The conversation came to an abrupt halt.

Evelyn, her steps unsteady, walked forward and snatched her phone back, ending the call.

Matteo stared at her in shock, not understanding why she was so worked up. "What's wrong?"

Seeing his confusion, she knew he hadn't heard the rest of what Caroline had said. She let out a quiet sigh of relief, averted her gaze, and tried to sound as calm as possible. "Nothing, I just don't want you guys fighting over me anymore."

For the past few weeks, the Gallagher family had been making a fuss about him being with Evelyn, constantly trying to break them up. Matteo had argued with them several times over it.

Hearing her say that, Matteo didn't press further and instead asked about her test results.

"The doctor said it's nothing serious. I can be discharged."

For the next few days at home, Matteo barely left the house, staying by Evelyn's side.

She wasn't as lively as before, no longer smiling as much. Most of the time, she just sat in a corner, staring off into space, looking uninterested in everything.

Matteo couldn't figure out what was wrong. He tried holding her, hoping to comfort her, but she just got up and went back to the bedroom.

"I'm not feeling well. I'm going to rest for a bit."

Watching her walk away, Matteo was caught off guard.

He thought she was still upset about the apology incident, so he had his assistant prepare a surprise for her.

On her birthday, he threw a party in her honor.

Out of respect for Matteo, most people from their social circle showed up.

They were polite to Evelyn when Matteo was around.

But at the moment he stepped away, they gathered in small groups, whispering and making snide remarks.

"If it weren't for Mr. Gallagher, I wouldn't be caught dead at a maid's daughter's birthday party. It's just embarrassing."

"I don't even get what he sees in her. Look at that cheap, small-town vibe. It makes me sick."

"Mr. Gallagher is just being noble, that's all. If it were me, I'd just throw her some cash and be done with it. But marrying her? That'd be a disgrace to the Gallagher name."

Even though she was supposed to be the center of attention, Evelyn stood alone, completely ignored.

Hearing the insults and mockery from all sides, she just felt exhausted.

If it weren't for the fact that leaving too early would make Matteo suspicious, she wouldn't have come at all.

The deliberate isolation made every minute unbearable.

Then, at exactly 7:00 pm, the atmosphere in the ballroom suddenly shifted.

The entire room turned toward the entrance, their disdain instantly replaced with eager flattery.

In their world, news traveled fast. Everyone had heard about Matteo getting into a fight over Rebecca not long ago. Now, seeing him walk in, they rushed to suck up to him.

"Mr. Gallagher, so you left earlier to go pick up Ms. Pittman? After all these years, your bond is still so strong!"

"Well, of course! They grew up together. They're childhood sweethearts. Just look at Ms. Pittman. She has such elegance and grace. She and Mr. Gallagher are a perfect match."

As speculations ran wild, Evelyn turned to see Rebecca walking in, her arm hooked through Matteo's.

She was dressed in a stunning designer gown and a dazzling diamond necklace, emphasizing her elegant posture. Her delicate, refined features exuded an air of privilege and luxury.

Even standing next to Matteo, with his naturally imposing presence, she didn't seem overshadowed in the slightest.

For no reason at all, an image flashed in Evelyn's mind. It was the faceless sketch Matteo had once drawn after regaining his sight.

Back then, he had brushed it off as just a random doodle. She had thought it was beautiful but didn't think much of it.

But now, looking at Rebecca, she finally understood who had been in that drawing.

This wasn't a case of lost love finding its way back. It was love that had never faded.

Evelyn lowered her gaze and turned away in silence.

However, before she could leave, Rebecca called out to her.

"Ms. Walsh, I heard it's your birthday today. I hope you don't mind me showing up uninvited?"

At her cue, someone led in a small, snow-white puppy. "Its name is Elmo. Isn't it adorable?"

As the fluffy puppy bounced toward her, Evelyn instinctively stepped back, bumping into a table.

Her face went pale, and a wave of fear and panic surged in her eyes.

"Take it away," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't like dogs."

Rebecca's face fell when she heard those words.

"Matteo, is Ms. Walsh still mad at me over what happened last time? If that's the case, I'll just leave so I don't intrude on you two."

As she spoke, she turned to leave. Matteo quickly grabbed her arm and frowned at Evelyn.

"She meant well, Eve. Don't you love animals? Just take it."

Seeing the displeasure in his eyes, Evelyn clenched her hands tightly and turned to his assistant, Zachary Warner, instead.

"Mr. Warner, I'm wearing heels, so it's inconvenient for me to hold the puppy. Could you take care of it for me?"

The people around them started making snide remarks again, mocking her for being ungrateful and acting too high and mighty.

Matteo also assumed she was deliberately giving Rebecca a hard time. His expression darkened as he led Rebecca inside.

The party quickly emptied out, leaving Evelyn alone.

She poured herself a glass of water and took a slow sip, trying to calm the panic and anxiety in her chest.

She used to love dogs.

But five years ago, on a stormy night when the power went out, Matteo had come down with a high fever. She ran out into the rain to find help.

A neighbor's guard dog had chased her the whole way, tearing a chunk of flesh from her calf.

Despite the pain, she forced herself to bring a doctor back. Only after confirming that Matteo was safe did she finally take care of her own injury.

Since then, she had developed a deep fear of dogs. However, to keep him from worrying, she had never told him about it.

Even now, through the fabric of her dress, she could still feel the outline of that old scar.

The guests at the party were all social climbers, reading the room and adjusting their attitudes accordingly. Seeing how Matteo was acting, they no longer bothered hiding their disdain toward Evelyn.

When it was time for the cake-cutting, everyone surrounded Rebecca instead, as if she were the one celebrating a birthday.

Matteo, finally in a better mood, called Evelyn over to blow out the candles.

She walked up in silence, just about to make a wish, when Rebecca suddenly gasped in excitement.

"Oh wow, what a coincidence! Ms. Walsh, you and Elmo share the same birthday! Why don't we celebrate together?"

The moment those words left her mouth, the room filled with stifled laughter.

Seeing the challenge in Rebecca's eyes, Evelyn dug her nails into her palms.

She took a slow breath, her voice carrying a cold edge. "In that case, let the puppy blow out the candles. Everyone can sing for it instead. I won't get in the way."

As she turned to leave, Matteo's temple twitched in frustration. His voice dropped into a warning tone as he called after her.

"Eve! This party was thrown for your birthday. If you leave now, what kind of message does that send?"

Evelyn ignored him and kept walking toward the door.

Finally losing his patience, Matteo caught up to her, grabbed her wrist, and leaned in to whisper something in her ear before pushing her back toward the cake.

"Don't make a scene! Everyone here is part of the elite circle. If you storm out like this and the Gallagher family hears about it, they'll be even more against us."

Against them? What was there to be against? Hadn't he already married Rebecca?

Then, the cheerful tune of "Happy Birthday" filled the room.

Evelyn forced a faint smile, but she stood there like a lifeless statue, her expression void of joy.

Then, out of nowhere, someone picked up the puppy and shoved it into her arms.

A shiver ran down her spine, and goosebumps broke out across her skin.

Halfway through the song, the restless puppy wriggled free and jumped down.

It bolted forward, knocking over the towering champagne display. The cascading glasses came crashing down straight toward Evelyn and Rebecca.

Screams echoed through the hall as the shattered glass reflected in Evelyn's widened pupils.

She watched, frozen, as Matteo instinctively pulled Rebecca into his arms and shielded her.

Meanwhile, glass shards and champagne rained down on Evelyn.

A sharp sting shot through her shoulder as broken glass cut into her skin, leaving a long, bloody gash.

Blood trickled down, staining her already-soaked white dress with a deep red.

She collapsed onto the floor with a muffled groan, cold sweat breaking out across her forehead.

Hearing the sound, Matteo turned back. He saw her injured and was about to walk toward her when Rebecca suddenly screamed.

"Ah! Matteo, Elmo scratched me! What if I get rabies?"

Matteo's eyes flickered to the small, barely visible scratch on her ankle.

He hesitated for a brief moment, then gave Zachary a quick order. "Take Eve to the hospital to get her wound treated."

And with that, he hurried off with Rebecca.

The other guests followed suit, not missing the chance to get in a few more jabs before leaving.

"Elmo, Eve… Ms. Walsh sure has a knack for picking names! Look at her now. Doesn't she just look like a stray dog?"

"Don't insult Elmo! He's adorable. Unlike some desperate mutt trying to climb the social ladder."

Every single word cut through Evelyn like a blade.

She looked down at herself, drenched in champagne, covered in cuts, humiliated beyond words.

Her nose burned, and tears welled up in her eyes.

The birthday banner above her swayed before finally falling, landing right in front of her.

She picked it up, looking around at the now empty, chaotic venue.

Finally, with no one left to see her break, her tears fell freely.

And just like that, her 23rd birthday ended in ruins.

It was the early hours of the morning when Evelyn finally dragged her exhausted body home.

The moment she turned on the lights, her phone buzzed several times.

It was a message from Rebecca.

"You've been liking all my social media posts, so you must already know that Matteo and I are legally married, right? He also promised me a wedding in Mauwai. I saw the venue plans. It's absolutely grand.

"Every single detail is exactly what we used to dream about when we were younger. I can't believe he still remembers after all these years.

"I should also thank you. If it weren't for you, Matteo wouldn't have regained his sight. Really, I owe you for taking care of my husband for seven whole years."

Reading the blatant mockery, Evelyn didn't even have the energy to be angry anymore.

She went straight to her bedroom, lay down, and fell into a deep sleep.

That night, Matteo still didn't come home. The only thing he sent was a text message.

"Eve, I still have some things to take care of. Is your injury serious? If it hurts too much, let me know, and I'll come back right away."

Evelyn stared at the words on the screen, her eyes flickering with emotion. After a long moment, she finally typed out a short reply. "Don't bother."

"Matteo, from now on, I won't need you anymore," she thought to herself.

Once the wound on her shoulder had scabbed over, Evelyn returned alone to the Gallagher family's old estate.

Back when Matteo was blind, this was where they had lived together, just the two of them.

She grabbed a shovel and walked to the lush peach tree in the yard.

Beneath it, buried deep in the soil, was the time capsule they had made together on Matteo's 18th birthday.

She dug it up.

The metal box was rusted, and condensation had formed inside the sealed glass jar.

She pulled out the folded paper stars one by one, unfolding them carefully. The first note revealed her own handwriting.

"I wish for Matteo to see the world again. I wish Matteo a safe and happy life. I wish to always stay by Matteo's side."

Every single wish had been about him. Some had come true.

Some would never come true, not in this lifetime.

Next, she unfolded the other note. It was Matteo's wish.

"I wish to regain my sight. I wish for Becky to be well."

Every word was about him and Rebecca. Not a single one about her.

So that was the truth. He had never resented Rebecca for leaving him. He had willingly taken on the suffering of that accident for her, without hesitation, without regret.

A bitter smile curled on Evelyn's lips.

She crumpled up her own wish and tossed it into the drain. Then, she reached up and unfastened the necklace around her neck.

It was the first gift Matteo had ever brought her. It was purchased with the money he earned from his first business deal after returning to the Gallagher family.

She had felt guilty that he had spent so much on it, but he had only pulled her into his arms and kissed her endlessly.

"Eve, they say it's lonely at the top. But as long as you're with me, I'll have the courage to keep climbing. This is just a necklace. One day, everything I have, including myself, will belong to you."

She buried the necklace, along with everything that tied her to the past.

After filling in the hole, Evelyn turned back toward the house.

But just as she reached the front door, she ran into Matteo and Rebecca.

The surprise in his eyes was clear when he saw her standing there.

"Eve, what are you doing here?"

Evelyn didn't answer. Instead, she threw the question back at him. "What about you? What are you two doing here?"

Before Matteo could speak, Rebecca smiled and chimed in.

"It's been a while since I last heard Matteo play the piano. He said the piano was still in the old house, so we came to get it. Ms. Walsh, you know this place well. Why don't you show us the way?"

Without waiting for Evelyn's response, she grabbed her arm and pulled her into the house.