Chase’s heart skipped a sharp beat. His grip on Rosalie’s wrist tightened instinctively.

“That’s our wedding ring; how could you just throw it away?”

Rosalie answered casually, “I’ve put on some weight lately. The ring doesn’t fit anymore, so I tossed it.”

That was only part of the truth. More importantly, now that she had succeeded in getting pregnant, there was no need to keep up the charade of a loving marriage with Chase.

Suddenly, a startled cry echoed from Isla’s hospital room. “Ah!”

Chase rushed over without hesitation. “Isla, what happened?”

“Brother, I accidentally fell out of bed…”

He gently lifted her back onto the mattress, concern flooding his eyes.

But his gaze lingered on Rosalie’s retreating figure.

The wedding ring on his own hand suddenly felt painfully out of place.

Isla called his name several times, breaking through his reverie. “Brother, I’m hurt. Can you massage it for me?”

As Chase massaged her injury, his mind kept drifting back to his earlier conversation with Rosalie.

Isla pouted softly, “Brother, I want that pear blossom cake from Roseville Bakery tomorrow. Will you get it for me?”

Chase, who had always spoiled her, surprised himself by refusing this time. “No. You’d have to wait in line for hours. I’ll have my assistant pick it up for you. Rosalie is being discharged tomorrow. I need to bring her home.”

The ride back was quiet, filled only with the hum of the engine and a heavy silence.

Suddenly, Chase broke the stillness. “If the ring doesn’t fit anymore, it can be resized. But since you threw it away, I’ve already booked an appointment with the designer to make a new one for you. It’s set for three days from now; he’ll reach out to you.”

Three days.

Rosalie froze; that was exactly the day she planned to leave.

She replied with a faint shrug, “Hmm.” After all, she had no intention of ever wearing that ring again.

Chase didn’t notice anything unusual and felt a small wave of relief wash over him.

But just as they stepped inside, a hospital report slipped from Rosalie’s bag and fluttered to the floor.

Chase reached to pick it up, but Rosalie was quicker.

It was her pregnancy report.

Chase caught a fleeting glimpse of a uterine ultrasound, and a spark of excitement stirred in his chest. “Rosalie, are you pre—”

Before he could finish, Rosalie cut him off coolly, “The poisoning was severe this time. It damaged my uterus, so the doctor ordered an ultrasound.”

A hollow ache settled in Chase’s heart, though a nagging doubt still lingered. “Rosalie, let me see your report—”

But she interrupted again, her voice sharp. “Chase, Isla isn’t as innocent as she seems. She’s been scheming all along, using you to destroy the Hollis family.”

That single accusation ignited a flare of rage in Chase, and the pregnancy report slipped completely from his mind.

His face darkened with a shadow of pain. “Rosalie, I know Isla went too far this time, but she’s been shaken by those recent murders. Her mind is fragile, and when she hurt you, she wasn’t in control. You’re fine now, so why keep holding on to this grudge and staining her name? Isla has always been kind…”

Rosalie opened her mouth to reply but fell silent.

There was no reason with someone so determined to destroy. She had done her part to warn him that if Chase refused to believe her, that was his burden.

From what she understood, between the twin brothers Chase and Easton, the family had always favored Chase. Easton had never found happiness there. He had confided in her more than once, sharing the pain of growing up in such an unfair home. Given all that, what happened in the Hollis family was no longer her concern.

Rosalie stepped into the guest room, voice cool. “Do as you please.”

Chase followed close behind. “Rosalie…”

But she blocked the door firmly. “Since Isla’s ‘mental trauma’ won’t heal anytime soon, we won’t be sharing a room for the next few days.”

A surge of frustration crashed over Chase. Rosalie had always longed for his attention, even craved his touch. But now, time and again, she pushed him away.

His temper flared, sharp and restless.

Then, as if a sudden realization struck him, he said softly, “Rosalie, are you jealous of me and Isla?”

The heavyweight in his chest seemed to ease immediately. “Isla has always been fragile. Naturally, I’ve had to protect her more. And yes, you’ve suffered a lot these past few days. But I told you from the beginning. I can give you everything except my love.”

“You always wanted to paint your portrait on Hollingsworth Mountain, right? I’ll go with you. No more anger.”

Rosalie’s expression softened, a quiet warmth blooming.

Hollingsworth Mountain was the place where she and Easton first fell in love. They never cared much for photos, and now, with Easton gone, the only way she could remember him was through a portrait in Chase’s likeness.

Seizing the chance to capture that moment before leaving the country felt like a blessing.

A gentle smile spread across her face. “Alright.”

Chase relaxed fully, a rare smile curving his lips.

Just then, Isla’s voice called out again. “Brother, I still want that pear blossom cake from Roseville Bakery. The one you get yourself.”

Without hesitation, Chase replied, “I’ll go get it for you right now.”

After that, Rosalie received a string of biting messages from Isla.

[Rosalie, know your place. In my brother’s heart, you’re not worth even a single strand of my hair.]

[See all this jewelry? My brother bought every piece at an auction; it even made the front page in the capital!]

[You’ve been married to him for three years. Has he ever treated you like this?]

[He cooks for me personally, preparing anything I crave…]

[Don’t even think about driving a wedge between us.]

[Cross me, and my brother will make sure you burn in hell…]

Over the years, Isla had thrown barbs at her, both openly and behind her back, but Rosalie had always brushed them aside.

Today, however, her emotions surged like a storm.

Today marked the anniversary of her love for Easton.

She stood on Hollingsworth Mountain, waiting for Chase to arrive and pose for her painting.

He had promised he would come, but now he was late, still off buying jewelry for Isla at a New Year Eve’s celebration.

Memories of her sweet past with Easton flooded Rosalie’s heart like a rising tide. Yesterday had been filled with love, but today, the man was gone, and so was their love.

All that remained was her and their ailing child left to face the world alone.

How could she not be overwhelmed by the bittersweet scenery and haunting memories?

Tears streamed freely down her cheeks, endless and unrelenting.

She called Chase many times, but each call went unanswered.

Finally, she turned off her phone, surrendering to silence.

Without a model, she began to paint from memory, capturing the moment Easton had confessed his love to her atop Hollingsworth Mountain.

She painted their tender exchanges: giving flowers, embracing, sealing their love in a silent promise.

By the time the final stroke fell, the sun had swallowed its last golden ray.

Rosalie collapsed on the grass, tears still falling, and drifted into sleep, sinking deep into the echoes of her memories.

When Chase arrived at Hollingsworth Mountain, he found her there, cradling “his portrait,” a gentle smile on her sleeping face.

Moonlight bathed her features, stirring something deep within Chase’s chest.

He looked at the painting himself, passionately kissing her, and his heart thundered.

He hadn’t shown up, yet Rosalie had painted this imagined scene of love.

Did she love him this much?

Chase reached out and gently lifted her from the grass.

That’s when his eyes caught a small notebook that had slipped from her bag.

Curiosity nudged him to pick it up and flip it open. Inside, a collection of love letters she had written “to him” lay revealed.

“My dearest Hollis, I will love you for ten thousand years.”

“My dearest Hollis, my love for you will never die…”

His heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

Some letters dated back ten years.

He couldn’t believe that she had loved him all that time.

A warm smile spread across his lips as an indescribable sweetness bloomed in his chest.

At that moment, her eyes fluttered open, locking on the notebook in his hands. Her expression shifted instantly. “You…”

But Chase grasped her hand gently and met her gaze with deep emotion. “Rosalie, I never imagined your love ran this deep. There’s a meteor shower soon. They say if you wish for love beneath it, unexpected blessings will come since we’re here together. Let’s indulge your love; make a wish with me.”

Brilliant meteors soon streaked across the night sky.

Beneath the ancient maple tree, their fingers intertwined as their eyes gently closed, each lost in a silent wish.

Rosalie didn’t correct his quiet misunderstanding.

Instead, she gazed at the man before her, mistaking him for the one who had captured her heart and slipped away.

With a devoted, blissful smile, she whispered a wish for love to bloom again in the next life.

After Hollingsworth Mountain, Chase began to pay more attention to Rosalie.

Though his time still leaned heavily toward Isla, his favoritism clear as day, he found himself caring more about Rosalie’s daily life, sending flowers, and trying to lift her spirits whenever he was away.

But Rosalie barely noticed. She was consumed with packing and preparing for her departure abroad.

During this whirlwind, she stumbled upon an ad for a racing competition.

The grand prize? A handcrafted maple leaf hairpin, an exquisite final masterpiece by the elusive designer known only as E.

Though E’s identity remained a mystery to most, Rosalie knew the truth. That E was none other than the late Easton.

That very hairpin had been his promised engagement gift to her.

But fate had other plans. The wedding never came, and instead, she had been shattered by his death.

Never in her wildest dreams did she expect the piece he designed for her to resurface publicly.

She had to have it.

Trembling with a storm of emotions, Rosalie knew she couldn’t race herself, so she hired Ryder, an international driver, to compete on her behalf.

To her surprise, at the race, she crossed paths with Chase and Isla.

A wave of unease settled in her chest. Chase was dressed in a racing suit too, was he competing as well?

During the pre-race warm-up, Isla fed Chase water in front of everyone, and he smiled gently as he wiped her sweat away.

The handsome man and beautiful woman drew plenty of eyes. Anyone watching would easily mistake them for a couple.

Isla caught snippets of the crowd whispering, “Ryder in such a small race? Can’t believe it.”

“That means he’s sure to take the trophy.”

“Who's that girl beside Ryder? She’s stunning...”

Isla glanced toward Ryder and saw Rosalie talking with him.

Rosalie’s phone screen still showed the maple leaf hairpin, which was the first prize.

Understanding dawned on Isla, and a sly smile curved her lips as she leaned close to Chase.

“Brother, I want that prize. The maple leaf hairpin. Will you win it for me?”

“Of course,” Chase said with a soft smile. “If I don’t win, I’ll buy it for you no matter what.”

Isla nodded, pleased.

Still uneasy, she picked up her phone and sent a quick message.

The race roared to life, and Ryder surged ahead, taking the lead with fierce determination.

With every lap, Rosalie’s heart hammered harder, the finish line drawing nearer.

She was so close, almost within reach of Easton’s precious hairpin.

But just as Ryder neared victory, a reckless car, far behind and breaking the rules, barreled onto the track and crashed into him.

Both racers were disqualified, and their results were wiped clean.

The second-place driver, Chase, claimed the championship instead.

As Chase handed the maple leaf hairpin to Isla, Rosalie hurried forward. “Chase, I want that hairpin. Will you give it to me?”

Chase hesitated.

Isla gripped his arm and whined, “Brother, you promised you’d give me anything I wanted. I love this hairpin, too.”

Chase moved to place it on Isla’s head.

Rosalie clenched her fists, her voice trembling. “Chase, I’ve never asked you for anything. This hairpin means everything to me. Can you please give it to me?”

Chase met Rosalie’s gaze, struck by the deep sorrow in her eyes.

Without thinking, he began to reach toward her.

But Isla whispered softly, “Brother...”

And just like that, Chase pinned the hairpin on Isla’s head. “Isla, whatever you want, no one can take it from you.”

Isla’s proud smile pierced Rosalie’s heart, and her face drained of color.