Early the next morning, when the house staff escorted Dana out of the basement, her arms and legs were so weak that she was practically limping. Her skin had been soaked in cold water for so long that the slightest touch made her whole body tremble with pain.

After they got her back to the guest room, she swallowed the fever medicine the servant handed her and sank into a groggy sleep almost immediately.

Only when a hand gently shook her shoulder did she wake up, startled, and she saw Gary standing by the bed. His gaze fell on her bare forearm, where the skin was still wrinkled from being soaked too long. He frowned tightly, and his voice held a hint of confusion. "You were in the water for less than ten minutes yesterday, so how did you end up like this?"

Dana pulled her arm back under the blanket and turned her eyes away. Gary reached out wanting to feel her forehead.

However, Sandy's voice came from outside the doorway. "Gary, the dresses for tomorrow just arrived. Shall we go downstairs together and pick one?"

Gary's hand stopped in midair as he hurried to explain to Dana, his tone meant to soothe her. "The wedding for Sandy and me tomorrow is just for show. We're just doing this for Kelly."

Before he could finish, Sandy opened the door and entered. "Dana, you have been married before. Why don't you come downstairs and give some advice?"

Gary frowned and glanced at Dana's pale face. "She doesn't look well. Forget it."

"That's exactly why she should come down and get some fresh air," Sandy said as she hooked her arm through his, her voice soft. "I'm a little nervous, and I want to get some tips from Dana. If something goes wrong tomorrow, Kelly will worry again, right?"

Gary hesitated before saying, "Then… You should go take a look. Just sit for a moment."

Dana remained silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

When she reached the living room, most of the dresses had already been tried on. Sandy was standing there trying on some necklaces.

She tried several, but she didn't like any of the ones that she tried.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, and her tone became sweet. "Right, Dana, I remember when you and Gary got married, you wore a pearl necklace. It looked beautiful. Why don't you bring it down and let me try it?"

"No." Dana snapped her head up, her eyes full of wariness.

Sandy turned to Gary with a gentle smile. "Gary, I just want to try it."

Gary said quietly, "Let her try it. It's only a necklace."

"Gary, you know exactly what that necklace means to me." Dana's body trembled from how upset she was.

Even so, he still told the house staff, "Go get the pearl necklace."

"Gary!" Dana tried to stop the house staff, but the fever had left her with no strength. "You can't do this!"

Gary's voice carried a hint of impatience. "Enough with the drama. It's just a necklace. I'll buy you a better one."

The house staff soon came back with it. Sandy put it on and smiled at herself in the mirror. "It looks amazing. It has more class than anything they have in the shops."

Dana did not say anything. She simply stared at the necklace without blinking.

Seeing that, Sandy let out a little sigh that sounded almost regretful. "I know it matters to you. I won't take what belongs to you."

She took the necklace off and reached out as if to hand it back, but before Dana could touch it, the necklace slipped from Sandy's fingers. It hit the floor with a sharp crack, and the pearls scattered everywhere.

Dana rushed over like a person gone mad and grabbed Sandy's arm. "You did that on purpose!"

Sandy let herself fall, tears spilling at once. "You were the one who didn't catch it! How can you blame me?"

Gary hurried over and helped Sandy up. "Enough! She was handing it to you. You're the one who dropped it."

Dana stared at him with red eyes, and in a hoarse voice, she said, "That's the only thing my parents left me!"

Gary froze for a moment, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Sandy suddenly slipped into his arms, crying, "Gary, my foot hurts so much…!"

Gary immediately picked her up, his tone cold. "Stop making a scene! I know you just don't want us to have this wedding, but nothing will change tomorrow."

He then carried Sandy away.

Dana crouched on the floor, crying as she picked up the scattered pearls one by one. She finally understood that love was like a broken necklace.

It could never be put back together once broken.

Only when the living room lights came on did Dana finish gathering every pearl.

She held on to the couch and pushed herself up, then dragged herself up the stairs. Just as she reached the end of the stairs, faint sounds drifted from the master bedroom.

A woman's soft moans, tangled with a man's rough panting, struck right into Dana's heart. All the blood in her body seemed to freeze as her fingertips turned cold, and she leaned against the wall.

"Gary, be gentle..."

"Keep your voice down."

"We're getting married tomorrow, anyway. What's there to be afraid of?"

In the sharp rhythm of bodies clashing against the bed, Sandy asked in a hoarse voice, "When are we going to the Clerk's Office to get our marriage certificate?"

"In a few days."

The pain in Dana's chest and stomach was twisting and turning, making her almost want to puke.

He had said the wedding was just for show, yet he had already slept with Sandy.

He had promised she would be the only woman in his life, but that promise had become a lie.

Dana clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, and she walked back to the guest room one slow step at a time.

The moment she closed the door, her tears were finally free to roll down.

But the sounds from the master bedroom felt like a demon's murmur. They seeped through the door and went on all night, keeping her staring at the ceiling until morning.

-

Early next morning, noises came from downstairs.

Dana stepped out of her room and saw Gary in a groom's suit, carefully helping Sandy in a white dress down the stairs.

Kelly, dressed in pink as the bridesmaid, bounced around them. "You're finally getting married! Gary, Sandy, I hope you stay happy forever!"

Dana watched them go down the stairs together, the man's gentle gaze, the woman's shy smile, and the young woman's excited expression formed a dazzling picture that shut her completely out.

Tears rolled down without warning and fell on the cold floor without a sound.

Gary suddenly turned around, as if he could feel it, and saw Dana with tears streaming down her face. His eyes narrowed, and a sharp pain flickered in his eyes.

The next second, he suddenly let go of Sandy, ignoring the looks behind him as he ran upstairs and stopped in front of Dana. His voice edged with a trace of panic as he asked her, "Are you going out?"

"To the Clerk's Office." Dana's voice was hoarse.

Gary froze. He clearly did not expect that answer. Then, he frowned. "You're going to the Clerk's Office to apply for remarriage?"

Dana stayed silent, her eyes lowered.

He then said in a casual tone, "Submit the documents first for today. When I get back, we'll go pick up the certificate."

Dana nodded.

Gary let out a breath and even showed a rare smile. When he turned to go back to Sandy, he could not help looking at Dana one more time.

The warmth in his eyes felt especially mocking to her.

He swept Sandy up into his arms and carried her toward the bridal car at the entrance.

Sandy lifted her head as she lay resting in Gary's arms. She then glanced at Dana on purpose and smiled in open triumph.

Dana stood where she was and watched them disappear. Then, she wiped the tears from her face and headed for the Clerk's Office.

She quickly received the reissued divorce certificate, the red seal on it looking especially bright.

Her fingertips brushed over her own name. Instead of the pain she had imagined, she felt a sense of freedom.

She slipped the divorce certificate into her purse and went straight to the airport.

As the plane lifted off, the city below grew smaller and smaller.

In her mind, Dana whispered, "Gary, we'll never meet ever again."