There is an unwritten rule among Saphira's elite.

If a new lover wants to become acknowledged as a man's official girlfriend, the previous girlfriend must publicly remove the bracelet that symbolizes her status and personally place it on the new woman's wrist.

The day Wayne Seyfried brings Ingrid Bacon home, the entire elite circle waits in anticipation to see me cause a scene.

I have stayed by Wayne's side loyally for seven years. For the sake of getting that bracelet, I once kneeled in the Seyfrieds' private chapel for three days. I have also taken a stab from a military bayonet for Wayne.

Everyone is certain that I would never give up my position willingly.

But when Ingrid, who is clad in a custom gown worth millions, shyly extends her hand to me, I do not argue or make a scene. Instead, I calmly remove the bracelet and slip it onto her wrist.

Swirling a glass of red wine, Wayne looks at me with eyes full of arrogance and satisfaction.

He says, "You finally know your place, Hillary. It's good that you know where you stand."

I lower my head and look at my bare wrist without saying a word.

Wayne is clueless. He doesn't know that I have recovered all the memories I lost a month ago.

I am the long-lost daughter of the Lachlan family, the wealthiest family in Grandor, who has been missing for seven years.

In three days, my older brother's private fleet of jets will arrive in Saphira to take me home.

Men and women who were elegantly and lavishly dressed mingled in Seyfried Manor, where a grand banquet was held.

Ingrid Bacon raised her hand and showed the bracelet that symbolized her current status on her wrist to the socialites around her. Gasps of amazement came from the crowd, followed by mocking glances directed at me as I stood quietly in the corner.

Wayne Seyfried sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping toward me from time to time.

After she'd had enough of basking in everyone's praise, Ingrid carried a glass of champagne and walked over to me. Her gaze fell on my neck, where an extremely rare pink diamond necklace hung.

Three years ago, Wayne had spent eight million dollars at Sorrell Auctions to buy it for me on my birthday.

Ingrid let out a soft laugh and deliberately leaned close to my ear. "Hillary, since you've already handed over the bracelet, isn't it inappropriate for you to keep wearing the necklace meant for the lady of the house?"

She reached out, intending to touch the necklace.

I took a step back.

Ingrid tilted the champagne glass in her hand in tandem with my reactionary motion. The pale golden liquid spilled all over my silk evening gown. Following a crisp crack, the champagne flute that fell to the floor shattered into countless pieces.

Ingrid immediately covered the back of her hand. Her eyes reddened instantly, and large tears began rolling down her cheeks.

She said in an aggrieved tone, "I just thought the necklace was pretty and wanted a closer look. It's fine if you didn't want me to take a look. But why did you push me?"

The music in the hall stopped abruptly. Everyone's attention turned toward us.

Over the past seven years, any woman who had tried to get close to Wayne or provoke me had been thrown out without mercy.

One time, I had shoved the face of an actress trying to seduce him straight into a cake in front of the entire elite circle of Saphira.

Wayne strode over and pulled Ingrid behind him protectively.

Lowering his head, he looked at the tiny red mark on the back of her hand. Right away, he frowned hard.

He scolded, "Hillary Waldram, why are you causing a scene now? Ingie just returned to the country. Why are you giving her a hard time?"

Wayne's tone was filled with undisguised favoritism and reproach.

I looked at the face of the man I had once loved with all my heart, and a dull ache rose from deep within my chest.

Taking a deep breath, I forced back the tears that came to my eyes. I neither explained nor lost my temper. I raised my hand, reached behind my neck, and unclasped the pink diamond necklace.

Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, I held it out to Ingrid.

I said, "If you like it, it's yours. I just lost my footing earlier. Sorry."

Wayne's entire body stiffened. A flash of profound astonishment flitted across his eyes, and his frown deepened even more.

Ingrid froze as well. She even forgot to keep crying.

I took out a handkerchief and wiped the champagne from my hands before crouching down. Barehanded, I picked up the shards of glass from the floor one by one and threw them into a nearby trash bin.

After I was done, I stood up and looked at Wayne. "My clothes are dirty. I'm going upstairs to change."

I turned and walked toward the second floor, my back perfectly straight. Wayne's gaze remained fixed on my retreating figure.

After returning to my room and closing the door, I leaned against it and shut my eyes.

Seven years of obsession came to a complete end today.

The phone on the nightstand lit up. I just received an encrypted message from my older brother, Micah Lachlan.

He wrote, "Hillary, the flight route approval has gone through. The Lachlan family's convoy will arrive in Saphira in three days. Whatever the Seyfried family owes you, I'll make them pay it back to you a hundred times over."

As I read the message, tears welled up in my eyes.

Suddenly, someone pushed open the bedroom door from the outside.

Wayne strode in, and his sharp gaze locked onto the phone in my hand. He walked straight over and snatched it away.

At that exact moment, the screen went dark. He didn't attempt to unlock it. He just casually tossed the phone onto the soft carpet.

Then, he reached out and gripped my chin to force me to look up at him.

"Why didn't you make a scene downstairs just now?" Wayne asked in a scrutinizing tone.

I met his eyes unflinchingly and said in a flat voice, "Haven't you always complained that I had a bad temper and told me to be more generous? I gave Ingrid both the bracelet and the necklace. Isn't this the outcome you wanted?"

A complicated emotion flashed through Wayne's eyes, and he released my chin. Then, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his embrace.

He carried a faint scent of tobacco mixed with Ingrid's perfume. The combination made my stomach churn.

Wayne lowered his head. As he spoke, his lips brushed against my ear.

He said, "Hillary, I know you feel aggrieved today. Ingie's sister was left disabled after she saved my life back then. So, I have to take care of Ingie.

“As long as you're obedient and stay in line, there will always be a place for you in my home. You'll still be the woman who has stayed by my side the longest."

He was making me a promise. However, he was offering it with the air of someone bestowing a favor. In his mind, he thought I would be grateful for those words.

A rapid knock sounded at the door.

Ingrid's delicate voice came through the door. "Wayne, my chest suddenly hurts so much. Can you come keep me company?"

The arm around my waist loosened instantly. Without the slightest hesitation, Wayne turned and headed for the door.

When he was about to step out, he paused and looked back at me. "There's a charity gala tomorrow night. I'm taking Ingie with me. She just came back and doesn't have a suitable gown. Have the maids take that Stargazer couture dress from your wardrobe and alter it to fit her tomorrow."

I stared at him in disbelief.

The Stargazer gown had been custom-made for me by a top Fairen designer five years ago when we had officially confirmed our relationship. The hem was adorned with 999 diamonds.

That dress was a priceless possession that I treasured. Under normal circumstances, I didn't even allow the maids to touch it. Once, a newly hired maid had secretly tried it on. When I found out, I immediately drove her out of Saphira.

At that time, Wayne had praised me. He approved of my actions and said that no one was allowed to touch what belonged to me.

Now, he was asking me to give that dress to Ingrid.

My fingers dug deeply into my palms, and I nearly drew blood with my nails.

Looking at the matter-of-fact expression on Wayne's face, I nodded gingerly and said, "Okay. I'll have someone send it over tomorrow."

Wayne gave me one long look before pushing the door open and leaving. I heard his gentle voice, drifting in from the hallway as he comforted Ingrid. Next came the sound of a door closing in the room next door.

I turned and walked to my desk. I pulled open a drawer and took out a desk calendar. Picking up a red marker, I drew a heavy X over today's date.

Two days remained before Micah came to take me home.

I took off the champagne-stained gown and walked into the bathroom. Warm water flowed over my body. I looked at my pale face in the mirror.

Seven years ago, Wayne pulled me away from the scene of a gruesome car crash. He gave me a second chance at life.

Over the past seven years, I took knives for him, handled his dirty secrets, and managed the Seyfried household for him. I had long stopped owing him anything after all that I had done.

The next morning, I had a maid deliver the Stargazer couture gown to Ingrid's room following Wayne's instructions.

Ingrid deliberately left the door open. As I passed through the hallway, I saw her twirling in front of a mirror while wearing the dress that didn't fit her at all.

She picked up a pair of scissors. Without hesitation, she cut off the most intricate diamond-studded tulle panel from the hem.

"This design is way too old-fashioned. It'll look better if it's shorter," Ingrid complained to the maid standing nearby.

The maid cautiously glanced at me as I stood outside the door and didn't dare respond.

I didn't stop. Instead, I walked straight to the kitchen.

Wayne had drunk a lot last night. He suffered from a serious stomach condition. Every time he had a hangover, he needed to drink a bowl of the bone broth I made to soothe his stomach.

For the past seven years, I had prepared that broth dutifully for him. Now, I silently stood in front of the stove and watched the broth simmer in the pot.

This would be the last time I made this for him.

I poured the broth into an insulated container and placed it on a tray. Then, I headed toward Wayne's study.

The door to the study was slightly ajar, and voices drifted out from inside. Wayne was talking with his childhood friend, Jimmy Law.

Just as I was about to knock, Jimmy's voice came through the door clearly.

He said disapprovingly, "Wayne, don't you think you've gone too far this time? You took back the bracelet and gave away the necklace. You even let Ingrid wear the Stargazer gown. Hillary has been with you for seven years. She'd even risk her life for you. Are you really trying to drive her away?"

My hand froze before it reached the door.

Wayne's indifferent voice followed immediately after. "Where could she possibly go? She's an orphan who can't even remember her own past. Other than being with me, she has nowhere to go. I've spoiled her too much over these seven years. Her temper has only gotten worse.

"Now that Ingie is back, she needs to learn how to back down. I'm stripping away that arrogance of hers so she'll understand who calls the shots around here. Once she knows her place and learns to behave, I'll still have a room for her in the house and make sure she's provided for."

Jimmy sighed and asked, "Aren't you afraid she'll give up on you after you humiliated her so badly?"

Wayne laughed derisively, not taking Jimmy seriously at all. "Give up on me? Hillary's greatest talent in this life is clinging to me like a stubborn vine. She can't live without me."

The tray tilted slightly in my hands. A few drops of scalding broth splashed onto the back of my hand. Red welts appeared instantly.

However, I felt no pain at all.

I looked at the half-open door with intricate wooden carvings for a moment before setting the tray down on the cabinet to the side. Then, I picked up the insulated container and walked to the end of the hallway.

There stood an extremely rare orchid. Tilting my wrist, I poured the bone broth, which I had simmered meticulously for three hours, into the soil of the flowerpot.

Just then, Ingrid walked over wearing the gown she had butchered with her scissors. When she saw me pour out the broth, she curled her lips into a smug smile.

She said, "Wayne just told me that the sunlight shines in better in the master bedroom. It'll help with my recovery. He said I can move in there tonight. I think you should pack up your things and make room."

I had lived in the master bedroom for the past five years. Every corner of it carried traces of the life Wayne and I had shared.

Looking at Ingrid's triumphant expression, I nodded. "Okay. I'll go pack right now."

And so, I walked into the master bedroom. I didn't take any jewelry, nor did I take any of the designer handbags Wayne had bought for me. I only took a black travel bag and packed a few sets of basic clothing, along with my identification documents.

My phone vibrated, and a message from Micah popped up.

He texted, "I've begun the process of erasing all traces of 'Hillary Waldram.' There won't be any traces of your old identity left."

I zipped up the travel bag, picked it up, and walked out of the master bedroom.

After that, I moved into the most remote guest room in the manor. It was normally used as a storeroom for keeping miscellaneous items, so the air in here carried a faint musty smell.

I placed the travel bag on the single bed in the corner and didn't touch anything else in the room.

Only 12 hours remained before I left.

By evening, snow had begun to fall from the sky. After finishing a meeting with the senior executives of Seyfried Group, Wayne returned to the manor carrying the chill of the winter air with him.

The moment he stepped into the hall, he swept his gaze across the crowd and immediately started frowning.