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?"