Bianca froze mid-sentence. The room went dead silent.

Caroline's eyes flew open, and she saw Bianca standing at the door.

"You two…" Bianca's voice trembled as the suitcase in her hand hit the floor with a thud.

She stared at how Bradley was holding Caroline in his arms. Her expression was filled with disbelief.

"Bianca, it's not what you think…" Caroline tried to pull away, but Bradley tightened his grip.

"It's exactly what you think," he said calmly but firmly while pulling Caroline into an embrace. "I'm taking care of my girlfriend. What's wrong with—"

"Bradley, shut up!" Caroline snapped.

Bianca took one shaky step after another, tears spilling down her cheeks. "So that's why you were so desperate to send me overseas, isn't it? You told me that Bradley wasn't right for me, said he was manipulative and that I should focus on school… but it was all for yourself!"

"Bianca, listen to me. It's not that simple…" Caroline tried to get up, but the room spun, and she nearly fell to the ground.

Bianca laughed bitterly. "Not that simple? Yeah, I bet it's so complicated that you had to sleep with your sister's boyfriend!"

Bradley finally spoke, his voice sharp. "Bianca! Watch your mouth."

His defense only pushed Bianca further over the edge. "So that's why you broke up with me, right? Because you fell for Carol?"

He didn't answer. His silence cut through the air like a blade, shattering the last trace of hope in Bianca's eyes.

Caroline shoved him away. "Bianca, please, believe me…"

"You're not my sister! You're a selfish, two-faced bitch! You knew how much I loved him, but you still went after him! When I begged you to help me win him back, were you secretly laughing at me? Does it feel good, sleeping with your younger sister's boyfriend?"

Before Caroline could react, Bianca hurled the suitcase at her.

Caroline didn't dodge in time. The sharp corner of the suitcase struck her forehead, splitting the skin open in an instant.

Blood trickled down her face, staining the pale pink bedsheet.

A cry of pain escaped her lips before she could stop it. The fever and the blow hit her all at once, and her body went limp as her consciousness slipped away.

Bradley's face hardened at the sight of the blood. "Enough, Bianca! You've crossed the line!"

Then, he scooped Caroline into his arms and stormed out.

"Brad! Why are you protecting her like that? What am I to you?" Bianca screamed, blocking his way. "What was our year together even worth?"

"I never said we were officially together," he said coldly.

Bianca's eyes widened, her voice breaking. "Why did you agree to be with me then?"

"Carol asked me to be cruel and make you give up completely. Otherwise, I never would have looked at you twice. Although to be fair, after spending time with you, I did feel something…"

The hatred and despair in her eyes wavered, giving way to a faint, desperate glimmer of hope.

But Bradley's next words crushed it completely. "Still, between you and Carol, I prefer her. If I ever get married, I'd rather choose someone like her."

Bianca trembled all over. "So it was Carol who seduced you, wasn't it? Did she make you treat me like this?"

"And what if she did? Now move."

He brushed past Bianca as he carried Caroline, whose forehead was covered in blood, to the hospital.

When Caroline woke up, she found her head bandaged. She instinctively looked around the hospital room, but it was empty.

The only sound was a phone vibrating on the nightstand.

She picked it up and realized that it was Bradley's.

Remembering the video everyone had mentioned, she attempted to unlock it several times, but her efforts were unsuccessful each time.

Then, a few new messages popped up on the screen.

"Caroline got sent to the hospital after Bianca hit her? Which hospital? I need to see this! Two sisters fighting over a guy? This is gold."

"Brad, you really played this game like a pro."

The chat was buzzing with gossip, but Caroline only felt cold all over.

Caroline and Bianca's mother, Olivia Hudson, had died young, and Edmund was always away working. Caroline had practically raised Bianca herself.

They had always been close. And now, for a man who had manipulated them both, Bianca had actually raised a hand against her.

Bradley knew exactly how to destroy people without lifting a finger.

Still, if this could make Bianca give up, it might have all been worth it.

Once she deleted that video, she would explain everything to Bianca.

Caroline's hands trembled as she put the phone back.

"You're still shivering. Hasn't your fever gone down yet?"

Bradley set the medicine on the bedside table and reached out to check her forehead.

Caroline turned her head away. His hand froze midair, and his eyes darkened.

"Don't you have anything to explain?" Her tone was cold.

He smirked. "Why? Are you jealous because of Bianca?"

Bradley added lightly, "I did date her. But it was the only way to make her give up.

"I turned her down plenty of times, but she wouldn't stop. Sometimes the only way to kill someone's fantasy is to let them see the truth for themselves. Once that illusion shatters, it's far more effective than a simple rejection, don't you think?"

He leaned closer until his eyes met Caroline's. "But don't worry. I never touched her. My heart is yours, and yours alone."

Caroline froze for a second. She was impressed by how convincing he could sound.

It seemed that he was so sure that Bianca wouldn't dare tell anyone about the abortion, and that was the only reason he could lie so easily.

She studied him quietly, as if she were seeing a stranger for the first time.

However, Bradley had misread her silence. His gaze dropped to her lips, and he leaned in to kiss her.

Caroline turned her head sharply. "You kept something this big from me. I haven't forgiven you."

He chuckled under his breath, brushing his face against her neck. "How do I earn your forgiveness, Carol?"

She lowered her eyes. "Does that mean you'll do anything I ask?"

"Anything," he said without hesitation.

She paused for a moment before she said, "I want your phone's passcode then."

Bradley blinked in surprise, then smiled. "You want to check my phone? Go ahead. I've got nothing to hide."

Then, he recited a string of numbers.

She couldn't help asking, "What do those numbers mean?"

He smiled faintly. "It's my father's death anniversary."

Caroline's heart gave a sudden jolt. "I'm sorry."

He replied casually, "It's fine. I just didn't want to forget. But your birthday is written right here."

He tapped a finger to his chest.

Caroline couldn't even smile. He wasn't keeping that date out of sentiment but as a reminder. She couldn't believe that he had gone to such lengths for revenge against the Sawyer family… Could it be that his father's death wasn't an accident?

A chill crept up her spine.

Caroline pretended to be tired and closed her eyes. When Bradley stepped out to take a call, she immediately grabbed her phone and texted her best friend.

"Help me find a private investigator. I need to know how Bradley's father really died."

The reply came quickly. "Your stepbrother? You sure care about him. Alright. I'll ask around and update you."

The smell of disinfectant made her head spin. She slipped her phone away and stepped into the hallway for some air.

When she turned back, she froze. At the end of the corridor, Bradley was holding a slim young woman in his arms, gently comforting her.

The woman's face was streaked with tears, and he gently wiped them away with his thumb.

Caroline had seen the obedient act he put on for her, and the cold, sharp edge he showed the world. But she had never seen him look at anyone with such gentleness and quiet indulgence.

She realized that this was what he looked like when the mask came off.

She swallowed the sting rising in her chest and quietly returned to her ward.

The moment she lay down, her phone rang.

It was Edmund. His voice was warm with excitement as he said, "Carol, I've finalized the engagement with the Hutchinson family. We'll announce it next week during my and Chloe's wedding anniversary dinner. There'll be two celebrations in one night! If you have any requests, tell me."

"I don't have any," Caroline said softly as she lowered her gaze. "My only request is to keep it private, at least until the announcement is made."

Before she could say more, the door swung open.

Caroline quickly hung up and looked up to see Bradley standing there.

"Keep it private? What are you keeping private?"

He stepped forward, his presence overwhelming. Caroline instinctively leaned back, but he caught her and pulled her into his arms.

"So, you're keeping secrets from me now?"

Caroline studied Bradley and suddenly realized that no matter how much he pretended, that raw, predatory edge was a part of him. It was etched into his bones.

She lowered her gaze and fumbled for an excuse. "Isn't your birthday coming up? I just wanted to plan a little surprise."

"Carol, you've always known what I want, haven't you?" He tightened his arms around her waist.

"When are you going to make us official and give me a title?"

Every year on his birthday, he would ask the same thing. She had thought that it was because he adored her. Now she suspected that he just wanted to humiliate Edmund by parading her in front of him.

Caroline pushed a hand lightly against his shoulder. "Soon."

She thought, "Soon we won't be anything at all."

On his birthday, Bradley's friends threw him a party at a private club.

As soon as Bradley and Caroline stepped into the club, someone came up and called him away. He turned back and said, "Go ahead to the private room and relax for a bit. I'll just pick someone up and be right back."

She nodded and followed the server down the hall. When she opened the door, the room was dim, and cigarette haze curled in the air. A dozen men with dyed hair sat around a table, gambling.

She frowned and instinctively stepped back.

Just then, a tattooed hand clamped her wrist. The man checked her out and whistled. "Holy crap, she's fresh like the rumors say she is. It's our lucky night, guys!"

"Let go! My boyfriend is right outside! Don't touch me!" Caroline fought to pull free, but someone shoved her onto the couch, and her head slammed into the armrest, causing her to be dizzy.

She felt like a piece of meat thrown to a pack of wolves. Hands groped at her body, making her stomach twist in disgust.

She struggled wildly and shouted Bradley's name, but her cry was silenced by a brutal slap across the face.

Her cheek instantly swelled, and blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

"Shut up! You were delivered here by Bradley himself. Last time, he cracked Gregory's head open over a woman. We abducted the woman, and he promised us this in return."

At that, the man pinched her waist and laughed lecherously. "For this price, Bradley really went for it, huh?"

"Get off me! Don't touch me!" Caroline slapped his hand away, and the tears she kept fighting back finally streamed down her face.

"You bitch! Why are you acting all high and mighty?" Lucian Vasquez cursed and then punched her in the gut. The pain folded her over, and she gasped for air.

"Alright. Don't wreck her." Gregory Middleton, the man who seemed to be in charge, spoke up. He poured three full shots of liquor and shoved them toward her. "You ruined our mood. Drink these, apologize, and we'll let you go. Deal?"

Caroline stared at the cups. She knew that they were laced with drugs. There was no way she could walk out of that room whole.

What crushed her even more than the danger she was in was realizing that Bradley could actually do this to her.

They had been together for four years. After all that time, anyone would have developed feelings, even if it was just out of habit.

However, it seemed that he didn't have a heart at all.

Her chest tightened. She clenched her fists until they ached, wiped her face, and stood. "Fine. I'll drink. But you have to keep your word."

The men parted to make a path for her.

Caroline stepped forward, and as she passed the doorway, she suddenly yanked it open and tried to run. "Help—"

Her cry was cut short with a muffled sound. Someone had grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back.

"Don't want to play nice? Fine. Have it the hard way!" Lucian sneered, forcing a glass of liquor against her lips and making her choke it down.

The burning liquid made her cough. Tears and liquor smeared her face and soaked her blouse.

In the chaos, someone tore at her clothes. The room erupted with whistles and jeers.

Humiliation flooded through her, and silent tears slid down her cheeks.

Just as despair threatened to drown her, the door was kicked open. Bradley charged in like an avenging demon. He grabbed a bottle and smashed it against the small man pinning Caroline down. The man screamed and fell.

The others grabbed weapons. Bradley vaulted over the main table and pressed a knife to Gregory's throat. "Let her go, or we all die. Gregory, you've seen a lot of women. You're not one to die for pleasure, are you?"