Shawn roared, "You still haven't apologized to Queenie! If you don't, don't expect to have a single peaceful day in Nautilis!"

The look in his eyes was vicious—like he wanted to tear me apart. He was nothing like the boy who once made silly faces to cheer me up.

But I'd always know who they really were.

Nigel, the older brother, always had the polished charm of a gentleman—warm on the surface but ruthless underneath.

Shawn, the younger brother, came off like a spoiled playboy, but in truth, he was just as cruel.

Never in my life did I think they'd use those very tactics against me.

"I did nothing wrong. If you want to come after me, go ahead."

I had nothing left to fear.

They didn't need to chase me away. I would stay far away from them on my own. And as for the peaceful days he mentioned? I never had any to begin with.

Shawn blocked my path.

Nigel, meanwhile, descended the stairs. Seemingly out of guilt, his tone softened.

"Forget it. Yvonne got a kick to the stomach. She's probably learned her lesson. I'll have the assistant bring over the newest perfume later. Queenie said it would suit Yvonne.

"Of course, that's only if you promise not to bother Queenie again."

So, what was it? A slap and a piece of candy?

He must've forgotten that I've had asthma since I was a child. I couldn't be around strong fragrances.

Back then, Nigel didn't even trust the maids, insisting on cleaning everything himself. He even washed my laundry by hand.

All that just to make sure there wasn't a trace of allergen left.

Now? They'd all forgotten about it.

I held Mom's journal close. My nose tingled, and before I knew it, I let out a violent sneeze.

Bright red droplets splattered all over the floor.

I'd forgotten that Queenie's dog was still in this villa.

It would seem that I was about to have another asthma attack.

It felt like someone had wrapped a fist around my lungs and was squeezing tighter by the second. My breathing turned shallow.

I tried to call for help, but my throat seized up.

Shawn scoffed coldly. "Drop the act, would you?"

The air drained from my lungs. My legs buckled, and I collapsed to the floor.

Nigel took a step forward, but Shawn grabbed his shoulder and steered him back upstairs with Queenie in tow.

I fumbled through my bag and finally found my inhaler. After a few desperate sprays, I managed to get some air and mustered enough strength to dial for an ambulance.

…

When I was wheeled out of the emergency room, the same nurse from before glanced at my critical condition form and exploded with rage.

"You just barely got discharged. How are you already back here in this state? Not everyone's born lucky. That's why you've got to take care of yourself even more!"

I bowed my head and accepted the scolding.

I understood now. If no one else was going to love me, then I would have to love myself more.

I stayed in the hospital for a few more days, then returned to the Langston family's hospital to formally resign.

However, when I arrived, the entire department was filled with unfamiliar faces.

A few questions later, I found out that ever since Queenie became the new department head, all the colleagues who used to be close to me had either been fired or bullied into resignation.

She could've just come after me. Why did she have to drag everyone else into this?

Anger flared in my chest, and I went to confront her—only to be told that the Langston brothers had taken her to an academic conference.

It was one of those conferences that was packed with the most respected names in the field.

I had applied to attend multiple times in the past and was rejected at every try.

But when it came to Queenie? They threw money around to make it happen.

I left my resignation letter behind and decided to say a proper goodbye to the one person who had ever truly helped me in this family—Mr. Langston Senior.

The moment he saw me, his eyes welled up with tears.

"You look terrible. I've always seen you as my granddaughter-in-law, but now you're going to marry into the Blackwell family. I just can't bear it!"

I quickly reached out and held Mr. Langston Senior's hands.

"Mr. Langston Senior, I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

He let out a long sigh, his cloudy eyes filled with pain and heartbreak. "It's those two scoundrels' fault! No matter what happens from now on, I’ll see you as my granddaughter!"

I sniffled and nodded quickly, trying my best not to cry. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a card, placing it gently on the table.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me all these years. The rest… I'll repay them someday."

Mr. Langston Senior instantly flared up, slamming his cane hard against the floor.

"Scoundrels! Those little punks must've said something to you! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

He stood up shakily and shoved the card right back into my hands.

Finally, I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

Over the years, Mr. Langston Senior treated me like his own granddaughter. I couldn't let myself hurt him, no matter what.

But when it came to matters of the heart, there was no clear right or wrong.

I hugged the old man before me tightly, the one who looked at me with nothing but love in his eyes. I promised myself I would never make him worry again.

Just then, the office door swung open.

The Langston brothers walked in with Queenie. The second they saw me, their expressions darkened.

"Yvonne! You're here tattling to Grandpa again, aren't you? Can't you stop being so petty?"

"Shawn! Watch your mouth!" I snapped.

Queenie quickly shrank behind the brothers, glancing at me with her usual pitiful expression.

Nigel walked up to Mr. Langston Senior and said, "Grandpa, please don't blame him. Lately, Yvonne's been overly jealous because of Queenie. She even hit her."

When Mr. Langston Senior didn't immediately respond, Nigel continued, "Queenie's a good girl. She may not come from money, but she's kind. Unlike Yvonne, who's been spoiled rotten by us."

Mr. Langston Senior suddenly snatched up his cane and swung it hard at Nigel's leg.

"It's no wonder Yvonne wants to leave. So this is how you treat her? I don't want to see that woman in this house ever again!"

The brothers led Queenie out of the room sullenly. Meanwhile, I stayed behind to comfort Mr. Langston Senior for some time.

But the moment I stepped out of the office, someone shoved me violently from behind, and I stumbled to the ground.

It was Shawn!

He glared at me, eyes wide and full of fury.

"Yvonne Sachman! What makes you think you're better than Queenie? She's the department head now! Why'd you have to go whining to Grandpa?"

He grabbed my arm and dragged me over to Queenie.

"Apologize! You're getting on your knees and apologizing to her today!"

I looked up at the three of them.

I was just about to walk away from all this, yet they still wouldn't let me go.

I couldn't hold it in anymore and screamed, "I didn't do anything wrong!"

What I got in return was a slap across my face, one that left my ears ringing.

Before I could even recover, Shawn grabbed the back of my neck, forcing me to get down on my knees before Queenie.

The moment my knees touched the ground, my breath caught in my throat.

I curled up, gasping, but no air seemed to reach my lungs.

Right before I blacked out, one thought echoed in my mind. "With this, we're even."

Let the past be forgotten. From this moment on, we'd be strangers.

After a few days in the hospital, I could finally stand and walk again, but the string of health issues had caused some permanent damage.

The day I was discharged, Nautilis' social media was flooded with breaking news—the Blackwell family's heir would be having a flash wedding.

It was also then that the Langston brothers finally texted me.

Shawn: "Running away again? Ever heard of the boy who cried wolf? Get your ass back here, or I'll never forgive you."

Nigel: "Where are you? Why does the Blackwell family's heir's wife share the same name as yours? Come back. Now!"