In the second year after I was discharged from the psychiatric hospital, I attended a charity gala where I unexpectedly encountered Felix Duncan, my childhood friend.

Having just assumed control of the Duncan Group, Felix made a significant gesture by donating ten million dollars. Then, in front of all the media, he dropped to one knee and proposed to me.

"On graduation day, you wore a veil and said you'd be my bride. I'm here to fulfill that promise, Nora. Will you marry me?"

Cameras flashed wildly as the crowd awaited my response, naturally expecting me to accept. After all, I had pursued Felix for a decade.

But what no one knew was this:

On my birthday five years ago, his assistant, Kyla Gardner, in a fit of anger, recklessly drove and hit a janitor, killing them instantly. Felix knew the truth but manipulated the situation, framing me as the culprit. He even bribed my defense attorney to present a forged psychological evaluation, claiming I was insane.

Now, Felix looked at me with deep emotion in his eyes, his voice thick with sentiment.

"When I found out there was an earthquake near the psychiatric hospital where you were, I watched the news every day, hoping to see you."

His friends chimed in, trying to sway me. "Look how devoted Felix is. He's waited for you all these years. Even though someone died, and you have a mental health record, he still doesn’t mind."

"What do you mean by this? Can you give us a clear answer?"

Christopher Lynch, noticing my calm demeanor, grew anxious and angry.

"Felix has been patient for years. Plenty of women have tried to win his affection, and his family even introduced potential matches, but he rejected them all."

"He’s done so much for you. If you continue to be indifferent, it would be quite ungrateful."

His booming voice drew the attention of many.

In the past, my case was a massive scandal because I fervently defended myself against the driving accusations, and the media latched onto it, spreading the story online like wildfire.

Especially after it emerged that I was institutionalized and supposedly had a vendetta against society. Public disdain and ridicule swelled, painting me as a social outcast.

In this context, Christopher brought up past events again, dragging me back to those dark times.

I wasn't sure if he was experiencing a lapse of judgment or if someone had coerced him into doing this to humiliate me.

However, none of it mattered to me now.

"Are you finished? Can I leave now?"

"What do you mean? Aren't you moved by Felix's waiting and devotion?"

Christopher frowned, bewilderment and doubt clouding his eyes as he looked at me.

Everyone knew how deeply I had once cared for Felix.

Felix and I grew up together, more like siblings than friends. From the tender age of fifteen, my heart secretly ached for him.

This unspoken affection lasted through college, and finally, in my freshman year, I boldly pursued Felix.

I confessed my feelings at graduation, desperately trying to be near him.

I adored Felix.

If he hadn't nobly accused me of causing a death and had me imprisoned for three years, I might have believed his words.

In truth, Felix's change in attitude toward me began with Kyla's arrival.

He said Kyla was a student his father sponsored. He sympathized with her background after learning about her situation and wanted to help her out.

His feelings for Kyla were different from those he had for me; his heart belonged entirely to me.

Relying on our years-long bond, I agreed to let Kyla work as his secretary.

But as it turns out, blind trust often comes at a high cost.

After that, he inexplicably became busier, starting with a few nights away each week, then once a week, until he was almost never around.

Each time, he claimed work as his excuse.

He kept postponing a trip we had planned, and eventually, he canceled it altogether.

At the time, thinking he truly was busy, I said nothing more, being sensible.

Until I caught the scent of women's perfume on his clothes—then everything began to make sense.

I confronted him about the perfume.

He stayed calm, showing no signs of panic, insisting it was from a casual encounter with a female colleague at the office.

I believed him again.

But on my birthday, I found him at a romantic restaurant dining with Kyla, despite him telling me he was away on business.

The anger I had suppressed for so long finally erupted.

Seeing me standing there with mascara running down my cheeks, Felix showed no concern. Instead, he looked at me with disdain.

"Nora Ryan? Were you following me? Do I really deserve such distrust?"

"The trip was canceled last minute, and Kyla hadn't eaten. I was just taking her to dinner. If you're going to be jealous over something so trivial, I have nothing more to say!"

I stared at him, as if my heart was being torn apart.

At that moment, doubt about the man before me crept in.

I had a million things to say, yet when it came time, I couldn't utter a word.

Seeing my silence, his brow furrowed tighter.

"My mood is completely ruined! Just go home already!"

After that incident, a prolonged silence enveloped us like a dense fog. I didn't reach out to Felix, nor did he attempt to contact me. Instead, Kyla and Felix seemed to flourish in the social scene, attending every major event. Eventually, it was Felix's mother, Paulina, who orchestrated an unexpected encounter between us under the pretense of her birthday celebration.

In front of our parents, Felix reverted to his attentive old self, as if nothing unpleasant had transpired between us. After the gathering, he walked me to the door and handed me the limited-edition necklace I'd longed for. "Nora, I'm genuinely afraid of losing you. Please believe me, I only had dinner with Kyla; I didn't do anything to betray you." His eyes were filled with sincerity, and a slight blush colored his cheeks as he spoke.

"As for raising my voice, I was upset because a client took advantage of me. I was angry and frustrated, and unfortunately, I took it out on you." He paused, a hint of sadness crossing his face. "You know how much my dad favors my brother, so I... I'm sorry."

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and looked up at him, ready to speak. Suddenly, a startled "Oh!" rang out from a girl nearby. I glanced over to see Kyla sitting on the ground under a streetlamp, as if she'd just fallen.

Felix’s demeanor changed instantly. He let go of my hand and rushed to her, a mix of concern and worry etched on his face. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Kyla didn’t immediately reply but instead looked at me with tearful eyes. "I'm sorry, Nora. I didn't realize my presence would affect your relationship with Felix." Her voice quivered with supposed strength. "I admire him, yes, maybe even like him, but that's my secret. It has nothing to do with Felix."

“If it bothers you so much, I can resign tomorrow, leave Felix's side, and never trouble you again,” she added, biting her lip. Felix, the wealthy heir, knelt by her side, massaging her foot with genuine concern.

At that moment, I felt like a villain straight out of a melodrama—cruel and absurd. The cold night breeze cut through me, chilling my heart. I said nothing, unsure of what words to even utter. I wanted to escape, to leave everything behind.

But I'd only taken a few steps when Felix grabbed my wrist. He begged me to wait a minute, promising to take me home right after. To prevent any disagreement, he ushered me into the car and locked the door.

Minutes later, he returned and drove me to our favorite café. He ordered my favorite coffee and placed it in my hands. "Nora, there's really nothing between Kyla and me. Don't overthink it. Kyla has had a tough life, and without the Duncan Corporation, she truly has nowhere to go."

He looked remorseful, "I only pity her. The one I love has always been you, and only you."

Seeing my continued skepticism, he ignored the stares of others and knelt in front of me, raising his hand as if taking an oath. "I swear, Nora Ryan, if I deceive you, may I face the worst consequences."

Despite the lingering doubts in my heart, his earnest gaze tempted me to give him another chance. But life has a way of punishing those who dare to soften their hearts.

One day, a notification from an unknown contact appeared on my phone. Accepting it, I was bombarded with a slew of intimate photos and a video of Kyla and Felix. In the footage, Felix rested his head in Kyla’s lap, as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. "I really don't want to see her again. Oh, how wonderful it would be to stay with you every day," he slurred, clearly drunk, his cheeks flushed.

They say truth comes out when you're drunk, and this was undoubtedly his unfiltered sentiment. As if to make sure I understood, Kyla sent another text. "Nora Ryan, you've seen the video, right? Felix is tired of you. No matter what you do, one day he will leave you for me."

Confronted with those icy words, I found myself at a loss for a retort. After all, at this rate, her victory over Felix seemed inevitable.

After that, Felix and I had a heated argument.

For the first time, I confronted him, "Are you hiding something from me?!" As soon as I finished, Felix's expression changed.

His brow furrowed, anger flickering in his eyes as his voice shot up a few levels.

"Can you stop being so paranoid? You're driving me insane!"

I was livid. In a fit of rage, I let everything spill out—photos, videos, Kyla's words.

I expected Felix to panic, to offer an explanation.

Unexpectedly, a flicker of shock crossed his face, soon replaced by indifference.

"So what?! If you weren't so suspicious all the time, would I dread coming home?"

"If I'd known being with you would be this draining, I would've thought twice before jumping in!"

"Wouldn't have ended up being pushed to this point?"

An icy chill settled in my heart, "So… do you regret it?"

Perhaps realizing how hurtful his words were, Felix's tone softened a bit.

"I don't mean it that way. I just feel misunderstood…”

"I know you might have a hard time with people from different backgrounds, but there's no need to target them intentionally."

"For a while, the office will be hectic, so I'm moving in there. We both need some space."

With that, he left without a backward glance.

I watched him go, feeling an icy shiver spreading through my chest.

The day after Felix left, I packed my bags and moved out too.

For a long time, I heard nothing from Felix.

Long enough that I almost forgot I even had a boyfriend.

I planned to end things completely with Felix until he showed up at my studio door.

"Why didn't you tell me you moved out? I went to the house looking for you!"

"Today is your birthday, and I’ve prepared a surprise for you. Come with me."

I immediately refused, but he didn't give up, pulling me into the car.

Only once inside did I notice Kyla in the driver's seat.

I struggled to get out, but Felix held me down.

"Stop it, Nora. I invited your old high school teachers and classmates. If you don't show up, you'll leave them hanging."

Hearing that, I finally gave up resisting.

Little did I know, that decision would plunge me straight into a nightmare.