Toward the end of the banquet, I started feeling unwell and decided to leave early. Noah immediately said he'd take me home, but Heidi blocked our path.

She seemed drunk, falling into Noah's arms and whining, "Noah, can you take me home instead?"

"That's enough!" Mom yanked Heidi back.

"Your sister is sick. As her fiance, of course he needs to take her to the hospital."

Noah nodded and pulled me toward the exit. But while driving, he was clearly distracted, running several red lights.

I leaned wearily against the window, feeling nothing anymore. Suddenly, his phone screen lit up. He glanced at it, and the car screeched to an abrupt stop.

I lurched forward without warning, crying out in pain. But Noah didn't even look at me. He tossed the car keys into my lap.

"Erin, go to the hospital yourself today. Something urgent came up at the company. I have to go."

Before I could say anything, he'd already flagged down a cab and left. I had a pretty good guess what was happening. Fighting the dizziness, I forced myself into the driver’s seat and followed him.

The car eventually stopped in front of a bar. Noah rushed inside like a madman.

"Sir, this lady had too much to drink at the bar and this man was harassing her..."

Before the employee could finish, Noah's fist connected with the drunk's face. His movements were brutal, each punch landing with sickening force. He was usually so composed and aloof, but now his face twisted with a rare, violent fury.

Several bouncers rushed forward to stop him, but he shoved them aside effortlessly. He grabbed the man by the collar.

"Tell me. Where did you touch her?"

"I didn't touch her! She was the one coming onto me!"

Another vicious punch sent blood flying from the man's mouth.

The crowd immediately started whispering. "Isn't that the CEO of Starlight Group? He's actually brawling in public!"

"But his fiancee isn't this woman, is she? Isn't he worried his fiancee will see this and get jealous?"

"Please. This is Noah Levine we're talking about. Plenty of women would kill to marry him. Having a few mistresses is normal for someone like him."

I watched the scene unfold through the car window. My numb heart still managed to ache.

Just then, Heidi rushed forward to stop him. "Please, stop! You're scaring me..."

Noah's hand froze mid-air. The violence drained from his face, replaced by a tenderness and adoration I'd never seen before.

He pulled Heidi tightly into his arms. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

I buried my face against the steering wheel and let the tears fall, one by one.

On the drive home, the fever made me sluggish. I drove straight into an oncoming truck.

The car flipped through the air. I was pinned beneath the wreckage as flames slowly consumed everything around me.

If there was a next life, I hoped I'd never see Noah again.

When I woke up again, Noah was gripping my hand tightly. His eyes were bloodshot, like he was about to cry.

"Erin, you scared me to death. I thought I was going to lose you."

He pulled me into a tight embrace, his voice choking. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone on the side of the road. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

"Thank God you're okay. I really wouldn't know how to go on living if something happened to you..."

He kissed my hair, his voice still trembling with lingering fear. But I only felt the irony of it all.

I pushed him away coldly. "You're hurting me."

Noah immediately let go and apologized.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke. "Why were you in a car accident on Second Street? That's nowhere near the hospital."

"A friend called me at the last minute. He lives nearby."

I hated lies, yet here I was, lying with such ease.

Noah's brow furrowed immediately, his tone tinged with jealousy. "What friend? Who would ask you to go out while you were running a fever?"

I wanted to laugh. Hadn't he done the exact same thing, abandoning his feverish fiancee on the roadside for his mistress?

I made up a random name to brush him off, then claimed I wasn't feeling well and asked him to leave.

Shortly after, the company called. "Erin, we heard you were in a car accident. About the overseas assignment..."

"I'm still going. I'll be on that flight tomorrow."

I stared out the window at a plane crossing the sky, my resolve stronger than ever before.

After hanging up, I immediately steadied myself against the wall to handle my discharge paperwork for tomorrow. Suddenly, Heidi burst into the hospital room.

She put on a show of concern, her fake sympathy making me sick. Unable to take it anymore, I shoved her away.

"Heidi, stop pretending! I know everything about you and Noah!"

She froze for a moment, then laughed. "Oh? I didn't expect you to find out. But do you know something else? Because of this accident, you can't have children anymore."

I froze, staring at her in disbelief.

Heidi smiled lightly. "Noah decided to keep it from you after all. Makes sense though. This is the perfect reason for a future divorce. Why would he reveal it early?

"Since you already know the truth, why are you still clinging to him so shamelessly? Noah says you love him, but I think you just love his money and power. That's why you won't leave, right?

"Erin, you're really pathetic."

"Say that again!" I raised my hand to slap her, but a hand caught my wrist firmly.

"Erin, what are you doing?" Noah stormed in, his face dark.

Heidi immediately put on a wounded expression. "I just came to check on my sister, but she's still mad at me about the wedding venue. She said I was out of line and wanted to teach me a lesson..."

Noah frowned. "Erin, I already agreed at the banquet to have the wedding in Bapo. What more do you want?"

Looking at the two of them, I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. I didn't even have the energy to explain.

I just turned my head to look at the bruise spreading across my wrist and choked out, "Noah, I'm still injured. Can you let go?"

Noah froze and immediately released me, discomfort flashing across his face. "You're still injured, so I won't hold today against you. But I don't want to see you bullying Heidi again.

"Tomorrow is our wedding. There's no need to make things ugly today."

With that, he pulled Heidi out of the hospital room. I'd never felt so exhausted in my life. But I couldn't stop now.

That night, I wrote a long letter for Mom and Dad. They'd always doted on me. They would never agree to let me go somewhere so remote and dangerous.

So I planned to tell them the truth only after I'd left.

As I placed the letter in the drawer, Noah walked in. He sat on the edge of the bed, gently touching the wrist he'd injured. "Does it hurt?"

I immediately pulled my hand back without answering him.

Noah sighed. "Erin, Heidi is just a bit naive. She doesn't have any bad intentions. She..."

"I know." I cut him off directly. "If there's nothing else, please leave. I'm tired."

Hearing the coldness in my tone, he paused, but quickly recovered his composure. "Get some rest then. The flight to Bapo is scheduled for tomorrow at noon. I'll come pick you up."

Before leaving, he gripped the doorframe and looked back at me once more. "Erin, I don't want to fight with you anymore. You have to believe that I love you. Okay?"

When I didn't respond, he slowly closed the door.

He wanted me to believe him? I laughed bitterly. Remembering everything from the past two days, how could I possibly believe him?

Early the next morning, I went to the front desk to complete my discharge paperwork and handed them the letter to pass on. Then I left without looking back.

On the way, I received a message from Noah. "Erin, time to wake up. Don't miss the flight."

I looked up at the plane in front of me and smiled faintly. Then I snapped my SIM card in half.

I'd already boarded my own flight. As for the one with Noah, I'd never be able to get on it again for the rest of my life.

Farewell, Noah.