This time, he didn’t reply.

It wasn’t until 1 a.m. that Justin finally came home.

When he saw me sitting silently on the sofa, his eyes flickered in surprise. Then, with a guilty expression, he knelt down beside me and gently took my hand in his.

“I’m sorry I didn’t go to the concert with you,” he said softly. “It was my fault. Selena just got divorced… she wasn’t in a good state of mind. I was afraid she might do something reckless, so I stayed with her a little longer.”

“I was planning to come back and go with you, but she promised that if I went with her instead, she wouldn’t do anything irrational. She’s your blood sister, after all. I couldn’t just turn my back on her. Can you understand?”

My tears had long dried. I slowly pulled my hand from his grasp, my voice hoarse and drained.

“I understand.”

It didn’t matter anymore. In less than a month, whatever he did with Selena would no longer concern me.

Seeing my silence, Justin continued coaxing me.

“Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the shooting range. Didn’t you say you’ve always wanted to try it? I’ll call and make a reservation right now. Can you give me a chance to make it up to you?”

I said nothing. For Selena’s sake, he—someone who had once prided himself on never breaking a promise—had started lying.

I was afraid… afraid that if I hoped for even a little, that hope would be shattered all over again.

Justin returned to the study. A moment later, my phone buzzed.

It was Selena. She had sent several photos and videos.

They were shamelessly boastful.

“Don’t blame Justin. I divorced Benny and he was worried about me, so he stayed with me all night. I didn’t know you had concert plans today. If I had, I definitely would've told him to go with you. After all, you are his wife.”

Her tone was sugary, but the images told another story.

In one photo, Justin had his arms wrapped tightly around her, massaging her head with care.

In another, his eyes were red-rimmed with concern as he sat by her bedside, holding her hand tenderly.

And in a video—Selena, drunk and weeping, looked straight at him.

“If I asked you to divorce Thalia and marry me right now… would you do it?”

Justin was silent for a long moment. Then, he answered slowly.

“I would. For the past ten years, there hasn’t been a single moment I didn’t think of you… didn’t want to marry you.”

Hearing those words, I couldn’t help but laugh.

I covered my face, laughing so hard my body trembled as tears streamed between my fingers.

I slumped back on the sofa, utterly drained of strength.

Justin had already showered. When he saw my expression, he walked over without saying a word, bent down and scooped me into his arms, carrying me straight into the bedroom.

He leaned over me, gently kissing my face, his voice low and husky.

“Baby, I’m sorry I hurt you. It was my fault. I won’t do it again.”

As he spoke, his hands began to roam my body. The scent on his skin and the familiarity of his touch filled the air with heat and tension.

Just then, I suddenly pushed him aside and sat up.

“You can sleep in the guest room tonight.”

Justin froze, clearly startled by my sudden movement. When he heard my words—words that drew a line between us—his expression darkened and his emotions exploded.

“Thalia! What the hell are you thinking? I already explained everything to you and apologized. Are you really going to keep dragging this out? It was just a concert. Is sleeping in separate rooms really necessary?!”

I looked up at him and let out a bitter smile.

“Am I the one making a fuss? Justin, you promised to go to the concert with me. But the moment Selena said one thing, you forgot me completely. Do you even know where your heart really is anymore?”

“What are you implying? There’s nothing going on between Selena and me. But if that’s how you want to think, go ahead. I’m not going to argue with you.”

With that, he grabbed a blanket and walked out.

My fingernails dug into my palms as I sat there forcing a bitter smile, mocking myself in silence.

He didn’t even care enough to explain anymore.

***

The next morning, Justin made breakfast like usual.

He made my favorite egg pancakes, urged me to sit down and thoughtfully served me a bowl of porridge.

“I’m sorry for breaking our plans yesterday,” he said gently. “I remember all your favorite things and I’ll always keep my promises to you.”

His warmth wrapped around me like a soft blanket—and for just a moment, I almost forgot.

I almost forgot who those gentle promises were truly meant for.

After a two-hour drive to the shooting range, Selena showed up—her face glowing with joy.

I was caught off guard and turned to Justin in confusion.

He responded casually, as if nothing were amiss.

“She was bored at home, so I invited her to come along. She’s your sister. You don’t mind, do you?”

I stared at him, my voice cold and flat.

“Justin, my mother only gave birth to me. I don’t have a sister. Have you forgotten?”

His expression instantly darkened and the anger in his eyes surged.

“Thalia, must you ruin everything? We’re here to have fun. What’s the big deal about one more person? Selena just ended a marriage—shouldn’t we, as her family, take her out more and try to cheer her up?”

Selena, who had been standing nearby, noticed my reaction and lowered her head, looking crestfallen.

Her voice was soft, filled with guilt.

“I’m sorry for intruding… I’ll leave now.”

Justin reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her from walking away.

Completely disregarding my presence, he gently handed her a tissue.

“We’re all here already, so let’s just enjoy ourselves. Don’t worry about her mood. Anyone can come to a shooting range.”

He shot me a sharp look.

“With all these people watching, don’t cause a scene.”

Then, without giving me a chance to respond, he dragged me roughly toward the gear area to change.

Selena, shameless as ever, didn’t flinch. She changed into her gear not far from us, as if nothing had happened.

And then, just like that, as though the tension had vanished, she came skipping over to us again.

She stopped beside me, picked up a pistol—and aimed the barrel directly at my chest.

My heart skipped a beat, my body froze and my breath caught in my throat.

Justin’s face changed instantly. In one swift move, he lunged forward and grabbed Selena’s hand, jerking the gun away from me and toward the target.

A shot fired.

The recoil threw Selena backward and she yelped, dropping the gun in fright.

Luckily, Justin caught her in time. She fell into his chest, trembling with fear.

“Justin, that was terrifying… I was so scared. Thank goodness you were there…”

Her voice quivered as she clung to him. Tears shimmered in her eyes.

Justin instinctively reached up and stroked her hair, comforting her, his face filled with concern.

Meanwhile, I stood frozen, stunned by what had just happened. My mind had gone completely blank.

It took several seconds before I could move again.

Then, without another word, I marched up to Selena, grabbed her by the collar and yanked her away from Justin.

I slapped her—once, then again.

“Selena, what the hell were you thinking?! Were you trying to kill me?!”

She clutched her cheek, eyes brimming with tears as she looked at me with pitiful innocence.

“I’m sorry… sister. I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to point it at someone. I didn’t mean to. I only realized afterward… I almost caused an accident.”

I scoffed coldly, my gaze filled with ice and venom.

“You think I’d believe that? A bastard daughter trying to steal my family fortune, seducing my boyfriend, then seducing my husband… A woman capable of such disgraceful things couldn’t possibly be innocent!”

My hands were trembling, my fury boiling over, my calm facade shattered.

By the time I finished, my voice had risen to a snarl.

Then—crack—a loud slap echoed across the range.

Justin had hit me.

His brows were furrowed, but his eyes were devoid of sympathy.

“Enough! Selena didn’t do it on purpose. It was her first time shooting—mistakes happen! Why can’t you use your head?”

“She’s your sister. Can’t you stop jumping to conclusions about her? She said it wasn’t intentional.”

Then he tu

“You’re not supposed to aim the barrel at anyone! The instructor already warned us—that was reckless!”

Selena flinched from his sudden outburst. Her lips trembled and she blinked back tears.

“I’m sorry… I’m so stupid. I won’t bother you again. I’ll go home now.”

She wiped her tears and ran off.

As soon as she disappeared from sight, Justin turned back to me with an impatient frown.

“Forget her. Let’s just continue shooting.”

But my hands were still trembling as I gripped the pistol, the earlier moment replaying in my mind like a nightmare.

It took all my focus to calm myself.

I tried adjusting my posture.

“Is this okay?” I asked.

Justin stood behind me, silent.

When I turned around, I found his eyes weren’t on me at all.

He was still staring in the direction Selena had left.

Justin kept glancing at his phone, brows furrowed.

I let out a bitter chuckle and asked again, “How do you think I did just now?”

Without even looking up, he replied absentmindedly, “Very good.”

When I didn’t respond, he finally looked up and noticed I hadn’t even aimed at the target. His expression turned awkward.

“Sorry, I got distracted.”

Just then, his phone rang. He quickly checked it, his face betraying a sense of urgency. Still, he tried to focus on the target. He fired three shots—none of them hit. In the past, Justin never missed.

“If you have something to do, go ahead. I want to stay and play a bit longer.”

He looked surprised but also slightly guilty. Softly, he said, “I’ll come back and keep you company once I’m done. Wait for me.”

I nodded and watched his figure rush away, eyes filled with mixed emotions.

I stayed at the range for another half hour before leaving. I knew the moment Selena showed up, Justin would forget all about me.

On my way back, a message popped up from Selena.

[See? Justin always chooses me, no matter what. What’s the point of being his wife if you’re unloved? You’re just like your mother—clinging to a position no one respects!]

I replied with trembling hands.

[Selena, your mother was a mistress. The whole world knows it. A mistress’s daughter is still just a mistress. Do you think there’s pride in that? You’re only after the things I’ve thrown away. What’s there to be proud of?]

After sending the message, I immediately blocked her.

That evening, Justin came home. Seeing me eating at the table, his body stiffened. Guilt flashed across his face.

“Thalia, I... I’m sorry. I was just really busy today...”

“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”

After that, the room went cold and silent. Justin retreated into his study and we didn’t speak again that night.

***

The next day, Selena arrived at the house holding a bouquet of flowers.

“I’m sorry about yesterday. I saw how upset you were, so I came to apologize.”

I didn’t say a word and continued with my chores.

She didn’t seem bothered. She wandered around the room as if it were her own. Justin sat on the sofa, watching her with a troubled expression but doing nothing to stop her.

The study door was open and Selena walked in without hesitation. Alarmed, Justin called out, “You can’t go into the study!”

But Selena just stuck out her tongue at him playfully and continued inside. Justin quickly followed, visibly annoyed, yet he said nothing to make her leave.

I clenched the rag in my hand, trying to suppress the bitterness rising in my chest.

So it turned out, the study wasn’t off-limits to everyone—only to those he didn’t deem worthy. Only Selena was allowed in.

“Oh! Isn’t this the love letter you wrote me? There are so many! Why didn’t you ever give them to me?”

“And the thermos I gave you—you really kept it! If you like it that much, I’ll get you another one.”

“You still have the greeting card, the bookmark, the keychain I gave you, don’t you?”

Hearing Selena’s excited voice from the study, my heart sank completely.

I remembered the first time I entered this house. Justin had forbidden me from entering the study or touching anything inside.

He told me those items represented his youth—the most precious memories he had—gifts from old friends.

I believed him. But now, I realized everything in there was a shrine to his love for Selena.

Later, in an attempt to apologize, Selena invited me to go camping in the suburbs. Fearing I’d reject her, she even invited some of our classmates and my best friend.

We drove out to the countryside and started pitching tents. But midway through setting them up, dark clouds rolled in and it began pouring.

As the rain intensified, everyone rushed to get their tents up. Suddenly, Selena cried out in pain and collapsed onto the ground.

Justin’s body stiffened immediately. He glanced at her in panic, hastily finished setting up the tent, then turned to me.

“You go inside first. I’ll check on Selena.”

I held myself back but eventually couldn’t stay silent.

“Justin, could you at least pretend to care about me? She just fell. There are plenty of people here—why does it always have to be you?”