I didn’t know how long I lay there,my body pinned under the twisted wreckage.

The sounds of gunfire eventually faded.My consciousness flickered like a dying flame,but I refused to give in.

With the last of my strength,I pushed the chandelier off and stumbled through the banquet hall,stepping over the bodies that littered the floor.

Outside,a sleek black Maybach rolled up and stopped at the front entrance.The driver honked twice.

They’d come to pick me up.

Relief surged through me,and I quickened my pace toward salvation.

But just as I reached the gate—freedom within arm’s reach—someone yanked me back by the collar,dragging me across the gravel and dust.

I was thrown into an open space.

David stood there in the center,gently coaxing the sobbing woman in his arms.

At his feet,two black-clad men knelt,their faces bruised and swollen.They looked up as I was dragged in and pointed at me like hyenas.

“Young Master Clark,it’s her!She’s the one who sent us to kill your wife!”

I blinked.What?

Before I could speak,David’s eyes sharpened with hatred.His sneer cut deeper than any blade.

“Jane,are you tired of living?You dare lay a finger on Anna?”

“I didn’t—”I started,but the words barely left my lips before he barked another command.

“Strip her.”

The order was immediate.Brutal.

Rough hands tore at my clothes,ripping them away until I stood completely exposed under the cold night air,my body bare for all to see.

But what they hadn’t expected—what he hadn’t expected—was what my body revealed.

Dozens of scars.

Old wounds.Some deep,some jagged.The cruel aftermath of torture.All souvenirs from that night two months ago,when I’d been captured while helping David smuggle a shipment and rival gangs tried to lure him out with my screams.

Every single scar told a story of pain—and of loyalty.

The crowd didn’t care.They stared,eyes full of ridicule and glee,whispering and laughing like I was some freak on display.

I tried to cover myself with trembling hands,but it was useless.I felt like an animal in a cage.

My voice cracked,heavy with desperation.

“David,for the ten years I stood by you—heart and soul—please believe me.I don’t know these people.I never sent anyone after her.”

He looked at me then.Finally.His eyes flickered—hesitating as he took in the network of scars across my skin.

Just when I thought he might say something—

“David!My hand...it hurts…Am I going to die?”

Anna's whimper cut through everything.She clutched her left arm,blood soaking through the gauze,staining his sleeve.

David’s attention snapped back to her.In a flash,the doctor was called.

After a quick check,the doctor looked grim.

“Young Master,Madam has lost too much blood.She needs a transfusion immediately.”

David’s face went pale.Without thinking,he grabbed my arm and dragged me toward Anna’s side.

“Take her blood.She has the same rare type as Anna.”

The doctor hesitated.

“But she’s badly injured.If we force a draw now,she could die…”

“Then let her die!”David snarled.“She’s the one who tried to kill Anna!”

Even now…he didn’t believe me.

My heart clenched like it was being ripped apart,shredded by the very hands I once trusted.

A long,thick needle was driven into my vein.My blood was taken against my will—life draining out of me.

And still…he never looked back.

The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was the warm,concerned look he gave her.

Then everything went black.

When I finally regained consciousness,I was lying in a hospital bed.

“You’re awake at last!Are you feeling any discomfort?”

The nurse at my bedside sighed with visible relief when she saw my eyes flutter open.

I blinked,dazed,my voice hoarse as I asked,

“Who brought me here?”

She looked puzzled.

“Don’t you remember?You dragged yourself here.When I found you,you were barely breathing.”

Her words jogged my memory.Yes…I had crawled here on my own,every inch feeling like death.

I just hadn’t expected that David would be so utterly heartless—not even bothering to get me medical help.

Just then,a noise stirred outside the door.

David appeared,carefully supporting Anna as they walked past my room.

The nurse glanced at them,her voice tinged with admiration.

“Mr.Clark really lives up to his reputation as a doting husband.His wife was only slightly injured,but he reserved the entire top floor,hired a private medical team,and stayed by her side twenty-four-seven to protect the baby she’s carrying.”

I tugged at the corner of my lips,managing a bitter smile.

Then,my phone rang.

It was him.

“Jane,the man I sent to pick you up last night said you never showed.Did you backtrack?Are you planning to stay with David after all?”

I pressed my fingers to my temple,willing the pounding headache to subside and replied patiently.

“Don’t worry.I stayed by David’s side only to repay a debt.That debt is repaid now.The ten years are up—I have no reason to stay.”

Ten years ago,David’s mother died saving me from drowning.To repay her,I made a vow:I would help David rise as the new leader of the gang.That vow had shaped my entire life.

But now…that vow had been fulfilled.

I ended the call just as the door creaked open.

David entered with Anna trailing behind.

“Jane,are you feeling any better?”she asked sweetly.“I’m so sorry...It’s all my fault you ended up in the hospital.”

David ruffled her hair gently,sighing.

“This isn’t your fault.It’s hers.If she hadn’t tried to hurt you,she wouldn’t be in this mess.”

I didn’t have the strength to argue,nor did I want to witness their public display of affection.

My throat felt dry as sandpaper.

I reached out to pour myself a glass of water,but my fingers were too weak to even lift the kettle.

Seeing this,Anna stepped forward eagerly.

“Jane,let me help.You took care of David all these years while I was gone—it’s only right that I do something for you now.”

Before I could refuse,she was already handing me a steaming cup.

But in the very next second—she let go.

Scalding water spilled across my hands,searing my skin.

I gasped in pain,sharp and involuntary.

David rushed forward—but not to me.

He went straight to Anna.

Seeing her red,scalded fingers,his face darkened as he turned to me with disgust.

“Can’t even hold a damn cup?Is the only thing you’re good at serving men?”

I froze.

I said nothing.

My face remained blank,unreadable.But inside,something collapsed.

David caught the emptiness in my eyes—and for a fleeting moment,his chest tightened.

He didn’t understand why.

Why it suddenly felt like something important was slipping through his fingers.

Anna winced again,pulling his attention back.Muttering a curse under his breath,he carried her out of the room.

But even after she was settled,he couldn’t stop thinking about that look I gave him.The disappointment.The cold detachment.

For reasons he didn’t understand…it haunted him.

Later,a doctor entered the room,holding ointment for the burns.

David,who had been standing nearby,seemed to think of something and said flatly,“Send one downstairs to Jane’s room too.”

Over the next few days,David never came to see me again.

Instead,I watched his life unfold through Anna’s social media.

There he was,holding her hand as they visited the zoo,pointing at giraffes with bright smiles.There again,marveling at glowing jellyfish at the aquarium.Then climbing snow-capped mountains,standing under the dancing northern lights.

Through the screen,I could feel their happiness.

On the day he was discharged,David—who never posted anything online—uploaded a photo.

It was Anna from behind,standing in the baby aisle of a department store,picking out soft little clothes.

The caption read.

[Looking forward to the day our child arrives.]

The comments poured in,full of congratulations from his inner circle.

And I…I left one too.

[I wish the two of you a long life together,and may you never part.]

The moment I hit“send,”my phone rang.

David.

I didn’t pick up the call.

After checking out of the hospital on my own,I went straight home.I was ready to grab my things and leave to find him.

But the moment I stepped into the backyard,I froze.

The maid was burning something in a metal barrel.

When I got closer,I realized—it was my things.

All of them.

I rushed forward,shocked.

“What are you doing?Why are you burning my stuff?”

She didn’t even flinch.

“You haven’t moved out yet,and the young lady said your things were an eyesore.So she ordered us to burn them all.”

Her words struck me like thunder on a clear day.

Without thinking,without feeling the heat scorching my skin,I charged straight into the flames.

“Jane,what the hell are you doing?!”

David’s voice suddenly rang out,and the next moment,he appeared out of nowhere and yanked me out of the fire.

Blisters were already forming on my arms and hands,the skin angry and red.He looked at me with utter disdain.

“So you got a little burned.Do you really have to make such a pathetic scene of it?”

I didn’t respond.I just lowered my head and gently brushed the ashes off the ID and passport I’d managed to salvage from the fire.

Thank God—they were still intact.That was all I needed to get away from here.

David narrowed his eyes when he saw how carefully I clutched those documents.

“When did you get a passport?Where do you think you’re going?”

“Somewhere far away,”I said flatly.

So far…that he’d never be able to find me again.

He froze for half a second,then scoffed.

“You think that’ll shake me?I told you already—I don’t like you.Whether you go far away or die right in front of me,I won’t look twice.”

With that,he turned and walked back into the villa.

I watched him disappear inside.

Then I turned toward the gate.

But before I could reach it,Anna appeared in front of me,blocking the path.

With David out of sight,her mask dropped.Her voice was sharp and full of venom.

“I didn’t expect you to be such a pathetic little dog,Jane.After everything he’s done to you,and you still refuse to leave.When will you finally understand?David loves me.Even after I left him once,he still came back to me the moment he became successful.”

I stared at her calmly.

“I’m leaving now.Move.”

She snorted,smirking.

“You think I’d believe that?If you were really capable of leaving him,you wouldn’t have wagged your tail for ten years.But it doesn’t matter—I’ll keep torturing you until you’re completely destroyed.”

Then,she pulled off her ring and flung it toward the lawn before dropping to the ground and wailing.

“Jane!I know you hate me and want to drive me away from David,but how could you throw away my ring?That’s the love token between me and David...!”

The very next second,a shadow dashed toward her.

David shoved me aside and scooped her up in his arms.

His eyes burned with fury.

“Jane!What the hell is wrong with you?What did Anna ever do to deserve this?Why are you always picking fights with her?!”

He grabbed me by the collar and yanked me to my feet.

His voice was ice.

“That ring—that ring—is the token of love I gave to Anna.It’s the most important thing to her.And you lost it.You better find it.Or else…”

He didn’t have to finish the sentence.

I already knew.

And I also knew that no explanation would matter.

So I dropped to my knees and began searching the lawn.

The ring was tiny.The lawn,enormous.Even with perfect eyesight,it was like finding a needle in a haystack.

To make matters worse,heavy rain began to fall,soaking the ground and masking everything beneath the mud and grass.

Up on the second floor of the villa,I could see David standing by the window,holding Anna in his arms.

“Jane,”his voice echoed from above,“you’re not allowed to rest until you find that ring!”

It took me a full day and night.

Finally,near the far corner of the yard,I spotted it—a small diamond ring buried in the mud.

I picked it up,my fingers trembling from cold and exhaustion,and brought it to him like a prisoner surrendering.

“Can I go now?”I asked quietly.

He didn’t even look at me.

“Go.Go as far as you want.Just don’t ever come crawling back to me again.I don’t have time to play your little‘run away’games.”

I smiled.

Didn’t say a word.

I turned,walked out the front gate,and climbed into the car that had come to pick me up.

Through the window,I watched the landscape recede behind me.

And for the first time in a long,long while…I smiled.

A light,peaceful smile.

Finally,it was all over!