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."

Sasha finally understood why Juno never let her sit in the front seat during their drives. He said it might make her carsick, but it was just an excuse. That seat was reserved for Quinn.

The truth hurt, but Sasha didn’t feel as sad as she thought she would.

She couldn’t figure it out. Was Juno crazy? How could he bring both of them home at the same time?

The Marlow Family was hosting a New Year’s Eve party tonight.

Servants were busy decorating the villa with bright and festive ornaments.

In the grand banquet hall, drinks and delicacies were prepared in a buffet style.

So, this was the Marlow Family.

In the past, Juno often boasted about how grand and impressive his family was. However, when Sasha saw it for herself, she realized it was nothing special.

It was far inferior compared to her own family.

Previously, Sasha had considered revealing her own background. If she did, her marriage with Juno would undoubtedly proceed smoothly.

But she felt that earning the acceptance of the Marlow Family through her own efforts would make her worthy of this pure love.

Unfortunately, this relationship was flawed from the very beginning.

Quinn took off her woolen coat, revealing the luxurious gown underneath.

Arm in arm with Juno, who was dressed in a suit, Quinn looked like the perfect match with him.

She cast a mocking glance at Sasha, who was wearing a white work uniform with sleeve covers and tossed a formal evening dress into her arms. "Put this on. In a family of our status, even the servant needs to look presentable."

Sasha froze for a moment before understanding.

"Juno, when you said you were bringing me home, did you mean to make me a servant?"

"What? You’ve been insisting on meeting my parents, but who do you think you are? Do you think you can meet them openly like someone like Quinn, a wealthy heiress? By being a servant here, you’ll get to see them when they arrive. Isn’t that enough for you?"

Sasha couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Was her wish to meet them only meant in the most literal sense?

She couldn’t tell if Juno was pretending not to understand her feelings or if he simply didn’t care.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

Sasha turned to leave, but Juno grabbed her arm.

"Change into it! My patience has its limits. If you keep acting this way, I have plenty of ways to deal with you!"

Sasha stayed silent for a moment. She knew she was far from home, without any support and had no choice but to comply.

After changing into the outfit, she looked at herself in the mirror, holding a tray and couldn’t help but feel a wave of sorrow.

It was her own recklessness that had led her here. She had left behind her loving parents, who had always doted on her, only to trap herself in this humiliating situation.

It was her own doing, after all.

Fortunately, this would all be over soon.

Not far away, a crowd had gathered around Quinn, who was beaming with joy as she showed off a ring on her hand.

"I just casually mentioned 'a diamond lasts forever’ and Juno bought me such a big diamond ring!"

The diamond sparkled brilliantly under the light, piercing Sasha’s heart.

After being with Quinn, Juno had showered her with sweet words and tirelessly held and kissed her every day, yet he had hardly ever given her any gifts.

There was only one time. After she spent two years' worth of savings to buy him a pair of cufflinks, he was moved and gave her a small silver ring in return.

"Gifts aren’t about their value but the thought behind them. Besides, there are too many people around at the factory; there’s no need to wear anything fancy. The thought is what counts," Juno had said at the time.

Sasha had seen countless treasures growing up, but that light, inexpensive silver ring was her favorite gift she had ever received—simply because it was from Juno.