Later, Shawn stepped into the trap himself and lured me to an abandoned factory, planning to burn us both to death.

As the flames devoured us, Shawn clamped down on me with a death grip, a twisted smile on his face.

“Lillith, I’m betting my life… on yours.”

Just as he wished, I was burned alive.

He, however, was dragged out of the fire, covered in burns, but still breathing.

After my death, the Cage family took back every privilege I had ever given him, including the financial support for the Quintus family.

He thought it was the Cage family taking revenge on him.

He hanged himself at the gates of the Cage estate, turning the Cage family into everyone’s favorite target.

Thinking of all this, I felt nothing but desolation.

Eight years of devotion, and I still couldn’t warm that cold heart of his.

Since that’s how it is, in this life we’ll stay out of each other’s way.

I really want to see whether, without me, Summer will still coax him and love him the way I did.

“Don’t worry,” I said, “as long as we sign this severance agreement, there will be nothing between us ever again—not even a shred of affection.”

Summer, hearing that, rushed forward to stop us.

Before anyone could react, she dropped to her knees in front of me with a heavy thud.

“Ms. Cage, it’s all my fault. Shawn ran away from the engagement party only to take care of me. Please, give him one more chance.”

Before I could answer, Shawn shoved me hard to the ground.

With smooth, practiced motions, he signed the severance agreement.

“I’m never giving you another chance to hurt me and Summer. Someone like you will never get my love.”

With that, he scooped Summer up in a princess carry and walked away.

Watching the two of them leave, I let out a cold laugh.

I hope he really sticks to his fucking word this time…

“Lillith, what the hell are you doing now? What’s so great about that bastard Shawn that you’d bash your head against the wall for him?”

My brother’s irritable voice cut through my memories.

Seeing the disappointed, furious look on his face, I guiltily took two steps back.

“Bro, I didn’t.”

“You didn’t? The whole damn internet knows you posted a bounty. Whoever finds Shawn, you’ll give them a million.”

“Now everyone’s praising the Cage family for raising a pathetic lovesick idiot.”

My brother’s tone was dripping with sarcasm. With how hard he was grinding his teeth, he looked ready to wring the stupidity right out of my brain.

I had nothing to say. In my previous life, I really had been insane.

Feeling guilty, I deleted the bounty post and edited a new one:

“If I go back to him, I’m a dog.”

After I hit send, I looked at my brother seriously.

“Arrange a marriage for me. The fiercer the guy, the better. Someone who can keep me in line.”

My brother stared at me in silence for two seconds, then put his hand on my head.

“You okay? Did something dirty latch onto you or what?”

I rolled my eyes and slapped his hand away.

“Didn’t you always want me to cut things off with Shawn? If I marry someone from a good family, well-matched with ours, things will naturally be over for good.”

Hearing that, he fell silent again.

He studied me for a while, then said he would make arrangements and turned to leave.

At last, I’d shaken off the fate of my previous life.

Just as I let out a long breath of relief, my phone started blowing up.

When I glanced at the screen, I saw my girlfriends spamming my messages.

“What kind of crazy shit are you pulling now? Is it so bad being human that you wanna go be a dog?”

“If you can really cut it off with Shawn, I swear I’ll never order a male stripper at the bar again.”

“A simp is still a dog. You were never acting like a human to begin with!”

…

My head throbbed as I watched the messages roll in.

I’d loved him so loudly and desperately that no one believed I was truly done.

To prove I meant it, I took the initiative and invited them all out—to celebrate my return to single life.

With memories of my previous life, I’d deliberately picked a quiet, almost unknown mountain.

But of course, the moment I got out of the car, I saw Shawn walking this way, fingers intertwined with his childhood sweetheart, Summer.

Our gazes collided, and the smile on Shawn’s face vanished in an instant.

He stormed over, opening his mouth just to snap at me. “Didn’t we already draw the line? What the hell are you doing following me here?”

“Lillith, you really make me sick.”

I clicked my tongue twice, speechless.

He seemed to have forgotten that Cage Family’s company was Quintus Family’s biggest client.

An attitude like that, from a party B in front of a party A, was practically begging to be taught a lesson.

I let out a cold laugh and slapped Shawn across the face. “Did you not brush your teeth this morning? Why does your mouth stink so bad?”

“I did draw the line with you, but that doesn’t mean I’m banned from any place you happen to show up.”

Shawn clearly didn’t buy it. He snorted, looking at me with open contempt. “Playing hard to get doesn’t work on me. The only one in my heart is Summer.”

As he spoke, he pulled Summer into his arms.

Watching the two of them snuggle and whisper, I sneered inwardly. He might only have Summer in his heart, but that doesn’t mean Summer only has him in hers.

In my last life, Summer was always coming to me in Shawn’s name, asking for this and that.

The Cage Family was rich and powerful. Handing over a few projects was nothing more than lifting a finger.

I’d thought that once Summer got what she wanted, she’d stay away from Shawn.

Instead, she went to him and twisted everything, saying I was threatening her.

Every single time, Shawn would jump out to “defend” her.

When I gave her the projects, Shawn mocked me for trying to buy them off with money, calling me despicable and shameless.

When I refused, he scolded me for being petty and low, saying I wasn’t fit for the spotlight.

No matter what I did, it was always wrong.

Looking back now, I’d really given him too much face.

Staring at his “I’m king of the world” expression, I pulled out my phone and called my brother.

“Since I’ve completely cut things off with Shawn, end all cooperation with the Quintus Family and with Summer’s side as well.”

“Cage Family isn’t a charity. We can’t keep doing poverty relief forever.”

On the other end, my brother’s voice was calm. “You’re sure about this? Don’t come crying to me later if you regret it.”

I looked straight at Shawn and Summer’s faces, which had turned dark, and raised my voice on purpose. “I won’t regret it.”

At my words, a flicker of panic flashed through Summer’s eyes. She started to step forward to explain, but Shawn held her tightly in his arms.

“Lillith, if you dare hurt Summer, I will never let you go.”

Shawn’s brows were furrowed, his gaze vicious. “You know I’m capable of anything.”

The threat in his tone was obvious.

He was warning me that he could kill me if he wanted to, even if it cost him his own life.

He was about to move closer when Summer hurriedly grabbed his arm.

“Shawn, don’t be like this. Ms. Cage didn’t do anything to me. A chance encounter is fate. What Ms. Cage said just now was out of anger. Why don’t we all sit down and have a meal, clear up the misunderstanding?”

Summer looked every bit the gentle peacemaker.

Other people might be fooled, but I knew better.

She wasn’t trying to smooth things over for my sake—she just didn’t want to lose Cage Group’s investment in the Hayes Family.

Too bad for her.

This time, she wouldn’t be able to play me the way she used to.

“There’s no need for a meal. We’re not exactly people who can share the same table.” I smiled faintly. “I suggest you hurry home and work on financing.”

Summer’s expression said she couldn’t stand me but couldn’t do a damn thing about it. It was honestly satisfying.

“Lillith, don’t think this means I’ll compromise,” Shawn threw out one last threat, then dragged Summer away with him.

Just before they disappeared from view, I clearly caught the reluctant look in Summer’s eyes.

Shawn wanted a clean break with me—but Summer? Not necessarily.

“Miss, have you really let it go this time, or are you playing some new game?”

Beside me, Susan Kate looked at me with teasing eyes.