Bradley didn't come home that night. After I refused to cook for Veronica, he blocked my number.

I didn't bother dealing with him and took a trip back to my hometown to collect a few things from my childhood.

I had no idea what Bradley had told my mother. The moment I stepped off the bus, I saw her waiting at the door, eagerly looking around. Once she was sure Bradley hadn't come with me, her face darkened.

What she didn't know was that Bradley would never set foot here again. He had always looked down on me and my family from the very beginning.

My mom asked, "Haven't you two made up yet?"

"We're not going to," I said. As soon as the words left my mouth, my mother slapped me across the face. Half of my face immediately swelled up.

Still unsatisfied, she continued hitting me, just like when I was a child, in front of everyone passing by. She grabbed the wooden stick by the door and began beating me with it, hard and furious. One strike after another.

My mom started to accusing me, "Bradley told me everything. Finding a man as good as him is a blessing you've earned over several lifetimes and you still can't make the most of it? Jealous, living wildly, you're such a lowly person!"

"Let me tell you, no matter what it takes, begging, getting pregnant, you better find a way to marry Bradley, or don't bother coming back here!" she screamed.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew and heavy rain began to pour. Only then did my mother stop. She blocked me from entering the house and threw my belongings out, one by one. She yelled, "Get out right now! Even if you die, you better die at Kane's house!"

One of my childhood trophies hit my forehead and blood mixed with rainwater trickled down my cheek.

I bent down, rummaging through the scattered items, trying to salvage memories from the past.

A Bentley slowly pulled up beside me. Bradley got out of the car, holding an umbrella with one hand while forcibly grabbing me with the other.

He dragged me into the car and said, "Yasmine, have you learned your lesson? No one in this world will ever love you except me. Be a good girl and come home. Apologize properly to Veronica and you'll still be the future Mrs. Kane."

He threw his coat over me and the distinct scent of Veronica's perfume hit me instantly.

I turned my head to look at the rain-blurred scenery outside the window, feeling utterly numb inside.

Once, I had considered Bradley my salvation, sharing my innermost thoughts and pains with him. But he had used those very pains to manipulate me. He had never been my refuge and he wasn't worth my love.

Only by leaving him and that so-called 'home' could I truly live a better life. While I was lost in thought, Bradley's phone rang.

"Bradley, why aren't you here yet? Everyone's waiting for you."

"They're all teasing me, saying how the company retreat can't just have the boss's wife attending while the boss himself is nowhere to be found. I'm running out of ways to respond …" a voice of a woman was heard.

Bradley shot me an awkward glance. He hesitated, wanting to leave me behind but realizing it wouldn't look right.

He said, "Yasmine, why don't you come along to the company retreat?" In the past, I was never allowed to set foot in Bradley's company.

Even when I brought him meals, I had to wait outside for his assistant to come out so as not to disturb his work. This was an unprecedented 'gift' from him.

I took out a tissue to wipe the blood from my forehead and slowly responded, "Okay."

I arrived soaking wet, looking disheveled in front of everyone. Bradley deliberately quickened his pace, distancing himself from me. It was as if he was afraid of being associated with me.

Veronica pouted in displeasure when she saw me. I overheard Bradley whispering to her, "I don't feel sorry for her, I just want to embarrass her. I want everyone to know that without me, she's worse off than a dog."

Surrounded by mocking and confused stares, I felt nothing. Perhaps I had been hurt too many times to feel pain anymore.

I raised my hand and asked a waiter for a blanket and then I was sitting on the sofa, watching people come and go. Just then, Merryl called me.

She said she had contacted a few companies and I could interview with them anytime. Before I could hang up, a hand suddenly landed on my shoulder.

I turned to see Bradley, looking puzzled and he asked, "Who are you talking to? What interview? Where do you plan to go?"

I lied casually, "Telemarketing."

Bradley's frown slowly relaxed, he said, "That makes sense. Your parents don't want you anymore, so where could you possibly go? The rain outside has stopped. There's nothing for you to do here. Go home. When you get home, don't forget to wash my coat."

I didn't reply. I tossed Bradley's coat onto the sofa.

Veronica tilted her head, staring at me for a moment before insisting that Bradley accompany me out.

As I reached the roadside, she suddenly stuck out her foot, tripping me. I lost control and fell into the rose bushes nearby.

"Yasmine!" Bradley reached out to grab me.

But when Veronica yelped, he immediately turned to shield her, leaving me to fall into the thorns. The sharp rose thorns cut deep into my skin, leaving me covered in scratches.

The muddy ground only amplified my misery. I struggled to get up, just in time to see Bradley gently bending down, wiping the splashes of mud from Veronica's shoes.

He glanced at me, a flicker of guilt flashing in his eyes when he said, "Yasmine, are you okay? I can take you to the hospital …"

"Bradley," Veronica's eyes filled with tears. "You promised to stay with me today. It's our hand-holding anniversary. How could you leave me alone?"

Bradley's gaze shifted between the two of us, hesitating.

"I'll go to the hospital by myself. It wouldn't look good for you to leave early since you're the boss," I finally said.

He sighed in relief. "Alright, take care of yourself. I'll bring you your favorite pineapple cakes when I get home." Pineapple cakes were actually Veronica's favorite. But there was no point in correcting him.

No matter when, I was always the one left behind, the one sacrificed. Rather than foolishly waiting for love that was never mine, I decided to be smart and leave early.

At the hospital, the doctor carefully removed the thorns embedded in my skin. It felt as though the years of love I had clung to left me along with those thorns.

The next morning, Bradley made a rare WhatsApp call to me, "Why aren't you answering your phone?"

"Didn't you block me?" I asked back.

After a moment's pause, he replied, "I'll be home in half an hour. I brought you fresh pineapple cakes and egg tarts. By the way, I also bought a new engagement ring. I know I've wronged you these past few days. It won't happen again."

I glanced at the time and replied calmly, "There won't be a next time for us." Unfortunately, Bradley had already hung up. There were still three hours left until noon.

I opened his laptop and tried several passwords. Eventually, I unlocked it with Veronica's birthday. I sat there in front of the computer, waiting for Bradley. Half an hour passed. An hour passed.

I opened my phone to find Veronica had posted a new update. She was sitting in Bradley's passenger seat, their fingers intertwined, both wearing the latest engagement rings. I smiled.

Using his account, I sent the story of our seven years together, along with the evidence of his affair I had collected, to everyone at his company.

Then I smashed the computer, grabbed my suitcase and headed to the airport alone. As I was going through security, countless messages and calls flooded in.