I gagged, veins bulging on my temples, my face flushing. I turned to face Jean, wanting to explain, but she smashed the glass in her hand toward me.

A sudden, sharp pain surged through my temple. Instinctively, I wiped at it and found my hand dripping with blood.

Flustered, Jean shouted, "A-Are you blind? Why didn't you dodge? I'm taking you to the hospital."

She stepped forward to help me, her face somber.

The moment I opened the car door, I saw men's underwear on the passenger seat. Wordlessly, I opened the back door.

Jean hurriedly stuffed it away and gave me an embarrassed look. "I bought this for you—"

"Enough. Just take me to the hospital," I interrupted her coldly, my patience worn thin.

She kept making small talk along the way. However, I just stared out the window, lost in the passing scenery, offering her nothing in return. It was just like how she used to be with me, as if saying even a few words to me was a huge favor.

Jean suddenly fell silent. She put on her earpiece and answered a call, her tone growing anxious. "Don't panic. I'll be there right away."

She pulled the car over abruptly. "Get out. I've got urgent business at the office."

I glanced out at the highway, the endless fields beside it, and then down at the blood left on my hand.

I stared at her, incredulous. "You want me to get out right here?"

She urged impatiently, "You're old enough. Can't you just take a cab?"

I drew in a few deep breaths and swung the car door open.

I hadn't even regained my balance when she sped off, nearly clipping me and sending me sprawling. A horn blared behind me as a massive truck raced past, inches to spare.

With no choice, I had to detour along a narrow, bramble-choked path beside the road.

It was the height of summer, and the scorching sun overhead left me dizzy. Sweat soaked my clothes, sticking to my skin. It felt as if every drop of moisture had been sucked from my body, and my throat burned with thirst.

Just as I was about to collapse from exhaustion, I was fortunate enough to encounter an elderly man busy working in the fields, who helped me get to the hospital.

Completely drained, I drifted into a deep sleep with the IV still in my arm.

A woman nearby woke me, clicking her tongue. "Your forehead is all swollen and bleeding so much. Why didn't you call the nurse?"

I gave her a grateful glance, then lowered my eyes to unlock my phone. There were no new messages. Instinctively, I tapped on Callum's Instagram.

"The cat was in a huff and refused to eat, but as soon as she arrived, she soothed it in no time."

In the video, Jean cradled the cat, her eyes melting with adoration. She patiently tore a piece of meat into tiny strips and fed it slowly.

The world around me grew silent, leaving only the IV's rhythmic drip. Cold and piercing, it coursed through my veins, drilling a gaping hole in my heart.

I scrolled through old photos with vacant eyes. How had I fallen in love with her back then?

At the time, she was an intern, and I was the department manager. I remembered she was always the first to arrive at work and the last to leave. Back then, I just thought she was really diligent.

That was until one late night, when I was gaming with my friends at a hotel and had ordered some late-night food.

I opened the door and saw Jean, breathless and worn out from rushing here, handing me the delivery.

When she recognized me, she gave a sheepish smile. Her eyes curved like crescent moons, and shallow dimples appeared on her slightly chubby cheeks.

Before I could say a word, she raised her phone and waved it slightly, signaling that she had to rush off for the next delivery.

Watching her petite silhouette as she hurried away, a pang of affection stirred in my heart.

I started assigning some of the better clients to her. She really rose to the occasion, her performance improving steadily. It wasn't long before she became the department's top performer.

Through it all, Jean and I fell passionately in love.

I leveraged my family's connections to connect her with top-tier clients, and her position rose steadily.

I watched her take center stage at the company's annual gala for her formal appointment by the board of directors. Bathed in the spotlight, she wore a black evening gown, radiating confidence and dazzling brilliance.

Pride swelled within me. The rose I had tenderly nurtured with my own hands had finally bloomed.

To preserve her pride, I never revealed the truth about my family background or the real reason she got promoted.

But as her income rose, I felt smaller and smaller in her eyes. Had I not yielded and compromised repeatedly, our relationship might have long since ended.

I dragged myself home, exhausted, and opened the door to hear laughter. Jean was leaning against Callum's shoulder, playing with the cat he held.

When she saw me, she looked uneasy. She rose and straightened her clothes. "Is your wound healed?"

I turned and headed upstairs, pretending not to hear her. I had only come back to gather my things.

But Jean hurried after me and clutched my wrist. "Are you angry?"

She knew I'd be angry, but she still went on testing my limits.

I wrenched my hand free. Caught off guard, she hit the metal railing of the stairs and gasped sharply in pain.

Normally, I would have gently held her hand, checking for injuries, and searched through the drawers for a first-aid kit. But now, my heart felt completely still. I went upstairs without so much as a second glance.

Jean looked at me, both shocked and hurt.

Callum ran over. "Jean, are you okay? How could he—"

"Shut up!" she snapped, then seemed to realize she'd been too harsh. "You should go back first."

Callum glared at me with resentment, then grabbed the cat and slammed the door, leaving reluctantly.

After that, Jean followed me into the bedroom and wrapped her arms around my waist from behind, murmuring, "Please, don't be mad, okay?"

"I'm not mad. There's still salmon in the fridge. You can give it to the cat later."

I could feel her going rigid. She stayed quiet, her silence unbroken for a long time as her hands trembled slightly. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I could feel her tears soaking my clothes.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice choked with emotion. "Seth, why have you been acting differently than usual these past two days?"

Despite everything, I held my tongue, unable to bring myself to end things with her. "Let's each take some time to cool off for now."

All of a sudden, Jean's voice rose sharply, full of anger, as she glared at me. "What do you mean by that? Have I spoiled you too much these past two days? And you're still crossing the line?

"I'm giving you one last chance, Seth. Apologize right now, or we're done!"

Whenever she got angry, she'd block my number and all my social media accounts, giving me no chance to explain. I'd spend sleepless nights tossing and turning, trying every platform to see if I could reach her.

Sometimes, I'd send her money on Venmo. Other times, I'd make a new account just to add her again, swallowing my pride and begging her to forgive me.

But this time, I just looked her in the eye, calm and unshaken. "Fine."

Jean froze, her gaze vacant, as if she were looking at a stranger. After all, I'd always stooped to beg her to stay whenever she mentioned breaking up before.

Her lips parted slightly, and after a long pause, she whispered, "Seth, I mean that we'll break up if you don't apologize."

I looked at her with a detached expression. "Yes. Let's break up."

I carried my suitcase and walked past Jean, who looked deathly pale, as if she weren't even there. I left without a backward glance.

A resentful roar came from behind me just then. "Seth, you'd better actually have some guts this time and not stick to me afterward like a damn leech that won't let go!"

I'd thought we could part on amicable terms. I never imagined that Jean would do something utterly shameless afterward.

When my mom, Teresa Whitfield, heard I had broken up, she was determined to meet Jean in person. She wanted to see for herself what kind of woman could earn three years of my wholehearted devotion.

So, Mom went on a vacation, and as it happened, the hotel where she was staying was about to hold a recognition ceremony in honor of Jean's promotion to general manager.

As Solaris Group's principal shareholder, Mom wasn't required to attend a subsidiary's recognition ceremony. But she insisted on seeing Jean in person, and I couldn't talk her out of it.

"Mom, just so you know, today is only about giving Jean her letter of appointment. It's completely over between Jean and me, so don't mention anything else to her."

Mom looked at me intently, then lowered her head and grunted her agreement.

I was massaging her shoulders when our hotel room door suddenly burst open. A group of men stormed in and bolted the door from the inside.

Callum gave me a hollow smile. "When I ran into you at the hotel, something felt off. You barely scrape together a living, so how could you afford a place like this? It turns out you've been living off someone else, huh?"

He clicked his tongue. "You'd sell your dignity for a few bucks? That old rich lady looks old enough to be your mother."

A surge of anger rose in me. I was about to retort when the group of men suddenly rushed at me, knocking me to the floor and snatching my phone from my hand.

Callum stomped on my face with all his weight, his eyes full of mockery. "If Jean knew what scum you are, what do you think she'd do?"

Mom panicked and rushed forward to help me. "Stop! He's my son. You've misunderstood!"

Callum sneered with disgust, yanking Mom's hair and spitting on her face. "You're still shameless at your age."

He suddenly let go and gave a forceful shove.

Mom, caught completely off guard, fell to the floor, her head banging hard against the corner of the bed. Her face went pale from the pain.

Seeing Mom humiliated, I was seething with rage. I struggled with all my strength, but couldn't move an inch.

"Seth, why do you always act so high and mighty in front of me?" Callum lifted his foot and kicked me hard in the stomach.

I curled up, gritting my teeth. "Do you even know who my mother is? How dare you—"

"Still acting all tough? You were caught cheating right here at the hotel, and you're still denying it? I'll call Jean and the others so everyone can see your disgusting, pathetic face."

He smirked triumphantly as he dialed his phone.

Not long after, Jean came rushing over, holding up her skirt. She was shaking with anger. "Seth, I never expected this…"

Mom struggled to her feet, trying to speak and explain herself.

But Jean forcefully kicked Mom's hand away. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands, old hag."

Her pointed heels slammed into Mom's nose, and blood gushed instantly. Mom clutched her face, screaming in pain.

"Jean! Are you fucking insane?"

Rage boiled in my chest, like it might tear me apart. But the people behind me pinned my shoulders down, so I couldn't move an inch.

Frustration, resentment, and anger filled my chest, choking me. My breathing came in harsh, shallow gasps. I felt suffocated, ready to explode.

"You're the insane one. Was this on purpose? You knew today was my recognition ceremony, and you still brought this bitch here to ruin it, all because I wanted to break up with you!

"Listen, Seth—we're done! Drag these two shameless bastards out. Solaris Group's hotels don't allow filth like this."

Jean was furious as she barked orders at the others. Callum stood beside her, soothing her affectionately, his eyes locked on me with a mocking challenge.

I struggled violently against the group in a desperate attempt to pull their hands off Mom.

"What is going on here?"

At that moment, a deep, commanding voice rang out as a middle-aged man stepped in, his presence brooking no argument.

Jean immediately adopted a completely deferential posture, putting on a forced smile as she looked at him. "Mr. Langford, you're here."

The others in the room stiffened in place, bowing their heads and falling silent instantly. The noise in the room vanished, leaving only the sound of everyone's breathing.

Franklin Langford stared at me, his face showing both irritation and confusion. "Seth? What is this nonsense?"

I panted heavily, my eyes dark and fierce, and said something no one expected.