He patted his friend on the back. “You’re
always thinking. I have those videos on my
computer. I’ll just disguise it as a birthday
tribute.”
“It’ll be epic.”
I covered my mouth, slowing my breathing to
a crawl.
Tears streamed silently down my face.
After what felt like forever, they finally left.
I could finally breathe.
I packed my clothes. Grandpa had called and
L
said my fiancé would be picking me up
tomorrow.
I gave him the Payne family address.
Three days later, the day of the Payne family
party, was also the day I left.
It was time to end things.
I dragged my suitcase to Ashley’s place and
stayed there temporarily.
Knowing I’d been down, she took me to her
beach house.
Fate is a strange thing. The more you try to
avoid something, the more likely you are to
encounter it.
Olivia was there, wearing a bikini, showing off
her perfect body.
I, on the other hand, was covered up in long
sleeves and pants, my arm still in a sling.
She looked me up and down, her eyes full of
mockery. “Pathetic, isn’t it, Nora? You think
being friends with Ashley means you’ll marry
く
said my fiancé would be picking me up
tomorrow.
I gave him the Payne family address.
Three days later, the day of the Payne family
party, was also the day I left.
It was time to end things.
I dragged my suitcase to Ashley’s place and
stayed there temporarily.
Knowing I’d been down, she took me to her
beach house.
Fate is a strange thing. The more you try to
avoid something, the more likely you are to
encounter it.
Olivia was there, wearing a bikini, showing off
her perfect body.
I, on the other hand, was covered up in long
sleeves and pants, my arm still in a sling.
She looked me up and down, her eyes full of
mockery. “Pathetic, isn’t it, Nora? You think
being friends with Ashley means you’ll marry
<
Ethan?”
“Dream on. Ethan would rather be my lapdog
than have you. You’re such a loser…”
I’d seen her two–faced act since we were
kids.
She and her mother were a perfect pair.
There was no way she was a delicate flower
who fainted and cried over little things.
Unfortunately, she was a good actress. No
one believed me.
“Your mom couldn’t compete with my mom,
and you can’t compete with me. You two are
destined to be beneath us.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. Dad got me an emerald
jade bangle because he loves my mom. It was
your mom’s, apparently. Too bad the color’s
too dark for me…”
She flashed her wrist.
That bangle was a wedding gift from my
grandpa to my mom when she married into
the Payne family.
Now Dad had given it to someone else.
She took it off and dangled it in front of me.
“See how nice I am? Showing you the bangle.
Do you want it, Nora?”
She backed up, towards the edge of the cliff,
pretending she was going to throw it.
I rushed towards her, and she pulled me over
the edge.
If I hadn’t grabbed onto a rock, I would have
fallen.
Olivia smirked, then her expression changed
instantly as she started screaming for help.
Ethan appeared moments later.
Olivia started crying. “I was just giving Nora
back her bangle, but she got angry and tried
to grab it, and then this happened.”
“Ethan, help her!”
Ethan frowned and stepped over me to pull
Olivia up.
<
Men are much stronger than women.
He pulled Olivia up, letting her step on my left
shoulder for leverage.
My grip loosened with the increasing weight.
Ethan pulled Olivia up, then reached for me,
but his hand missed mine.
“Nora…”
The waves crashed over me, pulling me
under.
I tried to surface, but the waves were too
strong. I couldn’t lift my head.
I was running out of air.
I thought I heard a helicopter.
Someone jumped into the water.
They pulled me out just as I was about to lose
consciousness.
They wiped the water from my face. We
looked at each other.
He extended his hand. “Hello, my little
fiancée.”
く
“I’m Liam Zhao.”
Back on the road, we saw Ashley being held
back by Ethan. Apparently, she’d tried to hit
Olivia.
“If anything had happened to Nora, I’d make
her pay.”
“You believe everything she says? Nora’s arm
was broken, how could she…”
Ethan scoffed. “People like her have nine
lives. There’s no way she’d die.”
Then he saw me, the men’s jacket draped
over me, and his expression changed. “Are
you okay? Let me take you to the hospital.”
Olivia ran over, feigning concern. “Nora, I’m
so glad you’re okay. I wanted to call the
police, but Ethan stopped me…”
Ethan hesitated, his expression complex.
“Let’s not make a big deal out of this.”
The beach house had a doctor. I had cuts and
scrapes all over, and my ankle was sprained.
<
The doctor prescribed some medication, told
me to rest and stay warm, and left.
Liam stayed with me, telling everyone he’d
known me since childhood and was back to
visit his sister.
After dinner, everyone went to bed.
I was drifting off when I felt the door open.
A familiar scent drifted over me, making my
heart pound.
I opened my eyes and met Ethan’s gaze.
He was about to pull back the covers.
