"Ethan, what do you really feel for Poppy?"

I stood on the stairs.

"I love her, but I have needs too," Hawk Ethan's voice was low and cold.

"Then why can't she satisfy them?"

"Would you feel that way about your own kid?" he shot back.

"She's not actually a child, but I know exactly when to pick her up to play, when to kiss her pout to soothe her. After taking care of her for three years, she's like my daughter. Who would cross that line with someone they see as family?"

I gripped the stair railing tightly and sank to my knees. The pain from the accident came flooding back.

"But she's getting better, she follows the doctor's orders every day for her recovery."

"Can she be as... understanding of intimacy as other women? No!"

Hawk Ethan's tone was filled with frustration.

"I love her, I can't live without her, but that doesn't mean I can't take care of my needs. Her mental age is only eight; she'll never understand this stuff, and I'll never let her find out."

Clutching the report, I fled to my room, covered my ears, and let the tears flow.

So his feelings for me had long turned from love to family, and he could justify cheating so casually.

I stuffed the report into my drawer, one thought burning in my mind: if he didn't want me to know the truth, then I'd make sure he never found out where I'd gone.

I dodged the bodyguards Hawk Ethan had assigned to me and quietly handled the immigration paperwork.

Our "marriage" had just been a formality. We'd never even registered legally. That loophole gave me the perfect chance to leave for good. In three weeks, I'd be gone.

When I returned to the villa, I found all the bodyguards and servants kneeling on the ground. My heart raced, and I grabbed my pink backpack and rushed inside.

"Poppy!" Hawk Ethan pulled me into his arms, checking me for injuries.

"Where did you go? Why didn't you tell me? Do you know how worried I was?"

"Shawn Bailey ran away, I went to find him," I lied, staring at the floor.

Shawn Bailey was the puppy he'd given me. I put on my childish act, and he sighed helplessly. "Don't do that again."

"Yeah, Ethan cut his meeting short to come find you," a familiar voice said.

I looked up in shock,it was the woman from earlier!

"Poppy, this is Sophia Blake. She'll be your tutor from now on. Call her Ms. Sandra Sullivan," Hawk Ethan said.

"I don't need a tutor!" I balled my hands into fists at my sides.

Was he really treating me like a fool?

"Don't be unreasonable. Don't you want to grow up? Only when you're grown can we truly be together," Hawk Ethan frowned.

His words cut like a knife.

Once, I'd pestered him constantly, saying, "I want to grow up fast so I can be with you." Back then, with the mind of an eight-year-old, I'd thought growing up meant having a complete love. But now that I had grown up, he was with someone else. I'd been the only one fighting for us.

Sophia Blake moved into the villa. The next afternoon, I realized Shawn Bailey was gone. I searched the entire villa, but the servants said Sophia Blake had sent him away.

"Where's Shawn Bailey ? Where did you send him?" I confronted Sophia Blake.

"That mangy dog? He stepped on my shoes-of course I got rid of him. Do you know how much these shoes cost?" she said casually.

"Bring Shawn Bailey back!"

He'd been ours even before the accident, a birthday gift from Hawk Ethan. Shawn Bailey had been with me for so long; he was my anchor.

"Probably with some dog trader by now," Sophia Blake said. Her words ignited my rage. I lunged at her, but lost my balance, and we both tumbled down the stairs.

"Sophia Blake!" Hawk Ethan's voice rang out. He ran straight to her, lifting her to check for injuries. I lay on the floor, my body throbbing.

"Poppy..." He glanced at me, but when he saw Sophia Blake unconscious, his face darkened. "That's going too far! I've always told you not to hurt anyone!"

"I didn't..." I tried to explain.

"Lying! I saw you push her! I've spoiled you too much-now you think you can do whatever you want!"

"She sent Shawn Bailey away first! I didn't push her.it was an accident..."

"Enough! She's allergic to dog hair, I told her to send him to our other villa! And you attacked her over that? What did I teach you?" Hawk Ethan carried Sophia Blake away, his eyes full of disappointment.

I sat on the floor, watching his retreating back. My heart grew colder by the second. If he'd just paid a little attention, he would've noticed I'd changed. But he hadn't. He had no idea how much his words-"Just let him go"-had hurt. If he didn't care about this relationship, then I'd let it go too.

After the family doctor treated my injuries, I packed my things alone in my room.

Looking around at all the memories, I sobbed uncontrollably.

The dolls in the corner, Hawk Ethan had won each one for me at the arcade. The books on the carpet, covered with sketches of him and me, plus my handwriting: "Bella Hawk and Hawk Ethan forever."

He'd once said, "When you finish reading books, I'll open a book shop for you-let the whole world know about our love."

The wardrobe, crammed with frilly dresses he'd picked out, all suited to an eight-year-old's taste...

I stuffed a few clothes and my documents into a suitcase and hid it in Shawn Bailey 's little house, no one but me ever went there.

But as soon as I stepped out, I ran into Hawk Ethan and Sophia Blake returning. Sophia Blake still had a bandage on her head. I glanced at them and turned to go back to my room.

"Stop. Apologize," Hawk Ethan said.

"Who's going to apologize to me for Shawn Bailey ?"

My voice was low, lacking the childlike sweetness of before. Hawk Ethan froze.

"Poppy... you're... better?" He rushed over, studying me closely.

I immediately slipped back into my childlike act. But the next second, Sophia Blake screamed: "Ethan! The room-there's water everywhere!"

Hawk Ethan stormed into Sophia Blake's room.

The floor was flooded, her wardrobe clothes ruined, covered in colorful marker scribbles. He turned to glare at me.

"Bella Hawk!"

"You already chose her over me once, what more do you want this time?" I stared back defiantly. I'd been the one who fell down the stairs, yet he hadn't cared at all.

"Go to your room and think about what you've done. Don't come out until I say so!"

The moment the door locked, panic set in.

I had claustrophobia.

After the accident, I'd never dared stay in a closed space alone.

Before, Hawk Ethan had always been with me; later, Shawn Bailey . But now, he'd locked me in here by myself.

"Let me out! I'm scared-don't leave me alone!" I banged on the door. Even with the lights on, the silent room terrified me.

"Punish me another way! I'll take it-even if I have to kneel and apologize!" I begged through tears.

"I never thought I'd raise someone so spoiled," Hawk Ethan's voice came from outside, laced with irritation. "Did you think about the consequences when you hurt her?"

"I didn't hurt anyone! I really didn't! Let me out, please!" I banged harder, my body trembling.

The noise outside stopped. Suddenly, thunder roared. I screamed and huddled in the corner, physical fear and emotional despair tangled together. Then, intimate sounds drifted from the next room. My face turned pale.

"Hawk Ethan! You said you'd love me, protect me, you can't do this to me!" I beat on the door and cried, but the thunder drowned out my voice. No one answered.

My consciousness faded, and I mumbled,

"Why are you doing this? Why say you can't live without me, then hurt me like this?"