[Sorry, I lost my memory after the car accident. I don’t know you, and I can’t clearly recall my past with Ethan.]

[But when I woke up, he told me I had to marry him, and that he’d soon send you far away.]

Emily was silent for a while before replying:

[You’re no match for me!]

I frowned in confusion.

Who ever considered her a rival?

The next second, the hospital room door was slammed open and Ethan strode in, his face dark with anger.

“Didn’t I say I would marry you? Why are you still making things difficult for Emily?”

Before I could react, he yanked the IV needle out of my arm.

“Emily tried to kill herself—she’s in shock right now. I remember your blood type matches hers. You have to come with me to give her a transfusion!”

I scowled.

“What does her suicide attempt have to do with me?”

He looked at me, his gaze complicated.

“Sophia, you knew she’s sensitive, yet you told her I was planning to send her away.”

“I already promised that after we’re married I won’t see her again. Why did you have to provoke her now?”

“This started because of you—you need to take responsibility.”

I swallowed my frustration and stared into his eyes, speaking slowly:

“The doctor said I need to rest after the accident.”

A cold smirk curved his lips, his chest rising and falling sharply.

“So, in the end, you just want her to die right now? You can’t even tolerate waiting a little longer?”

His voice was low and frightening.

“What is a human life worth to you?”

I froze.

More than a decade of being childhood sweethearts, and it still wasn’t enough for him to trust me now.

He ignored my struggle and dragged me up to the rooftop, shoving me into a helicopter that was about to take off.

My concussion hadn’t fully healed, and the violent turbulence made my head spin.

As soon as we landed, Ethan pulled me roughly toward the hospital.

He forced me into a chair in the blood collection room. The chill of the alcohol swab brushed my arm, and I finally found my voice:

“Ethan, are you insane?”

The doctor beside us noticed something was off. After drawing a small amount of blood, he immediately stopped.

“Sir, her current condition isn’t suitable for further extraction.”

He pointed to the two full bags already prepared.

“This is enough for Ms. Ross, and new supplies are on the way.”

Ethan’s gaze dropped to my pale face, his brows finally knitting together.

Suddenly, Emily let out a weak whimper from the hospital bed.

His eyes shifted instantly.

After a brief pause, his voice turned cold.

“Continue. She’s the one in greater danger right now.”

“This is your mistake—you should bear the consequences.”

Seeing my lips turning faintly purple, he hesitated, then placed a hand on mine.

“Just hold on—it’ll be over soon.”

His tone softened.

“I just want you to remember this lesson—you shouldn’t bully her.”

I yanked my hand away in disappointment, shutting my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at him.

He sighed, pulled out his phone, and made a call.

“The rare wild ginseng and the deer antler extract from tonight’s auction—tell the organizer I’ll take them.”

I drifted into unconsciousness.

When I awoke again, the room was empty except for a bowl of steaming ginseng broth by my bedside.

I pushed myself up on shaky legs, didn’t spare it a glance, slipped on my shoes, and headed for the door.

As I passed a hospital room, a weak voice called out to me.

It was Emily.

I froze for a moment but didn’t turn back.

Just as I was about to keep walking, a sharp, pained scream burst from behind me.

“Ah! It’s so hot!”

Instinctively, I turned and saw Emily pouring a bowl of scalding ginseng broth over her own arm.

“Sophia Grant!”

Ethan’s voice rang out from the other end of the hallway.

He strode in quickly, grabbing me and pulling me into the room.

“How much longer are you going to keep this up?”

His eyes burned with fury. “Can’t you even leave a patient alone?”

Watching him tend so carefully to Emily’s burn made a wave of exhaustion wash over me.

I looked straight into Emily’s eyes, my voice flat and calm.

“I’m not marrying Ethan. You can stop acting now.”

Ethan’s movements froze. After a few seconds, he slowly stood up, a mocking smile on his lips.

“The doctor said you only have temporary memory loss.”

Leisurely, he pulled out a familiar notebook and tossed it in front of me.

“When you remember how much you used to love me, you won’t be saying stupid things like that.”

My heart gave a painful twist.

It was the diary I had shyly given him the day he confessed to me, filled with more than ten years’ worth of my unspoken affection.

Now it had become a weapon to hurt me.

I bit my lip hard, but the tears still spilled over.

Ethan kept going.

“If you were still the kind, gentle Sophia from before, I’d treat you the same as always—respect you, love you, protect you.”

“But now, over petty jealousy, you don’t even care about someone’s life.”

“Selfish. Cruel. When did you become like this?”

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, unable to say a word.

“She’s always been like this.”

“She’s always been a proud princess—princesses never bow their heads. You’re the one who failed her.”

The firm, unyielding voice came from behind me.

The newcomer wore a Grant family security uniform, but his bearing carried an undeniable air of authority.

He stepped in front of me, shielding me in his arms.

“Miss, I’m sorry I’m late.”

I wiped my tears upward, forcing back the sobs, and told Ethan,

“Sorry—how much I loved you? I don’t remember anymore.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned to leave. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a rare flicker of panic on Ethan’s face, as if he might come after me.

“Ethan, I think my hand has blistered…” Emily’s fragile voice rang out.

In the end, he didn’t follow me.

As I stepped out of the room, I threw the diary into the trash without hesitation.

From that moment on, we had no more contact. I was busy preparing to leave; he was busy giving Emily his so-called “love that belonged only to her.”

One day, a bridal boutique sent me a message saying the wedding gown I had designed myself was nearly finished.

Only then did I realize the wedding Ethan and I had originally planned was just a week away.

That dress was my own creation. Even if I could never wear it now, I couldn’t resist seeing it one last time.

Under the lights of the boutique, the gown shimmered with iridescent beauty. My hands trembled as I reached out to gently brush the fabric.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t getting married? Looks like you’re still reluctant to let go.”

I turned to see Emily again.

“I’m just here to say goodbye. I’d never take a man with a wandering heart.”

“It’s just a shame for such a beautiful dress to go to waste.”

A cold laugh escaped my lips, my words laced with mockery.

“If you want it so badly, it’s yours.”

Emily didn’t get angry. Her eyes were full of hope, and she actually stepped closer and closer to the wedding gown.

I sighed, thinking she was simply too infatuated. All of this, after all, was Ethan’s fault.

But I had underestimated just how vicious she could be.

As soon as she reached the gown, her breathing suddenly quickened, and then her body went limp.

Not understanding what was happening, I stepped toward her in concern.

“What’s wrong?”

“Emily!”

Before I could crouch down, Ethan rushed in and shoved me aside.

Emily’s lips were slowly turning purple, but there was a glint of triumph in her eyes.

“Miss Grant said that since I’m about to be sent away, I might as well take one last look at the gown she was supposed to wear.”

“I was so envious, I couldn’t help getting close to it, but somehow… I think I had an asthma attack…”

Ethan brushed his hand over the gown, finding some powder on the fabric. He lowered his head to sniff it, and then his gaze slashed toward me like a blade.

“This is hazelnut powder. Emily’s allergic to it. You did this on purpose!”

He hurriedly ordered his men to take her to the hospital.

I shook my head in disbelief.

“I’ve already said I’m not marrying you—why would I want to hurt her?”

Ignoring my explanation, his face darkened, and he slapped me hard.

“Impossible! You’ve got the gown ready and you’re still trying to deny it!”

“Didn’t I promise you already? Why can’t you just leave Emily alone?”

Ethan grabbed my hand and dragged me into the VIP fitting room, shutting off all the lights.

“You bastard, you know I have claustrophobia!”

The room was completely sealed, no windows, only a single heavy door.

He said nothing.

In the darkness, the dim red emergency light flickered. I could hear my own heartbeat getting louder and louder.

When I was ten years old, I’d been kidnapped, and ever since, I’d suffered from severe claustrophobia. Back then my parents had been busy, and it was Ethan who would sneak into my room every night, staying until I fell asleep, telling me, “Don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, you’ll never have to be scared again.”

But now, separated from me by a heavy door, his voice came cold as ice:

“Remember this lesson—stop making trouble for Emily.”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer and broke down crying.

“I’ve never once made trouble for her. I’ll stay far away from both of you. Please, just let me out.”

My plea was interrupted by one of his men.

“Sir, Miss Ross isn’t doing well. She keeps saying she wants to see you one last time before she dies.”

The sound of footsteps faded, leaving me trembling in despair.

I don’t know how much time passed before the door finally opened.

It wasn’t Ethan—it was the same bodyguard who had spoken up for me before. My father stood behind him.

Seeing me collapsed on the floor, the bodyguard’s stern face twisted with a flash of pain, while my father’s expression turned thunderous.

“My daughter has suffered this much, and I’m only finding out now!”

Before I lost consciousness, I heard my father instruct his men,

“Don’t leak that insider information to the Parkers. Let them keep bidding for that piece of land.”

He brushed a hand over my sweat-soaked forehead with aching tenderness.

“My dear, I thought you were joking when you said you wanted to call off the engagement, so I never told the Parkers. But since Ethan and that little tramp are so in love…”

“This wedding—let’s treat it as a gift from me to them. They’d better accept it well.”