Chapter 1

My parents died saving hostages when I was three.

The Harrington family took me in.

On my eighteenth birthday, I told Lucas Harrington I liked him.

But because he mentioned a childhood friend who had opened a training camp that worked well, I got sent there.

Until I got electric shocked, which caused me to go deaf in my left ear, got all messed up inside, and my organs started failing, Lucas finally remembered to come get me.

Later, he cried and begged me to love him.

But I couldn't love him anymore.

*****

When Lucas's driver came to pick me up, I had just finished another round of electric shock torture.

My legs felt numb, and my hands kept shaking. I forced myself into the back seat.

The sun lit up the window, and I saw how weak and pale I had become. Even my eyes drooped, empty and dead.

Three months ago, I acted like I owned the place just because Lucas was the heir to the Harrington family.

In only a hundred days, I didn't even recognize myself in the car window.

George, the driver, tried to comfort me. "When you get back, only give in a little. Mr. Harrington still cares about you."

I said softly, "Let's go."

We didn't go to the Harrington residence. The driver took me to a hotel.

George told me Lucas was in there waiting for me.

I didn't know if he'd send me back to the camp if I refused.

I was still wearing that thin shirt from three months ago. The cold wind was brutal, and my chest burned with a hollow ache.

The moment I pushed open the private room door, warmth washed over me.

My childhood friends were all there, but I didn't go up to them like I used to.

I stood as far away from Lucas as possible. "Lucas, what did you want to see me about?"

Everyone froze.

As a kid, I had no shame following after him. And because he spoiled me, I acted like I owned the whole city.

I thought I was different. In the end, I became a joke to everyone.

Lucas was seated at the center. He lifted his brow, looking charming and arrogant.

He said, "Great, Evelyn. Greetings to my fiancée, Sophia Goodwin."

My hands and feet slowly warmed up. I squeezed my cold, purple fingers. "Okay."

Surprise flashed in Lucas's eyes, but he hid it quickly.

The woman sitting next to him smiled and greeted me.

She said, "Evelyn, I've heard so much about you from Lucas. You've been learning manners at the training camp.

"Honestly, a young girl like you hanging around with those people is not a good look."

Sophia wore a khaki coat, gentle and pretty, but her eyes held something I didn't understand.

My mind was in a daze. I blinked blankly. "Hello, Sophia."

A heavy silence fell. Everyone stared at me in shock like they'd seen a ghost.

After all, the Evelyn Nash everyone knew would never hesitate to slap anyone who talked to her with attitude.

No one dared to question it. That was the confidence I had from the Nash and Harrington families. Jealousy and envy were nothing new to me.

But now, the burning in my chest kept getting worse. All I wanted was to lie down and rest.

"Lucas, can I go back now?" I asked.

Lucas sat in the center. He wasn't enjoying himself like I thought he would. Instead, his expression was dark.

"You're already here. Eat with Sophia before you leave," he said.

My guardianship still rested with the Harrington family. They had the right to decide where I went.

I sat down without a word.

Everyone around raised their glasses, wishing Lucas and Sophia a happy engagement.

Only I stayed seated.

Lucas stared at the dishes in front of him, his fingers gently stroking Sophia's back. His voice was cold.

"Everything has its place. Stay in it, or things start looking messy," he said.

He looked completely unruly, like he didn't care about anything.

I got what Lucas meant. I leaned on my numb legs and stood.

I said, "I was immature in the past.

"I'll toast with juice. Wishing Lucas and Sophia a long and happy life together."

Lucas's expression remained dark. "If that's your sincerity, it's pretty cheap."

I knew exactly what he meant. Lucas thought I hadn't suffered enough and believed I still wanted him.

I stared at the high-proof liquor before me and said softly, "I'll drink one. Is that enough?"

Lucas said nothing. His silence told me it still wasn't enough.

I filled the glass with the high-proof liquor. I drank glass by glass. By the third, my insides were burning, and I tasted blood in my throat.

"Is that enough?" I asked.

Lucas stayed quiet, but I could see the anger in his eyes that he was holding back.

So I grabbed the whole bottle and tipped it into my mouth.

A childhood friend sitting beside me couldn't take it anymore and snatched the bottle away.

"Evelyn, are you crazy?" he yelled.

I stumbled, my head spinning, vision blurry, breath ragged. "What about now?"

Lucas's eyes were rimmed red, his fingers hanging by his side trembling slightly. "Is this the only way you can cut ties with me?"

What else? Put an ad in the paper and tell the whole city?

The next moment, my stomach lurched violently.

I covered my mouth and rushed to the bathroom.

I leaned over the sink and threw up everything I'd drunk.

My insides ached more and more intensely. I coughed violently, as if coughing the last of my love out of my heart.

Bright red splattered across the white edge of the sink.

My fingers trembling, I turned on the faucet and washed the blood away.

I looked up and saw myself in the mirror. My face was pale as paper.

At that moment, a figure stood behind me, wearing an olive-green trench coat.

He was tall, with a sharp and stern gaze.

It felt like before. Back when I hated wearing heavy clothes, even hated wearing slippers at home and always walked barefoot on the carpet, Lucas would look at me like that, all serious.

He put a coat on me and crouched down to change my slippers.

I thought he'd say something caring.

But he asked if that camp had taught me any manners.

I spaced out for a moment, but I finally saw the difference between then and now.

I stared at him and didn't understand how he stayed so heartless.

I replied, "Lucas, I wouldn't dare forget the rules you taught me."

He warned coldly, "I'd hope so. Sophia and I are about to get engaged. Don't forget your place."

"I won't. I've behaved myself, haven't I?" I replied.

I thought this was what he wanted.

But there was a complicated look in Lucas's eyes.

He lowered his head, helpless but gentle, and whispered something into my left ear.

Unfortunately, my left ear was ringing. It couldn't hear a thing anymore.