On the eve of our wedding, Ellis Stewart threw a tantrum and hurled the wedding ring I had given her.

I spent the entire night searching through the icy lake until my numb fingers finally closed around it.

When I went to return the ring to her, I overheard her speaking with a close friend.

“How many times have you toyed with Jonathan already?

“It’s been three years since Gregory’s passing, and you still can’t forget him?”

“If Jonathan hadn’t clung to me three years ago, begging me to pick him up, how could Gregory have died in that car accident?” Ellis replied coldly.

“He’s the one who killed Gregory. Everything that happened was nothing but his own doing.”

My knuckles whitened around the ring, and for an instant, it felt as though all the blood in my body had turned cold.

So Ellis had never loved me at all.

My unwavering devotion had been nothing more than a crucial piece of her revenge.

In silence, I let the ring fall from my hand.

Then I pulled out my phone.

“Dad, Mom, I’ve figured things out. I agree to the marriage you’ve arranged. Let the wedding be in three days.”

My parents’ delighted voices filled my ear.

“It’s good that you finally figured things out, Jon. No matter how good Ellis is, she’s ten years older than you. People will always talk.

“Do you remember the youngest daughter of the Fallstars? She’s your age and has been waiting for you!”

“I understand. Go ahead and prepare for the wedding. I’ll be there in three days.”

After hanging up, I drew several deep breaths, steadying myself for a long moment before opening the door and walking inside.

The moment I stepped in, a glass of red wine splashed across my face, followed by a shrill scream.

I lifted my gaze and met Ellis Stewart’s eyes from the sofa.

“Sorry, Sandra thought it was some creep breaking in. She didn’t mean it. You’re not mad, are you?”

Her tone sounded apologetic, yet the faint lift at the corner of her lips and the satisfied gleam in her eyes revealed her pleasant mood.

To everyone’s shock, I flung the red wine back at Sandra Band, and the scattered droplets stained Ellis’s beloved white dress.

Ellis’s displeased gaze settled on me.

“I already apologized on Sandra’s behalf.

“Don’t take my affection for granted and just do whatever you want.”

Affection?

Ellis’s so-called affection had always been her way of toying with me, watching me humiliate myself for her amusement.

She had once left me in the mountains, where I struggled for three days to survive and barely returned alive, while my right leg was left permanently injured.

When I delivered medicine to her in a storm and was drenched until my lungs became infected, she vanished without a trace.

Even a romantic confession I had prepared with care had been delayed again and again under the excuse of traffic.

Seeing how tightly I pressed my lips together, refusing to break, Ellis frowned.

“Forget it. I won’t hold it against you this time. Anyway, where’s the ring?

“You spent all night in the lake looking for it—did you still not find it?”

“No,” I said simply.

I had already thrown it into the trash.

Just as she prepared to question me further, a large man leaned down and whispered to her.

Ellis’s expression immediately brightened, and she dismissed me with a wave.

Avoiding everyone’s gaze in the private room, I limped away.

Someone snickered behind me.

Swallowing my tears, I quickened my pace.

Only a few meters away, Ellis stood with her arm entwined with a man’s.

His features bore an uncanny resemblance to Gregory Ford—only much younger.

My heart skipped violently, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.

Ellis loved Gregory so fiercely that she didn’t hesitate to keep her sidepiece.

She even loved him enough to spend all these years taking revenge on me.

On my way back, my phone buzzed with a sudden call from the hospital.

“Mr. Maxwell? Miss Stewart is injured—please come quickly!”

When I arrived, Ellis lay on the hospital bed with a cast on her arm.

When she saw me, she eagerly introduced the man beside her.

“I was attacked on my way back. Russell saved me. I plan to keep him by my side as my assistant.”

There was an electric undercurrent in the way the two exchanged glances.

In the past, I would have been jealous and opposed it.

But now that I knew the truth, I felt nothing of the sort.

When I nodded, Ellis looked momentarily surprised.

Russell Grant was the one who stepped forward to greet me.

Halfway through, I found an excuse to leave.

The moment the door closed, Sandra’s laughter drifted through the crack, full of pride.

“Wasn’t my idea great? With Russell by your side, Jonathan does not dare challenge you!

“Just make sure that injury looks real. Take good care of her, Russell.”

Their cheerful voices continued inside, but I no longer had the heart to listen.

Pressing a hand to my tight chest, I hurried to the restroom.

As I washed my hands, a figure blocked my path.

I looked up into Russell’s mocking eyes.

“I heard you’re the one who clung to Miss Stewart for three years. Still desperate for her affection, huh?”

I said nothing, and my indifferent attitude only emboldened Russell.

“You really think that acting emotionless will make Miss Stewart care?

“I saw you eavesdropping by the door. Still pretending you know nothing?”

I reached my limit and pushed Russell.

I hadn’t used much strength, yet he suddenly fell hard to the floor, clutching his shoulder and crying out in pain.

“Why did you push him? If you didn’t want him to stay, you could have said so! Do you have to be so childish?” Ellis cried as she came upon us.

Her accusing tone stunned me for a moment, and just as I tried to explain, Russell cut me off.

“It’s okay, Miss Stewart. I was rude to Mr. Maxwell.

“It was my fault…”

He forced tears into his eyes, and that face, so similar to Gregory’s, looked pitiful and wronged.

It certainly took Ellis’s breath away.

“Apologize, Jon.

“Russell is my benefactor. Are you trying to embarrass me by acting like this?”

Her words stabbed me right in the chest.

Under her cold gaze, I lowered my head and apologized.

Russell’s triumphant smile flashed across his face.

I sniffed hard and comforted myself: just hold on a little longer.

Three days would pass quickly.

It was midnight by the time I returned to the villa.

I dragged my exhausted body to my bed, my eyes stinging as they swept across the room filled with things I had shared with Ellis.

Toothbrushes. Cups. Watches. Coats. I had picked out every single one with care.

My gaze fell on our framed photo in the corner of the bed.

My mind went blank for a moment as I recalled the first time I met Ellis.

After graduating from university, I left my parents and came to South County to start a business.

I kept messing up until Ellis helped me out of trouble and revived the company.

Later, she protected me at banquets and business events. I couldn’t help falling for her.

After she broke up with Gregory, I confessed my feelings, and our relationship deepened.

I thought I had finally found love, drowning in the dream Ellis wove around me—only to learn the truth.

She never loved me.

Her tenderness had always been a lie, a cruel game of revenge.

She watched coldly as I spun in circles like a fool under her control.

At dawn, I heard a man and a woman talking on the staircase.

When I opened the door, Ellis paused mid-sentence.

“Russell scraped his knee and got a few cuts. His place is too remote. I decided to let him stay here for a while.”

Stay for a while? He would probably stay for life.

Seeing her touch her nose in guilt, I hid the coldness in my eyes and nodded, my gaze landing on Russell’s left wrist.

There was a watch—identical to the one in my bedside drawer, the one I treasured too much to wear.

A bitter laugh welled up inside me, but I stepped aside to give Russell space.

Something flickered across Ellis’s face, a mix of emotion she didn’t voice.

“I brought you something to eat.

“Go have it while I show Russell the rooms.”

Their figures disappeared down the hallway.

I forced a smile and said nothing.

I contacted a mover, as I had packed up our shared items to send them away.

When the last box was being carried onto the truck, Ellis rushed over.

“These are our things. Why are you giving them away?”

“I just don’t like them anymore. We can buy new ones later,” I said lightly.

My explanation didn’t convince her, and she was about to question me when a panicked voice echoed from the balcony.

“Miss Stewart, I’m locked inside the room! Can you open the door? I’m scared!”

Ellis hesitated, looked at me, then turned and hurried toward him.

I pressed my lips together and told the staff to continue their work.

As the moving truck drove away, a weight lifted from my chest.

Soon, everything would be over.

All afternoon, I curled up in my bedroom, yet the laughter from the living room rang far too clearly.

When I looked in on them, I saw Ellis smiling as Russell fed her grapes.

“You’ve injured your arm… I’m here to take care of you and ease your burdens.”

“I need you to ease more than just that. Tonight, help me shower. That would truly ease my burdens.”

I turned away, refusing to listen, holding back the tears in my eyes.

I gathered several documents, planning to return to the company, but just as I reached the stairs, Ellis called out to me.

After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke.

“I’ve just made Russell my assistant. He’s got to work on a lot of things, and as Vice President, you should communicate with him more.

“Hand over the project you’re working on to Russell. You can take the chance to rest.”

Her casual tone sent a jolt through my chest.

I remembered all those nights I drank with the client to secure that project.

My nose prickled.

Was Ellis really giving away the results of my hard work so easily?

My clenched fist loosened again.

I drew a long breath and agreed.

She seemed surprised that I accepted so quickly.

“This is also a chance for Russell to grow. Tonight, I booked a table at your favorite Asian restaurant.”

Before I could reply, Ellis walked out with Russell.

As she left, Russell flashed a triumphant smile at me.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I finally understood.

The entire table was full of dishes, yet not a single one I liked.

Ellis even ordered seafood soup, which I was allergic to, and Russell ate it with great enthusiasm.

I didn’t touch my cutlery.

When Ellis stepped out to take a call, Russell showed his true colors, deliberately lifting the seafood soup and moving it toward me.

The bowl and spoons clattered sharply as he cried out in pain, his eyes reddening.

At that moment, Ellis pushed open the door and saw the scene.

Without giving me a chance to explain, she blamed me and demanded to know why I was so petty.

I pressed my lips together and spoke slowly.

“I didn’t do it. He moved the soup toward me himself. And I’m allergic to seafood. Don’t remember?”

Only then did Ellis seem to recall, but she remained stubborn.

She tossed out a curt, “Take care of yourself,” and left without looking back.

Night brought a sudden downpour, and as expected, I was drenched through.

By the time I returned to the villa, it was already late.

Through the half-closed door, I heard the sound of breathy, intimate gasps.

I froze, and then Russell opened the door with a sly smile.

“I didn’t expect a loyal little lapdog like you to eavesdrop. What’s wrong? Miss Stewart hasn’t let you touch her in three years, has she? Are you jealous?”

With his smugness, his bathrobe shifted, revealing the red marks scattered across his skin.

Rage made my body unsteady.

I tried to leave, but Russell shoved me, and I fell heavily to the floor as he shut the door again.

“Since you love listening so much, don’t leave tonight. Enjoy hearing exactly how I ease Miss Stewart’s burdens!”

I pushed myself up using the wall.

My injured right leg throbbed in the damp weather, each step more difficult than the last.

By the time I returned to my room, twenty minutes had passed.

I stared blankly at the ceiling before realizing my tears had already dried on my face.

The next morning, I went downstairs with swollen eyes, only to find the entire living room empty.

As I hesitated, a message arrived from an unfamiliar account.

It was a video of Ellis tied up, crying, and begging me to save her.

The sender provided an address and threatened to kill her if I delayed.

After wavering again and again, I rushed to the outskirts of the city.

The moment I stepped into the warehouse, a rope tightened around my neck from behind.

I was bound and stuffed into a burlap sack.

Crude laughter echoed beside my ears.

Someone kicked me, leaving me bruised from head to toe.

When thick flames rose around us, I finally broke free of the restraints and crawled out.

In that moment, all I felt was release.

My phone rang again.

It was an audio message from Russell.

“Make sure the kidnapping is convincing. Do everything exactly as instructed,” said a voice that sounded a lot like Ellis.