My father was diagnosed with a serious late-stage disease. Before he died, his greatest wish was to see me walk down the marriage hall holding my lover’s hand. I called my three childhood sweethearts who once swore they would never marry anyone but me. All of them rejected me.

Scholastica Bourigault told me that she was devoted to Jesus Christ and did not want to get tainted by worldly affairs. Paulina Mallinckrodt said she just found out that she suffers from misogyny. The last one Virginia Saragossa said the company strictly prohibits artists from dating someone, let alone getting married.

As a result, that afternoon, my friend saw with his own eyes that they were having a wild time on the yacht with Gedeon Morales, my driver's son. And on the wrists of the four of them were bracelets with identical concentric knots.

After watching the video, I quietly asked the old butler if the engagement my grandfather made with the Boccardo Family still counted.

The old butler was stunned after hearing this. “Of course, it's still valid. But the daughter of the Boccardo Family became a vegetative after a car accident last year. Are you sure you want to marry her?”

I nodded in despair. “Yes, I will marry her.”

——

Hearing that I wanted to marry the Boccardo Family's daughter, the old butler asked why in confusion. I clicked the video and showed it to him. He was speechless for a long time.

“Alright, young master. I'll go and organize this.”

After the old butler left, Scholastica's Mercedes-Benz drove into the courtyard. After getting out of the car, the four of them walked closer with their large bags. And I caught a glimpse of the new Patek Philippe watch worth a million dollars on Gedeon's wrist.

I remembered something and opened my cell phone. There were a lot of unread short messages, all of which were reminders of today's supplementary credit card consumption. A rough count showed at least more than ten million.

Gedeon was decked out in new designer clothes. His face was full of smugness.

Thinking of my father on his sickbed, I held back my anger and quietly deleted all the messages.

Paulina didn't even look at me and directly threw a shopping bag toward me. “Lorenzo Vandoeuvre, this is the gift we carefully selected for you.”

I opened the bag. There was only a hand-carved crystal watch stand inside. No doubt, it was a gift from the watch on Gedeon's wrist. Although it was also worth it, it wasn't worth mentioning at all, compared to the watch.

Sure enough, it was “carefully selected” and clearly the leftovers.

I didn't get angry, but just faintly said, “Thank you.”

“No need to thank us. Just consider it as a comfort to you.”

Virginia smiled carelessly, then cautiously asked, “By the way, we didn't tell Uncle Martin about our refusal of your marriage proposal, did we?”

I shook my head. Seeing that I didn't look too good, Scholastica spoke softly, “Lorenzo, I know that you must be very unhappy in your heart after we rejected your proposal. But there is nothing we can do about it.”

“Finally, I can delve deeper into Christian religious life, there is no way I would betray that sacred vow for you?”

Virginia also said, “That's right, we all have our own difficulties. Can’t you understand?”

I looked at them. My heart was filled with mixed feelings. These three girls, a few hours ago, were wearing bikinis and taking turns sitting on Gedeon's lap, twisting their bodies and striking various seductive poses.

Now, they were speaking with more righteousness than one another on their lips.

I didn't dismantle their masks, but changed the topic. “My dad is hospitalized. Can you guys come to the hospital to see him tonight?”

Scholastica was stunned at first and hurriedly asked after him, “What kind of disease is Uncle Martin suffering from?”

Just as I was about to speak, Gedeon grabbed the opportunity to speak first, “Wait a minute, Paulina, didn't we previously agree to go climb Dolomites Mountain tonight and watch the sunrise together tomorrow?”

“Well…”

Paulina revealed a look of difficulty before looking towards Scholastica and Virginia. My heart twitched. And seeing their expressions, I knew what the answer would be.

Sure enough, Virginia spoke up, “That's right, Paulina, you can't go back on your word after promising Gedeon.”

“Uncle Martin was a soldier. His body is in good health. What he got should not be a serious illness. There is no need to rush. Just wait until tomorrow morning after watching the sunrise, then go visit him.”

“Uncle Martin loves us so much, surely he won't blame us.”

“Scholastica, what do you think?”

Scholastica didn't say anything, just nodded. Then the four of them talked and laughed as they walked towards the villa, never looking at me again. It seemed that their father was far less important than Gedeon in their eyes.

My eyes were a little sore and swollen and I secretly smiled bitterly. When did my relationship between Scholastica and the others turn into like this?

It probably started after Gedeon lived in the manor. Gedeon was the son of the driver, Herodion Morales. When he first stepped into the estate five years ago, he was still a shy little boy.

That day happened to be my birthday party. When the three people, including Scholastica, who were originally around me, saw him, their eyes immediately became different.

Gedeon Morales was fair-skinned and good-looking. His lips were red-rosy and his teeth were moist. He spoke in a delicate voice. He easily stirred women’s maternal instincts and protectiveness.

They left me behind, clinging to Gedeon and calling him ‘brother’. Their eyes were full of undisguised affection. I was very unhappy to be left out and casually said a few words. The driver, Herodion, rushed forward to take his son away.

Gedeon was not happy. And in the struggle, he knocked over the champagne tower in the centre of the banquet hall, not only drenched me into a drenched chicken but also ruined the nine-layer cake.

I was so angry that I pushed Gedeon, but I did not use much strength. He violently knocked on the corner of the table and immediately dripped blood.

My family’s driver, Herodion, was in a hurry to help me wipe my clothes and asked repeatedly if I was alright.

Scholastica and the other two not only ignored me but also helped Gedeon while scolding me, “If the champagne tower is broken, we can build it again. If the cake is destroyed, we can make it again. Gedeon didn’t do it on purpose!”

“What right do you have to hit someone? Do you rely on yourself as the birthday boy?”

That was the first time I was scolded by them. From that time on, they became more and more distant from me.

***

Looking at the backs of the four of them, I threw the shopping bag in my hand into the trash can. “Love that is no longer pure is like this crystal watch stand that originally belonged to someone else. It is as disgusting as it can be.

“The garbage dump is the most suitable place for it.”

At night, I was alone in the hospital room, watching over my father. Looking up at the clock, it was already one o'clock at midnight. Scholastica and the other two never showed up.

I smiled to myself. My chest felt a little stuffy. Although I didn't expect anything from them in the first place, looking at my father on the bed, my heart was still like a stone blocking it and it was very uncomfortable.

On the side of the pillow was my father's cell phone. The screensaver picture was of him standing with Scholastica and the other two smiling brightly.

My father was once a special forces soldier. Once he was ambushed while on a mission abroad and his three comrades-in-arms sent him an important intelligence back to the border with their lives.

The father was very guilty. After retiring from the army, he adopted the orphans of the three comrades and vowed to be good to them for the rest of his life.

From childhood to adulthood, Scholastica and the others received far more love than I got. After knowing the reason, I became sensible and cared for them like a real brother, loved them and never let them suffer half a bit of grievance.

No matter which one, I love them from the bottom of my heart. More than once, I was torn over who to choose as my lifelong partner. My father had publicly stated that the future daughter-in-law of the Vandoeuvre family could only be one of the three of them.

Unfortunately, his wish was not destined to come true. The three of them, who grew up with me as childhood sweethearts, did not want to marry me at all now.

Just as I was plunged into memories, a message suddenly popped up on my cell phone.

[Emergency notice: According to the provincial meteorological station, the city will have heavy rainfall to extra heavy rainfall tonight. Citizens are advised to avoid forested mountains, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other dangerous areas.]

My heart jumped to my throat. Dolomites Mountain was located on the eastern outskirts of the city. The mountain was treacherous. The viewing platform to see the sunrise was halfway up the mountain. If once the flash flood breaks out, no one can escape.

I hurriedly called the Innsbruck Rescue Team. The captain was my friend. He promised to immediately set off to the rescue.

He also told me to keep contacting Scholastic and the other two and not to give up. I called until my cell phone was burning hot. But Scholastica and the other two still did not turn on their phones.

Thunderclouds rolled in the sky outside the window. I was really worried. I looked back at my father who was wearing an oxygen mask on the bed and resolutely left the hospital.

On the way to Dolomites Mountain, the rainstorm suddenly poured, hitting the front glass and snapping.

Warning signs flashed from time to time along the way, reminding me of the dangers of rainy days, but I turned a blind eye. I didn't know how long it took, but I finally arrived at Dolomites Mountain.

The Innsbruck Rescue Team was already planning a rescue route. I insisted on joining the rescue team despite the captain's obstruction.

As a young master who grew up with no worries about food and clothing, my physical strength was far less than that of the members of the rescue team, but I still gritted my teeth and pushed on.

The rain was getting heavier and heavier. But unfortunately, there was no flash flood for the time being. After tossing and turning all night, the rain finally stopped.

I fell and hurt my arms and legs. Several team members also suffered different degrees of injuries. The whole rescue team was almost exhausted, but we didn't even see a sign of Scholastica or the others.

The captain contacted more rescue teams and even called in a helicopter to help. Just then, my cell phone suddenly rang. I took it out and saw that it was Scholastica calling.

I hurriedly answered it. A familiar soft and cold voice came from the microphone, “Lorenzo, have you had enough of the trouble?”

“You turned off your phone for one night and there were dozens of missed calls. What do you want?”

I was stunned like a stone man. Meanwhile, Gedeon's playful laughter came from the side.

“Scholastica, I've changed into my swimsuit. Let's go down to the hot springs. Don't worry about that stingy Lorenzo.”

“Okay.”

Scholastica impatiently said, “I told you we are going to the hospital today. Don't call us again to annoy us. That's it.”

After the phone hung up, my tightly wound heart finally shattered into countless dust particles.

The captain asked me with a face full of tension, “What's going on? Is it them?”

I nodded and turned my head to look at the fish-belly white colour rising in the sky and suddenly laughed. That laugh was like a dull knife, bitter and stiff.

***

Limping back to the hospital, I ran to meet the old butler.

As soon as he saw me, he complained, “Mr. Lorenzo, you know that your father is seriously ill. Why did you still go out?”

Seeing the tear tracks at the corner of his eyes, my heart thumped. Hurriedly, I pushed open the ward door just in time to see the nurse putting a white cloth over my father's face.

“Dad!”

I jumped on the bedside and cried loudly. When the old butler wanted to ask again, the rescue team member who came with me to the hospital to heal my wounds hurriedly explained everything.

After hearing this, the old butler's face was gloomy and anger was burning in his eyes.

But in the end, he didn't get angry. He let out a long sigh and patted my shoulder. “Mr. Lorenzo, I'm sorry for your loss.”

“Before he passed, your father kept calling out the names of you, Scholastica and the others. No matter what, they were all raised by him.”