Kaelyn stood there and asked, "What if I don't want to?"

Andres didn't seem to hear her. He urgently pulled her along. "Kaelyn, don't worry. You just need to apologize to Madelynn. I won't let her make things difficult for you."

Kaelyn was weak physically and couldn't break free from his grip.

He dragged her all the way to the garage. He hesitated when he opened the passenger door. His eyes flickered, and he said in a low voice, "Kaelyn, you'd better sit in the back. Madelynn says the passenger seat of my car is her exclusive one. If she finds out you've sat there, she'll definitely be upset again. Just bear with it a little longer. Once the trial is over, I promise I won't let you suffer anymore."

Kaelyn knew well that it was pointless for her to argue and silently opened the back door.

Andres followed her and leaned over to fasten her seatbelt. Then he gently placed his jacket over her legs and said in a tender tone, "Kaelyn, I knew you'd understand me."

Kaelyn turned her face away, not responding.

Andres's expression froze. Then he went to the driver's seat and turned up the car's air conditioning slightly. "Don't catch a cold during your period. If you feel unwell, let me know anytime."

Kaelyn leaned back in the backseat and said nothing. Her period hadn't come for a long time now.

Andres was oblivious to it, as he had always stayed with Madelynn.

On their way, Andres drove slowly. He frequently glanced at her through the rearview mirror and attempted to start conversations, but Kaelyn just gazed out of the window in silence.

She was aware of Madelynn's behavior in the past.

Madelynn had ruined Andres's past relationships, and Kaelyn had heard of her tactics.

Yet, Andres loved Kaelyn so unwaveringly that she couldn't bring herself to run away and break up with him.

So when Madelynn stormed in with her so-called trial, Kaelyn agreed without hesitation. She never realized that it would be her nightmare.

Madelynn used every trick to torment Kaelyn, while Andres never truly stood up for Kaelyn.

After she was injured every time, Andres would stay by her bedside and caress her wounds gently, whispering, "Kaelyn, all that matters is that you're fine. Madelynn doesn't intend to hurt you. I've indulged her too much. Let's not hold it against her."

When Andres and Kaelyn arrived at the police station, they saw Madelynn.

Andres looked at Madelynn's frail figure, and his eyes were full of pity. "Madelynn, stop it. I've brought Kaelyn here to apologize to you. You've gotten so thin. What am I supposed to tell your parents when they see you like this?"

Madelynn turned her head away in a huff and said in a voice tinged with sobs, "From the day you dated her, you couldn't explain anything to my parents. You promised that you'd take care of me forever."

Andres coaxed her softly and apologized to her repeatedly.

Kaelyn watched the scene expressionlessly. Andres and Madelynn looked more like quarreling lovers.

Madelynn didn't change her mind. Andres was at a loss when he noticed her reddened eyes. He understood what she wanted then.

He pulled Kaelyn in front of Madelynn and whispered, "Kaelyn, just apologize to Madelynn. And this matter will be over."

Kaelyn shook off his hand fiercely and said, "Why should I apologize? What did I do wrong?"

Andres suppressed his anger and said, "Didn't I explain it to you before we came here? Does it matter who's right or wrong? Is it really difficult for you to apologize?"

Madelynn wiped her tears. Andres finally lost his patience. His tone turned stern as he said, "Kaelyn, don't forget that your father is still under my care. If you don't apologize now, you know the consequences."

Kaelyn looked at him in disbelief. "Are you crazy? That's my father. How can you use him to threaten me?"

Andres's gaze was cold. "Apologize now. Don't force me to say it again."

Kaelyn thought of her father, who was lifeless on the hospital bed. She felt her heart being squeezed tightly.

With a hoarse voice, she forced herself to say, "I'm sorry."

Madelynn suddenly changed her aggrieved expression and wore a cold smile. "What did you say? I didn't hear you."

Kaelyn raised her voice and repeated, "I'm sorry."

Madelynn pressed her lips. "That's your attitude when apologizing? There's no sincerity in that. I don't accept it. You must get down on your knees and apologize to me."

Before Kaelyn could respond, Andres frowned and said, "Madelynn, that's enough. Kaelyn's leg injury hasn't healed yet. It is too much for her to get down on her knees."

"You still care about her the most." Madelynn broke down, pulling a utility knife from her pocket and pressing it to her neck. "Fine. Then just leave me alone. I just want to end my life when I watch you with her."

Andres's face suddenly turned pale. He rushed forward to grab the knife, but Madelynn stepped back, and the blade left a cut on her neck.

Seeing Madelynn injured, Andres was utterly panicked.

He turned to Kaelyn and said urgently, "Kaelyn, please bear with it this time. I'll make it up to you after we get back."

Before Kaelyn could react, he and the bodyguards beside him pressed her shoulders down and forced her to get down on her knees on the floor.

Then, a hand firmly pressed the back of her neck and pushed her forehead harshly against the cold floor.

Kaelyn felt dizzy from the blow. As she was about to fall, Andres quickly caught her and pulled her into his arms.

Just then, his assistant suddenly cried out, "Mr. Warren, look at Miss Dobson. She just fainted from low blood sugar."

Kaelyn was instantly pushed away from the warm embrace.

Andres rushed towards Madelynn and scooped her up in his arms. He shouted with reddened eyes, "Call an ambulance. If I don't see a doctor here in a minute, all of you get out."

Chaos erupted all around. Everyone was focusing on Madelynn, and no one noticed that Kaelyn collapsed on the floor and was nearly unconscious.

Eventually, a passing police officer found her and took her to the hospital.

When Kaelyn woke up, Andres, who had stayed by her bed, immediately stood up and checked on her. He looked relieved and happy. "Kaelyn, you're awake?"

He reached out and gently touched the bandage on her forehead. "Don't worry. I've hired the best doctor, and there won't be any scars."

With that, he gave a tender smile. "We're still going to get married. I want you to be the most beautiful bride in the world."

Kaelyn turned her head to avoid his touch.

There would never be a wedding between him and her.

In the following days, Andres canceled all his work and always stayed by Kaelyn's bedside.

If she hadn't received the photos of him putting socks on Madelynn, the video of him washing her underwear, and the recording of him singing lullabies to her, Kaelyn might have really believed that Andres had really felt regret and would change.

But Kaelyn had daydreamed again.

Early that morning, Andres traveled a long way to get Kaelyn's favorite doughnuts from an old, renowned restaurant.

He hadn't been gone long when Madelynn pushed open the door to the hospital room.

Kaelyn frowned at her. "What are you doing here?"

Madelynn smiled smugly. "I just came to see how miserable you are. I only pretended to faint that day, and Andres immediately left you behind."

She walked closer and lowered her voice. "If something happened to me in your hospital room, would he immediately get rid of you?"

Kaelyn looked at Madelynn flatly. She had no intentions of fighting. "If you like him, take him. I'm not playing along."

Her indifference immediately infuriated Madelynn.

The latter suddenly grabbed Kaelyn's hair and forcibly dragged her off the bed. "Why are you pretending to be so arrogant? Are you trying to get his attention and make me look petty?"

In the scuffle, they unknowingly retreated to the edge of the balcony outside the hospital room.

Madelynn was completely consumed by rage. "You'd better stop daydreaming. You, a manipulative woman, cannot be with Andres."

Kaelyn couldn't care less about the tearing pain in her forehead, as half of her body was hanging over the railing. She might fall at any moment.

Her heart raced as she tried to suppress her fear and stop Madelynn from acting impulsively. "I'll leave him. I'll never appear in front of him again. Just let me go."

Madelynn wasn't listening. Instead, she said ironically, "Stop playing a trick."

Her eyes were red as she said each word slowly, "You must die. Only when he can never see you again can I be with him forever."

Kaelyn's pupils contracted as she realized what was happening. She shook her head desperately. "Don't..."

Madelynn smirked and loosened her hand.

Kaelyn fell straight backward when the hospital room door was kicked open. Andres had just returned and saw the scene. The items in his hands scattered across the floor instantly.

He lunged towards the balcony like a madman. "Kaelyn!"

He was still late. Madelynn's face turned pale as she tried to explain herself, but Andres didn't listen to a single word.

He stared at his empty hand. Then he rushed downstairs like a madman. When he saw Kaelyn lying in a pool of blood, he trembled uncontrollably.

He lifted Kaelyn in his arms and shouted in despair, "Get a doctor here now!"

He then turned to his bodyguards and roared, "What were you doing? Didn't I tell you to watch her?" I was gone for just one morning, and she ended up like this!"

The bodyguard hung his head and said in a low voice, "Mr. Warren, you sent all the bodyguards to protect Miss Dobson… We were shorthanded here and slipped up."

Kaelyn was barely conscious in his arms. She felt Andres's body suddenly stiffen before he held her even tighter.

"I'm sorry, Kaelyn… It's all my fault."

Madelynn had followed them down. She timidly stood a few steps away and said in a trembling voice, "I'm sorry, Andres. It's all my fault. I felt guilty ever since that day when my tantrum caused Sister Kaelyn to be hospitalized. I just wanted to apologize… But when I entered the hospital room, I saw her struggling through rehab. I was afraid she couldn't take it, so I tried to stop her. I didn't expect her to dislike me so much and keep pushing me away. Then she accidentally fell…"

She dared not get close, and her voice grew softer. She seemed to fear that she would anger Andres.

Hearing her words, Andres calmed down as his anger gradually dissipated.

He sighed, stood up, and walked over to Madelynn. He gently wiped the tears from her face and said, "I know you didn't do it on purpose. Don't cry anymore. I've always been afraid of your tears since we were little. Oh, I signed a contract today... Haven't you always wanted a private island? Now it's yours."

In the corner of his eye, Madelynn broke into a smile and threw herself into his arms.

Andres affectionately tousled her hair.

Kaelyn felt a chill throughout her body and closed her eyes. She thought she had become numb, but a tear still slipped from the corner of her eye.

Andres used the best medical resources in the city to save Kaelyn. Fortunately, the fall wasn't from a high floor, and some greenery cushioned the impact.

The lights in the operating room stayed on for three days and nights, and Kaelyn narrowly escaped from death.

That incident made Andres extremely vigilant. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Kaelyn again, so he brought her home and arranged for someone to care for her.

Kaelyn thought she could finally recover quietly. But then she saw Madelynn directing the servants to move luggage into the villa.

Kaelyn asked Andres what was going on and why Madelynn was moving in.

Andres dared not meet her eyes. "Madelynn feels responsible for your accident and wants to move in to take care of you as compensation."

He then seemed to have convinced himself, and his tone grew firm. "Kaelyn, I'm busy with work and can't always be there for you. With Madelynn here, I will worry about you less."

Kaelyn almost retorted instantly.

Madelyn had caused Kaelyn to be injured like that. If the latter moved in, it would only hasten the former's demise.

But the words stuck in Kaelyn's throat and went unspoken.

Andres wouldn't believe her words.

A strong sense of helplessness washed over her. She turned her head away and said nothing more.

The medication took effect, and Kaelyn drifted off into a hazy sleep. When she woke up again, it was already dark.

She was thirsty. She wanted to ask a servant for water, but her hoarse voice wouldn't come out. After a moment's hesitation, she pressed the call button by her bed.

Andres had installed the equipment for her, which was connected directly to all his communication devices. He promised that whenever she pressed it, he would come to her immediately.

The bell rang several times before it was connected. "Kaelyn, what's wrong?"

Before Andres could finish speaking, a voice from the background interrupted him. "Andres, look over here!"

Andres pretended to be annoyed. "Madelynn, why are you smearing cream on my face again?"

"Because you look so cute like that."

Kaelyn's gaze dimmed as she quietly stared at the ceiling and said nothing.

She knew Andres spent every important day with Madelynn.

It marked their twenty-fifth since they met.

Kaelyn recalled her own anniversaries with Andres.

On their first anniversary, they vacationed at a beautiful tourist attraction, but Madelynn threatened suicide over a limited-edition handbag, and Andres left Kaelyn alone at the hotel as he flew back to console Madelynn.

On their second anniversary, they planned a ski trip, but Madelynn was upset about not having anyone to accompany her to a concert, so Andres canceled the ski trip and stayed with Madelynn. Kaelyn saw the photo of him and Madelynn kissing on social media that very evening.

On their third anniversary, Andres took Kaelyn to Northern Europe, where he had planned to propose to her in a chapel. But Madelynn secretly followed them and called him. She told him that she was lost. Once again, Andres left Kaelyn alone.

Kaelyn suddenly realized that whenever Andres needed to choose between her and Madelynn, he always chose Madelynn.

All she received were apologies and attempts at compensation afterward.

Kaelyn quietly hung up the call and struggled to get out of bed. She poured herself a glass of water.

In her heart, she kept reminding herself that she would leave three days later and that she shouldn't hold any more expectations on Andres.

In the early morning the next day, Kaelyn got up to use the bathroom. As she passed the guest room, she heard intimate noises inside.

"Please be gentle, Andres… Why does she want to hurt me like this?"

"Bear with it, Madelynn. Otherwise, the drug still works." He seemed to warn Kaelyn as he continued, "I'm just doing this to help you. After all, it's Kaelyn's fault."

Kaelyn paused in her tracks.

Through the crack in the door, she saw Andres and Madelynn making love on the bed.

At least in his heart, he still considered Kaelyn his girlfriend. He still held onto that last boundary.

But the scene Kaelyn just witnessed shattered the last hope in Kaelyn's heart.