I finished the bottle of wine in one go.

Then, after getting Aiden Dalton's promise, I dragged my aching body home in a taxi, all alone.

The night was pitch-black. I fought through the pain, forcing myself to stay alert as I sat at my desk, writing and sketching.

'I'm afraid I won't make it through the night.'

'So while I'm still lucid, I have to do something.'

After closing the notebook in my hands, I shakily took out my phone and sent a message.

'If I can still open my eyes tomorrow…'

'If everything goes according to plan, I'll be able to leave this place.'

Once everything was arranged, I finally looked out the window.

It was cold and dark tonight, with snowflakes drifting through the sky.

Just like the weather on the night of my eighteenth birthday.

Except back then, I was the apple of Aiden Dalton's eye, the treasure he held in the palm of his hand.

That year, my friends threw me a birthday party at a bar.

We played a game where the loser had to drink.

My luck must have been terrible. I lost nine times out of ten, so of course, I was the one who had to take the penalty shots.

The truth was, I hated alcohol. Back then, I didn't touch a single drop.

Aiden Dalton stepped in front of me, standing up for me. "Elara hates drinking. From now on, don't make her drink. I'll drink all of her shots for her."

My friends all said that Aiden Dalton spoiled me rotten.

He wouldn't let me suffer the slightest grievance.

He would do anything for me.

To buy me the most expensive birthday present, he would go work as a handyman at a construction site whenever he didn't have classes.

After a hard day's work, covered in dirt, he would only earn $30.

But he kept it up for a month and gave me a necklace on the night of my birthday.

I recognized the necklace. I had glanced at it a few extra times when we were at the mall before.

I was originally planning to go back and buy it myself when I was shopping alone next time.

But I never expected him to buy it for me ahead of time.

That necklace cost over $900.

For me at the time, $900 was just the cost of a single meal.

But for him, that was more than half a year's living expenses.

I held his scarred hands and cried my heart out.

"Aiden Dalton, you big fool. I don't want any presents, and I don't want you to work so hard for me. I just want you..."

He pulled me into his arms, kissed my tears away, and patiently soothed me.

"Elara, you're willing to eat with me at a street stall that costs a few dollars, so I'm willing to work my hardest, no matter what, to buy you the best things in the world."

That night, he put the necklace on me with his own hands.

It was the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen.

No other necklace, no matter how expensive, could ever compare.

A noise from the living room broke me from my thoughts.

Aiden Dalton was back.

'Probably with Chloe Shaw.'

I didn't go out.

I stayed quietly by myself in the servant's room on the first floor.

In our two years of marriage, the only time I was allowed to set foot on the second floor was when he brought Chloe Shaw home.

Except they would be in the room, while I was required to stand guard at the door.

After Chloe Shaw left, I would take her place as Aiden Dalton's tool to sleep with.

'How filthy.'

I lowered my gaze, staring at the scars on my arm for a long time.

At some point, he appeared behind me, frowning as he looked at me.

"Why is your face so pale? Did you catch a cold?"

He reached out to touch my forehead, but I dodged him.

"My face is this pale, and President Dalton has no idea why?"

"Are you here to make me watch the two of you be lovey-dovey again, President Dalton? Just a moment, I'll be right there."

I stood up and tried to walk past him, but he yanked me back.

He shoved something into my hand.

I glanced down and saw it was a jewelry box.

"I bought this for you. From now on, dress yourself up properly. Don't embarrass me."

I stared at the jewelry box for a few seconds.