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.

Winston's initial warmth, spurred by her accident and hospitalization, immediately faded as she saw the unmistakable joy on Josie's face. As expected, no matter how much someone from a small, rural place tried to change, they couldn't shake off their inherent pettiness.

Three hundred thousand dollars. Winston wouldn't even consider giving Zelda a gift at that price, yet Josie acted like she had won the lottery. Winston's expression grew cold. "Zelda cut her hand. I'm going to check on her."

Josie ignored him. Instead, she transferred the money to the hospital and called Janice. "Winston lent me $300000. I'll pay him back when the project is done. I'm ready to join the team and start learning anytime."

Janice rescheduled her start date for a week later in consideration of her health. After two days in the hospital, Josie returned to her cramped, run-down rental apartment to continue packing. She probably wouldn't be coming back to this city again.

Five days before her departure, she booked a flight. Winston saw a picture of the flight details in Janice's social media feed and immediately called her. "Why are you going Scotland?"

"Just a trip," Josie responded, not wanting to cause more trouble.

Winston paused for a moment before letting out a cold sneer. "I thought you were supposed to be some bigshot career woman. Even Mr. George seemed to think highly of you, but look at you now. Didn't take long for your true colors to show. Does it feel good spending money you didn't earn?"

Josie didn't respond. She knew arguing with people like Winston would only make him more convinced he was right. Besides, she would be returning the money eventually. It didn't matter when he found out.

Winston was enraged by her indifference. He uttered a harsh threat before finally hanging up. "Josie, you better hurry up and try to please me. I might still marry you out of our years of relationship. Otherwise, you won't get a single cent!"

Four days before her departure, Josie went to the office to finalize her resignation and then met with her landlord to terminate her lease. When Winston arrived and saw the empty apartment, he froze momentarily. Then, he curled his lips into a mocking smirk. "What, are you so sure I'll marry you? Can't wait to move into the Carters' house, huh? Zelda's birthday is tomorrow and my parents will be there too. If you really want to marry into the Carters, you should think about how to impress them."

Josie scowled in disdain for the first time as he thought of the heartless couple who left the young Winston and the gravely ill uncle. They even pretend to be dead, then flee abroad. "They left so decisively back then, leaving behind a mess. Now that everything's settled, they want to come back?"

If they had been able to disappear for so many years, they would have surely been involved in that accident back then. They weren't dead, but Thomas had spent seven years bedridden. What had he done to deserve that? Winston could afford to forget because he had been spared a lot of hardship during those years under her care, but Josie couldn't.

Winston's face turned grim and he slapped Josie hard. "Josie! Is that how you talk to my parents? Just because I give you some face, you really think you're the savior of the Carters? The money you gave me over the past seven years isn't even a drop in the bucket compared to the Carters' wealth."

A bright red mark formed on her cheek as she stared at the man before her, now completely unrecognizable. The child who clung to her like a stray puppy, terrified of being left again, slowly faded from her recollection.

All that remained was the tall man coldly looking down at her, saying in an unquestionable tone, "No parent would ever not love their child. They must have had their own reasons. The love they give me will be far greater than what you've given me all these years! You have to come to Zelda's birthday party tomorrow. Otherwise, not only will the marriage be off the table, but you'll have to return the thirty thousand dollars!"