I returned to the Morgans’ residence. Without sparing a glance at my father, who was raging and shouting in the living room, I went straight upstairs.

“Nicole! You ungrateful daughter! Stop right there!

“For this engagement, do you have any idea how much effort I put in? And now you cancel it with a single sentence. Are you trying to destroy the Morgans?!”

I turned a deaf ear and closed my bedroom door behind me, shutting his voice out completely.

After that, I dragged out the largest suitcase from the walk-in closet and began packing with a blank expression.

I threw away the plain dresses I had bought just to suit Leo’s preferences.

I also did the same for the jewelry his mother had given me, meant to display my status as the “future daughter-in-law of the Smiths”.

Everything I had painstakingly collected, everything related to him, was tossed out.

Meanwhile, my phone began vibrating frantically, and the name “Leo” kept flashing across the screen.

I casually silenced it and flung it onto the bed.

In my previous life, I had died in endless waiting and self-torment.

With just one phone call from him, I would fly back from the other side of the world.

A slight frown from him, and I would start reflecting on whether I had done something wrong.

Now, I didn’t want to wait anymore, nor did I want to keep second-guessing myself.

After packing two suitcases, I pulled them downstairs.

When my father saw me like this, he was so furious that he nearly fainted.

Pointing at me, he shouted, “You still want to leave? If you go, what about the Smiths? Go to them right now and apologize!”

I looked at him coldly. “From the day you brought me back after my mother died, in your eyes, I’ve always just been a tool. Now that I don’t want to play along anymore, you’re panicking?”

My father was left speechless. His face turned pale, then flushed, unable to say a word.

“Y-you…”

I ignored him and continued walking out, dragging my suitcases behind me.

At the entrance, however, a black Bentley blocked my path.

The car door opened, and Leo stepped out, his expression even worse than it had been at the banquet hall.

He grabbed my wrist in one swift motion, his grip so tight it felt like he wanted to crush my bones.

“Nicole, have you had enough?

“Come back with me. I’ll pretend none of this ever happened.”

His tone carried a sense of superiority, like he was offering me charity.

I forcefully shook off his hand, my gaze turning icy.

“Mr. Smith, I believe I made myself very clear.

“Also, keep your hands off me. I find it disgusting.”

Leo’s pupils shrank abruptly.

He had probably never imagined that the Nicole who used to obey his every word and ache even at the slightest frown from him would use the word “disgusting” to describe him.

He stared intently at me, as though trying to find some flaw in my expression.

“Is this just because I left for a while?” he let out a cold laugh, his tone dripping with mockery.

“Nicole, since when did you become so petty? Sophie was just heartbroken and in a bad mood. I comforted her as a friend. What’s wrong with that?”

Sophie again.

It was always Sophie.

In my previous life, he had missed our wedding anniversary just to comfort the “heartbroken” Sophie.

He had even left me alone on the highway just to take care of “sick” Sophie.

On the very day I died in a car accident, he had lit up the entire city with fireworks just to make Sophie smile.

Looking at him now, I suddenly found it all ridiculous.

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” I said calmly. “So now that I’m giving you to her, isn’t that exactly what you want?

“You should be thanking me.”

After saying that, I didn’t look at him again. I walked past the car, flagged down a cab, and left without looking back.

In the rearview mirror, Leo’s figure grew smaller and smaller. He stood there, still wearing that same expression of disbelief.

I checked into a hotel in the city center.

Not long after I finished showering, the room phone rang.

I picked it up, and on the other end came Mrs. Smith’s sharp, cutting voice.

“Nicole, you’ve really grown bold, haven’t you? How dare you embarrass my son at the engagement banquet! What do you think you are? You’re nothing but an illegitimate daughter who can’t even be brought into the light. If it weren’t for our Leo, you wouldn’t even be worthy of carrying shoes for the Smiths!

“Let me tell you this. If you don’t come over and kneel to apologize by tomorrow morning, then the Morgans can just wait to disappear from Sunnyvale!”

I listened quietly as she finished venting, and then I let out a soft, indifferent “Oh”.

“Mrs. Smith, are you done?

“If you’re done, I’m hanging up. I still need to put on a face mask.”

After saying that, I hung up without waiting for her response.

Listening to the busy tone on the line, I could easily imagine Mrs. Smith’s furious expression.

In my previous life, I had given up all my own preferences just to please her. I learned tea ceremonies, flower arranging, and even the traditional opera she liked, reshaping myself into exactly the kind of person she wanted.

However, she had never once looked at me properly.

In her eyes, no matter how high my education was or how capable I became, I could never wash away the label of being an “illegitimate daughter”.

The only reason she agreed to my marriage to Leo was because she valued my ability to help him manage the company. I was also “obedient” enough not to threaten her son.

With a face mask on, I picked up my phone and began sorting through all the assets that had been entangled between Leo and me over the years.

For the charity fund we co-founded, I didn’t hesitate to apply for liquidation and withdrawal.

As for the original shares of his company under my name, I listed them at the lowest possible price, preparing to sell them off.

After finishing all of that, I felt a sense of relief wash over my entire body.

Early the next morning, there was a knock on the door.

I thought it was room service, but when I opened it, I saw Sophie’s delicate, pitiful face instead.

She was wearing a white dress, her eyes red as if she had cried all night.

“Nicole…” The moment she spoke, her voice trembled with tears. “What exactly happened between you and Leo? He’s been going crazy looking for you all night yesterday.”

“Is it because of me? If it is, then I… I can go explain things to him. I won’t see him ever again!”

As she spoke, tears fell down her cheeks, as though she were willing to sacrifice herself for our sake.

With acting skills like hers, it would be a waste if she didn’t win an award.

In my previous life, she had used this exact expression in front of me for over a decade.

Every time something happened, she would take all the blame onto herself, making herself seem innocent and kind, while making me look like a jealous, unreasonable woman.

Leaning against the doorframe, I looked at her leisurely.

“It’s not because of you.”

Sophie froze for a moment, clearly not expecting that answer.

I smiled and continued, “I just suddenly figured it out that forced love never ends well. The one Leo loves is you. If I keep clinging on, there’s no point. I might as well let go and give you my blessing.

“Sophie, I wish you both happiness.”

My tone was sincere, and my gaze steady.

Sophie was completely stunned.

Not a single line she had prepared could be used.

She looked at me, her eyes filled with confusion and scrutiny, as if trying to determine whether I was speaking sarcastically.

“Nicole, you… shouldn’t say that. Leo and I are just friends—”

“Whether you’re just friends or not, you know that in your heart,” I cut her off. “Don’t come looking for me again. I don’t want anything to do with either of you.”

I closed the door, shutting her shocked expression outside.

Not long after, my phone received a new message from Leo.

“Nicole, what exactly are you trying to do? What nonsense did you tell Sophie?

“I’m warning you. Don’t drag her into this. What’s between us has nothing to do with her.”

Looking at the words “what’s between us”, I found it extremely ironic.

When had there ever been an “us”?

From the start, there had only ever been him and Sophie, the one he held closest to his heart.

So I blocked them both, and at last, my world was quiet.

I didn’t stay at the hotel for long. Very soon, I rented an apartment for the time being and settled in.

That day, while I was at home going through an investment report, I received an unexpected call from Leo’s assistant, Gavin Sinclair.

“Ms. Morgan,” Gavin said politely, “Mr. Smith has an urgent meeting, but the analysis report for the Westside project can’t be found. You were the one following up on that project before. Do you happen to know where the report is?”

The Westside project.

Of course I remembered it.

In my previous life, that project had been a major turning point in Leo’s career, but it had also hidden a massive pitfall.

Back then, I had pulled three all-nighters, going through countless materials before finally uncovering that hidden risk, which helped him avoid it perfectly and earn a huge profit.

It was also after this that his position in the company truly became secure.

Holding my phone, I fell silent for a few seconds.

“I don’t remember,” I said calmly. “I have nothing to do with Mr. Smith anymore. You don’t need to ask me about his company’s matters again.”

On the other end, Gavin seemed to choke on his words.

“But Ms. Morgan, this project is very important. Mr. Smith, he—”

“That’s his problem,” I cut him off directly. “I’m busy. Goodbye.”

After hanging up, I looked out the window, my mood completely undisturbed.

I was no longer that Nicole who would come whenever called and leave whenever dismissed.

Whatever happened to Leo had nothing to do with me anymore.

In the afternoon, I went out with a friend to shop and have afternoon tea, and I posted a selfie on my social media.

In the photo, I was smiling brightly, with delicate desserts and warm sunlight in the background.

Not long after, a mutual friend commented, [Oh? Back together with Mr. Smith? Not heartbroken anymore?]

Someone quickly replied below, [No way. Didn’t you see the news? Mr. Smith accompanied that beauty, Sophie Miller, to the hospital today. I heard she fainted from exhaustion. He looked incredibly anxious, even carried her into the ER himself.]

There was even a clear candid photo attached.

In it, Leo was holding a pale-faced Sophie in his arms, rushing into the hospital with a look of panic and concern I had never once seen on his face in all thirteen years.

I gave the photo a like, then closed my phone.

That night, when I returned to my apartment, a familiar car was parked downstairs.

Leo was leaning against the car door, smoking, with cigarette butts scattered all over the ground near his feet.

When he saw me, he stubbed out the cigarette and walked over in a few quick steps, carrying the heavy scent of smoke mixed with hospital disinfectant.

“Where did you hide the materials for the Westside project?” he asked bluntly, his tone unfriendly.

“I told you I don’t remember.”

“Nicole!” he barked, his eyes bloodshot, looking agitated. “Don’t play this game with me! You know how important that project is to me. Are you really going to use this kind of method to get back at me?”

I looked at him and found it almost amusing.

“Get back at you? Leo, aren’t you thinking too highly of yourself?”

“I just don’t want to deal with your mess anymore.”

His expression instantly turned extremely ugly.

“Is this because I went to the hospital with Sophie?”

As if convinced that was the reason, he continued explaining on his own. “Her health has always been bad. She’s been like that since she was young. She fainted at the company today, so of course I had to take her to the hospital!

“Nicole, can you stop being so unreasonable?!”

Unreasonable.

In my previous life, I had been “reasonable” for crying alone until dawn while he celebrated Sophie’s birthday.

As I signed my mother’s surgery consent form alone, he accompanied Sophie overseas to relax.

In the end, I guess I had been “reasonable” enough to die in that car accident.

I took a deep breath, then looked at him and said each word clearly.

“Leo, if her health is bad, that’s something her parents should worry about. If she faints, you should call an ambulance, not carry her there for show.

“And let me say this one last time. We’re over. From now on, your matters and hers have nothing to do with me.

“If you keep harassing me, I’ll call the police.”

After saying that, I turned and walked toward the building.

However, my wrist was grabbed again, even tighter than before.

“Nicole, do you really have to be like this?”

For the first time, his voice carried an emotion I couldn’t quite understand. It sounded like frustration, or perhaps something else.

“Isn’t what you want just for me to lower my head?”

“Fine.” He stared into my eyes as he spoke slowly, “Give me the materials, and I’ll apologize to you.

“I’m sorry for not coming after you, for being with Sophie.”

I looked at him.

This was the first time in thirteen years that I had heard the words “I’m sorry” from his mouth.

In the past, it was something I had longed for.

But now, it just made me sick.

“Your apology isn’t worth a thing.”

I shook off his hand and walked into the apartment building without looking back.