I looked up and made eye contact with Madison through the rearview mirror. Her eyes were devoid of warmth and full of warning.

I gripped the check and looked out the window at the skyscrapers that were zooming past. Eventually, the stinging in my eyes went away.

We spent the entire car ride in silence until I told Tristan to stop.

"You can drop me off here."

Tristan's fingers jolted around the steering wheel.

Violet laughed. "I can't believe that someone who allegedly has the same tastes as Mr. Graham is staying in a rundown apartment. I think that you're—"

"That's enough!" Tristan snapped impatiently, interrupting her.

He got out of the car and opened the door for me. He then whispered into my ear, "Don't lock the door later. I'll come over tonight."

He got back into the car and drove away after he was done speaking.

I stood in front of the apartment for a long time before I finally made my way upstairs.

This place was Tristan's and my secret base. We were free to kiss and hug each other here.

He would share everything about his life, telling me that I was the one who he felt the most comfortable with.

However, we stopped going to the apartment after Madison entered his life.

I was greeted by a thick cloud of dust when I pushed the door open. Our photos were still hanging on the wall. The wooden boat on the shelf was covered in a layer of dust.

I suddenly recalled the image of Tristan bustling about in the kitchen while wearing an apron. He looked so pleased with himself when he served the steak to me.

Tears spilled down my cheeks.

I didn't know how long I cried for. I slowly lifted my head when my throat began to ache, still gripping the check.

Ten million dollars. It was more than enough for me and Dad to leave the Graham family.

Just then, someone began hammering on the door.

I ignored it.

A few seconds later, the door was kicked open, sending dust flying everywhere.

Tristan's breathing was a little ragged as he stood in the doorway. "Luna!" he called angrily.

However, he froze when he saw my swollen and bloodshot eyes. He hurried over to me and pulled me into his arms, murmuring, "I'm sorry, Luna."

A smile broke across my face when I looked up at him. "Why are you apologizing?" I asked. "I'm the one who chose to be your mistress. The one who should be apologizing is me."

Tristan's face twisted upon hearing my words.

"Mistress?" he spat as he leaped to his feet. "Have you lost your mind, Luna? Is that what you think of our relationship for the past seven years?"

I quietly looked at him and muttered, "But it's the truth, isn't it?"

Tristan would interact with potential marriage partners right in front of me during the banquets hosted by the Grahams. He would also pretend not to know me and hold their hands.

Every time I confronted him with reddened eyes and asked him to make our relationship public, he would say, "Just wait a little while longer. It's not the right time yet."

Seven years passed just like that with him constantly saying the same thing to me.

Tristan stared at me for a long time. He didn't say a word when he whirled around, threw the door open, and took his leave.

The sound of the door slamming behind him echoed around the room.

Just then, the clock on the wall chimed.

It was midnight. My 25th birthday had officially ended.

I curled up into a ball in the darkness and hugged my knees, feeling exhausted.

I knew I couldn't do this anymore.

I was going to spend my 26th birthday with someone who actually loved me. I didn't know who that person could be, but I was certain that it wouldn't be Tristan.

The next morning, I went to the bank and cashed the check.

I stared at the screen of my phone for a long time when I received the notification that the money had been deposited into my account.

I pocketed my phone. I bought a few presents for Dad and a bouquet of fresh flowers before I visited Mom in the cemetery.

There was a bouquet of carnations leaning against the tombstone. Tristan had brought them the last time he dropped by. The flowers were still blooming.

I shifted the carnations aside and placed my own bouquet against the tombstone.

It was very quiet in the cemetery. The leaves rustled as the breeze blew past.

I didn't say a word. I stood in front of Mom's tombstone for a short while before I turned around and left.

The dark clouds suddenly dispersed when I walked out of the cemetery, mirroring the way the gloomy feelings in my heart also dissipated at that moment.

Just then, I received a call from Dad. He sounded rather excited when he exclaimed, "Hurry home, Luna! Mr. Graham just announced something huge!"

I hummed in response and said, "I have something to tell you too, Dad."

The yard was buzzing with activity and packed with unfamiliar faces when I made it back to Graham Manor.

Dad placed down the bottle of weedkiller. He was grinning from ear-to-ear when he explained, "These people are part of Ms. Franklin's family. Mr. Patrick just announced that Ms. Franklin and Mr. Tristan will be getting engaged in the next three days."

I was momentarily stunned before I glanced at the guests in the yard.

All of them were smiling as they conversed with each other, balancing wine glasses in their hands.

I wasn't sure why, but I felt incredibly calm. I didn't feel any anger, sadness, or surprise. It was almost as if I had been subconsciously anticipating this outcome. It was just a matter of time before Tristan and Madison officially got together, after all.

"You grew up with Mr. Tristan, Luna. The two of you are practically siblings," Dad said with a smile. "Perhaps he might even ask you to be one of Ms. Franklin's bridesmaids."

My lips twitched. I smiled and replied, "Nonsense. Mr. Tristan's the prestigious heir of the Graham family. I wouldn't dare to call him my brother."

I turned around and prepared to leave after I was done speaking, coincidentally gazing into a familiar pair of eyes.

Tristan had moved behind me when I wasn't paying attention. He was balancing a wine glass between his fingers, and he looked as if he had been watching me for a long time.

I broke the silence first, speaking in a calm and steady voice that even surprised myself, "Congratulations on your engagement, Mr. Tristan."

Tristan's eyes darkened.

I was very familiar with that look. It was a dead giveaway for when he was about to lose his temper.

However, he couldn't do anything since we were surrounded by guests. In the end, he simply nodded at me before taking his leave, treating me as if I were just one of the guests.

I felt relieved by his reaction. I turned around and led Dad to the side, saying, "I've decided to study abroad, Dad. I want you to come with me. I've already bought the plane tickets and will be leaving tomorrow."

Dad's eyes widened. "What? Why did you suddenly decide to move abroad? Mr. Patrick already promised us that if we continued staying with the Graham family, we wouldn't have to worry about a thing for the rest of our lives."

I smiled. Not wanting to go into detail regarding my reasons, I held his hands tightly and said, "I just want to live for myself for once."

Dad was silent for a long time. It made sense that it wouldn't be easy for him to leave the Grahams since he had stayed with them for more than a decade.

In the end, he sighed and said, "You're the only family I have left since your mother isn't around anymore. I can't just leave you alone. I'll go with you."

My nose stung as I pulled him into a tight hug.

Eventually, I let go of him. I then squeezed past the guests in the yard and returned to my room to pack my belongings.

Suddenly, a pair of hands wrapped around me from behind and clamped over my mouth.

I started struggling wildly.

"It's me," Tristan whispered into my ear. He then dragged me behind the closet and trapped me against the wall.

"It's not what you think. It's just a marriage of convenience. We don't actually have feelings for each other," he said in a rush as if he were desperate to explain himself.

Tristan froze when he noticed the impassive look on my face. "You… Don't you care?" he asked.

My indifference seemed to wound him.

He suddenly leaned down and captured my lips in a kiss. He fumbled with the buttons of my shirt, making quick work of them as his hands traveled downward.

Just then, Madison's voice came from beyond the door, "Tristan? Where did you go?"

Tristan's hand froze.

I barked out a mocking laugh as I buttoned my shirt, watching as he silently adjusted his clothes before he left the room.

Music continued to play in the hall. Tristan held Madison's hands as they slowly spun around on the dance floor. The spotlight that shone on them made them look like a match made in heaven.

The guests showered them with praises.

"Madison is the most beautiful woman among the socialites. I didn't expect her to end up with Mr. Graham."

"If the Graham and Franklin families entered an alliance, they're going to dominate Aventura's business market."

"They look so good together. They really are a match made in heaven."

Just then, a man tapped my shoulder, asking, "Would you like to dance, miss? You're very pretty."

I was stunned. However, I wasn't able to get a word out before a scoff resounded from behind me.

Violet shoved me aside and said mockingly, "She's a nobody, Mr. Slater. She's just a gardener's daughter. She's usually trimming the bushes in the yard, but she snuck into the hall today."

Silence descended upon the hall as everyone looked at us.

I snuck a glance at Dad from across the crowd. My heart felt as if it was being stabbed when I noticed that the color had drained from his face.

I couldn't keep my anger under control any longer. I glared at Violet and spat, "So what if I'm a gardener's daughter? At least I have more manners than a certain someone who only knows how to belittle other people."

"You!" Violet exclaimed, her face turning a ruddy red before she hurled her wine glass at me.

Blood and wine mixed together and flowed down my head.

Chaos erupted in the hall. Tristan reflexively took a step forward, but Madison grabbed his arm lightly but firmly.

Her voice was gentle with an icy edge when she said, "Everyone's watching, Tristan."

Tristan froze in place when he realized that everyone had directed their gazes toward him. After all, not only was he the successor of the Graham family, but he was also the Franklins' future son-in-law.

Everyone was waiting for his reaction.

Tristan fell silent for a couple of seconds. He clenched his fists slightly as he stared at the blood on my face. "Please refrain from causing trouble during my engagement party, ladies," he finally said in his usual, calm voice.

When the bodyguards approached us, he raised his hand and pointed at me. "Take her away."

The guests began laughing in hushed voices.

"No need," I said as I looked up at Tristan. "I can leave by myself."

Just then, Mr. Slater suddenly asked with a smile, "Why is Mr. Graham only asking one of the ladies to leave when both of them were involved in the argument?"

Tristan's face darkened, clearly not expecting someone to question him in front of all the guests.

Madison smiled and said, "Violet is my friend. Tristan just didn't want to upset me."

She looked at me and continued, "Besides, she wasn't invited to the party. It only makes sense for her to leave."

The guests nodded in agreement.

Tristan regained his composure and repeated, "Take her away."

I didn't spare him another glance before I turned around and left the hall.

The lights in the yard were dim. Dad stood under one of them with reddened eyes.

When he spotted me, he pulled out a dress with trembling hands and said in a voice that was thick with tears, "I already handed in my resignation to Mr. Graham, Luna. Let's go."

…

The largest screen in the city was broadcasting a certain news story on repeat while Dad and I were on the way to the airport.

The successor of the Graham family, Tristan Graham, was officially engaged to the heiress of the Franklin family, Madison Franklin.

Tristan was wearing a tailored suit in the video. He looked like the perfect fiance as he held Madison's hand.

I quietly watched the news before I lowered my head, unlocked my phone, and blocked Tristan's number.

I refused to hide in the closet from this day forth. I didn't want to live in the shadows anymore. I was going to live my life while basking in the sunlight.