For Aiden's sake, Nolan and I went to the city hall.

We filled out forms, and just as we were about to sign, Aria called, crying that her cat was dying.

Nolan's heart went into a frenzy, and in his haste, he left me once again to go to her, entirely forgetting his promises to me.

The staff looked at me with sympathy, but I actually breathed a sigh of relief.

It felt like escaping from hell.

"Miss, do you still want to take this license?"

I tore the paperwork into shreds and tossed it in the trash can, smiling as I replied, "No, and I won't in the future either."

I wanted to free myself!

Just as I got home, I received a photo from Aria.

Nolan was holding her, her red lips pressed against his white shirt.

[Nolan is mine, and I will never let you take him away from me!] her message read. It was a blatant provocation.

I had always known that Aria's feelings for Nolan were more than platonic, but her status meant she could never be with him.

What she couldn't have, she wouldn't let me have either.

She did provocations, favoritism, and all sorts of schemes to drive a wedge between us.

I didn't believe Nolan couldn't see it; he just chose to indulge her.

After dinner, Nolan sent a message saying he wouldn't be coming home tonight.

The cat had died, and Aria was in a bad mood. He was afraid she might do something rash alone.

I didn't reply, calmly watching TV shows.

As I was about to sleep, Aria sent another message. It was a photo of Nolan holding her as they slept.

The young man and woman were in thin pajamas, their bodies nearly touching.

It used to upset me, but now my heart is still.

When love was gone, nothing mattered anymore.

During my stay with the Birch family, it was always like this. Aria would often climb into our bed in the dead of night, push me aside, and cuddle up to Nolan.

She even shamelessly helped him scrub his back while he showered, proudly claiming it was a practice they had grown up with.

Laughably, Nolan even defended her, accusing me of making a big deal out of nothing.

Later, when he saw I was furious, he promised to keep his distance from Aria in the future.

But his promises were worthless.

Nolan didn't return until noon the next day.

After lunch, I drove alone to the cemetery.

It was the anniversary of my mother's death.

Having gotten used to solitude since returning to the country four years ago, Nolan had never once accompanied me here.

He was always with Aria.

Once, when I insisted, he turned cold and accused me, "Your mother has been dead for four years, yet you dredge it up daily. Do you expect me to die with her?"

After that, I stopped asking.

The Nolan who once sneaked out to help me deal with my mother's affairs seems like a distant memory now.

I talked to my mom but didn't mention Nolan.

From afar, two figures approached.

"Nolan, my cat is so pitiful, we must bury it properly."

"Sure, I've arranged the best plot for it."

It was Nolan and Aria.

Aria held a small urn, her eyes red, while Nolan wrapped his arms around her, her pillar of support.

He saw me, paused, and then grabbed my wrist in frustration. "Scarlett, knowing the cat is being buried today, you planned to cause trouble, didn't you?"

His fingers pressed too hard, digging into my flesh.

He was so concerned over a cat's death, yet he'd wholly forgotten my mom's anniversary.

Indeed, human affection was biased.

I clenched my teeth and pried his fingers off one by one, my gaze icy. "Do you even remember what today is?"

He couldn't recall.

Of course, his heart was with Aria.

"It's my mom's death anniversary."

His startled eyes swept over the fresh flowers in front of the tombstone, finally resting on my mom's name.

Guilt crept into his eyes. "Aria's cat died, and I came to bury it with her. I forgot, but next year, I'll definitely come with you."

I couldn't help but scoff. He said that every year, he consistently failed to show up.

After hearing so many lies, I had naturally become immune

I didn't want to pay him any attention and continued clearing the weeds.

Nolan hadn't planned to bury the cat here, but Aria looked at my mom's tombstone, a malicious glint flashing in her eyes. Suddenly, she pointed to the space beside it.

And she said, "Nolan, let's bury the cat here. The view here is good; it will help Kitty be an angel soon."

I never imagined Aria would go this far.

I could tolerate her provocations and vying for favor, but now she was even targeting my mother.

Burying the cat next to my mom was just a constant reminder that in Nolan's heart, a cat was more important than my mother.

Rage surged within me, and I shoved her angrily. "Aria, don't push it too far."

Nolan quickly shielded Aria, glaring at me. "Scarlett, what's wrong with you? Aria is already heartbroken over the cat's death. Do you want the cat to have no resting place?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I clenched my fists, my voice hoarse with anger. "Nolan, that's my mom. Are you going to let her humiliate my mom like this?"

"Nolan, I just wanted the cat to have a proper burial. What did I do wrong?" Aria sobbed, wiping away her tears.

Heartbroken? Ha! That was not how she looked when she framed my mom years ago.

To break us up, she falsely accused my mom of stealing her necklace, driving my mom out of the house, and posting it online, subjecting her to endless insults. In the end, my mom couldn't bear the cyberbullying and jumped to her death.

"Need me to remind you how my mom died?"

Aria's face paled, perhaps from guilt, her body trembling.

"Enough!" Nolan barked. "It wasn't intentional, Aria has apologized. Why can't you let it go?"

He still chose to protect Aria.

So, an apology was enough? What about my mother's life?

It was worthless in his eyes.

Yes, it was done. I saw through his deceit.

Heartbroken, I turned to leave.

Boom!

Thunder roared, and heavy rain began, soaking my sorrowful heart as if mourning with me.

The cat was eventually buried next to my mom's grave.

The tombstone read: [The beloved cat of Nolan and Aria.]