I hadn't expected to run into Julia the moment I stepped out.

Her face wore a warm, friendly smile as she said to me, "What a surprise, you came to this restaurant too. I thought it was a bit of a hidden gem. Jay picked this place to celebrate my twentieth birthday. I love the food here. I heard he spent over a month deciding on it."

Though we both lived under the Bourne family's roof, I had nothing to say to her.

I was about to leave when she suddenly grabbed my hand, her tone edged with mockery.

"Emma, you do have good taste. But this restaurant isn't really for you. Coming here once in a while is fine, but don't embarrass yourself by clinging where you don't belong."

I knew what she meant—her veiled warning for me to stay away from Jay.

I was about to shake her off in irritation when, to my shock, she suddenly staggered backward and fell hard to the ground.

I froze. Before I could react, Jay came rushing over.

Without a word, his hand struck across my face.

A fiery sting spread across my cheek.

In all the years I'd known him, this was the first time he had ever raised his hand against me.

And yet, Jay's expression held no trace of regret, only unrestrained fury.

"Emma! Haven't you caused enough trouble? Julia's leg is injured, and you still pushed her? How can you be so vicious? I told you—I'd explain everything when we got home. Why did you have to follow us here and cause a scene?"

Tears shimmered in Julia's eyes as she feigned wounded innocence.

"Jay, don't be so harsh with Emma. It's nothing serious. I'm sure she didn't mean it."

Jay wrapped her in his arms, gaze burning with resolve.

"When you do wrong, you deserve punishment. She bullied you. Am I not allowed to stand up for you?"

The words I wanted to say caught in my throat. I stared at the guy shielding Julia, glaring at me as if I were the villain, and all I felt was bitter irony.

Without hesitation, I raised my hand and slapped him back.

Jay froze in shock.

He had never imagined that the woman who had loved him so long, so fiercely, would dare strike him.

I met his eyes, my voice steady. "What exactly did I do wrong? Show me the proof."

He narrowed his gaze. "Proof? This spot is a blind zone for surveillance. You ask me for evidence? I saw her fall with my own eyes. If you didn't push her, are you saying she framed you on purpose?"

Julia quickly added in a trembling voice, "How could I? I'm just a foster daughter living under the Bourne family's roof. How would I dare bully the real heiress of the family?"

Jay immediately turned to comfort her, his eyes brimming with tenderness and pity.

I laughed.

Five years of affection. Two years together. Even if he didn't love me, he should at least have trusted my character.

But before Julia, he lost all reason.

A simple trick from her, and he condemned me without hesitation, leaving me no room to defend myself.

There was no point in saying more. I turned and walked away.

On the day Jay proposed to Julia, my father finally sent me another message: [All your records have been erased. The ticket's booked. The flight departs in three hours. From now on, the world is your oyster. No one will ever find you again.]