After voicing her thoughts to her grandmother, Camille got up and walked back like a lost soul.

Jameson stayed behind, waiting until the candles had completely burned before turning to chase after her.

By the time Camille reached the stairs and turned to go down, Sylvia suddenly screamed and rolled down the stairs.

“Sylvia!”

Jameson dashed forward, not noticing he had bumped into Camille. He rushed over to the huddled-up Sylvia, his mind in turmoil and his heart burning with worry. “Are you okay? Did you break your bones? Let me take you to the hospital!”

He lifted Sylvia in his arms without sparing a glance at Camille as he rushed away.

Camille had been knocked to the ground by Jameson. Her right arm had slammed hard against the unyielding steps. A deep gash split open, so deep the bone was visible, and blood instantly poured out, staining the ground.

She inhaled sharply, shivering in pain.

Camille struggled to get up. She clenched her teeth as she walked toward the entrance of the cemetery.

Jameson’s car was already gone.

The cemetery staff saw Camille covered in blood and quickly called a cab for her, instructing the driver to take her to the hospital.

Camille gave a bitter smile.

Even strangers could show such care for her, yet Jameson...

While getting her wound cleaned and stitched in the hospital, Camille sweated in pain, but she did not utter a single word.

The doctor could not help but comment, “Aren’t you afraid of the pain? It's rare to see a young lady so tough.”

Camille gazed out the window.

After her grandmother passed, she had once thought that Jameson would be her support. However, she had already driven him out of her life.

She was alone in this world. Who would she show her weakness to? She could only be strong.

As Camille was about to pay and leave, she ran into Jameson, who was carrying Sylvia with one arm around her.

He walked up to her with a stony face. “Camille, I already told you that Sylvia has cancer and doesn’t have much time left. Why did you still bump into her? Do you know this could’ve killed her?”

Camille looked at the man she had once thought she would spend her life with, feeling a deep sorrow in her heart. “I bumped into her? You believe everything she says, huh? What if I say I didn’t?”

Jameson’s eyes were filled with disappointment. “Camille! It was my decision to give the stone-carved house to her. If you’re mad, take it out on me. Why lash out at a sick person? Where’s your kindness? Your compassion?”

He had already passed judgment, unwilling to accept any explanation from Camille.

Camille felt utterly heartbroken. She turned her head and said in a calm voice, “People who fake being sick to play the moral victim don’t deserve an ounce of my compassion.”

Sylvia sobbed, burying her face in Jameson’s chest.

Jameson furrowed his brows as he looked at Camille. “Sylvia isn’t faking!”

Camille no longer wanted to make him believe her. She replied calmly, “If you say she’s not, then she’s not.”

“You…”

Before Jameson could continue, a voice suddenly rang out from the side.

“Camille?”

Camille turned around to see Ryan standing among a few doctors in white coats.

A smile appeared on her face. “Professor Zach, what are you doing here?”

Ryan walked over. “There’s a patient with a rare disease who was just admitted today. I’ve been invited to consult. Camille, how come you're here? Didn’t you already quit—”

Camille quickly interrupted, “I accidentally hurt my hand. I’m just here to get it treated.”

Jameson also walked over, respectfully greeting Ryan, “Mr. Zach.”

He suddenly pulled Sylvia away from his arms. There was a hint of urgency in his voice as he said, “The doctor says she only has a month left. Mr. Zach, your medical skills are world-renowned. Can you help her?”

Under normal circumstances, almost no one was worthy enough to have Ryan treat them.

The people standing beside him frowned, about to stop him, but Ryan raised his hand slightly.

Then, he looked at his young apprentice, Camille, before observing Sylvia’s face for a moment. He pressed a few points on her body and finally examined the test reports.

After a moment, he frowned. “This is ridiculous. Who made the diagnosis that this woman only has a month to live? She’s not sick. You should get a few more opinions from other hospitals.”

Sylvia groaned in pain and spat out blood.

Without thinking, Jameson said, “Mr. Zach, even if Camille is your apprentice, you can’t lie for her sake, right?”

The tiny hope that had just risen in Camille’s heart was extinguished completely.

She strode forward, her eyes locked on Jameson with a fierce glare. “Jameson! How dare you doubt my professor’s medical ethics?”

Jameson hesitated for a moment but immediately responded, “That’s not what I meant. What I meant is that maybe another check-up would be more accurate…”

Camille no longer wanted to see him. She turned around to Ryan and begged, “Professor Zach, shall we leave?”

Ryan nodded solemnly.

The others immediately followed him, and soon, they all entered the elevator together.

Jameson reached out but could not grab Camille. He turned around to check on Sylvia, then immediately scooped her up and rushed toward the ward.

Ryan looked at his apprentice and sighed. “I see now why you wish to break up.”

Camille remained silent.

He patted her shoulder. “Everything will pass.”

Camille nodded.

Indeed.

That night, when she heard Jameson walk away and watched the video that was sent, she thought her heart would shatter beyond repair.

However, despite the sorrow and pain, she survived.

After enduring enough pain, she got used to it.

Not long after Camille left the hospital, Jameson called. She ignored the call, but he kept calling.

Camille gave a sarcastic smile.

Then, it seemed that Jameson had finally come to terms with the fact that she would not answer his calls anymore, so he switched to sending her messages.

[Camille, I wasn’t questioning your professor. I was just too anxious earlier and spoke without thinking. I apologize to Mr. Zach and to you. Can you explain things to him for me?]

Camille did not reply.

Jameson sent another message: [I personally checked with Sylvia. She really doesn’t have much time left. Camille, please don’t be jealous of a woman whose days are numbered, okay? After sending her off, my future will be yours. I’ve already arranged a time for you to meet my parents—just a month from now. Once you’ve met them, we’ll set a wedding date, and from then on, we’ll be together forever. How does that sound?]

Camille put away her phone and silently answered in her heart, ‘No, Jameson, we have no future together.’

There was no place for him in her future life.

That evening, she saw Sylvia update her social media feed with nine pictures. There was a photo of Jameson bending down to put slippers on her, a photo of him putting a hat and a scarf on her, and a photo of him feeding her…

The last photo was of them cuddling together. It looked like such a warm moment.

Camille thought for a moment and liked the post.

…

The next day, Camille bought a ticket back to her hometown. After several transfers, she arrived in the town just before dusk.

She rented a car to get back to the village.

Years ago, after Jameson took Camille out of the mountains, he donated money to build a cement road to her home.

Camille spent several days cleaning up the abandoned house. Some villagers soon noticed she had returned and came over to greet her warmly. A few kids from the village came to say hi too.

Camille’s hometown was very poor. Not only was the location remote, but it was also lacking in resources.

Even though a road had been built to connect it to the outside world, the place remained impoverished.

As Camille looked at a little girl with cracked skin, she decided that before she left, she would do something for her hometown. She contacted people for donations, but there were no charity organizations in the area.

She tried to reach out to charitable groups and repeatedly mentioned her hometown, Violetwood Village.

When Jameson learned that Camille was trying to find ways to fund education for girls in her hometown, he sent her a message right away.

[Camille, do you need my help? Should I come look for you?]

Camille silently stared at the new photos Sylvia had just posted on her social media feed.

It showed the room that Jameson had personally decorated for them. With bright lights and colorful decorations everywhere, it was obvious this was the room of an affluent, affectionate couple.

Camille no longer felt sad. After calmly liking the post, she put her phone away and focused on what was in front of her.

After many days of work—handling paperwork and signing agreements—Camille finally secured funding for the education of girls in the impoverished mountain area, ensuring it would reach Violetwood Village.

That day, Camille received another message from Jameson.

[Camille, when are you coming back? We’ve never been apart for this long. I miss you. I’ve prepared a surprise for you, and I’m sure you’ll love it. Please come back soon.]

At this point, there were only three days left before Camille went abroad with Ryan.

She still did not reply to Jameson’s message and instead bought a ticket to return to South City the next afternoon. She had already made plans to meet up with friends before leaving.

That night, she received another message from an unknown number.

[Camille, you’re really cheap. Jameson is married now, and you’re still trying to make him think about you? You must like being the other woman, huh? Don’t regret it.]

Camille did not pay it any mind.

However, early the next morning, she received a call from a friend.

“Camille! Jameson is going to mess with your grandmother’s grave!”

Camille’s mind seemed to explode with a deafening roar, and everything went blank.

It took her a while to regain control of her trembling fingers and try to make a call. However, when she opened her contact list, she froze. She did not know who to call.

Jameson? He no longer deserved her trust.

There were no direct flights to South City, so she booked a rideshare and took a connecting high-speed train, doing everything she could to reach there by 5:00 pm.

The sky was gloomy and heavy with a sense of foreboding.

Camille did not waste a second. She rushed straight to the cemetery—straight to her grandmother’s grave.

When she arrived, Sylvia was already bending down, reaching behind the tombstone and pulling out the urn.

Camille’s mind went blank again. She screamed, “Don’t you dare touch my grandma!”

She sprinted toward Sylvia.

Sylvia turned her head slightly with a strange smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Just a second before Camille’s hands could reach the urn, Sylvia let go of it. The urn hit the ground with a sharp crack and shattered into pieces.

Camille dropped to her knees, frantically trying to scoop up her grandmother’s ashes. However, the cold wind blew in gusts, scattering the powdery remains between the gaps of her fingers, little by little.

“Grandma! Grandma!” Camille’s voice broke into a hoarse, heart-wrenching cry.

It was all her fault. She was blind and fell for the wrong man.

However, why punish her grandmother? Why not her instead?

She would have rather died and have her own ashes scattered!

Why did she ever meet Jameson?

Why did she follow him to South City?

She sprang up, having lost all sense. Her eyes were bloodshot as she lunged toward Sylvia. “Sylvia! Give me back my grandma!”

Sylvia let out a startled cry and fell to the ground, but even then, there was a mocking smirk on her face.

Before Camille could lay a hand on her, her wrist was seized. The slap she raised never landed.

Tears rolled down Sylvia’s cheeks. “Jameson! Ms. Fields just appeared out of nowhere. I was so scared! I didn’t mean to drop the urn. I’m sorry...”

Jameson did not hesitate for a second. “Sylvia, it’s not your fault.”

At that moment, something inside Camille broke. Even the searing pain in her soul vanished.

She turned her head and looked at the man she had once loved with everything she had. Her voice was hollow. “Let go of me.”

Jameson, suppressing his anger, replied, “Camille, Sylvia didn’t do it on purpose…”

Camille felt nothing but disgust. She could not bear another second of his touch.

She struggled with all her might. Her bones felt like they were being crushed, but still, she could not break free.

So, she turned her head and sank her teeth hard into his arm.

Jameson did not fight back. He just grew angrier. “Camille, I know you’re hurting. But Sylvia already said she’s sorry. What more do you want?”

Camille bit down even harder.

Tears she thought had long dried up began to fall again.

Jameson glanced at Sylvia, who lay on the ground, and tried to reason with Camille. “I’ve already picked a new plot for your grandma. It’s more spacious and upscale. Don’t do this anymore, Camille. Let’s gather what’s left of the ashes and give her a proper burial.”

Camille stared at him for a few seconds. Then, she let go and took a large step back, turning to collect the remnants of the ashes on her own.

When Jameson tried to help, she shoved him aside. “I don’t need you!”

Not in this life and not in the next. She never wanted to see him again.

Jameson frowned. “Camille, you…”

Sylvia suddenly coughed up blood and whimpered, “Jameson, am I dying?”

Jameson quickly said over his shoulder, “Camille, I’ll take her to the hospital and come right back!”

He rushed off, carrying Sylvia in his arms and leaving the cemetery behind.

Camille ignored them.

She carefully gathered what was left of the ashes, picked up the shattered pieces of the urn, and left.

That night, she took her grandmother’s ashes back home and laid her to rest again. She kneeled before the new grave with her eyes swollen red.

“Grandma, don’t worry. I’ll forget Jameson and live my life well.”

Then, she rose and headed straight for South City.

She went to Ryan’s place and waited for him to come downstairs so that they could go to the airport together.

Her phone vibrated. When she looked down, she saw that it was a message from Jameson.

[Camille, I’ll be home tonight. I know that everything that has happened lately is my fault. But I have my reasons. I’ll explain it all in person. I promise I’ll change. It won’t happen again.]

[I’ve prepared a surprise for you. I know you’ll love it. Please wait for me at home, okay?]

Ryan looked over. “Camille, who is it?”

Camille gave a faint smile. “A scam text.”

She blocked Jameson’s number, ensuring he could never contact her. Then, she powered off her phone.

She helped Ryan out of the car and walked straight toward the airport security checkpoint without looking back.