Everyone in the upper circles knew I was the Xander family’s delicate little porcelain doll, someone who could not tolerate even the slightest grievance.

I always had to sit in the seat of honor at gatherings. My drinks had to be served ice-cold. If anything annoyed me even a little, I would have my childhood friends clear the room.

That was, until the fallen heiress returned.

She did not rely on men. She had built her own business from scratch and was ruthless in the boardroom, radiating a wild, untamed beauty.

Slowly, my dear brothers began to find me insufferable and too high-maintenance.

When they pulled their investments from my gallery to back her projects instead, only my fiancé stayed by my side, comforting me.

“Forget them. They’re all opportunists. I’ll always keep you safe in the palm of my hand!”

That was until one day, I saw that same proud fiancé bent low like a servant, humbly wiping wine stains off the heiress's shoes in a corner of a club. His eyes were filled with a devotion I had never seen before.

“All I need is one look from you, and I’ll drop the whole wedding.”

I took off my engagement ring and tossed it into the drain. Then, I went home and told my grandfather, “Grandpa, I’m going to Africa for that development aid project.

“I’ll agree to the arranged marriage. Just don’t make me see them again."

Grandpa watched my resolute back as I walked away. His wrinkled hand trembled, reaching out as if to stop me, only to fall short, hanging in midair.

"Winnie, have you really thought this through? That's Africa. It's the Quinn family's territory, and Mr. Quinn is practically a devil."

I did not turn around. My tears hit the floor the moment I stepped away, but my voice was eerily calm. "I've made up my mind, Grandpa.

"Anywhere's fine, as long as I can get away and never see them again."

The moment I stepped out of the study, I leaned against the cold wall. My body slowly slid down it.

My mind kept replaying what I saw half an hour ago at the club.

Today was my twenty-third birthday.

Traditionally, it should have been the biggest party among the capital's elite circle.

I was the Xander family's little princess and Luke's fragile, precious doll.

However, the private room was empty and silent tonight.

Dressed in a custom couture gown, I sat in the seat of honor like a joke, waiting for an hour, then two.

The group chat on my phone was dead silent.

There was not even a message from Adrian, Zayden, or my fiancé, Luke.

Suddenly, I saw Charlotte's post.

It was a photo inside another private room in the same club, captioned with just two words: [I won!]

A hand was visible in the corner of the photo, sporting the Patek Philippe watch I had given Luke.

I grabbed my skirt and ran toward that room like I had lost my mind.

I stood outside the door and heard laughter from inside.

"Luke, this is Miss Charlotte you're dealing with. Wipe it properly."

"Yeah! If that wine stain soaks in, those shoes are done for."

Through the half-open door, I saw a scene that made my blood run cold.

The man who used to panic over the slightest frown from me, the man who said I was the most precious thing in his heart, was now kneeling on one knee before another woman.

In his hand was an expensive silk scarf. He was carefully and humbly wiping wine stains off Charlotte's high heels.

The way he moved was reverent, as if he were handling a priceless treasure.

Charlotte lounged on the sofa, swirling a glass of red wine. Her gaze was lazy and carried a hint of impatience.

"All right, Luke. Quit the act."

He lifted his head. His eyes were filled with a kind of obsession and fervor I had never seen before.

"Charlotte, just look at me one time. I don't care if it's while I'm wiping your shoes. I won't even get married. Deal? I'm sick of that crying porcelain doll anyway."

Clatter!

The gift box slipped from my hand and hit the floor.

It was the cufflinks he had always wanted. They were one-of-a-kind, something I had spent half a year working with a designer to get.

The room fell silent instantly.

Every gaze turned toward me.

When Luke saw my pale face, panic flashed across his eyes, and he instinctively started to stand.

However, the moment he met Charlotte's half-smiling gaze, that panic vanished and was replaced by cold indifference and disgust.

He frowned and said in an icy tone, "What are you doing here? But it's good timing. I've got some things I need to make clear."

I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood.

"Luke, it's my birthday today."

He let out a scoff, tossing the stained silk scarf onto the table.

"Birthday? Whitney, how old are you? Do you still expect the whole world to revolve around you on your birthday?

"Why don't you learn from Charlotte? Be a little independent. Stop acting like a spoiled child who hasn't been weaned yet."

Adrian chimed in with an impatient tone, "Winnie, don't take this the wrong way.

"Charlotte just got back to the country. Starting a business is stressful. What's wrong with us keeping her company? Can't you be a little more understanding?"

Zayden added, "Exactly. We spoiled you before because you were young, but it turns out we spoiled you rotten.

"You can't handle even the slightest discomfort. How are you supposed to become the lady of the Howard family like this?"

I looked at them, the men who once swore they would protect me for life.

When did everything change?

It started the day Charlotte came back.

She did not ride in luxury cars—she rode motorcycles. She did not drink soda—she drank hard liquor. She did not admire flowers in a greenhouse—she fought battles in the business world.

She was a wild rose, while I was an orchid in a greenhouse.

Just like that, my delicacy became a flaw. My tears became an act.

I took a deep breath. My nails were digging into my palms.

"So, this is the birthday gift you've prepared for me?"

Luke waved his hand impatiently. "If you're here to make a scene, just leave. Don't ruin everyone's mood."

Charlotte raised a brow. Her voice was cold. "Miss Xander, Mr. Howard is saying this for your own good. Flowers grown in a greenhouse can't survive a storm."

At that moment, something inside me snapped completely.

The lighting in the private room was dim and suggestive, yet it made every expression on their faces strikingly clear.

There was mockery, disdain, and disgust.

None of them displayed any guilt.

I looked at Luke, the man I had loved for seven years.

From sixteen to twenty-three, my whole youth revolved around him.

He once said, "Winnie, you're like a porcelain doll, too fragile for this world. I'll hold you carefully in the palm of my hand forever."

He also said, "Winnie, I'll destroy whoever makes you suffer."

Now, the person who had made me suffer the most was him.

I did not cry. I did not even make a scene.

I simply bent down calmly and picked up the gift box from the floor.

Luke thought I was going to give it to him. A trace of smugness appeared on his face, as though he was saying, 'See? She can't live without me.'

"Whitney, if you apologize to Charlotte now and admit you were wrong, we'll let this go."

Luke lifted his chin arrogantly.

Adrian chimed in, "Yeah, Winnie. Luke still cares about you. Just apologize and stop being childish."

Apologize? I looked at the box in my hands and suddenly laughed.

"Luke, were all those three years of kindness fake?"

He avoided my gaze and replied in a cold voice, "You're just too difficult. No one can put up with you forever.

"I'm a man. I need a partner who can stand beside me in battle, not a crying accessory."

"Fine."

I nodded. My voice was as soft as a feather.

"Luke, as you wish."

I walked to the garbage can and threw that priceless gift box inside without hesitation in front of everyone.

Luke's expression instantly darkened. "Whitney! Have you lost your mind?!"

"This is the last time I'll ever lose my mind over you."

I turned around and looked at everyone in the room.

Adrian and Zayden were my childhood friends.

"Since you all like Charlotte so much, you can stay with her for the rest of your lives. I won't be joining you."

Then, I turned around and left.

Behind me, Charlotte's faint mocking voice rang out.

"Miss Xander really can't take it, huh? Looks like Mr. Howard was right. You are too delicate."

Luke's voice came through the crack in the door, laced with anger and frustration.

"Let her go! Let's see how far she gets! She can't do anything without me. I bet she'll be crying and begging me to take her back tomorrow!"

Outside the club, the cold wind cut against my face like a blade.

I did not call the chauffeur. I walked alone down the empty street.

The streetlights stretched my shadow long and thin.

Memories surfaced one after another.

My childhood friends withdrew their investment from my small art gallery to support Charlotte, saying her art was just a childish hobby.

Luke claimed he was busy, but he was actually accompanying her on projects. There was once when he even left me stranded alone on the highway just because she called him.

Now, I realized all the distance had been deliberate.

I had already become a burden to them.

Without realizing it, I reached the riverbank.

My fingers brushed over the diamond ring on my ring finger.

The engagement ring Luke gave me when he proposed was a five-carat pink diamond, symbolizing his one and only love for me.

Now it felt like nothing but irony.

Without hesitation, I raised my hand.

The ring fell through a crack in the sewer grate by the roadside.

By the time I returned to the Xander residence, it was deep into the night.

I went straight to my grandfather's study and made my decision.

"Grandpa, I'll take the Africa development aid project. I'll agree to the arranged marriage, too.

"I have only one condition: I leave tomorrow morning. Don't tell anyone."

I would make a clean break and leave for good.

From this day on, Whitney Xander would no longer exist in the capital.

I did not sleep that night.

The room was filled with traces of my past twenty-three years.

My limited-edition teddy bear from Luke, the rare vinyl record from Adrian, the crystal snow globe Zayden brought back from overseas…

Every single item held a memory.

Once, I treasured them like priceless gifts. I even got upset if the maids touched them while cleaning, even though they were just trying to do their jobs.

Now, all I felt was disgust when I looked at them.

They mocked me, my stupidity, and my delusions.

I found a large black garbage bag and shoved everything inside.

In the end, I only took a small suitcase with me.

Inside were a few simple sets of clothes, my documents, and a photo of Grandpa and me.

That was everything I had.

Four in the morning.

The Xander family's private jet was already waiting on the runway.

Grandpa stood in the cold wind. Tears were streaming down his face.

"Winnie, are you really not going to tell them?"

I shook my head and helped him adjust his coat. "Grandpa, why tell them? So they can laugh at me?"

"It's not going to be easy there. That Quinn kid from the Quinn family is known for his bad temper. People say he kills without hesitation..."

"Grandpa."

I cut him off. My gaze was fixed on the faint light breaking on the horizon.

"No matter how hard it is, can it be harder than this?

"It's fine if he has a bad temper, as long as he's not a two-faced hypocrite."

I hugged Grandpa tightly, then turned around and boarded the plane.

The moment the cabin door closed, I took out my phone.

At the top of my messaging app was the group chat: [Winnie's Protection Squad.]

The last message was from Adrian: [Tonight was a win. Charlotte really saved the day. She even got Luke on his knees! Winnie's probably crying somewhere. Just ignore her, she'll come around after a couple of days.]

I tapped 'Leave Group', no emotion on my face.

Then, I blocked Luke, Adrian, and Zayden.

I blocked everyone connected to my old life.

I waved goodbye to the first twenty-three years of my life.

…

On the other hand, on the other side of the capital.

The club's private room was still bright and chaotic with laughter.

Luke was drunk, still clutching the silk scarf I had thrown away.

Adrian patted his shoulder.

"Relax, bro. You know Winnie. She can't live without you. She'll be back tomorrow morning with hangover soup, her eyes all red, apologizing."

Charlotte swirled her red wine with a faint, amused smile on her face.

"Aren't you guys being a little too harsh? What if she actually leaves for real?"

Luke let out a cold laugh. His eyes were foggy with alcohol but full of certainty.

Winnie?

"She can't even survive on her own without the Xander family or without us.

"She's just a porcelain doll who can't leave my palm. This time, I'll fix that spoiled personality of hers once and for all."

Everyone burst into laughter, raising their glasses in celebration of a victory that had not even come yet.

However, they did not know.

Tens of thousands of feet above them, a plane was carrying the girl they had broken far away, across oceans and borders.

There was no longer a pampered Whitney Xander, only the reborn Mrs. Quinn.