The moment he heard that frantic, tearful voice, Dominic’s face turned dark.

He slammed his foot on the gas, twisted the steering wheel, and executed a sharp turn.

Unprepared, Valerie was thrown against the car door, her forehead struck by a flying ornament, which tore a gash into her skin.

Blood streamed down her face as she cried out in pain, clutching the wound with a hand and looking at him in bewilderment.

He hadn’t even noticed that she was injured.

His focus was entirely on getting to Camilla. His eyes were alight with barely contained fury, though his voice was steady.

“Don’t be afraid. Where are you now? Don’t hang up—I’ll be there in five minutes.”

All the questions she had been about to ask froze on her lips at his words.

She pulled out some tissues from her bag and pressed them against the bleeding wound.

The GPS repeatedly warned them of speeding, but Dominic ignored it, running through red lights without hesitation.

Seeing how fast they were going, Valerie adjusted her seatbelt.

Five minutes later, the car skidded to a stop in front of a bar.

It seemed as though Dominic had forgotten she was even in the car. He tore off his seatbelt and sprinted away.

Valerie hesitated before following him.

As soon as she entered the bar, she saw the shattered tables scattered across the lobby and immediately sensed something was wrong.

The sounds of shouting and fighting came from the second floor. She climbed the stairs and found herself in the middle of chaos, with two groups shoving and yelling at each other.

Near the entrance to the private room stood Dominic and four or five of his friends, having just arrived.

The man on the other side was someone Valerie recognized—Nate Thatcher, a well-known rival in their social circle and a long-standing adversary of Dominic.

Dominic had the perfect appearance and a good personality. From childhood, he had always excelled in everything he did. His love life, however, had its share of chaos as no heir from a wealthy family led a completely disciplined life.

His privileges and charms had earned him admiration from all the other socialites and heirs, making him the envy of many.

In contrast, Nate was everything Dominic was not. He was reckless, extravagant, and infamous for his wild lifestyle.

He was the poison in their social circle, a troublemaker through and through. His disdain for Dominic’s success had turned into relentless rivalry over time.

Dominic, however, ignored him at every turn, which only seemed to deepen Nate’s resentment of him.

After having harassed Camilla, Nate thought it was the perfect opportunity to settle the score.

With ten or so of his own men, Nate and his crew had completely surrounded the private room.

His blood-soaked hand continued to drip with crimson through his wrappings and his dark eyes radiated menace.

“The surveillance footage shows everything, Dominic. It’s clear that you made the first move. What? You’re trying to twist the truth and protect yourself? You think you can get away with this?”

Dominic’s lips twisted into a cold smirk as he drew Camilla into his arms. His voice was calm but sharp.

“You want compensation? Name your price.”

Seeing how much Dominic cared, Nate smiled mockingly, his eyes gleaming with menace.

“Compensation? She smashed my hand to the point of nearly breaking it. Of course, I’m going to the police! I’ll file a lawsuit if I have to, and if necessary, she’ll sit in jail!”

The expressions on Dominic and his men grew tense.

Dominic’s brow twitched as veins bulged on his forehead. His fury was barely held in check.

“This is such a minor thing. Do you really need to escalate this? Picking on a girl—what’s the point? If you want to cause trouble, then come at me,” he said through gritted teeth.

It was exactly the response Nate had been waiting for.

He signaled to one of his underlings to grab the fruit knife from the table. His voice dripped with malice.

“Fine. I won’t make this difficult for you. She destroyed my hand, so you’ll lose one hand too. That way, we’ll be even!”

Before the effect of his words had fully settled, the sharp blade of the fruit knife plunged into the door with a swift motion.

Several of Dominic’s friends immediately shielded him, their faces furious as they glared at Nate.

“Look, we’re all part of the same social circle! Don’t push it too far!”

Despite their words, no one knew better than Dominic just how serious the situation had become.

Nate had injured his hand that day. Even if things could be temporarily smoothed over, Dominic knew that Nate’s hatred ran deep.

He would find every possible way to retaliate, sooner or later.

If Nate couldn’t directly target him, he would attack his weak spot.

And everyone knew that Camilla was his weak spot.

Although Dominic could protect Camilla, the world was vast, and there would always be places he couldn’t keep watch over her. He couldn’t risk Camilla falling into danger in the future.

The best solution was to end everything today.

Having weighed the stakes and the consequences, Dominic no longer hesitated. He pushed the people beside him away.

His friends were shocked. They rushed to grab his hand, trying to stop him from doing something foolish.

“Dominic! Are you insane? You’re a pilot—if you damage your hand, your entire career is over!”

“She’s just some woman. Is she really worth it?”

But his gaze turned colder than ever before as he looked directly at Nate.

“Are you serious about this?”

“Of course.”

Dominic yanked the knife out of the door.

All the blood drained from Valerie’s face.

Her heart climbed to her throat, and before she could stop him, Dominic had already shielded the terrified Camilla. She had been crying to the point of fainting and had used his coat to block her view. He spoke in a low, steady voice to comfort her.

“Don’t be afraid. It’ll be over soon.”

With those words, amidst countless shocked gazes, Dominic raised the knife and drove it cleanly into the palm of his right hand.

A jet of blood shot out like a geyser, splattering everywhere. It was horrifying to witness.

His face paled in an instant, but he clenched his teeth tightly, and let out a muffled groan.

He didn’t want to frighten Camilla.

Through it all, he never once looked at Valerie.

Dominic was soon wheeled into the operating room.

His family received the news and rushed over. After hearing the full story from a few of Dominic’s friends, Mrs. Parker grew so angry that she smashed the beaded bracelet on her wrist.

“He’s maimed his right hand for a woman he's been obsessed with for years. I think he’s gone crazy!”

Dominic’s friends hurriedly stepped in to calm the parents, saying anything they could think of.

Several hours later, the operating room lights turned off.

The doctor emerged, pushing Dominic on a gurney, his tone laced with relief.

“The surgery was successful. With proper care over the next few months, he should be fine.”

Hearing those words, everyone present let out a collective sigh of relief.

Knowing that there would be no lasting consequences, Mr. and Mrs. Parker no longer wanted to see their wayward son. They boarded a flight to attend a meeting that very night.

Before leaving, the two thanked the hospital staff and the people who had stayed to assist.

However, when they reached the seating area where Valerie was waiting, they simply walked by as if they had not seen her as they thanked the staff on their way out.

Watching their retreating figures, Valerie understood everything in an instant.

So, Dominic had never told his family about his relationship with her.

And of course—why would he, when his relationships were bound to end anyway? Who was there to introduce them to?

For the days that Dominic was hospitalized, Valerie stayed by his side and took great care of him. She only managed four or five hours of sleep each day.

Looking at her increasingly haggard face, Dominic softened.

“I’m fine now. You should get some rest.”

He forced her to sit down and handed her a glass of water.

He didn’t explain what had happened that day, as though he struggled with how to put it into words. After a pause, he casually spoke to her.

“Have many people come to visit? I’ve been sleeping for so long—did I miss anyone? Camilla… has she come by?”

Valerie paused for a moment, her hand holding the glass of water. She looked at him steadily.

She knew that of all the questions he had just asked, only the answer to the last question truly mattered to him.

Her answer was brief.

“Everyone’s come. Camilla… I think she was traumatized so she hasn’t been here.”

Dominic frowned deeply, losing any interest in the conversation. He picked up his phone and laboriously began typing on the screen.

The continuous WhatsApp notification sounds filled the air.

Valerie knew that he was once again concerned about Camilla.

She stood up silently, went through the motions of completing the discharge paperwork, and prepared to leave.

As soon as the car reached their doorstep and before they could head inside, Dominic’s phone rang.

It was Camilla.

He turned around and left immediately.

Looking at the gauze-wrapped hand he held and his hurried steps, Valerie's words caught in her throat.

She looked away and turned back toward their apartment.

Dominic didn’t return for the next three days.

The closer the date of her departure grew, the calmer Valerie felt.

She planned to rest while looking for a job, so she spent her time checking recruitment postings in her hometown.

The day before she left, her high school classmates organized a reunion. With nothing to do, she decided to join and add to the lively gathering.

After so many years, her old classmates had all changed dramatically. The reunion was filled with nostalgic reminiscing as everyone reflected on how much time had passed.

When Valerie walked in, no one could believe that the stunning beauty standing before them was the same girl from ten years ago—a girl who had been nothing but a bookworm, awkward and out of place.

Despite their shock, Valerie appeared completely composed and at ease.

After exchanging pleasantries, she joined a few old friends at their table.

Once everyone had arrived, the class president stood up to propose a toast when the door suddenly burst open.

Dominic walked in with a smile as he greeted everyone. His eyes swept across the room and froze the moment he saw Valerie.

“Val? What are you doing here?”

Everyone looked as though they had been struck by lightning.

“Of course she’d be here! We were all high schoolmates, in the same class, weren’t we? Wow, are you really that forgetful?”

Schoolmate? In the same class?

The revelation blew Dominic’s mind.

He stared at Valerie in shock, his thin lips moving slightly.

Was it guilt that he had forgotten her, or confusion as to why she had never told him?

Several girls in the group noticed the strangeness and looked at the two with keen curiosity.

“‘Val’? You called out to her so affectionately! What’s your relationship with her?”

Before Valerie could even open her mouth to say “just a classmate,” Dominic cut her off, his voice steady and resolute.

“Valerie is my girlfriend. We’ve been together for six years.”

The entire room erupted at his words.

Everyone buzzed with excitement as they dove into the story of their romance.

Dominic hadn’t known that she had been his classmate all along, and Valerie hadn’t anticipated that he would so openly admit their relationship.

A group of people surrounded the two of them, firing questions without pause. Neither of them was comfortable with the attention.

Dominic kept drinking to steer the conversation elsewhere, while Valerie took the opportunity to slip away to the restroom.

After three drinks, the class president who was slightly drunk, grabbed Dominic’s hand and began rambling.

“I’m so happy to see you two together. Valerie finally got her wish, you know? She’s liked you for a very long time. There was a time during PE class when you were asleep in the classroom.

“I came back to grab something and saw her shielding you from the sun. That’s when I found out.

“There were so many girls who liked you back then, but only Valerie left the deepest impression on me.

“When you twisted your leg playing basketball and had your duty shift, she was the one who always covered for you.

“When you got caught in a fight with a gang and were cornered in an alley, she skipped class to rush to your rescue.

“When you were being gossiped about by a group of people outside the school, despite being timid, she threw herself into the situation to defend you and even managed to argue with them until her face turned red...

“You know, that kind of young love is so pure. Seeing you two end up together makes me genuinely happy for her. She’s a good girl, Dominic. You’d better treasure her, or you’ll regret it.”

Dominic froze.

He had always assumed that they were just casual acquaintances from university, not classmates since high school. And she had secretly harbored feelings for him for an entire decade.

He remembered the promise that had led him to hastily start a relationship with her six years ago. She still didn’t know the truth.

A strange, bittersweet emotion welled in his chest, disorienting and painful.

He no longer had the courage to meet her gaze, so he simply kept drinking, one glass after another, burying his unease in liquor.

After the party broke up, Valerie supported the drunken Dominic as they made their way home.

She took a warm towel and approached him, intending to wipe his face. However, he grasped her hand and wouldn’t let go, his face full of sorrow and concern.

“Are you a fool? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Valerie knew he must have heard something at the gathering, but she no longer cared. She gently pulled her hand free.

“Liking you is my own business. It has nothing to do with you.”

Dominic, still slightly coherent, heard her words, and an indescribable unease swelled in his chest. He wanted to say something to her but didn’t know where to begin. In the end, he stayed silent.

The room fell into stillness. He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the glaring light and accidentally exposed the tattoo on his side. It was the initials “C.B.”

Every night, when passion brought them close, she would lie in his arms, gaze at the tattoo, and ask him what it meant.

He had hesitated, as feelings of fondness and longing washed over him.

“It’s faith. A faith more important to me than my own life.”

Back then, Valerie didn’t know that the letters represented Camilla Baldwin.

Valerie had naively believed his words, accepting them without question.

She saw his dreams as her own and adopted his faith, even going as far as to get an identical tattoo.

Now, looking back on those memories, Valerie didn’t feel pain anymore—only a kind of bittersweet humor.

Who hadn’t dreamed of being in sync with their beloved, growing old together, hand in hand?

But only after getting burned over and over again could she see the truth: some connections were destined to part from the very beginning.

She and Dominic had already reached a fork in the road.

Perhaps, it was time to say goodbye.