She realized too late that her words had crossed a line. "That’s not what I meant; I just..."

Drained and numb, I shook Blair off. “No need to explain. Let’s get a divorce.”

“Just take it as me begging you, let me go.”

Blair froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. “What did you say?”

With my father lying cold in the cemetery and my mother still in the hospital, I didn’t have the strength to argue anymore.

“Let’s end this here.”

Blair stood there, stunned, unable to grasp why I had suddenly brought up divorce.

To her, even when she openly embraced Dawson right in front of me, I hadn't made a scene.

After all, this time, it was just Dawson’s birthday, nothing more in her eyes.

Her gaze drifted downward and landed on the report in my hand. The moment she read the words, her shoulders relaxed, and she let out a long sigh.

“So it’s because your mom’s sick and in the hospital. I knew you wouldn’t get angry over nothing.”

Blair gently took my hands in hers.

“I know it’s been hard on you, looking after Mom all by yourself. That was my fault. But this was Dawson’s first birthday since returning to the country, and he’s lost his entire family. I couldn’t just turn my back on him.”

“Mom only fainted from too much stress; it’s nothing serious. I’ll come with you to the hospital tomorrow, okay? Don’t stay upset.”

She wrapped her arms around me with practiced affection, but the unfamiliar scent clinging to her made my stomach turn.

I suddenly shoved her away and stumbled toward the trash can, retching uncontrollably.

The mango cake she had brought fell to the floor, splattering into a sickening mess.

Her face twisted, both embarrassed and angry. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I work hard every day to support this home. Can’t you stop throwing tantrums over nothing?”

“Do you even know what people are saying about you out there? That you’re a freeloader? That I’m the one keeping this family afloat! Can’t you just wake up and face the truth?”

I stared at her, my voice cold. “Blair, you caused my father’s death.”

She suddenly laughed, sharp and mocking. “Do you take me for a fool? The report clearly says it was your mom who was hospitalized, and just for some minor emotional stress. Who knows who upset her? What does that have to do with me?”

Then her tone softened again, trying to sound gentle.

“I know you’re upset I missed our anniversary. I also know you’ve always wanted to compete with Dawson. How about this, his birthday party cost 360,000. I’ll transfer you 500,000. Is that enough?”

I gave her a cold smile. “Get out.”

Realizing I wasn’t falling for her fake sweetness or subtle threats, Blair dropped the act.

“Suit yourself. Go cool off on your own!”

The door slammed behind her with a loud bang.

I laughed.

I laughed until the sound broke into silence, and tears slipped down my face.

I remembered how she once said I was the only one in her heart, remembered how she had wiped out all my debts like some kind of savior, and remembered how we clung to each other through the darkest times.

But that once tender girl now stood opposite to the cold figure who turned her back on me without hesitation.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed, and several messages came from an unknown number.

It was a screenshot.

The other person had simply texted that they had a stomachache, and Blair replied instantly. [On my way.]

There was also a photo of Blair and Dawson leaning close together.

The shirt Dawson wore was the one I had given Blair as an engagement gift.

Then, two more messages appeared. [If I hadn’t gone abroad back then, do you really think she’d have chosen you?]

[Her own father-in-law died, and she didn’t flinch. But I say my stomach hurts, and she runs straight to me. Don’t you feel pathetic?]

I thought of how Blair had told me to calm down just moments earlier, and suddenly, the whole thing felt like a cruel joke.

So that’s why she was in such a rush. She wasn’t escaping the argument. She was running to Dawson.

I submitted my application to go abroad; then I headed to the hospital to see my mother.

The moment she saw me, Blair immediately smiled. “Go chase your dream. Pick it back up. The caregiver will take care of me.”

Only parents loved like that, unconditionally. I collapsed into her arms, tears spilling freely.

I had finally made the decision to leave Blair.

Even after my application had been approved, Blair still hadn’t come home.

I sent her the divorce papers and began clearing out my things from the villa.

Once everything was gone, I realized the villa felt different; maybe I had been the intruder all along.

While I was on the phone with a professor overseas, Blair suddenly walked in with Dawson.

Dawson looked around, gave a little “Oops,” and awkwardly asked, “Did we interrupt? Were you talking to Senior Landers?”

Blair snatched my phone from my hands, her face clouded with frustration.

Seeing the number wasn’t even saved in my contacts, she smirked.

“To piss me off, you’re talking to some random woman?”

This “Senior Landers” Dawson had mentioned, and I had only exchanged a few words during the student council days. But to Dawson, it was something much worse.

I clenched my fists, trying to reclaim my phone, but Blair hung up on the call and looked at me with a smug grin.

“I didn’t even bother to check what you sent. Stop with these games. Dawson and I are just regular siblings.”

My gaze fell on the hickey on her neck, and a bitter sneer escaped my lips. “Siblings?”

No blood relation, yet doing everything lovers do, hiding behind the disguise of siblings.

She never allowed me to speak to any woman, yet shamelessly flirted with Dawson, her hypocrisy was maddening.

Blair sighed in frustration. “No matter what I say, you won’t believe me. What do you want me to do?”

“Do I need to cut ties with Dawson to make you happy?”

“How can you be so cold-hearted? Dawson’s family saved my life, and now he’s alone. I can’t just turn my back on him. Can’t you understand that?”

Every word she spoke accused me of being unreasonable, blind to her “sacrifice.”

Once, I would have yelled and begged her to see things from my side.

But now, I just stared at her calmly. “If you can bring my dad back to life, then maybe I’d understand.”

She rubbed her temples in frustration, her anger palpable.

Dawson wrapped his arm around Blair’s shoulders possessively and spoke, his voice dripping with condescension.

“Blair and I both went to the hospital. Your mom is there, your dad isn’t.”

“If you want pity, fine, but there’s no need to curse your own father as dead.”

My mother’s condition couldn’t bear any emotional stress. She didn’t even know about Blair and Dawson.

I grabbed Dawson’s hand, my voice trembling with alarm. “What do you mean? You went to the hospital to see my mom? What did you tell her?”

Dawson cried out in pain, and Blair shoved me away with a sudden force.

I slammed into the table with a sickening crash, my lower back hitting the edge hard. The sharp pain drained the color from my face.

Blair instantly scowled at the faint red mark on Dawson’s arm and snapped at me.

“What are you doing?! I’m your mom’s daughter-in-law; what’s wrong with visiting her? Do you think I’d curse her to death like you?”

I didn’t want to fight. All I wanted was to get to the hospital and see my mom. But then my phone rang, its urgent tone slicing through the tension.

I answered quickly, a cold dread washing over me.

“Is this Mr. Maddox? Your mother’s in critical condition! She’s been calling out for someone named Dawson. Was she calling for you? Please, come right away.”

The blood in my veins seemed to freeze. I could hardly believe what I’d just heard.

I could barely find my voice as I repeated, “What did you say?”

Just yesterday, the doctor said my mother’s condition was improving, that she should walk more, and that she could be discharged soon. How could she suddenly be dying?

The voice on the other end of the phone grew distant, barely audible, but I caught the part where my mother had been calling out “Dawson” before her death.

A rush of fury surged through me, and I glared at Dawson. His lips curled into a smug smirk like he was enjoying my pain.

I couldn’t hold back my rage any longer. I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

His head snapped to the side with the force of the blow, and, by some twisted fate, he crashed into the corner of the table. Blood poured from the cut on his head, and in an instant, he collapsed, unconscious.

Blair stared at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Caleb, are you out of your mind? You get one phone call, and you start attacking Dawson out of nowhere?”

I grabbed her collar, my mind completely unraveling. “What did you do at the hospital? What did you say to my mother?!”

Blair shoved me away, clearly terrified I’d hurt Dawson.

My already injured lower back took another blow. The pain was sharp and immediate, and I couldn't stay upright. Sweat broke out on my forehead as I fought to stay standing.

Blair’s gaze was icy, her voice cutting through the air: “Dawson’s a model. If you ruin his face, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

Her eyes were full of disgust, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t afraid to anger her. “Ruthless? What are you even talking about?”

Her expression darkened. “Your mom’s still in the hospital. If you don’t want her medical fees cut off, you’d better behave.”

My face drained of color, and my heart shattered.

But she didn’t care at all. She called for the housekeeper to help carry the unconscious Dawson away, but she was impatient in her tone.

I shouted after her retreating form, voice raw with pain. “Cut them off then! My mom’s already dead! What difference does it make if you stop the payments?!”

Her body stiffened, and she slowly turned to face me, her words sharp. “You really are shameless, saying anything just to keep me.”

After being rushed to the hospital, I felt as if the world had gone silent.

“You were this close to damaging your spinal nerves. A little more to the side, and you’d be paralyzed. If I hadn’t gotten to you in time, you’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of your life!”

My good brother jabbed his finger at my forehead, frustration evident in his tone.

I offered him a bitter smile, my voice barely a whisper. “My mom…”

His expression softened with sorrow. “Auntie’s affairs have been taken care of. You only need to attend the cremation and burial.”

Just as I nodded, Blair called.

I motioned for my friend to hang up, but he answered too quickly.

Blair’s voice came through the line, a barrage of anger. “Where have you been? Dawson now has a scar on his forehead and can’t compete in the supermodel contest. Are you happy now?”

“I just left the hospital; Mom’s perfectly fine! She’s fully recovered and discharged. Can you stop with these stunts?”

“There’s no need for you to return to the company. Just give up your position and current projects to Dawson as compensation.”

My hand trembled as I took the phone, my voice sharp as I said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. My father died in the hospital because you didn’t transfer the money in time. Even my mother was driven to death by you and Dawson. And now you want me to hand over my job and projects to him? Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”

Blair sneered. “Gone too far?”

“Dawson has told you time and again that there’s nothing between us, but you kept suspecting him. Weren’t you the one going too far then?”

“You pushed him, caused his injury, and ruined his dream. Didn’t you go too far?”

“If I had known you’d turn out like this, I wish we’d never started!”

With that, she hung up. When I tried calling back, the line was busy.

My position, my projects, everything at the company, I had earned through my own blood, sweat, and tears. What right did she have to hand them over to Dawson without even asking?

All the remnants of feeling I once had for her vanished in an instant.

After taking a moment to collect myself, I sent a message to my advisor. [I'm willing to participate in the project. In return, I expect you to cancel the collaboration with the Emerson family.]

The reply came immediately. [No problem.]

Did she want peace and quiet?

Then I’d make sure she got plenty of it.

There was no need for the divorce agreement anymore. I would have a lawyer file for divorce directly.

Every penny she spent on Dawson, I would make her pay back.

Everything in her company and everything in her name, I’d claim my rightful half.

After my brother and I handled my mother’s funeral, I buried her next to my father.

I left a sum of money for my brother, then turned and boarded my flight abroad.

I deleted every trace of Blair and Dawson from my life.

But before I did, I made sure to copy all the evidence of Blair and Dawson’s overly intimate interactions.

From that moment on, Blair and I would have nothing to do with each other.

As soon as I landed, a call from a domestic number appeared.

I knew exactly who it was, and without hesitation, I hung up.

The caller kept ringing, even after I blocked her. She quickly switched to another number and tried again.

I didn’t get angry. Instead, I laughed, taking a deep breath before answering.

Her voice came through, low and furious. "Where are you?"