He grows up with Sabrina Reed, who used to be his brother's fiancée. He's always respected her as his future sister-in-law.

But after his brother's untimely death, she slowly becomes the woman who holds his heart. He thinks she'll eventually marry him… until she shows up with her hand in another man's.

She says, "I'm getting married. From today onward, you can only think of me as your sister!"

"Mr. Scott, I've made up my mind. I'm going to Euressa to pursue my career."

On the other end of the phone, Jefferson Scott was all smiles. "You should've done this sooner. With your talent, if you'd come earlier, you'd definitely be an internationally renowned photographer by now."

Hendrix Gorman smiled politely. "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Scott."

"When are you planning to come?"

Hendrix thought for a moment before responding, "Probably in about two weeks. I still have some things to wrap up here."

"Alright. You know, Nicholas passed away early. Sabrina has been looking after you for all these years. She's been incredible to you. Now that you're planning to settle abroad, you should have a proper talk with her."

After hanging up, Hendrix glanced over at the woman who was trying on her wedding dress in the distance and the man standing beside her with a smile. He couldn't help but give a bitter smile.

Sabrina Reed had indeed taken great care of him. She had been attentive to every little detail and had always been there for him.

In fact, Sabrina was an orphan. But she and Hendrix's older brother, Nicholas Gorman, had been betrothed to each other since childhood by their families. So when her family had fallen on hard times, the Gorman family had taken her in.

Unfortunately, Nicholas had passed away at a young age, and their engagement had never been fulfilled.

All these years, it had been just Hendrix and Sabrina growing up together.

Even the elders had joked, "Why are you two always sticking together? People might start thinking something's going on."

Sabrina had asked, "What would they think?"

"They'd think you two are a couple!"

Sabrina had looked at Hendrix with that gentle smile on her lips just like now and replied, "Let them think whatever they want."

Back then, Hendrix had felt a mix of confusion and surprise. But when he had looked into Sabrina's warm and loving eyes, his face had turned slightly red.

People lived in moments. And that moment had become the happiest of his life.

He had been waiting for Sabrina to confess to him so he could marry her in the grandest ceremony without hesitation.

But as he waited, what he got was her eyes looking toward another man.

Rowan Shepard was her secretary.

At the time, Sabrina had laid several resumes in front of Hendrix and said, "Hendrix, help me pick one."

Hendrix had been hesitant. "I'm not good at this. You should let HR handle this."

But Sabrina had insisted, "My secretary will probably be seeing you often in the future. Pick someone you like, so you'll feel more comfortable when you interact."

Rowan had been the one Hendrix had picked out to be Sabrina's secretary.

But what he hadn't expected was that he had actually chosen a romantic rival instead of a secretary.

"Hendrix!" Rowan excitedly called out to him from a distance. "Come help me pick. What do you think about this suit to match Bri's wedding dress? She can't decide. She says it's all fine, no matter what I try on."

Hendrix sighed. "It's your suit. If you think it looks good, then that's what matters."

Rowan, ever so patient, said, "Hendrix, you know my background isn't great. I'm afraid my taste isn't high enough to match Bri's. You, though, you're a photographer. Your taste must be top-notch!"

"I'm only good with photography, not picking out suits," Hendrix replied.

Rowan's tone dropped slightly, and there was a hint of hurt in his voice. "Hendrix, are you still upset with me?"

Hendrix opened his mouth to explain but wasn't sure how.

He wasn't upset with Rowan. He just couldn't understand how Sabrina, who had once been so close to him, could suddenly fall for someone else.

"Bri, why don't you go talk to Hendrix? I think he's still upset about what happened last time."

Sabrina replied, "He wouldn't be."

"It was my mistake. I accused him wrongly. Maybe we should hold off on the wedding until Hendrix is okay with it."

Sabrina frowned. "How can we delay the wedding just because he's upset?"

"But he's your family and someone you care about. I want his blessing," Rowan said.

Sabrina hesitated before slowly walking toward Hendrix. Her voice was slightly cold as she asked, "Are you still mad about last time?"

Hendrix turned his head away. "I'm not."

"You suddenly hugged me that time. It's normal for Rowan to misunderstand. How can you suddenly hug me like that? Hendrix, you're an adult now. You should be more mindful of your actions."

Hendrix looked at the slight reproach on her face, and his eyes instantly welled up.

Back when Sabrina had still loved him, it had always been her clinging to him.

Whenever others had been around, he had tried to keep a little distance from her, but she had pulled him right back to her side with a hint of dissatisfaction.

When he had traveled to the countryside for inspiration, she had been right there with him. When he had gone to Afrona to film the animal migration, she had followed him there too.

Sabrina had once said that no matter where they were, she would always stand by him. Anytime Hendrix turned around, she would always be there.

It had been the day he had won an award for his photography in an international competition. He had instinctively hugged Sabrina, wanting to share the joy with her.

But Rowan had barged in without knocking and had seen the whole thing.

From that day on, Sabrina had become distant and cold, avoiding Hendrix at every turn.

Hendrix took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. "Sorry, I was too excited at that time and caused Mr. Shepard to misunderstand. I'll be more careful from now on. It won't happen again."

Sabrina nodded slightly. "I'm glad you understand."

He gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment and said, "You two continue. I'm not feeling well. I'll go first."

As he turned to walk out of the bridal shop, his heart ached.

Hendrix pulled out his phone and booked a flight.

Two weeks from now, he would board that plane and leave this place and Sabrina for good.

Hendrix didn't get home until the early hours of the morning.

Making the decision to leave had been instantaneous, but the bond he'd had with Sabrina for over 20 years wasn't something that could just vanish. He wasn't that strong to simply let go.

To avoid any regrets, he figured it was best to stay away from Sabrina for the next couple of weeks.

When he got back to Gorman Manor, the house was pitch dark.

Hendrix didn't bother turning on the lights. He dragged his tired body straight toward his bedroom.

But then, a voice called out to him from the living room, "Hendrix."

He turned around and saw someone sitting on the couch.

"Yes, Mr. Shepard?"

Rowan was wearing a black silk robe. It was a robe Hendrix knew too well.

Sabrina had one just like it, but in red. It was obviously a matching set.

Rowan gave a slight smile. "Bri got this robe for me. Do you think it looks good?"

As he sat up straight, the red marks on his body gradually became visible. Against the black silk, they seemed even more suggestive.

He gently touched the mark on his neck and winced in mock pain before complaining, "Bri's taste in dresses is questionable, but her taste in sleepwear? Spot on. She says… my abs are the most attractive she's ever seen."

Hendrix stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at Rowan with a cold gaze. He smirked slightly. "Rowan, you should tone it down."

"Tone it down? What do you mean?"

"The sleaze."

Rowan chuckled softly. "But Bri loves it. The second she gets home, she insists I take a shower and then—"

"Enough. I don't want to hear it."

"Whether you want to hear it or not, it's the truth. She's crazy about my body. Your 20 years of history don't even matter. People just choose who they're most compatible with in bed."

Hendrix didn't feel like wasting any more time on Rowan. He turned to walk away. "Go ahead and perform your little show. I don't have the time to watch."

But Rowan didn't let up. He quickly caught up to Hendrix. "You can't see the marks Bri left on me from way over there, can you? Don't go, Hendrix. Come closer and take a good look."

As he spoke, he had already caught up and grabbed Hendrix's arm.

A wave of disgust rose in Hendrix's stomach. He instinctively pulled away. "Don't touch me!"

From down the hall, Sabrina emerged from the bedroom and asked, "What are you two talking about at this time?"

Just as Hendrix was about to speak, Rowan flashed him a sly grin.

Then, in an instant, Rowan's expression shifted to one of shock. He tumbled down the stairs with a shriek.

"Rowan!"

Sabrina immediately set down the glass of milk she was holding and rushed to him. She pulled him into her arms. "Are you okay?"

Rowan lay in her embrace and said, "I'm fine. Don't blame Hendrix. It wasn't his fault."

Sabrina lifted her gaze. When she looked at Hendrix, there was clear disappointment in her eyes.

"Hendrix, no matter how you feel about Rowan, you can't push him down the stairs! Do you realize how dangerous that could've been?"

Her voice softened as she turned back to Rowan. She gently helped him to his feet. "Let's go back to the room. I'll check to make sure you're not hurt."

Rowan said, "We should probably keep a little distance in front of Hendrix from now on. It's natural for him to feel possessive. After all, he used to be the one by your side, and now there's me. It's tough for him to accept. We should give him time to adjust."

Sabrina coldly replied, "He'll have to get used to it eventually."

She helped Rowan back to their bedroom. Before they went in, Rowan turned around and flashed a gesture of victory at Hendrix.

Hendrix suddenly felt as if the world he knew was slipping away from him. Rowan's presence had shattered his world entirely.

He couldn't understand why Sabrina had fallen for someone like Rowan.

Could it really be, as Rowan claimed, that people always went for the thrill when it came to love and desire?

Hendrix didn't get it. But at that moment, he didn't care to understand.

The next morning, Hendrix went to the magazine office. He had been a staff photographer there for three years, and his relationships with his colleagues were excellent.

When the editor-in-chief, Noah Richardson, received his resignation letter, he was surprised. "Is it because of the pay? You could've just mentioned it. I can talk to the boss about it."

Smiling, Hendrix shook his head. "Thanks, Mr. Richardson, but it's not about the pay."

"Then what's the reason?"

"I have other plans for my life."

Noah's face lit up in understanding. "Are you planning to marry Sabrina? I've seen how much she's cared for you all these years. Getting married is a good thing. I won't stop you, then."

After hearing the first half of Noah's words, Hendrix wanted to explain that Sabrina was getting married, but the groom wasn't him.

However, after Noah finished speaking, Hendrix lost the desire to explain.

With the complicated mess between him, Sabrina, and Rowan, there was no way to explain it all in a few words. Right now, he just wanted to wrap up his resignation and leave this painful place in two weeks.

"Oh, by the way, Hendrix, when's the wedding? Be sure to send me an invite so I can celebrate with you both," Noah said.

Hendrix gave a stiff smile.

Just then, Nathan Cooper, the receptionist, came rushing over. After knocking on the door, he poked his head in excitedly.

"Hendrix, Sabrina's here to pick you up again. And she came with a surprise today!"

As Hendrix exited the office, he saw Sabrina leaning against her black Cullinan, lost in thought.

He walked closer and finally saw what Nathan had meant by "surprise". The car was filled with fresh, red roses.

The front passenger seat was the only place not covered in roses. Both the back seat and the trunk were packed to the brim with them.

Behind him, Hendrix could hear the laughter of a few female colleagues, whom he usually got along with. Hiding behind the company sign at the entrance, they were secretly peeking over and giggling.

Sabrina had always brought him small surprises when she picked him up—figurines, game merch, or food he liked.

The colleagues had seen it all before, but they still always teased him about it. "Every time Sabrina comes, the whole office gets a treat. We're all just lucky to be around Hendrix."

Hendrix usually just laughed it off and divided up the treats Sabrina brought for everyone.

Now, it seemed like everyone was just waiting to get their share of roses from her car.

He called out, "Bri."

Sabrina lifted her head, but her face darkened. Her tone remained icy. "Don't address me so affectionately. Call me Sabrina from now on."

Hendrix froze for a moment.

He slowly nodded. "Got it, Sabrina."

"I was too harsh last night. Don't take it to heart," Sabrina said.

"I won't."

"But you're not a child anymore. Don't do something as dangerous as pushing someone down the stairs next time."

Hendrix looked up in disbelief and laughed in frustration. "So, you came all the way here to reprimand me?"

Sabrina's face darkened further. "You still don't think you were wrong?"

"Sabrina, you've known me for over 20 years. Even if I wanted to hurt him, I wouldn't be stupid enough to do it in my own house!" Hendrix yelled but immediately regretted it.

It didn't matter. He was leaving anyway. There was no point in explaining.

"Forget it. Go. Don't disturb me at work."

As Hendrix made his way back to the office, his colleagues, who had been joking around moments ago, suddenly sensed the tension. Their expressions changed to concern.

"Hendrix, did you and Sabrina have a fight?"

"Don't be mad. She brought so many roses to make up for it. Give her a chance."

"Yeah, Hendrix. You should be grateful. You're really lucky to find someone like her."

Hendrix kept a blank expression and softly said, "Stop standing here. Get back to work."

His reputation as an accomplished photographer gave him authority in the office. The younger staff followed his lead and walked back to their desks with their heads down.

Nathan, who was closest to him, pulled him aside. "Hendrix, can I ask Sabrina for a bouquet of roses? It's my girlfriend's birthday today, and I want to give them to her."

Hendrix felt a headache coming on. "I'll buy you some later."

Once back at his desk, Hendrix tried to focus on his work, but his mind was still a mess. After he had barely managed to edit a few photos from an earlier shoot, his phone buzzed.

Rowan had sent several pictures of different robes. "Which one of these do you like?" He ended the text with a blushing emoji.

But those weren't just ordinary robes. They were sheer, almost completely see-through.

Before long, those messages were deleted.

"Sorry, Hendrix. I sent that to the wrong person," Rowan wrote.

Hendrix turned off his phone and shoved it into his drawer.

They both knew Rowan hadn't made a mistake. He had meant to send it to him.

It wasn't until after work that Hendrix took his phone out again and turned it on.

There were no missed calls or messages—absolutely nothing.

In the past, if he couldn't be reached for even half an hour, Sabrina would bombard him with calls and messages or even show up at the office.

But now there was nothing.

However, he had received an Instagram notification.

He opened it and immediately saw a familiar scene—a black Cullinan filled with roses.

Rowan was holding a bouquet in one hand while his other arm was around Sabrina's waist. The two were very close.

The caption read, "Thank you, darling. This is the best birthday gift I've ever received."

Oh. So today was Rowan's birthday. All the flowers in Sabrina's car were for him.

After work, Hendrix didn't feel like going home.

But then his mother, Carley Schroeder, called. She sounded worried. "Hendrix, why have you been staying so late at work lately? Bri asked me if she should pick you up just now."

Hendrix didn't want to ride with her anymore. Neither the front seat nor the roses belonged to him.

"I'll take a cab home, Mom."

"Alright."

Hendrix ordered a cab. When he got home, he found both Sabrina and Rowan already there.

Rowan, carrying a large suitcase, was walking out of Hendrix's bedroom. "Welcome back, Hendrix."

Hendrix's temper flared instantly. "Who let you into my room?"