Josie stared in Winston's left direction, momentarily lost in thought. Then, just like every time before, she started cleaning up the mess he left behind when he was in a bad mood. Only this time, she bid farewell to her seven years of devotion.

There was still a lot to do before she entered closed-off training. She didn't have time to wallow in emotions. The medical expenses for Winston's uncle alone would be huge in the coming months.

Seven years ago, an accident had turned Thomas Carter, the man who had once sponsored her education and brought her out of the mountains, into a vegetative state.

Josie had taken on the weight of his medical expenditures for all these years, as well as the living and school expenses of Winston, the only surviving member of the Carters. Now, she no longer had to care for Winston, but she couldn't abandon Thomas.

She had promised Janice three months. So, she had to gather the money before then. Josie calmly threw out four boxes of things belonging to Winston from the past seven years. After packing her belongings, she got ready for a business meeting.

Her business partner, this time, was a notorious playboy and the meeting place was a bar. Before she even stepped inside, she heard a familiar voice. "George, hurry up and take a picture of me and Winston!"

A man's indulgent voice followed. "What? Aren't my pictures good enough?"

Zelda playfully pouted and lightly punched him. "That was a selfie. I need one taken by you to post on my social media."

Josie paused for only a second before politely knocking on the door. The room fell silent. Every gaze turned toward her.

"Well, well, isn't this Winston's long-time girlfriend? Four years together and still not broken up. How enviable." George raised an eyebrow, his tone mocking. Laughter erupted around the room.

Winston's face darkened, shifting from pale to red. He grabbed Josie and dragged her outside. "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you not to bother me when I'm meeting with friends?"

Josie freed her hand, maintaining a professional smile as she handed George a drink. "Mr. George, nice to meet you. I'm Josie Yaeger from Clarion Biotech. I'd like to discuss a business collaboration with you."

George gave Josie a meaningful look before turning his attention to Zelda, leaning against the sofa in a strapless dress. "Oh, so you're here for business? I thought you were just jealous of Zelda and came to cause trouble for Winston."

Right on cue, Zelda let a few tears slip down her cheeks. "Please don't be mad, my sister-in-law. I was just joking yesterday. Who knew you'd take it seriously. Our group always jokes around like this. You wouldn't know since you never join our gatherings."

Josie froze momentarily before instinctively asking, "You … have these gatherings often?"

"Of course! Winston and I come back here once a month. If we don't, won't our bond fade?" Zelda leaned over and clung to Winston's arm, looking smugly at Josie.

A cold smile tugged at Josie's lips and the cracks in her already broken heart widened. So, that's how it was. Their bond had already faded long ago.

Winston had told her he was too busy with his studies abroad and they barely saw each other or even spoke on the phone for three years. He came to this place less than two kilometers away from her every month but was too lazy to send her a message.

Winston didn't notice the abnormality of her expression but felt extremely embarrassed. "Don't call her sister-in-law!" It would be a disgrace to take out such an older woman. It felt like a public slap in the face to call her sister-in-law.

Winston's face was burning. He interrupted the conversation of several people coldly. He handed over a glass of 60-degree liquor as if he had never met Josie. "So, you're here for a business deal, huh? Showing up this late, how insincere."

He leaned close to her ear, his voice low and gritted with resentment. "I already promised to marry you. Yet, you still had to come here and stake your claim. This is the price you pay for being so shameless."

After that, he poured several more glasses and lined them up. "Either drink them all, or get the hell out."

Josie looked at Winston and the cups of vodka in front of her, but the more immature face emerged in her mind. Four years ago, Josie was humiliated by others at social events like today. It was her first time drinking so much hard liquor and she drank until she vomited blood to secure the deal.

Winston, who had no one else to depend on, cried as he took her to the hospital. He called her foolish and asked why she let people push her around like that. Because she had no money to be hospitalized, she ignored the doctor's advice, took medicine and returned home.

That night, they lay together on a cramped bed, relying on each other to get through life. It was also the first time Winston kissed her. He had said, "Josie, when I grow up and make something of myself, I'll never let you suffer like this again. I won't let anyone bully you."

Winston fashioned a ring from the corner of an exam paper, placed it on her finger and promised to marry her in style one day, declaring to the world that they would be together forever. Winston indeed had grown up and become successful, as he said.

Yet, he had also become one of those who bullied her. Like a shadowy rat in a sewer, their relationship couldn't bear the light of day.

Josie concentrated on picking up a glass of wine and drank it without hesitation. She drank mechanically, one after another as if she had been polished into an unfeeling machine over the years. At this point, even blood could be swallowed along with the alcohol.

She finished the last glass, placed the empty cup in front of George and forced a smile despite the overwhelming nausea threatening to overtake her. "Mr. George, it's getting late. Let's get down to business."

George crossed his arms and looked at her with newfound admiration. "What a ruthless woman. No need to look at the contract. I'll sign it directly."

Josie smiled readily. "Mr. George is indeed decisive. Clarion will not disappoint." The smile softened her stern features, making her somewhat radiant.

As George signed the contract, he glanced at Winston with a grin. "Winston, you sure have good taste, but you're a bit heartless. If you're not careful, your future wife might just run away one day and you'll have nowhere to cry."

Winston frowned. Even though Josie's actions had earned him some face, he didn't feel as pleased as expected. Just as he was about to say something to assert his absolute claim over her, Josie swayed, coughed up blood and collapsed.

Winston was shocked and was about to take it but was preempted by George, who was closer. "What are you doing? Send her to the hospital! What if she dies?"

The room was in chaos. Winston is furious when he looks at Josie, who George was holding. He was about to rush over to grab Josie, but Zelda screamed in fear. "I got cut by a shard of glass! It hurts!"

Winston hurriedly took Zelda's arm, noticing a small cut on her fair skin. Blood was seeping out. He looked at her anxiously. "Is it serious? I'll take you to the hospital."

Zelda's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked at him pitifully. "I'm fine. You should check on Josie first."

Winston clenched his fists as the scene from earlier replayed in his mind. His voice turned cold. "She's already past her prime, yet she still knows how to seduce people. I told you before, that her private life is a mess. And now, seeing it for myself, I know I was right. A woman like that isn't worth my concern."

He thought of how he had forced Josie to drink, how George had joked about her running away and suddenly, a deep sense of unease crept into his heart. Would Josie really leave him?

"Zelda, your injuries aren't too serious. Take care of them yourself for now." In the end, guilt won over. Winston left her behind and strode out to chase. He ignored Zelda's loud cries behind him.

Winston subconsciously exhaled a sigh of relief when he arrived at the hospital and didn't see George in the ward. Of course, George had such high standards. How could someone like Josie ever catch his eye?

He walked quietly to the hospital bed. Josie's face was completely drained of color, so fragile that she looked like she could shatter at the slightest touch.

He unconsciously grasped her hand, but Josie frowned when he touched her as if she was in a nightmare. Winston gently kissed the corner of her lips and murmured, "It's my fault. I never thought you'd be so proud that you'd actually drink all of it. As long as you behave, I'll give you a grand wedding."

Josie slept until noon the next day. When she saw Winston for the first time, she was still a little dazed and didn't know what year it was. She dreamed of her first meeting with Winston. At the age of 15, Thomas led her into the castle-like house.

Winston was at the center of a crowd of kids his age, admired and respected like a prince. Too bad he didn't greet her like a gentleman in a fairy tale when he saw her. Instead, he frowned in disgust and snapped at Thomas, "Uncle, why did you bring this wild girl home? The second she stepped inside, the air in this house started to feel cheap."

Thomas gently squeezed her hand in reassurance. "That's just how Winston talks. Don't be scared, he actually has a soft heart. If you spend more time with him, he'll accept you eventually."

Josie believed him. Before the Carters’ downfall, her repeated attempts to approach and please Winston were met with cold shoulders and insults. It wasn't until Winston fell from grace and they both landed in the mud that he showed her some resemblance of kindness.

As a minor, Josie had taken on the burden of the Carters. She arranged the funerals for their parents, sold off their remaining belongings, rented an apartment and switched schools. She carried everything on her small shoulders. Only then did Winston start treating her with a little kindness.

At that time, she thought that what Thomas had said was true and that Winston would accept her. It just took a little more effort. Now, it seemed that no matter how much she paid, Winston would never truly see her. In his heart, Josie will always be cheap.

Winston was not just a prince but a king who only cared about power. The only truly gentle and gentlemanly prince was his uncle, Thomas.

Josie lowered her gaze, refusing to look at him anymore. Instead, she shifted the conversation to work. "The contract is still intact, right? Do you know when Mr. George will be available to finalize the details?"

Although her businesslike demeanor annoyed Winston a little, he could not express his displeasure due to her frail condition. He could only patiently continue to coax her. "Don't think about work for now. Just rest."

Josie pursed her lips. "I can't. I need to make money." Otherwise, Thomas would be in danger during her six months of isolated study.

Winston thought she was worried about his tuition fees and his heart warmed again. He took out a bank card, handing it to her. "Don't worry about money. I said I'd take responsibility and won't let you worry about these things again. There's $300000 in this card. As long as you're not so stubborn and insist on going against Zelda, I won't make things difficult for you."

Josie happily accepted the card. $300000 was just enough for half a year's medical expenses. She could go to Scotland for her studies ahead of schedule.