My mother wiped her tears away. “Thank you. Why did Nina have to…”

The one my mother was talking to was Skye.

After my father suffered from a heart attack, I asked Samantha Brentt, my best friend, to take care of him. She asked Skye’s help instead.

Charles interrupted my mother. “You’re just an outsider. You don’t have to worry about my father-in-law.”

“I can’t believe you’d have the galls to say that. Nathan’s attack was two days ago!”

“He’s still my father-in-law. You don’t need to worry about him.”

Rage burned in me. “Enough, Charles! No matter what, Skye has helped us.”

“You’re siding with him?”

“I don’t want to argue with you.”

I headed straight into the ward.

In less than two minutes, I heard some fighting at the door.

Both ended up with bruises on their faces.

Skye sat on the floor, and Charles had his collar in his grip. His other hand was raised high in the air. He was about to punch him.

I shouted, “Enough!”

I shoved Charles away and helped Skye up. “Are you okay?”

Skye nodded.

I pulled Skye away.

“Nina…”

I did not turn around, but I could hear the disappointment in Charles’s voice.

“I wasn’t expecting Samantha to call you here. Still, thanks for helping my dad.”

Skye’s smile grew wider as he stared at me. “We grew up together. You don’t have to thank me for this.”

“I don’t know what happened between you and Charles, but I’m still going to apologize to you on his behalf.”

“There’s no need for an apology. I heard that you haven’t been happy for a few years now. If you need help, I’m here.”

I was surprised. “Skye…”

But he interrupted me. “I won’t accept no for an answer.”

While I chased after Charles, Skye chased after me.

He was like the loyal love interest you would find in soap operas.

Unfortunately, I had fallen for a cold and ruthless Charles.

While I did not love Charles anymore, my heart was still broken.

Love felt too bitter, and I could not take it anymore. I did not think that I would ever be able to fall in love again.

Unrequited love was painful enough from afar but having to live with someone who only felt hatred was even worse.

The entire process of gaining someone only to lose them later could destroy anyone.

How could I possibly let Skye go through the pain that I had?

When I returned to the ward, I found that Charles had already transferred my father to a VIP ward and was talking about a surgery plan with the cardiologist.

…

My father’s surgery went smoothly, and he recovered quickly.

Charles stayed in the hospital to take care of my father day and night. He also took good care of me.

Half a month passed, and my mother’s opinion of Charles changed.

I called him to the stairwell. “My dad’s fine now. You can go back if you don’t have anything else to do.”

“I’m not leaving. I’ll go wherever you are.”

“Why do you insist on following me? I made myself clear. It’s over between us. It’s just not possible for us to continue with this relationship.”

Charles’s face darkened, and he grabbed the back of my head before pulling me into a kiss.

It was not just a kiss. It was like a domineering and intense bite.

As our lips pressed together and his eyes burned with rage, he hissed, “I don’t want to hear that!”

He nibbled at my soft lips, and his hot breath burned my skin.

In an instant, my broken heart mended itself and raced.

After a long time, he drew close to my ear and whispered, though his voice made him sound like he was frantic. “Nina, I love you! I really do. I’ve completely fallen for you.”

I was surprised, but it lasted only for a second. After that, I regained my composure. “You’re saying you love me?! Don’t you think it’s a little too late for that?”

I could see my old self in him. That was the gaze of a person looking at someone they loved desperately.

That sort of gaze could not be faked.

Even so, it did not matter anymore.

I did not want anything to do with him anymore.

I was already full of disappointment, and it was time for me to let go. Not clinging on was the last bit of respect I owed to myself.

As we waited for my father’s condition to stabilize, my mother took over the company’s affairs.

Meanwhile, I set up a jewelry design studio with Samantha.

From design to production to sales, we handled everything ourselves.

I was in charge of design and production, while Samantha focused on expanding our business.

Each piece of jewelry was unique and one-of-a-kind. There were no copies or extras. They were all fashionable and made of quality materials.

The unique design, coupled with Samantha’s silver tongue, made our jewelry a hit among the socialites.

While I was a lovestruck idiot, I did not neglect my studies. I started my studies again and worked, so I had a pretty fulfilling life.

…

My phone rang. It was Titus.

I did not want to answer it. I already knew why he was calling.

But he called me more than twenty times, so I finally answered.

“Nina.”

“It’s Miss Springfield to you. I have nothing to do with Charles anymore. Anyway, what is it?”

“Charles is drunk. Could you come over?”

“You know where his house is, and he has a maid. I don’t need to take care of him.”

“Nina, have mercy on me. You know how Charles can be…”

I could no longer refuse. “Send me the location.”

Charles indeed had a horrible temper, and his friends were terrified of him. He lashed out at them when he was in a bad mood.

I just could not figure out why they still wanted to be friends with him.

When I reached and parked the car, I saw Titus supporting Charles. I could not tell if he was still awake or passed out.

Still, he looked haggard.

I had known him for many years. I had seen him become cold and indifferent to everyone around him and do all sorts of things ordinary people would not do.

But I had never seen him being so disheveled and drunk before.

After Titus got Charles into the car, he hesitated for a moment before he said, “Nina, won’t you consider forgiving him—”

“Don’t.”

“Nina, listen. Charles has really changed. When Peter insulted you a few days ago, Charles kicked him and said that anyone who disrespected you would be disrespecting him too.

“He drank until his stomach bled and ended up hospitalized. In his daze, he called for only you. After he woke up, I told him I could find you for him, but he refused.”

It was strange that even after hearing all that, I felt nothing. I neither felt happy nor sad at that.

Perhaps this meant that I no longer loved him.

Once I got Charles settled, I fed him some honey lemon tea.

Just as I took a few steps away from the bed, Charles grabbed my hand, and I stumbled back onto the bed.

He hugged me from behind and whispered gently into my ear, “Don’t leave, Nina.”

I was shocked but soon realized that he must have mistaken me for someone else.

I pushed his hands away. “Should I call Lilu for you?”

Lately, every time he got drunk, Lilu took care of him. It made it seem like she was his wife, and I was the other woman in their relationship.