On a stormy night, St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue loomed ominous in the dark.

The familiar black Bentley was parked out front. I had tailed Julian here.

Closing my black umbrella, I slipped through the side door like a ghost, silent and unseen. Under the massive dome, only the sanctuary lamp burned, casting two elongated shadows across the cold marble floor.

It was Julian, and Seraphina in her wheelchair.

I hid behind a massive stone pillar, holding my breath as I listened to their conversation over the rumble of thunder.

"Julian..." Seraphina’s voice held a note of testing insecurity. "The engagement party is tomorrow. Do you... do you have any regrets?"

Julian had his back to her, staring up at the statue of the Virgin Mary. His voice was devoid of emotion. "This is what I promised you. It's what the Vance family owes you."

"But..." Seraphina bit her lip, wheeling herself closer to tug at the hem of his jacket. "You've been out of it for days. Ever since you cut off Elara's cards, you just stare at your phone."

"Are you having second thoughts? Or..." She added a sob to her voice. "Have you actually fallen in love with her? After all, she really did suffer alongside you for three years. If you can't bear to do it, let's just forget the plan... I can handle the injustice..."

Julian stiffened visibly.

That moment of silence was amplified infinitely in the empty church.

I stood in the shadows, watching his back. He was struggling. Teetering on the edge of reason and emotion.

But in the end, he didn't choose me.

He slowly crouched down and took Seraphina's hand. His eyes turned gentle again—or perhaps, he was just trying to convince himself.

"Don't overthink it, Seraphina. What I feel for her is mostly just... habit."

"She made a mistake, and she has to be punished. I took her company to reclaim what belongs to you. Tomorrow's engagement party is the final step."

"I will make her kneel and apologize to you in front of everyone. I'll make her admit what she did back then. As long as she bows her head and you get your revenge, this will all be over."

"I promise you, after tomorrow, she will never be arrogant in front of you again."

Seraphina smiled through her tears, leaning into his embrace, though a flash of malice flickered in her eyes. "I knew you were the most just man in the world, Julian. I'll go wait in the car. The rain is heavy, and I'm not feeling well."

"Okay. Let the driver take you back. I want to stay here alone for a while."

When Seraphina left, the heavy church doors swung shut again.

Julian was left alone in the vast space.

The tenderness vanished from his face instantly, replaced by a deep exhaustion and confusion.

There was no priest. He knelt alone before the statue of the Virgin Mary, hands clasped, looking like he was praying—or perhaps delivering a monologue of self-deception.

His voice was quiet, but in the deathly silence of the cathedral, every word drilled clearly into my ears.

"Lord, I have sinned."

"I always thought I hated Elara. I thought everything I did was to bring justice for Seraphina. But why... why does my heart ache so much when I imagine her being condemned by the world tomorrow?"

"I have to admit, in this three-year game of revenge, I... I fell for her."

Hearing this, I didn't feel moved. I felt bile rise in my throat. Fell for me? Trampling my dignity into the dirt and forcing my father to his death—that’s your idea of falling for someone?

Julian lowered his head, his voice taking on a tone of naive, almost charitable planning.

"But I can't stop. Seraphina lost her legs because of her, and I have a responsibility to give Seraphina closure. Tomorrow's engagement party is Elara's final atonement."

"As long as she kneels on that stage and apologizes to Seraphina, I will forgive her."

He looked up at the compassionate face of the Virgin Mary, his eyes gleaming with a self-righteous, fanatical light.

"I've already planned it out. Once the ceremony is over and Seraphina has cooled off, I'll take Elara away."

"I'll use the Thorne family name to protect her so she doesn't actually go to prison. I'll keep her in that lakeside villa in Finland."

"Isn't her father sick? I'll hire the world's best specialists to treat him. No matter the cost, I'll save Oliver. That will be my compensation to her."

At this, the corners of his mouth actually lifted in a gentle smile, as if he could already see the picture in his head.

"By then, she should have learned her lesson. She'll learn to stop lying, stop being willful. I'll make her give me a child. Once we have a child, she'll never be able to leave me. We'll live like we did in Brooklyn. As long as she's willing to be the woman in my shadows, I can give her everything except the title..."

"Lord, please bless tomorrow's plan. It will be the starting point for us to begin again."

In the shadows, I clamped my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

What a perfect plan. What an arrogant "starting point."

He thought tomorrow's engagement was just a ritual to humiliate me, a way to answer to Seraphina, and a trigger for our "fresh start."

But he had no idea that Seraphina wasn't just planning humiliation—she had forged ironclad evidence of "attempted murder by arson." She was setting up a dead end to send me to prison for life!

He had no idea that the Oliver he planned to "hire experts to save" had already been lying in a cold morgue for three days. And it was precisely because he froze that money to "teach me a lesson" that my father was stripped of his last chance at surgery.

Save Oliver? Julian, you'll have to go to hell to save him.

As for a child... You want me to bear the child of the man who killed my father? To be your secret mistress for life?

Your "deep affection" is simply nauseating.

I watched Julian kneeling there, immersed in his own self-righteousness, and the last spark of warmth in my eyes died out completely.

You think you're in control. You think you're granting mercy. You don't realize you're digging a grave you'll never crawl out of.

"Amen."

Julian crossed himself, stood up, and straightened his collar. He looked much more relaxed, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden and was ready for tomorrow's "win-win" ending.

He turned and walked out of the church, disappearing into the rainy night.

Once he was gone, I stepped out from behind the pillar.

I walked to the spot where he had just knelt and looked up at the statue of the Virgin Mary.

"God won't forgive you, Julian," I whispered.

"Because I won't either."

I took out my phone and confirmed tomorrow's arrangements one last time.

Turning around, I strode toward the door.

Goodbye, Julian.

The morning of the engagement party.

Julian stood in front of the mirror adjusting his bow tie. It was a dark crimson, looking just like dried blood. His phone kept vibrating, the name "Seraphina" flashing on the screen.

"Answer it," I said. I was sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of cold coffee, my tone as casual as if I were discussing the weather.

Julian glanced at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He seemed caught off guard that I wasn't throwing a tantrum or giving him the silent treatment like usual. He picked up the phone, his voice instantly turning tender. "Don't worry, Seraphina... I know you're nervous... Is your leg hurting again? Okay, I'm coming to pick you up right now."

He hung up and looked at me somewhat unnaturally, explaining with a tone of charitable patience, "Seraphina says her leg is hurting bad. She can't handle the ride to the castle alone. I'm going to pick her up and take her to get her makeup done."

It was always like this. Every time Seraphina cried pain, he would abandon me without hesitation. Even today, on what was nominally "our" big day.

"Go ahead," I said, putting down the coffee cup. I even gave him a faint smile. "Don't keep her waiting."

Julian froze. He seemed to be scrutinizing me, looking for even a trace of jealousy or resentment on my face. But he failed. I was as calm as a stagnant pond.

"Elara, you're finally being sensible." He walked over, intending to kiss my forehead, but I smoothly dodged him by pretending to reach for something.

His hand paused in mid-air, then he withdrew it indifferently and adjusted his cuffs. "Pack your things. The driver will take you to the castle. Remember to wear the outfit I prepared for you, and don't be late. After tonight, everything will be better."

"Okay, I won't be late," I looked him in the eye and said softly. "I'm sending you a huge gift."

Julian smiled with satisfaction. He thought I had finally submitted, finally willing to bow my head to Seraphina for the sake of that illusory "future."

"Good girl."

With the heavy *thud* of the front door closing, his tall figure disappeared from sight.

The room returned to a deathly silence.

I stood up. I didn't change into that humiliating waitress uniform, nor did I wait for the driver. I picked up the suitcase I had packed long ago, took one last look at this cage I had lived in for three years, and walked out without looking back.

---

10:00 AM, JFK International Airport.

Rain poured down outside, meandering down the massive floor-to-ceiling windows like the tears I had run out of over the last three years.

I gripped a velvet box tightly in my hand. Inside lay the pink diamond ring Julian had once used to propose to me.

On the way to the airport, I had originally planned to mail it back to him. But suddenly, I felt he wasn't worthy. Mailing it to him implied I still had some response to him, even if it was anger.

I walked over to a trash can in the corner, looking at the priceless ring in my hand. Under the cold airport lights, it glinted with mockery.

"Goodbye, Julian."

I opened my hand.

*Thud.*

With a soft sound, the ring fell into the dirty trash, landing among discarded fast-food containers.

In that moment, I felt the final weight lift from my heart.

I pulled out my SIM card, snapped it in half without hesitation, and tossed it into the bin.

The boarding announcement echoed over the intercom. I grabbed my suitcase and headed for security.

This time, I didn't look back.

---

At the same time, Oheka Castle.

The banquet hall was resplendent, the champagne tower refracting dazzling light. The elite of New York had gathered, everyone eagerly awaiting the night's main event—the engagement ceremony between the CEO of Thorne Group and Miss Blackwood.

Julian stood center stage, checking his watch frequently, a trace of irritation flashing in his eyes.

He wasn't worried that I wouldn't come. He was certain I would—for the money, to beg him to "show mercy" and unfreeze the accounts, to save the father he thought was still alive.

"Julian, it's time. Why isn't Elara here yet?" Seraphina sat in her wheelchair, feigning concern as she looked toward the entrance. "Is she throwing a tantrum again just because you came to pick me up this morning?"

"She'll be here," Julian said. "She has no choice."

Just then, the heavy doors of the banquet hall were pushed open.

A spotlight instantly hit the entrance.

A figure walked in against the light, wearing a black gown and a black veil. Her height, her figure, even the way she walked looked exactly like me.

Julian's eyes lit up. He let out a sigh of relief, the corner of his mouth curving into a smile of total control.

"Looks like she finally learned her lesson."

He strode down the steps to meet the figure, lowering his voice. "Elara, wearing this is incredibly immature, but since you showed up, I'll take it as you admitting you were wrong..."

However, when he reached out to lift the veil, the woman took a step back.

She slowly raised her hand and lifted the veil herself.

A completely unfamiliar face appeared before everyone.

The crowd went into an uproar.

"Who are you? Where is Elara?" Julian's smile froze on his face as he demanded sharply.

The model impersonating me wasn't intimidated by his aura.

"Mr. Thorne, Miss Vance said she couldn't make it. She asked me to stand in for her."

Julian's whole body shook, a massive wave of panic instantly gripping his heart.

"What the hell does this mean..."

"Miss Vance said that once you watch this, you'll understand everything."

The model finished speaking and turned to signal the control booth.

The massive LED screen in the banquet hall flickered suddenly. Immediately after, a grainy surveillance video jumped onto the screen.

---

At the same time, JFK International Airport.

I pulled my suitcase through the gate.

Through the massive window, I saw a plane piercing through the rain curtain, flying toward the dawn above the clouds.

Goodbye, New York.

This time, I was truly free.