When I finally dragged my body, still wracked with lingering pain, out of the hospital, a torrential downpour suddenly began outside.

Through the curtain of rain, I saw Susie holding tight to Mark’s waist.

Mark’s face was red as he said awkwardly, “Susie, don’t be like this… I just had surgery and haven’t even showered yet. I’m a mess. What if—”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind.” Susie’s voice was full of tenderness. “You’re different from Jason. You’ll always be the exception.”

“But… Jason suffered so much pain for me…”

Mark’s voice drifted faintly from inside the car. “What if he holds a grudge and, in a fit of anger, wants to break off the engagement with you? Then what?”

“Hmph. Would he dare?” Susie laughed mockingly. “As an orphan with no parents, where could he go if he left the Chances?”

The engine roared, and the black sedan sped away, splashing water as it disappeared into the rain.

Cold rain soaked my entire body, yet I was already numb.

For seven years, I had stayed by Susie’s side, helping her endure every hardship step by step.

Now that she was successful and famous, she turned me into the most disgraceful joke of all.

Trembling, I borrowed a power bank from a passerby.

Once my phone powered on, the first call I made was to my superior.

“Mr. Solace, about the overseas branch transfer you mentioned before… I’ve thought it through.”

There was a brief pause on the other end before he said, “Jason, this transfer means you won’t be able to return for at least five years. Are you sure?”

I looked toward the silhouette that had vanished into the rain and let out a soft laugh.

“I’m sure.”

Only this time, it wouldn’t be five years.

It would be a lifetime.

…

By the time I got home, it was already late at night.

I had planned to light some candles by my parents’ urns.

However, the moment I pushed open the door, my entire body stiffened, frozen in place.

The small bedroom that was supposed to house my parents’ memorial had been completely renovated.

“Susie!” I called her immediately, grinding my teeth as I demanded sharply, “You… Where did you put my parents’ ashes? Didn’t I tell you this room was not to be touched?!”

“Oh, I threw them into the storage room.”

On the phone, Susie’s tone was casual.

I gripped my phone tightly, the anger in my chest surging.

“You promised to leave me a room dedicated to my parents. Why are you going back on your word now?!”

“Stop with the bullsh*t!” Susie suddenly roared in the next second.

“This is my house, and I’ll arrange it however I want! It’s not your place to say anything! It’s been seven years. You still refuse to move on. Do you think my home is a funeral parlor?”

I stood dazed in the doorway, my fingers digging deeply into my palm.

On the other end of the line, Susie continued explaining impatiently.

“Since this room has the best lighting, I plan to let Mark live here in the future. It’ll be better for his recovery after surgery. Besides…

“I even cleared out an extra room for you to place the urns. You’ve occupied it for seven years. Is that still not enough? I’ve already done more than enough!”

“You’re shameless!” I forced the words out through clenched teeth.

However, Susie didn’t get angry. Instead, she laughed and threatened me.

“Jason, if you keep pushing me, I’ll dump your parents’ ashes into the sea. If you want to cry, you can go cry by the ocean for the rest of your life…”

With that, the call ended.

I leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the floor.

Suddenly, I remembered that rainy night twenty years ago.

Susie, abandoned by her parents, had been curled up at my doorstep, soaked through like an abandoned puppy.

It was my parents who brought her in and gave her a home.

She had once sworn to me with absolute certainty that when she grew up, she would make sure we all moved into a big house and lived the most prosperous life.

She would also treat me as the most precious person in her world and spend her entire life cherishing and protecting me.

Eventually, Susie did achieve that.

Relying on her talent and hard work, she developed a chip that shook the scientific research world the year she graduated from university.

It could freely control and regulate human senses and emotions, and also bind two different people, allowing them to synchronize and share sensations.

It could even transfer one person’s pain to another.

Susie said that the reason she developed this chip was so she could bear all my pain and negative emotions for me.

She swore she would protect me for life.

If she failed to do so, the chip would punish her.

So it was laughable that this chip, which carried her promise, ended up plunging me into the deepest despair and pain.

I wiped my face and slowly walked down toward the storage room.

Holding the two heavy urns, I left the house.

Since it was before dawn, the beach was completely deserted.

I kneeled on the damp sand and scattered the ashes onto the faintly glowing surface of the sea.

As I watched the sea horizon gradually brighten, I remembered the day Susie first confessed to me. She had once written her vows on this very beach.

“Never betray Jason in this lifetime.”

At that moment, my phone suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up. It was a message from Mr. Solace.

[I’ve taken care of the procedures. This is the electronic transfer agreement. If there are no issues, go ahead and sign it.]

I didn’t hesitate to sign my name and press confirm.

The tide receded, and the vow turned to sand.

This time, I had no more attachments.

…

A few nights later, after finishing the work handover, I left the company.

Passing the cake shop on the street corner, I suddenly remembered it was my birthday. So I bought a palm-sized cream cake.

However, when I got home, I froze.

The living room was filled with ribbons and balloons. Susie was standing on a ladder, hanging the last banner.

On the dining table sat an exquisite three-tier cake.

My heart trembled slightly.

Had she remembered what day it was?

“What are you standing there for?” Susie urged without turning around. “Come help me. Mark will be here soon.”

Only then did I notice that the words on the cake had nothing to do with a birthday. It was simply to celebrate Mark’s recovery and discharge from the hospital.

My fingers tightened unconsciously. The small cake in my hand was crushed out of shape.

It turned out I was just being sentimental.

In the four years since Mark returned, she hadn’t spent a single birthday with me.

Even on anniversaries, she couldn’t be bothered to say more than half a sentence. She had pushed everything related to me to the back of her mind.

I couldn’t believe I actually thought she might change. How ridiculous.

I didn’t respond and turned to head upstairs.

Then, Susie jumped down from the ladder, frowned, and shouted at me.

“Are you deaf?! I’m talking to you! Today marks sixty-seven days since Mark was hospitalized. Hurry up and help me hang the banner. I want to surprise him.”

“You have a great memory,” I let out a cold laugh.

She couldn’t remember my birthday, yet she remembered exactly how many days Mark had been sick in the hospital.

Hearing this, Susie looked confused.

The next second, she noticed the wrinkled plastic bag in my hand.

The cake shop logo printed on it finally made her realize what I meant, and the tips of Susie’s ears flushed unnaturally.

She cleared her throat and said, “I’ve been really busy lately, and I also had to worry about Mark’s situation. I forgot that today was…

“Why don’t we celebrate together? There are still extra candles anyway…”

“No need,” I refused coldly. “Since it’s for Mark, if I get involved, that wouldn’t be very fair to him, wouldn’t you say?”

Susie caught the hidden meaning in my words, and her expression darkened instantly.

“Jason, I’m only giving Mark a little extra care because I’m worried his mood after surgery might affect his recovery. Why are you being so sarcastic?!”

She rushed forward and gripped my wrist.

“Stop pushing your luck, or don’t expect me to marry you!”

“Whatever.” I let out a light laugh. “I’m leaving here soon anyway.”

Hearing that, Susie’s pupils shrank sharply, and a flash of panic crossed her face.

“Leaving? What do you mean? Where are you going?!”

I forcefully pulled my hand back.

“No comment,” I said faintly, then quickly went upstairs to my room.

…

Early the next morning, Susie took the initiative to knock on my door.

Her expression was awkward, and her attitude was completely different from yesterday.

“Jason, I was just angry yesterday. Don’t take it to heart,” she stammered an apology.

I raised my brow and looked at her quietly, wondering what act she was putting on now.

Seeing my silence, Susie quickly lost her patience and revealed her true intention.

“Jason, I’m planning a wedding with Mark.” She tried to sound sincere, her eyes flickering. “After all, Mark has no family here. I just want to give him a home, a legitimate status.”

I responded with a flat “Oh,” then said, “You’re right. But that’s your own decision. You don’t need to discuss it with me.”

Susie clearly hadn’t expected this reaction.

She froze for a moment, then hurriedly added, “But everyone knows you’re my boyfriend now. So I hoped that on the wedding day, you could show up and give your blessing to Mark and me.

“First, it’ll calm public opinion. Second…”

She paused.

“It’ll also make Mark feel better.”

I almost laughed out loud.

Even at a time like this, Susie was still thinking about how to have everything both ways.

“Don’t worry. It’s just a wedding for show. In the future, you’ll still be the one I register the marriage with. You’ll remain my rightful husband. That way, it’s fair to both of you.”

“Sure,” I agreed almost without hesitation.

Susie seemed surprised by how readily I accepted. A trace of suspicion flashed across her face, but it was quickly replaced by joy.

“Jason, I’m really relieved that you understand me.

“After the wedding, I’ll definitely find a chance to make it up to you!”

Watching her leave smugly, the corners of my mouth curved upward as well.

Make it up to me?

She probably won’t get the chance in this life, or the next.

Soon, the wedding was held as scheduled.

Susie booked the most luxurious five-star hotel in the city, invited half of the business elite, and even attracted media coverage, competing to report on the grand ceremony.

Before the ceremony began, she didn’t forget to call and confirm my whereabouts.

Only after learning that I was already in the car did Susie finally feel a bit at ease.

Even so, her tone was still impatient as she urged, “Hurry up. Don’t mess things up for me today!”

Then she hung up.

At that moment, the taxi driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

“Heading to a wedding, sir? Which hotel is it?”

I lowered my head and looked at the plane ticket in my hand, then replied softly, “No. Take me to the airport.”