“Our families have been close for generations and Juno and I are meant to be together. Let me show you right now who Juno truly loves!”

With that, Quinn let out a sudden “Ah!” and fell backward.

“Quinn, what’s wrong?”

Juno rushed over and caught her in his arms.

Quinn looked utterly aggrieved.

“I’m fine. She’s probably just upset about moving out and pushed me out of frustration. I understand. You should comfort her instead.”

“I didn’t push her,” Sasha looked at Juno and spoke softly.

Even if he had only seen her as a stand-in over these three years, they had spent so much time together. He should have known she wasn’t that kind of person and would never stoop to such actions.

But all her certainty turned to dust in an instant when Juno kicked her.

The force of the kick sent her flying, her head slamming into the wall. Blood poured from the wound, staining her face.

Her hands were scraped raw against the rough ground and her already injured right hand was torn open, blood and flesh mixed. Cold sweat immediately drenched her body.

"Your hand is hurt?"

Juno finally noticed something was wrong, a trace of concern flashing in his eyes.

But he was quickly stopped by Quinn.

"Juno, don't blame her. This afternoon, when you were hugging me in your office, she was secretly watching from outside. That’s why she put so much red medicine on her hand, trying to get your attention. She just cares about you too much."

So the bright red on Sasha's hand wasn’t blood, but red medicine?

The concern in Juno’s eyes turned to disgust.

“Why couldn’t you just ask me directly? Why resort to such tricks? it's really not decent! Hurry up and take your things and move to the dormitory. That’s where someone like you belongs!”

Seeing his favoritism and indifference, Sasha swallowed all the words she wanted to say.

“Forget it, just leave it,” she said.

Three years ago, when she was working in her family’s factory, Juno came to inspect the workshop. At first sight, he fell for her and she had quietly fallen for him too.

For this love, she had been willing to cut ties with her family, give up her life as a wealthy young lady and travel far for the man she loved.

She never expected that in the end, she would become just a stand-in.

Now, she didn’t want anything anymore—not this place, not this man.

Once her thoughts settled, Sasha went to a phone booth, her voice choking as she dialed a number she knew by heart.

“Mom, Dad, I miss home. I’m willing to return and marry the son of the Maddox Family.”

On the other end, her parents sounded even more excited than she was. “Sasha, darling, we’ve been waiting for this day for three years. The door is always open for you.”

"What marriage?" Juno suddenly appeared behind her, grabbing her wrist tightly. "Sasha, didn’t you say you’d only marry me? You want to go to a workers' social? I won’t allow it!"

His anger was mixed with a touch of dominance.

It turned out he had misunderstood the word "marriage" as "social."

Sasha was relieved. She didn’t know how to explain, but she couldn't help but feel a bit amused.

Now that his real lover had returned, whether she attended a social event or married someone, what did it have to do with him?

"The situation isn't what you think."

Seeing her slightly melancholic expression, Juno frowned and tried to explain. "There can be two secretaries. If you kneel and apologize to Quinn, you’ll still have a chance to be secretary. As for our marriage, that’s still on the table."

Sasha stared at him in surprise. At a time like this, he was still trying to play both sides?

"What if I don’t apologize?"

"Then you’ll be fired and there will be no chance to be with me. Are you willing to let go?"

Juno knew Sasha too well. She loved him deeply, so she would never want to leave him. He was sure she would give in.

To his surprise, Sasha simply said, “I’m willing.”

The eyes that used to look at him with so much love became calm and indifferent.

Juno froze, an unfamiliar sense of unease creeping in. "Sasha, listen to me..."

He impulsively wanted to explain himself, but before he could, someone wrapped her arm around his.

It was Quinn. She looked at Sasha with a sigh of admiration and said, "You really know how to handle men. This ‘play hard to get’ move was done perfectly!! Unlike me, I’m so silly. I've only ever liked Juno and for him, I was willing to give up a good life abroad and come back to find him."

So she was just playing hard to get?

Juno's gaze grew colder with each passing moment. In a fit of anger, he shoved Sasha away.

She was caught off guard and fell backward, her head crashing into the window. The glass shattered and blood started to seep from the bandage on her forehead.

Her hand was also cut again, with bright red blood staining her pale skin. It was a painful and shocking sight.

Juno’s eyes flickered with regret and he instinctively moved to help her, but before he could, Quinn let out a sharp gasp.

"Juno, you didn’t even use much force, how did she end up like this? First, she’s playing hard to get and now it's a pity act. Are all the girls in this country so clever? How is it that after just three years abroad, I can’t figure them out anymore?"

Sasha forced a bitter smile. After yesterday's injury, she felt so weak that it only took a small push for her to fall.

But unfortunately, the man who once cherished her, now easily believed Quinn's words and only saw her with disgust in his eyes.

"Always pretending, huh? You’re so good at this. It’s just a little blood and I’m sure you’ll heal on your own!"

Quinn chuckled lightly. "Juno, let’s go. Let’s head to my little house, roast some oranges, drink tea and read books. Remember, no other business during the day."

Upon hearing her suggestive words, Sasha finally noticed that under her coat, Quinn was wearing a low-necked sweater, revealing an ambiguous mark.

Sasha's heart ached painfully.

She had been with Juno for three years and they had only hugged and kissed, never going further.

She had thought it was out of respect for her, but now she realized that his uncontrollable feelings were only for the one he truly loved. And she was not worthy.

Juno and Quinn had already walked far away. But those little red marks seemed like a beast with a gaping bloody mouth, biting Sasha's heart into a bloody mess.

When she arrived at the factory's medical room, the doctor was shocked. "The wound just started to scab, how did it get worse again? Do you still want to celebrate the New Year?"

New Year?

Sasha's heart stung with sadness.

For Juno, she hadn't returned home for three years. She missed home. She desperately wanted to go home for the New Year.

The factory was decorated with lamps and festivity, making it a joyful scene. Yet Sasha, covered in scars, went to the workshop supervisor to apply for resignation and request a referral letter.

Nowadays, individuals without identification documents needed a referral letter to leave the province.

The workshop supervisor, who had witnessed her relationship with Juno from the beginning, agreed with regret.

"It's close to the New Year now, even with a referral letter, the earliest you can leave is the tenth day of the new year."

"Then let's make it the tenth day. Thank you, Sir."

That day was exactly fifteen days later. It was the day she was supposed to be dismissed.

The workshop supervisor gave her the referral letter and said, "Just get the factory manager's stamp and it will be effective."

Needing Juno's approval? Sasha was immediately troubled.

"Anyway, you have to submit the workshop report, why don’t you just include it with the report and see if it works?” the workshop supervisor suggested after noticing her difficulty.

Sasha expressed her gratitude.

The door of the factory office was open.

Juno was sitting in the director's chair and Quinn, who was supposed to be in the secretary's office outside, was hugging him from behind, looking extremely intimate.

"Is there something you need?"

The moment Juno saw Sasha, he let go of Quinn, a barely noticeable hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"This is the annual report for our workshop. It needs to be stamped," Sasha said, pretending to stay calm.

"You came to find me just for this trivial matter?" Juno's expression darkened for some reason as he tossed the report onto the desk.

The referral letter fluttered out, with Sasha's name clearly written on it.

"Do you want to go back to Coldbourne?" Juno's heart sank in a sudden panic.

Even Quinn held her breath.

Years ago, Juno had begged her, tearfully, not to go abroad, but she hadn't shown any sympathy.

However, life overseas wasn't as perfect as she'd imagined. The Ledger Family was schemed against and soon, they went bankrupt.

She was no longer the young lady of the Ledger Family. Instead, she had become the target of dangerous people, forcing her to flee back to the country.

Fortunately, Juno hadn't forgotten about her. He even found a substitute to ease his longing for her.

When Quinn saw how much Sasha resembled her, she couldn't hide her delight.

She not only wanted to marry Juno and live a privileged life again, but also planned to use Sasha as a scapegoat to settle her old scores.

Now that the "scapegoat" wanted to leave, she was more anxious than even Juno.

Quinn smiled, covering her lips and said, "Juno, is it because you've been too kind to her? She must think you're a fool, using the same trick of 'playing hard to get' twice?"

Juno immediately calmed down.

He tore the referral letter into pieces and threw it hard at Sasha's face.

"In Coldbourne, you're just a lowly worker without parents. You finally managed to cling to me and you would be willing to leave? Even acting has its limits. Be careful, or you'll end up with nothing!"

The sharp fragments of paper left marks on Sasha's face. Blood droplets oozed out and seeing the numerous scars on her trembling hands, Juno realized that she had suffered so much in just two days.

Feeling a pang of guilt, he compromised, "Fine, after work on New Year's Eve, wait for me at the factory gate."

Quinn tried to stop him, "Juno..."

""There's no need to say more, I know what I'm doing."

Seeing his determination, Quinn had no choice but to fall silent, showing a gentle smile. "Alright, I'll listen to you."

However, the malicious look in her eyes sent a chill down Sasha’s spine.

Sasha only wanted to return home safely, without getting involved in this rivalry. So, after finishing work on New Year's Eve, she went straight to the dormitory.

Everyone else had gone home for the holidays, leaving the dormitory unusually quiet and empty.

As Sasha was about to go get hot water, she suddenly saw Juno storming in, his face full of anger. "Didn't I tell you to wait for me at the gate?"

"I have something to do."

"What could you possibly have to do? Don’t you want to meet my parents? I’ll take you back to meet them."

Sasha was stunned for a moment. In the past, she had wanted to meet Juno's parents, hoping for their approval and acceptance. After three years, Juno had never agreed.

Now, when she had given up, he was suddenly willing. Unfortunately, it was too late.

Sasha straightforwardly said, "I don't want to meet them anymore."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Juno angrily picked her up and slapped her. "Behave yourself!"

Sasha felt a surge of shame in her heart but couldn’t break free. Fortunately, it was New Year's Eve and there were hardly any people in the factory.

She was shoved into the back seat of Juno’s Mercedes.

Just as she settled in, Quinn’s voice came from the front passenger seat.

"Juno, in the years I’ve been away, no one else has taken this seat, right?"

"Of course not."