I was madly in love with James Gates for 10 years. So mad that everyone in the Imperium said that I was addicted to him. How far did it go? I wouldn't allow any woman to get close to him. I wanted to eliminate every woman around him.

In the end, James sent me to rehab. While others quit smoking, drinking, or gaming, I was quitting James. But later, I truly moved on from him. Yet, he regretted it and, in the pouring rain, begged me to love him again.

Everyone in Imperium knew that I was James's devoted admirer.

I was his devoted admirer for 10 years.

But I didn’t care. Was it wrong to love someone wholeheartedly? No. He knew my obsession with him.

To make me give up, he brought back a girlfriend.

When James was away, I paid that woman to leave him. However, she told me that with James, there was endless money. My little offer meant nothing to her.

In the end, it turned into a scene of her tumbling down the stairs. James happened to witness it. He sent me to rehab, claiming I had a split personality.

I left rehab three years later.

As soon as I stepped out, I saw an Audi parked there, looking out of place.

I glanced at it and was about to leave when someone called me.

It was James.

He looked more mature than three years ago.

But I only took a quick look.

My teacher said that staring at someone was impolite, especially if it was someone you like.

Yes, it had been three years. I had been thoroughly brainwashed.

He asked me to get in the car, and I obediently did.

I sat quietly in the back, staring at my pants without moving.

James sat next to me. I could feel his intense gaze.

The atmosphere in the car was ambiguous.

I didn't dare to breathe.

Yet, I couldn't help but cough.

It was an old habit.

The car stopped at James's family home.

His grandmother lives here.

If I'm not mistaken, today is Madam Gates' 80th birthday.

I felt like I knew why he came to pick me up.

"Ja... James, I didn't bring a gift."

I hesitated for a moment before calling out to him.

When he turned around, my heart raced, and I quickly looked down.

I knew my racing heart wasn't because of feelings. It was fear.

I didn’t know when it started, but my courage seemed shattered.

Just a glance from someone, and I would feel scared.

During the night, I would even have nightmares filled with countless eyes.

"Keep up."

James ignored my words and just asked me to follow him.

He was as indifferent as ever, or rather, he was only indifferent towards me.

I had to jog a little to keep up.

"Darling, you're back! Come inside."

Madam Gates was waiting at the door.

She was like a playful old child and treated me very well.

She supported my pursuit of James and would discreetly tell me his whereabouts.

I walked over to her and called her "Grandma."

"Darling, why are you so distant with me? Are you mad at me?"

Madam Gates patted my head affectionately.

I shook my head to show I wasn't.

How could I be mad at her?

Three years ago, if it hadn't been for her pressure, I would have probably ended up in a worse situation.

The rehab center here was publicly presented as a "place for education and nurturing."

Only those who had been inside knew what it meant to wish for death.

During lunch, I buried my head in my plate of food. Not making a sound or putting food on others’ plates. I ate quickly as if I hadn't eaten in a month.

"Nina!"

"Yes, sir!"

Hearing someone call my name, I instinctively put down my cutlery and stood up, responding with "Yes, sir" even as I did. It wasn't just me who was startled. James and Madam Gates were too.

I glanced at their bewildered expressions, then looked down at my neatly arranged bowl and cutlery, unsure of what to do. I had forgotten this wasn't the rehab center. I didn't know why James suddenly called for me.

"You little rascal, you scared her." Madam Gates slapped James and then turned to me, saying, "Darling, sit down. Don't be so formal with me."

I obediently sat down, not touching the plate and cutlery in front of me.

"Grandma was just talking to you, didn't you hear?" said James, sounding quite displeased. I couldn't tell if he was upset because I hadn't heard Grandma or because she had slapped him.

"Sorry, Grandma. I was too hungry and wasn't paying attention." I offered a guilty look toward Madam Gates. My teacher said that apologies should be sincere.

Only I knew it wasn't just hunger.

I was scared of not eating fast enough and being punished if there was leftover food.

I vaguely remembered Grandma had asked me to eat more vegetables instead of just rice. I heard her but didn't react quickly enough, which was why James had to call me.

After the meal, I wasn't sure if it was the heat or what, but I felt a light sweat on my forehead. I returned to the old house left by my grandfather.

"Thank you for bringing me back," I said politely, giving James a slight bow as a sign of gratitude.

Madam Gates suggested I stay the night before leaving, but I declined. I didn't want too much contact with them and had James take me back.

"Are you sure you want to stay here?" James frowned.

I turned to look at the house behind me. It had been uninhabited for three years, overgrown with weeds.

I nodded at James.

I had nowhere else to go, no money, and the clothes I was wearing were from three years ago. The rehab center had uniform clothing, so this outfit was all that remained.

I bent down to pull up the weeds, disturbing the creatures hiding inside, which scurried out—cockroaches, mice, and a lazy snake lounging in the corner.

In the past, I would have jumped straight into James's arms. Now, I merely glanced at the animals and planned to find a stick to drive the snake away.

But James pulled me into the car.

"What's wrong?" I looked at him, puzzled, and just then noticed he hadn't left.

"Didn't you see the snake over there?" asked James, sounding a bit annoyed.

Oh, I forgot. James was also afraid of such creatures.

"I saw it. It's fine. I'll just use a stick to get it away. If you're scared, you can go back," I reassured him.

I opened the car door, ready to get out.

But James locked the door and drove away.

I sat in the passenger seat, terrified, and fastened my seatbelt.

"Where... where are you taking me?"

James didn't respond.

I didn't ask again.

James took me to his private residence.

He didn't say a word and closed the door, locking me inside. I couldn’t get out because there was a password.

He then went to take a shower.

He must have felt uncomfortable after seeing those creatures.

I sat obediently in the living room.

About an hour later, James came downstairs.

He was in his pajamas, his hair still damp.

I knew to avoid looking at him.

"You can move into that house after it's cleaned up. You can stay here for tonight," explained James.

I thought for a moment and nodded, thanking him.

That house was large, and I would probably still be cleaning it well into the night.

He walked over, and I stood up, feeling like a servant standing to the side.

James pinched my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"Have you quit?" A hint of curiosity appeared on his face.

Without hesitation, I nodded. Any hesitation would be a disrespect to my three years in rehab.

That night, I had a nightmare.

There were countless pairs of eyes.

Hatred, disgust, revulsion, disdain...

All coming from one person and that was James...

4

The next day, when James went to work, I asked him to drop me off in the city center.

As long as I didn't bother him, everything was negotiable.

I looked at the hiring notice outside the flower shop, wondering if the owner would accept someone like me without a degree.

I had been sent to rehab halfway through university.

"Are you here to apply for a job?" the owner, noticing me staring at the notice but not going in, couldn't help but ask.

I nodded.

The owner looked to be just over 25.

He seemed easy to get along with.

The salary was 600 dollars per month, and no degree was required. I just needed to show up on time to help.

I asked the owner for an advance of 200 dollars. Without money, I couldn't do anything.

I was officially starting tomorrow, and the owner didn't seem worried I would run off with the money.

I went to a used car shop and bought a secondhand electric scooter.

I spent 80 dollars for that.

In the past, I wouldn't have thought twice about 80 dollars, but now, I had to haggle for it.

It was not like I didn't have parents. Three years ago, my family abandoned me to protect the company's reputation.

And my only loving grandfather had long since passed away.

If my grandfather were still here, would I have been in this mess?

I shook my head, trying to dispel those useless thoughts.

I rode the electric scooter back to the old house my grandfather left behind.

The weeds outside had already been cleared away by James's men.

Inside, there was dust everywhere and spider webs.

It took me four hours to clean the house, but many things inside were already unusable.

I planned to throw away the useless items, but in my carelessness, I stumbled and dropped things everywhere and I ended up in a mess.

Not only did I scrape my knees, but I was also covered in dirt and dust.

A pair of leather shoes appeared before me; I didn't need to look up to know who they belonged to.

I slowly stood up, feeling a bit of pain in my knees.

"Mr. Gates, is there something you need?" I switched from calling him Jamesy to James, and then to Mr. Gates.

It was better to keep some distance. I didn't want to go back to that place again.

"Grandma asked me to come check on you," said James, frowning.

"Tell Grandma I'm fine. She doesn't need to worry about me." With that, I squatted down and continued to tidy up the mess.