Richard froze in surprise. Never had he imagined Brynn would speak with such sharpness, especially when she had always yielded to him before.

He remembered clearly how frightened she was of needles, shaking uncontrollably whenever she faced an injection, needing ages to calm down afterward.

And still, she had offered her blood to Rena again and again because she cared for him.

Thinking of that, Richard hesitated, his expression shifting as he looked at Brynn. "Then—"

Before he could finish the sentence, Rena cut in, crying loudly, "Brynn, how could you say that? Do you want me to die?"

Brynn returned Rena's theatrics with a cold stare. Her cruelty, her obsession, and her flawless performance always fooled Richard without fail. Or maybe he wanted to be fooled.

A cold smile tugged at Brynn's lips as that thought crossed her mind. She spoke with unwavering resolve. "Anyone else can give her blood if they want to. I'm done."

Rena tightened her grip on Richard's arm and spoke in a hurt tone. "Richard, did you hear her? She wishes I'd land in the ICU just like my mom."

Sharon Davis, Rena's mother, had once saved Richard's life and had remained unconscious ever since.

Because of that sacrifice, Richard carried a deep sense of guilt toward Rena and found himself unable to refuse her.

Rena relied heavily on that guilt, dragging Sharon into every outburst, and Richard usually let her get away with it.

This time, though, something shifted. When Sharon's name left Rena's lips, Richard's brows drew together.

He could never forget the moment five years earlier when a truck barreled toward them. Sharon had shoved him to safety and ended up beneath the wheels herself, a pool of blood spreading around her.

However, Brynn had given up much for him as well.

Brynn noticed Richard's lingering silence, and a fragile hope rose inside her. Just once, if he chose her over Rena, she would believe her years of devotion had meant something.

She would convince herself he didn't reject her—only that he didn't know how to love.

"Brynn, could you donate blood for Rena one last time? Please. I swear this will be the final request," Richard said as he lifted his gaze to her, her reflection captured in his eyes.

The small flicker of hope inside Brynn vanished instantly.

A humorless laugh escaped her—how foolish she had been to expect anything different from him.

Whenever a decision had to be made, his choice never changed. And she was always the one he placed on the altar of his compromises.

Rena quietly exhaled in relief and looked at Brynn with blatant triumph. "Brynn, it seems I need your help again. Thank you in advance!"

Brynn shot her a sideways glance, seeing clearly now that Richard's worry belonged solely to Rena.

Once, she had convinced herself that he simply loved in a slow, quiet way. Now he was proving, with the same coldness he always carried, that he would never love her at all.

Brynn returned her attention to him, letting her gaze sweep over him without emotion. "I already said I'm not giving her blood."

Richard's brows pulled together, unsettled by the distant look in her eyes.

He found himself recalling the very first time he noticed her. On that brilliant summer afternoon, her smile shone even brighter than the sun above. But somewhere along the way, that smile had faded.

"What am I supposed to do? If Brynn refuses to give me blood, I'll die!" Rena cried, her voice trembling. "Richard, you promised my mom you'd always protect me..."

Richard answered with a tone that held no warmth, "I'll look for another donor right away. I'm not letting you die."

Rena's eyes flew open in shock as she stared at him. "What if no one else matches? Brynn has donated to me so many times—our blood types work perfectly. Why replace her now?"

Richard offered no reply.

Tears spilled over Rena's lashes as she pushed the threat further. "Alright then. If you don't care, I'll go to Michelle!"

With that, she darted off toward Michelle's hospital room, still sobbing.

Soon after, Rena returned with Michelle beside her.

Michelle looked groggy from being awakened so soon after falling asleep.

Whatever Rena had said clearly had an effect, because Michelle's gaze drifted to Brynn with a trace of blame.

Michelle finally spoke to Richard. "Richard, stop scolding Rena. Her mother ended up in a coma because she saved your life. Now she only needs a bit of blood from Brynn. It's hardly anything. Brynn has donated countless times already, and nothing bad has ever happened. But if Rena doesn't receive blood right now, she might actually die!"

Richard tightened his jaw, frustration lining his face. "I'll look for another donor. There's enough blood in the bank. Brynn doesn't have to be the one."

"Michelle, did you hear that?" Rena cried, clutching at the opening. "He cares only about Brynn and not about me at all!"

Michelle pressed her fingers to her temple, clearly irritated, but Richard kept his stern composure, his cold stare warning everyone that his decision wouldn't change. She understood perfectly that once he settled on something, no one could sway him.

She finally faced Brynn and said, "Brynn, please help Rena this time. Do it for me."

Brynn's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. She had predicted this ending from the start. Whenever Rena caused trouble, the burden always fell back on her.

And Michelle—her would-be mother-in-law—never hesitated to let her shoulder every injustice.

Brynn couldn't even bring herself to feel disappointed anymore. From the very beginning, she had been the one trying her hardest to win their approval.

She recalled meeting Michelle for the first time five years earlier during winter break.

At that point, she had only just begun her university life.

One night, while heading back to campus, she was dragged into a dark alley by a drunken thug. At the final moment, a tall and slender young man rushed in and saved her. She never saw his face clearly, but she did see the knife slash across his chest.

Later, after she recovered and left the hospital, she caught sight of a matching scar on Richard's chest.

She had already fallen for him the instant she first saw him, and learning he was the young man who rescued her only deepened that devotion.

Even though he spoke to her with nothing but indifference, she kept drawing closer with even more determination.

Although she was one of the most admired girls in the law department, she clung to him with unwavering persistence, ignoring every mocking whisper behind her.

During the next winter break, she couldn't bear the thought of spending a whole month without seeing him, so she secretly bought a train ticket to his hometown, defying her family's objections.

Growing up sheltered in the city, she had never endured real hardship before.

When she finally located Richard, she found him forced to the ground by someone holding him down.

One of the villagers tried to reason with Richard. "Why won't you listen? We told you there are wolves in that forest! Someone was bitten just recently! If you charge in now, you're practically asking to die! Your mother must have crossed paths with them, too. We already called the police. Wait for them. Don't act recklessly."

Voices filled the area as the villagers muttered among themselves.

Richard lay pinned to the ground, dirt streaking his face and grass tangled against his clothes.

Still, he kept his gaze locked on the forest ahead, a raw and frantic resolve burning in his eyes, fierce like a cornered animal.

"Let him go!" Brynn shouted as she ran forward, somehow summoning enough strength to shove aside the two men restraining Richard.

"Who are you? Stop making trouble here. We're stopping him for his own safety! It's almost dark, and stepping into that forest means becoming a meal for wolves!" one of the villagers shouted.

Richard sat silently where he fell, his long fingers curled tightly into fists, refusing to speak.

"There are so many of you standing around! Why not go into the forest and help search before it gets completely dark? Isn't that better than arguing here?" Brynn asked.

The villagers exchanged uneasy glances, but no one stepped forward.

Confronting wolves was a risk none of them dared to accept.

"If none of you plan to help, then stop holding him back!" Brynn insisted as she lifted Richard to his feet. "Come on. I'll go with you to look for your mother!"

Richard raised his eyes to her from where he had fallen.

"Let's move!" Brynn urged again, pulling him with her toward the forest's edge.

By then, the sky had already sunk into darkness.

"Richard, I'll help you find your mother," Brynn said as she inhaled sharply, fixing her gaze on the shadowed trees while forcing herself to stay brave despite the fear pounding through her chest.

"After we find her, we should learn boxing and self-defense together. Then no one will ever be able to hold you down again!" she said to him, hoping to stir some strength in him.

Watching Richard pinned helplessly moments ago had shaken Brynn deeply.

She finally understood that even someone as brilliant and proud as Richard could be driven into despair.

She never wanted to witness that again.

In her eyes, he was someone meant to stand tall, someone destined to be admired.

Fate had given them a moment to walk side by side.

As night finally settled over the sky, they discovered Michelle, barely conscious from losing so much blood.

She hadn't met any wolves after all. She had simply slipped, and a sharp branch had stabbed into her leg, leaving her bleeding heavily.

Richard lifted her in his arms without hesitation and carried her out of the forest.

Brynn recalled how Michelle had thanked her over and over, urging Richard not to let go of a girl as good as she was.

But that was years ago, and time had reshaped everything—including the people in it.

Now Michelle was standing on the opposite side of it all, asking Brynn to give her blood to another woman.

"Michelle, we are standing in a hospital. The blood bank keeps every blood type ready, so there is no reason for you to ask for mine." Brynn spoke with a steady and even tone.

Uncertainty shadowed Michelle's features as she said, "But..."

Even so, Brynn no longer focused on her. She shifted her gaze to the man beside her. "Richard. I've placed my resignation letter on your desk. My things are already packed. Please sign it when you can."

Richard's frown grew sharper. "Resignation letter?"

"Brynn!" Michelle cried out in alarm. "Are you lashing out at me? That was never what I meant."

A faint and distant smile appeared on Brynn's face. "Michelle. I hope you recover soon. I still have to finish gathering the rest of my things, so I'll be heading out."

After saying that, she walked away without paying attention to anyone's reaction.

Right before the elevator doors could seal shut, a broad hand pushed between them.

As the doors glided open again, Brynn lifted her gaze and met a pair of deep eyes.

At times, she found no trace of feeling in Richard at all.

Back then, the only emotion she had ever seen in him appeared on the day the villagers pinned him to the dirt. It was a look she could never erase from her memory.

"Why are you quitting?" Richard stepped into the elevator, his stare sharp and unyielding. "Is it because of the ruined wedding earlier? Or is it because we asked you to give blood?"

He reached for Brynn's hand as he spoke. "I apologized for what happened at the wedding. I've told you we would look for another donor. I won't push you again. So please stop being so dramatic, alright?"

Brynn nearly let out a humorless laugh. Being dramatic? That was what he thought of her.

She had never thrown a single tantrum in front of him. Whenever she felt wronged, she swallowed it quietly.

During the difficult days of building the company, Richard's stubborn ways had driven clients away. She had always stepped in to repair the damage. She forced herself to drink more than she could handle just to smooth over tensions, and her stomach paid the price for it.

Years passed, and she kept tending to the damage. Even then, the dull ache still returned at the worst moments.

Those memories made her exhale slowly. "Richard, I'm tired."

For five long years, she carried the dead weight of that relationship. He couldn't even make the slightest effort.

She kept telling herself she mattered. That if she gave him everything, someday, it would be enough to make him stay.

At this point, she felt worn down to the bone. She no longer had the strength or desire to chase after a place in his heart.

"If you're feeling overwhelmed, I can approve some leave so you can rest," Richard said with a troubled look.

Weariness settled over Brynn like a heavy cloak. "Richard. Let's..."

Right before she could speak the words "break up", his phone buzzed sharply.

The moment he answered, Michelle's trembling voice echoed through the speaker. "Rena collapsed! Come back quickly!"

A subtle shift crossed Richard's face. "I'm on my way."

Once the call ended, he glanced toward Brynn. "Wait for me at my place. I need to talk to you about something. I'll go there as soon as I finish here."

He didn't give her a chance to reply. Within seconds, he strode away without a backward glance.

It was the same pattern every time. Whenever Rena called for him, he never hesitated.

Brynn remained standing in place while she drew in a long breath.

Then the elevator doors slid shut again, sealing her inside. Her reflection stared back. Her face looked drained. Her eyes carried a chill she had grown too familiar with.

She had planned to pass by Richard's home and gather the last of her belongings.

Given the way things unfolded, she believed it was finally time to talk things through and end everything cleanly.

......

Richard's home sat close to the law firm. It was a penthouse tucked inside an upscale complex.

Not long after they made their relationship official, Brynn had gathered the courage to ask for her own key. She often visited, moving through the rooms with ease as she cleaned and cooked for him.

Even if his name was on the deed, the place felt far more like her home.

Since he never paid much attention to his surroundings, every detail bore the quiet mark of her care—from the curtains and the sofa she chose piece by piece, to the kitchen tools she saved up for and the balcony plants she tenderly kept alive.

Once she stepped inside that evening, she pulled out the boxes she had brought and quietly began setting her things aside.

Very quickly, she realized packing was more painful than she expected.

Every object was tied to a memory, and choosing whether to take it or abandon it felt like peeling away part of herself.

When she reached the bedside table and lifted the photo album, a faint crease formed between her brows.

She sank onto the floor and turned through the pages one at a time.

Her face in those photos was full of laughter. She was gazing at Richard with unguarded affection.

Without a hint of emotion, she snapped the album shut and let it fall beside her.

The sheer amount of work took hours. When she finally finished, the sun was already dipping low, brushing the room with a soft orange glow.

The boxes waited by the entrance. Five years of her life reduced to a small stack of cardboard.

After setting everything in order, she booked a moving service to bring her belongings back home. Even then, Richard had still not returned.

Fatigue crept up on Brynn without warning, and a sharp cramp twisted through her stomach. That was when she remembered she had not eaten anything since midday.

She went to the kitchen in a rush and heated a frozen pizza.

However, once she finished the pizza, the pain surged even harder. A piercing ache spread from her stomach and crawled toward her lower right side.

In a panic, she searched for the medical kit.

She had never mentioned her recurring stomach trouble to Richard because she didn't want to burden him. As a result, the little bit of medicine he kept for her was never enough.

On her knees, she dug through the kit but failed to find the bottle she relied on.

The cramping worsened, nausea rose in her throat, and shadows flickered at the edges of her sight.

She tried to push herself upright to get some warm water, though her legs nearly gave out beneath her.

Using the wall for support, she edged her way back to the kitchen and downed a cup of warm water, but the pain refused to ease.

Heat drenched her back with sweat as she curled on the floor, her awareness slipping in and out like a flickering light.

At last, she managed to press her emergency contact. "Richard. I..."

Instead of his voice, Rena snapped through the line, saying, "Brynn, why are you calling again? You said you were quitting. I knew you were only pretending to get attention."

There was no room left in Brynn for pointless arguments. Her stomach throbbed like it was on fire. With a chilled calmness, she asked, "Where is Richard?"

Rena answered with unmistakable smugness, "I told him I had cramps, so he went out to buy me hot chocolate..."

Brynn ended the call before the woman could finish.

Even though September heat hovered outside, the air conditioning in the penthouse hit Brynn like winter. The cold pricked at her skin and made the pain in her abdomen twist even deeper.

When she held her chest, she could not tell if it was her heart aching or her stomach tearing her apart.

A sheen of cold sweat quickly soaked her clothes.

Narrowing her eyes to see the screen, she forced herself to dial 911.

After ending the call, she struggled for air. The pain pressed so hard against her ribs that her mind drifted in and out, and faint footsteps burst through the doorway as urgent voices filled the room.

When her eyes fluttered open, a doctor in a white coat moved across her blurred field of vision.

"Lower right rebound tenderness. This is acute appendicitis. We need to operate at once," he said.

Those words made everything click into place. It wasn't her stomach this time. It was her appendix.

"The patient requires immediate surgery. Someone has to sign the consent form. Contact her family quickly," the doctor said.

The agony made it difficult for Brynn to speak, and when a nurse hurried to her side asking for a relative, she managed only one question. "Can I sign for myself?"

"No family members at all?" The nurse blinked in surprise.

"No one," Brynn whispered as she gave a faint shake of her head.

Years earlier, she had followed Richard to the city of Nuephis with nothing but determination, leaving her family behind to build a life beside him.

Here in this city, Richard was the only person she had left.

The nurse offered her a gentle, understanding glance before placing the consent form in her hand. "You may sign here."

With the pain clawing through her abdomen, Brynn lifted the pen as carefully as she could.

As her signature formed on the page, a memory surfaced. Five years ago, Richard had suffered the same condition. She had been the one to sign his consent form. It was this very document.

During that time, she had read every line again and again, terrified that something might go wrong.

After the surgery, she had kept watch at Richard's bedside for three days and three nights without leaving.

But tonight, there was no one beside her at all.

"Miss Morgan?" The nurse's voice broke through the fog in Brynn's mind and pulled her back to the present.

Blinking hard, Brynn steadied her hand enough to sign her name.

A few moments later, the staff moved her toward the operating room.

Once the anesthesia began spreading through her veins, a heavy darkness washed over her like a tide.

Somewhere inside that blur, she thought she heard someone calling out to her.

The voice pushed through the haze, wrapped in the sharp smell of antiseptic and the faint metallic scent of blood.

In that drifting state, she caught a glimpse of a seventeen-year-old Richard held down by villagers, his fierce gaze cutting through the crowd to find hers.

Another image surfaced. The early days of B&R Law Firm. She had once run straight into Richard's arms, wearing a smile that felt warm and full of hope.

Then the scene changed again. Rena appeared in a white wedding gown, leaning into Richard's embrace, while she herself stood quietly nearby, her smile long gone.

When awareness finally settled back into her, the only sound Brynn recognized was the steady beeping of the monitor beside her.

Pale moonlight slipped through the blinds and spread a cold glow across the hospital room.

She kept her eyes on the wavering line that reflected her vital signs.

As the last traces of anesthesia faded, the incision began to pulse with sharp and steady pain.

Her hand groped beneath the pillow until she found her phone. The screen showed 3:17 a.m.

The agony intensified, and she pressed the pain-relief pump again and again, though nothing seemed to work. Her body instinctively folded in on itself.

Warm tears traced down her cheeks while her thoughts scattered in every direction.

She finally learned that when the pain was at its peak, tears were purely physiological.

By the time dawn pushed through the dimness and climbed over the windowsill, Brynn's ringing phone dragged her out of a shallow sleep.

The incision had throbbed through the whole night, and she had barely drifted off just before sunrise.

Richard's name glowed on the screen.

A strange distance settled in her chest as Brynn stared at it.

Once she answered, Richard's cold tone split through the quiet. "Brynn. I tore up your resignation letter. You're expected at the firm by nine. We have a case that needs you."

"I..." Brynn opened her mouth, hoping to tell him she was in the hospital.

Before she could say another word, Rena's teasing voice drifted through the line. "Richard. Where did you put my hot chocolate?"

That single sentence struck Brynn like a bucket of ice thrown over her head. A sour sting climbed up her throat. She bit down on her lip and ended the call at once.

A faint, humorless laugh escaped her as she bowed her head. With a single motion, she swiped across the screen and blocked the familiar number without a hint of reluctance.

Every move she made carried a clear finality. Not even a shadow of longing remained.

......

Five days after Brynn's surgery, the attending physician arrived to remove her stitches. He studied the CT scan with a deep frown. "You had severe appendicitis and complications. You really pushed yourself too far. If this had been delayed even half a day more, the outcome would've been dangerous."

Propped up against the headboard, Brynn still looked drained of color. She offered him a faint smile. "I understand. It won't happen again."

When her discharge day finally arrived, the rain that had soaked the city through the night had just stopped. Clouds still blanketed the sky, yet the air felt clean and cool, filled with the earthy scent of newly damp soil. Along the road, the trees and shrubs shimmered with fresh droplets, their leaves bright and glistening.

After finishing the discharge paperwork, Brynn lingered beneath the hospital awning and drew in a long breath of crisp morning air. It felt like she was clearing out every trace of disinfectant that clung to her lungs. Only then did she lift her hand to call for a taxi.

When the cab drifted past the B&R Law Firm, her eyes moved toward the building for a brief moment before she shifted her gaze back to the steady flow of traffic. Her expression remained unreadable.

......

Inside the law firm, Richard stood before the tall picture window that overlooked the restless streets, watching cars weave through the morning rush.

Jerold Griffiths, his long-time friend, tried Brynn's number again. But he couldn't get through.

"She's still not picking up," Jerold muttered with a sigh as he lowered the phone.

A deep furrow formed between Richard's brows, and his expression turned cold.

Jerold pressed his lips together, concern edging into his voice. As the firm's third partner, Brynn's silence unsettled him as well.

"Richard. What happened this time?" he asked with a puzzled frown. "Brynn's really upset, isn't she? It's already been a week. You two have argued plenty before. She's always bounced back eventually. Why is it different now?"

Richard remained silent, his reflection a cold silhouette against the glass.

"Do you think she might be ill?" Jerold asked quietly.

Ill? The word made Richard's brows tighten slightly. From what he remembered, Brynn had always been lively and full of energy. He had never once seen her bedridden. Moreover, since she had no one else in town besides him, she would have told him immediately if something were wrong.

"I talked to her on the phone. She didn't sound sick," Richard replied in a low, steady tone.

At least, she hadn't said anything about it.

For years, even the tiniest nick on her finger sent her running to him so he could blow on it, as if that alone could cure her. If she were truly unwell, she wouldn't keep it from him.

Yet she blocked his number. That alone told him how deeply she resented him now.

Jerold let out a breath once he heard that. "If she's fine, then why hasn't she even asked for a day off? It's been hectic at the office…"

Then he shifted the topic with a pointed look. "Richard, you really crossed the line this time. Anyone would be upset if their partner left them alone at their own wedding celebration."

When Richard still refused to speak, Jerold rolled his eyes dramatically. "Never mind. Brynn will come around in a few days anyway…"

Richard's mouth pressed into a hard line before he finally spoke. "The firm doesn't keep people who refuse to work. Tell HR that if Brynn doesn't show up tomorrow, she's dismissed."

In his mind, this was the one consequence Brynn would never risk. The firm had always been the place where she clung closest to him. He felt certain she wouldn't choose to walk away from it.

Jerold gave a small grin and nodded. "Alright. I'll let everyone know. Once Brynn hears it, she'll probably show up first thing tomorrow."

From the moment Jerold met them, he had seen Brynn trailing after Richard at every turn.

For Brynn, Richard was everything she cared about.

For Richard, though, the dynamic was far different. He saw her as a shadow he couldn't quite shake off, something unnecessary lingering behind him.

Brynn had always been the one unable to step away. If Richard had held even a fraction of true affection for her, he never would have abandoned her during the wedding to rush to another woman.

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Richard signaled that Jerold could go.

Jerold offered no further comment and walked out of the office.

Richard's eyes drifted to his silent phone. On any ordinary day, Brynn would have sent him a text even if she didn't call.

Now the screen still showed their last conversation from the wedding.

She had sent him a bright little emoji and a message that read, "I'm the happiest person in the world. I will always love you."

He never responded to it.

As usual, Brynn had filled his inbox with dozens of messages, while his replies rarely went beyond short phrases. A brief "Hmm." A flat "Got it."

Yet this time, days slipped by with no new messages from her at all. That had never happened before.

The realization irritated him enough that he tossed the phone aside.

For once, he decided he wouldn't let her soften him so easily.

......

Back at the hotel, Brynn quietly began sorting through her belongings.

During her days in the hospital, she had already reached out to a real estate agent and listed her apartment for sale. She set the price far lower than its value because she needed it gone quickly.

Earlier that morning, she signed the transfer papers. The apartment no longer belonged to her.

Just then, her phone buzzed against her leg.

When she checked the screen, she saw the HR head's name flashing.

She pressed her lips together and spent a long moment deciding whether to answer. Eventually, she picked up.

"Hello, Brynn. When are you planning to return to work? Mr. Yates said if you don't come back soon…" The person on the other end hesitated before finishing. "You'll be fired..."