I had no idea how many days had passed. All I remember was that the guards had brought food twice, and the sun outside that tiny window had set twice.

Today, another lunchbox was tossed inside.

I did not turn around. The last two times, it was nothing but dry, choking bread, and even the water they gave me was cloudy.

If I kept eating that, I probably would not survive a third day.

“Hurry up and take it!” the guard snapped at me impatiently. “Special treat for you today.”

That made me turn around. There really was something extra in the box, a few pieces of fish.

My body moved before I could think. I crouched down and started devouring it like I had not eaten in days. The guard let out a mocking laugh. “Look at you. You were once Mrs. Wade, but now, you’re worse off than a guard like me.”

I ignored him and focused on eating.

I had to survive. I had to stay alive until Zerrick came for me. Nothing else mattered.

Then, at the very bottom of the lunchbox, I noticed a small folded note.

[Evelyn, Gideon and I are getting married.]

It did not take a genius to figure out who had sent the meal.

I stared at the words for a long time before tossing the paper aside and continuing to eat.

There was no need for Bella to go through all this trouble to get under my skin. The moment I was left to die in the snow in my previous life, I stopped expecting anything from Gideon.

Their marriage, whenever it happened, had nothing to do with me anymore.

Word of my reaction quickly reached Bella, and I heard she flew into a rage, smashing everything in the house that she could get her hands on.

…

The next day, the cell door swung open. Bella stood there, looking proud and radiant.

The little wound on her stomach had already healed, and her complexion was glowing. Clearly, she had been well taken care of.

She grabbed my arm and yanked me out.

“You’re going to witness my wedding with Gideon. You’ll see the kind of love he shows me—the love you've never had. We’ve invited all the elites from every circle. He’ll stand before the world and announce that I’m the one he loves.

“And you, his so-called wife, will only get to watch from afar.”

I listened quietly without saying a word.

I secretly opened Zerrick’s chat window and shared my location. Leaving the cell was not a bad thing. It meant I would have a better chance of escaping.

I doubted Gideon knew Bella had secretly taken me out.

I once overheard a guard on the phone. The voice on the other end was cold and familiar. “She’s still refusing to eat?”

The guard had grunted, and Gideon had just heaved a sigh. “Stubborn as always. Just keep sending her the things she likes. Oh, and has the doctor been treating her wounds quietly?”

Gideon said a lot. He even sounded concerned.

However, I knew better. He was just afraid I would die too quickly.

He did not care beyond that. His mind was already consumed by his upcoming wedding.

The entire family was working around the clock to prepare. Even those out on missions returned to help.

The family had never been this lively before. Everyone was calling Bella 'Mrs. Wade'.

It was a title I had once dreamed of in my past life.

Only Randel occasionally used it out of habit.

The preparations went fast. Bella tried on a dozen wedding dresses in a single day. Each one was worth a fortune.

Watching her glowing with excitement only made me feel amused.

When she noticed I was not reacting, her smile faded. Then, it was as though something came to her mind. She leaned closer and whispered with a smirk, “Still pretending to be calm? Let me tell you another secret. The baby I lost that day wasn’t even Gideon’s.

“His family is strict about these things. If they were to find out later on, it'd be even worse. Better to get rid of it early, right?

“So really, I should thank you, my dear sister.”

My pupils contracted.

Everything suddenly made sense.

My hand went instinctively to my stomach. Would Gideon ever learn the truth someday?

I did not know if Gideon would ever learn the truth, or if he would ever realize that he had caused the death of his only child with his own hands.

“Don’t mention it. I wish you happiness," I smiled and replied to her.

She cursed at me, claiming that I was insane. Then, she lost interest and walked off.

I did not lose my mind. I just no longer cared.

Zerrick’s signal was getting closer and closer on the tracking map. I would be leaving this place soon.

Neither Bella nor the parents who gave me life would ever see me again.

…

Soon, the day of the wedding arrived, and I found myself outside the venue, watching the scene unfold.

I saw Gideon leaning against a tree, smoking one cigarette after another, looking lost in thought. I guessed he was still grieving for the child. After all, he would never be able to have another.

If he knew that I had miscarried too, would he feel even a little sorrow for me? I doubted it. He would probably just blame me for not telling him, for not protecting the baby.

For a fleeting moment, I almost felt relieved that the child was gone.

With a controlling and unloving father like him, that child would never have known happiness.

I tore my gaze away and walked inside. Halfway through the ceremony, a deep rumbling sound echoed through the air.

“A helicopter!”

The guests gasped in surprise. Bella turned to Gideon with surprised and shining eyes. “Gideon, is this your surprise for me?”

Gideon looked up at the helicopter, and his eyes darkened. Before he could speak, a rain of money fluttered down from above.

The crowd erupted in astonishment, and Randel rushed over. “Don’t worry, Boss. It’s a gift from the Shane family.”

“The Shane family?” Gideon frowned. “Zerrick Shane?”

Randel nodded.

Gideon clenched his fists as a trace of murderous intent flashed across his eyes. After all, this was his territory. Zerrick had somehow slipped past every layer of defense. His power was not to be taken lightly.

To him, the raining cash was not a gesture of goodwill but a provocation!

“Don’t frown, honey. It’s our wedding day," Bella said with a sweet tone.

Gideon’s expression eased slightly. He turned to Randel and instructed, “Tighten the security. Nothing else gets in.”

As expected of Gideon, he was meticulous in thought and ruthless in execution. Unfortunately for him, he missed one thing—nothing else could get in, but this helicopter could get out.

The helicopter landed on a mountain ridge, and Zerrick slowly stepped out of a cabin. Seeing my hands bound in bandages and my frail, weakened body, his eyes darkened with a sudden chill.

The next second, he lifted me into his arms and carried me back into the helicopter.

I clutched his collar and whispered, “I’ll repay you for this one day.”

He looked straight ahead and answered in a calm and steady voice, “I’ll be waiting.”

As the helicopter blades roared to life, I finally let myself breathe. Looking down, I saw my father walking Bella down the aisle.

Gideon stood at the altar, waiting for his bride.

My father placed her hand in his, and Bella said in a soft voice, “I do.”

The priest turned to Gideon. “And do you, Mr. Wade, take Bella to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

The wind grew louder. I could not hear their voices anymore.

I took a deep breath and looked toward the rising sun. The warmth of its light wrapped around me. I was finally heading toward freedom.

Everything beneath me was nothing but the past now.