My grandmother's voice shook with anger.

"That little mutt. In Sonia's last life, he pretended to lose his memory just to fool her. After marrying her, he still messed around with that sneaky Viola!

"He made poor Sonia so upset that she fell sick, then he had the nerve to use the Bowens' influence to climb his way into the crown prince's seat. That brat just wants everything for himself!"

Hearing that, I looked at Fabian.

His expression was calm, and the lie came out of his mouth so smoothly that I might've believed him again if my grandmother weren't here.

I had once loved Fabian deeply and truly believed we cared for each other.

Just like three years ago on my birthday, when he took my hand and led me up the stargazing tower he had built just for me.

He had looked at me with such gentle eyes, almost nervous.

"Sonia, I like you. I want to marry you and take good care of you."

My heart wavered, and we shared our feelings with each other under the starry sky.

Even though we never officially got engaged, I treated him as my future husband for the past three years.

I never imagined he had never let go of Viola at all.

That tender affection he showed me had only been an act, all because he wanted the Bowens' backing.

Now that he couldn't stand pretending any longer, he used the assassination attempt to fake memory loss. That way, he could openly pursue Viola while still marrying me to keep my family's support.

People always say that you can't have your cake and eat it too. But he sure didn't understand this principle.

I pressed my lips together, swallowing the bitter laugh rising in my throat, and said nothing.

Since he wanted to play this way, I wouldn't expose him. I wanted to see what expression he would make the day after tomorrow when he learned I didn't choose him.

When I stayed silent, Kemp leaned in and whispered, "Did you really choose Fabian?"

I curled my lips slightly. "The royal edict will arrive in two days. You'll find out then."

I stepped past them and headed toward the gate.

Behind me, I heard Kemp's envious voice.

"Fabian, I'm sure Sonia chose you. Back when you caught that plague on your disaster relief trip, she went straight to your place and took care of you herself for three days without sleeping. It's obvious she's into you."

"Is that so?" Fabian smiled faintly, his tone drifting. "I'm honored to be favored by Ms. Bowen."

A dull ache spread through my chest, and my eyes stung. I bit down hard and refused to cry.

I loved Fabian.

People whispered behind my back that I had no shame, but I never cared.

My parents died early, and my grandparents were always too busy running the academy to be around. I was slow and awkward, and none of the other children wanted to play with me.

Only Fabian would hang out with me.

I had been in love with him since I was little, so when he told me he had feelings for me, I was thrilled beyond words and secretly swore I would treat him well all my life.

But all this time, he'd had hidden intentions and not one ounce of true sincerity toward me.

"Sonia, wait."

Fabian's voice came from behind me. He strolled up, casual as ever.

"Since you chose me as your husband, I'll keep my word and marry you, making you royalty. But you need to understand something: The one I truly love is Viola. I hope you won't get too jealous and don't interfere with us."

I met his eyes steadily. "Didn't you forget about me? How can you be so sure I'd pick you?"

Fabian raised a brow. "They told me everything. You're very in love with me. Who else would you choose if not me?"

I let out a bitter laugh.

Fabian even knew how much I loved him.

So did he really have to crush my feelings like this?

"Don't worry. I won't cling to you anymore, and I won't bother you. You can do whatever you want."

Fabian seemed a little stunned that I agreed so quickly.

I turned away and kept walking toward the gates. He reached out instinctively, but before he could say anything, a girl came flying at me like a firecracker.

The impact knocked me straight to the ground. My knee smashed against the doorway, and a sharp wave of pain shot through me.

Viola's expression shifted, and she quickly bent down, acting pitiful as she tried to help me up.

"I'm so sorry, Sonia. Please don't be mad. I didn't mean to bump into you."

Before I could speak, my grandmother's furious voice filled my mind.

"In every life, that girl either frames Sonia or pretends to cry and blames her. These dirty little tricks are all she's got. Only that idiot, Fabian, would believe her and even scold Sonia. She makes me so mad!"

As expected, the moment Fabian saw Viola's tears, he felt bad for her.

"Viola, it's alright, it was just a little accident. With me here, no one's going to blame you."

He gently helped Viola up, then turned to me with a hint of warning in his voice. "It was just a bump. You're not going to blame her, right?"

Blood trickled down my leg from the cut on my knee. I pushed through the pain and stood up.

Viola's eyes were filled with tears, her voice shaking. "Sonia, I'm really sorry. It was all my fault. I'll slap myself if that makes you feel better."

She actually raised her hand and swung hard toward her own face.

Fabian quickly grabbed her wrist and shot me a furious glare.

"Sonia, what the hell is wrong with you? Viola said she didn't do it on purpose. Why are you bullying her?"

My grandmother grew even angrier.

"What's wrong with him? Is he deaf or just plain stupid? Sonia didn't say a word. How is she bullying anyone?

"Gosh, I would've gotten a heart attack if I weren't dead already. I hope Sonia will show them what bullying really looks like and give the both of them two hard slaps!"

The moment she finished speaking, I raised my hand and delivered two loud, sharp slaps across Viola's face.

Then I looked straight at Fabian.

"See that? That's what bullying actually looks like."

Viola stood there, stunned and silent.

Fabian was just as shocked. "Sonia, you're going too far—"

I lifted my hand again and slapped him hard.

Then, remembering my grandmother's words, I followed immediately with another slap before he even recovered.

"That's what too far looks like."

Fabian stared at me, completely dumbfounded.

I had followed him around since childhood, always agreeing with everything he said. I had never even talked back to him, let alone hit him.

It took him a long moment to react. Then he glared at me, furious.

"Wow. You actually hit me! You'll regret this later. Viola, let's go to the clinic."

My grandmother snorted.

"Is he really trying to scare Sonia with that lame threat? What a joke. Oh, my poor baby. That fall must've hurt like hell!"

I lowered my eyes, looking at the blood seeping from my knee.

All the pain and all the buried frustration finally surged to the surface.

When we were little, if Fabian saw me hurt, he would cry from how much it broke his heart and take great care of me.

Now, Fabian could ignore me being hurt and even warn me not to make things difficult for the woman he loved.

How could someone change so completely? How could I trust my whole life to someone like that?

If I were to marry him, I would only repeat the same tragedy.

I wiped my tears and went to the clinic to have a doctor treat the cut on my leg.

The moment I stepped inside, I saw Viola and Fabian on the other side of the hall, standing close together and acting all affectionate.

I heard her syrupy voice.

"If Sonia finds out you faked memory loss just so you could be with me openly, do you think she'll lose her mind?"

Fabian ruffled her hair fondly.

"Even if she does, it won't matter. Everyone knows she loves me to the core. Even if I forget her, she'll still run right to me, begging me to marry her."

My grandmother scoffed. "Keep bragging, punk. Just wait until the engagement banquet in two days. You'll cry so hard that you suffocate!"

I forced a stiff smile and sat down to get bandaged.

Suddenly, someone shouted in panic, "Run! Someone's attacking people with a knife!"

The whole place erupted in chaos.

I tried to run with the crowd, but because of my injury, I fell behind, and the crazed patient grabbed me. His knife swung upward, ready to strike.

I was just a woman, and I was nowhere near strong enough to fight him off.

In the chaos, I saw Fabian look over, startled by the commotion. I didn't care about anything else and shouted for help.

"Fabian, save me!"

Fabian instinctively started running toward me, but Viola clung desperately to his sleeve.

"Fabian, I'm scared. Please don't leave me."

His steps slowed.

In that brief hesitation, the knife slashed across my arm, opening a bleeding wound. The pain made me gasp.

My grandmother's voice buzzed in my head like a panicked hornet.

"Oh, no! In Sonia's last life, someone also broke into the clinic to rob people. How did she get caught up in this again?

"That useless Fabian. Sonia risked her life for him so many times, and he's just standing there, watching her get hurt!"

The pain was so sharp that I nearly blacked out. I bit hard on my lip to stay conscious and screamed again toward Fabian.

"Fabian, please save me! I'm going to die!"

But before I even finished, Viola let out a piercing scream.

One of the attackers noticed their fancy clothes and charged at them with a knife. Fabian instantly held Viola's hand and ran out of the clinic.

I watched with my own eyes as he protected the woman he loved and fled, leaving me behind. A crushing wave of despair slammed into me.

After everything I had done for him and after all our years together, I thought that he would at least feel enough pity to save me when my life was on the line, even if he didn't love me.

Just as the knife swung toward me again, the attacker suddenly stumbled and fell to the side.

Chandler had punched the crazed patient and grabbed my shoulder, pulling me away.

"Let's go!"

People were screaming, and the whole place was chaos. Thankfully, the patrol guards arrived quickly and brought the attackers under control.

I still hadn't recovered from the shock and crouched by the wall, shaking uncontrollably.

Chandler draped his coat over me and gave me a long, complicated look.

I forced myself to thank him, but I didn't ask him anything.

News of me getting injured spread quickly, and my grandfather found out. Furious, he demanded that Fabian and the Parhams come explain themselves.