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?"

Someone shouted for Bradley to drop the knife.

The tension in the room was razor-sharp.

Then, from downstairs, came the wail of police sirens.

Gregory raised a hand and laughed. "Hey, it's a lawful country. There's no need for knives and blood. We were just joking around. Come on, guys. How could you rough up such a pretty woman? Let her go already."

The crowd parted on instinct.

The moment Caroline fell into Bradley's arms, her body gave out. Her vision blurred, and everything went black.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a hospital bed.

The hospital room was empty and still. It was so quiet that she could hear the muffled voices coming from the hallway outside.

"Brad, didn't we agree that Caroline was supposed to take Crystal's place as payback? She's Edmund's precious daughter. If he finds out that a group of men assaulted his favorite daughter, he'll go insane.

"He'll come after whoever's behind it, and the two families will tear each other apart. We'd be killing two birds with one stone.

"But why did you change your mind? Calling the cops was already doing her a favor. But you? You stormed in and trashed Gregory's place. If the police hadn't shown up, you'd be dead right now.

"Do you think Gregory's just going to let that slide? You risked everything for your enemy's daughter. Have you lost your mind?"

Bradley flicked ash from his cigarette without saying a single word.

The men exchanged uneasy looks until one finally spoke. "Brad, don't tell me that you've fallen for Caroline. Her dad killed your father in that car crash, remember? You spent years plotting your revenge, and now you're in love with his daughter?"

Caroline clapped a hand over her mouth to stop the sound that almost escaped.

"No! It can't be true. Dad couldn't have killed anyone!" she thought.

Although Edmund was a businessman, he was a man of principle—honorable, fair, and never one to abuse his power. He had treated Bradley like a son all these years, never favoring his own children over him.

She didn't think that a man like that could be a murderer.

The voices outside faded into a dull hum, drowned out by the ringing in her ears. Tears slipped silently down her cheeks.

Just then, footsteps approached. Caroline quickly wiped her face and shut her eyes.

A second later, the door opened. She could feel Bradley's gaze burning into her from beside the bed.

After a long pause, he leaned down and brushed a fingertip across the corner of her eye.

Caroline rolled onto her side, hiding her face in the pillow to soak up the tears she couldn't hold back.

She wouldn't believe anyone again until she uncovered the truth herself.

Her injuries weren't serious. Early the next morning, Bradley discharged her and drove her home.

The moment the door opened, Caroline froze. Sitting on the couch was the woman she had seen in his arms at the hospital.

Chloe called out warmly as she waved Caroline over. "You're back, Carol! This is Crystal Hall, my best friend's daughter. Her mom's in the hospital, and since we live close by, I told her to stay with us for a while."

Crystal Hall politely rose to her feet. "Hello, Caroline. I'm sorry for intruding."

Caroline's gaze lingered on Crystal's face for a second before she nodded lightly.

When breakfast was ready, everyone took their seats as usual. Chloe and Crystal chatted animatedly about the past, laughing together.

Caught up in the conversation, Chloe suddenly laughed as if she had remembered something. "Oh, that reminds me! Crystal and Brad were actually promised to each other when they were children..."