Mina Long’s throat tightened until it hurt. Her eyes were locked on the pendant. “Why is that pendant around your neck?” Her voice barely came out.

Malani Castillo blinked, caught off guard. Her hand instinctively flew to the pendant. “Oh, this? Hunter gave it to me. Why?”

So casual. To Mina, it landed like a blade between the ribs. Hunter had given it to her?

“You know exactly what this pendant means to me,” Mina said, voice ragged, turning to Hunter Perry. “I left it with you before I went to prison.”

She’d always known what it meant. She’d been terrified it might get lost or stolen while she was locked up. She’d painstakingly instructed him to keep it safe. And he’d just handed it over to Malani?

Hunter’s brow knitted. His reply came out calm and indifferent. “It’s just jewelry, Mina. You’ve never been this petty before.”

Just jewelry? The words hit Mina like ice water. Hunter knew it was her grandmother’s only keepsake. One winter, during a brutal snowstorm in the Alps, the pendant had slipped off its chain and vanished into the snow. She’d searched all night on her hands and knees, fingers numb and split, blood staining the snow. Hunter had watched her do it. And now? Now he called it just jewelry.

Mina dropped her gaze, her voice trembling under the weight of her grandmother’s memory. “It’s the only thing my grandmother ever left me.”

Malani let out a light laugh. “Oh, don’t take this the wrong way, Mina, but you’re not really a Castillo. Grandma was my grandmother too, so I wanted something to remember her by.”

“You inherited Grandma’s estate,” Mina shot back, eyes boring into Malani. “But she gave me this pendant herself.”

When Grandma had given it to her, she’d said Mina was family—not by blood, maybe, but family all the same. She’d left her the pendant along with an inheritance. Yet Malani had claimed the inheritance without blinking. Hunter had talked Mina into letting it go back then, so she’d walked away with nothing but the pendant. Now Malani was rewriting the story all over again.

“Come on, don’t make a scene.” Hunter’s frown deepened, his voice sharpening. “Malani is your sister. Grandma was her grandmother too. Why are you making such a big deal over a pendant?”

A big deal? Mina felt something tear open in her chest. A cold wind rushed through the empty space.

“Why am I the one making a big deal for wanting back what’s mine?” Her voice shook with anger.

“Mama, this is just some petty drama!” Vincenzo cut in, annoyed. “You can’t act like this. You’re always picking on Malani.”

Vincenzo had always chafed under Mina’s rules, while Malani spoiled him rotten. Malani called it freedom—coffee and spiced honey cakes, no rules, no lectures. But every time Mina caught them, she’d lose her temper. To Vincenzo, it looked like nothing more than rivalry.

“I get that you feel insecure now that you’re back from prison with a disability,” Vincenzo went on, his voice innocent and knife-sharp. “But that’s no reason to target Malani. A physical disability isn’t the scary part—it’s a crippled heart. You should learn from Malani. She actually knows how to see the beauty in life!”

His childish words sliced into Mina like knives. She knew her son favored Malani. But hearing the very source of her pain stand on some moral high ground and accuse her? That was a special kind of irony.

For years, she had given them everything. And still, one smile from Malani seemed to erase all of it.

“Why so serious?” Malani cut in. She watched Mina’s face, then burst out laughing. “I was only joking. You two are so sensitive.”

She unclasped the pendant. “Otherwise, you might think there’s something going on between Hunter and me. Please. If there were, it would’ve happened years ago.”

Hunter’s expression flickered—so fast, almost no one would’ve caught it.

Mina frowned, eyes fixed on the pendant. Just as she reached for it, Malani smirked and let it drop.

It hit the floor with a sharp clang and shattered.

Mina’s eyes went wide. Trembling, she shot to her feet, ignoring her crutch, desperate to save it. Pain tore through her legs. She lost her balance and lurched forward.

Malani nimbly stepped aside—then let herself drop to the ground beside Mina with perfect, theatrical grace.

“Malani!”

“Malani!”

Two panicked voices rang out. Hunter and Vincenzo rushed to Malani, not even sparing Mina a glance.

Hunter helped Malani up, his face cold as he looked down at Mina. “Mina, Malani was giving the pendant back. You still pushed her? You’re being irrational.”

Mina ignored him. Shivering, she gathered the broken pieces, now slick with her blood—just like that night in the snow, all those years ago.

Hunter’s voice softened, almost gentle. “Mina, apologize to Malani. Let’s put this behind us.”

Apologize? Mina looked up, tears and laughter tangling in her throat. She was the one at fault?

Eight years of marriage. Eight years of Malani sowing discord, and Hunter always taking her side. After all, Malani was the woman he could never refuse to protect.

Even knowing how this would end, Mina had still hoped for some scrap of real affection. Now she saw how foolish that hope had been.

“Sorry,” Mina whispered. Her voice was hollow, wrung dry. “I was wrong.”

Something uneasy flickered across Hunter’s face, but he kept his composure, brow knitting slightly.

“I’m glad you understand,” he said, pulling Mina to her feet. He lowered his voice so only she could hear. “Malani is your sister. Don’t make things hard for her. She hasn’t had it easy all these years.”

His tone softened. “We’re family. Is a pendant really worth all this? I’ll have my assistant find you another one at auction.”

“I see my mistakes,” Mina replied, her voice steady and empty.

She looked up at Hunter and pushed him away. The chill in her eyes made him still. “I was wrong to mistake sentiment for love. Wrong to take a worthless stone for a precious gem. And most of all, wrong to marry you and join the Perry family.”

Hunter Perry’s expression darkened as he watched Mina Long hobble awkwardly on her crutches, deliberately putting distance between them. A flicker of frustration cut through him. Ever since she’d gotten out of prison, she’d grown more and more independent. Still, he wanted to fix things between them.

“Mina, what the hell are you doing?” Hunter’s voice was edged with impatience, his tone dripping with condescension. “It’s just a pendant. Why are you making such a big deal out of nothing?”

Mina met his stare with icy calm, a cold wave of realization washing over her. He knew exactly what that pendant meant to her—and he’d still brushed it off like it was nothing. It was clear now: she meant next to nothing to him.

Not that it mattered anymore. She was leaving in three months. His indifference no longer had the power to touch her.

“Mom, can you just stop?” Vincenzo’s scowl mirrored his father’s, his voice taking on the same cutting tone. “You’re being irrational. Where’s your dignity? Your maturity? You’re supposed to be a mother.”

A humorless laugh slipped from Mina’s lips. “So because I’m a mother, I’m supposed to just bury my own feelings?”

Vincenzo hesitated, his boyish face set in stubborn lines, his eyes wary instead of warm. “If you keep acting like this, I don’t want you as my mom. I’ll ask Malani instead. She’s educated and classy—not like you. You’re just a housewife.”

Mina’s gaze hardened. If she hadn’t married into the Perry family and given birth to Vincenzo, she could’ve had a PhD by now. She’d chosen not to, because she wanted to be a devoted mother. And now the education she’d sacrificed was being used as a weapon against her?

The irony was almost laughable.

The son she’d carried for nine months had inherited Hunter Perry’s ice-cold demeanor.

A faint, ironic smile touched her lips. “You’re right. Maybe I’m not fit to be your mom.”

Hunter’s expression turned harder. “Mina, what exactly are you trying to say?”

Mina fought a silent battle inside herself, but kept her expression steady. “I’m saying I won’t be your mom anymore. You can choose whoever you want.”

She turned to Vincenzo, her voice soft but resolute. “I hope you won’t regret this. And take care of yourself—your health isn’t great.”

“You think I want you as my mom?” Vincenzo exploded, his face flushing red. “I’d choose Malani any day!” He snatched a box of Legos off the shelf and hurled it to the floor. “Who needs your nagging? You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore!”

Lego pieces scattered across the floor. Mina glanced at them, a dull ache twisting in her chest. That set had been his birthday gift—they’d spent hours putting it together, side by side. Now it was just another broken memory.

She said nothing else. If Vincenzo wanted his precious Malani, he could have her.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Mina! I never thought it would come to this.” Malani covered her mouth, a flicker of triumph barely hidden beneath fake concern. “If I’d known how you felt about me, I never would’ve visited.”

“Mina, what kind of drama are you stirring up now?” Hunter’s irritation hardened into cold disdain as he seized her wrist—too tight. “I regret marrying you more than anything.”

Mina smiled bitterly. “Let’s get a divorce, Hunter.”

He’d broken her spirit for Malani. Now she’d give him and his son exactly what they wanted—freedom.

Hunter’s brow furrowed deeper, and a cold laugh escaped him. “Have you lost your mind after those three months in prison?”

His voice was ice, his stare pinning her in place. All these years, he’d been distant—but never like this. Never this angry.

“Mina, where will you go without the Perry family?” His voice sent a chill down her spine. “I’ll cut off every card you have until you come to your senses.”

Mina almost laughed. She wanted to tell him she’d be gone in three months, but Malani’s exaggerated “ouch” cut through the air first.

Hunter let go of Mina’s wrist so abruptly she nearly fell. She caught herself on the arm of the couch, barely keeping her balance. When she looked up, Malani was already leaning into Hunter’s arms.

“Hunter, my leg hurts! What if I can’t dance anymore?” Malani’s voice dripped with fake distress, and the worry that flooded Hunter’s face cut straight through Mina. She let out a breath and managed a bitter smile.

Maybe this was fate. She was meant to slip away quietly, without even a proper goodbye.

“I’ll have the divorce papers drawn up, Hunter. Make sure you sign them.” Mina spoke calmly, without looking back, and left the room on her crutches.

Her frail, limping figure made a lonely exit, stirring something deep inside Hunter. He crushed it down before it could take root.

“Oh, what a misunderstanding.” Satisfaction flickered in Malani’s eyes before she hid it. “Honestly, women can be so melodramatic. Everyone knows we’re practically siblings, Hunter—and I’m happily married!”

“Why don’t you go comfort her?” Malani suggested, all innocence. “Even though she pushed me, I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’m not as fragile as your wife.”

Irritation flashed through Hunter’s eyes. He lowered his gaze, impatience sharpening his voice. “There’s no need. Let her throw her tantrum. She has nowhere to go in this city. As for you—you can’t get hurt. Your legs are far too valuable.”

For years, Mina had gotten upset over Malani, but a new handbag always smoothed things over. Now, with no support and no credit, she couldn’t do much. Her outbursts were just her way of begging for reassurance. After what she’d done for Malani, he owed her some compensation.

Vincenzo sidled up and wrapped his arms around Malani. “That’s right, Malani! She’s always like this. Mom and Dad spoiled her. She’ll come around in a few days.”

He glanced at the shattered Lego pieces on the floor. A pang of regret hit him, but he shoved it down. His mom loved him and his dad too much to really leave them. She was just speaking in the heat of the moment—like always.

When Mina left the Perry house, she realized she had nothing—not even cash. Hunter was right.

With her cards cut off, she was alone, stranded in a city that had never truly been hers. As she stood at the roadside, lost in the blur of her own thoughts, a smooth, almost hypnotic voice cut through the noise. “Mina.”

The voice had a familiar, soothing warmth that tugged at her memory. Mina turned. A man lounged effortlessly against the door of his car, the dark vehicle making his pale skin stand out. A few strands of silver hair fell across his forehead, framing eyes that were mischievous and utterly captivating.

He carried himself with a quiet, effortless elegance. His lips curved into a faint smile as his gaze flicked briefly to her injured leg. “Need a ride?”

Mina Long’s fingers tensed slightly as she looked up to meet the man’s captivating gaze, his silver hair snagging her attention. After a brief pause, she mustered a faint smile. “Josiah Burke?” His face overlapped with the memory of a boy—battered, bloody—who had once held a knife to her throat in a desperate attempt to protect himself. The Josiah from back then had been distant, guarded. The man before her now carried a calm authority, as if he’d shed the harshness of his youth. “I’m surprised you remember me.” Josiah paused, humor crinkling the corners of his eyes. It had been far too long.

Mina was just as taken aback. Before she married, she’d studied medicine overseas. That was where she’d saved Josiah after he was shot. Seeing someone from a similar background in trouble, she couldn’t just walk away. And yet, the moment he regained consciousness, Josiah’s instinct was to hold a knife to her throat. Back then, Josiah had been a brooding boy with striking looks and a hostile edge—the kind that made Mina pity him. But after Malani Castillo returned and brought chaos with her, that empathy slowly faded. Soon after, Mina rushed home and got married. Josiah had even emailed her, wishing her happiness in her new marriage. She hadn’t expected that, upon meeting again, he’d be so composed and sophisticated—like he’d become a different person.

“Need a ride?” Josiah’s voice was deep and magnetic. Polite on the surface, but there was an undercurrent of insistence.

Mina glanced at the car he leaned against—a Rolls-Royce—hesitated, then ducked her head and climbed in.

When they’d met overseas, Josiah had been a struggling student, barely making ends meet. His expressive eyes had often softened her heart—part of why she’d decided to help him. But now she was the one who’d fallen on hard times.

From the backseat, Mina let out a light laugh and teased, “Seems like life’s been treating you well these past few years. Did you hit the jackpot?” Josiah paused, humor sparkling in his eyes. “I rented it.” “Really?” Mina blinked. “I’ve got a client in town. Had to rent a fancy car and watch to make a good impression.” His tone was relaxed, without a hint of shame about the act. Mina couldn’t help but chuckle. From the backseat, she studied him. His suit and watch might have been rentals, but his air of refinement was unmistakably real. He played the part convincingly.

Their eyes met briefly in the rearview mirror. A tremor went through her heart, and she quickly looked away.

“So, Mina, about your injuries…” Josiah’s gaze drifted over her wounds and settled on her pale face. “Do they hurt?” His voice was steady, gentle in a way that felt carefully restrained. “Just a clumsy fall,” she replied, lowering her gaze. Her smile was tinged with bitterness. She probably looked wretched and pitiful to him. But they weren’t close enough for her to spill personal details.

A quiet settled between them as warmth filled the car. At some point, Mina drifted off to sleep. Josiah, however, kept his gaze on her, watching the sleeping woman. Her long lashes fluttered softly, hinting at some hidden tension, yet her serene beauty remained untouched. The information he’d uncovered flickered through his mind, fueling a barely contained anger. His eyes, dark and intense, gleamed with a chilling fervor. After a moment, he gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. A soft smile touched his lips as he murmured, almost unwilling to disturb her peaceful rest, “Mina, if I fail to take care of you, don’t hold it against me…”

The car stopped in front of an unfamiliar apartment building. When Mina woke, she was momentarily disoriented. “Where are we?” “I’m not sure where you’re headed, but I figured you might need a place to stay. It belongs to a friend of mine, and it hasn’t been rented out,” Josiah explained. His tone was casual, carrying a slight note of persuasion. “Want to take a look?”

The apartment was well-appointed, bathed in natural light. Mina hesitated at the doorway, knowing a place like this was beyond her reach right now. The irony wasn’t lost on her. She had dedicated herself to the Perry family, working tirelessly for their company, even liaising with clients. Yet all that money ended up in Hunter’s pockets. Even her credit card expenses had been under his control, and at any minor disagreement, he cut her off financially. Meanwhile, Hunter casually transferred money to Malani, dressing it up as “caring for her sister.”

A bitter smile edged her lips as she shook her head, deciding against it. “Thank you for your kindness, but I…” Josiah seemed to sense her reluctance and gently interrupted, “If you’re worried about the rent, you can stay here for a few days. No rush on discussing payment.” His tone was gentle, yet it carried a resolve that left little room for negotiation.

As Mina lingered in indecision, Josiah handed her the keys. “The rent is quite affordable.” He named a price that made Mina’s eyes widen in surprise—it was practically a steal.

Overcome with gratitude, she smiled and thanked him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Also,” Josiah’s voice was soft and easy as he continued, “I happen to know a reputable divorce lawyer here in the city. It might be useful, so… care to exchange contact information?”

His unexpected kindness caught Mina off guard, and her voice trembled slightly as she replied, “Thank you.”

If it meant finally gaining her freedom, she truly hoped for a smooth divorce. So she didn’t refuse his offer. After marrying, Mina had changed her phone and number, losing contact with Josiah in the process. Now, she took his phone and entered her contact details.

“You’re welcome,” Josiah said, watching her with a meaningful gaze. “Mina, I hope you regain your freedom soon.”

With that, he closed the door and departed. Mina watched his departing figure, an inexplicable feeling stirring within her. Somehow, she sensed that Josiah was far more eager for her divorce than she had expected. Yet Josiah had no connection with Hunter—he was merely an ordinary man, far removed from her husband’s world. Nonetheless, she dismissed the thought, her resolve strengthening as she surveyed the apartment with renewed determination. No matter what, she was set on proceeding with the divorce.

Outside, as Josiah shut the door, his smile faded, giving way to a menacing aura. His silver hair framed his face, radiating a magnetic allure as he idly fiddled with the ring on his finger, his voice laced with a lazy drawl. “Mina, this time, I won’t let you go.” Had it not been for that twist of fate, you would have been mine all along. As for Hunter Perry, he would pay for his actions.