Thud.

The punch landed squarely on Grayson’s face before he had any chance to react.

“She already told you to get lost, are you deaf?”

A low, razor-sharp voice rang out above Virelle’s head, slicing through the chaotic air.

Before Virelle could even comprehend what was happening, thud.

Grayson, who had been restraining her just a moment ago, was now sprawled across the floor, gasping in pain.

The force gripping her wrist vanished, and as Virelle staggered, nearly collapsing, her weakened body was caught by a firm hand, pulled into a chest that was unfamiliar, yet warm.

A faint trace of mint lingered in the air, bringing her an inexplicable sense of comfort, as though the tremors in her heartbeat were being gently soothed.

This scent.

She lifted her head, only to meet Dominic’s darkened gaze.

“Grayson, using the woman by your side to trade for benefits is not something a gentleman would do.”

Dominic spoke slowly, his tone laced with mockery.

Grayson clenched his fists and pushed himself up, his expression instantly darkening.

“Dominic, this is my family matter.”

His voice carried undisguised sarcasm.

“I thought you didn’t like meddling in other people’s business?”

Dominic merely let out a cold laugh, his voice calm yet chilling.

“But I do enjoy punishing men who are vile and disgusting.”

“The bid tonight is canceled. If you dare pull something like this again, I have ways to make your company collapse even faster.”

He enunciated each word with deliberate force, then coldly grabbed Virelle and pulled her away.

Virelle didn’t know what happened after that, she only saw a group of men rush into the room, followed by Grayson’s agonized, miserable screams echoing behind her.

By the time she came back to her senses, she was already seated inside Dominic’s car. The door was shut tight, as though it had completely sealed her off from the outside world.

The car began to move.

Her body was still trembling in waves, her breathing uneven, as if she still couldn’t believe any of this was real.

“Mr. Ashcroft, I...”

“Are you alright?”

Dominic sat calmly beside her in the back seat, lifting his gaze to look at her. The passing streetlights cast shifting shadows across his face, making his eyes appear even darker, more unfathomable.

Virelle nodded, lowering her eyes slightly in quiet gratitude, but then, as if something crossed her mind, she looked up again.

“Why... did you save me?”

Dominic let out a soft sound, leaning back against the seat, his posture lazy as he spoke.

“Well, my secretary had an appointment with his friend at that nightclub, and he happened to see you being dragged inside by Grayson, looking panicked.”

“And then, he found out that Grayson was going to organize a bid for your one night.”

Dominic spoke as if it were nothing of importance, yet Virelle shook her head faintly.

“That’s not what I mean... I mean, why did you save me?”

Her voice was hoarse, trembling slightly.

“And why are you treating me so well?”

She wasn’t so self-assured as to believe Dominic loved her at first sight, doing all of this just to protect her.

Besides, in this world, there is no such thing as kindness without a price.

After all, just as Grayson had said, Dominic didn’t seem like someone who had the time, or interest, to interfere in other people’s affairs, let alone help those around him.

“Because...”

Dominic’s gaze darkened, a fleeting trace of something distant and unfocused passing through his eyes.

“You look like someone I once loved, my white moonlight.”

“So, I suppose I just instinctively wanted to protect you.”

She had heard words like this before from Grayson, yet hearing Dominic admit it with his own mouth still left Virelle more surprised than she expected.

She stood there in a daze for a long moment, her lips parting slightly as if to say something, yet every word seemed to lodge in her throat, refusing to come out.

“Enough about me, tell me about you.”

“Why did you get involved with Grayson, and how did you stay with a bastard like him for so long?”

Virelle blinked, memories flickering through her mind like fragments of an old film, and she began telling Dominic about her relationship with Grayson, a love that had been difficult, yet once carried its own sweetness.

“To be honest, Grayson wasn’t always like this.”

“When we first met in Solvang, he was very gentle...”

Dominic’s ears rang the moment she mentioned Solvang, his gaze wavering as his hand clenched tightly, his breathing seeming to stall.

Solvang...

A vague memory surfaced in his mind, and Dominic suddenly drew a sharp breath, staring at Virelle with urgency.

“You used to live in Solvang?”

His gaze sharpened abruptly, making Virelle startle, a slight tremor running through her, though she still nodded.

“Yes, I have lived in Solvang since I was little. I only moved to Washington later, to get treatment for my grandfather.”

Dominic’s pupils dilated, his breathing growing more uneven, his voice turning unsteady.

“How long did you stay in Solvang...”

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

The sound of Virelle’s phone rang out, cutting the conversation short. Not quite catching Dominic’s question, she could only apologize awkwardly as she took out her phone.

Seeing the caller ID display her grandfather’s attending physician's name, Virelle hurriedly answered the call.

“Miss Ashen, your grandfather’s condition has suddenly worsened...”

Virelle’s heart clenched violently, the sensation as if her entire world were collapsing in an instant. A sharp ringing filled her ears, drowning out everything else, and the phone nearly slipped from her grasp.

Then, she heard her own voice, unsteady and distant.

“I understand. I’ll be at the hospital right away.”

After ending the call, Virelle turned to Dominic, her body trembling uncontrollably, panic written all over her face. He immediately understood, his tone decisive as he signaled the driver.

“Turn around. Head to the hospital now.”

Only then did he speak softly to comfort her. Virelle nodded, yet she heard nothing at all, as though every sound had dissolved into a dull buzzing inside her head.

Her eyes burned, and hot tears fell one by one onto the back of her hand.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, everything unfolded so quickly that Virelle had no time to think.

She listened as the doctor explained her grandfather’s condition, signed the consent form for emergency surgery, and.

“The surgery fees must be paid immediately, Miss Ashen.”

Virelle froze, quickly taking out her phone to calculate how much money she had at that moment.

Only one hundred thousand dollars.

“Doctor, I can pay half...."

“I’ll cover it.”

Seeing the panic and helplessness on Virelle’s face, Dominic stepped forward on his own initiative and followed the doctor to handle the payment procedures. Virelle lifted her head, her reddened eyes turning toward him.

Then hurried after him in confusion.

“Mr. Ashcroft, I’ll pay you back as soon as I have enough money.”

After all, she and Dominic were still practically strangers. The fact that he was willing to help her already meant a great deal to her.

Dominic turned to look at her, calm as though he were speaking about something insignificant.

“Don’t worry, Virelle.”

“Your grandfather’s surgery is the most important thing right now. Besides, this amount of money means nothing to me.”

“There’s no need to pay me back. Just consider it my good deed for the day.”

Dominic said gently as he led her to the waiting seats.

Thanks to Dominic covering the surgery fees in time, Virelle’s grandfather was immediately taken into the operating room. As the doors to the emergency ward shut tightly, Virelle’s strength gave out, and her body slid helplessly down onto the chair.

She buried her face in her hands, tears falling endlessly, her heart aching to the point of suffocation.

Dizziness and helplessness engulfed her, as if she were being dragged into a bottomless abyss. Her breathing felt constricted, as though an invisible force was crushing her chest, leaving her unable to breathe.

Why...

Why had everything turned out like this? Just this afternoon, her grandfather was still in stable condition.

“Ms. Ashen, please don’t worry...”

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Dominic’s voice was cut off by the sudden ringing of his phone. He stood up and stepped into the hallway to take the call.

When he returned, his expression had grown serious.

“Ms. Ashen, I truly want to stay, but there’s an urgent matter at the company. I need to leave for Australia immediately to handle it.”

Dominic spoke with a hint of apology, and only then did Virelle slowly lift her head, her reddened eyes looking at him with quiet fragility.

“It’s alright, Mr. Ashcroft. You should go.”

“Anyway, thank you so much. You’ve helped me a lot.”

After Dominic left, Virelle was once again alone, waiting outside.

Every passing second felt like torture.

She had no idea how much time had gone by.

She only knew that by the time her tears had nearly run dry, her throat had become so parched she could no longer produce a sound, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

Only then did the doors of the operating room finally open.

“Ms. Ashen, the surgery was very successful.”

That simple sentence made the heavy weight pressing on Virelle’s heart finally lift. She couldn’t hold back her tears, but this time, they were tears of relief and joy.

…

In the days that followed, Virelle never once left the hospital. Although the surgery had been very successful, her grandfather’s health remained extremely fragile.

He could not endure any kind of shock, nor was he in any condition to take a flight or move to Solvang.

The plan to leave would have to be postponed for now.

Virelle revealed none of her emotions. Every day, she carefully looked after her grandfather’s weakened health, chatting with him and telling him stories about her recent life, about her happy marriage with Grayson.

Of course, it was all fabricated.

Sometimes, when her grandfather fell asleep, Virelle would sit by the bedside, quietly watching his snow-white hair and the deep lines etched across his face.

And she would wonder whether this deception of hers was right or wrong.

Was she truly doing the right thing?

And when his health improved, if she told him the truth, would he be able to withstand such a shock?

Her mind buzzed painfully, and she didn’t dare to think any further.

...

Virelle had thought the worst was already over. But something even more vile came crashing down on her.

Somehow, a video of Virelle entering a hotel room, followed shortly by Dominic, was leaked.

And then came a flood of videos showing Virelle in intimate situations with multiple men, as if she were a promiscuous and depraved woman. Every single one of them, Virelle knew, had been fabricated using AI.

However, the news spread like wildfire, and countless messages filled with insults and harsh accusations flooded in.

Even the comments under her Instagram posts were nothing but malice.

And there was no shortage of messages proposing to her, asking how much it would cost to sleep with her for a night, as though she were nothing more than a commodity to be priced and purchased.

Virelle knew exactly who was behind this, Selene, retaliating for that slap the other day.

Forcing herself to remain composed, she turned off her phone and walked into her grandfather’s hospital room as if nothing had happened.

She planned to tell him everything and then leave with him, taking along the divorce certificate that had been delivered that very morning.

“Grandpa...”

As Virelle stepped into the room, she immediately sensed that something was off.

Her grandfather was holding a phone, the faint glow illuminating his aged face, making the lines upon it seem even deeper. His frail, withered hand pressed against the bed as he slowly stood up and walked toward her.

Virelle had never seen him like this before.

“Virelle, my dear daughter... Grayson forced you to do those things, didn’t he?”

Her grandfather’s voice was gentle, yet it sent a chill through her entire body. Her face turned pale, her mind exploding into chaos.

He knew.

“Grandpa, I...”

“You lied to me... and told me you were happy, didn’t you?”

Virelle tried to conceal the panic on her face as she hurried forward, her steps unsteady.

“Grandpa, it’s not like that.”

“Then what are those things on the internet?”

Her grandfather looked at her intently, as if trying to see through the disguise she had been hiding behind all these days.

“They’re all fake, grandpa.”

Virelle spoke each word quickly, only to be cut off.

“Is it because of me, Virelle?”

Her grandfather’s voice faltered, hoarse and strained.

“Because of me, you had to do those things, didn’t you?”

“Because I’m a burden, because I dragged you down..."

"And your life was ruined, wasn’t it?”

His aged face twisted in pain, tears streaming down as Virelle hurriedly reached out to wipe them away, her own eyes reddening.

“Wait, grandpa. Trust me, it’s all really fake.”

“Someone set me up, they used AI to fabricate everything.”

She clasped his hand tightly.

“I’ll deal with it soon, don’t worry.”

Virelle tried to reassure him, and her grandfather fell silent, as if he truly believed her.

“As for Grayson, I and he...”

“Miss Ashen.”

A knock sounded on the hospital room door, the doctor’s calm voice coming from outside.

“Your grandfather’s medication needs to be collected immediately. Please come with me for a moment.”

Virelle’s gaze froze as she looked at her grandfather, a sudden unease rising within her.

“I...”

“Go on, Virelle. I’ll wait here for you.”

Her grandfather smiled gently as he held her hand tightly, warmth passing into her. He even reached out to stroke her hair, just like when she was little.

“Then wait for a moment, I’ll be back and continue.”

“But don’t believe what’s on the internet, it’s all fake.”

Worried, Virelle kept reminding him. Her grandfather nodded, smiling gently and kindly.

Virelle let go of his hand and stepped outside.

...

When she returned, her heart thudded violently.

The moment the door opened, she saw her grandfather sitting on the balcony, his frail figure clinging to the ledge, so thin it seemed a single gust of wind could sweep him away.

“Grandpa...”

The bag of medicine slipped from Virelle’s hand, hitting the ground with a dull sound, but she paid it no mind. Her breath caught as she rushed forward in panic, the sound of her heartbeat pounding loudly in her mind.

Her grandfather smiled warmly as always, yet tears silently streamed down his aged face.

“Live happily, Virelle.”

“With me no longer as your burden, you must live for yourself, truly happily.”

“I love you.”

“No!”

The sense of dread surged stronger, her whole body turning cold as she forced herself to run faster, the cry of panic tearing from her throat.

But it was too late.

The distance of only a few steps had become a distance she would never be able to cross.

At the very moment Virelle reached out her hand, her grandfather leaned back, his frail body falling straight down, disappearing from her sight.

After that, there was no sound at all.

But her heart felt as though it had been hollowed out.

Her vision blurred as Virelle stood frozen in place, as if rooted to the ground, unable to react. Her hand remained outstretched, grasping at nothing but empty air.

Her throat tightened, not a single sound able to escape.

Her world had collapsed.

The pain seeped in with that fall, little by little, penetrating her skin and bones, leaving Virelle’s mind utterly blank.

She did not know what to do next, only standing there, motionless, like an empty shell.

...

On the day of her grandfather’s funeral, the rain poured relentlessly. Thunder roared across the sky, yet the ceremony itself unfolded in silence, with only Virelle in attendance.

Standing before the gravestone, she could not cry, as though her tears had already run dry.

Her heart felt hollow, as if it no longer beat, her gaze dim and lifeless.

She remembered the gentle way her grandfather used to hold her in his arms.

That soft smile was always there to reassure her, no matter what happened.

The egg he would always give her when she was little was the most delicious thing in the world.

And so many other things...

In the end, there was nothing left.

“Grandpa...”

She clenched her fists. Thinking of the terrible and horrifying things her grandfather had endured before his death, a surge of hatred rose within her.

A man so kind, yet in the final years of his life, he had not only been tormented by illness but also forced to endure devastating emotional shocks.

“Grayson and Selene, I will not let them go.”

"I will make them pay everything, lose everything."

She ground out each word through clenched teeth, the hatred etched deep into her very bones.

If not for those two despicable people, her grandfather would not have left in such bitterness.

And she would not be left alone in this world.

...

After the funeral, Virelle boarded a plane and left, without leaving behind a single trace.

As she watched the city shrink beneath her gaze, she let out a quiet sigh, countless fragments of memories flashing through her mind.

At the same time, at the airport.

“Boss, I’ve finished investigating what happened back then.”

The urgent voice came through the phone, making Dominic stop in his tracks, his hand tightening around the handle of his suitcase.

“The one who saved you in Solvang, it really was Ms. Ashen.”

“The time she stayed in Solvang matches exactly with when you had your accident.”

Dominic’s grip tightened until his knuckles turned white, his lips trembling slightly.

It was her.

The one who pulled him out of the freezing water, the one who saved him from despair... was her.

The one he had been searching for all these years.

It truly was her.

His heart began to race uncontrollably as Dominic breathed unevenly, speaking in haste.

“Where is she now?”

There was a hint of hesitation from the other end.

“Boss, she’s already left.”

A second of silence passed.

Dominic’s gaze turned cold as his grip on the phone tightened further.

“Prepare the car.”

“No matter where she is, I will find her.”