Unfortunately, I found no trace of it being a joke.

It was no wonder that even when I was back, Ethan never visited me.

I only came to today’s gathering because I insisted on it.

That was it then. He despised me for being “tainted.”

But I had told him several times that nothing had happened. That man had done nothing.

He had only left me in the villa for one night.

But Ethan did not believe me.

When he saw me, he pulled Yelena into his arms. He looked at me with indifference.

“You heard everything?”

I nodded. My sharp nails dug into my palm until they almost broke the skin.

The pain brought back a little control. I tried to speak calmly.

“There is no need for this.

“Ethan, if you want to break up, just say it.”

He did not answer. He laughed mockingly and looked at me in disdain.

“Jane, we’ve been together for eight years.

“Who would want you if we split up? Just because you came back safe does not mean you’re innocent anymore.

“But don’t worry. After all this time, if I ever end up getting married, the bride will be you.”

Hearing that, my heart sank. It felt like I was drowning and could not breathe.

I squeezed my fist hard and tried to find some rationality in the pain.

After a long while, I began to calm down.

I quietly walked up to Ethan. Right in front of his smug face, I took off my engagement ring and placed it beside him.

“Then, you should’ve just said so. I am not the type to cling to people. If you can’t say it, I can.”

I looked at him calmly. My eyes were devoid of emotion.

“Ethan, we’re done.”

With that, I picked up my bag and coat to leave, but someone blocked the door.

“Come on, Ms. Lowell, we were just joking.

“You have been with Mr. Stone all these years. You aren’t really going to break up over a joke, are you?”

Ethan’s face darkened, and his voice was harsh as he said, “Let her go! No one will want her except me, anyway!”

At that, the person blocking my way stepped back.

I forced out a wry smile and walked out of the private room.

I could guess why he would say such a thing with so much confidence. He probably thought I had no one else to rely on.

I had met him at a part-time job in college.

Back then, both my parents were dead, and I had no power. I did not even dare to fight back when someone mistreated me.

He had repeatedly stood in front of me and shielded me from leering customers and a manager who always seemed to pick on me.

I had begun to have feelings for him because of that.

So, on New Year’s Eve, when he asked me if I wanted to be with him, I agreed without hesitation.

What followed afterward seemed natural.

After graduation, he started his own business.

To support him, I used all my savings. At our poorest, we shared a tiny rental with only one bed and one blanket.

Water leaked through the walls and dripped from the ceiling when it rained.

When I shivered from the cold, he held me and said, “Jane, I will give you the best life I can.”

And he did. As his company grew, our lives improved.

Through it all, he remained devoted to me. I thought our love was a blessing from the heavens.

I never imagined that one day, fate could take it all back.

I pushed open the door and walked alone into the endless night.

Under the dim moonlight, tears filled my eyes. Everything was blurry, and I could barely see the road ahead.

I just kept walking in the darkness.

When I finally wiped my eyes, I realized I had walked into a dead end.

I forced out a wry smile as I looked at the wrong path in front of me. Just as I was about to turn away, I saw a drunken figure behind me.

“Hey, beautiful. Out so late? Something bothering you? Maybe I can keep you company.”

Fear gripped me as a man stepped closer.

“Stay back, or I will call the police!”

The man ignored that and walked toward me.

“Don’t worry, little lady. I will make you happy.”

As he got closer, I gripped my bag tightly and swung it at him.

With a loud smash, my phone hit him on the head. He screamed in pain.

“Ahh!!! How dare you?! You’ve done it now!”

I tried to run past him as he grunted in pain.

He reacted instantly, grabbed me, and knocked me to the ground.

“You! How dare you hit me?! I’ll show you!”

I landed on my back hard on the cemented ground. Before I could react, he slapped me across the face.

The sudden pain stunned me. Before I could respond, he started pulling at my clothes.

“Dressing like this in the middle of the night, yet pretending to be innocent! You’re shameless!”

“No… no…”

I struggled desperately, but it was useless. He grabbed my neck.

I felt helpless. I felt I could almost predict what was about to happen.

Ethan’s words echoed in my mind.

“Now, she’s alive but defiled.”

Just as his hand reached my chest, the silence of the night was broken by screeching brakes.

The car’s headlights blinded me. Lucas Grant jumped out of the car and shoved the drunk off me.

Seeing Lucas’s face, my face turned even paler.

His bodyguards rushed over and dragged the drunk away.

Our eyes met. His hand trembled as he held me. “I’m sorry.”

I tried to pull away but had no strength to do so. I said coldly, “Lucas, let go of me.”

He ignored me and wrapped me in his coat. He held me close as if he wanted to shield me.

“I’m sorry, Jane. This is all my fault! Everything is my fault.”

Hot tears fell on my collarbone. I tried to push him away and used the hem of the coat to wipe the tears on my neck.

I said bitterly, “Yes, this is all your fault! I’m not even crying. What the hell does the kidnapper have to cry about?”

He lifted his bloodshot eyes to me and said, “I know what Ethan said about you. I’ll make things right. If you want, I can prove to him that I never touched you.”

I felt a surge of anger when I looked at him. If Ethan thought I was “tainted,” then I would show him how “tainted” I really could be.

The next moment, I grabbed Lucas’s shoulders and kissed him.