The old man had been trying for years to convince his granddaughter to move overseas, but she always refused. So, when he suddenly heard her say otherwise, he was taken completely by surprise. "Ella, what did you say?! Are you really willing to come live with us? I'll have your uncle buy an even bigger villa right away! When will you come? Is tomorrow's flight too soon? Maybe I should have your uncle pick you up."

Briella felt a bitter taste on her tongue. "No need, Grandpa. I'll come on the seventh of next month by myself."

The old man was so overjoyed that he said "good" several times in a row. Then, as if realizing something, he asked worriedly, "Why the sudden decision? Did someone bully you over there?"

Briella thought about the messages in the group chat and a sharp pain pierced her heart. She could picture Sheldon's expression, that casual mockery and smugness. However, none of that mattered anymore. She had loved fiercely and even if she had misplaced that love, she could afford to lose. She would sort out her feelings and everything that came with them."

Her grandfather was already old. There was no need to add to his worries. Forcing a smile, Briella reassured him, "No, I just miss you all."

The older man, comforted by her words, happily chatted with her for a while longer before finally hanging up. Briella got out of bed, took a shower and sat in the living room, planning her next steps. The video was clearly recorded by a surveillance camera. The top priority now was to find its location. She had to delete the footage to prevent anything unexpected from happening at the awards ceremony. Then, there was what they had mentioned about Sheldon's childhood friend's death.

Briella was leaving, but she would leave with her name clear. She refused to take the blame for something she never did. With that thought, Briella picked up her phone and made a call. She was grateful that when she first learned about the profession of content reviewer, she had decisively taken it up as a side job to save money.

That job gave Briella not only a stable way to earn income from home by drawing but also access to all kinds of people. After the call ended, the door swung open. Sheldon stepped inside, wrapped in the night, his eyes filled with familiar affection. "Checking up on me already? Good thing I made it back in time," he teased.

Briella instinctively tightened her grip on her phone, lowering her gaze to hide the redness in her eyes. She couldn't understand. How could someone be this good at acting? He had faked his love for five whole years. She asked calmly, "Why are you back so early?"

"I missed you." Sheldon walked over and pulled her into his lap. With a gentle tug, the belt of her robe came loose. Briella pressed down on his hand. "We already did it multiple times today."

Sheldon chuckled. "Can't handle it? What should I do then? Every time I see my baby, I just can't control myself. I wish I could spend a lifetime tangled up with you."

A lifetime? What a cruel joke. Briella turned her face away, avoiding his lips as they came closer. "I'm exhausted today. I want to sleep."

Seeing the weariness between her brows, Sheldon didn't push. Briella soon drifted off, but her dreams were filled with memories of their past. The next morning, when she woke up, Sheldon was already gone. By the bedside, he had left a note. Off to make money for my baby. Eat well and wait for me.

In the past, seeing those little notes would make Briella happy for the whole day. Now, they only made her sick. Every word on them felt like a cruel joke, mocking her misery. Briella tore the notes to shreds and threw them in the trash. After a quick breakfast, she began searching the villa for hidden cameras. However, after a whole morning of searching, she found nothing. Briella grew increasingly agitated and made a bold decision.

When Sheldon returned, he saw her taking a painting down from the wall. The backyard was already piled high with things. Their first photo together, the matching couple items they had bought, the collectible ornaments he had gifted her, stuffed animals from every room and the portrait she had breathlessly painted for him during one of their most passionate nights in the studio. Sheldon paused for a moment, surprised. "Baby, what are you doing?"

Briella tossed the painting aside like garbage. "Burning it." If she couldn't find the cameras, she would burn everything to the ground.

Sheldon frowned, clearly confused. "These are our memories. Weren't they your most treasured things?"

Briella didn't answer. Without a word, she lit the pile on fire. The flames devoured the past, the orange glow flickering against her face. A strange feeling rose in Sheldon's heart. Like something was slipping away, burning along with those things. He pulled her into his arms. "If you want to burn them, then burn them. They're just old things. We have plenty of time to make new memories."

There is no future, Sheldon. From the moment you set this trap, we were doomed.

"But I really like that portrait. How about painting another one for me?" His fingers teasingly traced her waist, clearly reminiscing about that night. Briella dodged him. "I won't be painting again until after the 7th of next month."

Sheldon frowned. "Why?"

She stared at the roaring flames, exhaustion seeping into her bones. "I'm tired. I need a break."

Sheldon didn't doubt his girlfriend. "That's fine. The 7th is a big day for you. Get some rest so people don't say the rising star of the art world looks worn out."

Briella let out a soft, unreadable smile. "Will you be there that day?"

Sheldon was silent for a few seconds before smiling. "Of course. How could I miss your most important moment? I've even prepared a big surprise for you."

Her breath caught. Her fingers curled, nails digging into her palms. "Good. I have a gift for you too."

Sheldon chuckled. "I'll be looking forward to it."

I hope you really are. Briella turned and walked back inside. Just then, Sheldon's phone rang. She glanced at the screen out of habit. She could only see Lia's part on the screen. He stepped away to answer, his voice low and intimate. A while later, he came back and kissed Briella's forehead. "Something urgent came up at the company. I have to go. I'll be back later."

Briella nodded obediently, but his "later" turned into the whole night. He sent a message explaining that work had been complicated. She didn't reply. Instead, she packed a bag and headed to the immigration office. Her grandfather had already arranged everything, but some documents had to be submitted in person. The process would take a month, but Briella couldn't wait that long. She begged and pleaded, trying to get it expedited. As she stepped out of the building, her footsteps suddenly halted.

Ahead of her, she saw Sheldon walking side by side with another woman. The woman was holding his arm, her head resting on his shoulder, looking petite and dependent. Sheldon was talking to her, his expression gentle and familiar, yet also strange. He seemed to have looked at her that way before, yet it felt different. Perhaps this was the person he truly loved.

Suddenly, Sheldon looked up. Briella hurriedly looked away, but it was too late. Their eyes met and Sheldon instinctively pushed the woman's hand away and strode toward her. Seeing the sign for the immigration office, he frowned slightly. "Briella, what are you doing here? Are you immigrating?"

Briella's heart tightened and she lied, "No, I'm just picking something up for a friend."

Sheldon seemed to relax. The woman followed closely behind. As she got closer, Briella realized the woman's face was almost identical to Sheldon's childhood sweetheart. But his childhood sweetheart had died. Back then, the news had caused quite a stir at their college.

"Briella, what a coincidence! Fancy running into you here. I'm Celia Law." Oh, so this is the "Lia" in Sheldon's contacts. Celia and Briella's were almost similar, but they were worlds apart in his heart. One was his beloved, the other his enemy.

A bitter taste filled Briella's mouth, but her expression remained indifferent as she shook the woman's hand. Celia naturally leaned into Sheldon again. "We were just on our way to an art exhibition. Why don't you come with us, Briella? You could even be our guide."

Briella didn't want to go. Although she had decided to let go of Sheldon, it would take time to erase someone she had loved for so many years from her heart. However, before she could refuse, Celia mouthed something to her. "The video." Briella's body stiffened and she gripped her handbag tightly.

The art gallery was only a twenty-minute drive from the immigration office. Briella didn't have a ticket, so Celia went to negotiate with the event organizers. Sheldon quickly explained, "She's the daughter of a business partner. We just happened to run into each other, don't overthink it."

He smelled like Celia's perfume, so strong that there was no way it hadn't lingered on him all night. Briella couldn't be bothered to expose his lie. She responded with a calm "Mm."

Sheldon reached out and ruffled her hair indulgently. "I knew my good girl would be the most understanding."

Not far away, Celia, who had just returned from negotiating, saw this scene. A flicker of something dark flashed in her eyes. She handed Briella the ticket she had just obtained and gave her a long, meaningful look.

Once inside the gallery, Sheldon's phone kept ringing non-stop. He had no choice but to step away to answer. The moment he was gone, Celia dropped the act. "I know what's going on between you and Sheldon. Let me tell you, he was at my place last night to discuss our engagement. We'll be announcing it soon. If you know what's good for you, you'll walk away on your own."

Briella had suspected from the look on Celia's face that Sheldon's relationship with that woman was more than simply casual. Still, she had no idea they were on the verge of marriage. However, it was none of her concern. Ever since overhearing their conversation, she had completely given up on Sheldon. Whatever lies or secrets he had, they no longer surprised her. Briella was only concerned about one thing. "What did you mean by 'the video'?"

Celia laughed mockingly. "Wow, just the word 'video' is enough to make you panic? Sheldon was right, you really are brainless."

Briella immediately realized the truth. "You don't even have a video. You were messing with me." She didn't want to waste another second and turned to leave, but Celia grabbed her wrist. At that exact moment, a cracking noise came from the ceiling."

Briella's heart sank. Before she could break free, Celia took advantage of the moment and shoved her forward. Right then, a massive chandelier crashed down from the ceiling, striking Briella from the head down to her back. Warm blood gushed out, soaking her shirt. Chunks of plaster rained down and the room erupted into panicked screams. Amidst the chaos, Sheldon came rushing over. He lifted Briella up, his normally sharp and composed face filled with panic and fear. "Baby, are you okay? Does it hurt? Why is there so much blood?"

Briella's vision blurred from the blood dripping into her eyes. The pain was so intense she couldn't even speak. Meanwhile, Celia let out a dramatic cry and collapsed onto the floor, clutching her ankle with tears streaming down her face. "Sheldon, I twisted my ankle. It hurts so bad! Can you take me to the hospital?"

However, Sheldon acted as if he didn't even hear her. Without a second glance in her direction, he scooped Briella into his arms and sprinted out of the gallery. The urgency in his movements made it seem as if she was truly the person he cared about the most.

Through the haze of pain and blood, Briella stared at his face, momentarily dazed. Was he still acting? Or was there the slightest bit of sincerity in his panic? Celia, behind them, screamed in frustration, "Sheldon! I'm your fiancée! Do you still want to work with my dad or not?"

Sheldon didn't even flinch, his steps never slowing. Briella's injuries were severe. By the time her wounds were treated, two hours had passed. The anesthesia hadn't fully worn off and in her groggy state, she overheard Sheldon talking on the phone. "I already told you, I have my own plan. The show isn't over yet, so why are you making a fuss?"

Celia's voice sounded aggrieved. "You carried her out without even looking at me. Sheldon, is this really just about getting revenge on her mom?"

Sheldon sounded irritated. "What else? If I don't keep saving her over and over again, how will she become completely devoted to me? If I don't act the part, how will she be devastated enough to kill herself when the truth comes out? Do you want me to be charged with murder?"

Celia quickly denied it. "No! Sheldon, do you really not like her?"

Sheldon was silent for a long time before finally speaking in a low voice. "Mm. I could never like her."

Briella struggled to open her eyes and saw him standing by the door, hanging up the phone. Through her blurred vision, even his features looked twisted and cruel. How ridiculous. This was just another one of his tricks. Playing with sincerity, playing with human nature.

A ripple spread through Briella's numb heart, drowning out the pain in her body. She didn't know how much time had passed before she fully regained consciousness. The first thing she saw was Sheldon's face, magnified before her. "Baby, you're finally awake! You scared me to death. Thank God you're okay!"

Briella was dazed, almost believing that the phone call had just been part of a dream. Sheldon lowered his head and kissed her cheek, his voice full of remorse. "I'm sorry, it's my fault for not protecting you. It won't happen again."

Still, Briella's heart had turned to ice. Her eyes were empty and she said nothing. "Baby, why aren't you talking? Are you still in pain?" asked Sheldon. That man called the doctor in to check on her again, running around making arrangements for her hospitalization.

He bought her favorite black rice porridge, coaxing her to take a few bites and gently wiping the corners of her mouth. At night, he prepared warm water at just the right temperature and even lowered himself to wash and massage her feet. The other patients in the ward couldn't help but envy her. "If I had a boyfriend like that, I'd wake up laughing from my dreams."

"Right? I'm curious which deity I should pray to for a man like him.

However, Briella's heart remained unmoved. Because she knew that beneath these seemingly meticulous acts of care lurked the poison urging her to die. If she showed even a hint of emotion, it would be an act of self-cruelty.

After three days in the hospital, she returned home, but her mood remained heavy. Sheldon put all his work on hold and stayed by her side at all times. Until his friend called. "Sheldon, how about a race on the mountain road tonight?"

Sheldon looked at Briella, sitting by the window in silence and shook his head. "No, Ella's not in a good mood. I'll stay with her."

His friend howled in disbelief. "Are you serious? Don't tell me you've actually fallen for her?"

Sheldon said nothing and another friend chimed in from the side. "No way, Sheldon wouldn't lose himself in his own act. He hasn't forgotten how Lilia died."

"If you're in a bad mood, the best way to let loose is to hit the road. A few rounds of racing, get that adrenaline pumping and you'll feel better in no time."

Sheldon hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded. He brought Briella along to the mountain road. As night fell, the mountaintop was packed with people. The roar of the engines and the sound of excited screams filled the air.

Sheldon's friends greeted them enthusiastically. "Briella!"

"Sheldon is so hard to invite out. If it weren't for you, he'd probably be glued to home. I've never seen a man this whipped before."

"Exactly. He's so into you that we're all jealous."

Whipped? In love? These people must be living in a dream. Briella didn't respond, but unease crept into her heart. Just then, a race car roared to a stop. The door opened and Celia stepped out. Briella's unease quickly spiked to its peak.

"Briella, what a coincidence! We keep running into each other," Celia said with a sweet smile. Though she was speaking to Briella, her hand naturally reached out to loop around Sheldon's arm. Sheldon's face immediately darkened. He dodged her touch, his gaze turning cold.

Sensing the tension, a few friends quickly pulled Celia aside. "Come on, everyone knows Sheldon is supposed to get engaged to you, but his plan isn't done yet. Why are you messing things up now?"

Celia chuckled. "Who said I'm here to ruin things? I actually have a brilliant idea, one that will make Briella disappear even faster."

Her friend's eyes lit up. "Let's hear it."

Celia lowered her voice, whispering for a good while. Standing a short distance away, Briella couldn't hear what they were saying. A growing unease settled over her and she wanted nothing more than to leave the mountain.

Just then, Sheldon's friends returned, announcing that a rival racing team had challenged them to a race and imploring Sheldon to lead them to victory. Sheldon hesitated. One of his friends leaned in and murmured something to him. His brows furrowed deeply and his gaze lingered on Briella for a long time. Then, he finally gave a low "Mm."

Celia exchanged a satisfied glance with his friends. Then, they pushed Briella into the passenger seat. One of them grinned. "Relax, Briella. Sheldon's racing skills are top-tier. Even though this is my car, it won't affect his performance."

Briella knew that racing was one of Sheldon's few passions. On this mountain, he was undefeated. Before she could protest, a racing flag dropped and Sheldon hit the gas, the car rocketing forward like an arrow. Glancing out the window, Briella saw dozens of cars speeding along the track. Sheldon was far ahead, leaving the others in his dust. At this rate, he'd have no problem leading his team to victory.

However, as they approached the final turn, Sheldon suddenly accelerated, the car veering towards the guardrail. Briella's eyes widened in shock, fear gripping every nerve in her body. At the last second, the car scraped against the barrier, sending sparks flying. But they didn't cross the finish line.

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted like a pot of boiling water. Sheldon had lost for the first time ever. Briella was still reeling from the near crash. Sheldon leaned over, gently patting her head. "Sweetheart, are you alright? Sorry, I ... "

Sheldon got cut off as his friends rushed over. Their faces were etched with worry. "Sheldon, you need to see this! Celia, she's in bad shape!"

Each racer had a woman in the passenger seat. Celia had been in another car and it had flipped over at the finish line after failing to brake in time. Celia was trapped beneath the car, her legs a bloody mess, when they pulled her out. She wailed, "Am I going to die? Sheldon, it hurts so much! Please, take me to the hospital!"

Sheldon was about to ask someone else to take her, but then she spoke again. "My dad. He still hasn't signed the contract. Sheldon, are you really going to leave me like this?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed Sheldon's face. After a long pause, he finally scooped Celia into his arms and turned to Briella. "I'll take her to the hospital first. You go back with Jesse and the others."

The friend he'd mentioned quickly chimed in, "Don't worry, Sheldon, I'll make sure sis-in-law gets home safe." However, as soon as Sheldon left, they made some excuse about checking out a new race car and vanished. A knot of anxiety tightened in Briella's chest; something felt terribly wrong. She turned to leave, but five men suddenly surrounded her. It was the opposing racing team from earlier.

Their eyes were fixed on her, leering with sleazy grins. "Where do you think you're going, Miss Jacquin? Sheldon already gambled you away to us."

"It's about time we had a taste of the former socialite darling."

"We've got all night; plenty of time to play."

Briella's face turned pale. She stumbled backward in fear, but her retreat only seemed to excite them. They lunged at her, rough hands grabbing and dragging her toward the garage. She struggled desperately, but how could one woman possibly fight off five men? Strong hands pinned her down. The sound of fabric tearing rang in her ears.

"Get off me! Don't touch me! Help! Somebody, help me." The raucous crowd wasn't far off, but such scenes were commonplace and no one paid her any mind. Her dress was ripped to shreds and goosebumps prickled her skin in the night air, only to be replaced by the heat of something far more repulsive pressing against her.

Briella gagged in horror, screaming with all her might. Still, the only response was the men's heavy, excited breathing. Despair swallowed her whole. Just as she was about to give up, the piercing sound of screeching brakes shattered through the chaos like a divine intervention.

The next second, the weight on her body disappeared. The man about to violate her was yanked away by none other than Sheldon. His face was cold as death, his expression as terrifying as a demon's. Without hesitation, he raised his leg and kicked the man square between his legs.

A blood-curdling scream tore through the night. Seeing the sudden shift, the remaining four men erupted in anger. "Sheldon, you agreed to this bet! What the hell are you doing?"

"Can't handle losing, huh? You son of a bitch, we'll kill you!" They lunged at him all at once. But Sheldon fought back, every punch landing with brutal force.

One against four, yet he tore through them mercilessly. Even after they all lay groaning on the ground, he wasn't done. Grabbing a fire extinguisher from the wall, he looked ready to smash skulls. Briella wanted to stop him, but before she could, her vision went black and she passed out.