A week later, Yuliana attended her college friend Bella Harper's wedding as a bridesmaid.

Everyone from their department had been invited, including Charlie.

As usual, he was the center of attention, surrounded by a crowd of old classmates. But the moment he spotted her, he immediately broke away and made his way over.

"That bridesmaid dress really suits you," he said.

Yuliana gave a faint smile in response.

The surrounding crowd cast strange, sideways glances their way as they stood together.

Yuliana knew it was all because of her. To their old classmates, she was a social climber who had only married Charlie for the Zimmer family fortune. They looked down on her for it, but she didn't care about their malicious assumptions.

Instead, she focused all her energy on ensuring Bella had a perfect wedding.

Finally, the ceremony reached its finale, and it was time for the bouquet toss. While every other woman hoped to catch that symbol of happiness, Yuliana remained still.

She had no interest in joining the fray. A woman who was about to be divorced had no reason to chase a symbol of marital bliss.

But then, Bella turned around, her eyes shimmering with tears as she looked at Yuliana.

She took the microphone and announced, "I'd like to give this bouquet to my best friend from college, Yuliana."

Yuliana's heart clenched at the sound of her name. A sudden, heavy hush fell over the entire hall.

"Traditionally, the bouquet is meant for an unmarried woman, but it represents so much more than just marriage—it represents happiness. As my best friend, I want to pass this happiness on to you."

Bella glanced at Yuliana and went on, "And I want to congratulate you for finally being able to stand beside the man you've loved in secret for so many years."

Charlie, who had worn an impassive expression the entire time, finally showed a flicker of a reaction.

"Others may not know, but I know exactly how much you've given over the years. You fell for Charlie when you were 19 years old. Even though he didn't know, and even though you were sure it was a love that would never be returned, you still chose to love him quietly.

"I once asked you why you refused to give up, even knowing your secret love might lead to a dead end. You told me it was simply because you loved him.

"You loved the way he shone under the spotlight. You loved how he instinctively shielded you from a flying basketball in the evening breeze. You even loved his sincere, polite grace when he turned others down.

"I saw you burn the midnight oil studying just to qualify for a competition he was in. I saw you brave a storm to buy him medicine when he was sick, only to secretly slip it into his desk drawer. I've seen your diaries filled with his name and the 999 love letters you wrote for him."

Bella paused, choking back a sob. "You once told me that love is the most magical thing in the world. Watching you persist so wholeheartedly is what gave me the courage to pursue my own happiness.

"I'm giving you this bouquet today because I hope you and Charlie will be happy forever, my dear best friend."

When she finished, the hall fell into pin-drop silence, and Charlie stiffened all over.

He couldn't help but think back to their wedding, a day too painful to remember. He saw her again, rising without hesitation amid the gasps of the crowd and walking toward him with unwavering resolve.

Only now did he realize that Yuliana hadn't chosen him to cling to power or status. She truly loved him, and she had loved him for a long time.

A ripple suddenly stirred in the stagnant pool of his heart.

As the wedding wound down, Charlie sought out Yuliana, desperate for answers. But before he could utter a word, a call from Alyssa came through.

"Charlie…" she sobbed. "I was having dinner and accidentally spilled some juice on the people at the next table. Now they won't let me go. They've even called reinforcements, trying to force me to go to a hotel with them."

Before she could finish, Charlie's expression darkened instantly. He hung up and jumped into his car, flooring the gas and racing through countless red lights.

The moment he saw the men in the restaurant, the anger he had been holding back snapped. He charged in and swung his fist at them.

He seemed to lose all reason, raining down such brutal, vengeful blows that several of the men began coughing up blood.

Alyssa hid behind him, clutching his shirt and wailing that one of the men had kissed her.

Hearing that, Charlie pinned the man against the wall and delivered more than a dozen hard slaps to his face. Even when blood began pouring from the man's mouth, he refused to let up.

The onlookers were paralyzed with fear. They didn't dare to speak, and only a few had the mind to quietly call the police.

Charlie grabbed a bottle opener from a nearby table and used it to wrench a tooth right out of the man's jaw.

By the time Yuliana arrived, the restaurant was a scene of carnage. Thugs lay scattered across the floor, and among them, a blonde man had been beaten until his face was swollen and his mouth was a bloody mess.

She froze in shock. When she looked up, she saw Charlie shielding Alyssa, leading her away. The man who had been ruthless moments ago now wore a look of pure tenderness, murmuring soft comforts as he held Alyssa close.

It was a tenderness Yuliana had never known.

She lowered her eyes, forcing back the emotions welling up inside her, and let out a self-mocking smile. Realizing she was only in the way, she turned and quietly went home.

It was nearly midnight when Charlie finally returned from giving his statement at the police station.

Yuliana was already in bed, her back to him.

Charlie knew she wasn't asleep. He sat on the edge of the mattress, the weight of him making the bed sink.

"Yuliana… There were so many people there," he explained. "Regarding Alyssa… I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."

Yuliana only gave a soft, noncommittal hum while her eyes remained closed.

Just then, her phone lit up on the nightstand with a chime. Charlie caught a glimpse of the screen, and his expression shifted.

"Yuliana, why is the court sending you a message?" he asked, his voice sharp.

Yuliana spun around and snatched the phone right out of Charlie's hand.

"It's nothing. I was just looking up whether what those guys did counted as disorderly conduct."

Charlie wanted to push further, but seeing her closed-off expression, he swallowed his questions. They were husband and wife, after all. He believed she wouldn't lie to him.

He nodded and got up to freshen up, but Yuliana called out to him.

She reached into the cabinet and pulled out a first-aid kit. "Your hand is hurt. Let me take care of it."

Charlie blinked, then obediently sat back down on the edge of the bed. He held out his hand, revealing a jagged, bloody cut. He had planned to ignore it, thinking it wasn't deep enough for a bandage, but he hadn't expected Yuliana to notice.

As he watched her focus intently on dabbing the wound with an alcohol swab, his mind drifted back to the ceremony.

"Yuliana, about what Bella said at the wedding today—"

"Don't get it wet when you shower, or it'll get infected," she interrupted. "And try to be more careful the next time you get into a fight. After this, there won't be anyone around to patch you up anymore."

She muttered that last part so softly that Charlie couldn't quite catch it.

"What did you just say?"

Yuliana offered a faint smile. "Nothing. It's late. I'm going to get some rest."

With that, she put the kit away and climbed into bed.

By the time Charlie finished his shower and came back out, Yuliana was still awake. He climbed in beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist and reaching for the buttons of her pajamas.

Yuliana reached up and caught his hand, stopping him from going further. Her voice was flat, stripped of its usual warmth. "It's been a long day. I want to sleep early tonight."

Charlie didn't force her. He simply tucked her in and turned off the light.

…

The following morning, Yuliana was jolted awake by a commotion coming from downstairs.

She dressed and headed down, only to find Alyssa in the living room, chatting and laughing with a large group of people in the living room.

Charlie stood to the side, brows furrowed, his tone laced with his signature impatience. "What are you doing here?"

Alyssa didn't miss a beat. Lounging on the couch as if she owned the place, she arched a playful brow at him. "What, not happy to see me?"

A few of Charlie's friends walked over with a grin. "Alyssa said you're the hero who saved her last night. She was so grateful she just had to come by and thank you in person."

Charlie's scowl deepened as he took in Alyssa's languid pose on the couch. "I'm not seeing much sincere gratitude here."

Alyssa smirked, and with a magician's flair, she pulled a box of chocolates from behind her back.

"Back in college, I used to make you chocolates every Valentine's Day. After all these years, I'm sure you've missed the taste."

Charlie didn't reach for the box, but the hard lines of his face softened noticeably.

Seeing the opening, Alyssa tossed the chocolates into Yuliana's arms. "Those are Charlie's favorite almond chocolates. Please put them away for him."

At that, Charlie's brows knit together again, his voice turning cold as he said, "Alyssa, you're the one who likes almond chocolates. Don't put your tastes on me. And Yuliana is my wife, not a maid. She's under no obligation to take orders from you."

A glacial chill swept the room, freezing everything in its path. Except for Yuliana—her smile remained perfectly still on her face.

So, almond chocolate was Alyssa's favorite.

It all made sense. Whether it was a corporate gala or their own wedding anniversary, there was always almond chocolate on the table.

She wondered if, every time Charlie prepared them, he was secretly revisiting those college Valentine's Days with Alyssa.

Without a word, she handed the box to the housekeeper to put in the fridge.

Alyssa shot her a look of renewed hostility, but Yuliana ignored it, carrying her breakfast into the dining room.

Because of the open floor plan, even from the dining room, every word from the living room carried over with perfect clarity.

"Charlie, isn't this the painting I did for the art competition in college? I can't believe you kept it! You even had it framed and hung in the living room. If you like my work that much, I'll paint you some new ones.

"And the pebbles we collected at the beach! I thought you'd tossed them ages ago. I never expected to see them in a crystal display box.

"Wait… I remember throwing this guitar with the broken string in the trash years ago. Did you actually take it back?"

Every corner of the house bore traces of Alyssa.

Yuliana remembered when she first moved in. She had asked about these items, and Charlie had simply dismissed them as sentimental mementos from school.

He never offered details, and she never pried. But she had been too blind to see the raw emotion hidden in his eyes whenever he looked at them—a mix of restraint, resentment, and agonizing love, all stirred by Alyssa.

After a morning of commotion, Alyssa offered to pick up the tab for lunch.

Charlie didn't even stop to think before turning her down. "Don't bother. If you've had your fun, just go home."

But Alyssa had no intention of listening. Ignoring his protest, she grabbed Charlie by the arm and started hauling him toward the door.

His friends, afraid he wouldn't go, made sure to pull Yuliana along with them.

They drove to the beach, where a party was already in full swing. Between the roaring bonfires and the blaring music, the shoreline was teeming with life.

The pounding bass of the heavy metal music made Yuliana's heart race, leaving her feeling unwell. She slipped away from the noise to a quieter stretch of sand, sitting in silence as she stared out at the endless ocean.

Charlie noticed her discomfort and walked over, intending to give her a slice of cake.

Yuliana saw him approaching and reached out to take it, but he brushed past her, weaving through the crowd toward Alyssa instead.

Alyssa was just about to take a drag of her cigarette when Charlie snatched it from her lips.

"Didn't you promise me you were done smoking?" he demanded.

Alyssa blinked up at him, putting on an innocent expression. "I just forgot for a second. Why are you so worked up?"

As she spoke, she reached out and took the cake from his hand with a bright, playful smile. "Thanks for this, though."

Charlie paused for a moment, his empty hand curling into a tight fist.

Without another word, he drifted back to where Yuliana was sitting and absentmindedly held out the cigarette he had confiscated from Alyssa.

Yuliana looked up and saw that his gaze was still glued to Alyssa. She didn't reach for the cigarette. Instead, she stood up and brushed the sand from her clothes.

"Thanks, but I don't smoke," she said. "I'm going to the pool."

Only then did Charlie realize how distracted he had been. He was so spaced out that he had forgotten he was holding a cigarette instead of the cake.

He opened his mouth to explain, but Yuliana was already gone. He never even got the chance to say a word.

Yuliana waded into the pool, letting the cool water close over her. The chill shocked her system, finally quieting the noise in her head.

Perhaps she had been wound too tight lately, because the sudden wave of relaxation left her lightheaded. Her eyelids grew heavy, and before she knew it, she drifted off.

The thumping music drowned out the sound of Charlie calling her name.

When he didn't get a response after several tries, panic seized him. Afraid she had gone under, he sprinted to the edge of the pool. Seeing her floating there, seemingly unconscious, his heart skipped a beat. He dove in without a second thought and hauled her out of the water.

Yuliana opened her eyes groggily. Before she could even process who was holding her, she instinctively looped her arms around his shoulders.

She was wearing nothing but a swimsuit, and Charlie was shirtless. As they clung to each other, skin pressed against skin, the atmosphere between them grew heavy with intimacy.

Her warm breath brushed the crook of his neck, sending a shiver through him. He looked down at her, his Adam's apple bobbing, until his resistance finally gave way and he leaned in.

Just as they were about to kiss, a piercing scream shattered the moment and forced them apart.

Alyssa stood there, face pale, her teeth biting into her lower lip as tears filled her eyes.

Without waiting for Charlie to explain, she turned and bolted.

Charlie froze for a split second before hastily setting Yuliana down and taking off after Alyssa in a blind panic.

"Alyssa! Wait! It's not what you think! You've got it all wrong!" he shouted as he ran.

Yuliana wondered. What was there to get wrong? The "misunderstanding" of a legal husband almost kissing his wife?

Even after all these years, Charlie was still trapped in his role as Alyssa's boyfriend. His first instinct when caught with another woman was to apologize and explain. That reflex was etched into his very bones, a habit he could never seem to break.

It wasn't until Charlie disappeared from sight that Yuliana realized the moisture on her face wasn't pool water. It was her own tears.

She changed clothes, desperate to escape the place where she so clearly didn't belong. But as she neared the shore, Alyssa burst into view again.

Charlie grabbed her by the arm, and their heated argument drifted over to Yuliana.

"I was just worried Yuliana was drowning!" Charlie barked. "I was saving her. I would've done the same for a total stranger! Is there really a reason to be this angry?"

The words hit Yuliana like a punch to the gut. So that was it. After three years of marriage, she held the same status in Charlie's heart as a total stranger.

Alyssa wrenched her hand free. "Fine! You're such a hero, so compassionate toward everyone. Go back to your wife, then! Why are you wasting your breath explaining yourself to an ex-girlfriend?"

"Alyssa, do you have to be so hurtful?"

"Hurtful? I'm just stating the facts!"

At that, the air between them fell into a tense silence.

"From now on, stay out of my life!" Alyssa snapped.

With that, she left Charlie standing there, jumped into her car, and sped away.

Without a second thought, Charlie hopped into his own car and tore after her.

The party ended miserably. The beach, so vibrant only moments ago, was now desolate and cold. The only sound left was the relentless, heartless crashing of the waves against the rocks.

Just as Yuliana was about to leave, Charlie's friends called out to her.

"This is bad! Yuliana!" Ethan Carter shouted, stamping his feet in panic. "Charlie just jumped into the ocean!"