer¡¯s arms. eside him, a tiny, fragile girl clutched another cop¡¯s sleeve, desperately pointing toward the mountains. he wore a torn white dress, face covered in mud, and on her arm-a rose-shaped birthmark, clear as day. My partner took this photo back then.¡± The old cop sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, the Carter family showed up and rushed Mr. Carter away before we could et this girl¡¯s name.¡± I¡¯ve carried this case with me all these years, hoping to find her someday and say thank you.¡± Never thought I¡¯d run into her here.¡± he truth hit like lightning, shattering the world of lies and delusions Alex had built over twenty years. le staggered backward, eyes moving from the photo to the report, finallynding on my face. he face he¡¯d looked at for three years but never remembered. It was you¡­¡± fis voice shook uncontrobly. It was you all along.¡± stared at him coldly, watching the pathetic pain on his face. ¡®Now you recognize me?¡± Alex¡¯s eyes immediately filled with tears. He reached out like he wanted to touch me, then jerked his hand back like he¡¯d been burned. ¡°Grace, I-¡± CRACK! A sharp p echoed through the hall. The silver haired woman had stepped forward and used every ounce of her strength to p Maya across the face. ¡°You shameless fraud!¡± The old woman shook with rage. ¡°You stole her life and now you want to destroy her present!¡± Maya hit the ground hard, hair falling loose,pletely disheveled. She clutched her face, finally dropping the act as she screamed at Alex: ¡°Alex! You have to believe me! I was there with you! We made promises!¡± But Alex acted like he couldn¡¯t hear her. He just stared at me withser focus. Everything came flooding back. The Intlook what hest wild berries in that dark cave. ¡®t die, I¡¯ll get help¡± when he was beaten nearly to death. ress who¡¯d pulled him out of hell itself. He¡¯d forgotten, all the faces he¡¯d confused-they crashed over him like a tidal wave. de finally understood that his face blindness wasn¡¯t a medical condition at all. His heart had gone blind. le¡¯d pushed away his salvation with his own hands. Over and over again. nd shoved her deeper into the abyss. AHHHHH!¡± lex let out a tortured roar and spun around, punching the wall beside him. lood dripped through his fingers. ut he felt nothing. For original chapters go to F¦ÉndNovel ecause no physical pain could match even a fraction of what was tearing through his heart. Face Blind 9 The police quickly uncovered the truth. The whole ¡°corporate espionage¡± thing was Maya¡¯s setup from start to finish. She¡¯d bribed employees inside Carter¡¯s gallery, faked evidence-all to destroy my reputation and make me disappear forever. Alex didn¡¯t press charges. He just made one phone call. The next day, Maya was permanently kicked out of the Vienna Orchestra. All her luxury endorsement deals? Gone overnight. very property, every car Alex had given her? Repossessed. he fell from the clouds straight into the mud. ut she wasn¡¯t done. She came looking for me. d just left the police station and was heading to celebrate the gallery¡¯s fresh start with the old woman. Grace, I was wrong! Please forgive me!¡± For old times¡¯ sake-we were locked up together as kids-talk to Alex! Make him stop!¡± pulled my legs free and looked down at her. You have the nerve to bring up our childhood?¡± Maya, you stole twenty years of my life. You think ¡®sorry¡¯ makes it even?¡± ler crying stopped. Something vicious shed across her face. So what if I stole it! Alex believed me all these years!¡± If that old bastard cop hadn¡¯t shown up, you¡¯d still be dirt under my feet!¡± Grace, don¡¯t get cocky! Even if he knows the truth now, he still loves this face. He¡¯s used to me!¡± Really?¡± This content belongs to find{n}ovel pulled out my phone and yed a recording. Her conversation with the gallery manager-how she¡¯d ordered the fake evidence, nned my arrest. Crystal clear. I handed the phone to a reporter who¡¯d just arrived. ¡°I think the public would be very interested in Miss Torres¡¯s true colors.¡± Maya¡¯s face wentpletely white. She was finished. Totally finished. Alex¡¯s revenge had only taken away her money and status. My revenge would nail her to the wall of shame forever. After dealing with Maya, Alex started hunting for me like a madman. He lifted all restrictions on me and stationed people outside my gallery 24/7. Gifts piled up like mountains-jewelry, limited edition art supplies, everything imaginable. I sent it all back untouched. Then he started showing up in person. That day, I¡¯d just seen off a client when I spotted Alex standing in the doorway. He¡¯d lost weight. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his expensive suit hung on his frame like he was falling apart. When he saw me, hope flickered in his eyes. ¡°Grace.¡± He stepped forward, voice hoarse. ¡®Can we¡­ can we talk?¡± walked around him, heading straight for the door. le panicked and grabbed my wrist. Grace, I¡¯m sorry. I know I screwed up. Just give me one more chance.¡± I was an asshole before, I was blind, I¡ª¡± Mr. Carter.¡± I cut him off, voice calm as discussing the weather. ¡°You already signed the divorce papers. We have no rtionship.¡± Those papers don¡¯t count!¡± He gripped my hand stubbornly. ¡°I didn¡¯t recognize you when I signed them! We can remarry-I¡¯ll arrange it right now!¡± stared at him, struck by how absurd and pathetic this was. Alex, did you forget?¡± You forgot how you told those French cops ¡®I don¡¯t know her.¡± Forgot how you pped me, had me beaten, threw me on that ne like garbage.¡± Forgot how you crushed that jade rose pendant and said you never wanted to see me again.¡± Each word was a knife stabbing straight into his heart. His face went whiter and whiter. He swayed on his feet, barely able to stand. ¡®I¡­¡± He squeezed his eyes shut in pain. ¡°I had that pendant repaired. I¡¯ll give it back to you. Please don¡¯t be angry anymore, okay?¡± ¡°Not okay.¡± I yanked my hand free. ¡°Alex, I don¡¯t love you anymore.¡± ¡°I remember every single thing you did to hurt me. And the tiny bit of kindness you showed me? I¡¯ve already paid that back.¡± ¡°We¡¯re even.¡± I turned and walked away without looking back. Behind me came his muffled sobs-like a trapped animal. Face Blind 10 I thought Alex would finally give up. But I underestimated his obsession. He started trying to win me back in the most clumsy ways. Gone were the dark suits-his closet was suddenly filled with white shirts. Read full story at Find¡ïNovel le said that was the color I wore when we were locked up together as kids. le fired all the staff from the mansion and learned to tend the garden himself. ecause I¡¯d once mentioned I loved roses. le even bought the building across from my gallery, sitting in his office every day, staring at me through the window like some lovesick fool. ut everything he did just looked like meaningless self-pity to me. Too little, toote. ly heart had diedpletely during those three years of disappointments and that final, cold exile. hat day, I was about to close up when Alex¡¯s assistant David suddenly appeared. e looked frantic. ¡°Grace, please-you have to see Mr. Carter.¡± He¡¯s locked himself in his study for three days. Won¡¯t eat, won¡¯t drink, won¡¯t answer the door.¡± continued packing up my supplies without expression. That¡¯s his problem. Has nothing to do with me.¡± race!¡± David was nearly in tears. ¡°He keeps staring at old photos of you two, and news articles about the kidnapping. He says he can¡¯t remember ow he lost you in the first ce.¡± He says he deserves to die.¡± ly hands paused for a moment. I the end, I followed David to the mansion where I¡¯d lived for three years. 1 he study door was locked tight. had David get the spare key and we went in. he room was trashed, broken liquor bottles everywhere. lexy copsed beside his desk, unconscious, burning with fever. ¡®hotos were scattered across the desktop. Pictures of me in white dresses, copying Maya¡¯s style. Articles about Maya that he¡¯d kept in his safe. And in the center, an old newspaper. The headline read: ¡°Police Break Major Trafficking Ring, Ten Children Rescued.¡± I got him to the hospital. The doctor said it was acute gastritis plus high fever-anyter and the consequences would¡¯ve been serious. He slept for a day and night. When he woke up and saw me, he looked like he was seeing a ghost. ¡®Grace?¡± He tried to sit up, but I pushed him back down. Don¡¯t move. You¡¯re still on IV.¡± Hey still obediently, but his eyes never left my face, like I might vanish any second. You¡­ you came to see me?¡± said nothing, just handed him the apple I¡¯d peeled. le took it like I¡¯d given him the world¡¯s greatest treasure and carefully took a bite. Grace,¡± he looked at me with reddening eyes, ¡°can we start over?¡± ¡®ll give you all my shares in Carter Industries. I¡¯ll give you my life. Juste back.¡± pulled out a tissue and wiped my hands. Alex, I didn¡¯t save you because I still love you.¡± did it because twenty years ago, you risked everything to save me.¡± Now we¡¯re truly even.¡± stood up to leave. It he suddenly ripped out his IV and jumped off the bed, wrapping his arms around me from behind. ot tears fell on my neck. Don¡¯t go, Grace. Please. Don¡¯t leave me.¡± e cried like a child, with no dignity left,pletely broken. know I screwed up. I¡¯m an asshole, I¡¯m scum! Hit me, curse me, whatever-just don¡¯t leave me.¡± can¡¯t live without you.¡± stood rigid in his embrace. aside, my heart was still as death, unable to feel even a ripple, Alex,¡± I said quietly, ¡°it¡¯s toote,¡± Face Blind 11 After that, Alex became apletely different person. No longer the high-and-mighty CEO of Carter Industries-he turned into a shadow following me around. I ran my gallery, so he opened a coffee shop across the street, personally brewing coffee every day and having his assistant deliver it. I went to art exhibitions, and he¡¯d trail behind at a respectful distance like some devoted bodyguard. When my anti-trafficking organization opened a new shelter, I attended the ribbon cutting. He anonymously donated an astronomical sum. He tried every possible way to squeeze into my life. But I kept him locked out of my worldpletely. never touched his coffee, never acknowledged his stares, never reacted to anything he did. le was like air to me-totally invisible. yearter, my gallery gained international recognition. was invited to host a solo touring exhibition in Paris. pening night was spectacr-glittering gowns and packed crowds. stood on stage giving my speech, scanning the audience, when I spotted a familiar figure. lex stood in the most inconspicuous corner, wearing a faded white shirt, quietly watching me. lis gaze was focused and reverent, like a believer looking up at their god. hat look-it¡¯s what I¡¯d desperately wanted for three years. ut seeing it now only felt ironic. I the reception, he made his way through the crowd with a wine ss and approached me. Congrattions, Grace.¡± lis voice carried a barely detectable tremor. just nodded politely and turned to greet other guests. Grace.¡± He stopped me, I¡¯m having surgery next month,¡± froze. He managed a smile uglier than tears. ¡°The doctors say my hippocampus was damaged from childhood trauma-that¡¯s why I had memory distortions and cognitive issues.¡± ¡°The surgery¡¯s risky. I might¡­ forget everythingpletely.¡± ¡°So before I go under, I wanted to ask you one more time,¡± He looked at me with desperate, all-or-nothing madness in his eyes. ¡°Will you give me another chance?¡± ¡°If I forget you, just tell me who you are again. This time I promise-I¡¯ll remember you from the first nce and never lose you again.¡± Looking at him, I suddenly felt at peace. ¡°Alex, just forget.¡± ¡°Forget me, and set yourself free.¡± Content originallyes from find?novel I didn¡¯t give him a chance to respond and melted back into the crowd. That was thest time I saw him. Later I heard the surgery went well, but he¡¯d lost all his memories. He was no longer CEO-the Carter family business went to distant rtives. He lived alone in that rose-filled mansion like a ghost trapped in the past. Sometimes people would spot him wandering around the gallery district. Clutching a faded old photograph, asking everyone he met. ¡°Excuse me, have you seen this girl?¡± The photo showed a girl in a white dress with a rose-shaped birthmark on her arm. And I was already on the other side of the world, starting my new life. My galleries opened worldwide. My name became a powerhouse in the art world. I also met someone wonderful. He was a photographer who¡¯d take my hand and explore every corner of the globe with me. He remembered every version of meughing, crying, with makeup, without. Every morning he¡¯d say: ¡°Good morning, my artist.¡± On proposal day, he got down on one knee with something that wasn¡¯t a diamond ring-it was a thick photo album. Every page was me. Grace,¡± his eyes sparkled with joy, ¡°I want to spend my life capturing every part of you.¡± I cried happy tears. True love doesn¡¯t make you cut off pieces of yourself to fit someone else¡¯s mold. It¡¯s someone who can see through crowds, past all disguises, and recognize the one and only you. As for Alex- Let that little girl in the white dress live forever in his memories. And me? I¡¯m already wearing my favorite colors, walking toward my own thousand brilliant suns. Face Blind 12 When William was confirmed as the long-lost Winchester heir, the convoy of luxury cars stretched clear down Maple Lane, blocking traffic for miles. The moment the family butler came to collect him, William didn¡¯t even blink, as if he had already expected this moment. But when it came to deciding who¡¯d make the trip back to Manhattan, he took our son Henry¡¯s hand and shot me this apologetic look. ¡°I¡¯ll take Henry back first, thene get youter.¡± ¡°As for Emma¡­ well, Grandmother¡¯s quite taken with her, so I thought-¡± He trailed off mid-sentence, waiting for me to fill the silence. But I already knew Emma Green was sitting pretty in the back seat of that lead Rolls-Royce. Seven years of marriage, and William never missed a chance to remind me how I just didn¡¯t understand his astronomy journals or his precious poetry collections. season¡¯s best asparagus tips or my famous roasted chicken with herbs from our garden, he¡¯d grudgingly look up from ng, muttering about how the screen door still needed fixing and Henry¡¯s muddy boots were tracking dirt everywhere. the good little farm wife. But here¡¯s what he didn¡¯t know-I wasn¡¯t some backwoods illiterate. those letters he wrote, all that ¡°my dearest¡± and ¡°forever yours¡± nonsense. Only the name at the top wasn¡¯t mine. It was Emma. o upon hearing his words, I just shrugged and grabbed my foraging basket. Your call who rides back to the city with you.¡± I¡¯m gonna go mushroom picking. We¡¯ll talk about the restter.¡± When little Tommy from down thene came bouncing up to our farmhouse with the news, William was teaching our son Henry his penmanship at he kitchen table. Jerry¡¯s pen stuttered, leaving a dark blot on the paper. Villiam stayed focused, his voice steady. Henry, what did I tell you? Writing is about discipline. You need to keep your mind calm,¡± knew what came next-William would reunite with his family and head straight back to Manhattan. After the Winchester people left, William looked exactly the same as always. Cool as a cucumber. The golden boy they¡¯d been grooming all these years-even without his memories, even after being trapped in this tiny Vermont town for so many years, that refined upbringing and natural grace bred into his very bones hadn¡¯t diminished one bit. And me? I was even calmer than he was. I went about my usual routine, heading up to the woods to forage for morels. Mrs. Patterson from the next farm over spotted me on the trail and couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°Lucy, honey, you¡¯re about to live the high life in the city with that husband of yours, and you¡¯re still out here hunting mushrooms?¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find(?)ovel That day, William told his family he needed time to pack up, asked them toe back tomorrow to collect him. Said he¡¯d be bringing two people back with him. Everyone in town was going on about how I¡¯d hit the damn jackpot. Theypletely forgot that when William first washed up here-he couldn¡¯t remember his own name, couldn¡¯t tell a pitchfork from a garden hoe-I was the only one who took him in, nursed him back to health like he was some lost kid. In a small vige like this, him living under my roof trashed my reputation, so he married me to make it right. Just invited a few neighbors over, served some baptism cake, and called it a wedding. After we tied the knot, we were actually pretty happy. Back then, he was mine and mine alone. At this time, he was going to leave, and obviously he should take me and Henry with him. But I knew better. ast time around, William did take two people back to the Winchester estate. ast not me. hinking about it, I just smiled at Mrs. Patterson. ¡°This season¡¯s morels are especially good.¡± he money from selling premium mushrooms would be enough to get me out of here and start fresh somewhere new. Face Blind 13 When I got back, Emma was teaching Henry his SAT vocabry words. She said, ¡°You really need to focus on this, sweetie. Kids your age in Manhattan are already bilingual and prepping for prep school.¡± Henry was hanging on every word. Emma smiled and ruffled his hair. ¡°Henry¡¯s so bright, not like-¡± Henry threw his arms around Emma¡¯s waist. ¡°Thank God you¡¯re helping me, Aunt Emma. If I talked like Mom-all country and stuff-I¡¯d be totally embarrassed when we moved back.¡± William had been reading his astronomy journal, but at that, he nced up. Then he actually smiled. This warm, approving smile. What a picture-perfect little family moment. I¡¯d watched this exact scene y out before, in another lifetime. Emma was from our town originally too. Her dad was a drunk who beat the hell out of her mom until she died. Then some rtives from Boston swooped in and took Emma to the city for a ancy education. For some reason, she came back to our little corner of Vermont. At first, I was grateful to her. Henry had fallen through the ice on Miller¡¯s Pond one winter, and Emma pulled him out. but after that, things started getting weird. She starteding around the house, and that¡¯s when she saw William. He was sitting at our kitchen table, back straight as a soldier, one hand behind him, the other moving across the page in those elegant strokes of his. Those long, clean fingers dancing across the paper. She sidled right up to him. ¡°William, you¡¯re such an intellectual. Lucy¡¯s really lucky.¡± All those astronomy journals William read, the poetry collections-I never understood any of it. He and I mostly talked about practical stuff. Summer bugs. Winter heating bills. But Emma¡¯sment? The little dig at me buried in there? Yeah, I caught that loud and clear. I just stood there feeling like an idiot. After that, Emma was at our house every other day, begging William to take a teaching job at the local school. After that, she was always calling William in that sugary sweet voice of hers. Whenever I¡¯d bring lunch to the school, there was Emma, sitting right next to William. He¡¯d carefullydle the chicken soup I¡¯d been simmering since dawn into Emma¡¯s bowl first. Henry would giggle and bounce in his seat. ¡°Mom, Miss Green loves your cooking the best!¡± Right. I¡¯d been getting up at 5 AM to forage for morels, trading them with neighbors for fresh chickens. I¡¯d spent months clearing that back field by hand, picking the most tender greens. Never took a bite for myself-and now they were using all my hard work to butter up another woman. In my past life, I actually said thisint. Right there in front of everyone. William¡¯s jaw tightened, his lips pressed into this thin line, and he gave Emma this apologetic little bow. This update is avable on Find~Novel ¡°Miss Green, I¡¯m sorry. My wife¡¯s being¡­ inappropriate.¡± Like I¡¯dmitted some unforgivable sin. Henry was more direct: ¡°If you won¡¯t share with Miss Green, then I¡¯m not eating either.¡± Emma acted like she owned the ce, pulling Henry against her side. ¡®Henry, what have I taught you about speaking to your mother that way?¡± Henry¡¯s bottom lip trembled as he looked up at Emma. ¡°Sorry, Miss Green.¡± mma held Henry close, meeting my eyes without an ounce of shame. it that moment, my son, my husband-they made me feel like aplete outsider in my own life. I was devastating. mma was all soft curves and porcin skin. leanwhile, I was out there every day foraging in the woods, working the fields, rough around the edges from years of hard living. fter Henry was born, my body never quite bounced back to that girlish figure. he three of them together-they really did look like the perfect family. 1st like in my past life, when Emma went back to Manhattan with them, nobody ever questioned whether she was Henry¡¯s real mother. t first Henry called her ¡°Emma,¡± but she¡¯d smile and say, ¡°How about Aunt Emma instead?¡± was onlyter that I understood her little scheme. Face Blind 14 When William saw mee through the door with my foraging basket, he actually took a step back. Probably the smell of dirt on me hit his nose again. But when he spotted the basket full of premium morels, his face finally showed some guilt. ¡®Why are you still doing this kind of¡­ manualbor?¡± We have money now.¡± He said thatst part so quietly I almost missed it. n my past life, after he left, I¡¯d get these monthly checks. ust enough to scrape by in this tiny town. ut never enough to actually leave, to start over somewhere new. didn¡¯t bother exining. Just said, ¡°I was bored. Old habits.¡± hen I picked up my sewing kit and started working on avender sachet. he mosquito repellent onlysts about a week before it loses its punch. enry¡¯s legs were already covered in red welts from the bites. or some reason, I didn¡¯t feel that same heartache I had in my past life. enry saw me sewing and wrinkled his nose. Mom, there won¡¯t be any bugs in the city. You don¡¯t need to make that stuff for us.¡± ight. The Winchester family never wanted anything I had to offer anyway. my past life, when that ck Town Car pulled away, I was sobbing, shoving all these homemade gifts into Henry¡¯s arms. hey dumped everything on the side of the road before they even hit the county line. [rs. Patterson from the general store recognized my stitching and brought it all back to me, giving me this look that was half pity, half ¡°I told you so.¡± just assumed it was Old Mrs. Winchester¡¯s idea. ut then I scraped together enough money for a cell phone, thinking we could stay in touch. very video call, Henry couldn¡¯t wait to get rid of me. My polo lesson¡¯s starting.¡± Aunt Emma¡¯s calling me,¡± saved every penny, took three buses, and showed up at his prep school unannounced. He saw meing but ran straight to the car like I was some kind of stalker. Terrified I¡¯d call out his name in front of his fancy friends. Watching him sprint away from me, it finally clicked. It wasn¡¯t that thevender sachets had lost their scent-it was that their hearts had gone cold. I never tried to see him again. Not until he turned eighteen. By then I was dying-literally. The doctors said I had maybe months left. I called William, and after this long silence, he just said, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for a hospital.¡± For more chapters visit Find1Novel But I didn¡¯t want treatment. I wanted to see my son onest time. So I put on my best dress, spent myst few dors getting my hair done, and crashed his debutante ball. ¡°Henry, don¡¯t you remember your mother?¡± But he was clinging to Emma¡¯s arm, looking at me with pure disgust. ¡°Who are you? Why are you trying to ruin my family?¡± William just stood there. Said nothing. The calcting ruthlessness and cold-hearted cruelty that defined wealthy elite families were on full disy with them. I was like some diseased rat that had crawled into their glittering world. They chased me out to the street corner, where a delivery truck put me out of my misery. Lying there on the asphalt, staring up at the sky, tears streaming down my face. Life had been so damn cruel to me. But then I opened my eyes, and I was back. Right here, on the day the Winchester family came calling. This time, I¡¯m not going to be that pathetic, heartbroken fool. Not again. Face Blind 15 So I didn¡¯t do what I did in my past life-nagging them, insisting on makingvender sachets and herbal pillows for everyone. Instead, I just said casually, ¡°I know you don¡¯t want them. These are for little Anne.¡± Henry looked totally confused. Sure, I¡¯d been strict with him sometimes, but I¡¯d always spoiled him rotten. Usually I¡¯d give him first dibs on everything good. He pouted. ¡°Anne¡¯s not even a good kid. She¡¯s totally disrespectful to teachers! Why would you make stuff for her?¡± Anne was one of the few kids in town who wasn¡¯t obsessed with Emma. Which meant she got the cold shoulder treatment at school. teally, she¡¯d never done anything to disrespect Emma. he just liked me better. he always said I smelled nice. ike flowers and sunshine. eah, there was a time when William would bury his face in my neck and say I had this amazing ¡°life force¡± about me. ut in the end, he chose Emma and her department store perfume instead. few days ago, I noticed Anne¡¯s pale little arms were covered in mosquito bites, so I promised to make her some bug repellent sachets. That my husband and son didn¡¯t want, someone else would appreciate. kept my stitching steady, not looking up. ¡°I¡¯ll make them for whoever I want.¡± enry got pissy. ¡°You¡¯re being mean! I¡¯m gonna go find Aunt Emma! She¡¯s taking me to that fancy restaurant in town to teach me proper table is eyes lit up with spite. Mommy, you¡¯ve never even eaten at a real restaurant, have you?¡± didn¡¯t even lift my head. Nope, never have. Go ahead.¡± le was like a boxer throwing punches at air, totally baffled about what had changed. n my past life, I was always jealous of Emma, trying to tag along whenever she took Henry anywhere, When I was giving birth to Henry, nearly dying in the process, I grabbed William¡¯s hand and gasped, ¡°Save¡­ save the baby.¡± For years after that, I thought my child mattered more than my husband. Turns out Henry was the one who delivered the final blow. After Henry stomped off, throwing looks back over his shoulder, William came over to me. ¡°Lucy, are you mad at me?¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve got issues with me, take it up with me. Leave the kid out of it.¡± ¡°We¡¯re leaving first thing tomorrow. Let¡¯s not make this ugly for everyone.¡± Ugly for everyone? I felt a bit dazed. After they left in my past life, I never had another happy day. And now he had the balls to tell me not to ¡°make this ugly.¡± That day, just like in my past life, William¡¯s mother dragged herself here despite her failing health, desperate to see her long-lost son. But the second sheid eyes on me standing next to him, pure revulsion twisted her face. Read full story at f?ndnovel She let out this piercing scream. ¡®Monster! Monster! Get away from him!¡± froze. knew I wasn¡¯t some beauty queen, knew the Winchester family probably thought I wasn¡¯t good enough, but I never expected this level of hostility. he family members sighed and looked at William apologetically. ¡°Ever since you disappeared, her mind¡­ she hasn¡¯t been right.¡± Villiam might not have recovered his memories yet, but blood calls to blood. His face crumpled with grief. ut here¡¯s the kicker-she absolutely adored Emma. he pulled Emma close, all warmth and affection. Darling, you came back to us.¡± Face Blind 16 It was onlyter that I found out Emma looked exactly like William¡¯s mother¡¯s daughter-the little girl who died in that car ident. That¡¯s why William was so determined to bring Emma back with them. And since we never actually got legally married-just had that little ceremony -Emma was able to marry William without anyplications. At that moment, my emotions were all over the ce. Some people really do have all the luck. But why the hell did I have to be the one eating all the shit? My parents died young too, but at least they left me somend. ven when I worked that soil till my hands bled, nothing valuable ever grew. had to forage for mushrooms, take in sewing-scraping by just to keep the lights on. fter I took William in, my expenses doubled overnight. it first he waspletely useless, so I had to give up half my vegetable garden to grow medicinal herbs, anything to bring in extra cash. he sun and wind aged me day by day. eople forgot that I used to be the prettiest girl in three counties. Vay prettier than Emma. ut when I saw Emma again yearster, I felt like trash next to her. he had this trendyyered cut, designer clothes, moved like she was born into money-like she was William¡¯s perfect match. he knew I¡¯d shown up at Henry¡¯s school, so she made a special trip to see me. he way she looked at me-pure condescension. If people knew Henry had a mother like you, they¡¯dugh at him.¡± William only married you because he had no choice. He was trapped by circumstances.¡± You should know your ce and get out of a world that was never meant for you.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by Find?Novel Henry¡¯s attitude backed up every word she said. remembered how William looked when he proposed-yeah, there was no joy in his eyes. And when he named our son Henry. He said, ¡°This ce is so backward. I want Henry to be free, like he¡¯s exploring the vast universe.¡± I wondered what the point had been-ruining my reputation to save William, nearly dying to give birth to Henry. Was it all just so they could stomp on me over and over again? After that conversation, I never contacted them again. They seemed to forget I existedpletely. Until I was dying. But even then, it would have been better if we¡¯d never met again. I wasted all my love and stupidity in that past life. This time around, I want to live for myself. Since I was just a footnote in William¡¯s story. He could only be a footnote in mine as well. Face Blind 17 The day they were leaving, William made me a little grasshopper out of dried grass. Back when things were still good between us, whenever I got mad, he¡¯d make these to cheer me up. I used to treasure them, kept a whole box full. But this time, I didn¡¯t reach for it. William gave this casualugh. ¡°We¡¯re leaving today, and you¡¯re still giving me the silent treatment?¡± I used to fight with him about Emma all the time. He¡¯d be deep in conversation with her, and when I asked what they were talking about, he¡¯d always say, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± ¡®d get defensive. ¡°I don¡¯t understand because you won¡¯t teach me!¡± But William wouldn¡¯t bother. I do enough teaching at school. Do I have to work when Ie home too?¡± o I saved every penny to buy the books they discussed. roust¡¯s In Search of Lost Time. fell asleep after three pages. couldn¡¯t figure out how they enjoyed reading that stuff. Villiam wouldugh and ruffle my hair, hand me a grass grasshopper. ¡°Here, go y.¡± ike I was some kid. thought that was love. earster, I realized he really didn¡¯t love me. o he wouldn¡¯t waste his energy. grasshopper takes one minute to weave. Teaching me to read a book would take days. lutter, when I was alone, I read tons of books and discovered it really wasn¡¯t that hard. o this time around, I¡¯m not going to treasure his stupid grasshoppers. Whatever I want to learn, I¡¯ll teach myself. When I still didn¡¯t take it, William looked surprised. In the silence, a car horn honked outside. The Winchester family had arrived. William sighed. ¡°Bring them over.¡± I blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°The sachets.¡± William said. ¡°The pillows are too bulky to pack, but we can take a couple of sachets.¡± ¡°I know you made extras. Little Anne can¡¯t possibly use them all.¡± It hit me then. He thought I was just being stubborn. I actuallyughed and shook my head. ¡°There aren¡¯t any left. Not a single one.¡± ¡°I sold all the extras.¡± My needlework was really, really good. My mom¡¯s family had famous embroiderers going back generations, and she taught me everything before she died. My sachets were actually in high demand. t¡¯s just that between the farm work, I never had time to make them. The few I did manage to finish all went to my husband and son. William was still staring at me, clearly not believing a word. Intil Henry came bouncing in with Emma. Dad, let¡¯s go already!¡± imma pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat. Look at you, so excited you¡¯re all sweaty.¡± Villiam scooped Henry up. Say goodbye to Mom.¡± Henry was still pouting, wouldn¡¯t even look at me. stared at that handkerchief and suddenly spoke up, ¡®Give it back.¡± Emma blinked. ¡®What?¡± ¡°The handkerchief I embroidered. Give it back.¡± Emma¡¯s smile turned nasty. ¡°This would just embarrass us in the city anyway. If Lucy¡¯s so attached to it, fine.¡± When she saved Henry, I didn¡¯t have anything nice to give her as a thank you gift, so I embroidered this handkerchief. Double-sided embroidery. The butterfly on it was so lifelike everyone said it looked ready to fly away. The wings shimmered when the light hit them. I sold a precious old ginseng root I¡¯d been saving and bought the finest silk thread. Henry¡¯s face twisted with disgust. I¡¯d seen that expression so many times, in this life and thest. I knew he was ashamed of me. He and his father were always so generous-today they were too embarrassed to ask for a borrowed item back. Henry would treat his friends to candy, William would pay tuition for students who couldn¡¯t afford it. The rightful source is fin?novel Only me, counting every penny, haggling over every transaction. I¡¯d turn red arguing with vendors over an extra dime for an egg. Emma was different. She was all soft voices and sweet smiles, never raised her voice to anyone. he could spend her whole paycheck spoiling Henry, buying him things I¡¯d never buy. Over time, Henry naturally grew closer to her. And when I got short with Emma, William started taking her side. Henry had a sensitive stomach-I wouldn¡¯t let him have popsicles. ¡®mma would sneak them to him. ure enough, he¡¯d get diarrhea so bad he nearly got dehydrated. mma would cry these guilty tears. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± ust as I was about to lose it, William would say, ¡°Emma meant well.¡± Don¡¯t me her.¡± ooking at it that way, they really were cut from the same cloth. All my penny-pinching didn¡¯t mean shit. William was born rich-so he didn¡¯t need to worry about money. No wonder he didn¡¯t want to take me along. Face Blind 18 When they got outside, William suddenly noticed all the chickens and ducks were gone from the yard. ¡°Where are all the chickens and ducks? You used to baby those things.¡± Of course I babied them. The eggs brought in cash, let us buy actual meat for dinner. But William hated them. His fancy ass sensibilities couldn¡¯t handle the smell of bird shit. He preferred Emma¡¯s setup. Flower gardens. A grape arbor. Somewhere you could sit and sip tea in the summer shade. Maybe even make your own wine from the grapes. That¡¯s where they¡¯d hang out when they had free time. I shrugged. ¡°Sold them.¡± Since I was leaving, I had to tie up loose ends. Nobody in this town gave a damn about me anyway. No point sticking around. Last time I stayed put because I thought they mighte looking for me. Now I knew better. They wouldn¡¯t look, and they wouldn¡¯t care. William let out this weirdugh, all sarcastic and bitter. Right.¡± With all that money I gave you, you don¡¯t need to raise livestock anymore.¡± A hundred grand should be enough to buy a ce in town.¡± Henry kept pestering them to leave, so they finally got in the car. Henry still wouldn¡¯t say goodbye to me. Guess there really wasn¡¯t much to say. We probably wouldn¡¯t see each other again in this lifetime. William pressed a cell phone into my hands. ¡°You can call us if you want.¡± Last time around, he didn¡¯t leave me jack shit. This time, since I was ying it cool, he was suddenly all considerate. But I wouldn¡¯t be calling. And I wouldn¡¯t be keeping that money either. From here on out, we¡¯d go our separate ways. Clean break, no looking back. This time around, I wasn¡¯t getting tangled up with them ever again. When the convoy disappeared around the mountain road, I grabbed my stuff and took onest look at the house. Lucy. Time to start over. William¡¯s first night back at the Winchester estate felt strangely familiar. Lying on the plush king size bed, he kept thinking about the rickety wooden frame and ckened mosquito back in Pine Hollow. And all those damn bugs. He¡¯d never slept well there. It got better after Lucy made those herbal mosquito repellent sachets. His room here had perfect climate control and this subtle, expensive fragrance in the air. The scent he used to love most. William figured he¡¯d sleep like a baby tonight. But he tossed and turned until dawn, couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Something was missing. What was it? hat herbal smell? Yeah, that was it. Made the fancy room fragrance seem cloying somehow. After basically pulling an all-nighter, William dragged himself downstairs looking like hell. The Winchester breakfast spread was ridiculous. Since they weren¡¯t sure what he and Henry liked, the kitchen had made both Western and Chinese options. fenry sat there poking at the fish on his te with his fork. William¡¯s father saw this and his voice went stern. ¡°Henry, eat properly.¡± Henry looked hurt, Mom always used to pick out the bones for him. Emma moved to help him. ¡°Stop.¡± The old man held up a hand. ¡°You¡¯re old enough to do it yourself.¡± Then he muttered under his breath, ¡°What do you expect from some country woman¡¯s parenting.¡± Emma put down her fork at thatment. Henry felt even more hurt. Back home, when Mom told Emma not to do something, she never listened anyway. 10.34 He could sense that Grandpa didn¡¯t really like him very much. And Emma was acting different too. He was starting to miss Mom. Kids are pretty straightforward, so as soon as breakfast was over, Henry told William exactly what was on his mind. William thought about it, then dialed Lucy¡¯s number. No answer. William forced a smile. ¡°Mom¡¯s probably busy with something. We¡¯ll try againter.¡± Find the newest release on ?ovelFind But Henry didn¡¯t get another chance to call. His schedule got packed solid. Old Mr. Winchester wasn¡¯t impressed with his eldest grandson¡¯s performance and figured the kid had a lot of catching up to do. y the end of the day, Henry was wiped out. lis whole body ached from posture corrections. fter his bath, lying in bed, he whined to his dad, ¡°Dad, my legs hurt. Can you rub them?¡± ut William¡¯s massage technique sucked. Should I get Emma?¡± he offered. enry shook his head. She doesn¡¯t know how either.¡± Only Mom knows how.¡± Villiam was stumped. enry¡¯s eyes lit up with an idea. ¡°Tell me a story then! Stories make the hurt go away.¡± When I had fevers, Mom would hold me and tell stories.¡± Villiam ruffled his hair. What do you want to hear?¡± Tell me about you and Mom.¡± lim and Lucy? Actually, it was pretty clich¨¦. Face Blind 19 He¡¯d been hiking back then, took a bad fall off a cliff. Lucy saved him, hired a car to drive him over a hundred miles back to Pine Hollow. His leg was busted, he couldn¡¯t remember who he was or where to go, so he followed Lucy home like a lost puppy. Lucy called him ¡°Bull¡±-kept bitching about the inconvenience while doing daily acupuncture sessions that fixed his leg. She was talented, could make wild greens taste like gourmet food. He was grateful. Thought Lucy was kind and good-hearted. Pretty too. Later he overheard people talking: ¡°Lucy keeping him around like that-who¡¯s gonna want to marry her now?¡± Talk about damaged goods!¡± And he¡¯s useless anyway, can¡¯t even carry a bucket of water.¡± ucy got pissed. ¡°He¡¯s been through hell and you¡¯re still running your mouths!¡± He¡¯s educated, speaks beautifully. I¡¯m happy to take care of him!¡± hat made William even angrier, so he impulsively proposed to Lucy. mmediately regretted it. le had this nagging feeling he¡¯d leave this ce eventually. ut seeing Lucy¡¯s face flush pink, suddenly he wasn¡¯t sorry anymore. le figured it was fine-when the time came, he¡¯d take Lucy with him. hen Lucy had Henry, and her slim figure and smooth skin were history. he got these obvious stretch marks across her belly. ucy wasn¡¯t the cute girl he¡¯d married anymore. he¡¯d scream her head off arguing with vendors over a few cents. he became just like every other rough woman in the vige. le started getting sick of Lucy. Then Emma burst into his world. Sometimes he couldn¡¯t help thinking it would¡¯ve been better if Emma had been the one to save him. He thought Lucy was terrible at raising kids too. She never cared about Henry¡¯s homework, only got strict when he caused trouble. Day-to-day, she spoiled him rotten. He knew Lucy couldn¡¯t raise a Winchester heir properly, couldn¡¯t be a proper Winchester wife. So he used his mother as an excuse and took the coward¡¯s way out-dumped Lucy and brought Emma instead. He thought Emma deserved to escape these mountains. This update is avable on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? But if Henry hadn¡¯t triggered these old memories, he would¡¯ve almost forgotten that Lucy used to be a pretty likeable girl. His expression grew determined. He told Henry. ¡°In a few days. We¡¯ll go see her in a few days.¡± But when they finally made time to go back, Lucy was nowhere to be found. The vigers said she¡¯d left the same day they did. They figured she¡¯d gone to look for them. The bank card and phone he¡¯d left her were still sitting under her pillow. It suddenly hit him-Lucy loved him and wanted nothing in return. Henry got anxious. ¡®Where¡¯s Mom? Why isn¡¯t she here?¡± William felt dazed. Thinking back to how Lucy had acted thosest few days, he felt weirdly panicked. He figured Lucy must be really pissed off. But he reassured Henry anyway. She¡¯s mad at us.¡± Don¡¯t worry though, she¡¯lle back in a few days.¡± When she does, you¡¯d better say something nice.¡± Henry nodded hard. ucy had run away from home once before. hat time he and Emma had been talking toote, identally fell asleep in the garden. ucy had aplete meltdown, crying and screaming. or the first time, he¡¯d reallyid into her, Making a scene like this-what will people think of Emma?¡± Lucy went dead still. That hurt her more than a p to the face. So she ran off and spent the night in the mountains. But it wasn¡¯t long before she came crawling back. All apologetic smiles, sucking up to him. ¡°I was wrong. I trust that nothing happened between you two.¡± She whispered, ¡°But you didn¡¯t even try tofort me. Didn¡¯t even look for me.¡± Heughed it off. ¡°You alwayse back on your own.¡± This time would be the same. He left his number with the neighbors-if Lucy came back, call him. But he waited and waited, and that call he was expecting never came. Face Blind 20 After leaving Pine Hollow, I wandered around for months before settling in this little fishing vige. I rented a tiny ce and started making embroidery pieces just for the hell of it. The fishing vige was way more open-minded than Pine Hollow. People actually liked my work-some even bought pieces to resell elsewhere. I was stoked. Then I started making my specialty sachets and herbal pillows. Those sold like hotcakes. For the first time in my life, I spent the money I earned on myself. Back when I went to the city, I heard these women saying, ¡°Honey, when you make money, you gotta treat yourself right.¡± so I bought expensive medicinal herbs to make skincare treatments. My dad had passed down this secret family recipe. ¡®d never been able to afford the ingredients before, never even thought about using them on myself. Day by day, my skin got softer and clearer. became my own walking advertisement. ll the vige women starteding to me. Lucy, you can¡¯t keep something this good to yourself!¡± We¡¯ll pay, we¡¯ll pay!¡± Vord spread fast. People from neighboring viges and even the county seat started showing up. Vith the money rolling in, I rented a bigger ce with a workshop and converted some rooms into a bed-and-breakfast. nted tons of flowers. When they bloomed, the whole ce looked like a rainbow. ife kept getting better, until one day this guy showed up. The guy in front of me wouldn¡¯t shut up about his offer. Izoned out a bit. His features looked just like William¡¯s. This was Chester Winchester-William¡¯s cousin. I turned him down t. I wanted zero connection to Winchester Industries ever again. But Chester wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. He just moved in. ¡°Come on, Lucy, throw me a bone here. If I don¡¯t close this deal, my dad¡¯s gonna cut off my credit cards.¡± He stayed for two weeks. Then the bastard started hitting on me. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on fin?novel I told him straight-faced, ¡°I¡¯m cursed to death-took out my husband and child. Haven¡¯t you heard?¡± That¡¯s what I¡¯d started telling people when the vigers tried setting me up on dates. Shut them right up. But Chester¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I¡¯m tougher than any curse!¡± I couldn¡¯t get rid of him, so I figured whatever-freebor. One day he was video chatting, stammering, ¡°Cuz, I, uh, still got some business to wrap up here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll head back once I¡¯m done.¡± [identally walked into frame. Dead silence from the other end. old, familiar voice. We been hard to find.¡± Face Blind 21 The next day, William showed up with Henry. Henry ran straight to me and threw his arms around me. ¡°Mom, we finally found you!¡± He¡¯d only ever been this affectionate with Emma before. William¡¯s expression stayed neutral, but he looked smug as hell. ¡°One whole year.¡± ¡®Lucy, I¡¯ve been looking for you for a year.¡± Are you done being mad?¡± No wonder they had trouble finding me. ¡®hey didn¡¯t even have a single photo of me. ne time on my birthday, I wanted to go to town for a family portrait. lot one of them was willing. gently pushed Henry¡¯s hands away. This text is hosted at find?novel You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± enry¡¯s eyes started welling up. Mom, don¡¯t you want me anymore?¡± Villiam looked pissed. He thinks about you every single day.¡± Sometimes he dreams about you and wakes up crying.¡± Lucy, he¡¯s your biological son. How can you be so heartless?¡± leartless? When it came to being heartless, how could Ipete with them? ast time around, the final time I saw them, they watched me run away humiliated. Didn¡¯t say a word in my defense. got a second chance at life to live for myself. Chester suddenly butted in. ¡®Wait, she¡¯s Lucy?¡± ¡®The Lucy you¡¯ve been looking for all year?¡± He blurted out, ¡°How¡¯s that possible? She told me her husband and kid got cursed to death.¡± William¡¯s face went dark. Once Chester figured out the whole story, he went into protective mode. ¡°So basically, you two just weren¡¯t meant to be?¡± He patted William¡¯s shoulder. ¡®Cuz, you can¡¯t force what¡¯s not in the cards.¡± William gave him an icy look. You don¡¯t want that Porsche anymore?¡± hester looked torn, but gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Cars can be reced anytime. Lose the woman and she¡¯s gone for good!¡± Villiam froze that hit way too close to home. le lost his shit. she¡¯s your cousin-inw!¡± hester stuck his chin out. Then why¡¯s she here all alone?¡± Enough!¡± inally stepped in to end this circus. All of you need to get the hell out.¡± nester obviously wasn¡¯t having it, but William dragged him away by force. xcept William left Henry behind. efore leaving, he said, ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯ming back.¡± fter he left, Henry and I just stared at each other. e seemed pretty happy though, chattering away about the past year. ow his sses were brutal-any little mistake meant getting his knuckles rapped. ow Emma ignored him, too busy sucking up to Old Mrs. Winchester. ow much, much he missed me. > he¡¯d been miserable. eep down, he was just as selfish asst time, 1 my past life, Henry was probably miserable too. ut William never thought to bring him along to find me. o he gradually adapted to Winchester family life. Actually, Emma made the smart choice. Old Mrs. Winchester held serious power. William felt endless guilt toward her, and his father absolutely adored his wife. That¡¯s how Emma climbed thedderst time. ying Mrs. Winchester perfectly, slowly winning over the Winchester men. Too bad this time around, my leaving had really gotten under William¡¯s skin, which changed everything. Henry was still my kid-I couldn¡¯t just kick him out. He said excitedly. ¡°I want Mom¡¯s red bean soup!¡± But I just ordered him takeout instead. His disappointment was written all over his face. said tly. ¡°Don¡¯t eat if you don¡¯t want to. Starve until your dades to get you.¡± le had no choice but to pick at his food sadly. wo dayster, William came back looking like he¡¯d been through hell. le seemed exhausted but weirdly excited. ¡°Lucy, I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Our family¡¯s gonna stay here for a while.¡± ust like old times.¡± Face Blind 22 I didn¡¯t let him move back in. Just pushed Henry toward him and shoved them both out the door. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re fully booked.¡± They waited outside for hours without leaving. Last time around, that¡¯s exactly what I did the day they left. I stood there forever, even after their car disappearedpletely, refusing to go inside. I was always the one waiting for them, begging them. Now they finally knew what it felt like to wait for someone who wasn¡¯ting. But William still wouldn¡¯t leave. He just found some random ce to rent nearby. held regr sses teaching people to make sachets. They¡¯d show up and crash my sessions. They worked so seriously on those sachets they used to think were beneath them. ometimes when I looked up, I¡¯d catch William staring at me like he was in a trance. knew why. looked beautiful making sachets in my silk dress. Otherwise Chester wouldn¡¯t have fallen for some older vige woman. hough his pursuit had ulterior motives too. ignored them both, treated them like random strangers. wo weekster, Emma showed up ready for war. Head-to-toe designer, just likest time. When she saw me, she froze for a moment before saying, ¡°Lucy, you¡¯ve changed so much.¡± Then with a hint of sarcasm: ¡°No wonder you¡¯ve got William so hooked he won¡¯t go home or handle business.¡± William happened to overhear that. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Emma put on her pitiful act. ¡°William, if you don¡¯te back, your mother¡¯s condition will get worse.¡± William¡¯s tone was t. ¡°You¡¯re there with her, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Just keep ying Sophia.¡± This past year hadpletely killed whatever feelings he¡¯d had for Emma. Emma¡¯s face went ugly. ying Sophia meant being William¡¯s sister. She could only be Sophia when Old Mrs. Winchester had episodes. If Old Mrs. Winchester got better, Emma would be aplete outsider. Only as William¡¯s wife and Henry¡¯s mother could she stay in the Winchester family forever. Going from luxury back to nothing-Emma couldn¡¯t handle that. She turned to me and took a step closer, eyes pleading. Her voice cracked with emotion. Lucy, please let William go.¡± ¡®He had this huge fight with his family over you.¡± When he couldn¡¯t bring you back, he said he wouldn¡¯te back either.¡± His father¡¯s blood pressure spiked from the stress.¡± His mother can¡¯t handle any shocks.¡± The kid¡¯s having meltdowns constantly.¡± almostughed. Vasn¡¯t I hiding far enough away? hey were the ones who tracked me down here, wouldn¡¯t leave no matter what I did. hey were the ones disrupting my peaceful, happy life. And somehow I was the one not letting him go. frowned at William. ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, I¡¯m selling my form to MorningSky.¡± William went dead still. MorningSky was Winchester Industries¡¯ biggestpetitor. Thepetition was so fierce it had hit a bottleneck, which is why Winchester was looking for new angles-that¡¯s how they ended up targeting raditional medicine skincare and tracking me down. William knew I was dead serious. These past few weeks had been enough to show him I felt absolutely nothing for him. Even Henry barely got any warmth from me-there was no way I¡¯d care about Winchester Industries¡¯ interests. William finally gave up. He looked like all the life had been drained out of him. For the first time in two lifetimes, his shoulders weren¡¯t perfectly straight. ¡°Do you really hate me that much?¡± I shook my head. I used to hate him. Last time around, when I was dying, I thought if I ever saw him again, I definitely wouldn¡¯t save him. Hell, not kicking him while he was down would be me honoring what we once had. But this past year, doing my own thing, bing this amazing version of myself-the hate just faded away. I barely even thought about them anymore. Because I didn¡¯t love him anymore. Hate isn¡¯t the opposite of love. Indifference is. Fresh chapters posted on Find_Novel(. Face Blind 23 William decided to leave. Henry clung to me sobbing, refusing to go. He probably couldn¡¯t understand why the mom who loved him most had suddenly stopped wanting him. Updates are released by find?novel I just couldn¡¯t let go of what happened in my past life. The scene of him not recognizing me, having security throw me out-it was burned into my brain. le cried until he could barely breathe. softened a little and gave him a hug. Go back with Dad.¡± You can visit during your school breaks.¡± ut he felt so insecure. What if Ie back and you¡¯re gone again?¡± held out my pinky for a pinky promise. won¡¯t be. Once we pinky promise, it can¡¯t change.¡± William looked at me. hank you.¡± hen he said, ¡°Lucy, I¡¯m not giving up.¡± fter William went back, he finally made up his mind to get rid of Emma. nma was stunned. What about your mother?¡± talked to the doctor. Her condition¡¯s gotten much better.¡± fer trauma stems from me. Now I¡¯ll be there for her.¡± mma cried like her heart was breaking, What am I supposed to do all alone?¡± Villiam¡¯s look was loaded with meaning. People shouldn¡¯t covet things that don¡¯t belong to them.¡± mma regretted everything. f she¡¯d known that bitch Lucy could transform into such a temptress and make William eat his words, she should¡¯ve gotten Mrs. Winchester to adopt er as a goddaughter earlier. Old Mr. Winchester had actually mentioned it once. But it was toote for regrets now. Back then, she¡¯d rather be Mrs. Winchester. William was dead set on this. Old Mr. Winchester didn¡¯t like Lucy-he wanted William to marry someone from their social circle, someone smart and capable. For the first time, William defied his grandfather. He staged a three-day hunger strike at the family estate, refusing to eat or drink until he copsed from exhaustion. The Winchester family couldn¡¯t bear to lose their best heir, the one they¡¯d gotten back against all odds, so they had to give in. When he woke up, Chester looked at him withplicated feelings. ¡°Will she¡­e back to the Winchester house with you?¡± William shook his head. ¡°Then you-¡± ¡®Is it worth it?¡± William¡¯s tone was t. You have to be prepared for anything.¡± This whole year, whenever he thought of Lucy, he only remembered the good things. Actually, before Henry was born, they¡¯d had some really good times. He¡¯d depended on Lucy. He really had loved Lucy. ?e kept drowning in those memories until he had to admit he¡¯d fallen in love with Lucy all over again. le didn¡¯t know if Lucy would ever forgive him. but he gotta try. Face Blind 24 I stayed in the little fishing vige. Whenever William had free time, he¡¯d bring Henry to see me. I stopped kicking them out, but I didn¡¯t offer them any hospitality either. I wondered if they loved me or just my glow up. My heart had died in my past life. It wouldn¡¯t warm up again. William learned to cook, trying to recreate the dishes I used to make for us. Henry stopped finding me annoying and started asking me tons of questions. Just like how he used to pester Emma. He said he saw me on TV, and all his ssmates said his mom was beautiful. His unguarded, seemingly innocent vanity always left me with mixed feelings. Couldn¡¯t help remembering how cruel he¡¯d been in my past life. Henry said Emma was gone, and I was the only one waiting to be the Winchester family matriarch. suddenly remembered my past life and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Do you really think I could be a good Winchester matriarch?¡± He smiled. Whatever you¡¯re like, that¡¯s what a Winchester matriarch should be like.¡± When he was being sweet, he could really sweep you off your feet. n my past life, I survived on those tiny moments of sweetness for years and years. Imma couldn¡¯t go back to mountain vige life after getting used to luxury. Word was she hooked up with some rich guy in his fifties. His wife stripped her naked in the street. Content originallyes from F¦ÉndNovel Then she moved on to someone else. And me? I kept living my life, maintaining this lukewarm rtionship with them. I never went back to the Winchester house. But I did sell my form to Winchester Industries-as a profit sharing deal. Money¡¯s money, right? Who doesn¡¯t want to make it? William never remarried. His house, his office-covered with my photos. Everyone knew I was his one and only wife. Henry called me all the time. When I was busy and missed his calls, he didn¡¯t dare get mad. Years passed, and before hising-of-age ceremony, they came to get me together. Henry seemed uncertain, carefully begging me, ¡°Mom, you haven¡¯te back all these years, and we¡¯ve respected that.¡± ¡°But this is my eighteenth birthday.¡± I hazily remembered my past life. For reasons I couldn¡¯t quite exin, I finally went back with them. Because of my presence, this party was even more extravagant thanst time. Everyone was falling over themselves to toast me, the rarely-seen Mrs. Winchester. Past life memories ovepped with this life, and I smiled faintly. ike I said-a woman¡¯s gotta live for herself. Face Blind 25 On my wedding day, my fianc¨¦ ditched me for my half-sister. Just like that, I became the city¡¯s biggest joke. When I hit rock bottom, my childhood friend Liam Crawford dropped to one knee with a diamond ring and poured his heart out to me. I thought I¡¯d finally caught a break. Fast forward three years. We¡¯re driving to my prenatal appointment when a car ms into us. And guess what? Liam¡¯s first instinct wasn¡¯t to shield me-his pregnant wife-but Zoey, who was riding with us. The crash was brutal. I lost the baby and learned I could never have children again. While I was falling apart, I overheard Liam talking to his doctor buddy in the hallway. ¡®Liam, you married Riley because of Zoey, sacrificing your own marriage.¡± And now, for Zoey¡¯s sake, you personally arranged to take one of Riley¡¯s kidneys to transnt into Zoey, sacrificing your own flesh and blood.¡± Is all this really worth it?¡± Have you considered how cruel and unfair this is to Riley?¡± fter a brief silence, Liam¡¯s restrained and suppressed voice came through: Zoey¡¯s greatest wish is to marry Hunter and have a healthy body.¡± As long as she¡¯s happy, everything I¡¯ve done is worth it.¡± I never intended to have children with Riley. Losing the baby might actually be for the best.¡± As for Riley¡­¡± If my kidney had beenpatible with Zoey¡¯s, I wouldn¡¯t have gone through all this trouble to marry her and stage this ident. I guess I¡¯ll spend the est of my life making it up to her.¡± My body froze, as if struck by lightning. jam¡¯s words hit me like a bucket of ice water, chilling me to the bone in an instant. o all this time, the happiness I thought I had for three years was nothing but a cruel joke. iam said he never intended to have children with me, but when he first learned I was pregnant, his face had lit up with the joy of bing a father, ears of excitement welling in his eyes. Throughout my pregnancy, Liam had been incredibly attentive, taking care of everything personally. We¡¯d spent countless nights cuddled together, dreaming about our future life as a family of three. When we lost the baby, Liam had seemed so heartbroken. He¡¯d appeared full of guilt and remorse about instinctively protecting Zoey instead of me. His exnation was that Zoey had been closest to him at that moment. Because everything happened so suddenly, he imed he didn¡¯t have time to think. But I had clearly been the one closest to him when it happened. During my hospital stay, except for my emergency surgery, Liam Crawford never left my side, personally taking care of my every need. So despite my lingering doubts, seeing Liam¡¯s increasingly exhausted face, I chose to believe him. After the ident, I noticed my body wasn¡¯t the same. I constantly felt weak and drained. Even simple tasks like climbing stairs or picking something up would leave mepletely exhausted. Discover more novels at find?novel I always thought it was because of my injuries and the miscarriage-that my body just hadn¡¯t fully recovered. Now I know the truth-it was because I was missing one of my kidneys. How pathetic that I was so touched by all the expensive supplements Liam bought me and his attentive care. Throughout our three-year marriage, Liam¡¯s gentleness and thoughtfulness made me fall deeper and deeper for him. Little did I know it was all an borate scheme he had carefully nned-all for the sake of his true love. During my hospital stay, Liam never left my side except during my emergency surgery, taking care of everything himself. o despite my doubts, seeing how exhausted Liam looked, I chose to believe him. After the ident, my body felt different. I was constantly weak and drained. ven climbing stairs or picking things up would leave mepletely wiped out. thought it was just from my injuries and the miscarriage-that I just needed more time to recover. low I know the truth-I was missing a kidney. nd I¡¯d been so touched by all the supplements Liam bought me and how he looked after me. ver our three-year marriage, Liam¡¯s kindness made me fall harder for him each day. ut it was all just a carefully nned scam-all for the sake of his true love. le managed to keep me away from Hunter permanently so I wouldn¡¯t mess up Zoey¡¯s happiness, while secretly taking my kidney. have to hand it to Liam-the man¡¯s a mastermind. don¡¯t even remember being matched as a donor with Zoey. When did that happen? My heart feels like it¡¯s been ripped open, a raw, bleeding wound. The pain is unbearable. Tears finally spill down my cheeks, dropping to the floor beneath me. stumble out of the hospital, barely keeping my bnce. Ignoring the stares from strangers passing by, I wander the streets like a ghost. Face Blind 26 Liam called me several times while I was out. I ignored every single one. Just thinking about his cold, heartless words made my chest ache like I¡¯d been stabbed. Only when I had no tears left and my body feltpletely drained did I finally hail a cab home. When I opened the door, Liam was on the phone with someone, his voice impossibly gentle: ¡®Hey, take it easy. You just had surgery-you need to rest.¡± My heart twisted painfully. The only person who could bring out that tenderness in Liam¡¯s voice was Zoey. The moment he saw me, he instinctively hung up. Th?s chapter is updated by find~novel sh of panic crossed his eyes, so quick I almost thought I imagined it. jam crossed the room in two quick strides and pulled me into his arms. Where have you been? Why didn¡¯t you answer my calls? Do you have any idea how worried I was?¡± lis voice trembled slightly, the concern in his eyes looking genuinely real. used to think Liam¡¯s embrace was the warmest ce in the world. ut now, being held so gently and carefully in his arms, I couldn¡¯t feel any warmth at all. casually stepped out of his embrace and pulled my phone from my purse, only to find the screenpletely ck. Battery¡¯s dead,¡± I said. forced the corners of my mouth up, putting on a smile that didn¡¯t quite fit my face. I was about to call the cops. Thought something happened to you,¡± Liam said, automatically grabbing my hand. ¡°Jesus, you¡¯re freezing!¡± hat¡¯s when he noticed how thinly I was dressed, no coat in sight. You already run cold, and you¡¯re out in this weather without a jacket?¡± Only then did I remember I¡¯d left my coat at the hospital. Oh. Forgot it,¡± I said with a half-hearted smile, Too bad Liam didn¡¯t notice how my smile never reached my eyes. Liam flicked my nose yfully, looking at me with that soft smile of his. ¡®You¡¯re such a space cadet sometimes.¡± I froze up. That cute little nose flick-he¡¯d done it a million times over our three years. Now it made my skin crawl. Fake. So damn fake. I stared him down, not even blinking. Chapter His face was all concern and sincerity. Not a single tell. Wow. The man deserved a freaking Oscar. ¡°Starving, right? Got your fave.¡± Liam emerged from the kitchen with a steaming bowl of pho-notro, of course, because he ¡°knew me so well.¡± That Vietnamese beef soup from the ce down the street-I used to inhale it. It still smelled amazing, but my stomach turned at the thought of eating. I guess everything looks different when your heart changes. 1 forced down a few bites, then walked back to the bedroom under Liam¡¯s puzzled gaze. After washing up, Iy down ready to sleep. Liam came in carrying a ss of milk. ¡°Drink this before bed,¡± he said, his voice as gentle as ever. I frowned slightly at the milk in front of me. ¡®Come on, drink up and then sleep,¡± Liam coaxed, like he was talking to a stubborn child. Liam might seem easygoing, but he could be incredibly stubborn about certain things. Like this nightly milk ritual. ¡®ve always had trouble sleeping, and warm milk supposedly helps. Every night for three years, without fail, Liam had brought me a ss of warm milk before bed. Face Blind 27 I¡¯d just lifted the ss to my lips when Liam¡¯s phone rang. When he heard the ringtone, Liam tried to y it cool, but his eyes betrayed his eagerness. ¡°I need to handle something. You go ahead and sleep.¡± For the first time ever, Liam didn¡¯t wait for me to finish my milk before hurrying out. Iughed bitterly to myself. Only Zoey could make Liam look that way. After he left, I set the ss down. A few minutester, I crept to his office door. hrough the crack, I saw Liam leaning back in his desk chair,pletely rxed and at ease. He was smiling at his phone screen, his eyes soft. Thank you for the gift. I love it,¡± came a sweet female voice from the phone. knew that voice all too well-it belonged to my half-sister, Zoey Parker. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F?ndNovel But aren¡¯t you worried she¡¯ll catch you video calling me every night?¡± Zoey asked, sounding concerned. iam¡¯s face showed nothing but confidence. She won¡¯t find out.¡± I put sleeping pills in her milk every night. I always wait until she¡¯s knocked out before I call you.¡± leeping pills? My eyes widened in shock as I stared at Liam through the crack in the door. My hands clenched involuntarily as pain squeezed my chest. o make sure he could video chat with Zoey without interruption, Liam had been drugging my milk every night. o it wasn¡¯t the warm milk helping me sleep-it was the sleeping pills. No wonder I¡¯d fall asleep so quickly after drinking the milk he brought me, and sleep straight through until morning. No wonder he always watched me finish every drop and took the ss away himself. Looking back now, all the signs were there. I have only myself to me for being so stupid. For thinking Liam was my salvation. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. You know I¡¯d hate to be the reason your marriage with my sister falls apart,¡± Zoey said, sounding relieved, though I could hear the poorly hidden glee and smugness in her voice. ¡°You need to rest-your body hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet,¡± Liam said in that gentle, coaxing tone. ¡°Fine,¡± Zoey replied, sounding reluctant. ¡°Good girl. I¡¯lle see you tomorrow.¡± Liam¡¯s lips curved into a smile, his face full of tender affection. He waited for Zoey to hang up first, staring at the screen until it went dark before finally putting his phone away with obvious reluctance. I slipped back to the bedroom before Liam could discover me. The next day, after Liam left for work, I went straight to Central Hospital. orough examination, they confirmed what I already knew-my left kidney was indeed missing. here, I headed to Sacred Heart Hospital where Liam worked. eliberately chose the time when he would be visiting Zoey, so there was no risk of running into him. At the hospital, I went directly to the medical records department and requested copies of all my files from my stay. lecause of Liam¡¯s position as a doctor, I¡¯d always trusted him unconditionally. Which is why I¡¯d never bothered to look at my own medical records before. long with my records, I also received a copy of an organ donation consent form. ly name was signed as the donor. nd the recipient? Zoey Parker. he date matched exactly with the day of our car ident. Face Blind 28 As I left the records department, I overheard a group of nurses gossiping as they walked by. The star of their juicy gossip? My dear husband. From their chatter, I learned that Liam had booked an entire VIP floor to ensure no one disturbed Zoey¡¯s recovery. This extravagant gesture didn¡¯t surprise me. Liam could certainly afford it. Beyond being a doctor, Liam was also the second son of the Crawford family, major shareholders of Sacred Heart Hospital. Everyone was marveling at Zoey¡¯s good fortune while specting about her rtionship with Liam. puite a few people at the hospital knew me. he moment they spotted me, their animated conversation died instantly. They all looked guilty and flustered, suddenly remembering urgent tasks hat required their immediate attention. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel o everyone but me knew Zoey was Liam¡¯s priority. Great. very ¡°emergency at work¡± excuse? He was with her. [ust¡¯ve been exhausting, ying the devoted husband to two women. o wonder he looked like death during my hospital stay-he was running between rooms. was heading for the exit when-speak of the devil. tried to walk past Zoey, but of course she couldn¡¯t let that happen. Well, well. Look who it is. Dear sis Riley,¡± Zoey chirped with that stic smile of hers. s she talked, the diamond ne at her throat caught the light. Blinding. ly stomach dropped. he day I left the hospital, Liam gave me a ring-¡°to celebrate your recovery, babe.¡± wore that thing 24/7, absolutely over the moon. [I wasn¡¯t mistaken, that ring was the free gift that came with the exact ne Zoey was unting right now. o Liam didn¡¯t buy a ring specially for me. He bought the ne for Zoey and gave me the worthless freebie. instinctively tucked my ringed hand into my sleeve. ¡®I don¡¯t have a sister. My mom only had me,¡± I¡¯d never bothered hiding my dislike for Zoey, The girl must have been born with skin like armor, because my cold attitude never seemed to faze her. Instead, she noticed my hand movement and smirked. ¡°Pretty ne, right, sis?¡± ¡°Little secret-Liam gave it to me.¡± She leaned in close, whispering in my ear before pulling back with a smug look. ¡°And?¡± I replied. My calm response wasn¡¯t the meltdown she¡¯d been hoping for. Zoey wasn¡¯t giving up. She pushed harder. ¡°You¡¯re so much tougher than me, sis. No wonder all those miscarriages didn¡¯t break you.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry-I forgot. You can¡¯t have children anymore at all.¡± Her eyes, full of fake sympathy, dropped to my stomach, but I caught the naked glee behind her concerned expression. ¡°Get out of my way,¡± I hissed, my whole body shaking. My lost babies were a wound that would never heal. Zoey might as well have poured salt directly into my heart. shouldered past her, heading straight for the exit. But her next words stopped me cold. Riley, aren¡¯t you curious why you miscarried every single pregnancy?¡± One or two miscarriages might be bad luck or idents, but every time? That¡¯s a pattern.¡± My heart lurched as the color drained from my face. he was right. My body had always been healthy, yet I could never keep a pregnancy. terrifying thought suddenly materialized in my mind. Face Blind 29 I shook my head frantically. Impossible. No matter what, those were Liam¡¯s own flesh and blood too. What exactly are you saying?¡± I whirled around to face Zoey¡¯s smug expression. Seeing my face, pale as paper, Zoey looked even more pleased with herself. You tell me.¡± You¡¯ve already guessed, haven¡¯t you?¡± That¡¯s right, exactly what you¡¯re thinking.¡± Liam promised me he would never have children with you.¡± So your babies were never meant to survive.¡± he moment my suspicions were confirmed, my heart felt like it was being crushed in someone¡¯s fist. The pain was so intense I could barely breathe. Liam truly didn¡¯t want children with me, he had plenty of options. stead, he let me get pregnant again and again, suffering the pain of miscarriage each time. his man, who took an oath to save lives as a doctor, deliberately harmed the babies in my womb. he realization that I¡¯d shared a bed with someone so cruel for three years sent a violent shiver through me. Cold sweat soaked my back. Liley, you¡¯re so pathetic. Just like your useless mother,¡± Zoey said, looking at me with contempt. my lost children were my eternal pain, then my mother was the thorn forever embedded in my heart. ack then, if Zoey¡¯s mother hadn¡¯t inserted herself into my parents¡¯ marriage, my mom wouldn¡¯t have developed depression and ultimately jumped tc er death. ow Zoey was deliberately twisting that thorn deeper. nyone else could mention my mother, but Zoey had absolutely no right. a that moment, I snapped. pped Zoey¡¯s smug face as hard as I could. he sound cracked through the air as her head jerked to the side. Joey stood there stunned, holding her cheek, staring at me in disbelief. After a long moment, she finally found her voice. ¡®Riley Parker, you actually hit me,¡± ¡®Damn right I did,¡± I replied, my voice cold as ice. Meeting my fierce re, Zoey visibly shrank back, angry but too intimidated to say more. Then suddenly, Zoeypletely changed her demeanor. Clutching her red, swelling cheek, she let tears stream down her face and asked in a wounded voice: ¡°Why would you hit me, Riley?¡± Her expression changed so fast it was like watching someone flip a switch. ¡°RILEY!¡± A furious voice thundered from behind me. Liam. I let out a coldugh. Of course. Liam rushed to Zoey, examining her cheek like she¡¯d been shot instead of pped, his eyes practically dripping with concern. Zoey cranked up the waterworks. ¡°Liam, don¡¯t me her. It¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have upset Riley,¡± she whimpered. ssic Zoey-ying the delicate victim just like her mother taught her. Sobbing prettily, looking so small and wounded. Liam¡¯s face hardened. When he looked at me, his eyes were razor des. Apologize. Now,¡± he ordered. lis voice hit like i pletely foreign to me. Like I was looking at a stranger wearing my husband¡¯s face. ells was the real Liam. The sweet, loving husband had been nothing but theater. and him, Zoey shot me a look of pure victory, her eyes dancing with triumph while her lips trembled for show. If anyone should apologize, it¡¯s Zoey,¡± I said coldly, staring at the stone-faced man in front of me. Official source is FindN0vel Riley, you¡¯re the one who hit her.¡± What¡¯s happened to you? How did you be so cruel? You know Zoey just had surgery. Her body can¡¯t handle any stress right now.¡± iam¡¯s eyes were filled with nothing but disappointment as he looked at me. Face Blind 30 ¡°She deserved it. You only care that I hit her, but don¡¯t you want to know why? If it weren¡¯t for-¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Before I could finish, Liam¡¯s hand cracked across my face. My cheek burned like fire, blood pooled at the corner of my mouth, and my ears rang like someone had struck a bell next to my head. Liam had clearly put his full strength behind that p. ¡°Riley¡­¡± After hitting me, Liam seemed shocked by his own action. A few secondster, regret shed in his eyes, and he instinctively moved forward to check my injury. But the moment I sensed his intention, I reflexively stepped back. stared at him hard, refusing to let my tears fall. hat p had shattered any remaining feelings I had for him. iam froze in ce, his movement suspended. bey had been enjoying the sight of me getting pped. ut when she noticed the regret in Liam¡¯s eyes, her scheming mind quickly hatched a n. Ugh¡­¡± Zoey doubled over, clutching her stomach with a pained groan. hat single sound of distress instantly reimed Liam¡¯s attention. Liam¡­¡± Zoey¡¯s voice was barely audible as her body conveniently copsed right into Liam¡¯s arms. iam¡¯s face filled with panic. Think about what you¡¯ve done,¡± he snapped at me before scooping Zoey up and rushing toward the emergency room. What he didn¡¯t see was how the supposedly unconscious woman in his arms turned her head back toward me, her lips curving into a smug smile as he silently mouthed a few words. You lose, Riley.¡± She was right. I had lost. Completely and utterly. But so what? From the moment I discovered Liam¡¯s betrayal, I¡¯d already decided I was done with him. Back home, I started packing. Important things went into my suitcase. Everything else went straight into the trash. Just as I was about to leave the ce I¡¯d called home for three years, Liam returned. ¡°Does your face still hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I lost control back there.¡± ¡°But no matter what, you shouldn¡¯t have hit her.¡± Liam¡¯s voice had returned to its usual gentle tone, his eyes full of concern yet somehow reproachful. As if I were the one who¡¯d done something wrong. When he reached out to touch my swollen cheek, I pped his hand away. Iughed bitterly. ¡°I see Zoey¡¯s feeling better.¡± Why else would Liam have the time or inclination to worry about my injury? ¡°Riley, how can you be so cold blooded? Whatever else, she¡¯s still your half-sister,¡± Liam said with a disapproving frown. ¡°I don¡¯t have a sister,¡± I cut him off sharply before he could finish. I red at him, my chest heaving with anger. Liam knew damn well how much I hated Zoey and her mother. My fierce reaction only made Liam more frustrated: ¡°I see you still haven¡¯t recognized your mistake.¡± ¡°Stay home and think about what you did. I won¡¯t be back for a while. When you¡¯re ready to grow up and apologize to Zoey, let me know.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hold your breath,¡± I said, ice in my voice. ¡°Unbelievable,¡± Liam muttered, mming the door hard enough to rattle the walls. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on ?ovelFind Face Blind 31 After leaving home, I found an apartment to stay in. Meanwhile, Liam remained at the hospital with Zoey. Zoey was actually fine. But to keep Liam close, she continued to fake illness. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Liam hadn¡¯t heard a word from me. Though he tried hard to act normal, Zoey noticed how he would zone out while they were talking. If you¡¯re worried, go check on her. She is your wife, after all. I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Zoey said, head lowered and eyes rimmed with red. Sho¡¯ll be fine,¡± Liam replied. ying to convince himself than Zoey. een feeling increasingly anxious these past few days. ing important. fter two more days, he finally broke down and called me. ut the call went unanswered. Still no answer from Riley?¡± Zoey asked, hiding her satisfaction behind a concerned tone. Don¡¯t worry, Liam, I¡¯m sure she¡¯s fine.I bet she¡¯s just trying to make you worried on purpose.¡± [ hate to say it, but my sister is so immature. How can someone her age be so selfish? Doesn¡¯t she know people worry about her?¡± ormally, Liam loved listening to Zoey talk, no matter what she said. ut today, unusually, he didn¡¯t agree. Instead, he frowned, feeling annoyed by herments. le was about to argue, but seeing Zoey¡¯s pale, weak face, he swallowed his words. till, when Zoey called me selfish, Liam couldn¡¯t help defending me: ¡°I know Riley. She¡¯s not like that at all.¡± oey faltered, holding back whatever else she¡¯d nned to say about me. or reasons he couldn¡¯t exin, Liam¡¯s uneasiness kept growing. inally, despite Zoey¡¯s many attempts to stop him, Liam left her behind and raced home. The moment he stepped through the door, he froze in ce. Except for the divorce papers and wedding ring I¡¯d left on the coffee table, every trace of me had been erased from the house-as if I¡¯d never existed. With trembling hands, Liam picked up the divorce agreement and quickly flipped to thest page. I had already signed it, dated three days ago. Even now, Liam couldn¡¯t understand why I would want to divorce him. Because of one p? Surely that wasn¡¯t enough for divorce? Just then, his phone rang. It was Liam¡¯s doctor buddy. ¡°Liam, heads up-Riley found out about the kidney,¡± the voice said, clearly freaking out. ¡°What? How?¡± Liam froze. Tew days back, she showed up at records. I was off that day. The temp didn¡¯t know who she was, so when she asked for her files, they just handed everything over.¡± The phone hit the floor with a thud. All the strength drained from Liam¡¯s body as he copsed onto the couch. One thought hammered in his brain. he knew. Riley had discovered everything. iam had been so sure he¡¯d covered his tracks. So confident he could keep me in the dark forever. ut secrets never stay buried. This update is avable on findnovel e shut his eyes,pletely crushed. s memories of our three years together flooded back, Liam¡¯s heart felt like it was being torn to pieces. iam snatched his phone off the floor and frantically called me. till no answer. wasn¡¯t until he tried texting me and saw the red exmation mark that it finally hit him-I¡¯d blocked himpletely. Face Blind 32 While Liam was losing his mind with worry, Zoey showed up out of nowhere, having tailed him in a taxi. When she spotted the divorce papers in Liam¡¯s white knuckled grip, Zoey had to bite her cheek to keep from smirking. Forcing her face into a concerned frown, she said: ¡°Riley¡¯s just ying games. She¡¯s always been like this-bratty, selfish, doing whatever the hell she wants.¡± ¡®Rx. She¡¯lle crawling back in a few days.¡± Zoey kept yapping in Liam¡¯s ear, trash-talking me non-stop. GET OUT!¡± iam¡¯s voice was like gravel, shaking with barely contained rage. oey¡¯s jaw dropped, her eyes wide as dinner tes. She couldn¡¯t believe what she¡¯d just heard. or years, Liam had only ever spoken to her like she was made of ss. He¡¯d never used that ice-cold tone with her. oey tried to convince herself she¡¯d misheard. Liam-¡± ut he cut her off before she could get another word out. GET OUT!¡± his time, Zoey couldn¡¯t pretend she didn¡¯t hear him. [er eyes did their usual trick-instantly going ssy with tears ready to fall. ormally, this damsel-in-distress routine had Liam wrapped around her finger in seconds. ut this time, he didn¡¯t even flinch at her poor-little-me performance. oey stared him down, waiting for him to crack and start apologizing. When he didn¡¯t, she bit her lip hard enough to hurt and stormed out. This text is hosted at Find_Novel(. iam grabbed his phone and punched in a number: ¡°Need you to find someone¡­¡± When Liam showed up at my doorstep, I didn¡¯t even blink. This town isn¡¯t exactly New York City. If someone wants to find you, they will. Besides, I wasn¡¯t trying to disappear. I wasn¡¯t the one who¡¯d screwed up, so why should I be the one hiding? I knew Liam would find me eventually. It was just a matter of time. What surprised me was how much he¡¯d changed in just a few days. He looked thinner, exhausted, with none of his usual confidence. When he saw me, his eyes lit up with relief. My own expression, in contrast, remainedpletely cold. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Liam¡¯s voice was rough and raw, his eyes rimmed red with what looked like genuine regret. I couldn¡¯t help butugh bitterly. ¡°Sorry? For which part exactly?¡± Liam was at a loss for words. Yeah, only now was he realizing just how many ways he¡¯d hurt me. When I turned to leave, Liam quickly grabbed my hand. Please, give me a chance to exin,¡± he begged, unusually humble. yanked my hand away,ughing coldly. Exin what?¡± That you married me for Zoey¡¯s sake? Or how you kept your promise to her by deliberately terminating each of our pregnancies? Or maybe how you ersonally removed my left kidney to give to her?¡± With each usation, Liam¡¯s face grew paler. y the end, all color had drained away, leaving him almost transparent. You know¡­ everything?¡± Liam hadn¡¯t expected that I knew not just about the kidney, but all his other betrayals as well. that moment, deep despair washed over him. Liam, no one¡¯s stopping you from loving Zoey, but that doesn¡¯t give you the right to hurt me.¡± You love Zoey, right? I¡¯m setting you free. Now you can love her openly.¡± t¡¯s not like that, Riley. Listen to me. Yes, I loved Zoey before, but after being with you, I¡¯ve gradually fallen in love with you. Really.¡± iam exined desperately. Love me?¡± reacted as if I¡¯d just heard the most ridiculous joke ever. 1 fact, I didugh-so hard that tears came to my eyes. Face Blind 33 ¡°If this is what your love looks like-hurting me over and over-then I want nothing to do with it.¡± ¡°Liam, I¡¯m not as forgiving as you think. I can¡¯t forgive someone who deliberately hurt me.¡± ¡°If you truly feel guilty, then never show your face to me again.¡± As my words sank in, the light in Liam¡¯s eyes instantly dimmed, thest spark of hope extinguished. His body visibly swayed, as if he might copse at any moment. Liam¡¯s lips moved, seemingly trying to form some exnation, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t say a word. Because he knew everything I said was true, and any exnation would be utterly meaningless. n this lifetime, there was no future for us. Liam!¡± Zoey¡¯s urgent voice suddenly called from behind him. looked at Liam with mockery in my eyes. that moment, panic shed in Liam¡¯s eyes as he quickly exined: I didn¡¯t ask her toe.¡± What are you doing here?¡± he asked Zoey, clearly surprised. knew you were worried about her, but you¡¯re still running a fever. You shouldn¡¯t be out like this.¡± Sis, this is all my fault. I¡¯m so sorry. Please forgive Liam-he¡¯s sick but still came looking for you. Can¡¯t you forgive him?¡± bey¡¯s manner was so humble, looking so innocent and pitiful. nfortunately for her, I wasn¡¯t Hunter, and I certainly wasn¡¯t Liam. on me. re? You apologize and I¡¯m supposed to forgive him?¡± ughed scormally. Zoey really did think highly of herself. ly retort left Zoey¡¯s face alternating between red and pale as she turned to Liam with a wounded expression. o my surprise, Liampletely ignored Zoey¡¯s helpless look. He didn¡¯t scold me for my attitude, but instead coldly said to her: You should go back. This is between my wife and me. It has nothing to do with you.¡± I disagree. How can it have nothing to do with her? Everything you did was because of her, wasn¡¯t it?¡± I said with a smirk. Liam¡¯s face went nk. Meanwhile, Zoey couldn¡¯t hide her smug little smile, Looking at her self-satisfied expression, I shed a cold grin: ¡®How¡¯s my kidney treating you?¡± ¡°You know about that?¡± Zoey¡¯s face twitched. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d stay home and keep a low profile instead of prancing around town like you¡¯re showing off your stolen goods,¡± I sneered. At my words, Zoey¡¯s eyes widened with fear. Done with these two disgusting people, I turned and walked away. Liam tried to grab my arm, but Zoey blocked him. Even from a distance, I could still hear them fighting. ¡°What the hell, Liam? You practically begged to do all this for me! I never forced you!¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. Everything I did was my choice.¡± ¡®Well, guess what? I regret it now, okay?¡± Jam, Zoey-I wouldn¡¯t let anyone who hurt me get away with it. hey stole from me and thought life would just go on as normal? is if. ince when is anything in life that easy? d already hired awyer and gathered all the evidence. he next day, just as I was preparing to file charges against Liam and Zoey, I received news of their deaths. pparently, on their way home yesterday, their argument had escted as they med each other. oey, in a state of emotional frenzy, had recklessly grabbed for the steering wheel while Liam was driving. Juring the struggle, the car veered off the road, crashed through the guardrail, and plunged down a cliff. he car leaked fuel and exploded. iam and Zoey died instantly¡­ When I heard the news, I couldn¡¯t even describe what I felt. ¡®m no saint. After everything Liam and Zoey did to me, they died before facing any real consequences. If anything, they got off easy. Walking out of the courthouse, I noticed the gloomy sky had cleared uppletely. Looking up at that perfect blue, the weight I¡¯d been carrying in my chest for so long just¡­ vanished. The road ahead was wide open, and I had a whole life waiting for me. Get full chapters from find?novel A few weekster, I packed up and moved to a new city to start over. Face Blind 34 We¡¯ve been in love since childhood. I never imagined Alexander would stop loving me- Until he lost his memory. Fortunately, after recovering his memories, he was still the same Alexander who loved me to his bones. Even when I was diagnosed with cancer, Alexander insisted on marrying me. Even as an atheist, he¡¯s still willing to kneel in every church, praying to God for my healing. But on that very night when death was calling me, I witnessed Alexander in the corridor, clutching a cheap ring while sobbing into the phone. ¡°This lifetime with Victoria is my duty.¡± ¡°Sophie, I¡¯m sorry. If there¡¯s a next life, I swear I¡¯ll marry you instead!¡± I suddenly realized¡­ Alexander¡¯s heart had always belonged to the woman who saved him during his amnesia in that remote vige. When I woke up again, I was back to the day I was diagnosed with cancer. Looking at Alexander, who was reluctant to recover his memories, I called our families together and made the decision: Let¡¯s get divorced.¡± lex, I¡¯m setting you free in this lifetime. But just don¡¯t regret it when your memory returns! Victoria, medical advances havee so far these days. It¡¯s just an illness-it can definitely be cured!¡± Sweetheart, put away that divorce agreement. You two grew up together. We¡¯ve all seen how much Alex loves you. He just doesn¡¯t remember. Once lex recovers his memory, you two¡­¡± Discover more novels at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Irs. Whitmore¡¯s eyes were red, her words unfinished when she was interrupted by Alexander¡¯s fierce voice. What ¡®you two¡¯? It¡¯s me and her!¡± Sophie named me River, so I¡¯m River. That Alex person you keep talking about isn¡¯t me. I don¡¯t remember, and I don¡¯t want to remember. Besides, I¡¯m ready married-in Stone Creek Vige.¡± I don¡¯t care about rich families. I just want to be with Sophie forever.¡± With that, Alexander hastily signed the divorce papers and handed them back to me. Here, we¡¯re divorced.¡± looked down, my fingertip tracing the familiar signature. The handwriting was still Alex¡¯s. ut the person wasn¡¯t the same anymore. Jexander smiled at Sophie standing nearby, saying proudly. Don¡¯t worry, Sophie, River will always be Sophie¡¯s River.¡± ophie¡¯s lips curved up, but then seemed to remember something and quickly fell again. She looked at me with slight guilt. I¡¯m sorry, I¡­¡± knew Sophie wasn¡¯t a bad person. She was a kind girl from the mountain vige. On that stormy night, she pulled Alexander from his overturned car, carried him ten miles on foot to the nearest clinic, and cared for thisplete stranger. Even though Alexander was reluctant, when she saw the missing person notices flooding the inte, she still voluntarily brought him back to us. She didn¡¯t ask for a penny, and when she learned he was married, she quietly left. But Alexander wouldn¡¯t let her go. He ran back to Stone Creek overnight to stay with Sophie. I almost wished Sophie were a thoroughly scheming viin who stole Alexander away. At least then I could hate her, resent her. But now, I couldn¡¯t even hate her. Miss Hayes, you don¡¯t need to apologize.¡± Truth is, I should thank you. No matter what, because of you, Alex survived.¡± forced a difficult smile, my voice choking. Please take Alex back to the estate.¡± I know wherever you are, that¡¯s where he¡¯ll be. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore only have one son-they should have a proper reunion.¡± Tomorrow morning, I¡¯lle to the estate to take him for the divorce registration.¡± fter speaking, I nodded slightly to Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore, took the divorce papers, and turned to leave. s my heels clicked on the corridor floor, a voice came from behind. Wait!¡± was Alexander. couldn¡¯t help but feel a secret hope rising, turning back to look at him. loping my Alex hade back. Sophie said you¡¯re sick. She told me to be nicer to you.¡± I was a bit harsh just now. Sorry. But I really can¡¯t remember you, and I don¡¯t love you anymore. I love Sophie very much, and I promised her I¡¯d treat er well for the rest of my life.¡± I¡¯m sorry.¡± couldn¡¯t hold back my tears, turning to say goodbye: It¡¯s okay, A¡­ River.¡± ¡®In this life, do what makes you happy.¡± After living two lifetimes, I finally realized btedly- The Alex who loved me to his bones might have died on that rainy night when he sought medical help for me. The one who survived was Sophie¡¯s River, not Victoria¡¯s Alex. Face Blind 35 For some reason, when tears fell from my cheeks, Alexander felt his heart suddenly jolt. An inexplicable pain surged through him. Chapters first released on ?ovelFind He stared at my retreating figure for a long time, unable to snap out of it, until a passing child softly called out. ¡®Mister, why are you crying?¡± Only then did Alexander instinctively touch his face-it was already wet with tears. But his mind remained nk. Alexander stood dazed for a long while, until Sophie¡¯s gentle voice came from behind. River, let¡¯s go to the estate.¡± Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯lle with you. I won¡¯t secretly go back to the vige alone anymore.¡± lexander came back to his senses. he moment he saw Sophie, he forgot everything else. le smiled and ran over, taking her hand. Whatever you say.¡± As long as you don¡¯t want to leave me, I¡¯ll listen to you about everything.¡± he third floor of the estate was my and Alexander¡¯s marital bedroom. But Alexander resisted strongly, refusing to stay there no matter what. After uch consideration, Mrs. Whitmore finally arranged for them to stay in two guest rooms on the second floor. ut before leaving, Mrs. Whitmore couldn¡¯t help mentioning. Would you like to go upstairs and see the third floor? That¡¯s where you and Victoria used to live.¡± The doctor said the brain hemorrhage will subside within three months, and your memory will gradually return. If you take a look, you might emember something earlier. Victoria is a good girl-I really don¡¯t want you two to divorce. If you regret it, there¡¯s still time¡­¡± lexander directly took Sophie¡¯s hand, his tone firm. I won¡¯t regret it!¡± Since we¡¯re registering for divorce tomorrow, Mom, I want to get engaged to Sophie tomorrow. Then we¡¯ll use the thirty-day cooling-off period to repare for our wedding. The moment I get the divorce certificate, I want to marry Sophie openly!¡± Mrs. Whitmore¡¯s unfinished words werepletely blocked. After a long sigh, she still nodded. Early the next morning, the weather was nice, but my body wasn¡¯t cooperating. I swallowed two painkillers and drove to the estate to pick up Alexander. Gardeners bustled past me. From afar, I could hear Sophie¡¯s shy yet sweet voice: ¡°River, I only mentioned liking jasmine casually. You don¡¯t need to make such a big fuss!¡± Alexander bent down to kiss the corner of Sophie¡¯s lips, his tone indulgent. ¡°Everything Sophie says isw to me.¡± ¡°I never really liked tulips anyway. I don¡¯t know why the garden had so many. Might as well pull them all out and nt flowers you like.¡± Watching the precious tulips being broken, destroyed bit by bit, and buried in the soil, my breathing becamebored. This entire garden of tulips was actually nted by Alexander for me. The year we graduated high school, Alexander wanted to give me a proper confession. Knowing I loved tulips, he had them shipped from overseas and tended them for a month until they bloomed, finally presenting them to me. ¡°Victoria, I like you. Let¡¯s be together!¡± The sunlight that day was as beautiful as today¡¯s. Iughed and scolded him for making such a big deal. Alexander took my hand and told me solemnly. ¡®Liking you is the most serious thing in the world!¡± The voices from memory and reality rang out simultaneously. Watching Alexander say the same words to Sophie, I couldn¡¯t help but feel my nose ting. inally, I stepped forward and spoke up. Sorry to interrupt, but it¡¯s about time. Should we head to the registry office?¡± stood among the flowers, wind blowing through my dress. From a distance, our eyes met. he scene was so familiar it was disorienting. he moment Alexander saw me, the headache struck again, but this time apanied by countless shing, blurred fragments. le couldn¡¯t help but frown and moan in pain, looking at me with difficulty. I think¡­ I¡¯m starting to remember something.¡± 19:52 Face Blind 36 Panic shed across both my face and Sophie¡¯s at the same time. I reached out to help him, but Alexander pushed me away and shouted. ¡°Stay away!¡± I stumbled and fell to the ground. Seeing Alexander still avoiding me like the gue, Sophie quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She looked down with concern. River, what¡¯s wrong?¡± lexander clung to Sophie like a lifeline. My head hurts. Random memories are flooding back, and I don¡¯t want to remember!¡± Sophie, I only want you. Don¡¯t leave me!¡± sh of smugness crossed Sophie¡¯s face. Whileforting Alexander, she showed off to me subtly. I won¡¯t leave. I¡¯ll always stay with you.¡± Miss Carter, should Ie with you both for the divorce registration?¡± As you can see, he really can¡¯t be without me.¡± m not stupid. could hear the implication in Sophie¡¯s words. uppressing the bitterness rising in my heart, I nodded: Alright then, thank you for the trouble.¡± hroughout the drive, I drove very steadily. Alexander sat in the back with lowered eyes, seemingly sorting through the chaotic memories in his mind. is gaze asionally found mine through the rearview mirror. Then our eyes met, Alexander no longer looked at me with disgust, but more with confusion and bewilderment. eeing Alexander distracted, Sophie took the initiative to ask. Miss Carter, are you free today?¡± This content belongs to f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Today is River and my engagement dinner at the estate. Would you like to join us for a simple meal?¡± he jarring words hit my ears, and my knuckles turned white gripping the steering wheel. Sorry, I have othermitmentster, so I won¡¯t be able to make it.¡± Congrattions on your union.¡± Alexander frowned almost imperceptibly and turned his head away, no longer looking at me. Sophie gripped his hand tighter and added. 19:52 Remembered st Chapter ¡°It¡¯s fine. River is just too eager to marry me.¡± ¡°But we¡¯re having our wedding ceremony in a month. Will you have time to attend then?¡± Screech- The harsh sound of brakes filled the air as I changed the subject. ¡°Probably not. We¡¯re here, let¡¯s get out first.¡± Since we had made an appointment in advance, the procedures went quickly. Afterwards, Sophie went to the restroom, leaving just Alexander and me in the car. I fiddled with my phone while he took the initiative to speak. ¡°Sorry about pushing you earlier. It was an instinctive reaction. So many memories suddenly flooded in-I just want to focus on the present.¡± seeing how pale I looked, he asked tentatively. ¡®I heard from my mother that you¡¯re going abroad for treatment. Is your condition already serious?¡± This was the first time Alexander had actively shown concern for me since our reunion. His gentle tone was just like my Alex. ¡®erhaps sick people are more sensitive and fragile. ooking at this face identical to Alex¡¯s, the grievances I¡¯d been suppressing came flooding back. turned to look at him. he brain might forget. ut that¡¯s okay-the eyes will remember for me. was as if I were speaking through him to my Alex,ining of my hardships. ly eyes turned red with despair. Serious.¡± If luck isn¡¯t on my side, Alex, I won¡¯t live to see another spring.¡± hat evening, I saw Sophie¡¯s engagement announcement on social media. n the screen, Alexander wore a suit, holding another woman¡¯s hand. le looked very happy. ooking at the painkillers scattered on the coffee table, my hands shook so badly I couldn¡¯t even lift the water ss. hat night, I cried until dawn. ut I wasn¡¯t the only one who couldn¡¯t sleep. lexander couldn¡¯t sleep either, Every time he closed his eyes, my red-rimmed eyes would appear, pitifully telling him ¡°I won¡¯t live to see another pring.¡± Overwhelming pain surged through him, mixed with fragmentary memories. His heart felt like it was being carved by knives. sophie kept waiting for Alexander to return from the study, but he never came back. Her gaze drifted to the garden below-all the tulips should have been uprooted by now and reced with jasmine. But tonight when Alexander returned, he had specifically asked them to leave just onest tulip. She didn¡¯t even dare ask why, filled with fear and panic. Sophie couldn¡¯t help but make a despicable prayer to heaven. 19.53 During the final thirty day cooling off period, Alexander and I He was doing well-very happy and very busy. Sophie stayed by his side constantly. I heard his memory was beginning to loosen. On the day we officially received our divorce certificate, Sophie apanied him and handed me an invitation. ¡°Miss Carter, you simply must honor us with your presence at tomorrow¡¯s wedding!¡± Face Blind 37 ¡°I have a flight tomorrow, so I won¡¯t be going.¡± I turned back to look at Alexander onest time. I didn¡¯t know how much of his memory had returned. His eyes wereplex, like a tangled, blurry fog. But I no longer had the energy to decipher it. Late at night, the excessive pain kept me tossing and turning. I had to lean against the wall to get up. Only half a bottle of painkillers remained on the offee table. Fortunately, I had a morning flight tomorrow and would be admitted to the hospital immediately uponnding. nock knock knock. he door was suddenly pounded roughly. Victoria Carter, open the door!¡± was Alexander¡¯s voice. found it strange, but still struggled to open the door for him. s soon as I opened it, Alexander charged in with a group of people. He looked at me aggressively. Where did you take Sophie?¡± rowned, puzzled. ophie? I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡®ve been home all day without going out. Did you lose contact with her?¡± exander¡¯s fury intensified. He grabbed my cor and demanded. top acting innocent!¡± Who else but you would go after Sophie!¡± ook at this yourself. You better hand Sophie over obediently, or I won¡¯t let you get away with it!¡± ooked down to see Sophie¡¯s text message. ictoria Carter wants to kill me, help!] he message cut off abruptly, showing the sender¡¯s urgency. was helpless. My frail body felt nauseous from Alexander¡¯s rough handling. This is nder. I haven¡¯t seen Sophie today. If you really suspect me, then have your people check the surveince or search my house.¡± feel terrible. Let go of me.¡± I need to take my medication.¡± lexander looked at me suspiciously. You better not be lying to me.¡± ¡®hen he roughly threw me against the coffee table. The impact was so strong I could taste blood in my throat. I struggled to prop myself up and eached for the pill bottle. 19:53 ¡°Young Master Whitmore, we¡¯ve searched the entire house. There¡¯s definitely no trace of madam.¡± ¡°And the surveince shows Miss Carter indeed never left the house.¡± I was sweating coldly from pain, looking weakly at Alexander: ¡°Now can you believe me?¡± ¡°Move aside, you¡¯re blocking me from getting my medication.¡± Alexander looked at my bloodless face, and whether from guilt or sympathy, he bent down to help me get the medicine. But the next second, my phone suddenly rang. It was an unknown number. Alexander immediately snatched my phone and answered it. A rough male voice came through. Miss Carter, we have Sophie in our hands.¡± How you want us to torture her is up to you. We guarantee she won¡¯t be able to get married tomorrow!¡± Meet us at the usual ce!¡± My eyes widened as I exined in disbelief. It¡¯s not me!¡± I don¡¯t know this person at all!¡± lexanderughed angrily, gripping the medicine bottle in his hand threateningly. Victoria Carter, still spouting nonsense at this point.¡± I¡¯ll give you onest chance. Where is Sonhio?¡± couldn¡¯t help but grab Alexander¡¯s sleeve, pleading breathlessly. ne.¡± e painkillers and sneered. Harming people one moment, then dying of illness the next.¡± Aren¡¯t you dying soon? Then let me help you along!¡± With that, Alexander poured all the painkillers onto the floor in front of me, then crushed them bit by bit under his foot. reached out to save them, and even my hand was trampled bloody by Alexander. ¡®Alexander Whitmore, I really didn¡¯t hurt anyone!¡± ¡®I never even saw Sophie!¡± But no matter what I said, Alexander wouldn¡¯t believe me. He even crouched down, watching my agonized face with interest. ¡°Still making excuses.¡± ¡°Victoria Carter, it¡¯s not enough for you to wait for death alone-you want to drag Sophie down with you! How despicable!¡± 19-53 ¡°If you don¡¯t talk, just wait to die from the pain!¡± I smiled bitterly, as if relieved or resigned to fate. ¡®I really didn¡¯t¡­¡± Forget it. You¡¯re not my Alex. You won¡¯t believe me.¡± My throat turned sweet, and uncontrolled blood sprayed onto Alexander¡¯s chest, staining arge patch of warm red. ust as Alexander stood stunned, a bodyguard rushed to report. Young Master Whitmore, we¡¯ve located madam¡¯s position.¡± lexander left without hesitation. efore leaving, he nced at me lying on the floor, barely alive, and ordered. Keep watch on her.¡± f something really happens to Sophie, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find¡ïNovel at at that moment, I was in too much pain to speak. could only watch helplessly as Alexander walked away. ntil the pain and consciousness both became dull, and even objects in front of me began to double. Blood began gushing from my mouth inrge nounts, even panicking the bodyguards. Blood! She¡¯s vomiting so much blood! Young Master Whitmore¡¯s phone won¡¯t connect-what do we do!¡± hit, is she going to die?¡± Don¡¯t let anyone die here. Call 911! Quick, call 911!¡± rtunately, I was already registered at the hospital. After emergency treatment, I would board a specialized medical rescue flight directly to the her side of the ocean. thest moment before consciousness faded into darkness, I suddenly felt relief. hose remnants of love I thought had prated my bones were sprayed clean from my body along with the warm blood. >metimes understandinges in just an instant. he ne cut through the dark night. lexander Whitmore, I¡¯ve finally let you go. Face Blind 38 Alexander arrived with his bodyguards in a hurry. It was a bar. As soon as he arrived, the group of girls sitting around Sophie suddenly became boisterous. They looked at Sophie teasingly. ¡®He came, he really came! I told you Alexander definitely loves you to the bone. You were justining to us that his attitude toward you has hangedtely, I say you¡¯re just showing off your love!¡± Since Alexander came, the dare is sessful. You can skip that drink.¡± Alexander,e sit down. Tonight is Sophie¡¯s bachelorette party. Congrattions on passing the future husband test!¡± lexander gradually understood and looked at Sophie. Test?¡± Sophie, you were lying to me?¡± eeing Alexander¡¯s expression change, Sophie hurried forward to take his arm. She exined gently. was just too afraid of losing you. You¡¯ve been spacing outtely, saying you¡¯re remembering things from the past.¡± was so scared. I just wanted to see if you still cared about me like before. Don¡¯t worry though, I¡¯m safe. The girls helped me send that text, and I had le bartender do that male voice.¡± Thank goodness you still love me.¡± fter speaking, Sophie moved to nestle in Alexander¡¯s arms. ut when her fingertips touched him, they felt warm and sticky. This is¡­ blood?¡± You¡¯re hurt!¡± ?????? ???? Find1Novel lexander¡¯s face was very pale, even his voice was trembling. This isn¡¯t my blood.¡± r¡¯s Victoria¡¯s.¡± fter saying that, he pushed Sophie away from his arms and rushed outside. eaving Sophie standing there, staring at the crimson on her fingertips. When Alexander arrived at Victoria¡¯s house, dawn was breaking. The room was empty, with only a few bodyguards remaining. Where is she?¡± The bodyguard pointed to therge pool of blood by the coffee table and exined. She kept vomiting blood. We were afraid someone might die, so we sent her to the hospital.¡± The guy who went with her said she should be fine, just that her condition got worse. The hospital arranged a private jet and already sent her abroad for treatment.¡± Alexander waspletely stunned. White pills were crushed and scattered on the floor. Dark red bloodstains had sttered across the ground. It was easy to imagine how much pain she had been in. He looked up and suddenly noticed something shocking. Hanging in the center of the living room was actually a photo of him and Victoria. Wearing school uniforms, standing side by side innocently. Alexander gently held Victoria in his arms while she looked at the camera and he looked at ier. Juzz! he sealed memories in his mind were awakened again. lexander walked deeper into the house by muscle memory. Almost everywhere held strange fragments from his mind. The study where they did omework together, the kitchen where he cooked for her, the balcony where they watched stars together. ntil he saw the wedding dress hanging alone in the walk-in closet. lowing with light and dazzling beauty. was the dress Alexand once drawn for Victoria bit by bit on white paper, custom-made. his men this white gown, holding flowers as she married him. do you take Miss Victoria Carter as your wife? Whether rich or poor, in sickness and in health, will you love her and e scenes were clearly unfamiliar, but the overwhelming happiness in his mind couldn¡¯t be fake. e must have loved her deeply then. exander was mysteriously drawn to think of the bridal suite on the third floor of the estate. He floored the elerator and hurried up the estate eps. As if going up there would provide all the answers. is waist was suddenly embraced from behind. phie buried her face in Alexander¡¯s back, her voice choked. Don¡¯t go.¡± Liver, I¡¯m begging you. Please don¡¯t go, okay?¡± hapter Face Blind 39 Alexander¡¯s steps paused. In the end, he still raised his hands and gently removed Sophie¡¯s arms that were embracing him. ¡°Sophie, call me ¡®Alexander¡¯ from now on.¡± Then he walked straight up to the third floor. The bridal suite remained unchanged, still the same as when he and Victoria were in love. Only every item inside had been carefully arranged by him and Victoria back then. The pattern of the bed sheets, the color of the wardrobe, the height of the desk. And the love letters secretly hidden in the desk drawer. This was a little habit between Alexander and Victoria. To be precise, it was a habit he had developed first. rom his adolescent years when he first felt innocent love, Alexander had gotten used to picking up his pen to write down his deep affection for her. etter after letter, expressing hisplex feelingspletely. What had originally been a one-person show became a correspondence between two after they confessed their love. ¡®ictoria began to learn Alexander¡¯s way and also wrote him love letters. She wrote when she loved him, when she missed him, when they fought, and ven¡­ when she thought she might die. he was afraid Alexander would be lonely. he always wanted to write many, many letters. o that if she died that day, he would have time to read her letters and slowly heal. lexander copsed to the floor, reading them one by one. Discover more novels at Find¡ïNovel rom age fourteen or fifteen, when he thought her smile looked sweet, to eighteen or neen when they openly held hands and dated, to their redding at twenty-four. ut the story took a sharp turn when she was diagnosed with cancer. [appiness turned into desperate pleading. fter reading these letters, Alexander felt as if he had relived the first half of his life. and fallen in love with her all over again. haotic memories surged up, but Alexander no longer resisted them. Instead, he sorted through them bit by bit. Alexander, don¡¯t pull my braids!¡± ¡®Alex, dear Alexander. Please teach me how to solve this problem!¡± ¡®Alex, why are you staring at me? I asked what university you¡¯re applying to why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± ¡®Alex, we¡¯re finally married.¡± ¡°Alex, I¡¯m so scared. We promised to grow old together, but I¡¯m going to break that promise.¡± The angry Victoria, the confused Victoria, the happy Victoria, the crying Victoria. These gave color to those ck and white memories, no longer silent films but vivid, love-filled scenes. It seemed like he remembered everything Victoria woke up the next morning with a heavy breathing mask pressed against her face. As soon as she opened her eyes, bright white light flooded in. She couldn¡¯t help but ask deliriously. ¡°Am I¡­ in heaven?¡± Noah frowned and gently tapped her forehead with his pen. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just based on your history of putting caterpirs in my desk, peeking at me in the shower, and stealing three big deals from me.¡± ¡°In this lifetime, Victoria, you¡¯ll never make it to heaven.¡± She squinted, her vision gradually refocusing. She looked tentatively at the person beside her. ¡®Noah¡­ Thompson?¡± He raised an eyebrow, casually sketching on his clipboard. Yeah, it¡¯s me.¡± Not bad, you can still recognize people.¡± Don¡¯t worry, with me here, you won¡¯t die.¡± heughed softly, joking. With you here, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll die even faster.¡± Noah, you don¡¯t need tofort me. I know what condition I¡¯m in.¡± Noah rolled his eyes at her irritably. If you know, then why are you being so pathetic?¡± If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t have divorced Alexander at all. If he dares to lose his memory, you should punch him until he remembers. And that Sophie irl ¨C just kick her out. What a waste of being a spoiled rich girl all these years in high society ¨C you didn¡¯t learn to be arrogant and domineering at all.¡± If they dare to mess with you, just spit blood right in their faces!¡± Face Blind 40 ¡°Noah, are you a doctor or a thug?¡± He shed me a mischievous smile. ¡®I¡¯m a beast.¡± This beast wille check on you again in three hours. Rest well.¡± Maybe doctors¡¯ words really do have magic power. had only been awake for a short while, but my eyelids were already growing heavy again. turned over and fell back into deep sleep. oah quietly tucked in my nket corners, nced at a message on his phone, and turned it off. Noah, Alexander suddenly canceled the wedding today.] ack home, Alexander had announced the cancetion of his wedding that morning. ophie¡¯s reaction was much calmer than he had expected. ith a nk expression and tears streaming down her face, she smiled bitterly. knew this day woulde sooner orter.¡± Actually, this whole time I was just stealing borrowed time from Victoria. I secretly went to the third floor. You¡¯ve been avoiding me since our gagement, so you probably didn¡¯t notice. From that night on, I knew. I couldn¡¯tpete with her.¡± our past together was too perfect. So perfect that I couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty for existing, couldn¡¯t help but resent why God had to make Miss urter sick, why it had to rain that night, why I had to meet you.¡± le cheap ring was slowly removed from her ring finger. phie threw it into the trash can. ecause I love you, I¡¯ve started to hate myself.¡± don¡¯t understand why I became like this. Deliberately showing off in front of a sick person, deliberately using games as an excuse to let you hurt her ver, I wasn¡¯t like this before. I used to be a very, very good person.¡± phie wiped her tears messily again. ughing and crying at the same time. ¡®m going back to Stone Creek. I can¡¯t get used to this ce. Thank you for nting jasmine for me.¡± ¡®ve seen it, and that¡¯s enough. Tulips should have been nted there anyway.¡± Goodbye, Alexander.¡± ophie left gracefully, though she inevitably felt some guilt when thinking of me. Alexander, I heard you¡¯re going to find Miss Carter.¡± If you can see her again, please say sorry for me. I¡¯m sorry, I think I did something terribly wrong. I stole her lover while she was sick.¡± When springes next year, you¡¯re both wee to visit Stone Creek.¡± Alexander¡¯s nose stung, his throat choked up so much he couldn¡¯t speak. In his mind, only Victoria¡¯s words remained. ¡°If I¡¯m unlucky, Alexander, I won¡¯t live to see next spring.¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F?ndNovel At that time, I was sitting in a wheelchair being pushed by Noah for a walk. ¡°Who would have thought? In the end, I¡¯d end up in your hands. If I had known, I would have bullied you less back then. You must be making good money now, definitely not going hungry like before. You¡¯re strong enough to kill two bulls now.¡± Noah bent down to adjust the nket on my legs. ¡®You didn¡¯t bully me.¡± I should thank you. If you hadn¡¯t done those things to annoy Alexander, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten free meals for a whole semester.¡± As he spoke, the corners of his eyes reddened slightly. knew what Noah was worried about. While I was sleeping, I had vomited blood again. I don¡¯t know if it was because of this second chance, but my life seemed to be slipping away faster han in my previous life. When I woke up, Noah was holding me and crying. Then why didn¡¯t youe to my wedding?¡± I only found out after I got married that you had gone abroad to study. You left without saying goodbye, and when I called, you just said you were usy.¡± oah pouted. Because I hated you.¡± Because you liked me.¡± looked at him directly, my gaze honest. e turned his face away, his earlobes slightly red, and I knew I hadn¡¯t been wrong. Noah, find someone else to like. I¡¯m nothing special.¡± he dizziness hit me again, and I lowered my head. ooking at the blood drops falling on my hands. And I think¡­ I¡¯m really going to die soon.¡± Face Blind 41 I was rushed into the emergency room again. This time, the critical periodsted a day and a night. I woke up with great difficulty. The first thing I saw was Noah, disheveled and unkempt. He was dozing by my bedside, looking like he had been keeping vigil for a long time, with heavy dark circles under his eyes. As soon as I moved, he woke up. He immediately reached to press the call button. Chapters first released on F?nd-Novel His field of medicine didn¡¯t align with my condition different specialties were worlds apart. But he still insisted on staying with me. Noah, you once said that if I treated you to dinner, you¡¯d recognize me as your boss from then on. Does that still count?¡± Joah gripped my hand. It counts.¡± he sky outside was impossibly blue. I spoke up. Your boss doesn¡¯t want treatment anymore.¡± I don¡¯t want to lose all my hair, don¡¯t want to walk away looking ugly and skeletal. The air is nice outside. I want to go out and see the world.¡± loah smiled, then cried hard. I¡¯lle with you. I¡¯ll take leave.¡± nd so I was discharged. [onestly, aside from the torment of illness, it was a beautiful time. don¡¯t know how Noah convinced my parents, who were still abroad seeking medical treatment for me. After talking all night, they personally saw me ff at the airport. We went floating in the Dead Sea, rode hot air balloons in Turkey, rode camels in Egypt, and even found time to watch a Japanese fireworks festival rhile wearing yukatas. When Alexander found me again, it was at the foot of a snowy mountain. ollowing in mine and Noah¡¯s footsteps, he was always one step behind. If it weren¡¯t for the heavy snow that dyed our original ns by a few days, ve probably would have missed each other again. Victoria.¡± was slightly startled, then opened the door and invited him into the suite. I greeted him naturally, asking him to sit down. ¡®You came.¡± Like old friends reuniting after a long separation. Noah¡¯s expression remained rather grim throughout, but after filling my water ss with hot water, he still left the room, giving us the living room. ¡°I heard from Noah that you remembered everything. That¡¯s good.¡± Before Alexander could speak, tears fell first. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, back then I¡­¡± I shook my head and took a sip of water. Gentle and calm. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You were probably just too anxious at the time.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t cut off contact with you because I was angry.¡± Alexander gripped my hand tightly, tears falling inrge drops. ¡°I¡¯d rather you were angry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Victoria, I¡¯m sorry¡­ We can definitely cure this. I rented the tulips. We can get married again. We can start over. I haven¡¯t grown old with you yet.¡± ¡°Victoria, don¡¯t leave me.¡± As he spoke, Alexander copsed against my legs, sobbing. stroked his soft hair repeatedly, my tone likeforting a child. Alexander, don¡¯te looking for me anymore.¡± I don¡¯t love you anymore. Really.¡± In other words, I don¡¯t want to struggle with you anymore. I haven¡¯t seen the sunrise and sunset over the snowy mountains yet. I don¡¯t want to go ack with you to see tulips. We loved each other, and it was beautiful. I¡¯m already content.¡± lexander looked up at me with red-rimmed eyes. ly eyes were as calm as water in a deep pool. Alexander, as long as our story is profound enough, it doesn¡¯t need to be perfect.¡± The snow has stopped. I wonder if the sun wille out today.¡± Face Blind 42 Alexander left. don¡¯t know if he took my words to heart. When Noah returned, his face bore injuries. You fought with him?¡± Yeah, he¡¯s a bastard. Victoria, it¡¯s time for your medicine.¡± looked at the bottles and jars before me, not telling Noah that the medication had long since stopped suppressing my pain. ntil I numbly swallowed another handful. oah gripped my bony wrist, looking at me thoughtfully. top taking them. The medicine is bitter.¡± et me buy you some little cakes.¡± hat night, I heard Noah¡¯s suppressed crying throughout the night. aybe I really was dying. n the fifth day, the snowy mountain finally showed me some mercy. The snowkes in the sky grew lighter. The mist at the mountain peak also eared. I had slept too long and missed the sunrise. could only let Noah push me to the observation deck to watch the sunset. ehind me, through the ss reflection, I saw a silhouette that looked very much like Alexander. I didn¡¯t expose him, nor did I stare. I just quietly atched the entire sunset. >me unruly snowkes fell on my hair, and Noah unusually didn¡¯t brush them away. e just quietly watched me for a long time. couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him, tugging at the corner of his clothes. Don¡¯t remember so clearly.¡± After I die, forget about mepletely.¡± oah looked at my face, unusually not avoiding the topic. Victoria, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll die too early, and I won¡¯t even be able to dream of what you¡¯d look like with white hair.¡± Let me look at you a bit more.¡± Fresh chapters posted on find?novel In the next life, I¡¯ll definitely fall in love with you before he does.¡± After seeing the snowy mountain, I returned to my room and slept for an unknown amount of time. I no longer ran around the world with Noah, but uddenly wanted to go home to see my parents. The day I left was rainy. Noah was ying chess with my father while I watched from the side, constantlymenting on their moves. I was in unusually good spirits, chattering non-stop. Perhaps because the game was too intense, both their brows furrowed tighter and tighter. My mother was sitting on the sofa nearby, holding yarn for me while knitting knee pads. She smiled at me, somewhat lost in thought. ¡°Mom is making these for you. When springes, wear these. They¡¯re the warmest!¡± Ding dong. The doorbell suddenly rang. Opening the door, it was Alexander. He was holding a pot of tulips, walking toward me with great enthusiasm. Victoria. Look, the flowers bloomed!¡± le walked toward me step by step, but my vision gradually became blurry. na trance, I heard the familiar school bell ringing. ty fingertips couldn¡¯t help but touch the petals, but someone firmly grasped my hand., murmured. Alexander, school¡¯s out.¡± nder Alexander¡¯s bewildered gaze, my hand fell heavily. closed my eyes and made no more sound. thest moment of remaining consciousness, I heard dense crying around me. was fortunate. t least this life had no more regrets. ater, Sophie stayed in Stone Creek to be a rural teacher. Noah switched to researching my pathological condition. Alexander rented a field c lips and woulde to my grave every day, chattering about the past. ntil one day, I no longer saw him. Victoria.¡± ut suddenly I heard him calling me from behind. urning around, he had purple bruises around his neck and pulled open his shirt. resh marks, bloody and raw, with my name carved on them. Victoria Carter] lexander smiled foolishly at me. In the next life, I¡¯ll never forget you again.¡± The next day¡¯s TOP 1 trending topic: #Whitmore Corporation heir Alexander Whitmore died by suicide at home in the early hours of this morning# Face Blind 43 When my husband David ckwell praised his ¡°dead¡± student on TV, I took off my wedding ring, ¡°Divorce. Your star pupil isn¡¯t dead-she¡¯s in London having your baby.¡± Hearing that, he flew to UK overnight. Two monthster, he came back with pregnant Emma Williams. ¡°Rachel, you take care of her until the babyes. You owe her.¡± Even at my birthday party, my inws cooed: ¡°Emma¡¯s such a modern, independent woman! When the baby¡¯s born, we¡¯ll help raise it!¡± The soup steam she prepared for her stung my eyes. I rememberedst life, I¡¯d uncovered their affair. To save his career, I sent her away. But she took some folk remedies and died giving birth overseas, left forever in Ennd. When he heard the news, David locked himself up for three days. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find{n}ovel By the time I broke in, his body was already rotting. Public opinion blew up, and I ended up being the one who ruined that love. I was eaten up with guilt, wasted away, and died all sad. This time, watching him talking with his eyes all soft and full of love on TV, I decided to let them have their way. David. Let¡¯s see how your ¡°perfect love story¡± goes when I¡¯m not around to fix your problems. When David ckwell stormed through the front door, pissed as hell, the girl Emma Williams behind him was holding her belly and stayed back by the door, ooking timidly. She¡¯s pretty far along. You¡¯re gonna take care of her till she gives birth.¡± His voice was dead serious-no way he was budging on this. You owe her that much!¡± looked down, my past life shing back. All three of them died because of me. I clenched my teeth and nodded finally. mma just dropped to her knees right there, crying her eyes out, grabbing onto my clothes. Ms. ckwell, oh my God, I¡¯m so sorry! This is all my fault. I never should¡¯vee back¡­¡± fer young face had this desperate look-just like me back then, when I got on my knees begging Mom, saying David was the only guy I¡¯d ever marry. My eyes stung and watered up in a sh. What the hell are you doing!¡± Javid rushed over, his hands going straight to protect Emma¡¯s belly as he pulled her up. de stared at me like I was pure evil. You made her kneel down? You knew she¡¯s pregnant, right?!¡° is words hit me like a punch. I stumbled backward. Chapter It felt like someone was squeezing my heart. Everything got blurry. The person doing the kneeling has changed. And the person he cares about protecting¡­. That¡¯s changed too. David picked Emma up and headed straight for our bedroom. Emma tried to push back weakly. ¡°I can just sleep in the guest room¡­¡± David shut that down fast. ¡°No way. You need proper rest.¡± The door mmed behind them. Twopletely different worlds now, with me stuck on the outside. Even though I¡¯d already asked for the divorce, that scene still hurt like hell. Late that night, I was cleaning up the kitchen when Emma snuck in. ¡°Rachel, when you make hangover soup, throw in two green plums to cut the grease. Just let it cook on low for twenty minutes.¡± I didn¡¯t say anything, just made the soup like she told me. By morning, I¡¯d finished grading thest paper. When I walked out of the study, the soup bowl on the table was empty. David was grinning at Emma, talking all sweet: I knew you made this the second I tasted it. The plum vor¡¯s just right.¡± Emma gave him this shy little smile but didn¡¯t deny it. He looked up and saw me, then spotted the empty bowl by the sink. His face got all pissed off: Just gonna leave dishes sitting there? Can¡¯t even do simple stuff around the house? You¡¯re gettingzier andzier!¡± Days of nonstop exhaustion hit, and everything just went ck. I grabbed the cold counter but my legs just gave out. Rachel!¡± Emma yelled and ran over to catch me. But right before she touched me, she suddenly got knocked backward like someone punched her. couldn¡¯t even see what happened. My left cheek just exploded with pain. What the hell did you do to her?¡± Javid didn¡¯t even look at me. Didn¡¯t let me say a word. He picked Emma up and ran out without even turning around. Only me standing in the doorway. wiped my mouth and tasted blood. Barely staying on my feet, thest bit of hope in me just died. ime to get out of here. threw some stuff in a bag and went back to my dorm at school. A few dayster, David called. He was trying to sound all nice: ¡®Rachel, it¡¯s your birthday in a couple days¡­ let¡¯s do it right this time, okay?¡± Face Blind 44 ¡°Nah, I¡¯m good staying at school.¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that¡­¡± His voice got softer. ¡°Mom and Dad areing over the day after tomorrow to see you. They really miss you.¡± He paused, and there was this pleading tone. ¡°Rachel, they¡¯re getting old and their health isn¡¯t great. They can¡¯t handle any drama.¡± ¡°About us¡­ let¡¯s not tell them yet. Just help me out onest time, okay?¡± Listening to him pull all these psychology tricks, using guilt and family duty to trap me, counting on how much I once loved him and my softness to pull emotional ckmail. I gripped my phone tight, and after what felt like forever, finally forced out one word: ¡°Fine.¡± Onest time. Time to end this joke of a marriage. On my birthday, I was busy in the kitchen. The doorbell rang. When his parents saw Emma, they totally froze. Then their eyes immediately locked onto her big belly. His mom grabbed Emma¡¯s hand, staring at her huge bump, voice all excited: ¡°Emma, you¡¯re incredible! Such a strong, independent modern woman!¡± His dad kept nodding, looking super impressed: ¡°When the babyes, if you¡¯re too busy with school, we old folks can lend a hand!¡± As they talked, they both shot these judgy looks at my t stomach. I put out a whole spread of food, everything looking and smelling amazing. I wiped off my sweat and was about to sit down when Emma spoke up all sweet: ¡°Don¡¯t you think something¡¯s missing? Today¡¯s Rachel¡¯s birthday¡­¡± Only then did David say casually: ¡°Oh right, got too busy and forgot.¡± His mom immediately jumped in with a smile: ¡°Rachel, you¡¯re over thirty now. Why do you need all that sugary stuff anyway?¡± I didn¡¯t say anything, just kept picking at my food. Soon there was knocking at the door. A bunch of young faces stood outside. My students. They were holding a cake that said ¡°Happy Birthday Ms. ckwell.¡± ¡°Happy birthday, Ma¡¯am!¡± The candlelight flickered, reflecting in their honest eyes. The calm I¡¯d been forcing all day just shattered. Hot tears came pouring out without warning. All the burt, the pain, the feeling invisible-everything just broke loose. Readplete version only at F?ndNovel The kids panicked, crowding around me all clumsy: ¡°Ma¡¯am, don¡¯t cry!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I covered my mouth but the sobs leaked through my fingers anyway. Here, in this ce, the only real warmth 1 felt was from these kids. Suddenly Emma cried out from the kitchen. ¡°Ow!¡± David rushed over instantly, holding her hand all worried: ¡°How could you be so careless!¡± His parents freaked out too: Don¡¯t touch water! You might get an infection!¡± Exactly! Pregnant women have to be extra careful!¡± All three of them looked at me with silent me. His mom sighed: Rachel, housework is really your job. Emma¡¯s pregnant, it¡¯s so hard for her¡­¡± The boy behind me suddenly stepped forward, his face all red: Why should it be Ms. ckwell¡¯s job?¡± Ms. ckwell was grading our papers till three in the morningst night! Why can¡¯t she get a break?¡± Another girl couldn¡¯t help speaking up: Today¡¯s Ms. ckwell¡¯s birthday. Why should she have to wait on all of you?¡± Did any of you even remember to say happy birthday to her?¡± lis parents got all awkward, not knowing what to say after getting called out by kids. David¡¯s face went dark, looking pissed and totally busted. ut what the students said felt like this warm nket around me, even though it made everything hurt more. ven kids got it, but the family I lived with every day acted like I didn¡¯t exist. quietly turned around, picked up the cake my students brought, and walked upstairs step by step. he hardened candle wax looked just like all the blood that had drained from my heart. ate that night, David stumbled into bed next to me, reeking of alcohol. n the dark, his voice was low: I didn¡¯t tell Mom and Dad about the divorce.¡± stared at the ceiling, my voicepletely t: Did you tell them the baby Emma¡¯s carrying is yours?¡± The air went dead quiet. The next second, he sat up fast, his voice full of anger at getting called out: ¡°Rachel, you gotta be this way?¡± Face Blind 45 ¡°You¡¯re just jealous! Jealous that she¡¯s having my baby!¡± 1 closed my eyes. I didn¡¯t even have the energy to argue anymore. So that¡¯s what he thought. All my hurt, all the pain-to him it was just pathetic jealousy. ¡°Go to sleep. And stay away from me.¡±. Behind me, David let out this coldugh, mean and mocking: ¡®Don¡¯t worry. I wouldn¡¯t touch you anyway.¡± In the dark, he rolled over, his voice like ice: ¡®Soon as Mom and Dad leave tomorrow, we¡¯re going to city hall.¡± curled up on the edge of the bed, staring at the cake on the table with its hardened wax, and all those little blessing notes scattered around. My fingers shook as I picked one up. It had a smiley face and said in kid handwriting: Happy Birthday Ms. ckwell! May you soon be blessed with a healthy child! Those words hit me like poison darts, piercing straight to my heart. Everything went blurry, but the memories came back crystal clear. That one year, I¡¯d been so excited holding that pregnancy test, telling him we were having a baby. He was prepping for his promotion defense back then. His face suddenly scrunched up: Rachel, now¡¯s not the time for a kid. Get rid of it.¡± used to be a spoiled rich girl. For him, I gave up everything-myfortable life, followed him to this tiny city, became a teacher. Looking at his tired, ambitious eyes, I ended up doing what he wanted. Got on that operating table. The second those cold instruments went inside me, he held my hand and promised: Just wait a little longer. When I make it big, when I can really take care of us, I¡¯ll give you a baby!¡± The moonlight outside was harsh and white, lighting up all his shiny trophies and certificates on the wall. Distinguished Psychologist,¡± ¡°Department Head,¡± ¡°Outstanding Achievement Award¡±¡­ Now he¡¯d made it big. But that baby was growing inside some other woman. And here I was, lying in this cold, empty bed. Staring at my students¡¯ innocent wish for me to ¡°be blessed with a healthy child soon,¡± choking on that dream he¡¯d crushed so easily years ago. A bitter smile crept across my face. It tasted saltier than tears. The next morning, we took his parents to the train station. Right before getting on, his mom grabbed my hand, all serious: Rachel, you really need to have a baby soon. That¡¯s what matters.¡± His dad nodded along ¡°Yeah, learn from Emma, She¡¯s pregnant and you should take better care of her.¡± They said it like they were just tossing me some random little chore. I smiled: ¡®Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely learn¡¯ from Emma.¡± Learn how to be ¡®independent¡¯ and how to ¡®thoughtfully take care of someone else¡¯s husband.¡± lis parents¡¯ faces went stiff. They wanted to call me out, but David rushed them onto the train. he second the doors closed, David¡¯s anger just exploded. le whipped around, his face dark as hell: Rachel! What the fuck was that?! Mom and Dad hardly ever visit, and you had to give them attitude? Do you have any sense at all?!¡± le went off on me like always, so practiced at it. For original chapters go to FindN()vel looked up at him, my voice totally calm: I just told the truth. But you-in ten years of marriage, have you visited my parents even once?¡± lis face froze. For a second he looked totally busted, then he got even louder to cover it up: What kind of bullshit is that? Didn¡¯t you cut ties with your family? They don¡¯t even im you as their daughter anymore!¡± Cut ties?¡± repeated those words like I was chewing on ice. David,¡± I stared straight into his shifty eyes, saying each word slowly, ¡°is that really what you think? Or is it that in your mind, my parents were never really your parents?¡± le got defensive and blew up, his voice shooting up: Why are you bringing up old shit and fighting about this? Don¡¯t you want to get divorced anymore?¡± Face Blind 46 I stared at his freaked out face and felt this bitter smile creep across my lips. For a second, I could see my parents¡¯ heartbroken faces from years ago: ¡°Honey, he¡¯s not good for you! You¡¯re gonna suffer with him!¡± Back then, drunk on love, I thought they were just shallow and money-obsessed. I was ready to cut them offpletely just to throw myself at this guy I thought was so amazing. Ten yearster. They were right about everything. Right after we finished at city hall, some middle-aged guy in a suit came walking up all friendly. One of David¡¯s colleagues from the research institute. ¡°Professor ckwell! What a coincidence! What brings you and your wife to city hall?¡± David was quick on his feet. He put his arm around my shoulders all casual, shing that fake charming smile: ¡°Just helping Rachel take care of some paperwork.¡± ¡°You know how it is-anything my wife needs doing is important.¡± His loud voice and the warmth of his hand on my shoulder made me sick. I knew what mattered most to him-keeping up appearances. He was using me as his cover. Just as he was about to keep up the act- Latest content published on find[?]ovel A familiar figure caught my eye. Emma, with her huge belly, was looking our way, putting on this worried expression. I knew exactly why she was here. She wanted to see if we¡¯d actually gotten divorced. She was scared I¡¯d keep going after her man. David¡¯s arm around me went totally stiff. His colleague¡¯s eyes kept bouncing between Emma¡¯s big belly and me, looking confused as hell. My phone buzzed at just the right moment. ¡®Sorry, important call.¡± ! shook off David¡¯s stiff arm, brushed off the warning in his eyes, and walked off. This time, I wasn¡¯t gonna turn back. And I sure as hell wasn¡¯t covering up for his precious good name anymore. I answered the phone. Mom¡¯s familiar voice came through: ¡°Honey, yesterday was your birthday. Howe you didn¡¯t even call home? I gave you some money, go buy yourself something nice¡­¡± I took a deep breath and cut her off: ¡°I¡¯m divorcing David.¡± Dead silence on the other end. A few secondster, Mom¡¯s voice shot up: ¡°You divorced him? Good for you!¡± ¡°Just wait! I¡¯m gonna set you up right now! My daughter¡¯s so amazing-there¡¯s tons of great guys lined up!¡± Before I could even respond, I heard her excited voice calling out: ¡°Jim. Rachel finally got divorced!¡± Before I knew it, my phone was blowing up with messages. From my best friend Helen. [Your mom just called me!! FINALLY you¡¯re free from that nightmare! On my way to pick you up bestie!] [OMG wait sending you some prime catches rn, literally pick ANY of them, they¡¯re all 10s with $$$] I opened it to a screen full of gorgeous guys with different styles-yachts, private jets, fancy offices in the background¡­ I was still scrolling through the ¡°prime catches¡± photos when someone grabbed my wrist hard! David¡¯s face was dark as hell as he snatched my phone away. He leaned in close, his voice super low: ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t embarrass me here. Help me smooth this over!¡± The whispers around us were getting louder: ¡®Isn¡¯t that the famous psychologist Professor ckwell? I thought he and his wife were so happy together?¡± ¡®Who¡¯s that pregnant girl? She¡¯s crying¡­¡± David¡¯s temple was twitching: ¡®Emma¡¯s young and innocent. You have to protect her!¡± ¡®Innocent?¡± yanked my hand back, my voice quiet but cutting through all the noise: ¡®David, we just filed for divorce. Her innocence isn¡¯t my problem anymore-I¡¯m about to be your ex-wife.¡± The crowd went nuts! They just divorced? Then that belly¡­¡± ¡®Famous psychology professor knocked up a student and forced his wife to divorce him?!¡± What a fake piece of shit!¡± David¡¯s carefully put-up front got torn to pieces in front of everyone. He looked like absolute shit. Right then, there was this awful scream from the edge of the crowd: ¡®David!¡± His parents, who should¡¯ve left already, were standing just a few feet away. His mom was white as a sheet. His dad¡¯s eyes rolled back and he went down! ¡°Dad!¡± David rushed over, totally panicked. His mom grabbed David¡¯s arm, demanding answers: ¡°Whose baby is that?¡± ¡°Mom, why are you asking that now? We need to help Dad!¡± She stared at her son-the one she¡¯d been so ¡°We were teachers our whole lives. How¡¯d we end up raising someone like you¡­¡± Right then. Another sharp scream rang out: ¡°The pregnant girl¡¯s bleeding!¡± David spun around to see Emma clutching her belly, curling up in pain¡­. Face Blind 47 David¡¯s heart got torn in half right there! On one side was his unconscious dad, on the other was his suffering girlfriend and their unborn baby. He looked up instinctively, his eyes frantically scanning the crowd. Looking for that person who¡¯d always been there for the past ten years, cleaning up his messes no matter what shit he got himself into. ¡°Rachel, help me- He stopped mid-sentence. Everywhere he looked, I was nowhere to be found. Where I¡¯d been standing, there were only disgusted stares from the crowd. The person he¡¯d always taken for granted but never respected, had vanishedpletely when he needed her most. David¡¯s heart just sank. While he was dealing with his shitstorm all alone, I was calmly wheeling my packed suitcase out of that house that had trapped me for ten years. A shiny ck luxury car was parked on the street. The window rolled down, showing Helen¡¯s face: ¡°Get in! Time to show you what actual good men look like!¡± When we drove past city hall, the crowd was still there. We quickly passed all those people pointing and gossiping. David¡¯s carefully built reputation, the bnce he¡¯d tried so hard to keep¡­ None of my problem anymore. Chapters first released on f?ndnovel Before leaving, I stopped by the principal¡¯s office. ¡®Ms. ckwell, you¡¯re doing so well here. Why do you suddenly want to leave?¡± The principal looked really bummed out. I handed him my resignation letter. Before I could say anything, his phone dinged with a news alert: BREAKING: Famous Psychologist David ckwell Caught in Sex Scandal-Suspected of Cheating and Getting Student Pregnant!] The principal nced at it, his expression went through a whole range of emotions, and finally he just let out this long sigh: You really never know what people are like behind closed doors¡­¡± Walking out of the office building, I suddenly stopped. Out front of the main building, my students were all crammed together like sardines. All those young faces looked so sad to see me go. ¡°Ms. ckwell¡­¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t leave¡­¡± Were gonna miss you so much¡­¡± A few of the girls had tears in their eyes. Looking at their genuine faces, all the hurt I¡¯d been holding back hit me right in the throat. I¡¯m just changing jobs to somewhere else,¡± I tried to smile, my voice cracking a little. ¡°I promise I¡¯lle back to visit you guys.¡± Truth was, I should¡¯ve left ages ago. I just couldn¡¯t bear to leave these kids. On the ride home, ¡°David ckwell¡± kept shing on my screen. I kept a straight face and just ignored every call. Helen was all excited: ¡°You have no idea-my brother insisted on opening a factory in this dump of a town years ago. God knows what he was thinking. Every year around this time The makes mee here on business, and he always tells me to bring you birthday presents¡­¡± ¡°But perfect timing, right? Soon as your mom called, I rushed over to rescue you¡­¡± Listening to her talk, I actually closed my eyes and fell asleep peacefully. A few hourster, the car turned down a familiar tree-lined street and pulled up in front of this fancy house. That was the Morris estate. Mom saw me get out and rushed over to hug me tight: ¡°You¡¯re home! You¡¯re finally home!¡± Dad was standing on the porch, and even his usually serious face had this relieved smile. The lights inside were warm and bright, and all the staff looked genuinely happy to see me. ¡°Ms. Morris, wee home!¡± My eyes got all watery. After ten years of feeling lost, all that hurt and coldness just melted away in the warmth of home. After resting at home for a few days, Helen came bursting in: ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to my family¡¯s forest preserve! Get some fresh air and wash off all that bad energy!¡± I was so used to being busy all the time that sitting around was driving me crazy, so I said yes. The car drove deep into this lush forest preserve. Right after we got out, this tall figure walked out from behind a wooden cabin. Face Blind 48 He was in a dark casual outfit, with this calm, refined vibe. His features still looked like I remembered from back in the day. ¡°Steven!¡± Helen waved. ¡°Look who I brought!¡± The guy¡¯s eyesnded on me, and his deep gaze immediately warmed up. ¡°Rachel,¡± his voice was low and smooth, with this tiny tremor you could barely catch, ¡°Long time no see.¡± ¡°Steven Coleman?¡± That neighbor boy who always looked out for me was now this mature, stable man. I remembered he used to say he loved kids, so I just asked without thinking: ¡°Yeah, almost ten years! Your kids must be in elementary school by now, right?¡± Steven¡¯s smile kind of froze. ¡°Pfft- Helen couldn¡¯t help cracking up, nudging my arm and grinning all mischievous: ¡°My brother¡¯s like the family¡¯s biggest problem! He¡¯s definitely a catch with money, but he¡¯s also a certified old bachelor!¡± ¡°He¡¯s got some heartless girl stuck in his head, and he¡¯s been waiting ten years for her. Who¡¯s got time to get married and have kids?¡± I was totally shocked, looking up to meet Steven¡¯s intense gaze. That look was gentle but restrained, with this heavy weight behind it. Suddenly, all these old memories came flooding back. In elementary school when I got picked on, he stood in front of me. In middle school when I twisted my ankle, he carried me all the way home. After graduation when I was all excited about chasing David, he went quiet for the longest time, then just gently messed up my hair: Rachel, as long as you¡¯re happy.¡± Turns out all that protection I took for granted wasn¡¯t just what I was owed. Turns out while I was running myself ragged for David-for a whole ten years. There was someone else. Deep in time, quietly keeping a way home open for me. Latest content published on ?ovelFind My chest suddenly ached, this warm feeling I couldn¡¯t even describe washing over me. Rain started pattering outside the cabin. Inside, the firece was crackling with warm light. Steven rolled up his sleeves and expertly cleaned the fish he¡¯d just caught. He put the fish on a stick and turned it over the fire. The fat dripped down, making this tempting sizzling sound. The firelight picked out his calm profile. sat by the fire hugging my knees, but my mind kept wandering. For the past ten years, I was always alone in that smoky kitchen. David¡¯s pickyments still echoed in my cars: ¡°This food is too basic.¡± Even that pale, shaky morning after my miscarriage, he frowned and said to me: ¡°I have an important lecture today. Don¡¯t make breakfast toote.¡± I had to force myself to get up. In that empty, cold kitchen, I cooked with love, only to get disgust and betrayal in return. ¡°Smells amazing! Steven, you¡¯ve still got it!¡± Helen dramatically sniffed the air. Steven handed me the golden, crispy fish: ¡°Careful, it¡¯s hot.¡± Then he went to a storage cab in the corner and pulled out some cans. Helen¡¯s eyes lit up as she came over: ¡°Oh! Caviar, chickpea sd-all Rachel¡¯s favorites!¡± She nudged Steven¡¯s arm yfully: My brother¡¯s so hardheaded.¡± He throws out these cans when they expire and gets new ones, like clockwork.¡± And this fish is the kind you love. He went through hell to ship them from overseas, then built this whole pond to copy their natural habitat¡­¡± looked at Steven. n the warm yellow light, his thickshes were down, his profile gentle and quiet. No arguing, no exining. ust the soft ¡°click¡± of opening cans and the crackling of the fire. Like he was silently telling the story of ten years of waiting that I¡¯dpletely forgotten about. Ten years. My chest suddenly got all tight, like I couldn¡¯t catch my breath. This burning feeling shot up to my eyes. looked down fast, pretending the smoke had gotten in my eyes. Face Blind 49 After spending the night at the forest preserve, we got back home to find a bunch of reporters crowding our front door. They were almost shoving their mics through the car window: ¡°Ms. ckwell! Did you cheat on your husband and cause the divorce?¡± ¡°There are rumors about your rtionship with CEO Steven Coleman. Is it true?¡± Sharp questions came at me like daggers, pushed open the car door and got instantly blinded by camera shes. ¡°Back off!¡± A deep, cold voice cut through the noise. Steven¡¯s tall figure stepped in front of me, his powerful presence making the whole chaotic scene freeze for a second. What the hell are you idiots talking about!¡± Helen was so pissed she was jumping up and down, pointing right at the reporters: It was that asshole David who cheated on his student, got her pregnant, and forced my girl to divorce him! Now he¡¯s got the nerve to flip the script? Seriously?!¡± Rachel!¡± David showed up in a wrinkled suit, his eyes bloodshot, his face twisted with hate and exhaustion. He stared hard at Steven and me, his voice shooting up: Follow current nov?ls on find?novel My dad¡¯s a vegetable because of her! He¡¯s still in the ICU!¡± He pointed at Steven and me, his words dripping with venom: My dad¡¯s fighting for his life, and she¡¯s shacking up with some other guy!¡± If that¡¯s not cheating, what is?¡± e was expertly ying on everyone¡¯s sympathy and anger, making himself look like the tragic victim. Guy really was a famous psychologist. You¡¯re full of shit!¡± Helen was shaking with rage, about to charge at him. ¡°You lying piece of garbage!¡± The reporters went crazy, cameras shing like strobe lights. Enough!¡± teven held back Helen with one hand while keeping me safely behind him with the other. His cold gaze swept over all the rowdy reporters, his powerful presence instantly shutting down all the chaos. he whole scene went eerily quiet. Looking at David¡¯s pathetic, manic state, I felt nothing but ice-cold emptiness: Emma¡¯s baby is yours. And your dad copsing from anger? That¡¯s got nothing to do with me.¡± David let out a bitterugh: The baby¡¯s gone now-no evidence left! Rachel, you can pin whatever bullshit you want on me!¡± ¡°You¡¯re with this guy for his money, making up lies about me, destroying my family, and now you¡¯re trying to flip the script!¡± Steven¡¯s eyes wentpletely cold. He pulled a gold embossed business card from his suit pocket and handed it to the nearest reporter. ¡°I¡¯m Steven Coleman. Ms. ckwell is a very important friend of mine.¡± ¡°About Mr. ckwell¡¯s mean nder and attacks on Ms. ckwell¡¯s reputation-herwyers are gonna take care of it all.¡± His gaze was sharp as he looked around at everyone: ¡°If you really care about the truth, go ahead and follow the legal stuff.¡± ¡°But right now, get out of the way!¡± Back home, Dad¡¯s face was dark with rage as he mmed his hand on the table: This is too much!¡± Mom held me tight, her voice shaking: ¡®Honey, I¡¯m so sorry you had to go through that! We¡¯re not letting this slide!¡± Steven looked grim as he called hiswyer: Mr. Carson, it¡¯s me. Get the papers ready right now. We¡¯re suing David ckwell for nder-trashing her reputation. Hit him with everything we¡¯ve got.¡± Watching my family and Steven getting so worked up and angry for me, I bit my lip: If this whole thing¡¯s getting so big, would you gonna be embarrassed?¡± Face Blind 50 But Mom and Dad weren¡¯t scared at all: ¡°Scared of what?¡± ¡°Exactly! The one who should be embarrassed is David ckwell! That lying piece of shit! Our family has nothing to hide. We¡¯re getting the justice we deserve!¡± Helen linked her arm through mine, totally fired up. ¡°He¡¯s the one in the wrong! The more you back down, the more he¡¯ll walk all over you! This time you¡¯ve got us, and my brother. We¡¯re gonna destroy him!¡± A few dayster. Steven got a phone call and his face went dark immediately. ¡°Steven, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Helen asked, picking up on it right away. Steven¡¯s brow was furrowed: There¡¯s some trouble at the factory. Someone reported us for exceeding pollution standards. It¡¯s already blowing up online, saying we¡¯re destroying the environment.¡± Helen jumped up: ¡®How¡¯s that even possible? Our environmental standards have always been the best in the industry! Someone¡¯s just making shit up!¡± My heart sank. I took a deep breath and made the call. David¡¯s smug voice came through: ¡®Well, well, Ms. ckwell finally decided to call me?¡± The thing with Steven¡¯s factory-that was you, wasn¡¯t it?!¡± ¡®Rachel, this is just the beginning. You teamed up with outsiders to back me into a corner. You should¡¯ve seen thising!¡± You¡¯re disgusting!¡± I was shaking with rage. ¡®I¡¯m disgusting?¡± His voice shot up, full of venom, You betrayed me first! You destroyed everything I had!¡± He paused, then his tone suddenly got all gentle: ¡®Rachel, just apologize in public and get the Colemans to drop the case. I might think about forgiving you-maybe not divorce you.¡± ¡®Not divorcing me?¡± almostughed at how shameless he was being. That¡¯s right!¡± His voice had this crazy, possessive edge, like I was still that same Rachel he could push around. ¡®Juste back, admit you were wrong publicly, and we can go back to how things used to be¡­¡± ¡°David, you fucking asshole! Keep dreaming!¡± Helen came charging over out of nowhere, grabbed my phone, and started screaming into it: ¡°Who the hell do you think you are! ¡°My girl marrying you was the WORST FUCKING LUCK ever! And you think she¡¯s gonnae back and take care of you? And your miscarried side piece? Take a good look at yourself you piece of TRASH, YOU SCUM, FUCK YOU!¡± Helen went off like a machine gun. All we could hear from David¡¯s end was heavy breathing Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel After Helen finished ripping him apart, she didn¡¯t wait for him to respond and just mmed the phone down. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t waste a single word on that piece of shit!¡± I handed the recording of my call with David over to thewyer. Thewyer listened carefully and frowned: ¡°Ms. ckwell, the recording has him admitting his motives and that he wanted revenge, but he doesn¡¯t t-out admit he set up the factory pollution. As direct evidence, this is pretty weak.¡± I felt a bit disappointed. It¡¯s okay.¡± steven looked at me, his eyes gentle but determined: My factory¡¯s got all the legit environmental permits, and our testing processes are open. The results will be out soon. Rumors fall apart when faced with facts.¡± Steven, Helen,¡± felt so guilty, Because of my mess, I¡¯ve caused you guys so much trouble¡­¡± Don¡¯t be silly!¡± Helen hugged my shoulders warmly. ¡°We¡¯re family, after all. Right now, the main thing is helping you win this divorce-getting rid of that scumbag once and or all!¡± A few dayster, on some book discussion livestream. David lookedpletely wrecked as he choked up in front of the camera: During this time, I¡¯ve been through the darkest moment of my life.¡± But I still believe in love, my wife Rachel¡­¡± I want to tell her, I was too busy before and ignored your feelings. No matter how long you¡¯ve been away, you always have toe home¡­¡± he TV screen suddenly went ck. Ielen angrily turned off the TV: Steven, are we really just gonna sit here and take this?¡± A scumbag like this needs to get what he deserves!¡± was still reying what I¡¯d just seen in my head. He¡¯d talked emotional about their past happiness, making himself out to be this devoted, loving husband. He even hinted that ¡°outside forces¡± had destroyed their marriage. took a deep breath: ¡®Haven¡¯t you guys noticed Emma disappeared after her miscarriage?¡± With her drama-queen personality, she¡¯d definitely be out there ying the victim. Why haven¡¯t we seen any sign of her?¡± Face Blind 51 Steven quickly tracked down where Emma was. ¡°Emma didn¡¯t miscarry. She gave birth to a baby boy at a private hospital.¡± ¡°The baby has severe congenital heart disease. The surgery costs a fortune, which is why David¡¯s been doing all these side gigs to make money.¡± I held that report, my fingers ice cold. David, oh David. Is this what you use your psychology skills for? Making up one fancy lie after the other? We found Emma at the hospital. she was skin and bones, pressed against the ss window of the NICU, staring nkly at that tiny figure hooked up to all those tubes in the incubator. Helen wanted to confront her, but I stopped her. walked over and said calmly: You could testify that the baby is his¡­¡± mma cut me off with a coldugh: That would just prove my kid¡¯s a bastard, wouldn¡¯t it? I¡¯m not stupid. He¡¯s a famous professor. Eventually we¡¯ll have enough money to treat my baby¡­¡± Checktest chapters at Find1Novel teven cut in on her: Your baby¡¯s in a really bad way. He might not have much time left.¡± If you agree to help us right now, we can get the surgery going right now. We¡¯ll cover all the costs.¡± Her bony fingers gripped the ss, watching her weak child inside. inally, tears streaming down her face, she nodded. A few hourster, the surgery was sessful. ¡®mma was crying with joy, but when thewyers and reporters showed up, she suddenly got scared and backed down: The baby isn¡¯t David¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s just mine¡­¡± David smirked, but before he could get too smug- LAP! A sharp p cracked across his face! Everyone turned in shock. here was David¡¯s mom, holding her husband¡¯s portrait, eyes red and raw, her whole body shaking: Get on your knees!¡± Her voice was broken: Your father woke up before he died and told me Emma admitted the baby was yours! He¡­ he died from the shock you gave him!¡± ¡°Mom, what are you talking about? Dad was out of it. How can you believe what he said?¡± Right then. The operating room doors burst open! A nurse ran out in a panic: ¡°Emma¡¯s family! The baby started bleeding in his lungs after the surgery¡­ we couldn¡¯t save him¡­he¡¯s goner¡± All the color drained from Emma¡¯s face like her soul had been ripped out. Few secondster, she flipped out and lunged at David: It¡¯s you, it¡¯s all you! Karma, karma!¡± She screamed at all the cameras: The baby was his! He LIED to everyone! Now karma¡¯s here and my baby¡¯s gone! Gone!¡± Cameras shed like crazy. David lunged toward me, but Steven blocked him. n court, my divorce case had rock-solid evidence. David lost everything-left with nothing, his reputation destroyed. le tried to corner me outside the courthouse: Rachel! I was wrong! I was so wrong! Please forgive me¡­¡± Vith my arm linked through Steven¡¯s, I calmly looked past his pathetic, groveling figure, Lot stopping for even a second. orgiveness? hat would be betraying my past and disrespecting my future. yearter, at the Coleman family garden. Ielen was showing off the baby clothes she¡¯d bought for her future nephew: I heard Emma wentpletely insane. Turns out she already had depression and was studying psychology to treat herself. Too bad she ran into that scumbag¡­ And your ex-husband got kicked out of his profession. I heard he¡¯s got prostate cancer or something¡­¡± smiled slightly. ¡°That¡¯s all in the past. Why bring them up?¡± teven came over and gently ced his hand on my belly, feeling our new life moving inside. ll that betrayal and heartache¡­ ike old dreams, all swept away by today¡¯s sunshine. teal happiness, is having someone treasure you, building you a solid safe haven with actions, not lies. ind that man kneeling in the dirt, along with his pathetic regret, has long been forgotten in some corner of time. Nobody cares anymore. Face Blind 52 ke Hartwell and I had been at war since we were five. Kindergarten? He pantsed me in front of everyone. I ripped his gold star off the ssroom chart. lementary? He sabotaged my backpack. I filled his cleats with sand-payback¡¯s a BITCH. High school was worse. The bastard switched his entire academic track just topete with me. Every test, every grade, every DAMN thing became a battle. Crushing you makes my whole fucking day,¡± he¡¯d smirk. o I made sure his thirsty DMs to the popr girls¡¯went viral. Got him suspended, ruined his r¨¦putation. Worth it. ifteen years of this toxic cycle until I finally snapped. hen graduation hit, I picked schools down south, specifically avoiding his East Coast targets. loving day, he blocked my path, eyes like ice: ¡°Running away, coward? Hope you fucking die out there and stay dead.¡± gripped my suitcase and swore I¡¯d never see his face again. ive yearster, we collided at West Valley High¡¯s 50th reunion. Well, well, well. Look who¡¯s back. So what are you now-the janitor? Jesus, without me around to motivate you, you really became a total loser. What¡¯s next, od stamps?¡± ere¡¯s what he didn¡¯t know: I wasn¡¯t there to clean anything. he whole reunion? A charity fundraiser for ME. e ditched every interview just toe flex on me. ke, you¡¯ve got this wrong. I¡¯m not here to-¡± e cut me off mid-sentence. Skr, when are you gonna just ADMIT you¡¯re a loser? That stubborn bitch attitude hasn¡¯t changed one bit!¡± ure, his face had lost that baby fat, but inside? Same old ke-had to win everything, had to prove he was better than me. inior year I won State for my architectural model. He said I only got it ¡¯cause my mom knew the judges. Then I chose UCLA for design school, he said I was chickening out, too scared topete on the East Coast where the real programs were. Face it, Skr-you¡¯re WEAK. Always have been!¡± stared at those familiarpetitive eyes and felt myself grin. eah well¡­ I¡¯m dying anyway. After fifteen years of this bullshit, might as well go one more round. looked him dead in the face and pointed at the International Design Awards poster behind him. ke, what makes you think me being here means you¡¯ve won?¡± Checktest chapters at find(?)ovel le actually blinked-probably wasn¡¯t expecting me to fight back. hen he just cracked up. ¡°YOU? You think you¡¯re good enough for internationalpetition?¡± Why not? Pretty obvious, isn¡¯t it?¡± Tra already killing it in the design world. And you¡¯re¡­ what, fetching coffee?¡± He threw his arms up, making sure everyone could see he was sessful, I was trash. Fifteen yearster, he was finally the winner Our old ssmates started gathering around like it was some reality show drama. Damn, is that Skr? She looks rough.¡± ¡°Girl was a straight genius back in the day. What a waste.¡± ke¡¯s grin got nastier: ¡°Y¡¯all don¡¯t even know. She HAD to go to California, HAD to start her own studio. Five yearster? Can¡¯t even keep a regr job,¡± Right there in front of everyone-teachers, ssmates, random parents-he was shredding what was left of my dignity, My fingers went white gripping the medical assistance form Principal Rodriguez had given me My mouth tasted like copper. ¡°Skr, did you finish your aid application?¡± Principal Rodriguez spotted me and hurried over, all worried. My face went red with embarrassment. I didn¡¯t want my ssmates knowing about my situation. Especially not ke, Face Blind 53 Brittany Hayes, who¡¯d been eating up this whole shitshow, snatched the papers right out of my hands and started reading out loud like she was hosting TMZ.. ¡°Skr West¡­ ALS diagnosis¡­ fundraising campaign?¡± The second she said it, people started snickering. ¡°ALS? Girl, you look fine. Can¡¯t even fake sick right.¡± Brittany looked at me like I was actual garbage, ke¡¯s eyes went wide. He lunged forward and grabbed my medical records, scanning them like he was looking for typos. Brittany let out this uglyugh: ¡°Skr, haven¡¯t seen you in forever and you¡¯re really out here scamming charity money?¡± If you¡¯re broke just say that. Get on your knees and maybe us sessful people will Venmo you some change.¡± Hearing that, ke¡¯s whole body rxed, then his voice went arctic: Skr, you¡¯re absolutely pathetic.¡± I watched him rip up my application, piece by piece, panic flooding my chest. The money from my design work was basically gone-medical bills ate everything. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f¦É?dn¦Ïvel If I hadn¡¯t run into Principal Rodriguez at Cedars-Sinai that day, I would¡¯ve already quit treatment. The only reason I could still walk and talk was thanks to the faculty donation fund. I¡¯d tried telling Principal Rodriguez this disease was like throwing money into a ck hole-don¡¯t drag the whole schoolmunity into this mess. But he insisted on fighting for me. Said I used to make West Valley proud, and they weren¡¯t giving up on me now. started shuffling toward the parking lot, my legs getting stiffer and more awkward with every step. Brittany suddenly shoved me hard from behind. went down face-first onto the asphalt. Tried twisting around to get up but my body wasn¡¯t cooperating-just got covered in dirt and gravel,pletely humiliating. ke¡¯s hand twitched, but his face stayed cold: ¡°Skr, faking disabled won¡¯t get you shit.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a pathetic waste of space. Nobody should feel sorry for your ass.¡± With that, ke looked at me like I was roadkill. ¡°Want money? Fine. Hartwell Design is cutting a check to West Valley for ten million.¡± Everyone started freaking out, calling ke so generous, such a sess story. Brittany pressed up against him, making sure he got a full view of everything. ke acted like she was invisible, just stared me down. ¡°But every penny goes to current students who actually deserve help-better cafeteria, new dorms.¡± Skr, you get NOTHING ¡± ¡°ke, wait, let me exin-¡± Principal Rodriguez tried jumping in, but ke was already walking away with half the reunion following him like groupies. Principal Rodriguez looked panicked: ¡°Skr, honey, let me figure something else out.¡± ¡°Your condition¡­ next week¡¯s design finals, maybe we should-¡± Everyone knew designing the new academic building was me and ke¡¯s childhood dream. Our old ssrooms were falling apart-paint peeling, windows that rattled every time a truck drove by. We used to swear that someday, when we were real architects, we¡¯d build something beautiful and solid for West Valley. Every night after study hall, we¡¯d secretlypete; sketching draft after draft, imagining seeing our drawingse to life. I brushed gravel off my zer and smiled sadly: ¡°I¡¯ve got maybe a month left. ke¡¯s right-those kids need that money way more than someone who¡¯s already dying.¡± ¡°Please thank him for me.¡± Principal Rodriguez¡¯s lips trembled before he sighed deeply. I dragged my stiff legs toward the bus stop, California sun beating down till I felt dizzy. Right as I reached the bench, everything went ck-I¡¯d forgotten to eat anything all day. Blood sugar crashed and I just copsed. Face Blind 54 ¡°MOMMY! Thatdy¡¯s DEAD!¡± My forehead cracked against the curb and blood started gushing. Scared the hell out of some little kid nearby. His Coke went sshing everywhere. 1 desperately needed sugar, so I started crawling toward it on my hands, inch by inch. Saw all that Coke on the ground and just went for it-started licking it right off the pavement. In that moment, I had one thought: I cannot die before next week¡¯s finals. ¡°Jesus CHRIST, Skr-look at yourself. Licking soda off the ground?¡± A ck Te pulled up and ke¡¯s face was crystal clear in the tinted window. This is exactly why you¡¯ll never beat me.¡± ke sounded smug but his eyes had this weird look I couldn¡¯t read. All I could do was keeppping up that Coke, trying to get my blood sugar back up. Skr, when the charity scam didn¡¯t work you went straight to begging on the street. And I used to think you were actuallypetition.¡± ke looked disgusted and disappointed, throwing a bunch of twenties at me. Take the cash and get lost. Stop embarrassing West Valley.¡± I numbly reached for the bills. This could buy me more drawing paper to finish my design. But that made him even more pissed: Skr, do you have ANY self-respect left? You really gonna act like a damn DOG?¡± ¡°Wanna be a dog so bad? Be MY dog!¡± He started getting out to drag me up but Brittany stopped him. ¡°Maybe Skr¡¯s going through something. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to study Genesis¡¯s portfolio?¡± I heard Genesis entered thispetition too. Go work on your designs-I¡¯ve got Skr.¡± At Genesis¡¯s name, ke¡¯s whole face lit up. ¡°Meeting Genesis in person¡­ I¡¯d literally die happy.¡± Then he looked at me and snorted. This pathetic loser isn¡¯t worth my time.¡± Skr, you better get on your knees and thank Brittany.¡± Soon as their car disappeared, Brittany¡¯s sweet act droppedpletely. She crouched down and grabbed my chin, eyes full of pure venom. If you hadn¡¯t posted ke¡¯s DMs and gotten him suspended, we would¡¯ve been together YEARS ago.¡± I actually startedughing. ke spent junior year simping for her and she never gave him the time of day. Iughed mockingly. ¡°Who was it that said ¡®simps don¡¯t deserve sympathy?¡± ¡°Who trashed ke¡¯s gifts and made him look like a total idiot in front of everyone?¡± ¡°Now that ke¡¯s doing well you¡¯re gonna pin this shit on me? You¡¯re sick.¡± ¡°BITCH, shut your mouth!¡± Shepletely snapped. Her Louboutin came down HARD on my hand. Pain exploded through me-I heard my fingers crack. Then she got this sick smile: ¡°Love your Coke so much, huh?¡± ¡°Let me hook you UP!¡± My stomach dropped. I tried fighting back. But my muscles were too far gone. Brittany had her friends hold me down while she grabbed a whole case of Coke from someone¡¯s car. ¡°Dump it ALL down her throat. Let our old buddy drink up!¡± They forced massive amounts of liquid down my throat and up my nose. My stomach felt like it was full of broken ss. I coughed until I was puking blood. Kept trying to stand but my hands and legs felt like they belonged to someone else. Over and over, I¡¯d push myself up just to copse again. I couldn¡¯t take anymore and passed out. Readplete version only at Find?Novel When I woke up, I was back in the hospital bed. ¡°Ms. West, your ALS is moving fast, and what happened today just made everything worse.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid¡­ you¡¯ve got maybe a week. Tops.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s anything you gotta do, do it now.¡± With that, the doctor couldn¡¯t handle looking at me anymore and just walked out. Anything I gotta do? Thinking about that crumbling old building, ke¡¯s cold stare as he walked away¡­ My determination only got stronger. I was gonna win onest time. Face Blind 55 I forced my palm open-a few blood-soaked twenties. Didn¡¯t want to owe ke anything when I died, but this was literally all I had. I got a nurse to buy drawing paper so I could finish my design. ALS is fucked up because it steals your body piece by piece. Couldn¡¯t walk anymore, so I drew from my wheelchair. When my right hand went numb, I used my elbow, my teeth, whatever worked. Day before the finals, when I finally scrawled ¡°Genesis¡± in the signature box, Iughed and cried at the same time. Follow current nov?ls on find?novel staring at my finished design, tears streaming. This was myst thing in this world. Hoped it could keep protecting those kids long after I was gone. o make tomorrow¡¯spetition, I forced myself through discharge paperwork. hat¡¯s when I saw ke babying Brittany through some follow-up appointment. Don¡¯t me Skr-she was having a breakdown, hitting me was understandable.¡± rittany showed off her twisted ankle: ¡°Even though she nearly crippled me, don¡¯t go after her for my sake, ke.¡± We¡¯re all old friends. I don¡¯t want drama between you two.¡± A ut I had days left-no point wasting energy on her bullshit. tarted rolling away when I heard ke¡¯s furious yell: SKYLAR! Get your ass over here!¡± pretended not to hear but he grabbed my wheelchair. Skr, you¡¯ve let me down so bad.¡± is voice like ice: ¡°Brittany tried to HELP you and you attacked her. Do you have any conscience left?¡± What kind of trash upbringing did you have?¡± Apologize to Brittany RIGHT NOW or I¡¯m calling the cops!¡± Looking at this face I used to know so well, I actuallyughed. Make the victim apologize to their attacker? Go fuck yourself!¡± tried wheeling around him. But Brittany snatched my portfolio. Skr honey, I forgive you for hurting me, but why are you at the hospital?¡± ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re not stealing medical supplies because the charity scam failed.¡± My heart raced: ¡°Give that BACK!¡± I lunged for it but Brittany threw herself dramatically on the floor, starting sobbing Skr, straling is wrong! Even if you kill me, I can¡¯t watch you be a criminalt Everyone stared and whispered. The whole hallway filled with people shit talking me. ¡°That¡¯s MY work-give it back¡± I kept reaching desperately but ke shoved me back. te flipped through my sketches, face getting uglier by the second. Then looked at me with pure hatred. Skr, I waspletely wrong about you.¡± ke, listen, that¡¯s actually my-¡± SHUT UP!¡± ke screamed and threw the papers at me. Do you know whose work you STOLE? Do you know what Genesis means to me?¡± She¡¯s a fucking goddess and I won¡¯t let your dirty hands touch her work!¡± He pointed at me, shaking with rage: ¡°I kept giving you chances. I told Brittany not to press charges, but you¡¯re just rotten to the core,¡± Since you have no shame, I¡¯ll show everyone what kind of person you really are.¡± ke grabbed my bandaged hand and violently ripped off the gauze. ¡°Love faking injuries for sympathy? Let¡¯s see you fake THIS!¡± The agony made everything go ck and I went limp. But ke frozepletely. Under my bandage was a raw, bloody crater where my palm used to be. Face Blind 56 ke stumbled backward like he¡¯d been pped, his eyes going red. ¡°Skr, what the hell happened to you?¡± I couldn¡¯t hold on anymore and passed out again. When I came to, I was back in my hospital bed. ke was staring at me with this mix of guilt and confusion I¡¯d never seen before. ¡°Sky, how¡¯d you get hurt this bad?¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you TELL me?¡± I didn¡¯t have time for his bullshit. I could feel my body shutting down faster now. Maybe tomorrow¡¯s finals would be myst day breathing. ¡°My sketches!¡± I frantically looked around: ¡°Where are my designs?¡± ke¡¯s eyes shifted away from mine. I stared him down: ¡°Where¡¯s my stuff?¡± ke looked all helpless and shit: ¡°Sky,e on, quit ying games.¡± ¡°You need money? I¡¯ll help you. But I can¡¯t watch you steal-I won¡¯t let you destroy yourself like this.¡± ¡°Those sketches were rough drafts, probably Genesis¡¯s throwaway work. I already¡­ burned them.¡± Burned them? I felt like I¡¯d been hit by lightning. Tears started pouring down my face. My life¡¯s work. The time I¡¯d stolen back from death itself. Myst wish on this earth. Gone. ¡°WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT! ke! WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT!¡± Ipletely lost it, practically screaming: ¡°How DARE you destroy my work!¡± ¡°GIVE IT BACK! Give me my designs back!¡± ke just looked at me with pity. ¡°I¡¯ll personally apologize to Genesis for you stealing her work.¡± ¡°And if Brittany presses charges for you attacking her, I¡¯ll take the heat for you.¡± Seeing my dead, hopeless stare, ke got this panicked look. ¡°You¡¯re hurt and emotional, I get it. Just¡­ rest up, okay?¡± With that, he got up to leave. ¡°ke.¡± His steps faltered and I saw him wince. We¡¯ve got plenty of time ahead of us. You made some bad choices-111 help you get back on track.¡± Then he was gone. I stared at the ceiling,pletely numb. Wave after wave of pure devastation crashed over me. I wanted to scream, to rage, to crawl out of this bed and start drawing again. But my muscles were so far gone I couldn¡¯t even cry anymore. All that pain and fury with nowhere to go, just exploding inside my useless body. I couldn¡¯t even shed a tear. In the end, after fighting so hard for so long¡­ I still lost. All I could do was make these pathetic ¡°ahhhh¡± sounds while my body convulsed. Next time I woke up, crying voices filled the room. ¡°She¡¯s only twenty-three years old! Doctor, please, you gotta help her!¡± She saved my ass-I¡¯ll do whatever it takes! Take my blood, my organs, anything!¡± ¡°There¡¯s gotta be something you can do! You¡¯re supposed to be a doctor, right? DO SOMETHING!¡± ¡°Everyone back off-I¡¯m the oldest here, use me!¡± Principal Rodriguez and a bunch of students surrounded my bed, sobbing their hearts out, keeping bowing to the doctor. These kids I¡¯d been helping over the years were crying like their world was ending. Read full story at Find~Novel ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ me the doctor¡­¡± Hearing my voice, Principal Rodriguez¡¯s eyes went red: ¡°Skr, all these years you¡¯ve been the one keeping food on these kids¡¯ tables, keeping them in school.¡± How is this fair? Good people should get good things.¡± slowly turned toward the kids and suddenly smiled. Genesis could lose, but Skr? Hell no. struggled to sit up and looked at Principal Rodriguez: I¡¯m entering that designpetition. As Skr West.¡± Face Blind 57 Next day, finals went down as nned. ke showed up looking like a GQ model in this perfectly tailored charcoal suit. Brittany was hanging off him in some designer dress, constantly adjusting his tie and staring at him like he was Chris Evans. The main screen kept cycling through all the finalist designs. Suddenly, people started freaking out. Someone pointed at the signature in the bottom corner, voice shaking with excitement: ¡°Holy shit! It really IS Genesis! She actually entered!¡± ¡°Oh my GOD, I¡¯m looking at actual Genesis work! She¡¯s my hero!¡± I heard Genesis never does public appearances-no photos, nothing. Think she¡¯ll actually show up?¡± All the chatter reached ke¡¯s ears. He straightened up automatically, looking like a kid on Christmas morning. He didn¡¯t just respect her talent-he worshipped everything about her. All her prize money always went to charity, helping tons of people. Genesis lived for others, always working to make people smile. She was this shining light he looked up to, the thing that kept him going through dark times. Brittany clung to his arm, voice all sweet and fake: ¡°ke baby, you¡¯re totally gonna win today! Show that loser Skr who¡¯s boss!¡± ke nodded absently, but his mind kept drifting to how I looked when he left the hospital-like I was already dead inside. His chest felt tight. While he was spacing out, something on the big screen caught his eye. This one design looked rough as hell-no fancy 3D modeling, noputer graphics, just simple pencil sketches. Brick walls, wooden window frames, and on the windowsill were two crooked little marks, exactly like the old ssroom window where we used to carve our vin-loss tallies. Whose design is this? So basic and ugly!¡± Brittany nced at the screen with total disgust. Shut up.¡± ke snapped at her, eyes glued to the screen. That window frame curve, those brick details, even the spacing between the marks on the sill-everything matched his memories of our old ssroom perfectly. He frowned, getting this sinking feeling in his gut. Something about those pencil strokes looked so familiar, so stubborn. The anxiety kept building. ¡°And now, let¡¯s give a huge round of apuse for thispetition¡¯s most anticipated designer-five-time international gold medalist, Genesis!¡± ¡°Due to health issues, Genesis can¡¯t be here in person, but she¡¯s prepared a video message for us.¡± ke¡¯s heart was pounding. First time ever being this close to his idol. Chapter n But somehow he felt terrified too. No way. Just a coincidence.¡± Stop being paranoid.¡± ke muttered to himself like he was having a breakdown. The spotlight hit the main screen. Everything went dark for a few seconds, then lit back up. Instead of Genesis¡¯s face like everyone expected, just a hand appeared. A hand so thin you could see every vein, knuckles white from gripping a special pencil, slowly sketching on paper. She drew incredibly slowly, like every line took everything she had. ke¡¯s breathing stopped. That hand had a light brown scar on the palm. ke¡¯s eyes went wide. He knew that scar better than his own face. Ten years ago in art ss, that day we fought over thest set of paints, neither of us would back down. During the struggle, his X-Acto knife sliced my palm. Blood everywhere, but I didn¡¯t even cry. Just stared at him and said: ¡°ke, I¡¯m gonna beat you someday!¡± Later he secretly bought band-aids but was too chicken to give them to me. Just watched me clean it with rubbing alcohol. Never thought that scar would stick around. SKYLAR!¡± Read full story at fin?novel Face Blind 58 The hand on screen kept moving-stiff and awkward, but the lines were still sharp and confident. Slowly sketching those windowsill marks, with tiny notes beside them: Sept. 10, 2019: Skr vs ke, 0-1} ke felt like someone took a sledgehammer to his chest. He stumbled backward and knocked over a disy stand. People gasped and stared, but he couldn¡¯t look away from that hand. The palm scar, the way her index finger curved inward when she drew, even the calluses from years of gripping pencils too tight¡­ very detail was screaming the truth- his was Skr! Hey everyone, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m Genesis.¡± kr¡¯s voice came through the speakers, so soft and weak it barely registered. By the time you see this video, I probably won¡¯t be able to move anymore.¡± If I win thispetition, please donate all the prize money to the Pediatric ALS Foundation.¡± This drawing¡­ it¡¯s for the most unforgettable days of my life.¡± hat charity application she tried hiding at the reunion. he tears when he yelled at her in front of everyone. er desperate screaming when she found out I¡¯d burned her designs. uddenly he remembered how she kept saying: ¡°Give me back my work!¡± Cow she could barely stand up straight, how she kept falling down. urns out she wasn¡¯t faking anything, wasn¡¯t stealing. he WAS Genesis. he idol he¡¯d been chasing for five years, the person he said he¡¯d never catch up to. ut he¡¯d hurt her in the cruelest way possible. ke, what¡¯s wrong?¡± rittany grabbed his arm, panic in her voice. You¡¯re scaring me!¡± GET OFF ME!¡± Brittany froze,pletely shocked. You said Sky attacked you, right?¡± ke¡¯s stare could¡¯ve cut ss: ¡°Tell me how someone with ALS beat you up! TELL ME!¡± This is YOUR fault-you made me think the worst of Skr!¡± Before Brittany could react, ke pped her so hard she hit the floor. ke, let me exin- She tried crawling toward him. I SAID GET LOST!¡± ke kicked her away and sprinted toward the hospital like his life depended on it. When he burst into the ICU, I was staring out the window at nothing. As the disease got worse, none of my muscles would listen to me anymore. I even needed a machine just to breathe, let alone talk. He rushed to my bedside, voice shaking so hard he could barely speak: ¡°Sky¡­r¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± I slowly moved my eyes to look at him. Seeing his face made tears well up. Right then, he was thest person I wanted to see. Afterpeting for so long, I didn¡¯t want him seeing me this weak and broken. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were sick?¡± ¡°I¡¯m donepeting. Just get better, please¡­¡± Readplete version only at FindN()vel He squeezed my hand so tight, his whole body trembling. Kept mumbling ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± over and over. That¡¯s when we heard high heels clicking in the hallway. Brittany walked in holding her swollen face. ¡°ke, you actually HIT me because of her? She¡¯s just faking sick for sympathy!¡± ¡°She was always jealous of us getting together, so she sabotaged you in high school. Now she¡¯s ying victim to manipte you. How can you be so stupid!¡± ke spun around, his stare colder than ice. ¡°Faking sick?¡± He kicked Brittany down and threw my medical files in her face. YOU lie there and fake it for me!¡± With that, he pulled out his phone and showed a security video. The footage showed Brittany deliberately stomping on my hand, force-feeding me Coke, and telling people ¡°Skr¡¯s a total fraud, just trying to scam charity noney.¡± ke, I was just trying to help you beat her!¡± ke barely nced at Brittany. When I win, I win FAIR AND SQUARE!¡± Face Blind 59 ke hit upload without hesitation, sending the video to every news outlet he could think of. Brittany¡¯s face went ghost-white. ¡°Are you¡­ are you insane?¡± She lunged for his phone but ke shoved her away. Everyone¡¯s gonna see what a piece of shit you are!¡± You¡¯re gonna suffer for every single thing you put her through.¡± Brittany copsed on the floor, sobbing hysterically. ess than thirty minutes after ke posted the video, #Brittany Hayes Abuse, #Genesis Dying, and #Genesis Charity were trending nationwide. nte users dug up all of Brittany¡¯s dirty history- Homewrecking, stealing coworkers¡¯ projects, plus this new video-she became public enemy number one overnight. erpany fired her within hours. rittany was officially canceled, a total social pariah. Iospital security eventually dragged her out because her crying was disturbing other patients. hat night, I stared nkly at the moon. couldn¡¯t even turn my neck anymore. oon I¡¯d be like a rock, a tree. oon I¡¯d have to say goodbye to this world. le wheeled me back to West Valley High. The old academic building looked exactly the same as my drawings-brick walls, wooden window frames, those two crooked marks still carved into the windowsill. e positioned me by the window where we used to lean and look out during breaks. ame sky, same stars, but I wasn¡¯t the same person anymore. o noisy students in the courtyard, no voices reading aloud in ssrooms. He crouched beside my wheelchair, voice gentle like he was talking to a scared child: This ce is getting torn down tomorrow. Sky, you know what? I never wanted to beat you.¡± His voice cracked, choking back sobs. I was¡­ just scared you¡¯d think I was a loser.¡± That day, right here in this hallway, I saw you switching to the liberal arts track.¡± I was afraid you¡¯d be lonely in those sses. Couldn¡¯t figure out how to say that, so I just¡­ made it about beating you.¡± I just¡­ wanted to stay somewhere you could see me.¡± Tears streamed down his face. ky, when I fought you for those paints-I just wanted you to talk to me. Never meant to hurt you.¡± ¡°Those DMs I sent Brittany? Just trying to make you jealous.¡± ¡°Graduation day when I said those horrible things¡­ I just couldn¡¯t handle you leaving,¡± His voice got quieter and quieter. ¡°I never wanted to beat you!¡± My breathing got shallow and fast. Looking at ke, tears slowly rolled down my cheeks. ke reached up to wipe them away. I slowly lifted my hand-just barely-and touched his face with my fingertips. That tiny movement used up everything I had left. I looked at our old ssroom, the courtyard, the hallways. Here¡¯s where he twisted his ankle ying basketball. There¡¯s where he hit his head on a window frame. Over there¡¯s where he snatched my pencil away. After a long time, I barely moved my lips. ke leaned in close, understanding. My voice was almost nothing. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find¡ïNovel ke¡­ you won.¡± ke wentpletely still, then realized what I meant. This fifteen-yearpetition was finally over. He¡¯d won, but he¡¯d lost Skr forever. He held me tight in that wheelchair, tears flowing silently. All I could hear was wind blowing through our old ssroom windows, just like when we used to bicker and fight. Sunlight streamed through the wooden frames onto his face. But my chest had stopped rising and falling. n the end, I never got to hear ke say ¡°I love you.¡± Face Blind 60 A monthter, he brought my ashes to the awards ceremony. No surprise-he won thepetition. But he donated every penny of the prize money to the Pediatric ALS Foundation. ¡°Sky, this was your dream.¡± His eyes were so gentle. Just like that night in senior year study hall when he¡¯d stare at my back from across the room. But whenever I¡¯d turn around, he¡¯d say ¡°You¡¯ll never be better than me!¡± Just like that day when his paints were right there in his backpack, but he still fought me for mine. He thought that was love. But love he couldn¡¯t say out loud made him lose everything that mattered. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel He¡¯d finally learned to be gentle, but the person who made him want to love was gone. After the ceremony, ke took the donation certificate straight to a pediatric ALS care center. ¡°Hey kids, I¡¯m ke.¡± He crouched down, making his voice as soft as possible. ¡°I brought you picture books, toys, and special drawing tools-all gifts from ady named Skr who wanted me to give these to you.¡± The kids cheered and pped. Watching their faces light up, he suddenly remembered what Skr said in her video: ¡°Genesis lives for others-I¡¯ve always worked to make people smile.¡± She¡¯d already found her own way to spread kindness in this world. This world might not have Skr anymore, but every child she¡¯d helped save carried a piece of her forward. And what he was doing now was just continuing to pass on her love. ke stared ahead, lost in thought. All those kids¡¯ smiles blurred together until they became a pair of eyes- A girl¡¯s eyes that never gave up, never epted defeat, always reaching toward the light. ke carefully collected all the kids¡¯ crayon drawings and had them printed as photos. One by one, he taped them to my headstone. This little girl is Emma-she draws flowers even prettier than yours from back in the day. Says she wants to be an architect when she grows up.¡± ¡°But she¡­ she can¡¯t move anymore.¡± ¡°Remember Annie? The first kid you sponsored.¡± ¡°She always dreamed of seeing the world. I got her the best travel coordinator, but that kid was such an adventurer-made it all the way to Paris and decided she¡­ she didn¡¯t want toe home¡­¡± ¡°And there¡¯s Tommy. Kid kept saying his dad was this huge hero, dragged me to go see.¡± ¡°Then the little guy just fell asleep at the veterans¡¯ cemetery. Probably missed his old man. I didn¡¯t want to interrupt their time together¡­¡± He leaned against my headstone, tears streaming down his face. ¡°I used to think beating you made me somebody special.¡± He gently traced my name carved in the stone. ¡°Now I know your smile was what I loved most about everything.¡± ¡°Too bad I figured it out way toote.¡± The sun was setting when he stood up, stretching his back. ¡°Sky, afterpeting with you all these years, there¡¯s one thing you never once beat me at.¡± He smiled to himself, smoothing out the wrinkles in his shirt. Being so careful, like he was about to meet someone really important. ¡°I¡¯ve always been faster than you. This time you got a head start, but I¡¯m definitely gonna catch up.¡± With that, he copsed in front of my grave. A small white pill bottle rolled out of his palm. For a second, I heard someone calling my name from somewhere behind me.. ¡°Sky, I always kicked your ass at running!¡± ¡°Next life, I¡¯m not gonnapete with you anymore.¡± ¡°Skr¡­ I love you.¡± And in a corner where nobody was looking, carved into our old ssroom windowsill: [Skr vs ke: 1-1] Face Blind 61 hapter 1 With a handmade cheap ring, Gabriel Sterling deceived Ste Rivers for five years. But Ste treasured it as pure love, unaware he fell for her at the first sight-only because she resembled his first love Lily Rose. For five years she gave everything-using her inheritance to pay his debts, abandoning her future to enter Hollywood to support him, single-handedly making him a business mogul. But after achieving sess, he direcly giving all the roles she fought for to Lily. The entire inte even celebrated his perfect romance with his first love, while she became the despised ¡°clingy mistress¡± and ¡°disgusting substitute.¡± Death threats flooded in like a tide. Finally heartbroken, she removed the ring and chose to disappear. However, when Gabriel found that abandoned ring in her empty apartment- Hepletely lost his mind. Emily, I¡¯m quitting. End of the month, I¡¯m gone. Can you wipe my info? I don¡¯t want anyone finding me.¡± Emily¡¯s voice exploded through the phone: ¡°Are you insane? You sacrificed everything for Gabriel¡¯s career, paid off his debts, and now that you¡¯re in trouble, e¡¯s just gonna let you burn?¡± This isn¡¯t on him. I¡¯m done.¡± Ste Rivers twisted the in white ring off her finger. ¡°I can¡¯t take anymore.¡± What about Gabriel?¡± Che stared at the pale mark where the ring used to be. ¡°We¡¯re over. Completely over.¡± Her phone buzzed the second she hung up. Ste Rivers, you pathetic bitch. Gabriel belongs with our sweet Lily.¡± Just die already and join your dead parents in hell!¡± Attached was a funeral photo of her in ck and white. he¡¯d been getting these death threats for weeks. Every social media ount destroyed. ll because of one person. Gabriel Sterling-Her so-called devoted boyfriend of five years. hat name was like a thorn lodged deep in her heart-just thinking about it sent sharp waves of pain through her chest. che and Gabriel had been college ssmates. Their first meeting was at freshman orientation, where he spoke as the outstanding student representative. Under he bright sunshine, he looked so clean-cut and confident. That one speech made him the campus heartthrob of their entire ss. Every girl¡¯s secret crush. Back then, Ste wasn¡¯t the wishy-washy person she¡¯d be. Campus heartthrob or not, she figured he was perfect for her. She chased him relentlessly for four years. Right before graduation, Gabriel¡¯s family went bankrupt. He became aughingstock. Debt collectors cornered him in his tiny apartment and nearly chopped off his finger. She was the one who promised to pay his debts, and only then did they leave him alone. That night. Gabriel finally said ves to her confion For him school rmendation from her professor, and dove headfirst into Hollywood. In that cramped apartment, they survived together for five years. With her encouragement. Gabriel started his business over from scratch while she took on his monthly debt payments. During those years, she¡¯d take any job that came her way, surviving on less than four hours of sleep a day. Gabriel would hold her close, his eyes full of heartache: ¡°Honey, I swear I¡¯m gonna give you the good life you deserve.¡± Turns out, she¡¯d bet on the right horse. Five years into his startup journey, Gabriel¡¯s sharp business instincts made him the youngest business mogul in the city, a darling of every financial magazine. They moved from that shoebox apartment where they could bump into each other just by turning around, to a bright, spacious house, then to a luxury high-rise overlooking the entire city. She thought they¡¯d finally made it through the storm. Until the role she¡¯d been prepping for months got handed to someone else. Some girl named Lily Rose-a total newbie with supposedly massive backing that no one dared cross. Heartbroken and desperate, she went to Gabriel¡¯s office without calling ahead. That¡¯s when she discovered that Lily¡¯s ¡°massive backing¡± was Gabriel himself. Inside his office, she heard a woman¡¯s sickeningly sweet voice: ¡°Gabriel, let¡¯s grab dinner! I wanna celebratending that role today.¡± ¡°Gabriellll, work never ends anyway. You promised you¡¯d take me out tonight, remember?¡± ¡°Am I really less important to you than your stupid work?¡± Lily kept up the baby talk, and when Gabriel didn¡¯t respond, she pouted like a spoiled brat. Gabriel seemed defeated by her cuteness and chuckled. ¡°Alright, princess, you win. You¡¯re the most important thing in the world, okay? I gotta work hard so I can have your back!¡± He even booped her nose. Ste turned and left. Gabriel didn¡¯te home until the next day. His first words? ¡°That role wasn¡¯t right for you anyway. I¡¯ll find you something better.¡± At that moment, every bone in her body felt like it had been shattered and needed rebuilding. When Gabriel¡¯s business first started taking off, friends had warned her to lock him down with a marriage certificate. Men go bad when they get money. Only cash won¡¯t betray you.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done so much for him-it¡¯s time to get something back.¡± But back then, Gabriel was working around the clock, sometimes too busy to even shave. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to bother him with what seemed like trivial Concerns. Now she finally understood-Gabriel had only agreed to date her out of gratitude for sticking by him during his lowest point. He¡¯d never actually loved her. The next day, Lily came looking for her. She brought a photo album and a thick stack of letters. Gabriel and I go way back-childhood sweethearts. He chased me for five years and wrote over fifteen hundred letters.¡± ¡°He only got with you out of gratitude, Miss Rivers. You¡¯re a smart woman. When he was down and out, your status matched his. But some people are destined for greatness-they rise to the top where they belong. You two are frompletely different worlds now.¡± ¡°He and I are actually equals. You can¡¯t help him anymore. If you insist on dragging him down, I¡¯m sure those photos of you drinking with clients over the years would make quite a ssh on social media.¡± lily smiled sweetly as she slid out a stack ofpromising photos. The pictures showed Ste sandwiched between clients, her face flushed from alcohol. Next to Lily and Gabriel¡¯s gorgeous couple photos, these images looked like stains on a masterpiece-absolutely revolting. ¡°Just walk away from him, and I promise you won¡¯t regret it.¡± That night, she stared at photos from a wrap party on her phone-Gabriel with his arm around Lily, looking absolutely smitten. Like some kind of masochist, she scrolled through them all night. By dawn, everything was crystal clear. She and Gabriel had never been the same kind of people. Maybe letting go was for the best. She wouldn¡¯t have to wonder anymore why Gabriel refused to go public with their rtionship. She wouldn¡¯t have to swallow her bitterness watching him charm other women. And she wouldn¡¯t have to endure endless harassment because of him. Her eyes stung as she curled up on the couch and drifted off. The front door opened, and Gabriel stumbled in reeking of alcohol. Seeing her on the couch, something flickered in his eyes-maybe annoyance, maybe guilt. Why¡¯d you crash out here?¡± Gabriel grabbed a nket and tucked it around her. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten, have you? Let me whip up something.¡± He stroked her hair, just like always. Don¡¯t bother. You should get some rest.¡± te had woken up the moment he walked in. She wished it didn¡¯t hurt so much. If he didn¡¯t love her, why did he keep being so damn considerate? It just made her fall deeper into this agonizing trap. Fresh chapters posted on f?ndnovel Honey, I¡ª¡± is phone rang. ily. Gabriel, help me! There are all these scary strangers at my ce-I¡¯m terrified!¡± I¡¯m on my way.¡± abriel grabbed his jacket without hesitation. ¡°Something came up at work. There¡¯s leftovers in the fridge if you get hungry.¡± Ce turned and left, his tall silhouette blending with memories of all those years when he¡¯d tuck her in after her night shoots, then head to the kitchen to prep reakfast. Goodbye, Gabriel,¡± she whispered, so softly only she could hear. The door mmed shut with a bang, like a p across her face. The pain brought tears to her eyes. Her phone buzzed. text from Emily. A ne ticket out of the city. Departure in five days. Face Blind 62 That afternoon, Ste headed to a film shoot. The director had helped her out when she was just starting, and she¡¯d agreed to this gig to return the favor. When she arrived on set, only the extras were there-none of the main cast had shown up yet. Ste found a quiet corner and settled in. ¡°Oh my God, they¡¯re perfect together! Like, absolutely perfect! It¡¯s like a romance novele to life.¡± A sweet, innocent rising star and a business mogul-I¡¯m literally obsessed.¡± I heard they¡¯re getting back together! Childhood sweethearts who got separated after high school, and he waited almost ten years for her. If that¡¯s not true love, I don¡¯t know what is!¡± Apparently Gabriel never even did magazine shoots before, but today when he heard Lily had a kissing scene, he immediately switched out the actor. He¡¯s Hoing it himself!¡± ¡°OMG, we¡¯re gonna witness a real-life couple kiss on set!¡± Tm literally dying right now!¡± The girls kept gushing, and Ste¡¯s head started spinning. Lily was the lead in this project, and Gabriel wasing too. A Her eyes welled up as she remembered their early days together. She¡¯d been so excited that she¡¯d snuck a photo of them while he was sleeping and posted it to er Instagram story-visible to only a few close friends. Sabriel had been furious. Ste, I hate having my picture taken, and I especially hate being on Instagram. Don¡¯t post me on your Insta without asking, okay?¡± he hadn¡¯t understood then. Now she realized-it was only because she was the one taking the photo. f it had been Lily, everything would¡¯ve been different. You okay? You look really pale.¡± One of the girls was looking at her with concern. I it had been Lily, everything would¡¯ve been different. You okay? You look really pale.¡± ne of the girls was looking at her with concern. hat¡¯s when Ste realized her whole body was shaking uncontrobly. Blood sugar crash? I¡¯ve got some candy. Wait, are you here as an extra too?¡± Are you a shipper like us? I¡¯ve got tons of content if you want!¡± The girl chattered excitedly while Ste couldn¡¯t process a single word. Read full story at find¡¤novel he¡¯d known Gabriel didn¡¯t love her, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to be this humiliating. Even when he was supposedly most grateful to her, she¡¯d meant less to im than a stupid photo. Whoa, girl, from this angle you kinda look like Lily! That¡¯s why you seemed familiar!¡± The girl excitedly shoved her phone at Ste. In the photo, with her head tilted down, she looked about seventy percent like Lily. Pain radiated through every inch of her body. She¡¯d been trying so hard to ept that Gabriel didn¡¯t love her. Why did the universe keep ripping open her wounds to show her even crueler truths? Not being loved wasn¡¯t the worst part-it was realizing that everything she¡¯d done meant absolutely nothing to him.. He¡¯d only said yes to her confession because she looked like the girl he actually wanted. Memories shed before her eyes. ¡°Gabriel, what are you looking at?¡± ¡°You look beautiful when you tilt your head down like that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous. Nobody looks good with their head down-you can¡¯t even see my face properly¡­¡± Ste couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She bolted toward the bathroom. One more second and she¡¯d break down crying in front of everyone. She quickly texted the director and rushed off set, but froze at the exit. Gabriel stood there with an umbre in one hand, the other in his pocket, while Lily nestled against his side. They looked like the perfect golden couple. Whatever they were talking about made Lilyugh as she yfully hit his arm. Then her silver heel strap came undone, and without her even moving, Gabriel naturally knelt down to fix it. He didn¡¯t care about getting his expensive suit dirty. I was so happy you came to the wrap party with mest night,¡± Lily said with a smile. It was nothing. I¡¯ll be at all of them from now on.¡± Gabriel¡¯s smile was pure adoration. So sweet! They¡¯re literally perfect!¡± The screaming behind her gradually numbed the pain in Ste¡¯s chest. Their rtionship had never gotten this kind of blessing. This whole mess was what she deserved. she pulled on her mask and slipped out the back exit. When she got home, Gabriel was already in the kitchen wearing an apron, cooking. Ceeing her return, he looked confused. ¡°Where¡¯d you go? And what¡¯s with all these boxes everywhere?¡± Ceveral packing boxes were scattered around the living room-she¡¯d started organizing her things. Nothing special. Just getting rid of old stuff.¡± Good idea. I¡¯ll buy you new things to rece them.¡± Gabriel didn¡¯t probe further. te stood quietly in the living room, watching him bustle around. If she hadn¡¯t seen it with her own eyes, she never would have believed the tender, caring Gabriel in the kitchen was the same person from that afternoon. ust then, his phone rang. The moment Gabriel saw the caller ID, his face lit up. ¡°Hey, is dinner ready? I¡¯m starving over here!¡± ¡°Almost done, almost done. Be right there.¡± Gabriel efficiently packed the food into containers and rushed toward the door without even ncing at her. Only as he was leaving did he seem to remember: ¡°I made dinner-it¡¯s in the pot. Help yourself. Something came up at work, so I¡¯m taking this with me,¡± She stood frozen for a long time before walking into the kitchen. He¡¯d forgotten to turn off the burner. The food at the bottom of the pot had turned to charcoal. She took a bite. Bitter as hell. Face Blind 63 For the next two days, Gabriel never came home. But she kept seeing them all over Instagram. Like when Lily¡¯s harness malfunctioned during a wire stunt and Gabriel rushed in without regard for his own safety to catch her. Or when they shared the same ice cream cone¡­ Every single photo showed them both grinning from ear to ear. She scrolled through them while packing her things. She didn¡¯t own much to begin with-everything fit into boxes by mid-afternoon. Gabriel walked in just as she was taping up thest suitcase. You free this afternoon?¡± Gabriel hung up his suit jacket and, seeing her standing barefoot on the floor, immediately scooped her up without a word. How many times do I have to tell you? The floor¡¯s cold, and you get sick easily. Wear shoes.¡± His furrowed brow and scolding tone made Ste¡¯s eyes well up instantly. She threw her arms around him, burying her face against his chest. Her sensitivity to cold came from those early years when she¡¯d spent an entire winter afternoon in freezing water for a shoot-all to pay off his debts. Gabriel ad used that exact same tone back then, simultaneously worried and exasperated with her. he¡¯d thought it was deep love. What an idiot she¡¯d been. What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t want to go? It¡¯s the city¡¯s fireworks show-you¡¯ve been wanting to see it forever, right?¡± te had no idea why Gabriel suddenly remembered this, but since she was leaving anyway, fulfilling onest wish seemed fitting. Yeah,¡± she nodded. Gabriel was as thoughtful as always-loading the car with all her favorite snacks and setting the AC to the perfect temperature. Why are you staring at me? What¡¯s up?¡± Gabriel, I hardly ever see you smile. Are you unhappy with me?¡± The words almost escaped her lips when Lily¡¯s call came through. Without hesitation, he made a U-turn. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FindN()vel Lily needs someone to do a cameo in her scene. Help us out, will you? She¡¯s got such a kind heart, she can¡¯t stand seeing the director struggle.¡± hat was Gabriel¡¯s pitch. You know she¡¯s been abroad for years-she doesn¡¯t really know anyone here.¡± te didn¡¯t even get a chance to refuse before being dragged to the set. Gabriel, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Lily threw herself into Gabriel¡¯s arms,pletely ignoring Ste¡¯s existence. te had to clear her throat to get acknowledged. Oh! Ste, sorry-just noticed you there.¡± It¡¯s fine.¡± We need a supporting actress for this scene. I¡¯ve asked everyone I know, but they¡¯re all busy. Ste was ourst hope. I remember her acting is really good.¡± ily¡¯s words dripped with mockery. Everyone in Hollywood knew Ste was talented-she¡¯d just been stuck ying nobodies for years. Even the lead role she¡¯d worked so hard for had been handed to Lily with a single phone call. Ste stayed silent. Lily grabbed her arm enthusiastically. ¡°Your part¡¯s super simple! You y my body double who steals everything that belongs to me while I¡¯m away. Then when Ie back, you¡¯re like a sewer rat that everyone hates, and the male lead finally gives you to some homeless guys who abuse you to death.¡± ¡°Easy, right? Should be a piece of cake for you, especially since so much of it matches your real life.¡± Lily¡¯s expression was perfectly innocent, as if she had no idea how vicious her words were. Ste nced at Gabriel, who only frowned slightly but said nothing. Filming started quickly. Once they were in matching outfits, Ste realized they really did look simr. You think he actually loves you? You think wearing my clothes makes you me? He¡¯s only with you because you remind him of me.¡± ily looked down at her with regal superiority, each word like a de twisting through Ste¡¯s organs. After the scene wrapped, she noticed several people giving her weird looks. Who is that chick? Came with Gabriel, right? Did you see how upset Lily looked? Gabriel went straight tofort her after filming.¡± Haven¡¯t you heard? Apparently Gabriel has some ex who won¡¯t leave him alone even though they broke up. She¡¯s why Lily can¡¯t go public with him.¡± I heard about that too! First she stalked him, then when his family went broke, she swooped in and basically ckmailed him into dating her.¡± What a shameless bitch. And Lily was nice enough to give her this role.¡± The stares felt like physical weight. Ste couldn¡¯t take it anymore and fled to the bathroom. er reflection showed a pale, disheveled woman with stringy hair hanging over her forehead. Pathetic,¡± she whispered, trying to force a smile. It looked even worse. The really was just a clown who¡¯d stumbled into the wrong story. uddenly, screaming erupted outside: ¡°Someone¡¯s in the water!¡± te¡¯s face went white and she bolted out, searching frantically for Gabriel. he remembered his parents had drowned themselves¡ªhe¡¯d been terrified of water ever since. he set was chaos. She couldn¡¯t find Gabriel anywhere. n the confusion, someone shoved her hard. She tumbled into the icy river. er muscles seized up from the cold. By the time she dragged herself out of the water and stumbled to the ambnce, she found Gabriel cradling Lily, who¡¯d pparently twisted her ankle. We need to get to the hospital.¡± But someone fell in the water-it might be Ste.¡± It¡¯s not her. Let¡¯s go.¡± he ambnce doors mmed shut and sped away with sirens wailing. Hobody gave a damn about the drowned rat left behind. Face Blind 64 Ste couldn¡¯t describe what she was feeling. Just tired. Bone deep, endless exhaustion. She just wanted to find somewhere and sleep forever. She took an Uber to the city¡¯s fireworks disy. Under the exploding lights, everyone was paired off. Only she stood alone. I heard making wishes under fireworks really works. You should try it!¡± That was from their first New Year together. They¡¯d been broke, so she¡¯d bought a pack of sparklers. Gabriel had been sulking all day, refusing to leave the apartment. It was the best way she could think of to cheer him up. What had Gabriel said back then? ¡°Who the hell uses sparklers instead of real fireworks? That¡¯s not how it works-your wishes won¡¯te true.¡± Right. She¡¯d used sparklers instead of fireworks. Wrong from the very start. Brilliant fireworks painted the sky as Ste broke down sobbing among everyone else¡¯s happy cheers. All the pain she¡¯d bottled up came pouring out. She had no memory of getting home, only waking up to Gabriel¡¯s dark expression. Where exactly were you nning to go?¡± That¡¯s when she realized she¡¯d somehow bought a train ticket to Riverside. Their old college town. The happiest time of Ste¡¯s entire life. ¡°College reunion. Want toe?¡± The ss group chat had announced it yesterday while she was crying. She¡¯d bought the ticket on impulse. But she knew Gabriel wouldn¡¯t go. After all the mockery he¡¯d faced at graduation, plus his parents dying there, he¡¯d never return. Sure enough, his expression softened slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Where were you yesterday?¡± Seeing her still in yesterday¡¯s clothes, Gabriel felt an inexplicable unease creeping in. I went to see the fireworks. Called you but no one picked up.¡± She hid the part about looking for him and falling in the water. Having her dignity trampled once was enough-she didn¡¯t want to look even more pathetic on her way out. Guilt shed across Gabriel¡¯s face as he handed her a credit card. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find[?]ovel ¡°Sorry, I was tied up yesterday. Buy whatever you wanttely.¡± Gabriel had offered her money before, but she¡¯d always refused. This time, she studied his face carefully and took the card. She was leaving anyway. If she couldn¡¯t have his love, might as well get somepensation. Chapter Since she was going to Riverside, Gabriel didn¡¯t question her packing. He¡¯d been swampedtely-too busy to pay attention to her. Ste shipped all her belongings to Emily¡¯s address. she nned to stop in Riverside first-not for the reunion, but to visit her parents¡¯ graves. After all these years of chasing Gabriel around, she¡¯d never gone back to pay her respects. t hit her suddenly how much she¡¯d missed for Gabriel¡¯s sake. Ste Rivers, you totally deserve this,¡± sheughed bitterly at herself. ler phone buzzed with an anonymous text: Bitch, stay away from Gabriel or you¡¯ll regret it.¡± te nced at it without caring. She¡¯d gotten countless messages like this. hey¡¯d scared her at first, but after receiving so many dead rats and cats in the mail, a simple text was nothing. he blocked the number and powered off her phone like nothing happened. fter bagging up thest of the trash, every trace of her existence had been erased from the apartment. te kept her head down as she stepped off the elevator, heading for the dumpster nearby. uddenly, a pair of hands reached out. Everything went ck as she lost consciousnesspletely. Face Blind 65 When she came to, everything was pitch ck. Her mouth was stuffed with cloth, her limbs bound tight. The only sound was water dripping somewhere in the darkness. ¡°Drip.¡± ¡°Drip.¡± ¡°Mmph!¡± Terror consumed her. During Gabriel¡¯s early business days, she¡¯d been kidnapped once before. That experience had left permanent scars on her psyche. So you¡¯re Ste Rivers?¡± Someone was standing in front of her now. ¡®Mmph mmph!¡± she tried to say: ¡°Who are you?¡± I told you to stay away from Gabriel. Don¡¯t you get it?¡± uddenly light flooded in as the blindfold was ripped away. A masked man stood before her. Why won¡¯t you stop clinging to Gabriel? He belongs to Lily! Because of you hanging around, people are calling our Lily a homewrecker.¡± he guy was clearly unhinged, waving a sharp knife inches from her face. It¡¯s this face, isn¡¯t it? All because of this face. If I carve it up, Gabriel won¡¯t want you anymore!¡± te pressed back desperately, tears and snot streaming down her cheeks. She didn¡¯t understand why this was happening when she was already nning to eave. ll she¡¯d done was love someone. it thest second, he suddenly stopped. Call Gabriel. Tell him you¡¯ll stop bothering him. Tell him you¡¯re a worthless bitch who¡¯s been impersonating Lily.¡± Do it now!¡± Vithout hesitation, Ste grabbed her phone with shaking hands. Gabriel picked up, he¡¯d definitely save her. 1st likest time. Sorry, the number you have dialed¡­¡± Sorry, the number you have dialed¡­¡± hird try. ourth try-still no answer. Her heart sank. You trying to mess with me?¡± he man was clearly mentally unstable. Gabriel¡¯s continued silence was making him increasingly agitated. He suddenly kicked Ste hard in the stomach, then everal more times in her back. harp pain tore through her abdomen. ck spots danced in her vision, and she tasted blood in her throat. Hello? Gabriel¡¯s in the shower. Can you call backter?¡± Chapter S ¡°Oh, our Lily and Gabriel are together now. Don¡¯t worry about it. Smart of you to back off, but letting you go this easily would be too kind.¡± Ste felt a stabbing pain in her arm, then everything went ck. She woke up in the hospital. Seeing her conscious, a nurse rushed over with concern. ¡°How are you feeling? Who did you piss off? Your arm was shed pretty bad.¡± She shook her head, then noticed Lily standing in the doorway. ¡°Ste, I¡¯m so sorry. That was one of my obsessive fans-1 had no idea he¡¯d do something like this. But I¡¯ve called the police, We¡¯ll definitely get justice for you.¡± Newest update provided by f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Lily looked pitiful, like Ste was somehow the one victimizing her. The nurse gave Lily a sympathetic look and left. The moment the door closed, Lily¡¯s expression turned ice cold. Gabriel¡¯s on a business trip, so I¡¯m handling everything for him.¡± ¡°I told you before to leave Gabriel alone. You just wouldn¡¯t listen.¡± ¡°What exactly can you offer him? Like this kidnapping-Gabriel¡¯spany is expanding, he¡¯s making more enemies every day. Are you going to need him to Cescue you every single time?¡± When the board gives him trouble, can you help him?¡± Wake up. You¡¯repletely wrong for him. I¡¯m the only one who¡¯s his equal. I¡¯m the only one who can actually help him.¡± Lily spoke withplete confidence and poise. At that moment, Ste suddenly realized how vast the gap between her world and Gabriel¡¯s had be. I¡¯ll leave him alone. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Ste looked down. If she¡¯d had any lingering resentment before, her heart was nowpletely shattered. Gabriel never visited during her final days in the hospital. Good thing she didn¡¯t need him anymore anyway. AU Face Blind 66 Ste stared at the train ticket to Riverside in her hand, gradually drifting off to sleep. In her dream, she was back to when they first met. ¡°Gabriel, I like you. Will you be my boyfriend?¡± Rain was pouring down, and they¡¯d ducked under a bus stop for shelter. At first he ignored herpletely, but when she started coughing from the cold, Gabriel took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, ¡°If you¡¯re gonna chase someone, at least dress wartner.¡± Everything was perfect in the dream. ¡°Gabriel, why did you lie to me?¡± A tear slipped down her cheek. Ste¡¯s eyes snapped open to her phone buzzing insistently. Gabriel. ¡°Where are you?¡± His voice was ice-cold as usual. ¡°With a friend.¡± ¡°Send me the address. I¡¯ming to get you.¡± She knew Gabriel¡¯s temper-if she didn¡¯tply, he¡¯d keep calling. Reluctantly, she sent her location. Sure enough, Gabriel appeared within minutes. Maybe it was his imagination, but she seemed much thinnertely. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been home?¡± Gabriel grabbed her arm. ¡°Ah!¡± She cried out in pain, her face going white instantly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± She stepped back, still pale. Gabriel stared at his empty fingertips, unease creeping in again. Ste seemed different-even though they were right there together, she felt impossibly distan I¡¯ve been swamped at work these past few days. Wasn¡¯t intentionally ignoring you.¡± Gabriel found himself exining. ¡°I¡¯m leaving for Riverside tomorrow. Gabriel, do you ever miss the old days?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t miss them. I hate them.¡± His expression turned cold. Ste¡¯s heart clenched. Of course-those days didn¡¯t have Lily in them. Why would he miss that? ¡°That¡¯s good. People should look forward.¡± She smiled, but it looked more painful than crying. Good for you, Ste. You should look forward too. She¡¯d thought these final days would pass quietly. But she¡¯d underestimated Lily. Halfway through their drive, Lily¡¯s assistant called: ¡°Gabriel, Lily¡¯s at a promotional event and there¡¯s some trouble. Could you help out?¡± Gabriel left without hesitation. Just wait in the car,¡± Gabriel said coldly. So he¡¯s worried 111 interfere with Lily? A sharp pain shot through Ste¡¯s chest. She pressed her lips together and stayed silent. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel Gabriel strode toward the venue, his tall frame and intimidating presence naturally parting the crowd. ¡°They¡¯re so perfect together!¡± ¡°Lily said Gabriel woulde, and here he is! What kind of fairytale romance is this?¡± ¡°A CEO with a packed schedule dropping everything toe-if that¡¯s not love, what is?¡± The chattering outside gave her a headache, and her arm started throbbing again. She closed her eyes. ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± Screams pierced her eardrums as Lily threw her arms around Gabriel on stage and kissed his cheek. Even though she¡¯d expected this, the pain was unbearable. Her injured stomach protested, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead as her face went ashen. She felt sick. Why do this to her? If he didn¡¯t love her, fine-but why make her watch it happen? After what felt like forever, they got in the car. Gabriel took the back seat; someone else was driving. ¡°Oh Ste, you¡¯re here too! Gabriel just had a drink with the brand sponsors for me. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Lily curled up against Gabriel, her words dripping with challenge. But even that couldn¡¯tpete with what she¡¯d just witnessed. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said tly, then closed her eyes-missing the sh of darkness in Gabriel¡¯s gaze. Face Blind 67 ¡°Ste, tonight¡¯s thest fireworks show of the year in the city. What do you think about me confessing to Gabriel there? You¡¯ll give us your blessing, right?¡± She opened her eyes to see Lily smugly waving her phone in the rearview mirror. ¡°Who¡¯s texting you?¡± Gabriel was staring at Ste¡¯s profile. ¡°Just the ss group chat.¡± She ignored them, but her nails dug into her palms involuntarily. ¡°Ste, wait for me tonight. I need to talk to you.¡± As they got out, Gabriel grabbed her wrist. Sometimes she found Gabriel almostughable-he didn¡¯t love her, yet he always put on this devoted act whenever she started pulling away. But she wouldn¡¯t fall for it this time. ¡°Gabriel, hurry up! The event¡¯s starting!¡± ¡°Wait for me.¡± Ste said nothing. Gabriel eventually drove away. Sheughed bitterly. It was always like this-once Lily appeared, Ste became his second choice. The apartment looked exactly as she¡¯d left it. Gabriel hadn¡¯t even noticed all her things were gone. she cleaned the ce thoroughly, spraying air freshener until even the air didn¡¯t smell like her anymore. Th?s chapter is updated by Find1Novel ¡®Ste, pack up. Car¡¯sing in the morning.¡± Emily¡¯s message brought a wave of relief. She was really leaving. Surprisingly, she felt no sadness-just a strange lightness. Okay.¡± She closed her eyes. This ce she¡¯d called home for five years-she was really saying goodbye. Her phone kept buzzing with notifications. Gabriel¡¯s text at the top: ¡°Ste, is your train tomorrow? Wait for me, I¡¯ll see you off.¡± Below that, a flood of messages from Lily. ¡®hoto after photo of the fireworks show-Gabriel looking down at Lily with tender eyes, shot from multiple angles. In every single one, with warmth. his gaze overflowed Her heart clenched despite everything. Ste bit her lip hard, fighting back the sob threatening to escape as her eyes reddened. Ste Rivers, you¡¯re pathetic,¡± she whispered, taking a deep breath to hold back the tears. Thanks, but I already arranged a ride. I can manage on my own.¡± No response came after that. Ste shouldered her small bag, remembering the day she¡¯d arrived. She¡¯d rushed straight from set without even changing costumes, and Gabriel had pulled her into this apartment with the biggest smile. ¡°Ste, I told you I¡¯d give you the good life!¡± Chapter ? Gabriel, did you rob a bank?¡± ¡°Silly, I earned this! We¡¯re gonna have everything from now on!¡± She¡¯d thought they¡¯d finally made it through the struggle. But like fireworks, all the beauty had vanished before she could even grasp it. ¡°Gabriel, I wish you happiness.¡± On the entryway table, she left the in white ring-his promise to her. Gabriel. I¡¯m leaving. Don¡¯t look for me, and don¡¯t feel guilty. Nobody owes anyone a lifetime of love, especially when you were only with me out of gratitude. Honesty, I came out ahead these past years. I never could have afforded a ce like this on my own. I was happy with you. I hope you and Lily get your happily ever after. Even though we¡¯ve been over in everything but name, I want to give this rtionship proper closure. Let¡¯s break up. Be happy.¡± The sticky note fluttered against the wall as the door closed behind her. Dawn was breaking. Through the car window, scenery rushed backward in a blur. Years of devotion, years of love-and now she felt nothing at all. Ste¡¯s final Instagram post read: ¡°Grateful we met. Goodbye.¡± The end of her ridiculous first act. Face Blind 68 From the moment Ste got out of the car, Gabriel couldn¡¯t shake this gnawing unease. Watching her figure disappear through the window, he took a deep breath. He¡¯d exin everything to her tonight. Discover more novels at Find?Novel ¡°Gabriel, are you worried about Ste?¡± Lily clung to his arm, looking perfectly innocent. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I already exined everything to Ste. She won¡¯t get the wrong idea about us.¡± ¡°You already exined to her?¡± Surprise shed across Gabriel¡¯s face, followed by barely contained rage. She knew, but she wasn¡¯t even jealous? ¡°What did she say?¡± ¡°Ste didn¡¯t really say anything. Just said whatever.¡± Lily pouted, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Gabriel, did I do something wrong? What if Ste mes me?¡± ¡°She won¡¯t me you.¡± Gabriel patted Lily¡¯s shoulder and slumped back against his seat, exhausted. He and Ste had somehow reached this point, but he¡¯d been trying so hard to be good to her. Maybe she just didn¡¯t love him anymore. The thought made him restless. He pulled out pills from his suit jacket and dry-swallowed several without looking. You sure people will show up tonight?¡± I did my research. This fireworks show is the city¡¯s biggest event, plus with my following, there¡¯s absolutely no way this fails.¡± Lily¡¯s eyes were earnest, but despite his lingering unease, Gabriel hade too far to back out now. ¡°Fireworks show.¡± He repeated the words silently, Ste¡¯s smiling face shing through his mind. ¡°Gabriel, when we¡¯re rich someday, let¡¯s go see the most beautiful fireworks show ever.¡± He¡¯d promised herst time but never followed through. She must have been heartbroken. The thought made him grab his phone. After drafting and deleting several messages, he finally sent: Ste, is your train tomorrow? Wait for me, I¡¯ll see you off.¡± Her reply came quickly: ¡°Thanks, but I already arranged a ride. I can manage on my own.¡± He started typing again when Lily tugged his arm. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Watching Gabriel¡¯s retreating figure, Lily nearly bit through her tongue in fury. She immediately selected the most intimate lookin and sent them all to Ste. Only after hitting send did she exhale in satisfaction. Then she signaled to the balloon vendor nearby. Gabriel, look out!¡± haos erupted as someone appeared out of nowhere, wielding a machete aimed straight at Lily. Gabriel, this is what happens when you cross our boss.¡± n one fluid motion, Gabriel kicked the attacker¡¯s weapon away and pulled Lily into his arms. Get out of here-¡± Before he could finish, Lily suddenly threw herself around him as a thick club came down hard on her back. Gabriel, thank God you¡¯re okay!¡± Face Blind 69 That night, X exploded. ¡°Lily takes a hit for love.¡± ¡°Lily Rose and Gabriel Sterling are the real deal!¡± ¡°Fireworks show romance!¡± True love tested by adversity!¡± Gabriel sat slumped on the hospital bench, lookingpletely defeated. He had no idea who¡¯d leaked the story. He¡¯d almost had everything under control-hov had it all gone so wrong? What would Ste think when she saw this? His hand trembled as he gripped his phone. Was she asleep and hadn¡¯t seen the trending topics yet, or had she seen everything and just didn¡¯t care anymore? The thought of thetter made Gabriel want to rush home immediately. ¡°Ste, you¡¯ll understand, won¡¯t you?¡± he whispered to himself. When he¡¯d gotten together with Ste, he¡¯d promised her the good life. He¡¯d worked his ass off, grinding to make money. The first time his business really took off, he thought it was the beginning of their happy ending. He never expected those people to target her. Ste had been kidnapped. When he¡¯d gotten that news, his entire body had gone numb. Only one thought consumed him: Ste couldn¡¯t get hurt. Thank God his Ste was smart enough to give him clues so he could find her quickly. From that day forward, he¡¯d sworn never to let her get hurt again. That¡¯s when Lily came back from overseas. she was the perfect choice. Nothing was more convincing than an unattainable first love. Sure enough, those people gradually bought it and stopped paying attention to Ste. Thinking about it now, Gabriel¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile. Tonight¡¯s chaos had all been worth it-those people were arrested. From now on, he could openly im Ste as his. ust then, his phone rang. Thinking it was Ste, he answered without looking. Hello, Ste¡­¡± Gabriel, dear, why didn¡¯t you tell us you and our Lily were together?¡± It was Lily¡¯s mother¡¯s voice. You kids keeping such big news to yourselves! Since you¡¯re together now, let¡¯s just have the wedding in a few days. You better not let our Lily down!¡± Before Gabriel could respond, she¡¯d hung up-so quickly it seemed rehearsed. Gabriel was stuck at the hospital until the next morning. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to leave, but the moment he¡¯d tried, reporters had swarmed the ce. He couldn¡¯t leave-if he did, those people would definitely track down Ste. ¡®Gabriel, this is all my fault. Go find Ste-I¡¯ll exin everything to the reporters.¡± Lily had appeared at some point, wearing an oversized hospital gown that made her look incredibly fragile. Tears sparkled in her beautiful eyes, making her seem even more pitiful. ¡°What are you doing out here? Go back and rest.¡± Since Lily had saved him, Gabriel suppressed his irritation and softened his tone. Chapter I¡¯m sorry, Gabriel. I really didn¡¯t want toe between you and Ste.¡° Lily suddenly threw herself into his arms. ¡°I know I don¡¯t deserve this. When your family was struggling, I couldn¡¯t help at all. Now I¡¯m causing problems between you and Ste. I should just disappear forever.¡± ¡°Illy, this isn¡¯t your fault. Don¡¯t me yourself.¡± Gabriel patted this person he¡¯d always seen as a little sister. Honestly, he was grateful Lily had been willing to help. Fresh chapters posted on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Just then, the elevator doors opened and reporters swarmed out. Mr. Sterling, are you and Miss Rose officially together now?¡± ¡°Are you two going public?¡± When exactly did you start dating?¡± Mr. Sterling, we heard you have an ex-girlfriend who¡¯s been stalking you. Is that why you haven¡¯t gone public with Miss Rose?¡± The reporters¡¯ cutting questions pierced Gabriel¡¯s eardrums. How dare they talk about his Ste like that? Who told you to make up lies?¡± Gabriel¡¯s icy voice cut like a de, silencing the crowd momentarily. ust as he was about to reveal the truth, Lily pressed closer to him and whispered so only he could hear. Gabriel, don¡¯t announce your rtionship with Ste yet. What if there are still people out there we missed? If you go public now, won¡¯t all this be for nothing?¡± Before Gabriel could respond, Lily took his hand and smiled gracefully at the cameras: ¡°Gabriel and I are together, and we are nning to get married. We¡¯ll hold a proper press conference with detailster-you¡¯re all wee to attend.¡± Gabriel couldn¡¯t pinpoint what felt wrong as camera shes went off frantically, but his unease was spreading. He only knew that somehow, everything was spinning beyond his control. Face Blind 70 ¡°Gabriel, are you mad at me?¡± Back in the hospital room, Gabriel sat inplete silence while Lily fidgeted beside him. ¡°Given the situation, we couldn¡¯t have gotten out of there without saying that. And not exining about Ste is actually the best protection for her. Hollywood¡¯s like that-fans have no memory. Give it some time and they¡¯ll forget all about this.¡± Gabriel didn¡¯t respond, his eyes glued to his phone. Ste hadn¡¯t called once sincest night. The story had blown up everywhere-photos of him and Lily were stered all over social media. Had she even seen any of it? Maybe Ste¡¯s just busy with her reunion and hasn¡¯t had time to check messages yet!¡± Lily seemed to read his thoughts. Yeah, she¡¯s at her college reunion today.¡± Gabriel kept reassuring himself-she just hadn¡¯t seen the news yet. Gabriel, you should take a shower. You look terrible, and when Stees back, she¡¯ll me me for not taking care of you.¡± Gabriel wasn¡¯t really listening to anything except when Ste¡¯s name came up-that seemed to snap him back to attention. Right, I should shower.¡± He went into the bathroom, leaving his phone glowing on the bed. The moment he was gone, Lily¡¯s gentle smile vanishedpletely. She stared coldly at his phone, jealousy burning in her eyes. Ste Rivers, you pathetic bitch. I should never have gone soft on you. Should¡¯ve just finished you off.¡± Hearing the shower running, a devious n formed in her mind. Gabriel, did you forget to grab clean clothes? I¡¯ll bring some in for you.¡± Thanks.¡± ily could barely contain her grin as she typed a message to Ste. Ste, he said yesst night! Gabriel was so passionate-I¡¯m just getting out of bed now.¡± One second, two seconds¡­ Ete¡¯s reply came through. You don¡¯t need to keep twisting the knife. I¡¯m gone. Be happy.¡± Lily¡¯s eyes went wide with disbelief, then pure joy. Ste was leaving. Ste was actually leaving. The immediately tried to send another message-red exmation mark. She grabbed Gabriel¡¯s phone and tried from his ount-blocked there too. Fresh chapters posted on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel The bathroom door clicked. Gabriel wasing out. ily frantically deleted the message thread, trying to act like nothing happened. Ste was gone. Now she needed to keep Gabriel distracted so he wouldn¡¯t notice Ste had left. She had to make him marry her. She quickly texted her parents. Gabriel, my parents areing over. Let¡¯s have dinner together, okay? After I exin everything to them, I¡¯ll go talk to Ste, then I¡¯ll do a livestream and tell everyone the whole truth. You and Ste are the real couple here.¡± Thinking he¡¯d soon be able to clear everything up, Gabriel finally felt some relief. Thanks for doing this, Lily Gabriel ruffled her hair like when they were kids. Back in high school, he¡¯d thought he liked Lily, but when ste came along, be realized his feelings for Lily were purely sisterly. Too bad he¡¯d figured it out sote-they¡¯d missed four whole years in college. But he¡¯d have plenty of time to make it up to Ste now. That evening, in a private dining room. Gabriel, dear, Lily told us everything. Even though you can¡¯t be our son-inw, I still think of you like my own son. When your parents¡­ when that happened. ve were overseas and couldn¡¯t help. We still feel terrible about it. Thank goodness Lily could help you this time.¡± Talking about the past brought tears to Mrs. Rose¡¯s eyes. Gabriel spent the whole evening thinking about Ste, wondering if she was back yet. Sweetheart, let¡¯s toast.¡± Gabriel lost track of how many drinks he¡¯d had. By the time his head was spinning, only he and Lily were left in the room. Ste?¡± The girl in front of him looked just like her. You finally came to find me, Ste. I never meant to ignore you before. Lily and I really have nothing going on-I¡¯ve always seen her like a sister.¡± It¡¯s okay, Gabriel. I believe you. I¡¯ve always believed you.¡± lender arms wrapped around his neck, and he couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, leaning down to kiss her. Ste, let¡¯s never be apart again, okay?¡± Face Blind 71 Halfway through, Gabriel¡¯s head suddenly lolled to the side and he passed out cold. ¡°Fuck! Gabriel, are you seriously impotent or something?!¡± Lilypletely lost it, cursing like a sailor. If Gabriel hadn¡¯t built his business empire back up, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered with this borate scheme. But as long as they were in the same bed tonight, it would be enough to seal the deal. Gabriel woke from his hangover and instinctively reached beside him-no one there. He snapped awake immediately. Lily sat at the foot of the bed, eyes red from crying: ¡°You¡­¡± ?????? ???? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡®Gabriel, I know you don¡¯t love me, but why did you force yourself on me? What am I supposed to do now? I might as well just die.¡± Gabriel¡¯s mind wentpletely nk. Before he could say anything, the door burst open. Mr. Rose¡¯s furious voice boomed: ¡°You bastard! How dare youy a hand on my daughter!¡± His fist connected hard with Gabriel¡¯s face. Dad, it¡¯s not Gabriel¡¯s fault.¡± My sweet girl, you¡¯re still protecting this man who doesn¡¯t care about you! He has a girlfriend and you¡¯re still throwing yourself at him. Your mother told you lot toe back from overseas, but you insisted. Look how he¡¯s treated you all these years?¡± My poor baby, what a terrible fate!¡± Mom, it was all my choice. I deserve this.¡± You piece of shit, if you don¡¯t give me an exnation today, we¡¯re not done!¡± All the voices crashed into his head at once, threatening to explode his brain. But the clearest thought was that he and Ste were finished. fis Ste-someone who cared so deeply-would never take him back once she found out he¡¯d slept with Lily. Gabriel, just go. Please go! Let¡¯s pretend nothing happened today.¡± Lily broke down screaming, her thin silhouette somehow ovepping with Ste¡¯s. jabriel closed his eyes, opened them again, his fists clenched tight. I¡¯ll marry her!¡± What did you say?!¡± I said I¡¯ll marry Lily.¡± Gabriel stared at Mr. Rose, whose fury instantly transformed into beaming joy. ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it! A real man takes responsibility fter sleeping with my daughter. ince that¡¯s settled, you better break it off with that girlfriend of yours. Our Lily is our precious treasure-she won¡¯t share a man with anyone.¡± sabriel drove home in a daze, wondering how Ste would react. Would she be stone-faced or scream at him to get out? Early in their rtionship, Ste had curled up in his arms, half-joking butpletely serious: ¡°Gabriel, I¡¯m really possessive. If you¡¯re with me, there can¡¯t be nyone else. If you betray me, I¡¯ll leave forever.¡± ¡®I swear, Ste Rivers will be my one and only precious girl.¡± That promise had now be a boomerang, pping him in the face. His Ste would never forgive him. Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut and pushed through the door, bracing for the confrontation-but there was only silence and an empty apartment. 41.79 Ste wasn¡¯t back yet. That was impossible. He immediately called her-the line was busy. He tried texting-red exmation mark appeared instantly. Gabrielpletely panicked. Hello, is this Mike?¡± Mr. Sterling! I had no idea you were getting married soon or I never would have bothered you about the reunion. My apologies! When¡¯s the wedding? Wessmates should definitely send gifts¡­¡± Did Ste Riverse?¡± like¡¯s rambling was cut short. Huh?¡± I asked if Ste Rivers came to the reunion!¡± Gabriel¡¯s voice seethed with barely controlled rage through the phone. Mike nearly fell to his knees in terror. ste¡­ Ste didn¡¯t show up.¡± abriel hurled his phone against the wall where it shattered into pieces, mirroring his current state of mind. [e paced frantically. Ste had vanished. Where could she be? Had someone taken her? ist as he reached for thendline, a piece of paper fluttering in the breeze caught his attention. ecognizing the handwriting, his pupils dted as he read and reread the note three times in disbelief. te was gone. The in white ringy in his palm. his thing she never took off-she¡¯d discarded it like trash. he didn¡¯t want the ring anymore. Didn¡¯t want him anymore. Ste, why did you leave me?¡± abriel clutched the ring desperately. It was from their first anniversary during their most financially desperate time. nable to afford anything else, he¡¯d crafted this ring by hand. te had just finished filming then-ying a noblewoman who sacrificed herself for her kingdom during medieval times. When she saw him, she¡¯d rushed to his arms like the wind. What brings you here today?¡± You worked so hard, Ste.¡± He tenderly brushed hair from her face. Sorry, baby. I hate making you live like this with me.¡± Now if you keep talking like that, I¡¯m gonna get mad.¡± Ste mock-threateningly raised her fist, her exaggerated expressionbined with her borate period own making him think she really could have been a captivating duchess, cherished and protected by royalty. et this same duchess had been thrilled over a worthless ring. No, I won¡¯t give up like this. Wait for me, Ste. I¡¯ll fix everything.¡± Gabriel gripped the ring tightly, his resolve stronger than ever. Face Blind 72 The movie theater. Lily and Gabriel sat in the back row. ¡°Gabriel. I never thought you¡¯d actually agree toe see a movie with me.¡± Lily¡¯s face glowed with sweet satisfaction as she rested her head on Gabriel¡¯s shoulder while everyone else was absorbed in the film. ¡°The main characters in the story end up together-we definitely will too.¡± But Gabriel¡¯s mind drifted to Ste¡¯s words. Back when they were broke, Ste had saved up for so long just for one movie ticket. ¡°If we¡¯re gonna see something, it better be worth it. I¡¯m not throwing my money away.¡± Lost in thought, he didn¡¯t realize the movie had ended until people started filing out. ¡®Gabriel, what the hell were you thinking about? I was calling your name forever and youpletely ignored me.¡± Lily¡¯s face darkened. She¡¯d thought he wasn¡¯ rejecting her closeness, never imagining he¡¯d been spacing out the entire time. ¡®Sorry, work stuff.¡± Gabriel cleared his throat, annoyed at being interrupted from his memories. ¡®Since the movie¡¯s over, let¡¯s go.¡± Days of pent-up frustration finally exploded. Lily shot up, her face twisted with rage. Ever since Gabriel had agreed to marry her, he¡¯d go along with whatever she wanted, but he was always distant like this-eating with her, shopping with her ike a damn robot. ¡®Gabriel, is yourpany really that busy? Too busy to even watch a movie with me?¡± I¡¯m your girlfriend now, not some random nobody you can summon and dismiss whenever you feel like it. Do you have any respect for me at all?¡± Read full story at Find?Novel What are you freaking out about? I watched it with you, didn¡¯t I?¡± Gabriel¡¯s expression turned cold too. ¡®If you don¡¯t want to be here, then leave.¡± He turned and headed for the exit. Lily red at his retreating figure, hatred for Ste burning in her chest. ¡°Why are you still haunting us even after you left?¡± I¡¯m sorry, Gabriel. That was my fault.¡± Lily jogged to catch up and linked her arm through his, giving him a way to save face. Gabriel took a deep breath. He¡¯d overreacted. Once he¡¯d calmed down, he touched her arm gently. ¡°Sorry, I lost my temper. Want to do something else? I¡¯lle with you.¡± I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s grab dinner.¡± At the end of the theaterplex was a narrow alley. Gabriel led the way without asking Lily¡¯s opinion. ¡°Gabriel, what is this ce? Is there actually a restaurant here? This is so gross!¡± Lily looked disgusted. ¡°Gross?¡± Gabriel gazed at the small shop under its warm yellow lights. He remembered when Ste first brought him here: ¡°Gabriel, I¡¯ve got amazing news! I found this incredible hidden gem-if you go at eleven PM, they give you an extra soft-boiled egg!¡± Her bright eyes had sparkled with excitement, so Gabriel had quietly given the owner extra money with instructions to always add an extra egg when Ste came by. ¡°I love ces like this. If you want to marry me, you¡¯ll have to learn to ept it.¡± 42.39 Lily¡¯s mouth twitched as she looked from the shabby restaurant to Gabriel. Taking a deep breath, she decided to endure it for the sake of bing Mrs. Sterling Gabriel chose a table by the window. Everything was exactly the same as before. Sitting there, he was surrounded by traces of his time with Ste. Outside, a group of girls who¡¯d just seen a movie came in chattering excitedly. After ordering, they grabbed sticky notes and started scribbling on them. Gabriel¡¯s heart suddenly started racing uncontrobly. He stood up involuntarily and looked toward the wall covered in notes, but his eyes immediately found the one that belonged to Ste. ¡°Ste Rivers and Gabriel Sterling forever together.¡± That note was pinned at the very top. Gabriel unconsciously reached out to touch it, but someone else¡¯s hand got there first, tearing it down. ¡°So you¡¯ve been thinking about her all day?¡± Gabriel tried to exin but found he couldn¡¯t say anything. His silence was answer enough. ¡°Why?!¡± Lily screamed and violently shredded the note in her hands before Gabriel could stop her. ¡°Gabriel, if you¡¯re still hung up on her, I don¡¯t mind exposing her online. Let¡¯s see whose side the inte takes.¡± ¡°If you dare touch her¡­¡± Gabriel¡¯s smile was ice-cold. ¡°I can build you up, and I can make sure you never appear on screen again.¡± The date ended in disaster. They left one after the other, neither noticing the man with the cap sitting in the corner, quietly snapping photos with his camera. Face Blind 73 ?? ¡£ ¡°Gabriel doesn¡¯t even want to marry me.¡± Lily slumped on the couch,ining bitterly. ¡°Come on, sweetheart, I know it¡¯s been hard, but we¡¯ve gotten through so much already. We¡¯re just one step away from sess-you¡¯re not giving up now, are you?¡± Mrs. Rose stroked Lily¡¯s hair, trying to persuade her. ¡°But he¡¯s impossible to deal with! Even though I got rid of Ste Rivers, he¡¯s still thinking about her 24/7. I me you and Dad for misjudging him. If I¡¯d known he was this devoted, I should¡¯ve just killed Ste during that first kidnapping,¡± ¡°Who knew that boy had such resilience? We killed his parents and he still managed aeback. But you were smart, darling-once you marry him, the Sterling empire will be ours.¡± ¡°Mom, what do you think his expression would be if he knew his precious woman was getting tens of thousands of hate messages and constant death threats every day under his so-called protection?¡± ¡°Just thinking about it gets me so excited! Remember when Ste begged for three or four months to get that role, and I took it away from Gabriel with just two sentences? You should¡¯ve seen her heartbroken face-such a shame I didn¡¯t record it.¡± ¡°And Mom, you know what the best part was? I had someone kidnap Ste recently, just meant to scare her into leaving. But you know what that psycho did? He actually carved whore¡¯ into her arm!¡± ¡°Brilliant-I never would¡¯ve thought of that. Too bad he was hard to control, or I would¡¯ve had him film it. Mom, you should¡¯ve seen when Ste called for help only to realize it was me on the other end¡­¡± Gabriel couldn¡¯t hear anything else. His mind wentpletely nk. He¡¯d suspected his parents¡¯ deaths weren¡¯t idental, had investigated for months but found no leads. Eventually he¡¯d chalked it up to bad luck. Now he liscovered it had all been deliberate. And what did she mean about Ste receiving tens of thousands of threatening messages daily? Why hadn¡¯t he known about any of this? f it was true, Gabriel couldn¡¯t bear to think about what he¡¯d put her through. His blood felt frozen in his veins. Everything he¡¯d done with Lily was supposed to protect Ste. Now he learned that the real source of Ste¡¯s suffering was him. The people inside hadn¡¯t noticed they were being overheard. Gabriel turned to leave-he¡¯d originallye to give Lily an easy way out and rify their tionship. The Rose family¡¯s housekeeper knew him and had let him in without question. But darling, this kind of talk stays in the house. Be careful outside-no one else can ever hear this.¡± Don¡¯t worry, Mom. Gabriel will never know any of this, not even on his deathbed.¡± Official source is find{n}ovel jabriel gripped his palms so tightly that his fingernails cut deep, drawing blood. He stopped dead in his tracks and backed away from the door. Je wouldn¡¯t spare a single person who¡¯d hurt Ste. Mr. Sterling, leaving already?¡± he housekeeper was still at the door. I forgot the wine I brought for Mr. Rose-it¡¯s in my car.¡± Gabriel forced his emotions down, and when he re-entered the Rose house, he wore a gentle smile as it he¡¯d heard nothing. Oh, Gabriel¡¯s here! Come in,e in!¡± Mrs. Rose beamed, nudging Lily who was still on the couch. Look at my daughter-I¡¯ve spoiled her rotten since childhood, no manners at all. Gabriel, you¡¯re such a good boy, please be patient with our Lily.¡± Mrs. Rose didn¡¯t expect much of a response. But Gabriel smoothly replied: ¡°Of course. Marrying Lily would be my blessing-1 should be the one spoiling her. I was confused recently and hurt her feelings. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to apologize.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Even Lily stared at Gabriel in shock. Tve been thinking these past few days, and I realized Lily is still the one I love most. As for Ste Rivers-I think I confused gratitude with love. Now I see clearly.¡± Gabriel spoke with apparent sincerity as he took Lily¡¯s wrist. So I want to have a wedding as soon as possible-one the whole world can witness. Will you?¡± Face Blind 74 Lily had never felt as euphoric as she had these past few days. Gabriel seemed like apletely different person, promoting their wedding across every tform. Just as he¡¯d promised, the whole world knew they were getting married. ¡°Amazing! My OTP is actually real!¡± ¡°Lily and Mr. Sterling are such a perfect match!¡± ¡°I said my ship was real and y¡¯all said I was delusional. Can Ie home now?¡± ¡°Real couples just hit different.¡± ¡°Anyone else think Gabriel¡¯s making such a big deal to warn certain people?¡± ¡°That certain someone already slithered away in shame. Only her desperate stans are still defending her. People who shipped the fake couple are just pathetic.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t miss out! Our childhood sweethearts are getting their second chance at love-like a real-life CEO romance noveling true. Wee to watch our real couple¡¯s wedding livestream!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go! Congrattions!¡± ¡°Congrattions!¡± The chat exploded with messages. Lily sat in the dressing room wearing a custom gown crafted by master artisans, while outside, the global livestream was beginning. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this-everything¡¯s going so perfectly it feels like a dream.¡± Lily pressed her hand to her racing heart. After today, she¡¯d be the envy of women worldwide. All those industry people who¡¯d looked down on her would grovel at her feet. The thought twisted her face with excitement. Ladies and gentlemen, the bride!¡± The officiant¡¯s voice boomed outside. Lily forced down her urge tough maniacally, slipping back into her innocent flower persona. ¡°Gabriel¡­¡± Lily took Gabriel¡¯s arm, but something about his intense stare made her nervous. Had he discovered something? But if he had, why would he still be marrying her? The thought calmed her slightly. ¡°Gabriel, thank you. You¡¯re so good to me.¡± ¡°Am I? I can be even better to you. Want to see?¡± Thunderous apuse erupted from the audience. Everyone thought this was just cute couple banter until someone shouted, ¡°Kiss her!¡± Soon the entire venue was chanting. Lily blushed shyly, instinctively leaning toward Gabriel. ¡°Lily, I actually found something really fun. I think you¡¯ll love it. Want to see?¡± Gabriel¡¯s smile was ice-cold. Lily looked confused but nodded. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s enjoy this together.¡± Before Lily could look at the big screen, her parents suddenly stood up in the audience. Mrs. Rose screamed frantically: ¡°Turn it off! Turn it off!¡± The rightful source is FindN0vel Lily froze. The screen showed surveince footage of Mr. and Mrs. Rose sneaking into a garage, tampering with a car. Then the same car appeared by the river-her parents got out, leaving Gabriel¡¯s unconscious parents inside. Momentster, the car slid into the water. Lily¡¯s face went deathly pale. Her parents tried to run but were restrained by pre-positioned security guards. ¡°Gabriel, you lied to me! You knew all along!¡± Lily shook uncontrobly, Junging forward with her hand raised to p him. Gabriel kicked her to the ground. His eyes were bloodshot, practically feral. Don¡¯t worry your turn ising!¡± Seeing the situation turning dangerous, Lily scrambled up to flee but was immediately grabbed by Gabriel¡¯s bodyguards. The screen now showed apletely different Lily-not the sweet innocent she pretended to be, but footage of her abusing staff members, throwing tantrums and walking off sets. I had no idea Lily Rose was like this.¡± This is insane-groom exposing his A-list bride on their wedding day?¡± ¡°But what¡¯s Gabriel¡¯s angle here?¡± ¡°Everyone, I¡¯d like to introduce someone very special to you.¡± Gabriel took the microphone, his expression filled with tender devotion as if speaking of the world¡¯s greatest treasure. ¡°My true love-Ste Rivers!¡± Face Blind 75 The big screen filled with scenes from their journey together-from their first meeting to falling in love. Watching these moments, Gabriel could no longer hold back his tears. ¡°The tragedy is, my arrogance cost me her. She gave up her dream career to enter Hollywood for me, working while paying off my debts. She stayed by my side through my darkest days. But because I feared my enemies would target her. I listened to this bitch Lily¡¯s lies. All these years, I sabotaged Ste¡¯s opportunities, kept her stuck in supporting roles. I thought I was protecting her, but she was actually suffering cyberbullying every single day.¡± Gabriel¡¯s voice was breaking. He remembered when his assistant found those hate messages-the agony of realizing his precious treasure had endured such treatment right under his nose. ¡°That¡¯s absolutely evil-so much malice toward aplete stranger.¡± ¡°Fuck, I need to apologize for ever attacking Ste Rivers. I¡¯m such a piece of shit.¡± ¡°Always knew Lily Rose was trash, but I never imagined she was this disgusting.¡± ¡°Am I the only one who thinks Gabriel¡¯s not innocent either? Making himself sound so meless. If you really loved someone that much and saw them every day, wouldn¡¯t you notice their pain?¡± Previousmenter nailed it. Lily¡¯s garbage, Gabriel¡¯s garbage too. Hope they destroy each other and leave our Ste alone!¡± Insider tea: I saw these two fighting at a little restaurant. He took her to a movie, then they got into it over some sticky note.¡± ¡°So gross. Who wants to watch this fake ¡®devoted lover¡¯ act?¡± ¡°Yall don¡¯t get it-this is real love! Enduring humiliation to protect the woman he loves, gathering evidence, then dering his love to the world. If that¡¯s not ove, what is?¡± ¡°Kid, don¡¯t you have homework to do?¡± ¡°But seriously, didn¡¯t Ste Rivers quit the industry?¡± Yeah, probably heartbroken. I would¡¯ve run too.¡± Ste, I¡¯m so sorry. But don¡¯t worry-I won¡¯t spare anyone who hurts you.¡± Gabriel finished and fixed his deadly stare on Lily. Gabriel, if you touch me, you¡¯ll burn in hell!¡± Whether I burn doesn¡¯t matter. But I know you¡¯re about to.¡± Gabriel grabbed Lily¡¯s chin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you die easily. I¡¯ll make you and your parents vatch each other suffer slowly. Every bit of pain you inflicted on Ste, I¡¯ll return a thousandfold.¡± St.¡± Mr. and Mrs. Rose copsed, suspicious liquid pooling beneath them. Gabriel, I was wrong! I¡¯m so sorry! I¡¯ll never do it again-please let me go! I swear I¡¯ll stay away from Ste forever!¡± Toote!¡± Gabriel¡¯s smile was ruthless. As police dragged her away, Lily shrieked: ¡°Gabriel Sterling, may you rot in hell! You¡¯ll never be with that bitch Ste Rivers!¡± Seeing Gabriel unmoved, she grasped at onest desperate straw. ¡°Gabriel, you can¡¯t do this to me-I¡¯m pregnant!¡± The air seemed to freeze. What the hell kind of drama is this?¡± ¡°Where are all those people calling it sweet now?¡± ¡°Christ, talking about how much he loves her while his current girlfriend is carrying his baby, but he only loves his ex?¡± ¡°You lying bitch!¡± Gabriel lunged forward, grabbing Lily¡¯s throat. ¡°When you were in bed with me that night, you kept calling me baby. You can¡¯t escape me that easily now,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think putting on this devoted act makes everything disappear.¡± Lilyughed maniacally, tears streaming down her face. ¡°You¡¯re pathetic and stupid! Think a public love confession to the world crases everything?¡± Her face contortedpletely, hair disheveled like a madwoman. ¡°Stop acting so innocent. If you really loved her, if you truly trusted her, would you have let me drive a wedge between you? You talk a good game, but you¡¯re the most vicious one here!¡± ¡°Enjoying everyone praising you as the perfect couple while pining for your girlfriend-you want every good guy trope. Your heart is greedier than anyone¡¯s.¡± Her voice rose hysterically. ¡°iming to protect Ste-but did 1 force you to get intimate with me? You wanted to have your cake and eat it too, keeping her under your thumb while enjoying the thrill of having both your pure first love and your passionate mistress!¡± ¡°SMACK!¡± Gabriel¡¯s hand cracked across Lily¡¯s face. ¡°Shut your mouth, you whore.¡± The farcical wedding ended with the police taking away the Rose parents. At the hospital, Gabriel stared coldly at Lily strapped to the operating table, his smile cruel: ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to go this far with you, but you insisted on seeking death. You know I have a temper problem.¡± He pulled out a pill bottl?. Know what this is? Medication for bipr disorder. Since you don¡¯t want to live peacefully, I¡¯ll grant your wish. As for that bastard in your belly-I¡¯ll only ever have children with Ste.¡± Finally Lily was truly terrified, struggling frantically, looking at him like he was a monster. Gabriel, I¡¯m sorry! I was lying-nothing happened that night, and I¡¯m not pregnant! Please let me go!¡± Now suddenly nothing happened? Too bad your word means nothing to me anymore. I¡¯d rather verify personally to be sure.¡± Before leaving, Gabriel turned back as if remembering something amusing, meeting Lily¡¯s terrified eyes. Oh, remember how you regretted not having footage before? I brought over that little psycho you mentioned, plus the best camera crew money can buy. Enjoy yourself.¡± The door mmed shut, cutting off Lily¡¯s agonized screams. Soon after, police reported that the Rose parents couldn¡¯t handle the pressure andmitted suicide. When Lily returned from the hospital, she was in a daze. he news broke herpletely-she went insane within days and wasmitted to a psychiatric facility, roomed with her little psycho. After settling ounts, Gabriel eagerly set off with the address his assistant provided. Ste, wait for me!¡± his time I won¡¯t lose you. For more chapters visit f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Face Blind 76 When Ste arrived in Riverside, she felt disoriented-graduation seemed like yesterday, but the city had changedpletely. At the station entrance. Emily rushed over and hugged her with a heartbroken expression. E ¡°Babe, you¡¯ve gotten even thinner!¡° Isn¡¯t that a good thing? Everyone says skinny is beautiful these days. Ste forced a smile. Emily was at a loss for words. It had only been two or three years since they¡¯d parted ways, but the once confident and vibrant girl now looked utterly exhausted. ¡°Gabriel Sterling is aplete bastard.¡± Emily said carefully, afraid of hitting a nerve, because Ste looked like she might shatter at any moment. What exactly happened between you two?¡± ste¡¯s eyes welled up. She took a deep breath, carefully controlling her emotions, then slowly recounted everything that had transpired. That son of a bitch Gabriel-how dare he treat you like this! If it weren¡¯t for you, where would he be today? If he liked someone else, why didn¡¯t he speak up :ooner? What did he take you for-an ATM when times were tough, then kick you to the curb once he made it big? How can someone be such scum!¡± Fresh chapters posted on find?novel mily was trembling with rage. Ste had no doubt that if her friend had a knife, she¡¯d rush over and stab him twice. nstead, seeing Emily like this actually made Ste smile-a faint but genuine smile. You can still smile after all this?¡± Having such a loyal friend by her side after everything, Ste suddenly felt that fate hadn¡¯t been entirely cruel to her. Emily, I might need to trouble you for a while. Promise you won¡¯t abandon me-you¡¯re all I have left.¡± She wrapped her arms around Emily¡¯s neck, nuzzling nto her embrace like a puppy seekingfort. mily¡¯s heart meltedpletely: ¡°I was worried you¡¯d think my countryside ce was too shabby. If you don¡¯t mind, you can stay with me forever. Men who romise to take care of you for life are unreliable, but if you¡¯re willing. I can support you for life.¡± You¡¯re so silly!¡± Ste wiped her red-rimmed eyes. Getting all sentimental on me-you¡¯re going to make me cry. But-¡± Ste smiled mischievously and pulled out a bank card, momentarily resembling her old arefree self. Five million-worth it? Call me Your Majesty, and I¡¯ll keep you in luxury from now on!¡± Worth it, worth it! My Queen, I¡¯m your loyal servant from now on!¡± Emily eagerly massaged Ste¡¯s shoulders, pretending not to notice the barely perceptible tremor in her friend¡¯s fingers when she held the bank card. Come things between friends didn¡¯t need to be said-understanding was enough. te first visited her parents¡¯ graves. Perhaps it was fate-when she was with Gabriel, she¡¯d wanted to bring him to pay respects, but various circumstances revented it. Now, yearster, they¡¯d nevere together even once. Maybe we just weren¡¯t meant to be, Mom and Dad. I¡¯ll find you a better son-inw next time!¡± After saying goodbye to her parents, Ste rented an RV and they traveled leisurely. After years of scrambling for extra work in film studios, Ste had almost orgotten her original dream of bing a geologist and exploring the country¡¯s magnificentndscapes. ¡®God, what kind of miserable life was I living before? This is what I actually want!¡± Over the past two weeks, Ste had transformedpletely, and Emily was genuinely happy to see it. ¡°Exactly! Two-legged frogs might be rare, but three-legged men are everywhere!¡± As theyughed, they heard chuckling behind them. A tan-skinned man in orange hiking gear, carrying a massive backpack-clearly an outdoor adventurer type-shed perfect white teeth as he smiled. 16:12 Remembered the Fake Forgot Your REAL WIFE? Varma¡¯s Hero Face plid pilli ¡°Who are you, eavesdropping on our conversation!¡± Emily stepped forward protectively, shielding Ste. Ryan quickly stepped back: ¡°Sorry, I meant no harm. I just thought what you said was amusing.¡± The oldest pickup line in the book!¡± Emily showed no mercy-after everything, any man who stared at Ste reminded her of that bastard Gabriel. Tm Ryan Woods, a travel blogger. This is my card. I apologize for disturbing you, but I truly mean no harm.¡° Ste took the business card and tugged at Emily: ¡°Sorry, my friend means no offense, but we really don¡¯t want to interact with strangers. Have a pleasant trip. Ste pulled Emily into the RV, leaving Ryan staring dejectedly at the closed door before walking away with obvious disappointment. Inside the RV, Ste didn¡¯t give the encounter another thought. Though Emily lived in the countryside, it was in a scenic area where she ran a guesthouse. The living conditions were like paradise. Ste stared at the two-story vi before her. This was Emily¡¯s idea of rural living? She wouldn¡¯t mind more of this kind of ¡°rural¡± life. I really will need you to support me, darling!¡± wo dayster, Ste found herself in a staring contest with Ryan, who was standing downstairs. No one could have predicted that the guesthouse¡¯s final guest of the season would be the man they¡¯d encountered before. What a coincidence-we meet again!¡± yan grinned like an overgrown, goofy dog, and Ste could practically see his tail wagging behind him. Ste, should I put these flowers here or somewhere else?¡± Ste, I finished mopping the stairs-should I sweep the floor too?¡± Ste, I made flower cakes-would you like to try some?¡± Ste, the sun¡¯s too strong here-let me hold an umbre for you!¡± Ste¡­¡± hese past few days, Ste couldn¡¯t close her eyes without seeing Ryan¡¯s perfect white teeth and hearing his relentless stream of ¡°Ste this, Ste that.¡± Now whenever someone called her name, she had the conditioned response to run. Is that kid still scrubbing the stairs?¡± mily had actually warmed up to Ryantely-what business owner wouldn¡¯t appreciate a paying guest who cleaned for free? I think there¡¯s something wrong with him!¡± te thought about earlier when she¡¯d climbed the stairs, not knowing Ryan had mopped them. She¡¯d slipped and fallen backward, but luckily he¡¯d caught her. side from Gabriel, she¡¯d never been that close to another man. or a moment, all she could hear was his steady, strong heartbeat. Damn, I¡¯m actually blushing!¡± te stared at herself in the mirror in disbelief. Just thinking about it made her face flush. I must be losing my mind!¡± Ste flopped onto the couch with a thud. Face Blind 77 Ste suddenly became famous again on a clear, sunny day. She went to buy flowers as usual, having barely looked at her phone these years due to constant private message attacks. Today, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that everyone on the street was staring at her-whether it was her imagination or not. It reminded her of those initial years of cyberbullying when she felt like everyone harbored ill will toward her. Her heart began beating uneasily, and she practically fled back to Emily¡¯s ce. ¡°1¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Ste saw Emily¡¯s red-rimmed eyes and her hasty movement to hide her phone upon seeing Ste return. ¡°Are people attacking me online again?¡± Ste forced a smile, pretending nothing was wrong, but her trembling hands betrayed her inner anxiety. ¡°Gabriel Sterling just confessed to you publicly across all social media tforms!¡± Ste had thought she and Gabriel would never cross paths again in this lifetime. She never expected they¡¯d meet again so soon. In just over two months, Gabriel had lost significant weight and looked much more haggard. For a moment, Ste felt aplex mix of emotions. Honestly, she had suffered for a long time over the question of whether Gabriel truly loved her. If this had been the old her watching that video, she might have been moved, but now she felt nothing-no ripples in her heart. The only feeling was probably annoyance. ¡°Should I go talk to him?¡± Emily suggested. It¡¯s fine. This is a good opportunity to make things clear with him.¡± Gabriel sat in the small courtyard downstairs, which was filled with various flowers that looked vibrant and full of life-much more lived-in than his vi. Ste, I¡­¡± Seeing Stee downstairs, Gabriel immediately stood up,pletely flustered. Ste, you can hit me or scream at me¨CI won¡¯t resist. I know I¡¯ve hurt you, and I know nothing can make up for it, but I really just wanted to protect you.¡± I had no idea Lily would manipte things so much behind the scenes. I really didn¡¯t know you¡¯d suffer so much harm under my protection. Ste, I won¡¯t let you get hurt anymore. Come home with me, okay? Can we start over?¡± Ste rarely saw Gabriel cry. Even after his parents died, he had only sat silently on a bridge all night, holding a bottle of alcohol. By all rights, he was a victim
Ste handed Gabriel a tissue. At this moment, this man she thought would never cry had tears brimming in his eyes. Wipe your face. I don¡¯t resent you!¡± Gabriel¡¯s eyes immediately lit up at her words. ¡°But we¡­ it¡¯s impossible now!¡± ¡°Why? WHY? Ste, what did I do wrong? Tell me, I can change.¡± Gabriel suddenly stood up and grabbed Ste¡¯s hand, his grip so tight it nearly crushed her bones. ¡°My parents are dead, Ste. In this world, you¡¯re the closest person to me. I¡¯m begging you, please don¡¯t leave me alone. Ste, it¡¯s all my fault. You can hit me or yell at me, just don¡¯t abandon me!¡± As he spoke, Gabriel grabbed Ste¡¯s hand and tried to make her p his own face. ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Gabriel, stop it!¡± Ste refused, but he waspletely lost in his emotions and couldn¡¯t hear her. Smack-a powerful force struck, and Gabriel was kicked to the ground. Ryan immediately pulled Ste behind him. ¡°She¡¯s rejecting you. Can¡¯t you hear that?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend. What business is it of yours when I talk to my girlfriend?¡± Gabriel scrambled up from the ground and threw a punch at Ryan¡¯s face. The Two men immediately started fighting in the courtyard, both looking like they wanted to kill each other. ¡°Stop it! Stop fighting!¡± Neither man would yield to the other, and despite Ste shouting several times, no one paid attention. ¡°Both of you fucking stop! If you want to fight, get out of here!¡± ste grabbed a ss vase from the table and smashed it on the ground. The loud crash finally brought the two frenzied men back to their senses. Ryan mmediately rushed to Ste. Ste, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Ste, stay away from those ss shards. I¡¯ll clean them up-be careful not to cut yourself!¡± Gabriel had already crouched down and thoughtfully pulled out a andkerchief from his suit pocket, carefully wrapping up all the ss fragments. Ste, I¡¯ll do whatever you ask me to do from now on. Just don¡¯t leave me, okay?¡± Gabriel grabbed one of her arms as she tried to leave. I made some different vored flower cakes today. Would you like to try them?¡± Ryan grabbed her other arm. te was almost amused by these two men. How had she never noticed before that she was such a hotmodity, with so many people fighting over her? Leave, Gabriel. I¡¯ve made myself very clear-there¡¯s no possibility between us anymore.¡± With that, she pulled Ryan upstairs with her. Ste?¡± Just around the stair corner, where Gabriel couldn¡¯t see them, Ste let go of Ryan¡¯s hand. Ryan, I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m being presumptuous, but if I am, just pretend I¡¯m talking nonsense. If you have designs on me, I advise you to give up right now. I¡¯m ot in the mood to consider these things, I¡¯m not the right person for you, and it¡¯s impossible for us to be together.¡± After saying this, Ste turned and left without waiting for Ryan¡¯s response. What she feared most now was dealing with emotional matters-one wrong move nd she¡¯d end up like today. So you don¡¯t want either of them?¡± Emily teased Ste. Do you only want to be with me?¡± Exactly, Emily. You understand me best-I only want to be with you.¡± After they yed around for a bit, Emily suddenly cupped Ste¡¯s face. Don¡¯t worry about me. Leave if you want to. I know your dreams aren¡¯t about staying here with me tending flowers, but my door will always be open for you.¡± Having one true friend in life was enough. Ste didn¡¯t know what to say. She did have ns to leave-Gabriel¡¯s arrival had just elerated those ns. The world was so big, and she wanted to see it, to ulfill the dreams she¡¯d abandoned all those years ago. Get full chapters from Find~Novel Besides, too many people here recognized her. Sometimes she¡¯d walk just a few steps and encounter people iming to be her fans, asking when she¡¯d return to acting. There were also some Gabriel-Ste shippers who would defend Gabriel when they met her. She couldn¡¯t learn how to talk to people-if she said something wrong, it would end up online again. The entertainment industry was a ce she never wanted to set foot in again for the rest of her life. Face Blind 78 When leaving. Ste said goodbye only to Emily and no one else. The scenery outside the window rushed backward frantically, and this time her heart was truly calm in an unprecedented way. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when she suddenly woke from her dream: ¡°Driver, this isn¡¯t right-this isn¡¯t the road to the airport Ste frantically grabbed the car door handle and pulled hard, but there was no sign of the door opening. It was locked. ¡°Stop the car, I¡¯m calling the police¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, a pair of hands covered Ste¡¯s mouth and nose. Soon, the person in his armspletely lost consciousness. Gabriel held the person in his arms tightly-Ste had been too panicked when she woke up to notice him sitting in the back seat. ¡°To the airport.¡± Gabriel stared at Ste¡¯s sleeping face, his eyes filled with crazed possessiveness: ¡°Ste, I won¡¯t give you another chance to escape from my side.¡± When Ste woke up, she was in an unfamiliar room, but the luxurious decorations all indicated that the owner of this house was wealthy and powerful. ¡°Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?¡± Ste clutched the nket in front of her, her whole body trembling uncontrobly. She was already surrounded by fear and therefore didn¡¯t recognize that the figure standing there was someone familiar. Ste, don¡¯t be afraid-it¡¯s me!¡± ¡°Gabriel?¡± ¡®It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Gabriel, are you fucking sick? What right do you have to kidnap me? Do I have some grudge against you? Why did you kidnap me?¡± All her panic exploded in this moment as Ste threw everything she could find on the bed at Gabriel¡¯s face. ¡°What exactly do you want to do? Can¡¯t you just leave me alone! Did I owe you something in my past life?¡± Tears streamed down Ste¡¯s face, and that face she had once loved now seemed somewhat hateful. Ste, I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t hate me, okay? I really can¡¯t live without you.¡± Gabriel forcefully pulled Ste into his arms, not letting go no matter how she struggled. Ste, give me one more chance. Let¡¯s start over. I promise I won¡¯t let you get hurt this time.¡± Get lost!¡± he had cried and made a scene, but Gabriel was now like someone possessed. He could satisfy whatever she wanted, except he wouldn¡¯t let her leave his sight. Ste didn¡¯t know how many days she had been in this vi. Allmunication devices had been confiscated, and ten bodyguards watched her every move. Now she couldn¡¯t even be bothered to leave the room. She had just finished lunch and was getting sleepy, nning to take an afternoon nap, when Gabriel burst in excitedly. Ste, the country¡¯s top stic surgeon is back. You can have the surgery tonight¡­¡± You want me to get stic surgery?¡± Ste¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°No, Ste, the scar on your arm¡­¡± At the mention of this, Ste could still feel the pain of the de cutting into her arm. Days of imprisonment plus years of grievances made her immediately blurt out the most vicious words. ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s because of this scar. How difficult for you-it¡¯s not on your body, so now you¡¯re disgusted by me? Disgusted that I¡¯m polluting your sight!¡± Gabriel, what kind of deep affection are you pretending to show now? Isn¡¯t all of this because of you? All these years, how much have I suffered because of you?TM ¡°But that was my own degradation, my willing choice, so I don¡¯t resent you. But what right do you have to tie me to your side when I¡¯m unwilling? Is it that only your feelings matter in this world, and others¡¯ feelings don¡¯t count?¡± ¡°You talk so grandly about protecting me, but did you ever ask me? You could coborate with others in acting for so many years, protecting her nawlessly-why couldn¡¯t you do the same for me?¡° ¡°You keep saying you love me-where is your love? You know how proud I am. I had already given up my beloved career, yet you still repeatedly stole my resources in my new career. Seeing me stuck in the same ce, were you particrly happy inside?¡± Latest content published on fin?novel Ask your conscience-do you really love me? Even toward Lily, you treated her better than me!¡± You say you can¡¯t live without me, but that¡¯s only because I¡¯m the only one left around you. I pursued you for four years in college-deep down, you still had a ce for Lily, didn¡¯t you? You only chose meter when you had no other options. Do you really love me?¡± ¡°Gabriel, actually, the person you love most is yourself!¡± The most awkward stage of a rtionship is mutual usations. Ste¡¯s face was pale, her breathing rapid. She felt like she was going crazy. She had clearly old herself that even if they couldn¡¯t be together anymore, she wouldn¡¯t be a shrew. But now she had be the kind of person she most despised. Ste, I know you¡¯re just angry. It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll prove it to you. But before that, let¡¯s get the surgery done first, okay?¡± Ste waspletely drained of strength, filled with a sense of powerlessness. Gabriel, I¡¯ll listen to you and have the surgery. Please let me go. If I stay any longer, I¡¯ll really go insane.¡± Ste, I won¡¯t let you go, unless I die!¡± Gabriel¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he curved his lips into a desperate smile: ¡°No matter what you think, my love for you is real. Maybe you¡¯re right, Ste-I do ove myself most. But I¡¯ve already made you part of my life. You are my life-I can¡¯t live without you!¡± Then just go die!¡± Ste bit down hard on Gabriel¡¯s arm until she drew blood. Ste, if this makes you feel better, then as you wish!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, apanied by Ste¡¯s scream, Gabriel plunged the fruit knife from the table into his own arm. Blood immediately flowed Freely. Before losing consciousness, Ste had only one thought. Both she and Gabriel had probably gone insane! Face Blind 79 The surgery was still performed. The doctor enthusiastically described how perfect the procedure was in the hospital room, guaranteeing that it wouldn¡¯t leave my trace on her arm. Where¡¯s Gabriel?¡± he was too tired to listen to anyone else¡¯s words. Ste, I thought you didn¡¯t want to see me!¡± s soon as she finished speaking. Gabriel pushed the door open and walked in, his arm wrapped in thick bandages. From the start of the surgery until the end, e hadn¡¯t left for even a moment. Gabriel, let¡¯s stop torturing each other. Can we part on good terms?¡± abriel¡¯s smiling face immediately froze. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave. Ste, do you really not want to be in the same space as me?¡± a just a few days, Gabriel¡¯s hair had turned half white-something Ste only noticed when he came closer. his was the first time in days they had spoken so calmly to each other. Gabriel, there¡¯s no love between us anymore!¡± Ste, I love you.¡± don¡¯t love you anymore, Gabriel. I¡¯m really too tired. If you keep imprisoning me like this, I¡¯ll jump out of this window sooner orter.¡± te was smiling. When she spoke about this, there was no fear in her eyes, but rather a hint of longing. Only then did Gabriel realize that Ste truly didn¡¯t ant to be with him anymore. his realization terrified him more than her saying she didn¡¯t love him. e btedly realized that he had truly lost his Ste. Gabriel, don¡¯t doubt it. Do you know what I regret most now? It¡¯s not meeting you, and it¡¯s not dating you.¡± te showed the first gentle smile on her face since Gabriel had imprisoned her. It¡¯s that day when we fought. I must have been so hateful that day, using the most despicable thoughts to judge someone. But do you know? I used to hate eople like that the most, yet now I¡¯m gradually bing exactly that kind of person.¡± te raised her hand to wipe away tears. You were sad when your parents died, but do you know how my parents died? A young couple was dating, and they couldn¡¯t control their tempers in the car nd started fighting. In that ident, only my parents died. So I swore then that in any rtionship, I would be rational and able to control my emotions. sut look at me now-how am I any different from those people who attacked me online, or from that young couple?¡± Gabriel¡¯s heart ached with sharp pain. He had never imagined he would push the person he loved most to this point. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, Ste.¡± It¡¯s toote for apologies now, Gabriel. I¡¯m sick of hearing those three words!¡± Ste let Gabriel hold her, her gaze fixed on the clouds outside the window, unable to focus for a long time. Ste, when you¡¯re discharged, you can leave!¡± Even the deepest obsession couldn¡¯t salvage this rtionship that had been precarious for so long. Gabriel cupped Ste¡¯s face and gently ced a kiss on her forehead. ¡°I was too obsessive, Ste. You are my life, but more than having you by my side, I¡¯m afraid that one day you¡¯ll harm yourself. So go-from now on, the sky is blue and the sea is vast, fly as high as you wish!¡± A weekter, Ste was discharged. During that week, they seemed to return to how things used to be, Gabriel greedily enjoyed this dream-like scenario, but dreams must eventually end. Outside the hospital, Gabriel hugged Ste onest time. Ste, you must be happy!¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F¦ÉndNovel With that, he turned and walked away-he was afraid he¡¯d regret it if he stayed even one more second. Ste breathed in the fresh outdoor air, and the gloom in her heartpletely cleared. The ne ticket was already booked for today, Ste!¡± was Ryan. fter several days, Ryan had obviously lost a lot of weight and looked disheveled with an unkempt beard. Did you go through some disaster?¡± Ste joked. couldn¡¯t reach you. Later I found out that Gabriel had taken you away. I¡­¡± Ryan lowered his head. He felt so useless-it seemed like he could never help when mattered, not before, and not now either. It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t need to me yourself. This wasn¡¯t your fault to begin with.¡± Ste patted Ryan¡¯s shoulder. But thank you. Having a friend like you is really wonderful.¡± yan knew there was no possibility between him and Ste: ¡°Ste, do you remember me?¡± eeing Ste¡¯s confused expression, Ryan immediately regretted it. He quickly waved his hand at her: ¡°Ste, have a safe trip. Hope we meet again if fate allows. Watching Ste¡¯s car disappear from view, Ryan blinked hard, forcing back his tears. his palm was a photograph. e would probably never remember. Face Blind 80 Ryan was two years younger than Ste. When Ste was a senior in high school, Ryan was just a freshman. Everyone said there was a liberal arts genius in the senior ss who gave all the outstanding student speeches every year, but she was cold and didn¡¯t seem to like talking much. Ryan had originally thought that excellent students like her were all just bookworms who kept their heads down and studied mechanically. Freshman sses were rtively rxed. After runningps during PE ss, he was secretly hiding in a shady spot when that girl the school praised as a genius jumped over the school wall. Her high ponytail was like a dancing light that instantly struck his heart. Ste would never know that her appearance was another form of salvation in his life. He was an illegitimate son of the Woods family. His biological father had too many sons to care about him, and his mother had sent him there just to get more money. The Woods family was a wealthy household, but his life there was worse than death. To survive, he learned a skill from a very young age: ying dumb. No one pays attention to stupid people. Ryan gradually became marginalized-sometimes he could be away from home for ten days or half a month without anyone looking for him. hat day, Ste appeared like a hero bathed in radiant light: ¡°Hey, want some snacks?¡± Before he could react, arge bag of snacks was stuffed into his arms. Ste walked away casually. He thought she was probably a spoiled little princess from a pampered family, but it did solve his most pressing problem at the time-hunger. He imagined she must live in a happy andplete family environment, butter he heard that her parents had died long ago, and the person buying her gifts nd snacks was actually the murderer who had killed her parents. Every time she received things, she smiled happily on the surface, but in reality, everything either went into the trash or into other students¡¯ stomachs. Thaty, Ryan happened to be that lucky recipient. Later, he followed her to the same university, but unfortunately, she was passionately pursuing Gabriel Sterling, which the whole school knew about. Thest time he heard news about her was when he learned that her advisor intended for her to pursue further studies, but she refused. So after graduating in is senior year, he chose her advisor toplete the dreams she hadn¡¯t fulfilled. te probably didn¡¯t know that from the moment she debuted, her first devoted fan was him. During those devastating nights, Ryan listened to Ste ramble on about her college dreams and how difficult her current job was. yan understood her very well. A former pride of heaven suddenly thrown into an unfamiliar ce, thinking she could master it easily like before, but reality Healt her a heavy blow-she just couldn¡¯t do this job well no matter what. t was then that Ryan realized Ste had never given up on her dreams, so he began traveling around the world, messaging Ste from every ce he visited. The day Ste left the entertainment industry, she sent him her final message: Thank you for the encounter. Goodbye!¡± This was also the only public rtionship between the two of them. yan looked at his phone. The fan forum was a haven he had single-handedly built for her, but now that she no longer needed it, this haven had no reason to -xist. Ryan disbanded the fan forum and walked in the opposite direction from where Ste had gone. From now on, each of them would live for themselves. Taking this new step, Ste still felt some fear. Her youthful dreams were within reach, but fortunately, her luck was pretty good now-she had met a reliable eam. In spring, they set foot on thend of Nyingchi. From Bomi to Suosong Vige, wild peach trees stretched along the Niyang River for fifty kilometers on both sides of the highway-a beauty beyond the power of words to describe. Before summer arrived, she appeared in Hond¡¯s tulip fields. Millions of tulips were blooming wildly in Keukenhof Park. Ste rode her bicycle through the flower fields while a hospitable Dutch man insisted on telling tulip stories in his strange Chinese ent, making Steugh heartily. In autumn, she encountered the most intense fall colors on Canada¡¯s Maple Road. From Quebec to Niagara, over two thousand kilometers of highway were dyed fire red by maple leaves. The world outside the car window looked like an ignited oil painting, burning brilliantly red. Of course, she also got lost in the old city of Montreal, wandering around only to identally stumble into a private orchard and receive a freshly picked sweet apple. When deep winter arrived, they headed north and stopped at d¡¯s blue ice caves. Icicles hung overhead, refracting the light from outside the cave. She and her teammates huddled together, watching their guide use an ice axe to chip off a small piece of ice, drop it into whiskey, and hand it to her. For more chapters visit F¦Énd£Îovel The spicy liquor mixed with the ice¡¯s rity slid down her throat. She drank too eagerly and started coughing, while herpanions teased her and hurried to pour her water. Ste, after all these years you still can¡¯t handle it!¡± I told you I¡¯m older than you-call me sister, you little brat with no manners.¡± he got up to chase one of the teenagers in their group but identally bumped into a pair of eyes more beautiful than the night sky. Five yearster, Ste returned here with a blonde, blue-eyed handsome man. Emily, this is my husband. I¡¯m pregnant!¡± Sabriel Sterling, who had been nning to approach, stopped in his tracks. He gave a bitter smile, looking at Ste¡¯s sweet smile in the distance. The roses in his ands instantly lost their luster. Ste, be happy.¡± The roses went into the trash bin as Gabriel waved toward Ste¡¯s direction. This time it was truly goodbye. Ste, farewell!¡± Gabriel, farewell!¡± te said softly, watching his retreating figure, then looked at her beloved beside her with a sweet smile. Face Blind 81 Chapter 1 My allegedly woman¨Callergie husband suddenly kept a side piece. That girl had once been a sweet, naive farm girl, poor in money, but rich in dreams. This piqued the interest of Hendrick Morrison, a man born with a silver spoon. He thought he had hidden his infatuation well, but I soon found out. At a family gathering, I flipped the table and questioned him furiously. But he merely handed me a divorce agreement without batting an eye. ¡°I¡¯m nning to propose to Annie,¡± he said. ¡°Sign it, and half thepany¡¯s yours,¡± then he offered. I refused, but he kept upping the ante. He shoved me off a cruise ship, forcing my family into bankruptcy. In the end, he kidnapped my parents and strapped bombs to their bodies. ¡°Sign, or they will die,¡± he threatened. I surrendered, kneeling and begging him to spare my parents. But with a loud bang, their severed limbs came crashing into my face. ¡°No! Don¡¯t!¡± I cried. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn to the the same day I caught Annie Miller with him. This time, I didn¡¯t cry or make a fuss ¨C I just shut down my bank ount and signed the divorce papers, ready to cut Hendrick Morrison out of my life for good. But the day I disappeared, he lost his mind. In myst life, I had only seen Annie¡¯s photos, and Hendrick never let her anywhere near me. This time, I needed to see for myself what kind of magic she had. The kind that made him willing to destroy my whole family just to marry her. ¡°John, tell my parents to move to Canada within the month. I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± I told our family butler. After taking care of the arrangements, I had awyer draft a divorce agreement. Holding the papers, I went to Annie¡¯s school first. She stood on the podium in a white dress. Radiant, graceful, innocent, beautiful, unforgettable. The kind of college girl everyone loved, teachers and ssmates alike. No wonder Hendrick was so obsessed with her. ¡°Careful, Madam!¡± Before I could react, a stack of files came flying towards me. I instinctively covered my head, but the expected pain never came. ¡°Are you alright?¡± the person carrying the files asked apologetically. ¡ª Vonn DEAL WIFE? Karma¡¯s Here, Face¨CBlind Billionaire! 47.6% Chapter 1 ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t see you there. Let me take you to the infirmary.¡± That¡¯s when Annie suddenly appeared, shielding me, and the files hit her instead. Seeing the bleeding on her forehead, I quickly helped her up. ¡°Where¡¯s the infirmary? I¡¯ll take you there.¡± I noticed her skin was pale as snow. Half an hourter, she walked out with the medicine the doctor prescribed, shing me a bright, sunlit smile that made her look like she was made of sunshine. ¡°Sorry I kept you waiting¡­ Were you looking for someone? I can help you look for them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, he¡¯s not on campus anyway. But thanks for covering for me earlier.¡± ¡°I wanna give you a thank¨Cyou gift. I¡¯ll send it to you in a month.¡± In a month, I¡¯d be holding my divorce papers. ¡°No need to be so formal, beep beep beep¡­¡°Her phone rang, and just a one look, I knew it was Hendrick¡¯s call. ¡°Sorry, my boyfriend¡¯sing to pick me up. I gotta go.¡± I didn¡¯t miss the shy little smile on her face, and the pride in her voice when she said. It takes about half an hour to get from hispany to the school. He probably rushed over the second he heard Annie was hurt. When I was stuck in the hospital for a whole month after the car ident, he showed up once¡­on thest day. He said work kept him too busy. But now I can see, it¡¯s not that he couldn¡¯t make time. It¡¯s just that I wasn¡¯t worth it. ¡°Alright, you can go to see him first.¡± I said to her. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t see you there. Let me take you to the infirmary.¡± That¡¯s when Annie suddenly appeared, shielding me, and the files hit her instead. Seeing the bleeding on her forehead, I quickly helped her up. ¡°Where¡¯s the infirmary? I¡¯ll take you there.¡± I noticed her skin was pale as snow. Half an hourter, she walked out with the medicine the doctor prescribed, shing me a bright, sunlit smile that made her look like she was made of sunshine. ¡°Sorry I kept you waiting¡­ Were you looking for someone? I can help you look for them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, he¡¯s not on campus anyway. But thanks for covering for me earlier.¡± Checktest chapters at Find[?]ovel ¡°I wanna give you a thank¨Cyou gift. I¡¯ll send it to you in a month.¡± In a month, I¡¯d be holding my divorce papers. ¡°No need to be so formal, beep beep beep¡­¡°Her phone rang, and just a one look, I knew it was Hendrick¡¯s call. ¡°Sorry, my boyfriend¡¯sing to pick me up. I gotta go.¡± I didn¡¯t miss the shy little smile on her face, and the pride in her voice when she said. It takes about half an hour to get from hispany to the school. He probably rushed over the second he heard Annie was hurt. When I was stuck in the hospital for a whole month after the car ident, he showed up once¡­on thest day. He said work kept him too busy. But now I can see, it¡¯s not that he couldn¡¯t make time. It¡¯s just that I wasn¡¯t worth it. ¡°Alright, you can go to see him first.¡± I said to her. Face Blind 82 Chapter 2 I guessed Hendrick would be back in the office, so I went upstairs with the divorce agreement. Madam. Mr. Morrison is in a meeting right now, please wait a moment.¡± A meeting, huh? But I could clearly hear Annie¡¯s voice. I didn¡¯t want to wait. I pushed past the secretary and went straight for the door. But the second I got there, my steps froze. The blinds weren¡¯t fully shut, and through the gap, I saw Itendrick. The Hendrick who once needed help just to take off his shoes, now kneeling to massage Annie¡¯s feet. She sat on hisp like some perfect little snow doll, popping snacks like it was nothing. I used to love snacks too. But Hendrick said he hated the smell of junk food. So after we got married, I stopped eating them. I was scared he¡¯d find me disgusting. ¡°Um¡­Mrs. Morrison, Mr. Morrison is just¡­¡± The secretary looked at me awkwardly. I gave a bitter smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. When does he ever have time? I¡¯ve got a contract that needs his signature.¡± ¡°Mrs. Morrison, just leave it with me,¡± the secretary said gently. ¡°I need to go in and get the President¡¯s signature anyway.¡± And She really was holding a whole stack of files. I gave a small nod and handed him the agreement. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel She knew how to do things. She just slipped the divorce agreement to the bottom of the stack, didn¡¯t look at it, and didn¡¯t ask. I thought Hendrick would hesitate for a moment after seeing the divorce papers, but he just signed them without a second nce. When the secretary handed the papers back, my legs almost gave out. It didn¡¯t feel real. I¡¯d known since middle school that I was engaged to Hendrick. The cold, distant genius who couldn¡¯t stand being around women. So I was d it was me he was engaged to. And I had chased after him for fifteen years like a love¨Csick puppy. But now, my fifteen¨Cyear crush, this one¨Csided love was finally over. Back home, the tears I had been holding back finally fell. It hurt to say goodbye, but I wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake again. ¡°Mrs. Brown, pack up my things¨Cand take down all the wedding photos in the house,¡± I told the nanny. She paused, frowning. ¡°Oh Madam, you used to love those photos the most! Why take them down now?¡± It¡¯s true. I treated those wedding pictures like trophies, like they proved Hendrick loved me. Hana Faro¨CBlind Billionaire! 48.2% But it¡¯s time to wake up, ¡°This ce is getting a new mistress soon,¡± I said softly. ¡°Better to clear them out early.¡± Chapter 3 Face Blind 83 Chapter 3 With fifteen days left in the cooling off period, Hendrick hadn¡¯t returned home even once. Bored at night. I went to the family bar, only to find that it was Annie¡¯s part¨Ctime workce. Wearing a white t¨Cshirt, a baseball cap, and a mask, she seemed out of ce in this morous, intoxicating ce. ¡°Madam?¡± She asked. ¡°It¡¯s really you, Madam! I¡¯m sorry for leaving you at the school that day. What would you like to drink? It¡¯s on me.¡± In myst life, Hendrick said Annie wasn¡¯t like gold¨Cdiggers like us she didn¡¯t care about designer bags or jewelry, and she even split the bill when they ate together. Now I see that¡¯s true. The girl¡¯s eyes were so sincere. ¡°I still haven¡¯t thanked you for shielding me from those files that day. Normally I should be the one treating you. How about you just keep mepany and let me buy you a drink today?¡± By the time the server brought the drinks, she had already downed one ss. Her baby¨Cfaced cheeks immediately flushed red, like she had applied blush. 2 7 8 2 2 2 2 0 P & ¡°Slowly.¡± ¡°Madam, do you think men stop cherishing women after getting them? My boyfriend has been chasing me so hard, but now he won¡¯t even agree to move in together.¡± ¡°What a jerk! He¡¯s a total scumbag!¡± So they had slept together. Hearing this unexpected news, my heart still couldn¡¯t help but ache. ¡°Madam, what if he¡¯s cheating on me?¡± Read full story at Her words sent a chill down my spine. ¡°Wh¨Cwhat? No way. You¡¯re such a gorgeous girl¡­if I were your boyfriend, I¡¯d want to hide you away and spoil you all the time.¡± If she found out Hendrick was a married man, she would definitely break up with him. Then he would surely think I deliberately sabotaged their rtionship and would use my parents against me again! Panicked, I hurried to the bathroom to call my mom. A ¡°Honey, your dad and I have already arrived in Canada. Did something happen with Hendrick¡¯spany?¡± Mom knew how much I loved him, so even now, she wouldn¡¯t guess that I was the one wanting to divorce him. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve had a really hard time all these years. That¡¯s why I want to leave him now.¡± ¡°Mom, I miss you so much.¡± In my previous life, after my parents died, Hendrick framed me for their murder and had me sent to prison. Even without my signature on the divorce papers, he could still divorce me. In the second month of my imprisonment, he married Annie. Chapter 3 I hated him, also hated Annie, I tried to break out of prison to take revenge, but I didn¡¯t even make it past the first line of defense before being shot dead. To my surprise, Mom didn¡¯t scold me, but tried tofort me instead. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, my dear. Worstes to worst, you can start over after the divorce. You still have your dad and me.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Chapter 4 Face Blind 84 Chapter 4 When I came out of the bathroom. Annie was being surrounded by a group of drunks. ¡°Look who we have here, the campus belle Annie! How about keeping uspany, huh?¡± The leader wore a floral shirt, a Patek Philippe watch, and a Tiffany cross ne a typical rich yboy. ¡°Back off, Oliver! My boyfriend¡¯s gonna be here any minute!¡± This was Oliver Walden, the son of the perfumepany Walden family, known for ying with and discarding women. And he had set his sights on Annie. Find the newest release on f?ndnovel Seeing him reach out to touch Annie, I grabbed a nearby beer bottle and pointed it at Oliver, standing in front of Annie. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡± Trying to be a hero had its consequences, though. Oliver¡¯sckeys dragged Annie away, and when I tried to stop them, I was shed by Oliver¡¯s knife. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Madam!¡± As the bright red blood soaked my designer dress, making it look like a magnificent peony, the customers all fled, and the music stopped. ¡°You bitch, daring to interfere with my fun!¡± Oliver pinned Annie down on the table, impatient to undress his pants. ¡°I said, don¡¯t touch her!¡± Remembering the image of my parents¡® severed limbs, I felt no more pain. I grabbed a chair, ready to smash it onto Oliver. But I was kicked down by one of hisckeys. ¡°She¡¯s not bad either. Boys, have fun with her!¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± As theckeys approached, Annie suddenly bit Oliver. Then she ran and hid in the embrace of a tall figure. It¡¯s him, Hendrick had finally arrived. His narrow eyes revealed no emotion, but the slight tightening of his lips told me he was in a foul mood. Sure enough, he just waved his hand, and a horde of bodyguards rushed in. ¡°Take Miss Annie to rest.¡± After Annie left, Oliver, trembling like a quail, knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Hendrick. But Hendrick didn¡¯t even nce at him, simply striding towards me. I thought he would scoop me up, seeing that I was injured. Instead, ¡°p!¡± A resounding pnded on my face. Gripping my neck, he angrily demanded. ¡°Tell me, what do you know about Annie!¡± Ah, so he thought I had orchestrated this, that I had instructed Oliver to harass Annie. ¡°Hendrick, your romantic delusions need a serious reality check. I was just trying to save your precious little canary¨Cand this is what I get for it¡­¡± ¡°Tell me, who instigated this? I can spare your family.¡± He suddenly turned to Oliver. Oliver¡¯s shifty eyes darted around, then he pointed at me with a trembling hand. ¡°It¡­ it was this woman. She told us to harass Annie, saying that if we slept with her, you¡¯d dump her!¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± I couldn¡¯t believe Oliver¡¯s words. But the next moment, my jaw was seized by Hendrick. ¡°Very well, Liliann Hill. Today I¡¯ll let you see what it means to reap what you sow!¡± ¡°You guys go ahead and make her satisfy all of you. I¡¯ll just overlook this little incident.¡± He was still so ruthless. ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me! I¡¯m your wife!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Morrison. We¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s perfect.¡± Oliver and his crew didn¡¯t care that I was hurt. They tore off their pants and piled on top of me. ¡°Bastard! Hendrick! You¡¯re a BASTARD!¡± His shadow paused for a second, then disappeared. How I wished my injuries were deadly, so I wouldn¡¯t have to endure this insult anymore. ¡°Haha, so she¡¯s a virgin! This is our lucky day!¡± Oliver¡¯s cruelugh echoed, and tears started streaming down my face. Pain tore through my whole body, and suddenly, I remembered my wedding to Hendrick¡­ He had stood tall in his ck suit, tenderly taking my hand from my father. That was the closest I had evere to happiness, believing that one day, we would fall in But it was all just a foolish dream. Until the sky grew bright, the bodyguards who had been posted outside finally came in. ¡°You may leave now.¡± love. Oliver, still looking not satisfied enough, tossed a business card at me as he left. ¡°That was good, baby¡­ If you need anything, juste find me.¡± After everyone was gone, the bodyguard who had covered me with the tattered dress averted his gaze. ¡°Mrs. Morrison, shall I take you to the hospital?¡± Right, there was still a gaping hole in my abdomen, but the bleeding had long been staunched by the dried blood. I struggled to my feet, silently digging out my phone to make a call. ¡°John, the n is elerated. Please help me erase all my identity information.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to make sure Hendrick can never find me again.¡± Face Blind 85 Chapter 5 In the hospital, Hendrick had summoned the best medical team to treat Annie¡¯s elbow injury from the table. ¡°Does it hurt? I¡¯ve made those people pay the price, and I¡¯ll never let this happen again.¡± Her eyes reddened, but she stubbornly ignored him. Not until the redness hadpletely faded, revealing her snow¨Cwhite skin, did he let her go. In the private VIP room, he knelt on one knee and apologized to her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Annie. This was my fault. I failed to protect you at all times. Let¡¯s have the servants tidy up the room ¨C how about we move in together today?¡± Hearing he said ¡°Move in together,¡± Annie finally gave him a fleeting nce. ¡°What are you talking about? Who wants to live with you!¡± Hendrick adored her shy, blushing looks, like the most beautiful poppy flower in the mountains, he was addicted beyond measure. For more chapters visit find[?]ovel Afterforting her, he immediately called Mrs. Brown to have all my things moved to another vi. ¡°But Mr. Morrison, Mrs. Morrison hasn¡¯t returned home sincest night. I thought she was with you.¡± His heart skipped a beat as he suddenly remembered the incidentst night when he, in his fury, had ordered people to take turns with me. But he quickly regained hisposure. ¡°Just move her things first, then rece everything with new ones. I¡¯m bringing ady home tonight, so be prepared.¡± After hanging up, he considered calling the bodyguards to inquire about my situation, but ultimately did not press the call button. ¡°It¡¯s all her own doing. I¡¯ll just give her a bit more money when we divorce.¡± Pushing me aside, he happily embraced Annie and returned to our marital home. The house had beenpletely renovated, and even the wedding photos he had once disliked were removed. But when it came to actually living together, he hesitated just a little. ¡°Wow, this is your home? It¡¯s so big!¡± Like Cindere stumbling into a castle, Annie¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief, which stroked his vanity. He held Annie¡¯s waist and solemnly introduced her to every servant in the house. ¡°This is my fianc¨¦e. From now on, she will live here, and all her preferences will be catered to.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Morrison.¡± gaze. Mrs. Brown¡¯s brow furrowed, wanting to say something, but was intimidated by his cold gaze. The two were like a newly¨Cwed couple. Because of Annie, Hendrick spent most of his time working from home. And he will taking her out shopping to buy her everything she liked whenever he had the chance. With the identity of a fianc¨¦e, he could openly spend money on Annie, even arranging for her father and brother to join thepany, The usually sharp and decisive Hendrick had, just once, turned into a lovesick fool. It wasn¡¯t until two monthster, when a charity auction organized by the Morrisonpany was about to take ce at the Bund, that he finally thought of me. Unfortunately, no matter how he tried, my phone was always unreachable. ¡°Hello, the number you dialed is no longer in service, please try againter¡­¡± ¡°How dare you, Liliann, y hide¨Cand¨Cseek with me!¡± He immediately ordered the bodyguards to search the suburban vi, but the news was that the vi was empty. I had never even moved in. ¡°Impossible!¡± ¡°Who was it that told her to move to the vi, was it Mrs. Brown or John?¡± Themotion woke up Annie, who was taking a nap. She came bouncing down the stairs in a silk dress. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, babe?¡± Seeing her innocent expression, he felt a tinge of irritation for the first time. I was a true heiress groomed by a prominent family. For this kind of grand asion, it was always me who attended and hosted. No matter how good and smart Annie was, she couldn¡¯t possibly understand the intricate socialwork of the upper ss in a short time. ¡°There¡¯s a bit of a problem at thepany. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± For the first time, he left Annie behind to look for me, but the search yielded no results. Face Blind 86 ¡°What did you say? She¡¯s my wife, and you actually dared to fuck her!¡± ¡°Beat him until he tells the truth!¡± My parents had already sold off everything back home and moved abroad. So when he couldn¡¯t find me at the Hill family estate, the only person left to question was thest one who saw me Oliver. ¡°What the hell, Morrison? You told me I could have that bitch and you wouldn¡¯te after me. So what¡¯s with the act now?¡± ¡°And don¡¯t give me that ¡®she¡¯s your wife¡® crap. She was a virgin. A virgin, after five years of marriage? You expect me to believe she¡¯s really yours?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the deal, huh? Can¡¯t get it up, Mr. Morrison? Five years and you never touched your own wife? What kind of man does that?¡± Oliver, beaten until his face was swollen and bruised, was now at his own family gathering. Even people have tempers, let alone a young guy like Oliver. He defiantly punched Hendrick, knocking him to the ground. And Hendrick hadn¡¯t even recovered from the previous words, unable to believe that I had truly been vited. By his own order. ¡°Bullshit! That day I just told you to help teach her a lesson, not to sleep with her!¡± He yelled at Oliver, no longer the aloof and dignified man of the past. Soon, our butler, John, brought in the bodyguard who had been tasked with supervising me that night. ¡°Mr. Morrison, Mrs. Morrison was stabbed that night, and then¡­ the next morning, she was already gone. This is the death certificate from the hospital, please take a look.¡± Hendrick snatched the death report, which clearly stated: Deceased: Liliann. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me! This is absolutely impossible!¡± ¡°This has to be another one of her tricks! She just can¡¯t handle the fact that I¡¯ve fallen for someone else, so she teamed up with all of you to mess with me!¡± The guests of the Walden family gathered around, and the young guys had already started taking photos to post on their social media. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel The top boss of New York¡¯smercial district, Mr. Morrison himself, was now slumped in the Walden family¡¯s garden, looking like absolute crap. The news was uploaded to the hot search in less than half a minute. When Annie arrived at the ce, Hendrick was brawling with Oliver. ¡°Haha¡­ You don¡¯t know how tight she was, truly the most thrilling woman I¡¯ve tried!¡± ¡°Oliver Walden, I¡¯ll KILL you!¡± Annie didn¡¯t know what had happened. She only knew that her beloved boyfriend had suddenly be a married man, and she had be the other woman who destroyed someone else¡¯s rtionship. She cried as she tried to pull Hendrick back, but he pushed her to the ground. DRAT Unrro Bowman Horn Foca Blind Billionairal 50.6% ¡°Babe, what¡¯s happening?¡± Mr. Morrison had gone mad. And his mistress was sitting on the ground, crying bitterly what a perfect headline. The hot search remained at the top for a full week without any sign of cooling down. Meanwhile, Hendrick was using all his connections to search for me everywhere. His mother didn¡¯t make things difficult for Annie, only telling her not to appear in public with his son again. ¡°Annie, please wait for me a little longer. Once I find Liliann and divorce her, I¡¯ll marry you, okay?¡± Annie was packing her luggage to move out of the vi, but he couldn¡¯t bear to let her go. ¡°Hendrick, I tell you what! That day, Liliann was stabbed by Oliver because of me. She saved my life, so how can I still be with you!¡± ¡°No! That¡¯s not true!¡± ¡°Oliver was arranged by her. That stab wound couldn¡¯t have been that serious. Wait for me to find her, and I¡¯ll divorce her immediately!¡± Even though Hendrick begged desperately, Annie still left. The news of their breakup topped the hot search, and everyone praised Annie as the true victim, being cheated on and not even knowing it. They said a pure and talented girl like her was simply not worthy of a scumbag like Hendrick. But was the truth really like that? Face Blind 87 It¡¯s been half a year since I came to Canada. During this time. I¡¯ve fallen in love with mountain climbing and exploration, as if only by walking in the sunshine can 1 forget the past darkness. The death certificate was fake. The bodyguard who had been monitoring me was bribed. Ten million dors, enough for him to do my bidding. My parents are still alive. They¡¯ve changed thepany name, refinanced and gone public, appearing before the world. Today, as I was climbing up the slopes of Mount Everest, an avnche urred. Just as the snowstorm was about to engulf me, a hand suddenly grabbed me and pulled me away. When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a cave. Across from me sat a man in a red mountaineering suit, truly resting. He must be the one who saved me from the blizzard. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ thank you for saving me¡­¡± ¡°Conserve your strength, don¡¯t speak.¡± His tone was disdainful, but since he had saved my life, I should at least find out his identity and then offer him a proper reward. However, after the avnche, he still wanted to climb to the summit. ¡°Hey, this was just a warning. There¡¯ll be an even bigger avnche ahead. If you go down now, you might still make it!¡± ¡°Boring!¡± I had never met such an impolite person. Angered, I followed him, wanting to argue. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, going up now is just courting death. Do you understand!¡± ¡°Hey! Are you crazy?¡± He still ignored me. Even though he was wearing a thick mountaineering suit, his figure was about the same as mine ¨C which meant his build was simr to a woman¡¯s. But how could a man¡¯s physique be the same as mine? I twisted my hiking pole, wanting to hook onto his backpack to make him stop, but before I could act, the person in front of me disappeared. Then I heard rapid friction sounds, and looking in the direction of the sound, I saw him rolling down the mountainside. It was all rocks down there. At this rate, he would definitely be smashed to death. ¡°Since you saved my life, I¡¯ll give it a try!¡± I quickly discarded my backpack and recklessly rushed down, sliding on the t areas. Finally, I managed to hook him with my hiking pole. He had already passed out. Fortunately, the recent avnche had covered the steep mountain path with snow, so I dragged him down for half an hour until we reached the rescue station. An ambnce soon arrived to take him away. I wanted to contact his family, but the emergency contact column on his medical record was empty. Helpless, I could only follow him to the hospital. ¡°He¡¯s suffered cerebral hypoxia, and his leg is shattered. He needs immediate surgery!¡± Damamhored the Fake Forgot Your REAL WIFE? Karma¡¯s Here, Face¨CBlind Billionaire! 51.2% The nurse handed me the surgery consent form to sign. I was about to refuse, but then I thought about how that guy didn¡¯t even fill in any family information on his medical record ¨C he probably had no close rtives. Overwhelmed by sympathy, I signed as his girlfriend. But after the surgery was sessful, the doctor quietly called me out again. ¡°Ms. Hill, after our careful examination, your boyfriend is diagnosed with amyotrophicteral sclerosis, also known as ALS.¡± ALS, a disease that slowly robs the body of its functions, leaving the patient bedridden in the end. So that¡¯s why he was so eager to reach the summit? Because of this? ¡°I understand, doctor. Is there any way to treat his current symptoms, even if it¡¯s just to dy the progression of the disease?¡± ¡°We can use some auxiliary medications to help reduce the frequency of attacks, but they don¡¯t address the root cause. Most importantly, patients diagnosed with this disease usually only have 3 to 5 years left. Please be mentally prepared, Ms. Hill.¡± Mental preparation is indeed necessary. After all, he had just saved my life, so if I were to just leave, it wouldn¡¯t be very righteous of me. Chapters first released on F¦ÉndNovel ¡°Okay, thank you, doctor.¡± When I returned to the ward, he was already awake. Gazing nkly at the ceiling, he rolled his eyes at me as I entered. ¡°Hey, why are you being like this!¡± Then I got another eye roll. Face Blind 88 It wasn¡¯t until I had cared for him for half a month that he finally deigned tomunicate with me normally. ¡°Jasper Franz, that¡¯s my name. And you, my fake girlfriend?¡± So he was sulking with me about that. ¡°It¡¯s Liliann Hill¡­ the situation was urgent at the time, and I couldn¡¯t contact your family, so I used the girlfriend identity to sign for you. Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t have any interest in you.¡± Great, another eye roll. Now I was seriously pissed. Even though I¡¯d been crushing on Hendrick for over ten years, I knew I was just as attractive as any top celeb. How dare he look down on me like that! ¡°It¡¯s not that you¡¯re all skin and bones with no meat anywhere, what¡¯s with the arrogance!¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you saved my life, do you think I¡¯d even bother with you!¡± He fell silent, and the moment I learned his name, I immediately had someone investigate him. The results left me stunned. Jasper, the only son of an oil tycoon, had fled his own wedding three years ago, and the Franz family had been searching for him for three years. If it weren¡¯t for the wanted poster with his photo, even if he had the same name, I wouldn¡¯t have associated him with the oil tycoon. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then help me contact the Franz family. After all, it¡¯s not appropriate for me to be caring for their son.¡± And I was already fed up with this arrogant man! One phone call, and the Chen family people arrived that very afternoon. Without a word, I packed my things and returned to my home in Canada, finally free of him. But I didn¡¯t expect that three dayster, the Franz family¡¯s fleet would surround my vi. Jasper, dressed in a ck suit, descended from the car, vigorous and upright, not a trace of illness. ¡°Liliann, disappearing like that was pretty rude, you know?¡± At that moment, I was at home learning from my mom how to care for flowers. Seeing the grand entourage, she first looked at me with a questioning gaze. She asked, ¡°Are you still into this?¡± Mom¡­ can we discuss this privately? ¡°There are three major jewelry tycoons in Canada, and each of their capital exceeds your family. This is the data on the deep¨Csea mining area of the Franz family, containing rare blue copper ore.¡± What an even more tasteless man than Hendrick, actually using his nose to look down on people. people. ¡°Liliann, if you want to save your family¡¯s business, just agree to one condition, then all of this blue copper ore is yours.¡± He said. ¡°Really?¡± The question came from my mom. Blue copper ore is the queen of gemstones. With just one piece of blue copper ore and our family¡¯s ancestral craftsmanship, we could create a luxury item that would dominate the fashion industry. This would allow the our family to establish a firm foothold in Canada. No wonder my mother was so excited. ¡°Of course, Madam. Not only that, but your family will also be able to use the mineral resources from all of the Franz family¡¯s mining areas for free in the future.¡± A deal as big as the ozoneyer. ¡°So what¡¯s the condition?¡± Hearing that I was interested, he smugly raised an eyebrow and then handed the information over to me. ¡°Be my girlfriend for a year, apany me on mountain climbing. You know my condition, and perhaps I won¡¯tst even a year, but regardless of whether I¡¯m alive or not, this agreement will be permanent.¡± A very profitable deal. Not to mention a year, even if it was for me to mourn him for the rest of my life, it would be worth it. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Mom looked at me worriedly, ¡°Honey, our family may not be as good as before, but we can still get by. Don¡¯t gamble with your own happiness.¡± Having learned a painful lesson in the past, Mom was worried I might repeat the same mistake. But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll fall into that trap again. After all, Jasper definitely doesn¡¯t let me be his girlfriend because he likes me, so there must be some ulterior motive behind it. ¡°Mom, maybe it¡¯s fate that brought us together. Since he¡¯s being so generous, let¡¯s take advantage of this windfall, don¡¯t let it go to waste.¡± I quickly signed my name, and that very afternoon, Jasper dragged me into the primeval forest. Damn it, I¡¯ve been tricked! ¡°Hurry up, since you¡¯ve signed the contract, you have to listen to me. The blue copper ore has already been delivered to your doorstep.¡± ¡°What a living devil!¡± The primeval forest was full of dangers. At the most perilous moment, both Jasper and I were bitten by a king cobra, lying under a tree, quietly awaiting death. But the Grim Reaper didn¡¯te, and instead, his family¡¯s helicopter arrived, carrying antidotes for all the world¡¯s venomous snakes. ¡°If you knew there was an antidote, why did you still scare me like that!¡± While injecting the serum into Jasper, I deliberately missed the vein a few times, making him howl in pain. ¡°Liliann, do you wanna die right now or what?!¡± This update is avable on F¦ÉndNovel ¡°Click.¡± The syringe broke, with half of it still in his leg. Wiggling my ankles, they were still mobile. I swallowed hard, just as he was about to turn his head. his head. One, Two, Three, Run! ¡°Do you really think you can run away?¡± He caught my ponytail and yanked me back. But coincidentally, I fell right into his embrace, and my hands, not knowing where to put themselves, ended up touching a bulge, making the situation even more awkward. Seeing Jasper¡¯s face instantly flush red, the butler who had juste down from the helicopter let out a heaven¨Cshaking scream. ¡°Mr. Franz!¡± ¡°Mr. Franz, have you eaten some poisonous mushrooms? Doctor, we need doctor,e quickly!¡± After muchmotion, Jasper¡¯s snake venom was finally cleared, but due to excessive exhaustion, they had to return to the city, bringing me along to the Franz family¡¯s castle in France as well. His family was hosting a wine tasting event here, and the world¡¯s top wealthy families were invited, including Morrison. ¡°Liliann?¡± A familiar voice called up. ¡°So it really is you, Liliann! How dare you fake your own death!¡± Face Blind 89 Hendrick had his arm around Annie, and her belly was already quite big. So their love was still as strong as ever. Somehow, still causing a pang of pain in my heart. Just as Hendrick was about to reach for my hand, a hiking pole struck his hand, knocking it away. I had never seen anyone dare to treat Hendrick with such disrespect. ¡°Mr. Morrison, Liliann is now my fianc¨¦e. Please keep your dirty hands to yourself.¡± Jasper wrapped his arm around my waist. Even though we both looked like a mess, like wild animals fresh from the forest. He carried this natural pride that made him stand tall in the manor, mud and all. Annie walked up to Hendrick, her lips pursed, and said apologetically, ¡°Babe, don¡¯t be like this. It¡¯s our fault for wronging Madam Liliann. Liliann, I didn¡¯t know he had done such terrible things to you that day. I¡¯m sorry.¡± She hugged herrge belly and bowed to me, but Hendrick showed no sympathy. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had happened between them. Normally, with Annie pregnant, he should be more caring, and he should be pointing his finger at me, scolding me for being ungrateful, and making me kneel to apologize to her. ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s all in the past.¡± I didn¡¯t want to deal with the two of them, but as soon as I took a step, my foot slipped, and I found myself in Jasper¡¯s embrace. ¡°Jasper, what are you doing? Put me down!¡± At this moment, he was backlit by the sun, and the distinct line of his jaw slightly glowed, mesmerizing me. ¡°Don¡¯t move, you stupid woman!¡± Of course, I shouldn¡¯t have expected anything from him. After carrying me back to his bedroom, servants immediately brought me dresses from the brands I used to wear in America, ¡°You investigated me?¡± He casually undressed, and the bony frame I had seen before had now grown muscles. ¡°Do you think just anyone can be my fianc¨¦e? I had your information on my phone the moment you took me to the hospital.¡± ¡°By the way, Liliann, you¡¯re really quite useless, losing to that kind of woman. Today, I¡¯ll teach you how to deal with scumbag guy and shameless bitch.¡± This person is a bit hard for me to figure out. In the evening, the family banquet was attended by all the guests, and even Hendrick had to put on a smile to dine with the oil tycoon¡¯s family, ¡°Franz¡¯s Manor is truly exquisite. I¡¯m really impressed today. Let me toast to Mr. Franz.¡± Hendrick downed the drink, but Jasper¡¯s father didn¡¯t even bother to lower his eyelids, instead calling out my name. ¡°Liliann, I apologize for the inconvenience of apanying my rascal son on the adventure. He¡¯s always beencking in propriety, please bear Chapters first released on Find_Novel(. with him.¡± The number three Forbes billionaire, that Mr. Franz, was toasting me. ¡± 52.4% Chapter 9 My hand trembled, almost spilling the wine ss. ¡°Mr. Franz, you¡¯re too kind.¡± ¡°And I have another announcement to make today. I was going to wait a bit longer, but to avoid any misunderstandings, from now on, Liliann will be my son¡¯s fianc¨¦e. You all keep an eye on the Hill family¡¯s business, don¡¯t let any short¨Csighted fools bully them.¡± The crowd echoed in agreement, and the international emerce tycoon even cheerfully raised his ss to toast me. ¡°Miss Hill, please take good care of us in the future.¡± The wife of the financial mogul held my hand warmly. Hendrick witnessed all of this, his wine ss almost crushed in his hand. ¡°Mr. Franz may have misunderstood. Liliann is MY wife, she can¡¯t be your daughter¨Cinw.¡± He stood up and confronted Jasper¡¯s father, but still didn¡¯t get so much as a nce, and the guests present all acted as if they hadn¡¯t heard his words, continuing to toast and drink. Annie sat aside, looking dejected and lost in thought. ¡°EX¨Cwife, thank you very much. Besides, I heard Mr. Morrison had a thing with some college girl, went as far as bringing her whole family into thepany. But a few monthster? Boom. Company crashes. Someone runs off with the money. Embezzlement and fleeing¡­ is that true?¡± Embezzlement and fleeing? I looked questioningly at Annie, and saw her lips turn pale, her head lowering even further. So it was because of this incident that a rift had formed in their rtionship. ¡°Jasper! I said Liliann is my wife, so she is! Liliann, you tell him, is it him or me?¡± I stared nkly at Hendrick, unable to understand the emotion behind his words. ¡°You¡¯ve been following me since middle school. If youe back to me, I¡¯ll get rid of Annie and the baby she¡¯s carrying.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll tell you, the one surnamed Chen won¡¯t live long. Even the top medical team can¡¯t save him. If you marry him, you¡¯ll only be a widow!¡± ¡°Outrageous!¡± Mr. Franz shattered his wine ss, angrily pointing at Hendrick. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re saying!¡± Themotion had disrupted the Franz family. Their business empire was likely doomed. Just as I was about to respond, my hand was suddenly pulled by someone, and he stood up before me. ¡°Who says I won¡¯t live long? This is thetest medical report. I¡¯m sorry, my terminal illness has been cured by my babe.¡± ALS can be cured? I looked questioningly at his father, and saw the same shock in his eyes. ¡°What are you saying, son? What are you saying?¡± ¡°Quick! Let me see the inspection report!¡± The report did indeed state the word ¡°cured¡°, but I was still full of doubts. Chapter 9 Is it¡­ the snake venom? But how did he know he would be bitten by a snake, and even had the butler prepare the antiserum in advance? So this guy was trying to find a cure in the primeval forest, but if the snake venom really worked, how could the international medical team not know about it, unless there were some side effects. I looked at Jasper, seeing him radiant, his striped suit jacket slightly open at the cor, exuding a wild, sexy aura. ¡°So I ask Mr. Morrison, what can youpete with me with? The pain you¡¯ve given Lilian, she¡¯ll never forgive you in this lifetime.¡± Just as I was curious about what else he was going to say, this guy suddenly knelt on one knee, pulling out a ten¨Ccarat diamond ring to propose to me. ¡°I know you don¡¯t have feelings for me yet, but I promise you, marry me, and the Franz and Hill families will never be separated. My father can sign the agreement right now, giving you half the shares of our family. All other vows are just nonsense, I only know that interests are the most reliable.¡± At this moment, I admit I was tempted, not by Jasper himself, but by the interests he mentioned. ¡°Liliann! I am the one you love the most, don¡¯t agree to him!¡± This was the first time I saw panic in Hendrick¡¯s eyes, but everything was toote. I reached out my hand and nodded with a smile. ¡°I ept, Jasper.¡± In just one night, I went from a nobody tonding on the Forbes Top 10 list, while the Morrison family crumbled to pieces. I even gave Hendrick a free return ticket to America. From that moment on, love no longer troubled me. I had my own grand path to follow. Face Blind 90 Three years in a food truck, burns on my hands while my hushand bought his mistress VIP memberships everywhere. It all started when doctors said my daughter wouldn¡¯t live past six.. To save for her surgery, I always ran my food truck until midnight, hands scarred from burns. I¡¯d also wash dishes at restaurants until I could barely stand. One day, the deep fryer tipped over. I still clutched my savings book tight¨Cmy daughter¡¯s lifeline¨Ccausing me in severe burns. Yet, the moment I rushed to the hospital through the pain, only to find my husband signing a check. ¡°Thanks for the act, everyone. Here¡¯s another three million.¡± A woman wiped my daughter¡¯s hands, sneering: ¡°Mr. ke, she can¡¯t eat this street trash. It¡¯s pure grease!¡± Serena Mitchell¨Cthe viral influencer I¡¯d seen everywhere. Official source is find{n}ovel My five¨Cyear¨Cold bounced on the hospital bed, batting away the pancakes I¡¯d made at 3 AM. ¡°Gross! Daddy says this makes you dumb!¡± She lunged at my husband¡¯spanion: ¡°Serena, take me to Disney!¡± Serena shot Daniel ke a flirtatious look as he pulled her close: ¡°Take Susan to Disney, I¡¯ll get you that Herm¨¨s.¡± My daughter squealed: ¡°Serena¡¯s so pretty¨Cway better than stinky mommy!¡± Hearing that, I didn¡¯t charge in or cause a mess. Only turned away, sold my three years¡® broken¨Cdown truck, and dialed a buried number. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± I touched my burns. ¡°That promise¨Cdoes it still stand?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want that stinky mommy! Can¡¯t you get me a new one!¡± Susan shrieked. ¡°Serena smells so good and she¡¯s so pretty¨Cten thousand times better than her!¡°, Daniel ke showed no displeasure, instead lifting our daughter lovingly. ¡°Of course, sweetheart. Daddy will give you whatever you want.¡± I stood in the hospital doorway, blood turning to ice. The man before me in designer clothes¨Cwhere was any trace of the ordinary employee I thought I¡¯d married? And my supposedly critically ill daughter was bouncing around, perfectly healthy. Inside the room, one of his men couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Mr. ke, you have us harass Mrs. k¨¦ at her food truck every day and lie about the kid being sick¨Cwhat¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°She¡¯s good enough in bed,¡± Daniel lit a cigar, his tone cold. ¡°But her background¡¯s too trashy. The ke family would never ept someone like her.¡± My hand gripping the doorframe began to shake. He paused, twisting the wedding ring on his finger¨Cthe fake one I¡¯d bought at a street market for fifty dors. 52 noh ¡°Women like her from the sticks, once they know I have money, they¡¯lltch on like leeches.¡± ¡°So I deliberately made the surgery costs astronomical, keeping her always out of rench, always scrambling for money.¡± ¡°Right now, she¡¯s not worthy of being my wife,¡± I looked down at my oil stained fingernails, nearly crushing my savings book. So the daughter I¡¯d been killing myself to save never needed saving at all. So the husband I¡¯d loved desperately had been manipting me from the start. ¡°It stinks!¡± My daughter threw the pancakes I¡¯d made at dawn into the trash. ¡°Daddy says eating this makes you dumb!¡± She tugged at Serena Mitchell¡¯s hand. ¡°Serena, take me to Disney! Please?¡± Daniel raised an eyebrow, wrapping his arm around Serena¡¯s slim waist. ¡°Come with us. I¡¯ll buy you that Herm¨¨s.¡± Serena blushed as my daughter pped excitedly. I staggered away from the doorway, my chest burning throbbing with pain. The doctor examining my burns frowned in reproach: ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe sooner? Anyter and this would¡¯ve been infected!¡± I bit my lip as the antiseptic hit my wounds. But the burns weren¡¯t the worst pain¨Cit was the hole my loved ones had torn in my heart. I dragged myself back to my food truck, where familiar faces waited. The lead thug flicked his cigarette, grinning as he shoved me. ¡°Heydy, times are tight. How about lending us some cash?¡± Face Blind 91 All these years, to save enough for my Susan¡¯s ¡°surgery,¡± I¡¯d swallowed my pride and paid them off again and again. Now I finally knew¨Cthese thugs were all Daniel¡¯s doing. ¡°No money.¡± I looked up, eyes red¨Crimmed, voice hoarse. ¡°Go ahead and kill me if you can.¡± They froze, probably never having seen me like this before. ¡°Fuck, crazy bitch!¡± One of them cursed, spitting on the ground. ¡°Bad luck!¡± They left, but the hatred surging in my chest burned like scalding oil, searing through my organs. All these years¨Cevery humiliation I¡¯d endured, every drop of blood and sweat I¡¯d shed, every sleepless night I¡¯d survived¨Cit had all been an borate lie. I looked down at my burn¨Ccovered hands and suddenlyughed. As Iughed, tears began to fall. With trembling fingers, I typed ¡°ke family¡± into the search bar and saw Daniel¡¯s photo from ringing the NASDAQ bell. ¡°Heir to the ke empire, one of the city¡¯s top wealthy families. Family assets in the billions. Publicly ims to be single.¡± The phone screen¡¯s re hurt my eyes. Memories flooded back like a tide. Years ago, I¡¯d saved him from a car ident. He told me he was just an ordinary office worker, promised he¡¯d love me forever. I was from the West Coast, unfamiliar with this city. My family opposed our marriage, but I was stubborn¨Ceven cut ties with my parents. How pathetic. I¡¯d abandoned everything for him. And he¡¯d treated me like a toy to be yed with at will. The sound of keys turning woke me from my thoughts. When Daniel walked in, I was applying ointment to my burns. He paused. ¡°Not working today?¡± I looked up at him, suddenly fully realizing that this man I¡¯d shared a bed with for years was aplete stranger to me. ¡°Got burned. Want to rest a few days.¡± My voice was barely recognizable. He immediately looked concerned. ¡°Did you see a doctor? Is it serious?¡± He moved to examine my His phone suddenly rang. He nced down, his mouth unconsciously lifting in a smile before quickly suppressing it. ¡°Honey, I need to travel for work for a few days.¡± He adjusted his tie, voice casual. ¡°Get some rest.¡± I nodded calmly. ¡°Okay, go ahead.¡± wounds. Vama¡¯s Horo Face¨CBlind Billionaire! 53.6% I knew he was taking Susan and Serena Mitchell to Disney. The next morning, he got up unusually early. In all these years, he¡¯d barely spent a handful of nights in this shabby rental. Always iming work was busy, business trips¨Cwe were always apart more than together. I watched him leave the alley and smoothly open the door of a Maybach at the corner. Through the car window, his expression as he looked at his phone was tenderly nauseating. Back home, I began packing. Thendlord woulde for the keys soon. I remembered countless nights when he¡¯d held me, saying, ¡°Once we save enough money, I¡¯ll give you and Susan the good life.¡± My tears hit the floor again. Over the next few days, I sold my food truck that had been mypanion for three years, gave up this rental filled with lies, and threw away all the cheap gifts Daniel had given me. My phone suddenly rang¨Can unknown number with a stern police officer¡¯s voice: ¡°Are you Susan ke¡¯s mother? The child was almost hit by a car!¡± When I arrived, my daughter was sitting on a bench, sobbing hysterically. The officer immediately scolded me: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?! What kind of mother are you? Letting a child run around alone in ny¨Cdegree heat! If a Good Samaritan hadn¡¯t pulled her back, she¡¯d have been hit!¡± This text is hosted at find(?)ovel I opened my mouth, then silently bowed my head. After the officer left, I crouched down to take my daughter¡¯s hand. ¡°Susan, don¡¯t be scared, Mommy will take you-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± She jerked her hand away violently. ¡°You¡¯re all greasy!¡± Disgusting!¡± She frantically wiped at her dress where I¡¯d touched her, as if she¡¯d caught some disease. I fell backward unexpectedly, my knees hitting the pavement hard, blood flowing instantly. ¡°Daddy! I want Daddy!¡± My daughter stamped her feet, crying. With shaking hands, I pulled out my phone and called Daniel over and over. Not until the tenth try did his husky, satisfied voice answer: ¡°Yeah?¡± ~¡± In the background, Serena¡¯s coquettishughter was particrly grating: ¡°Who is it? Such a mood killer ~ I looked down at my bleeding knees and my daughter¡¯s disgusted expression, my throat feeling blocked. ¡°Susan¡­ she almost got hit by a car¡­¡± ¡°What?!¡± His voice instantly sobered. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there!¡± Twenty minutester, Daniel rushed over with a disheveled Serena trailing behind. Face Blind 92 The intimate red marks on her neck stung my eyes. Susan immediately threw herself into Serena¡¯s arms: ¡°Serena, you¡¯re here! I don¡¯t want stinky mommy!¡± Serena shot me a triumphant nce, her fingers deliberately tracing the hickeys on her neck. I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. Susan shrank back into Serena¡¯s embrace, frightened by my expression. ¡°Don¡¯t look at the child like that,¡± Daniel frowned. ¡°She¡¯s still sick.¡± He noticed me staring at Serena and exined: ¡°This is Serena, a new influencer ourpany¡¯s partnering with.¡± Serena looked me up and down, her face showing pity. ¡°I¡¯ll take Susan for her checkup,¡± Daniel said. ¡°You look terrible. Go home and rest. I have a business dinner tonight, don¡¯t wait up.¡± Susan leaned close to Serena¡¯s ear, but spoke loud enough for me to hear: ¡°Serena, I pushed the bad mommy and made her bleed! Aren¡¯t I amazing?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t deserve to be my mommy anyway¨Cold and ugly, and she stinks!¡± I stood frozen, staring at this child I¡¯d once been willing to sacrifice everything for. My knees were still bleeding, but that pain couldn¡¯tpare to one ten¨Cthousandth of what I felt inside. I mechanically wiped away the blood, my voice barely audible: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go home now.¡± I stumbled back to the rental in a daze and with trembling hands dialed that buried number. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± the moment the call connected, my voice choked until I could barely speak. ¡°Does that promise from years ago¡­ still stand?¡± The other end fell silent for a few seconds, then came a gentle sigh: ¡°Elena, my promise to you never had an expiration date.¡± Daniel didn¡¯te home all night. At dawn, my phone suddenly buzzed. A text from Daniel: [I¡¯m in trouble. Come help me.] I stood before the mirror, looking at my haggard face, but finally grabbed my coat and left. Following the address in the text, I arrived at an international school. As I looked around confused, a familiar figure caught my eye¨CSusan with a designer backpack, chatting andughing with ssmates as they walked toward their ssroom. My heart plummeted. Daniel had said Susan was hospitalized for treatment¨Call lies. Sharp pain shot through my chest. Was I so worthless in his eyes that I deserved lie after lie? ¡°Who¡¯s thatdy?¡± a little boy suddenly pointed at me loudly. Susan turned and saw me, panic shing across her face before she pouted: ¡°She¡¯s our maid.¡± V-~ DEAL WIFE? Karma¡¯s Here. Face¨CBlind Billionaire! 54.2% I couldn¡¯t believe my ears. This child I¡¯d nearly died bringing into the world was calling me this. As I turned to leave, the boy suddenly blocked my path: ¡°Since you¡¯re the maid, polish my shoes! Your fingernails are full of grease¨Cdisgusting!¡± Students gradually gathered around to watch the spectacle. Fighting back tears, I called out softly: ¡°Susan¡­¡± ¡°She stale from our house and got kicked out!¡± Susan suddenly jumped up, pointing and shrieking: ¡°What are you doing at my school? Get lost!¡± Themotion drew school security. I was roughly pressed to the ground. Just as I was about to shout ¡°I¡¯m her mother,¡± Daniel arrived hurriedly. ¡°Sorry, she¡¯s our family maid,¡± he apologized to the principal with a forced smile, though his eyes flickered uneasily. Just then, the little boy raised his hand and threw a rock that struck my forehead, immediately raising arge bump. Daniel pulled me into his car, hesitating: ¡°Elena, about Susan¡­¡± Iughed bitterly and helped him exin: ¡°Your boss helped arrange her school transfer, right?¡± Read full story at He quickly nodded: ¡°Right, the teachers there are exceptional. My boss offered to arrange it.¡± His tone carried forced lightness. Bitterness welled up in my heart. Just then, from the corner of my eye, I spotted something on the passenger floor mat- A pinkce panties lying there quietly. Face Blind 93 Chapter 4 My fingers unconsciously clenched, nails digging into my palms. After Daniel dropped me off at the rental, he left hurriedly, iming urgent business at thepany. I booked thest flight out that night. My best friend called: ¡°What? You¡¯re leaving?¡± ¡°Elena,¡± she handed me a drink, ¡°you¡¯re so beautiful, but all these years you¡¯ve¡­¡± Her voice choked up: ¡°It breaks my heart watching you. You could find someone so much better.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all in the past.¡± I drained the ss. We sang,ughed, and criedughing at my wasted devotion, crying for my squandered youth. Walking out of the karaoke bar, we ran into a group. Daniel and Serena stood prominently among them. Serena wore a deep V¨Cneck ck dress that made her stand out in the crowd. Daniel exined frantically: ¡°I¡¯m here for team building with some colleagues.¡± I coldly scanned the group¨Call dressed expensively, their every gesture screaming upper ss. Nothing like ordinary coworkers. Daniel was obviously lying, but he was too panicked to care about the inconsistencies, forcefully grabbing my wrist. ¡°You¡¯ve had too much to drink,¡± he frowned, his tone harsh. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Oh, so this is Elena?¡± A rich boy called out exaggeratedly, contempt undisguised in his eyes. The others joined inughing, their condescending looks cutting like knives. ¡°Elena shoulde y with us!¡± Another suddenly approached, grabbing my arm without asking. ¡°We¡¯re heading to the vi for a party!¡± Before I could refuse, they half¨Cpushed, half¨Cdragged me to a luxury vi to join their revelry. As I stood by the pool, I suddenly felt a violent push from behind. ¡°Ah-¡± Get full chapters from F¦ÉndNovel In the moment I lost bnce, I iled my arms in terror, grasping only air. The icy pool water instantly engulfed me, thest thing I heard being roars ofughter from the shore. ¡°Hahaha, holy shit, did you see? Pink underwear¨Cso tacky!¡± ¡°Shh, keep it down, don¡¯t let her hear.¡± ¡°Oh my, what are you doing! So mean!¡± ¡°She really thinks she¡¯s Mrs. ke? Please. Even with a kid, trash like her could never actually marry into the ke family!¡± Daniel rushed over, frowning: ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Elena went for a swim¡­¡± someone answered guiltily. Daniel¡¯s heart clenched as his gaze turned toward the pool, but Serena weakly pressed her forehead: ¡°Oh, my head hurts so much¡­¡± ¡°Daddy!¡± Susan ran over cheerfully. ¡°Are you having a party? Why didn¡¯t you invite me?¡± Using myst strength, I reached out my hand, shouting through the sshing water: ¡°Susan¡­ save mommy¡­ Daniel¡­¡± A 20% Susan nced coldly at me struggling in the water, then tugged at Daniel¡¯s shirt: ¡°Daddy! I want barbecue! Right now!¡± ¡°I¡¯m really dizzy.¡± Serena leaned limply against Daniel. Daniel swept Serena up in his arms, hastily instructing the others: ¡°Keep an eye on things. Make sure Elena gets out soon.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Theyughed in response. ¡°Elena¡¯s a great swimmer!¡± As Daniel carried Serena away, the crowd began to disperse in small groups. My vision started to blur, icy water flooding my nostrils as consciousness began to slip away. Ssh! A loud crash sent massive waves sshing. Strong arms lifted me from the water, urgent calls filling my ears. ¡°Elena! Wake up!¡± Face Blind 94 Chapter 5 As soon as Daniel got Serena into the guest room, her soft hands wrapped around him, teasingly tracing his waist. ¡°My headache¡­ it¡¯s suddenly gone.¡± His eyes darkened, rational thought snapping instantly. As he pressed her hard onto the bed, Elena¡¯s pale face shed through his mind¨Cbut desire quickly drowned it out. Afterward, Daniel finally remembered Elena. He rushed to the poolside, only to find the water surface perfectly calm. When he called to ask, the rich boys were dismissive: ¡°She left ages ago, what could possibly be wrong?¡± Daniel rxed, sending Elena a message: ¡°Since you¡¯re home, get some rest. You¡¯ve been too tiredtely, you should really take a break.¡± ¡°When it cools down, let¡¯s take Susan camping.¡± The moment he sent the message, Serena pressed against him again. He grabbed her wandering hand: ¡°Want more?¡± Then led her back to the room. They fooled around until noon the next day. Before leaving, Daniel handed Serena a credit card: ¡°Go buy yourself a couple of bags!¡± Serena pouted: ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll be good.¡± Looking at the conversation with no replies, Daniel frowned. Though he¡¯d crossed lines with Serenately, what man in this circle didn¡¯t y around? Besides, Elena was just his secret ¡°wife¡°-she¡¯d never officially entered the ke family. Irritated, he drove to the rental, only to find the food truck missing. As he reached for his keys, a blonde woman yanked the door open, eyeing him suspiciously. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°This is my home.¡± Daniel¡¯s hand froze mid¨Cair, keys in hand. The woman snorted, scanning his expensive suit: ¡°You? Live in a ce like this?¡± She leaned closer, sniffing: ¡°That cologne¨Cpretty fancy.¡± ¡°Give me a break. This isn¡¯t the kind of ce for rich boys like you.¡± Daniel realized he was still wearingst night¡¯s designer clothes. His throat tightened: ¡°When did the previous tenant move out?¡± ¡°Just handed over the keys this morning.¡± The woman leaned against the doorframe. ¡°Thatdy left in quite a hurry¨Cdidn¡¯t even want her deposit back.¡± Daniel felt thunderstruck, stumbling back to his car. With trembling fingers, he dialed the familiar number, only to hear the cold automated message: ¡°The number you have dialed is no longer in service.¡± He frantically opened iMessage, typing rapidly: ¡°Elena, stop this nonsense! Are you really abandoning Susan too?¡± The message sent, then showed ¡°Not Delivered¡± in red. Daniel immediately drove to the school, spotting Susan standing at the gate holding Serena¡¯s hand. ¡°Daddy, why are you here?¡± Daniel yanked Susan¡¯s hand from Serena¡¯s grip: ¡°We¡¯re going home. Your mother¡¯s missing.¡± To his shock, Susan pped excitedly: ¡°Perfect! Now that stinky mommy¡¯s gone, Serena can be my new mommy!¡± SLAP! A sharp smacknded on Susan¡¯s face. Susan froze instantly, then burst into hysterical tears. Serena looked at Daniel¡¯s ashen face, gasping: ¡°Mr. ke, how could you hit the child-¡± Daniel¡¯s dark expression silenced her immediately. He dragged the crying Susan away: ¡°Never say that again.¡± Serena watched helplessly as Daniel took the child, stamping her feet in frustration. Back at the vi, Susan¡¯s crying continued nonstop. Daniel irritably handed the child to the maid and called his assistant: ¡°Use every connection we have. Find Elena¨Cwhatever it takes!¡± But three months passed, and Elena had vanished without a trace. At first Susan celebrated her mother¡¯s disappearance, but gradually, as her father became unpredictably moody and no oneforted her nighttime terrors, she began missing the mother who always smiled gently. One deep night, Susan curled up in a corner clutching her mother¡¯s old pajamas, finally understanding that the mom who would make her pancakes every morning would nevere back. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F¦Énd£Îovel Face Blind 95 I slowly opened my eyes to the sharp smell of disinfectant all around. Fresh chapters posted on ?ovelFind Looking down, I saw Lucas Montgomery sitting by the hospital bed, his familiar face¨Cone I¡¯d known since childhood¨Cetched with exhaustion, blue stubble shadowing his jaw. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± He immediately sensed my movement, leaning forward as his warm palm pressed against my forehead. ¡°The doctor says your burns need three skin graft surgeries.¡± His gaze fell to my scarred hands, his brow furrowing: ¡°I still prefer the old you¨Cthe one who was bold and carefree.¡± The hospital door suddenly burst open. ¡°Elena!¡± My mother rushed in crying, followed by my grim¨Cfaced father and my brother Ryan with red¨Crimmed eyes. My mother¡¯s trembling fingers hovered over my bandage¨Cwrapped chest, tears falling onto my nket. ¡°My poor child¡­¡± Dad stood at the foot of the bed, hands clenched into fists. Ryan rushed to the window, eyes zing red: ¡°Elena! Where is that bastard? I¡¯ll make him wish he was dead!¡± My throat tightened. I tried to speak but the movement pulled at my wounds, making me gasp in pain. Mom quickly pressed me down: ¡°Don¡¯t talk, just focus on healing. We can talk slowly once you¡¯re better!¡± I spoke weakly: ¡°Mom, Dad, let¡¯s just let the past be the past. I¡¯m sorry¨CI was too naive back then, thinking love could conquer everything¡­¡± Mom gently patted my nket: ¡°Don¡¯t say anymore, healing is what matters. Look at you¨Ceven talking pulls at your wounds.¡± In the days that followed, my entire family stayed by my side constantly. Each skin graft surgery left me drenched in cold sweat from pain, but Dad would always hold my hand and say ¡°Daddy¡¯s here,¡± Ryan would tell jokes to cheer me up, and Mom would make different soups every day to help me recover. Gradually, the burdens that had weighed on my heart for years began melting away in the warmth of family love. On Christmas Eve, the hospital room was decorated festively. Mom, Dad, and Ryan set up a small table by my bed with Christmas cookies and hot chocte. Watching their busy figures and hearing the distant sound of Christmas carols outside, I finally found that long¨Clost feeling of home. The day I was discharged, spring was in full bloom, and Lucas came specially to pick me up. ¡°That Lucas¡­¡± Mom lowered her voice while adjusting my cor. ¡°The day you were unconscious, he carried you into the hospital and ran so fast he lost a shoe.¡± Her eyes crinkled with amusement: ¡°You two have been fighting and ying since childhood¨Cyou¡¯re well¨Cmatched. Maybe¡­¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I said softly. Mom¡¯s hands froze, looking at me in disbelief. I smiled, remembering that stormy night when Lucas had said over the phone: ¡°Elena, I promised I¡¯d wait for you.¡± The March wedding arrived as nned. Lucas wore a sharp suit, his hands shaking terribly as he put the ring on my finger: ¡°From the first time I saw you when I was six, I knew¡­¡± Wera Varma¡¯s Horo Face¨CBlind Billionaire! 56.0% His voice choked: ¡°I waited twenty whole years to finally have iny bride.¡± Amid the shower of tose petals, I stood on tiptoe to embrace him, hearing the wild beating of his heart in his chest, After marriage. I returned to Reynolds Enterprises, my decisive leadership style impressing everyone. The coborative projects between Montgomery Group and Reynolds Enterprises achieved record sess. Until one business reception, as I was toasting with business partners, a voice suddenly came from behind. ¡°Elena!¡± Face Blind 96 My body froze instantly as I slowly looked up into Daniel¡¯s burning gaze. His eyes churned with emotions like a tide¨Cshock, regret, amazement, and endlessplexity. You¡¯ve changed¡­¡± his voice trembled slightly, pletely different.¡± I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist: ¡°Wait! I have so much to tell you!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± I coldly pulled my hand back, stepping away to create distance. ¡°No! You are Elena!¡± He stubbornly moved forward. Just then, the host¡¯s voice echoed through the venue: ¡°Let¡¯s wee tonight¡¯s most remarkable couple¨CMr. Montgomery of Montgomery Group and Ms. Reynolds of Reynolds Enterprises!¡± Amid thunderous apuse, Lucas gracefully made his way through the crowd, gently taking my hand. As we passed Daniel, I heard him gasp. ¡°What a perfect match!¡± Guests whispered among themselves. ¡°Yes! Ms. Reynolds disappeared for so long, but fate still brought her back to marry Mr. Montgomery. It¡¯s truly meant to be!¡± Daniel¡¯s knuckles went white as he stared at me on stage, radiant and glowing, his heart pounding violently. How he wanted to rush up and dere: That¡¯s my wife! We have a daughter together! But that fake marriage certificate burned his heart like a branding iron. After I stepped down from the stage, Lucas was pulled away by old friends for drinks while I stood on the terrace in the breeze. ¡°Elena, I know it¡¯s you.¡± I looked up to see Daniel, his gaze fixed intently on me. ¡°Elena, I never imagined you were from the Reynolds family.¡± His voice was haunting. I looked at this man I¡¯d once loved deeply: ¡°So what? Now that you know my background, do you regret it?¡± He said urgently: ¡°You should have told me earlier. My family would have epted you.¡± Iughed coldly: ¡°Told you what? That I wasn¡¯t a gold¨Cdigger after your family¡¯s money?¡± I stared coldly at the man before me. Under the moonlight his features were still familiar, yet they could no longer stir my heart. ¡°Daniel, I think you¡¯ve had too much to drink and your brain¡¯s a bit muddled. Let me remind you¨Cyou were the one who approached me wearing a mask from the beginning, afraid I¡¯d covet the ke family fortune, lying that you were just an ordinary employee.¡± He opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t say a word. ¡°And me?¡± I smiled bitterly. ¡°To be with you, I was willing to cut ties with my family. That¡¯s the difference between us.¡± The night wind tousled my hair as I continued calmly: ¡°You never truly trusted me, and Susan hated me as her mother. My leaving should be exactly what you both wanted.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡± He shook his head desperately. ¡°After you left, Susan and I were both miserable. She¡­ she got sick, had a fever for two months¡­¡± Hearing the word ¡°sick,¡± my chest felt scorched all over again. If not for that lie about illness, I wouldn¡¯t have worked so hard from dawn to dusk. I looked at him coldly: ¡°ying sick again? Daniel, stop using the child¡¯s illness to deceive me over and over.¡± His eyes dimmed: ¡°This time it¡¯s real¡­¡± ¡°Real or fake, it¡¯s none of my business anymore.¡± I turned to leave. Fresh chapters posted on find?novel Just then, Lucas¡¯s warm hand rested on my shoulder: ¡°Elena, it¡¯s time to go home.¡± I took Lucas¡¯s arm and left without looking back. Behind me came Daniel¡¯s anguished calls, but I didn¡¯t turn around again. To help me recover my health, Lucas and I moved to California for a while. The sunshine there was warm, the ocean breeze gentle. When we returned, it was already a yearter with spring in full bloom. Face Blind 97 One ordinary afternoon, the mall buzzed with peopleing and going. Suddenly, a familiar voles called out: ¡°Mommy!¡± I turned to see Daniel standing not far away, much thinner than before, his eyes bloodshot. Susan stumbled running toward me, tears streaming down her face: ¡°Mommy! I finally found you!¡± She had grown quite a bit, her little face filled with longing: ¡°Mommy, I missed you so much¡­¡± She opened her arms to hug me, but I instinctively stepped back. ¡°Mommy!¡± She sobbed breathlessly. ¡°Daddy and I looked for you for so long.¡± She reached out her little hand to grab my sleeve: ¡°I know I was wrong. Ishouldn¡¯t have called you stinky mommy! Daddy scolded me. He told me you worked so hard at the food truck for me and got bullied by people.¡± Susan¡¯s tears fell in big drops: ¡°Daddy said you got burned by oil trying to pay for my treatment. Mommy, can you forgive me?¡± Just then, Lucas walked over carrying our son. The little boy called out sweetly: ¡°Mommy!¡± Susan¡¯s crying stopped abruptly as she stared wide¨Ceyed at this strange little brother. Daniel¡¯s expression instantly froze, his lips trembling but unable to speak. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said calmly. ¡°I have my own family now. Please, don¡¯t disturb us anymore.¡± As I took my son¡¯s hand and turned to leave, I heard Susan¡¯s heart¨Cwrenching cries behind me: ¡°Mommy don¡¯t go¡­¡± Later I heard that ke Enterprises hadpletely gone bankrupt. After I took over Reynolds Enterprises, our strategic partnerships and aggressive market expansion had systematically outmaneuvered ke¡¯s core businesses. What Daniel didn¡¯t know was that several of his major clients had quietly switched to us, and that the ¡°idental¡± leak of ke¡¯s financial irregrities to the press hadn¡¯t been so idental after all. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me¨Cthe woman he¡¯d kept in the dark about money had be the architect of his financial ruin. As for Serena Mitchell, she¡¯d vanished the moment Daniel¡¯s fortune disappeared, alreadytched onto some other wealthy man¡¯s arm. The influencer who¡¯d once mocked my ¡°street food¡± was now just another forgotten face in the endless cycle of social media. Now Daniel was running a food stall in the suburbs with Susan, just like I had done years ago. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find¡¤novel I anonymously sent them money¨Cenough to send Susan abroad to study. After putting down my phone, my son bounced into the room: ¡°Mommy, y with me!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± I smiled and picked him up, the sunlight streaming perfectly through the window. Those past wounds had finally turned to passing clouds. Face Blind 98 I¡¯d been married to Theodore Rockefellow for three years. Never thought he¡¯d keep a mistress behind my back¨Cturns out the entire household knew, everyone but me. I became theughingstock of New York society. When I finally went to confront Theodore¡¯s mistress with a knife in hand, I never expected her to be none other than thewful wife of Captain Thomas. And Theodore and Thomas? They¡¯d been inseparable since boyhood. Summer was nearing, and I was busier than ever running the Rockefellow estate. I suddenly realized I hadn¡¯t had a proper conversation with Theodore in over two weeks. So I cleared half a day, set out his favorite wine and dishes, and waited. Night fell. The food was reheated over and over, but he never came home. I couldn¡¯t take it anymore¨CI sent someone to find out. Word came back: he¡¯d gone to a ball, then spent the night at the host¡¯s mansion. That wasn¡¯t him. He¡¯d always told me beforehand when he went out. And never once stayed away overnight. A chill crept over me. Something had changed, and I didn¡¯t even know when it started. The next morning, Theodore returned¨Cfresh¨Cfaced, carrying a box of almond pastries, my favorite. He took my hand, apologized sweetly, coaxed me with kind words. My anger ebbed. I set his favorite crab bisque dumplings before him, smiling. ¡°Summer¡¯sing, and I¡¯ve been so caught up running the household, I fear I¡¯ve neglected you.¡± The clink of silverware was the only reply. I looked up¨CTheodore was staring at his dumpling with a vacant smile, lost in thought. He hadn¡¯t heard a word. My appetite vanished. I set down my fork, called his name again and again until he finally blinked, startled. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked vaguely. I forced a smile, swallowing the tightness in my chest. ¡°Nothing at all. Enjoy your supper¨CI¡¯ve matters to see to on the estate.¡± He only murmured in reply. But my heart sank. Three years together¨Cof course I knew. His mind was elsewhere. I felt like a bird lost in a storm, wings beating without direction. The days blurred with endless tasks. Atrs. Cornelia, Theodore¡¯s mother, had me arranging trips to St. Patrick¡¯s Cathedral to light candles, refurbishing the west wing, ordering fruit trees for the new country estate, and even buying more koi for the reflecting pool. One demand after another, until I realized¨Cthis wasn¡¯t about chores. At first, I thought Cornelia was just punishing me. After all, three years of marriage and still no child. She¡¯d been relentless, urging me and Theodore to try harder, to give the Rockefellows an heir. Buttely, she wasn¡¯t just needling me¨Cshe was keeping me busy. Distracting me. And Theodore? It had been ten days since Ist saw him. I couldn¡¯t ignore it anymore. I sent Grace, my maid, to find out where Theodore had been. I sat on the fainting couch, absently turning a teacup in my hands. Sunlight glittered over the garden, mocking my unease. Grace rushed back in. Read full story at find~novel I stumbled toward her, my voice uneven. ¡°Well?¡± Her eyes brimmed with pity. Early mornings,te nights¨Csometimes noting home at all. The room spun. My chest tightened, air catching in my throat. Outside, the day was warm and bright. Inside, I went cold, numb, buzzing with dread. ¡°Madam!¡± Grace caught me as I nearly copsed. I tried tough, to reassure her, but tears fell faster than I could wipe them away. I should¡¯ve known better. Love neversts. And yet, when Theodore had pursued me so desperately, I¡¯d let myself believe. Three years¨Cand the mask had slipped. Just then, a letter arrived from Mrs. Diana Adams. Diana¨Conce my dearest friend¨Chad warned me against marrying Theodore. Afterward, we¡¯d barely spoken. I tore open the letter. And with each line, my heart split open. The taste of betrayal was sharp enough to cut me alive. Face Blind 99 Diana had seen them. Theodore and Serena¨Cparading arm in arm down Broadway, whispering,ughing, unting their intimacy, Then they slipped into the townhouse on East Street. He never came out. The rumors were true. Theodore had kept a mistress. From her letter I learned what I hadn¡¯t before: Serena wasn¡¯t some passing fancy. She¡¯d grown up alongside Theodore and Captain Thomas, the two of them shielding her from the cruelties of the world. Both had loved her. Once, Theodore even bought out an entire firework disy during a holiday, lighting up the New York sky for hours to dere his devotion. The whole city knew he loved her. But Serena chose Thomas. That night, beneath the fireworks, she epted his proposal. Still, Theodore never stopped. He defended her honor with fists, nearly killed himself testing her medicine when she was poisoned, risked everything for her¨Cyet she wed Thomas. Society said Theodore had moved on. That he¡¯d finally grown up. But now I saw the truth: he hadn¡¯t let go. He¡¯d simply waited. And when Thomas disappeared at the front six months ago? What was Theodore thinking then? Regretting me? Resenting Thomas for leaving Serena alone? I couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. I needed to face him, force the truth into the light. By dusk he still hadn¡¯t returned. I prepared to leave the mansion myself¨Conly to be stopped by Mrs. Cornelia at the door. She traded nces with the housekeeper, sent a servant out the back. I let out a bitterugh. ¡°What are you doing, Mother?¡± Her face stiffened, her voice gentled. ¡°You are Mrs. Rockefellow. No one can take your ce.¡± ¡°Wait at home. Theodore will exin when he returns.¡± Iughed, sharp and hollow. ¡°Exin to me or to her?¡± ¡°1. Scarlett Vanderbilt, have been nothing but dutiful.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve run this household, honored this family, respected every tradition.¡± ¡°And yet all of you conspired to keep me in the dark¨Chid from me that my husband keeps a mistress, sneaks away to her bed!¡± Cornelia¡¯s mask cracked, her expression turning cold. ¡°Vanderbilt,¡± she hissed. ¡°I admired yourposure, your sense of propriety. Remember your ce.¡± I stepped forward, soldiers moving to block me. My eyes locked on hers, steady and fierce. ¡°I do remember my ce.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget¨Cit was you who begged me to marry into this family.¡± ¡°It was Theodore Rockefellow who chased me, desperate, until I agreed.¡± ¡°I am not some meek little wife who swallows her shame in silence.¡± ¡°Not when it¡¯s him who betrayed me.¡± Cornelia faltered, pale as a beaten rooster. Chapter 3 ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find_Novel(. Face Blind 100 Chapter 3 I stormed out, skirts whipping as 1 headed straight for the gates. The house guards didn¡¯t darey hands on me; they kept stepping back, watching helplessly as I left the estate. I climbed into the carriage and ordered it toward the townhouse on East Street. On the way, Theodore¡¯s carriage passed mine¨Cwe missed each other by minites, When I stepped down at the townhouse, bystanders immediately understood why I¡¯de. They pretended to busy themselves, but I saw the way their eyes lingered. Grace knocked at the door. A lilting voice rang out from inside- ¡°So soon? Couldn¡¯t bear to leave already?¡± The door swung open. Serena froze when she saw me, her smile stiffening, her words dying in her throat. Two secondster, she forced augh. ¡°Well now, my dear sister¨Cinw! Doe in.¡± We studied one another¨Cshe was refined, poised, still striking despite her years. Gracefully aged, every inch the polisheddy. I stepped inside. Serena closed the door behind us, smiling like porcin about to crack. ¡°I¡¯m sure this is all a misunderstanding. I wasn¡¯t expectingpany, but won¡¯t you sit for tea?¡± Her smile never faltered, but it was glued in ce, brittle as ss. ¡°I suppose Theo hasn¡¯t exined our rtionship properly. We¡¯re practically brother and sister. If not for him, I wouldn¡¯t have a roof over my head. I¡¯ve told him again and again not toe so often, but you know how he is¨Che¡¯s been trailing after me since we were children.¡± She caught herself, feigned a gasp, and tapped her lips with mock regret. ¡°Oh, forgive me. I shouldn¡¯t chatter so.¡± I only smiled, saying nothing. We stood there in the courtyard, locked in a standoff. She imed to invite me for tea but never moved from the doorway. I smoothed my sleeve, voice slow and deliberate. ¡°I only came to ask a few questions, Mrs. Thomas. Then I¡¯ll be on my way. Tea can wait.¡± Her smile slipped, her eyes cooling. ¡°Why is thedy of Rockefellow House wandering the streets alone?¡± Chapter 3 Her mask dropped entirely, and for the first time I saw the hatred in her gaze- as if I had stolen something that belonged to her. She pressed her lips together, refusing to speak. But I knew. She was desperate to be free of the Thomas name, desperate not to waste her years as a lonely widow. She knew she had another option. ¡°So you¡¯ve already decided Thomas is dead, haven¡¯t you?¡± I asked, my tone razor¨Csharp. Serena stiffened, anger shing, but said nothing. ¡°And you¡¯re willing to abandon the child you bore him? To chase after another man instead?¡± Her fists clenched; fury rippled through her frame. She hadn¡¯t expected me to know so much. Every word I spoke tore anotheryer from her mask until her raw, ugly desperationy bare. ¡°Ha!¡± she spat. Herugh was bitter, half¨Cmad. ¡°And who the hell are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just taking back what was mine all along.¡± Her words cut me. A thief used by the thief herself. Pain seared through my chest, tears threatening, but I swallowed them down. Then- ¡°Ahhh!¡± Serena shrieked, yanking at her own hair, pping herself hard across the face before crumpling to the floor. Pitiful. Calcted. The door burst open. Theodore rushed in, his eyes zing with panic¨Cand without so much as a nce at me, he scooped Serena into his arms. ¡°My God, Serena!¡± He stroked her reddened cheek with trembling fingers, all tender concern. I stood there, hollow, as the man I¡¯d shared a bed with for three years held another woman like she was his whole world. Serena was ruthless¨Ceven willing to harm herself to y the victim. Theodore finally looked at me. Cold. using. ¡°If you have a quarrel, take it out on me.¡± ¡°Why torment Serena? She¡¯s suffered enough! Can¡¯t you show her the slightest kindness?¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? fin?novel The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!