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.

My brother died young, just like our father. Grandpa and Grandma cannot bear the pain of white haired people sending off the black haired again.

Sister in law, he looked at me, his tone growing even gentler. You love my brother so much. You would not want his grandparents to grieve themselves into illness, would you?

Was he so fearless because he was certain I loved him?

After that, he led me to his room, saying he wanted to give me time alone with my brother.

The performance was complete. The phone had been formatted and tossed onto the desk.

But he forgot to log out of WeChat on the tablet.

I picked it up and tried the password.

It unlocked at once.

It was Xanthe’s birthday.

The chat history and photos had been deleted, but a new message popped up from an account marked with the letter X.

Cameron, have you finished dealing with her yet You promised to go with me to buy the things we need for the ship. I am really looking forward to it.

I opened his Moments. They were packed with memories of their happiness.

From the moment they met eight years ago, there had not been a single break.

When we went camping and grilling together, he was sending her photos of heart shaped clouds in the sky.

When he told me he was going on a business trip for a few days, he was actually in London feeding pigeons with her.

When he showed up at my door late at night, carrying the chill of winter and bringing me soup, it was because he had just watched fireworks with her nearby.

The Italian custom made suit he carefully prepared for me was so he could take her to check in at a specialty restaurant.

In every photo, Cameron never showed his face, but every detail was painfully familiar to me.

He never even took off the wedding ring I had specially customized.

In every gap of happiness I cherished,

there was his silent love for someone else hidden away.

How could someone fake it to this extent

And I had loved him for a full six years.

To say it did not hurt would be a lie.

The Lu and Fang families were old acquaintances.

When I was a child, I broke my leg from playing too wildly and could only stare at the trees outside the villa every day.

He was the one who climbed over the wall every day to keep me company, so I was not so bored.

Later, I went abroad to study, and we lost contact.

Until a banquet, when he said it was love at first sight and that he would marry no one but me.

So I ignored the Fang Keyun my parents had chosen, who was raised by the Cameron family elders, and insisted on marrying Cameron, who followed his mother.

To prove to my family that my choice was right, I started a company together with him.

We worked day and night, and just as the company was thriving,

Xanthe parachuted in as the general manager.

She took over my office and used my assistant.

And he and I grew further and further apart.

I clenched the tablet tightly, forcing myself to steady my emotions.

After calming down, I began packing up the gifts I had given him over the past six years.

The crystal cabinet he had specially used to display them now stabbed my eyes with pain.

The sapphire necklace we bought together, the puzzle we pieced together over three days in that room, the photos from our trips.

Six years. I thought it was a long time.

In the end, it all fit into one box.

In front of the gravestone, I set everything on fire and burned it clean.

As the flames rose, Xanthe suddenly appeared.

He kicked over the brazier and revealed a smile.

Ulyssa, apart from being born lucky, you are nothing.

So what if you got her You could not even protect your child. You are a complete loser.

I only needed a small trick, and she followed me obediently.

He knew all of this Was it deliberate

Rage flooded my heart. I could not hold back anymore and slapped him across the face.

I only used thirty percent of my strength, yet he staggered and fell straight into the fire.

I froze on the spot, not yet understanding what had happened.