The first call went unanswered. The second one too. Callie kept dialing, again and again, until finally, the line connected on her ninth attempt.

She heard the steady sound of Spencer's breathing on the other end, and memories of her high school days rushed back.

Back then, when she had been falsely accused of plagiarism and left utterly defenseless, she had done the same by calling his number over and over.

All he had said was simply, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

But now, she questioned shakily, "Did you give her the original sketches of my painting?"

Spencer calmly admitted, "Yes, I did."

Callie's breath caught in her throat. "Why would you do that?"

A few seconds of silence passed before Spencer finally responded, "That painting was never meant to be seen by the world, and it certainly shouldn't have your name on it. You know that, don't you?"

So, it was his fear of being exposed. Fear that people might notice how she once felt about him.

Callie let out a broken chuckle and closed her bloodshot eyes in exhaustion.

"But I'm not the one who plagiarized. It was Talulah. You gave her the original sketches, and I'll never be able to clear my name! You've ruined my entire career!"

"Tally only made a mistake. She didn't mean any harm. What's the big deal if you take the blame for her this time? I never wanted you to take painting so seriously anyway.

"I only had you learn it to keep you distracted. Don't worry, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life. You'll never have to worry about money."

With that, Spencer ended the call.

Callie remained in place, still holding the phone to her ear. Her gaze slowly lifted to the mirror in front of her, where a swollen-eyed, tear-streaked face stared back.

She barely recognized herself.

What had they come to be? Could this cold, detached man truly be the same Spencer who, once upon a time, would have stood by her side against the world?

She couldn't tell anymore.

After the disaster at the art exhibition, Callie became more determined than ever to repay Spencer every cent she owed.

With help from her friends, she took on a variety of part-time jobs—caddying at a golf course and working as a waitress at high-end clubs.

Every penny mattered, and she accepted any work she could find. Every day, she would leave early in the morning and return late at night.

With just a week left before her departure to Zephyria, Callie finally managed to gather the last few hundred thousand dollars she needed.

On her final day of work, she put on her uniform and walked into the club, ready to finish her last shift.

But fate had one more cruel twist in store for her.

As Callie entered the private room, she saw a group of familiar faces. Men and women gathered around, playing some sort of game, and Spencer was among them.

In the first round, Spencer lost, and the host of the game announced his penalty aloud, "Make out with the person you like for three minutes!"

The room erupted into cheers and laughter, and everyone turned to glance at Talulah, whose cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

However, Spencer stood up and walked through the crowd and straight toward Callie.

The entire room fell silent, all eyes fixed on them with confusion and curiosity.

Just then, Spencer handed Callie his phone. "Take this and record the whole thing."

Callie felt a tremor run through her heart. She had a sense of what was coming, but to her surprise, it no longer hurt as much as she thought it would.

Maybe it was because she had already decided to let go of her feelings, thus nothing Spencer did now could hurt her anymore.

Calmly, she took the phone, opened the camera app, and pressed the record button.

The phone's camera was high-quality. Despite the dim lighting, Callie could see everything on the screen clearly. Spencer returned to his seat, pulled Talulah into his arms, and leaned in to kiss her.

At the top of the screen, the timer ticked away until it hit three minutes precisely.

But the recording didn't stop there.

As soon as the kiss ended, Spencer dropped to one knee and pulled a diamond ring from his pocket. His voice was filled with tenderness as he uttered, "Tally, will you marry me?"

Spencer was proposing to Talulah!

Callie couldn't make out Talulah's exact response, nor did she care to.

The two of them were quickly engulfed by the excited crowd, their figures completely obscured. The cheers and whistles that filled the room were deafening.

Callie lowered her hand and ended the recording.

At that moment, the manager walked by and informed her that new guests had arrived in the next room and her help was needed.

Callie handed the phone to someone and quietly left the private room without hesitation.

After finishing her work, Callie dragged her exhausted body back home. Spencer had gotten there before her and was sitting on the living room couch.

When he saw her, he called out sharply, "Stop right there! Why are you working in places like that? Haven't I given you enough money?"

Callie braced herself against the entryway while changing her shoes. She replied impassively, "I get bored at home. Just trying to experience the variety life has to offer."

Spencer's anger subsided, but his voice was still cold. "Don't ever go to places like that again."

Callie wouldn't need to anyway. She simply hummed in acknowledgment and went upstairs, keeping her head low.

Over the next few days, Spencer was rarely home.

But Talulah sent Callie photos every day, showing off her engagement ring, wedding dress, the venue, and bouquets—each one brimming with joy and the excitement of her upcoming wedding.

Callie didn't respond. She was too busy packing.

Three days before her departure, Callie bumped into Spencer at the staircase as he was about to leave the house. She called out to him.

"Uncle Spencer, could you spare an hour to spend with me on my birthday in three days?"

After all those years he'd taken care of her, Callie wanted to say a proper goodbye.

However, to Spencer, her request felt like a provocation. Every birthday in recent years had ended with her confessing those unspeakable feelings to him.

Without a second thought, he rejected her. "How many times have I told you, don't ask me for that!"

Seeing his temper flare, Callie quickly explained, "This time, I won't do anything to upset you. I won't confess like I did in the past. I just want…"

To say goodbye.

They were standing a few feet apart. The last words she said were so soft that Spencer didn't catch them. When he heard her speak more rationally than usual, he relaxed and nodded.

On her birthday, Callie waited from morning until night, but Spencer never showed up. When it was almost time for her flight, she finally picked up her phone and called him.

After ten rings, it was Talulah's voice that answered. "Hello? Spencer's in the shower. He can't come to the phone right now."

There was a teasing, suggestive tone in her voice that made Callie's heart skip a beat. She checked her watch, stubbornness creeping into her eyes.

"How long will he be? I can wait until he's done."

A mocking laugh echoed through the phone.

"Callie, why are you doing this to yourself? Let me be frank. We're at a hotel right now. You're an adult, so you should know what happens after a shower, right?

"Or do you want to watch the whole thing? He's your uncle, for god's sake. Liking him is bad enough, but now he's getting married, and you still won't move out? How can you be so shameless?"

Talulah's cruel words hit Callie like a dagger straight to her heart. She bit her lip hard, forcing back the tears threatening to fall.

After venting her disdain, Talulah hung up.

Callie stared blankly at the screen, which now read "Call Ended." She didn't know how long she stood there before she finally pulled out some candles from a box.

The cake's icing had softened slightly, and the "21" candles were crooked.

After lighting them, she leaned over and silently made a wish.

Callie's 21st birthday wish was no longer to be with Spencer forever. Instead, it was for him to live a long life, to be safe and sound, and from now on... for her to be gone from it.

Once the candles were out, she quietly packed away everything that connected her to this house. In the place she had lived for over ten years, she left behind only three things.

They were a bank card with a billion dollars on it as a repayment for all the years he had raised her, a wedding gift with a card wishing him a long and happy marriage, and a final farewell note.

"Uncle Spencer, I've finally given up. I wish you happiness."

Callie picked up her suitcase, took one last look at the house, then turned and walked out the door.

At the rehearsal for the seaside wedding, I fell into the water by accident.

My husband, limping on one leg, jumped into the sea without hesitation to save me.

I was pulled back onto the deck, but he never came back up. Our son, terrified, fell into the sea as well. Two lives, lost together.

Overwhelmed with grief, I decided to donate all my personal assets and follow them in death.

But by chance, I overheard my mother in law persuading him.

Back then, you were afraid your grandfather would beat Xanthe to death, so you agreed to a family marriage.

Now you have staged your own death and even dragged your child into it, all so you can travel the world with Xanthe. Have you thought about what would happen if Ulyssa found out? That was your own flesh and blood.

Just a child. Before I jumped, I took him into the sea with me. Everyone saw it as an accident. As for Ulyssa, he will never find out. He thinks I loved him to death.

Our child was gone. And it was designed by his own father.

It felt like the cruelest joke in the world.

I thought I had caused the deaths of the two people I loved most. In truth, everything had been a carefully scripted lie.

Trembling, I tore up the inheritance donation agreement and bought a plane ticket overseas.

Since his heart belongs elsewhere, I will set him free.

1.

Cameron died saving me, one body, two lives. I had no desire to go on living either.

Holding the inheritance donation agreement I had signed in advance, I went to Cameron’s family home.

But the words coming from behind the door pierced my heart, one by one.

This is the last time I say sorry to him. I will pretend to be my younger brother. After the wedding, I will treat her with all my heart. I will even have another child with her.

It is a pity about my grandson. He was already fully formed. If your grandfather finds out, the inheritance rights will definitely be affected.

I have already given myself to Ulyssa. What more does he want? If I do not go, he will die. Using one child to cure his depression is a very worthwhile deal.

What about Ulyssa then? You have been together for six years. Do you really have no feelings at all? If he finds out

There are feelings. That is why he will never find out. Three months later, I will appear at Ulyssa’s home as someone who lost his memory after falling into the sea.

She loves me so much. Getting me back after losing me will only make her love me even more.

Sigh. Even your mother does not know whether forcing you and your brother to fight for the inheritance all these years was right or wrong. It has made you so calculating now. Forget it. Your life is your own decision. I just hope you do not ruin your own happiness. My mother in law sighed, her voice full of helplessness.

So this marriage, from beginning to end, was nothing but a carefully planned business deal.

Xanthe was his first love.

Six years ago, they ran away together, but in the end they were torn apart.

In a fit of rage, Xanthe’s father bought a plane ticket and sent her to Italy.

I was nothing more than the choice he was forced to make in order to protect his true love.

Our child also died because of his love for Xanthe.

I even used to boast to my girlfriends that my marriage alliance was blessed by fate itself.

I never imagined that Cameron, who cared about me in every detail, had never loved me at all.

How perfectly he had disguised himself.

My hands trembling, I tore up the inheritance donation agreement.

The sound of paper ripping was painfully sharp in the silent room, and footsteps drew closer.

Sister? How long have you been standing outside? A flicker of concern passed through his eyes.

Why do you look so worn out?

Before I could say anything, he immediately instructed the maid. Violet, stew some ginseng chicken soup. Slow cook it over low heat. Add red dates and goji berries.

Wipe your face and put on some makeup. We are going to see my brother later. He probably would not want to see you like this.

Without giving me a choice, he pulled me into the bathroom and skillfully helped me wash up.

His movements were gentle, just like before.

But I could no longer feel his warmth.

My gaze fell on his face.

My heart shattered completely.

When he saw my tears, he froze for a moment.

Then he gently wiped them away with his hand.

My heart clenched violently.

What if he was just joking with me? After all, I never even saw the bodies. You were the ones who said they died together.

One day he might suddenly appear in front of me and tell me that everything before was fake.

That he is not dead at all.

A trace of panic flashed through his eyes, and then he gently placed a hand on my shoulder.

Do not overthink it, he whispered by my ear. My brother loved you very much. He would definitely want you to live well.

I almost laughed out loud, but the desolation in my heart surged like a tide.

Even though we were not married yet, I will hold a grand funeral for Cameron and the child.

I will even publish it in the newspapers and tell the whole world that he and the child belong to the Ulyssa family.

No. You cannot hold a funeral. He cried out, instinctively grabbing my hand.

Did your brother do something shameful? Why can there not be a funeral?

I looked at him steadily, waiting for his performance.