And then darkness. Complete darkness swallowed everything. I couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t hear anything except my own breathing.

It came fast. Too fast.

No… not again…

My chest tightened, panic rising like it was choking me from the inside.

I hated this.

I hated small, closed spaces. Ever since I was young, it felt like the walls would press in, like the air would disappear. Like I was going to suffocate and no one would even know.

I used to tell him that.

“I hate the dark,” I said once. “If I ever live somewhere, I want it bright all the time.”

Back then, he actually listened. The villa was always lit up at night. I thought it meant something.

But now…

I curled into myself, my fingers digging into my arms as I tried to breathe.

“Calm down… just breathe…” I whispered to myself. “You’re fine… you’re fine…”

But I wasn’t. I really wasn’t.

Suddenly, the door creaked open and light slipped in. I flinched, squinting as a figure stepped inside.

Celine.

She looked down at me, her lips curling slightly.

“Wow,” she said, her tone full of contempt. “You really do look pathetic.”

I didn’t answer.

“If you didn’t look a little like me,” she continued, stepping closer, “Argus wouldn’t even look at you. Not once. Do you really think you ever mattered to him?”

My fingers clenched.

“But it’s fine,” she said lightly, like she just made up her mind. “As long as I ruin that face, you won’t be able to fool him anymore.”

My heart dropped.

She pulled out a small knife. The blade caught the light. Then she started walking toward me.

Slowly.

Step by step.Her eyes were filled with something ugly. Jealousy. Hate. Something twisted.

“Let’s see how long you can keep pretending after this,” she murmured.

My body reacted before my mind could. I raised my hand to block, my eyes stinging, heart pounding wildly.

This was it. This was really happening.

“Dahlia!”

A voice suddenly exploded from the doorway.

The next second, something slammed into me hard.

I was thrown to the ground, my forehead hitting the sharp edge of the wall. Pain exploded instantly, my vision going white for a moment. Before I could even react, my body crashed into something behind me.

A skeleton.

I heard it crack under me, bones snapping with a dry, awful sound that made my whole body freeze. But what happened next was worse.

Celine suddenly screamed and drove the knife straight into her own left shoulder. I stared at her, my mind going blank.

Blood spread fast, soaking her clothes as she collapsed to the ground.

“Dahlia…” she cried weakly, her voice trembling like she was the victim. “I came to help you! I w-wanted to save you... w-why would you try to kill me…”

My heart dropped.

“No… I didn’t—”

I wanted to explain. I needed to explain. But Argus didn’t even look at me.

He rushed straight to her, his face full of panic, more panic than I had ever seen. “Celine!” he shouted, “Stay awake. Don’t close your eyes. I’m taking you to the hospital right now!”

He carried her like she was something fragile, something priceless. Like she was everything.

I stayed there on the floor.

No one even glanced at me.

—

At the hospital, everything became chaotic. Argus called in every top doctor he could find. The hallway was filled with people rushing back and forth.

His white shirt was soaked in blood, his hands trembling, even his arm was scratched and bleeding from forcing open some rusty gate earlier.

He looked broken. I had never seen him like that before.

Not for me.

“Get out!” he suddenly snapped at the people trying to comfort him, his voice sharp and furious. “All of you, just leave me alone!”

No one dared to speak after that.

Then he did something I never expected.

He dropped to his knees by the window.

“I’m begging you,” he said hoarsely, his head lowered. “If anything happens to Celine, I won’t live either. I swear I won’t.”

I stood there, watching. This was the first time I realized… how deep it went.

The operating room doors opened suddenly.

“The patient is losing too much blood,” a nurse said urgently. “The blood bank doesn’t have enough supply right now—”

“I’ll give mine,” Argus cut in immediately, already rolling up his sleeve. “Take my blood. We have the same type. Use mine, take as much as you need.”

“Are you insane?” one of his friends grabbed his arm, shocked. “She’s just a woman. Even if you love her, it’s not worth risking your own life like this!”

Argus looked at them, his eyes cold and absolute. “Celine is the person I love the most. She is my life. Without her, I don’t have one.”

My chest tightened. So that’s what love looked like to him.

The surgery lasted a full day and night.

Celine survived.

Even though Argus lost a lot of blood himself, he looked like he didn’t care at all. He cleared out the entire hospital floor, made all the doctors focus on her alone, and stayed by her side every second.

Everyone talked about them. Said how deep their love was. How rare it was.

I just stood there quietly. And somehow, I remembered my dad. How he lay there, alone. How no one fought like this for him. How easy it was for someone to decide whether he lived or died.

Life and death really just depended on who you mattered to.

Funny, right?

—

Celine stayed in the hospital for half a month ans Argus stayed with her the whole time.

Not even once did he leave her side.

During those two weeks, I packed everything I had and left the villa.

Five years.

Gone just like that.

I rented a small apartment with what little money I had left and went back to working at the bar where I used to do part-time shifts.

Just two more weeks.

I only had to survive two more weeks before I could officially return to the National Research Institute.

That’s what I told myself. But I didn’t expect to see him again so soon.

That night, the bar was packed.

Argus had booked the whole place to celebrate Celine being discharged.

Lights dim, music loud, people everywhere.

And right in the center of it all…

Him and her.

He stayed close to Celine the whole time, his attention always on her. His friends surrounded her too, laughing, talking, treating her like she was something precious.

I didn’t want anything to do with them anymore.

So I texted my boss and asked for leave.

I just wanted to leave quietly.

But—

“Dahlia.”

Her voice stopped me.

I froze.

Celine walked toward me slowly, her eyes still slightly red, like she had been crying. “After everything you did to me… you’re not even going to apologize?” she said softly. “You’re just going to run away like this?”

I looked at her.

Then I answered calmly, “I already told you. I didn’t do anything. If you keep spreading lies about me, I’ll sue you for defamation.”

Her expression stiffened.

I turned to leave.

But before I could take more than a few steps, someone blocked my way. It was Argus’s bodyguards.

“STOP!”

My chest tightened.

Then a cold liquid poured over my head. Strong alcohol soaked through my clothes, running down my face, my neck, my entire body.

…

The music cut off so suddenly it felt like everything snapped. One second it was loud and messy, the next… dead silent. Everyone turned to look at me, not shocked, not confused, just watching like they were waiting for something entertaining.

“You really think you can walk away after what you did?” someone laughed. “Dahlia, I didn’t know you were this vicious.”

“First Grandpa, then Celine,” another voice added. “What’s next, huh? You gonna poison Argus too and keep him locked by your side forever?”

I didn’t answer. I just looked at him. Argus stood there, his face pale from exhaustion, but his eyes were sharp, cold, like knives. “I already said it,” I muttered, my voice tired. “I didn’t hurt Grandpa. And I didn’t touch Celine.” I even knew how weak it sounded. What proof did I even have? Cameras broken, witnesses bought, and him… already decided I was guilty.

“I swear,” I said, forcing it out, “I didn’t stab you. If I’m lying, then let me die a horrible death.” I paused, then looked straight at her. “But Celine… can you say the same? Can you swear you didn’t plan all of this yourself?”

“Enough!” Argus cut me off sharply, stepping in front of her like I was something dirty. “Dahlia, even now you still won’t admit it? You still think you’re innocent?” His voice dropped colder. “Fine. Don’t blame me for what happens next. You brought this on yourself.”

Hands grabbed me before I could react. My knees slammed hard onto the floor and pain shot up my legs. I struggled, panic rising fast. “Let me go… what are you doing…” but no one listened. Argus took the whip and walked toward me slowly, like this was something he had already decided.

“Scared?” he asked quietly. “Did you ever think about how desperate Grandpa was when he fell? Or how terrified Celine was when you attacked her?”

“I didn’t—”

The whip struck.

Pain exploded across my back and I couldn’t even breathe. My body jerked, a broken sound escaping my throat.

“Speak,” he said, his voice rising. “Admit your mistake.”

“I… don’t…” My voice was shaking. “I don’t admit it…”

He laughed, angry now. “Still denying it? You think if you say nothing, it didn’t happen? Dahlia, you’re a sinner. You deserve this.”

Another strike. And another. The sound echoed, mixing with quiet laughter around me. It hurt so much I couldn’t think, but something inside me refused to bend. I started laughing, I didn’t even know why, tears falling at the same time.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said, my voice hoarse but stubborn. “Why should I admit to something I didn’t do?” I looked at him, my chest tight. “The biggest mistake I ever made was meeting you. Argus… you’re the most disgusting person I’ve ever known.”

His expression darkened instantly.

“And you,” I turned to Celine, my voice colder, “what are you pretending for? Who do you think you are? Without him, you’re nothing.”

“Dahlia,” she frowned, her voice trembling, “don’t talk about him like that. You don’t have the right—”

“Shut up,” I snapped. “You think you’re better than me? You’re just as pathetic.”

The whip came down harder this time.

“Shut up!” Argus shouted, completely losing control.

“This one is for Grandpa,” he said coldly as the whip struck again.

“This one is for what you did to Celine.”

“This one is to remind you who you are. Don’t ever think you can stand next to me.”

The strikes kept coming, one after another, until I lost count. Every hit felt like it tore through my skin and deeper into something I couldn’t protect. My throat filled with a metallic taste and I coughed, blood spilling out. My vision blurred, everything spinning.

So this was it?

Was this how it ended?

My body gave out, and everything went dark.

…

When I woke up, I was in a hospital room. The TV was on, looping the footage of me being whipped. Every grunt, every groan I’d made in pain was turned into entertainment for them.

My back was raw, blood mixed with spilled liquor, and I felt like a lump of mud left in a corner. The bar owner had found me, barely alive, and dragged me out. I couldn’t even cry. Nothing came out.

The door opened slowly and Celine walked in. She looked fine, rosy cheeks, like nothing had happened. “Those two weeks in the hospital,” I said, bitter, “you faked it, didn’t you?”

“So what?” she said, tossing a plastic bag at me. “As long as I look pitiful, Argus will do everything for me. Soon I’ll stand by his side like I’m supposed to.” I caught the bag and froze. Inside was my father’s urn. My hands shook as I opened it. Empty. Completely empty.

“What… what did you do? Where’s my father?” I yelled.

Celine just smiled, enjoying the look on my face. “Ashes are useless. Why waste land burying them? Better the wild dogs have them.” She shrugged. “Oh, and I might’ve suggested stopping your father’s treatment at the hospital. Waste of time, really.”

My heart stopped. “You… you let him die?”

She waved her hand like it was nothing. “Look, I can make Argus do whatever I want. You think you’re in the same league as me?” Then she lifted her left hand. The ring glinted. My blood ran cold. It was the one Argus had bought at an auction for 500 million six months ago. Everyone had thought they were getting married that day, but Argus had said I wasn’t worthy.

Celine laughed. “Argus said I deserve everything rare in this world. Including him. Including her. Only I’m worthy.”

I snapped. I lunged at her and grabbed her by the neck. “You killed my father! You deserve to die!” My voice shook with rage, pure hatred boiling up. Celine’s smug smile didn’t even falter.

Bang. A vase smashed across my head. Hot blood ran down my face. Argus shoved me away and slapped me hard. “You crazy?!” he yelled. My chest ached, but I was beyond that. I grabbed a shard from the broken vase, ready to strike Celine in a blind fury.

“You killed my father! You deserve to die!” I screamed.

Argus grabbed my wrist before I could do anything. Then he noticed the urn in my other hand. His eyes widened, shocked. “What’s this? Your father…”

Celine rolled her eyes. “Don’t believe him, Argus! I saw his father taking a walk at the hospital two days ago. How could he have died so suddenly?”

I looked at Argus, desperate, panicked. Did he believe her? Could he even imagine what I’d lost?

Argus’s expression froze for a moment, guilt flickering across his eyes. But then it vanished. Cold replaced it. He turned to the nurses. “Take her away. Put her in the mental hospital. And give her special care. Make sure she learns her lesson.”

I wanted to scream, to fight, to explain, but my body felt empty. My father was gone, Celine had won, and Argus… he didn’t even hesitate.

…

On my first day in the mental hospital, I broke a window trying to run. They caught me fast and beat me until I could barely stand.

Next day, they strapped me to an operating table and took one of my kidneys. No anesthesia. I couldn’t even scream properly.

By the third day, I begged to see Argus, hoping maybe he’d come. Instead, they shoved a pack of vicious dogs at me. Their eyes glinted like they wanted to kill, and they lunged. My face went white. I kicked and thrashed, screamed, but it only made them worse. Their teeth sank into my arms and legs, tearing at my skin.

A voice cut through the chaos. Celine’s voice, dripping with mockery. “Dahlia, are you really so desperate that you won’t even spare a stray dog? Whether you live or die depends entirely on your fate.”

I felt like the ceiling collapsed on me. I wished it was all a dream. I wished I had never loved Argus. We’d been so close once, sharing everything. The bedroom, the study, even her office… those moments of madness now felt like the rope around my neck.

I was about to bite my tongue, to end it, when the door burst open. Argus stormed in with his bodyguards, his eyes blazing. They threw themselves on the dogs, beating them until blood ran everywhere. I couldn’t even look. The screams, the smell of blood… I wanted to disappear.

Years later, it felt like Argus’s warmth hit me again. I shook, vision blacking out, and fainted in his arms.

When I woke again, I was in the villa, lying in bed. A scream came from the living room. I dragged myself up, cracked the door, and froze. Argus sat on the sofa, expressionless, while a pile of bloodied dogs cowered before him. He pointed at the bodyguards, and they cut off the dogs’ paws, then tortured them to death, methodically.

I stared, heart hammering. Was this real? Everything felt like a nightmare I couldn’t wake from. My back screamed as old scars split open. I gasped, leaning on the doorframe.

Argus finally walked over, his steps calm, his face softening just a little. But his words were cruel, sharp. “This was an accident by Celine. You’re safe now, so don’t blame her, Dahlia.”

I blinked, still trembling. Safe? Was I ever really safe around them? My hands shook as I sank to the floor.

Argus tossed a letter at me. “Sign this and swear you won’t use this against Celine in the future. I can make sure you don’t have to pay back the 52 million and I’ll make the doctors do their best for your dad.”

He looked at me like I was supposed to be grateful, like this was charity. Then he added, “Don’t overthink it. The one I love will always be Celine, but considering our five years of friendship, I can guarantee you a life without financial worries.”

Arrogance oozed from every word. Just like when he humiliated me at the bar. Was this how he saw me? A beggar who would cry tears of joy over a little favor?

Maybe I used to be like that. I would have done anything for my dad. But not anymore. Not now.

I didn’t respond. Argus threw the letter down and said, “Sign it and bring it to my company.” Then he left, walking away like he owned the world.

I laughed, bitter and broken, and tore the letter into pieces. Then I called the police and reported Celine by name.

The clock struck midnight. I looked at the calendar and the grandfather clock in the corner. In ten hours I’d be free.

I packed my bag, took a hot shower, and went to the cemetery before leaving. I buried my dad’s urn, knelt in front of his tombstone, and kowtowed three times. All the years of suppressed emotions spilled out and I sobbed openly.

“Dad, I’m going to live for real now. If you could see me, I hope you’d be proud.”

A firefly landed on my finger, its faint light on the photo of him. I imagined his gentle smile and warm eyes. I lay my head against the stone, thinking of all the times he’d comforted me. “Our Dahlia is grown now. Why are you still crying?”

I slept there through the night. When I woke, sunlight was spilling across the ground. My future was waiting.

My phone buzzed. A wedding invitation from Celine. And a message from the Public Security Bureau: My case was being investigated.

I smiled for the first time in years. I deleted the wedding invitation and blocked every way Celine and Argus could contact me.

Half an hour later I was on a plane. Once we broke through the clouds, the tension in my body finally released. I whispered to myself, Never see you again. I made my wish.

Mountains and rivers might separate us, but from now on, I am free.