The ball immediately hit Nora’s leg, right on the spot where she had been cut by a piece of broken porcelain two days earlier. The wound was just starting to heal and had almost formed a scab. But now, because of the ball, it started bleeding again.

Nevertheles, Nora tried to keep walking even though it hurt. She limped away, trying not to show how embarrassed and hurt she was. But Sally’s close friend didn’t care. She laughed loudly, mocking Nora without any kindness.

On the other hand, Benjamin just stood there as he watched everything. For some reason, he felt a strange pain in his heart. He remembered that Nora wasn’t always like this. She used to be confident and strong.

But then he reminded himself that she had made a mistake. And, people who made mistakes had to face consequences.

When Nora finally got home, her parents saw the red and swollen marks on her face. They looked surprised, but they didn’t ask her any questions. They didn’t ask if she was okay. They didn’t comfort her. Instead, they just stayed quiet.

Later that night, Nora opened her diary. She sat at her desk for a long time, thinking. Finally, she picked up her pen and wrote something simple about Benjamin.

[Benjamin Hunt was my classmate from high school, but we’re not that close anymore.]

Nora knew it wasn’t the truth, but she didn’t want to write anything more. She was tired of everything.

The next morning, something unexpected happened.

Nora received a phone call from Sebastian Hunt, Benjamin’s powerful uncle, for the first time after what happened in the golf course.

“I heard what happened at the golf course,” he said calmly.

“I’ve already punished Benjamin. Our lawyer will visit your house later today to give you some property as compensation.”

Nora was surprised since no one had protected her like this in a long time.

“I’ve been too busy lately,” Sebastian continued.

“I haven’t had time to look after you. I’m sorry. I’ll bring Benjamin to apologize to you in person in a few days.”

Nora didn’t know how to respond. She felt flattered and awkward at the same time.

After a few more words, Sebastian added kindly, “There’s no need for us to act like strangers.”

Not long after that, he hung up.

Later that morning, a lawyer came to the Riley Family’s house.

The lawyer brought a very thick folder full of legal documents. He explained that these were for transferring property to Nora’s name. One of the properties was the golf course where the incident had happened.

Nora stared at the documents in shock. Was this what Sebastian had meant by ‘some property’? She thought Sebastian was only trying to be polite. She never imagined he would really try to give her something so big. Now, she realized Sebastian really was someone worth hundreds of billions.

“I can’t accept this,” Nora said quickly, her voice full of confusion.

The lawyer looked slightly uncomfortable.

After thinking for a moment, he handed her a business card and said, “Miss Riley, this is my contact information. If you change your mind later, we can transfer everything to your name at any time.” Nora took the card and quietly walked the lawyer to the door.

Just a few minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Riley came home in a hurry. Their faces were full of anger and panic.

“Nora!” her father shouted.

“What happened between you and Benjamin?! Do you know that he was punished by the Hunt Family last night? He had to kneel all night as punishment! Now he’s under house arrest!”

“Really?”

Nora said softly. She didn’t smile, but deep inside she thought to herself, ‘That’s good. I also walked alone all night in the cold rain.’

But she didn’t say it out loud. Even though Benjamin had been punished and her parents were now so angry about it, Nora didn’t feel happy at all. She just felt empty and bitter.

Her younger sister, Sally, quickly came to Benjamin’s defense.

“Nora,” Sally said as she shed tears.

“I heard Benjamin was punished very badly. You’ve always liked him so much. You wouldn’t want him to suffer like this, right? Please, go to the Hunt Family and ask his uncle to forgive him. Do it for Benjamin.”

Mr. Riley added, “This whole thing started because of you. I don’t care what exactly happened at the golf course. Young people fight sometimes, but now Benjamin’s family is angry. You need to go there and apologize.”

Nora’s heart felt like it was breaking all over again.

She looked at her father and said, “You’re blaming me without even asking what happened?”

However, Mr. Riley frowned and said, “Benjamin’s wealth was taken away. That’s serious. You must come with me to the Hunt Family and ask for forgiveness.”

After that, it suddenly became clear to Nora.

The property the lawyer had brought to her was all under Benjamin’s name. But now, because he was punished, it was being taken away and given to her. She thought about Sebastian’s words. He had said he would bring Benjamin to apologize.

But now her own father was asking her to go beg for Benjamin’s forgiveness. It was unbelievable. She couldn’t help but feel that the whole thing was ridiculous.

“Dad,” she said clearly, looking into his eyes.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I won’t beg for him.”

Her father’s face turned red with anger.

“I’m doing this for your own good!” he shouted.

“Benjamin is your future husband! Why are you being so stubborn? It’s not good for you to fight with him like this!”

Nora suddenly felt tears filling her eyes. She couldn’t understand her father anymore. He said he loved her, but this didn’t feel like love. If he really cared about her, why didn’t he stand by her side?

With a voice filled with sorrow, she said, “Dad, he’s not my future husband.”

Her father didn’t take her words seriously. He thought she was just being emotional. But Sally looked at him with hopeful eyes. After a moment, Mr. Riley let out a long sigh and rubbed his aching forehead.

“If you’re going to be like this, then fine,” he said.

“Sally will take your place in the marriage. She and Benjamin already like each other anyway.”

The next moment felt like time had frozen. Nora couldn’t breathe. She watched as her father, right in front of her, gave the wedding ring that was supposed to be hers to Sally. Sally smiled sweetly and said softly, “Nora, don’t be sad. You and Benjamin were never meant to be happy together.”

Nora slowly wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her heart felt like it had completely shattered. She didn’t say another word. She just picked up her phone and called the lawyer.

“Mr. Capello?” she said with a quiet but steady voice.

“I’ve changed my mind. I want the property.”

Three days later, it was Sally’s birthday.

Mr. Riley was determined to restore Sally’s reputation and had planned a grand birthday party on a luxurious cruise ship just for her. Sally wore a pure white haute couture dress and a small tiara on her head, radiating elegance with every movement, like a spoiled little princess.

Meanwhile, Nora was standing quietly by her side. She felt more like a maid than a daughter.

The hall was full of guests, toasts and laughter, with the atmosphere at its peak. That was when Mr. Riley made his announcement. Sally and Benjamin were officially engaged. Nora, who was uninterested with the news, stepped out onto the deck to enjoy the cool sea breeze.

The birthday girl, who had been surrounded by everyone inside, came out to find Nora.

“Nora,” she called for the first time.

Her voice was cold as she continued, “You’re such an eyesore. Why don’t you stay asleep? That way, I’ll always be the legitimate daughter of the Riley Family.”

Sally’s face twisted with jealousy, a feeling that didn’t match her flawless makeup.

“Mom and Dad don’t love you. Benjamin doesn’t love you. They’re all mine. You have nothing nos, so why are you still in the Riley Family, getting in my way?”

Sally’s words were sharp and she spoke with a controlled bitterness. Nora was left speechless. She had lost everything she once cared about and in that moment, she couldn’t find the words to defend herself.

Without warning, Sally suddenly stepped closer. Before Nora could react, Sally already pushed her off the side of the cruise ship. For a moment, Nora felt weightless. And then her mouth and nose were filled with cold, salty sea water.

The instant she touched the water, she felt the temperature leave her body. She choked, desperately struggling to stay afloat.

“Oh no, Nora jumped into the sea!” Sally’s panicked voice reached Nora’s ears, followed by the sound of footsteps and frantic conversation.

Mr. and Mrs. Riley rushed to the railing, calling out for a lifeguard to jump into the sea and save her.

“This is crazy, Nora! On such an important occasion … ” Sally’s voice trembled with worry, but it was clear she wasn’t concerned about Nora.

In a moment of “inspiration,” she turned to Mr. and Mrs. Riley and said, “Dad, Mom, why don’t you take this opportunity to teach Nora a lesson? After all, she can swim. Why not just wait for the lifeguard to save her later?”

Mr. and Mrs. Riley hesitated. Instead of calling for help, they paused and simply watched as Nora struggled in the sea. From Nora’s perspective, it was clear they had stopped the lifeguard from coming to her aid.

The waves crashed over her again and again, making it harder to breathe. Her strength was running out. Every time the waves hit her, she swam with the last bit of her willpower. But her body was failing her.

Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Riley remained indifferent, watching from the ship. Nora felt herself slipping into despair, with the water surrounding her like an endless abyss. Her eyelids grew heavy and dry and she could no longer fight against the darkness closing in on her.

The waves carried her away and just as she felt she would be swallowed whole, strong arms suddenly lifted her out of the water. Nora gasped for air, using the last of her strength to open her eyes. Standing before her was a man she had only seen in reports before … Sebastian.

When she woke up again, the sharp scent of disinfectant replaced the salty sting of the sea. Nora was in a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV drip. On the bedside drawer was a bottle of pills prescribed by a psychiatrist, meant to erase her memories.

Nora lay in silence for a moment, then called Mrs. Burnett to bring her diary and pen. She wrote the last sentence she would remember.

[My parents don’t really love me.]

Afterward, she took the pill with a sense of finality.

‘Goodbye, Benjamin.’

‘Goodbye, Dad and Mom.’

At the Hunt Family’s mansion, Benjamin had been kneeling for three days and three nights. When he finally stood up and walked out of the room, he learned from the butler that Nora had jumped into the sea. Benjamin frowned, his face full of contempt.

"Nora was so unreasonable that she jumped into the sea just to ruin Sally's birthday party," he said.

"Is she dead yet?"

The butler looked terrified when he heard it, responding quickly, "Sir, please be careful with your words. Fortunately, the rescue was quick. Miss Riley is now in the hospital and is fine."

Benjamin snorted coldly. He knew Nora better than anyone else. She could swim. She probably called 911 for help before jumping.

The butler hesitated, unsure whether he should mention that Sebastian had rescued Nora. Just then, a servant entered, asking the butler to help arrange the preparations for the marriage. At that moment, Benjamin didn't know about Sally's sudden announcement that she wanted to marry him.

He thought the preparations were for Nora instead.

"How shameless! Is she so eager to marry into the Hunt Family and marry me?"

Benjamin's face darkened, his eyes full of disdain. He snatched the flower decorations from the servant's hands and ordered them to stop making arrangements. After that, he stormed off to the hospital to confront Nora.

Unfortunately, The butler didn’t have a chance to tell Benjamin the truth. The servants could only exchange glances, but they decided to ignore Benjamin’s orders and continue making preparations for the mansion, as Sebastian had instructed.

When Benjamin arrived at the hospital, the entire floor had been booked and the Hunt Family’s bodyguards surrounded the hallways and ward doors. His face grew even more serious. Nora hadn’t married him yet, so why was she using other people's power like this?

As soon as Benjamin stepped out of the elevator, the bodyguards stopped him.

"Look at me! Don’t you know who I am?" Benjamin angrily shouted.

The bodyguards replied calmly, "Sorry, Sir. Except for the medical staff and the head of the family, anyone entering or leaving Miss Riley's ward must confirm with her first. Even you. Also, please speak softly. Miss Riley needs to rest and no loud noises are allowed."

One bodyguard winked at another, who quickly walked to the luxurious ward and knocked on the door. Benjamin was furious and sneered. So, his fiancée, who wasn’t even married to him yet, was already acting more arrogant than him?

No wonder Sally had said that Nora was always hurting her in the Riley Family.

Inside the ward, Nora was eating grapes that Sebastian had peeled for her.

Since she woke up from a long night of unconsciousness, this cool gentleman had been by her side. His name was Sebastian Hunt, the fiancé she had written about in her diary. His bony hands carefully offered her the peeled grapes one by one. Nora blushed slightly and took the grapes from him shyly.

In the meantime, Nora had also learned about her situation from the psychiatrist. Everything felt strange to her now, but the man before her, the one who was supposed to be her fiancé, made her feel a sense of comfort she couldn’t explain.

And then the bodyguard knocked gently on the door.

"Miss Riley, Mr. Benjamin Hunt is outside and wants to see you. What should we do?"

Nora snapped out of her thoughts. She remembered that when she was younger, she used to go to school with Benjamin. The diary also mentioned that their relationship was now distant. She thought it was just a friendly visit.

"Let him in," Nora said even though she was unsure what to expect.

Benjamin entered the room. His face looked grim as if he had come to settle a score. When he saw Sebastian sitting next to the bed, looking gentle, he was taken aback. A strange displeasure rose in him, but he suppressed it and greeted Sebastian.

Nora waited for Benjamin to say something, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t even bring a fruit basket.

Finally, she couldn’t help but ask, “What do you want?”

Before she could get an answer, Benjamin threw the flower decorations he had been holding at Nora like a lit firecracker. Just before the bouquet hit Nora’s face, a pair of strong hands caught it, stopping it mid-air. Sebastian’s expression darkened after what Benjamin did, looking coldly at Benjamin.

The tension in the room was palpable and Benjamin’s anger, which had been about to explode, was suddenly extinguished.

"Uncle, are you really going to side with Nora just because she’s my fiancée?" Benjamin asked, sneering.

"Nora is just a … "

"Shut up," Sebastian interrupted, his voice as cold as ice.

The room fell silent, but Nora looked confused.

"Who said I was your fiancée?" she asked.

Benjamin snorted.

"Nora, what kind of tricks are you playing now? Trying to act innocent in front of my uncle?"

Sebastian’s voice turned icy as he responded, "Nora is my fiancée. She will be your future aunt. Why don’t you greet her properly?"