I rushed home. During the taxi ride, my mother explained that the Wells family had suddenly fallen into massive debt overnight due to a strange business war, and my father couldn’t handle the pressure and chose to jump.

“The moment I arrived home, I saw your father on the rooftop, with debt collectors shouting behind him. I cried and begged him to come down, but he still jumped…” My mother tried hard to hold back her tears.

When I stepped back into the house, it had already been transformed into a mourning hall. The last time I was home, my parents were still comforting me about a failed exam, telling me not to be discouraged.

Now, my father was gone, and my mother’s hair had turned completely white in just a few days. Seeing my father's coffin in the living room, I collapsed to my knees and sobbed uncontrollably.

There weren’t many relatives at home. The memorial service was set for two days later. As the only daughter, I naturally had to shoulder the responsibilities.

“Mom, how much do we owe?” I asked as I helped my mother, who was already crying in silence. Her hands trembled as she handed me a folder.

“Your father left this at home. I never had the courage to open it. Nina, what are we going to do?”

It was a mortgage contract. At the very bottom was Ethan's signature. All of my father's shares had been pledged, and we still owed a seven-digit debt.

I gripped the contract and called Ethan immediately, but he didn’t answer. So this was it—he had been the one behind the business war my father mentioned.

I was completely at a loss facing that massive debt. After thinking for a while, I called another number.

…

“That’s the situation. If you’re unwilling, I…”

“I still have a bit of money. I can help you—but on one condition.”

Before he could even finish, I agreed without hesitation.

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle the debt within a week.” He hung up right after.

Seeing that I finally looked a bit relieved, my mother asked if I had borrowed money from friends.

I simply told her not to worry—that I had already taken care of the matter.

Two days later, the memorial service was held as planned. Because of limited funds, it ended quickly and quietly. My mother and I sobbed beside my father's grave before he was buried.

She clearly had no idea that all of this—our tragedy—was caused by Ethan. She still thought I should hold on to him and let him help us survive this crisis.

“Nina, I already know about the baby. Mom won’t blame you.”

The saddest part was hearing her speak kindly of Ethan. But I had called him countless times over the past few days, and not once had he picked up.

After the memorial, I comforted my mother, took the contract my father left, and made my way to Ethan’s house.

“Ethan, what the hell is this?!” I burst through the door, anger written all over my face. But everyone inside acted like nothing happened, going about their business.

Sienna stood at the center, directing the staff to carry her luggage—bag after bag—into my room, while my belongings had been carelessly dumped into a garbage pile in the corner.

Even when she saw my furious expression, she didn’t stop. Instead, she explained calmly:

“Ethan knows I love flowers, so he let me have the south-facing room. The balcony gets plenty of sun, perfect for my sunflowers. You’ll have to move into the attic room now.”

I rushed to what used to be my room and saw that the wallpaper I’d carefully chosen and applied had been torn to shreds. The once-pristine space was now cluttered with her things.

“Oh, and this too—you might want it.” Sienna rummaged through a drawer and found my secret iron box. She threw it toward me without a second thought.

I didn’t expect the iron box to hit me squarely on the forehead. Pain shot through my skull as I clutched my head and staggered.

A breeze drifted in through the balcony, carrying a cloud of pollen straight toward me. I sneezed several times, and red welts immediately began to bloom on my arms.

My springtime allergies were always worse. As I scratched at the itching skin, dizzy and flushed, I caught sight of my belongings tossed in the corner.

There they were—my award certificates and trophies. Just six months ago, I’d worked tirelessly to qualify for higher education, and I’d finally made it. Ignoring my discomfort, I rushed over and reached for the awards, only to find the certificates defaced with ink and the trophies shattered.

“You did this, Sienna!” I screamed, grabbing her wrist tightly.

Her eyes flickered with guilt, but just then, I sensed someone approaching behind me—it was Ethan.

Seeing him, she quickly averted her gaze and changed the subject, but the smugness in her eyes couldn’t be hidden. I raised my voice, unwilling to let her off so easily.

Before I could press further, Ethan grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.

Confused, I turned, only to see Sienna lift her arm—now red from my grip—and throw herself pitifully into his arms. “It’s all my fault,” she said sweetly. “I shouldn’t have moved in on my own. I must have upset Nina.”

“It’s just a room switch,” Ethan said coldly, his voice sharp. “Nina helped you pack, and you lashed out at her like this?” He glared at me. “You haven’t even been home. Giving your room to Nina is the least you can do.”

“Yes,” Sienna added tearfully, “I heard you failed your exam. These old papers are just trash now. I was only helping by throwing them away.”

Ethan shoved my hand aside and gently wiped the tears from Sienna’s cheeks. He grabbed the first aid kit and began tending to her swelling.

My vision blurred, and I felt warm blood dripping from my forehead, trailing down my lashes.

I stood frozen, sobbing silently. When he finished applying medicine to her, I blinked back my tears, pulled out the contract, and threw it at him.

“My father jumped to his death two days ago,” I said coldly.

He chuckled without remorse. “Couldn’t handle pressure, huh? Some people just aren’t made for business.”

“You’ve seen the contract,” I continued. “You know what it means.”

“Yes,” he said, smug. “That I’m your family’s creditor now.”

“As long as you stay home, behave, and give birth to the child, I won’t make things difficult for you. But if you upset Nina again, I won’t be so generous.” Sienna snuggled shyly in his arms, her victory complete.

With no choice, I nodded and agreed. I grabbed some cotton from the kit, cleaned my wound, and quietly carried my things up to the attic.

There, I gathered all the gifts Ethan had given me and listed them online for sale to help cover the family's debt. It didn’t take long before someone placed an order. We arranged to meet in person the following day.

The attic was damp, dark, and cold. I couldn’t sleep. As I lay curled up, my phone buzzed.

“In three days, the full amount will be deposited. I’ll pick you up personally.”

The message was from Liam Carter, a billionaire from New York’s Carter Group. He was ten years older than me and had fallen for me because I resembled his late white moonlight—the woman he could never forget. We’d met when I interned at Carter Group. He spoiled me, granting every wish I made.

After I turned eighteen, he began to pursue me seriously. He once said he’d marry me if I didn’t marry someone else.

But at the time, I’d been obsessed with Ethan. Captivated, loyal, naive.

Now, the only person who could help me was Liam.

I touched my stomach, felt the faint kick of life within me, and sighed. Then I picked up the phone and called the hospital.

Before heading to the hospital for my check-up, I waited at a café and agreed to meet the buyer. He glanced at the items, then transferred the payment without hesitation.

Seeing the 20,000 credited to my account, I immediately called my mother to help with household expenses.

After leaving the café, I checked the time—it was just about right for my hospital appointment. I was about to go, but then I realized I had forgotten the previous pregnancy reports. With no choice, I turned back home to get them.

Since Sienna moved in, the housekeepers and helpers had started treating her like the lady of the house. Whenever I was around, their eyes followed me strangely, silently questioning: “Why is the former mistress still here freeloading?”

Today was no different. As I stepped through the front gate, a janitor sweeping nearby gave me a puzzled look. There’s no point looking at me like that, I thought. I’ll be leaving soon anyway. I grabbed the reports and headed out again.

That’s when I bumped into Ethan. He was alone; Sienna wasn’t with him. The moment he saw the stack of test results in my hand, a flash of guilt crossed his face—but he quickly masked it.

“Since you’ve got everything with you, let’s go,” he said.

“Huh?” I stared at him in confusion.

“My mother wants to see you. She’s been desperate to hold her grandchild. Since you’ve already brought everything, come with me now,” he said, taking me straight to his car.

I sat in the familiar passenger seat. The space had changed—Sienna’s chibi-style stickers were plastered everywhere, along with a huge label reading “Nina’s Exclusive Seat.” I chuckled bitterly. I remembered that sticker—it used to have my name printed on the back.

I turned to the window, trying to distract myself with the passing view. With no choice, I messaged the hospital to reschedule. Just as I was about to send it, the car lurched with a sudden brake. I nearly slammed into the windshield.

Dizzy, I looked at Ethan in shock.

“We can’t go see my mother yet. Nina’s been kidnapped. I have to go save her,” he said urgently.

My head was spinning. Kidnapped? In broad daylight?

He stepped hard on the gas, eyes fixed on the road, muttering under his breath. He blew through a dozen red lights, driving like a man possessed.

Ten minutes later, we reached the outskirts. Using a tracking app, he located Sienna inside a white car ahead. Without hesitation, he narrowed his eyes and slammed the accelerator.

Then came a loud bang—the rear of our car sank as if something had been punctured.

Suddenly, a gray car lying in ambush roared to life. Before I could react, it rammed straight into the passenger side—my side. I didn’t even see it coming. My head slammed into the airbag with full force.

Blood trickled from my scalp, warm and thick. Pain radiated through my body like a thousand needles piercing my chest. It hurt so much, I couldn’t even cry out.

Despite the brutal impact on the passenger side, Ethan didn’t even glance at me. His eyes were locked in the white car—on Sienna.

After ramming it several times, he finally forced the car to stop. The people inside quickly bailed and fled into another vehicle, speeding away.

Ethan rushed out and threw open the car door. His voice trembled—not with fear for me, but with concern for her.

“Nina! Were you scared? Are you hurt?”

Sienna collapsed into his arms, trembling. Then she looked up, revealing her bruised, tear-streaked face. Her voice was hoarse and soft:

“It was a former business rival of my family. They didn’t hurt me… It’s nothing. I’m fine now. Thank you for coming, Brother Ethan.”

Sienna clung to Ethan, her frail posture making him visibly distressed. He lowered his voice, fighting back tears as he whispered:

“This is my fault. Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Carefully, Ethan helped her into the back seat. He stepped hard on the gas and sped to the largest hospital in New York, arriving in just five minutes. Without wasting a second, he jumped out, carried Sienna in his arms, and rushed into the emergency room.

He didn’t even glance at me, still seated in the front with blood trickling from my scalp and my eyes red with pain.

Enduring the ache, I slowly pushed the door open and forced myself toward the hospital entrance.

It was pouring. Rain drenched my body and streamed into the open wound on my forehead. A nurse near the door gasped when she saw me. She quickly treated my injury and brought me in for a full medical check-up.

I stayed in the hospital ward until late that night. Half-asleep, my mind drifted back to memories I hadn’t dared revisit.

When I was with Ethan, he often brought me along to business dinners to network with influential people. At one of them, two shareholders got into a heated argument. In the chaos, a flipped table sent shards of glass flying. One cut deep into my wrist, and I bled profusely.

Upon hearing what happened, Ethan rushed over, ordered his assistant to immediately sever business ties with the two companies, and carried me straight to the hospital for treatment.

But now, with a head wound and soaked in blood, he hadn’t even noticed. I smiled bitterly.

The next day, still weak but slightly better, I returned home with trembling steps. I planned to pack my things and leave for good. But as I entered the door, I saw Sienna sitting beside Ethan, her head bowed, looking as though she’d suffered a grave injustice.

When Ethan saw me, his face darkened. His anger, suppressed until now, exploded:

“Did you do this? You deliberately revealed Nina’s location to her family’s enemies. You really are conniving.”

I froze, staring at Sienna in disbelief. She tilted her head and gave me a sideways glance, the corners of her lips curling into a smug little smile.

I let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed my temples.

“I don’t know who her enemies are. And I had no idea where she was.”

But Ethan’s expression only grew more severe. He threw a pile of photos at my face.

“Then explain these!”

The edges of the photos scratched my cheek. I bent down and picked them up, my eyes widened as I recognized the scene—it was me at the café yesterday, selling gifts. No wonder the man had paid without question. No wonder he insisted on meeting in person.

I stood stunned, speechless. My silence only confirmed Ethan’s suspicions.

“Starting today,” he said coldly, “you’ll stay in your room and reflect. Unless Nina forgives you, don’t even think about stepping outside.”

“Brother Ethan, I’m okay,” Sienna said in a soft, broken voice. “Nina probably just envied how much time you spend with me. That’s why she acted out. I’m sure… she regrets it now.”

She pretended to plead for me, but her tone quickly faded into weakness. Ethan, looking heartbroken, wrapped his arms around her and led her gently back to their room.

Meanwhile, the housekeeper “escorted” me back to mine. The cold, damp space felt less like a punishment and more like a quiet corner where my bruised heart could shatter freely.

I took out the secret iron box and, fighting back my trembling hands, began to write down the injustice I’d just endured—betrayed by Ethan, framed by Sienna.

Tears spilled onto the paper, smearing the number 99 on my list. We had once promised to do 100 little things together as lovers, but we never made it that far.

Instead, the disappointments I recorded silently had reached 99—far surpassing the handful of sweet memories we ever shared.

I wiped away the tears, picked up my phone, and sent the message to the hospital that I had drafted earlier. It was time to seize the moment and escape.

Since being locked in the room, I lost all appetite and hadn’t eaten in two days. Combined with my prior injuries, my body was incredibly weak.

That night, I finally slipped out while the guards were distracted.

Just outside the house, the neighbor’s dog saw me and, overjoyed after days of not seeing me, leaped toward me. But I was too frail—I collapsed on the spot.

The neighbor uncle saw what happened and, realizing I was in danger, rushed over. While I was still barely conscious, he carried me into his car. “Nina, are you okay? I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”

He looked worriedly at me in the rearview mirror. “Strange… Why can’t I reach Ethan?”

The usually quiet road was now completely jammed. “Why is there a party on the road at this hour?” He muttered while trying to call Ethan again, but no one picked up.

Suddenly, pain stabbed through my abdomen like a knife, and blood soaked through beneath me. I clutched my stomach, screaming in agony.

Seeing my worsening condition, the uncle got out and carried me toward the emergency room.

“Excuse me! She’s pregnant and just passed out. Please help!” I vaguely heard his voice as I lost consciousness.

When I came to, I was in a hospital bed, aching all over. I struggled to open my eyes. Memories of the past day came rushing back, and I instinctively touched my stomach in fear.

“You’re finally awake. Congratulations, it’s a girl—though a bit premature,” the doctor explained gently.

I looked at my now-flat stomach with mixed feelings. I had intended to terminate the pregnancy today, but now the baby had already arrived.

“Try to rest. I’ve informed your family,” the doctor said as he left.

Ethan barged in right after, reeking of alcohol, the exhaustion on his face hard to miss. “Nina, thank you for going through this. I had an emergency yesterday, but I came as soon as I heard.”

He held my hand tightly, noticing how thin I’d become. “You’re too stubborn. You shouldn’t have starved yourself just because you didn’t want to admit fault to Nina.”

I gently pulled my hand away. No matter how attentive he appeared now, the lipstick stain on the back of his neck betrayed where he had been the night before.

“She’s adorable, just like you. Don’t worry, Nina. I’ll help settle your family’s debt with the company. No one will trouble you.” He tried to show concern, but I could hear the guilt in his voice.

Looking pale after giving birth, I saw him bring over tonic soup. He fed me slowly, one spoonful at a time. I had never seen him act so gentle with me.

As I touched my belly, I did the math in my head—there were still two days until my planned procedure. But he interrupted my thoughts again.

“I saw your records—you had a prenatal appointment today. I’ve been too busy, and haven’t accompanied you once. Thank goodness the baby is safe.” He smiled gently and stroked my hair.

Then he finally noticed my head injury and quickly called for a doctor. After learning it was from a car accident days ago, his face darkened with guilt.

Over the next two days, he busied himself with my recovery. When I requested to go home to rest, he agreed without hesitation.

“I’ve got everything ready,” he said, helping me into the car. A bouquet filled the back seat—powder blue, my favorite. But the strong pollen made me sneeze.

Then I noticed the card: “Sienna” in bold, cursive letters. My heart ached. The box of powder blue diamond jewelry beside it glistened coldly.

“It’s Nina’s birthday today. She loves this color lately. She’ll be thrilled,” he said proudly.

He still didn’t know I was allergic to pollen. Seeing my expression, he added quickly, “Nina, just ask me for anything. Now that we have a baby, Mom’s happy. She’ll come home to see you soon.”

“No need,” I replied softly. Just then, a message came in—Liam was almost at the address I sent him.

Once home, I was still editing my reply when Ethan glanced over. “Who are you texting?” he asked.

I locked my screen. “No one.”

He was about to accompany me inside when his phone rang. The caller ID read Baby, and Sienna’s sweet voice rang out.

“Nina’s at the bar. I’m going to celebrate her birthday.” He turned and drove off without a second thought.

I sighed, handed the baby to the housekeeper, and went upstairs. I placed my house key into the iron box, pulled out a final sheet of letter paper, and wrote:

“Today marks our third anniversary. He’s completely forgotten. He didn’t even name our child, only remembered his baby’s birthday.”

I signed it with number 100. One hundred disappointments—enough to let go.

I packed a small bag with a few clothes and photos. No trace of me remained in that house. Right on time, Liam arrived. I tossed the oxidized, blackened ring into the street—and left without looking back.