###Chapter 1

I shamelessly proposed to Victor Wellington on livestream for the 365th time.

Victor's impatient voice came through as the call connected, "Stop messing around, okay? If I say yes now, someone's going to die."

Instantly, the comments section was flooded with ridicule.

"Didn't you say you'd marry Victor after 365 days? Is this all?"

"You're harassing Victor like a lapdog every day, do you really think you’ll get a happy ending? What a joke!"

But they just didn't know how much Victor had once loved me.

When I was three, he clung to the kindergarten fence, stubbornly pressing a small yellow flower into my palm.

When I was twelve and had my first period, he ignored every stare, lifted me into his arms, ran to the infirmary, then crossed three streets to buy sanitary napkins.

When I was eighteen, I was kidnapped. He rode his motorcycle straight into the kidnappers, took multiple stab wounds and still dragged me back from the edge of a cliff.

Before he lost consciousness, his bloodied fingers gently touched my tear-streaked brow. He smiled and said, "Don't cry, Bella, I'll protect you forever."

Once, he wanted to give me the whole world and his remaining years. He even secretly wrote my name as the beneficiary in his will and insurance policy.

I thought we would love each other like this until we grew old. But then my illegitimate sister, Brielle Whitmore, appeared, and everything changed completely.

In the live stream, everyone was still laughing at my persistence, my relentless pursuit and my complete lack of dignity.

They even placed bets, would I beg Victor to marry me for the 366th time tomorrow?

But there wouldn't be a next time.

365 times—that was the deadline I gave him.

Ten days later, I would wear a white veil and become someone else's bride.

I hastily shut down the live stream, wiped away my tears and gripped a dagger in one hand, tearing off the amulet from my neck.

This amulet was something Victor got for me after I was kidnapped and I wore it for five whole years.

Uncle Sam, the old butler who had watched me grow up, was sweating profusely with anxiety.

“Miss Bella, Mr. Wellington made this amulet with his own blood after nearly losing his leg from kneeling over a thousand steps at a temple in Frostwood. You've treasured it all this time, are you really going to give it up?”

Suddenly, a gossip headline popped up on the computer screen.

Wellington Heir Books Luxury Mall, Showers His Girlfriend with Luxury Cars and Gifts

So…he completely forgot that today was our anniversary….

“I don’t want it anymore. He doesn’t want me. I don’t want him either!”

With a swift movement, the amulet shattered into pieces and my heart broke completely.

Victor and I were once the envy of everyone. I thought that after graduating from university, he would give me a grand wedding.

But in the end, it was all just a beautiful dream.

The dream is over, now it’s time to let go.

Uncle Sam’s eyes reddened and he choked out, "Alright. Then please compose yourself and prepare for your wedding with Mr. Dalton. Are you sure you don't need to tell Mr. Wellington?"

"No, Uncle. You can go and rest."

He sighed and left.

I threw the broken amulet into the trash can and finally sent a text message. [Let's break up.]

The next morning, I received his reply. [Don't act like a spoiled princess. You know I'm busy.]

Meanwhile, on Brielle's updated Instagram, she was having breakfast at the Hawthorne Sky Hotel, deliberately showing the blurred profile of the man beside her.

Seeing the man kiss away the sauce from her lips, my heart ached as if I were dying.

It all began from a rainy night more than a year ago, from a foolish act of mine.

That day, I encountered Brielle, who had been beaten black and blue by her mother. I couldn't bear it and took her back to my and Victor's home.

I was applying ointment to Brielle's wounds in the living room when the door opened.

Brielle looked up from the sofa and met the handsome man with deep-set eyes.

Victor.

That night, she sneaked into the study, climbed onto Victor's lap, but he coldly threw her out of the house.

Shortly after, Brielle rushed onto the stage at our graduation ceremony and confessed her love. Victor called her crazy and had his bodyguards kick her out.

She then bought his business trip itinerary, climbed into his hotel bed and was arrested by Victor after he called the police.

I firmly believed that my boyfriend loved me more than life itself. He also would absolutely despise a shameless illegitimate daughter like her mother.

But on the day I first proposed to him, Brielle also started a live stream, attempting suicide by cutting her wrists on camera.

"I'll never have peace if she dies. Bella, let's postpone the wedding."

After saying that, Victor turned and left.

I thought that was the only time. Little did I know, that would be the second time, the third time…

Until the 361st time, Victor told me he was on a business trip, but as soon as I turned off the live stream, I saw him in the distance, looking at new villas with Brielle.

Brielle got tired and Victor scooped her up in his arms, the movement as practiced as if he'd rehearsed it a thousand times.

Brielle wrapped her arms around his neck and shyly kissed him on the cheek, saying, “Whatever those people say, I don’t want a villa anymore. As long as you’re here, that’s more than enough for me, Victor.”

“Brielle, you’ve never received the warmth of a family since you were little. I want to give you a home.”

My blood ran cold and I collapsed to the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

It turned out that love had already shifted; a life lost was just a clumsy excuse, yet I foolishly believed it hundreds of times.

My knees were cut by the stones on the ground, bleeding profusely, but it couldn’t compare to even a fraction of the heartache.

Watching him carry her to sign the purchase contract, giving her a home, I cried alone for a long time. My entire youthful joy, my purest and most passionate love, has become a joke.

Then the phone rang. I answered and a man's exceptionally magnetic voice came through.

"Still haven't given up on that Wellington guy? This is the last time I'll propose to you. If you miss this opportunity..."

"Then I’ll marry you, Bastian!"

I bit my lip, my gaze gradually turning cold.

Victor, I am Bella Whitmore. Why would you think you still matter to me?

After a brief silence, Bastian said slowly, "Then pack your things. I'll come to marry you in half a month."

###Chapter 2

Snapping out of my reverie, I closed Brielle's Instagram and saw that Bastian had posted a bunch of wedding dress designs for me to choose.

They were all designs by my favorite top wedding dress designer, Dominic Steele.

An indescribable feeling of gratitude welled up inside me: Bastian had even taken the time to research all of this!

Just as I was about to choose a dress, I heard footsteps.

Victor walked in.

"Bella, are you just up? Have you had breakfast?"

Suddenly, he glanced at my phone, his face darkening. "Didn't I say we'd talk about the wedding later? Are you in such a hurry to kill Brielle?!"

Although he misunderstood, hearing those words still left me in disbelief.

I couldn't help but question him. "What did I just hear? I want to kill Brielle? Victor, is that how you see me?"

Gazing at my suppressed tears, Victor's heart tightened and he quickly pulled me into his arms. "That's not what I meant."

His familiar, warm breath enveloped me, and his forceful, fiery breath was close to my ear.

"The company's not busy today. I'll make it up to you, okay?"

Despite my inner resistance, I felt a familiar change in him and my hands, like a thief, gripped his strong back.

I looked up, waiting for the kiss, but the shrill ring of the telephone suddenly filled the room.

Brielle's tearful voice came through.

"Victor, I hurt my leg! It hurts so much!"

Victor's face changed drastically.

"I'm coming right now!"

He pushed me aside and rushed out. Meanwhile, I stumbled, my forehead slamming against the corner of a cabinet, a sharp pain shooting through my body.

From afar came Victor's explanation. "Brielle's in trouble. I'm going to check on her!"

I clutched my bleeding head, fell to the cold floor and laughed loudly.

She was his precious darling, he couldn't afford to let anything happen to her…

Then what about me?

How could he just throw me away like that?

Laughing, tears streamed down my face.

Suddenly, Uncle Sam rushed upstairs. Seeing my face covered in blood and tears, he worriedly asked, "Miss, why are you bleeding so much?!"

Then he pulled out a handkerchief and anxiously wiped away my tears. "Miss, please don't think about everything that makes you sad. We need to go to the hospital now!"

I said softly, "You’re right. I don't need to think about it."

After the driver took me to the hospital, the doctor treated my wounds and told me to stay and rest for two days.

I went out of the ward to clear my head and unknowingly ended up by a pond in the backyard.

Sitting under a tree, I sent a message to my assistant, asking him to dispose of the 10% stake in Wellington Group that I held. It was a ‘token of love’ that Victor had given me against my parents' wishes. Now, it was useless to keep it.

My assistant was my confidant and quickly replied, [Don't worry, I will 'handle' it properly and make that scumbag regret it!]

After putting away my phone, I suddenly heard a rustling sound behind me.

Turning around, I saw Brielle sitting in a wheelchair, her knees wrapped in bandages under her white dress. A pale, pretty face flashed a venomous, sinister smile at me.

“How can you be so shameless, Bella? You’ve been rejected over three hundred times, yet you still shamelessly cling to Victor? Tch, if I were you, I’d be so ashamed. I’d just kill myself!”

I stood up, staring at her. “Even if I’m shameless, I’m not as shameless as a mistress like her mother. You think Victor likes you? He’s just craving for something new.”

I sneered and turned to leave, but Brielle grabbed my wrist, letting out a shrill scream.

“Then let’s see who will he choose!”

What?

Before I could react, Brielle suddenly tumbled into the pool!

I instinctively tried to call for help, but as soon as I turned, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder.

It was Victor shoved me aside then jumped into the water without hesitation, only for rescuing Brielle.

Brielle coughed up several mouthfuls of water, sobbing and huddling in Victor’s arms, trembling all over.

“How…how could my sister called me a homewrecker? She said you'd only come back to her if I died, and no matter how much I begged, she still wanted to drown me!" She cried a lot.

A flicker of heartache crossed Victor's face, but his gaze turned sharp and cold as he looked at me.

"You pushed Brielle into the water?! Now you try to sneak away, pretending nothing happened?!"

I didn't expect Brielle's words to condemn me so easily, so I denied it. "I didn't push her. She did it herself! You don’t believe me, Victor? Fine, let’s check the security footage!"

Victor interrupted me.

"You even secretly followed me to the hospital, wasn't it all to harm Brielle?! If it wasn’t intentional, what else could it be?”

With that, he carefully placed Brielle in the wheelchair and walked straight towards me, his voice as cold as ice while saying, "Bella, since you've become so vicious, you'll have to pay the price!"

With that, he reached out and pushed me, who was afraid of water, into the water.

###Chapter 3

Icy pool water rushed into my nose and mouth. I struggled desperately, trying to call for help.

“Bella, I will never marry a woman as cold as you!”

Victor spoke each word firmly.

If he had turned around, he would have seen the wound on my head reopen, blood gushing out and staining the pool red.

But no matter how much I struggled in the water, my strength waned and I slowly sank into the deep water. The last thing I saw was him carrying Brielle away.

When I opened my eyes again, I met the Uncle Sam’s worried gaze.

“I just went back to make you some soup, how could this have happened, Miss? The doctor said if we had been a minute later, you might not have woken up!”

I huddled on the hospital bed, trembling uncontrollably. The grievances and fear choked my throat, but I swallowed them back down.

After my mother left, Uncle Sam was the only one who truly cared for me. I couldn't bear to worry him anymore.

I forced a smile and gently shook my head. "I'm fine, Uncle. Don't worry."

The infection from my wound, coupled with the shock of nearly drowning, had left me with a fever for several days.

Meanwhile, Victor hadn't called once, only sent some tonics.

The bodyguard conveyed the message expressionlessly. "Mr. Wellington said that as long as you obediently apologize to Miss Brielle, he will forgive you."

Forgive me, he said?

What a joke.

I angrily swept the tonics into the trash can, looked at the faint scar on my forehead in the mirror and gave a bitter smile.

After being discharged from the hospital alone, I took a taxi back to pack my bags, most importantly to retrieve my mother's keepsake—a jade ring I had given to Victor as a token of our love.

But as soon as I stepped onto the stairs, I heard a woman's soft moans coming from the direction of the bedroom.

"Victor...it hurts..."

Then I heard a man’s voice, suppressing his emotions and spoke with utmost gentleness, "Okay, I'll go slower."

"Victor, my biggest wish is to have your baby, so I'll truly have a home... is that okay?"

After a moment of silence, the man's hoarse reply came. "As your wish, Darling."

No need to be genius to know what they're doing!

My stomach churned and I almost vomited.

Back downstairs, I sat there blankly for a long time.

Then Brielle came down. She was wearing Victor's oversized shirt, her legs bare, her eyes languid.

"Ah, you’re back, Bella? Don't misunderstand, my apartment's water's cut off, so I came to borrow the bathroom to take a shower."

Not long after, a tall figure appeared behind her.

Victor, for sure.

Seeing me, his voice was slightly tense. "Bella, when did you get back?"

I suppressed a wave of nausea. "Just now."

He immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

I continued, "I want my mother's jade ring back."

His eyes turned cold. "The ring?"

He grabbed my wrist, seeing me with a sharp gaze. "I thought you came back to apologize to Brielle, but you ask for the ring right away? You want back what you gave me?"

“Why? Then what about you? We’ve known each other for twenty years and you’d rather believe her than me?”

“I saw you push Brielle down with my own eyes, how can I believe you?!”

I was utterly disappointed, and with all my might, I shook off Victor’s hand. “Think what you want. Give me back the ring and we’re breaking up. Victor, you’re free now and I won’t be a laughingstock anymore.”

He was stunned, his anger intensifying. “Just because I’ve been neglecting you lately, you’re threatening me with a breakup?”

“I’m not threatening you,” I looked at him calmly, “I’m informing you. My things, give them back.”

Victor clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. “It’s lost!”

“What?!” I stumbled. He knew perfectly well what that ring meant to me!

Beside me, Brielle suddenly interjected. “Huh? You mean this one, Bella?”

She took a leather cord with a jade ring attached from under her oversized shirt.

My eyes lit up and I was about to grab it when I saw Brielle stumble, the ring suddenly slipping from her hand and shattering on the marble floor.

My vision went black. Then…

Slap!

I landed a hard slap on her face.

"Brielle, you did that on purpose, right? How could you be so shameless just like your mother?!"

But Brielle screamed and fell to the ground. Victor threw me onto the sofa and tenderly picked Brielle up.

Turning around, his eyes were filled with endless coldness.

"Lock her in the basement. Don't let her out without my permission!"