After I hung up, I carefully put away the torn doll.

In just two weeks, I would be able to leave the Leslie residence for good and start a new life.

The next day, Samson said he wanted to make it up to Judy and decided to take her to a nearby auction. He insisted that I come along as his personal assistant.

At the auction, Samson mingled with wealthy elites, clinking glasses, with Judy holding his arm. She was dressed in a designer outfit. Samson introduced her to everyone as his girlfriend.

When people's eyes landed on me, Samson just gave me a cold glance. "She's just a maid. Nothing worth paying attention to."

The auction began.

All sorts of rare treasures and jewelry sparkled under the spotlights.

Samson would immediately raise his paddle if Judy looked at it for even a moment more. He was determined to win it for her, no matter how high the bidding went.

I thought back to my birthday seven years ago.

That night, as I closed my eyes to make a wish, Samson placed a pink diamond necklace around my neck.

It was the necklace I had been wanting for so long, but could never bring myself to buy because of the high price. Samson had saved up and reduced his spending for half a year just to give it to me for my birthday.

I could still remember the look in his eyes back then.

"Helen, I'll give you anything you want."

Now, he had all the money and power in the world. He could buy whatever he wanted.

But it was all for Judy, not for me.

After the auction ended, everyone was talking about what a big spender Samson was.

While he went backstage to check the items he won in the auction, Judy walked to me with a glass of wine.

"If you want some jewelry too, I'll give you one of the freebies from the kindness of my heart."

I looked into her eyes, searching for even a trace of the kind, considerate Judy I once knew. Yet, there was nothing left.

"No thanks," I replied calmly.

My indifference only seemed to make Judy angrier. Suddenly, she grabbed my face.

"You know, Helen. What I've hated most all these years is the way you act like you don't care about anything. I chased after Samson for years, but he never even looked my way. Did you know he never slept well during all those years you were gone? He drank to the point of having stomach ulcers! He thought you left because you were afraid of getting dragged into his mess.

"He trained himself mercilessly every day. Even when he was about to collapse, the only thing he could say was your name. He loved you so much and waited five whole years for you. How could you be so heartless and just walk away like that?"

I didn't say a word. I only shut my eyes in pain.

It wasn't that I didn't love Samson back then. But every time I thought about how my mother could have been saved, I just couldn't forgive myself.

Even after I left, the nightmares never stopped. I had to see a therapist almost every week.

The therapist tried to reassure me, telling me it wasn't my fault, that maybe I just needed time to heal.

With help, I was finally able to let go and see what really happened back then after five years.

But Samson and I could never go back.

Later, I lost my job in a round of company layoffs. All my savings had gone to Judy's schooling. When I couldn't pay rent, my landlord kicked me out.

It seemed Samson had been keeping an eye on the whole time. The moment he learned I was unemployed, he sent someone to offer me a high-paying job as his personal assistant.

I couldn't refuse, because wherever I tried to work, Samson would just buy the company and fire me again.

Judy simply sneered when she saw I didn't react. "I really want to see if you truly don't care about anything."

With that, she tossed her wine glass to the ground, the sharp sound of breaking glass echoing through the hall. Then, she deliberately threw herself backwards, crashing to the floor.

Red wine splattered everywhere, soaking her dress in crimson.

Samson, hearing the commotion, rushed out and saw the scene.

"Samson, it's not Helen's fault. I know she wanted the jewelry, too. If she takes it out on me, I deserve it..." Judy said pitifully.

I stared at her in disbelief. I was just about to defend myself when I saw Samson storm over.

Slap!

The sharp sound echoed through the auction hall. My cheek was burned with pain.

"When did you become so vicious?! Judy is pregnant! You must apologize to her right now!"

Before I could say anything, he grabbed my wrist and dragged me over to Judy. He forced me to kneel, and I could feel the shards of glass digging into my knees. The sharp pain shot through my legs.

Just then, he suddenly stopped. He grabbed my hand, and his gaze landed on the ghastly scar.

"How did you get this scar?"

I tried to pull my hand back instinctively, but Samson's grip was too strong, and I couldn't break free.

His gaze burned into my skin, making it sting even more.

Suddenly, Judy, still lying on the floor, cried loudly.

"Samson, my stomach hurts!"

Samson's expression changed instantly. He rushed to Judy's side, checked on her, and then scooped her up and ran out in a panic.

I tried to stand and ignore the pain in my knees, but I just couldn't manage it. Someone noticed the blood on the floor and called an ambulance in shock. I was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The doctor used tweezers to pick out the shards of glass from my knee one by one. I grimaced with pain, just as voices from the next room drifted over.

"Thank goodness you and the baby are all right, sweetheart. I was so scared," I heard Samson say.

"It's okay, Samson. Don't be too hard on Helen. She just really likes jewelry, that's all..." Judy replied sweetly.

Samson sat by her side, gently feeding her the bowl of cereal in milk using a spoon. The two of them laughed and whispered together, their intimacy like a knife stabbing into my heart.

I did my best to block out their voices and focused on the doctor as he wrapped my knee in gauze, patiently explaining how to take care of it.

By the time I got home, it was already late at night. When I opened the door, I found Samson waiting for me on the living room couch.

He barely glanced up when I walked in, his tone tinged with accusation. "What took you so long?"

"My knee was injured. I went to the hospital to get it bandaged."

He paused at that, a flicker of concern passing through his eyes as he glanced at my knee. But just as quickly, he became cold again.

"I lost my temper when I hit you today. I fixed the doll you liked for you," he said as he placed the old doll on the coffee table.

The stitches were crooked and uneven, and they really stood out against the worn fabric.

I knew that it could never go back to the way it was, no matter what, just like our relationship. Once broken, it could never be made whole again.

Samson's tone turned accusatory again. "If you wanted jewelry, you could've just told me. Why pin it on Judy? She's pregnant. Can't you control that awful temper of yours?"

I bit my lip, trying to defend myself. "What if I told you I didn't push her?"

Samson's frown deepened. "If you didn't, then who did? Are you saying she fell on purpose?"

"There were security cameras at the auction. Why don't you check them?" I asked.

"There's no need. Judy treasures her baby. She would never lie about something like that!" Samson raised his voice, making my head and heart pound.

In the end, I just gave up in silence. I didn't want to make any pointless arguments.

Samson used to treat me like I was the most precious thing in his world. If I ever scraped my knee or bumped into anything, he would be the first to comfort me. He would never have raised a hand against me.

But that was a long time ago. Now, he only believed whatever Judy said without condition. He stared at me for a long time, his expression complicated, as if he wanted to see right through me.

"If you want to explain, I'll give you one chance. But you have to tell me everything. Why did you leave me five years ago? And what about that scar on your hand? How did you get it?"

My chest tightened painfully.

I had thought about telling Samson the truth.

But after five years, did it still matter to bring up the past?

He wasn't the man who loved only me anymore. He had been with countless women, and now, he made Judy pregnant. Even if I told him everything, it would only bring us more pain. Not to mention, I was leaving soon anyway.

In the end, I just shook my head.

"It's nothing. It's just something minor when I was abroad. As for why I left, you already know the answer, don't you? After everything that happened, how could I ever believe you would still be able to protect me?"

My words seemed to sting Samson. He snatched the doll from the table and hurled it at me, yelling furiously, "Get out!"

The doll hit me hard. I let out a muffled cry, then turned and walked away with the doll in my hand.

Behind me, I heard him grinding his teeth.

"Helen, I really regret ever loving you."

I didn't look back.

I didn't stop.

I simply closed the door behind me.

At dawn, Samson suddenly announced he was taking Judy to the beach for a vacation.

"You're coming with us, too."

When he spoke to me now, his tone made everything he said sound like an order. I had remembered all the times I had told him I wanted to see the ocean, but back then, we never had the money to go.

But this time…

"I can't go. The doctor said my knee can't get wet."

Samson frowned. "You don't get to choose."

In truth, it wasn't just about water. My knee hurt so much I could barely walk. Every step felt like torture to me.

But I knew Samson would never allow me to refuse.

In the end, he brought us all to the beach. The salty, damp wind brushed my face as I trailed far behind them, watching the two of them stroll hand in hand at sunset.

I never expected that Samson would suddenly turn around and pull a ring box from his pocket and drop to one knee before Judy.

I froze.

At that moment, brilliant fireworks exploded over the water, lighting up the beach under the setting sun. The tourists nearby all turned, cheering and showering them with rose petals.

I heard Judy sobbed with joy as she said, "I do!"

Then, I watched as Samson slid the ring onto her finger.

Samson had planned a flawless, romantic proposal for Judy. Everything was perfect, except for me standing awkwardly at a distance.

After the proposal, Samson threw a party on the beach.

They danced and laughed by the beach, surrounded by people. The entire time, Samson never let go of Judy's hand.

I found a folding chair far away from the crowd and sat down, staring out at the distant sea.

The last rays of sunlight slipped below the horizon, and night settled in.

Suddenly, a shout rang out, "Samson fell in! Somebody help him!"

I jumped, heart pounding, and looked toward the dark water.

I could barely make out a figure struggling in the waves by the light of a few flashlights.

"It's too dark! The waves are too rough! It's suicide to go down there right now!" someone shouted, and even the strongest men in the crowd shrank back.

I gritted my teeth, grabbed a life buoy, and dove in.

Swimming had been my passion for years. I had even won several competitions from high school through college. That was why I trusted myself in the water.

More than that, even if Samson and I had grown distant, I couldn't just stand by and watch him drown.

The icy water instantly enveloped me. The old wound on my knee felt like someone had just thrown a handful of salt on it, pain radiating through my whole body.

Still, I clung to the life buoy and swam for Samson with everything I had.

Just as my strength was giving out, I finally caught hold of his arm and dragged him back toward shore.

Once we hit the sand, guests rushed forward to pull us out. As soon as I felt solid ground, everything went black, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

The doctor was scolding me. "I told you, you can't get that knee wet! You're lucky we got you here in time, or you could have lost your whole leg!"

The news was on, warning viewers not to swim at night as they covered last night's accident.

Before I had even fully come to, the broadcast cut to Judy and Samson. On camera, he thanked his fiancee with heartfelt emotion. Judy nestled shyly in his arms.

"Judy saved me twice," Samson said. "Five years ago, when I was attacked, she was the one who rescued me. And now, she risked her life and jumped into the sea for me. I've made up my mind. She's the one for me."

I could feel the anger inside of me bubbling as I clenched the sheets in my fists.

I was the one who saved Samson both five years ago and last night, but Judy had shamelessly claimed all the credit for herself.

I wondered if it was the physical pain in my knee or the pain of being wronged burning inside me, but tears rolled and fell from my eyes, dropping on the white sheets.

Through my blurred vision, I could still hear Samson's voice from the television.

"Our wedding will be next Friday, broadcast live for the world to see. I hope everyone can witness our happiest moment together."

A moment later, my phone buzzed with a message.

It was from Samson.

"Ran off again when I was in danger, huh? Coward. Next Friday, Judy and I are getting married. You'll be her bridesmaid. That's an order."

His tone was not one of discussion, but absolute command.

I stared at the screen for a long time, typing and deleting line after line. In the end, I sent nothing.

I never told him I wouldn't be there.

By next Friday, I would be leaving.