I smiled in relief and returned to my room with the last bottle of wine. The next day, Julius seemed to have disappeared entirely. He only sent me a message requesting leave, and after that, there was no word from him.

That night, heavy rain poured down. Julius walked in drenched, clutching a box tightly to his chest. I regarded him with indifference as I took the box and handed it to Liz. She opened it to reveal a brocade bag and looked at me with a hint of pride.

"Sister, thank you. I just mentioned it yesterday. I didn't expect you to send Julius back with it today."

"Julius, you've worked so hard."

Julius's cold expression softened immediately, and even the tips of his ears turned a little red.

"It’s no trouble, just a trip."

He spoke casually, but the slight tremble in his legs as he left betrayed his fatigue. I watched him, a sour feeling rising in my chest. It wasn’t as simple as just a trip, but for Liz, he was willing.

Liz flashed a satisfied smile in the dim light. I ignored her pride and instead mocked Julius's tone.

"Julius, don’t forget, you’re still my bodyguard."

Julius paused before nodding. As expected, he returned to his usual cold demeanor over the following days.

That evening, there was a dinner at the Spencer family’s house. I drank more than I should have, and Julius dutifully watched over me. But his gaze was fixed on Liz the entire time. When he saw her being forced to drink, the veins in his forehead bulged, and his fists clenched in frustration.

Soon, a group of second-generation rich men surrounded him. Unable to contain himself any longer, Julius stormed forward, standing guard over those behind him. Meanwhile, my stomach churned, and I stumbled toward the bathroom alone.

The tensions between the Spencer family and the Floyd family were complicated, so I deliberately brought a signal transmitter to send to Julius. However, even with that preparation, when the door behind me suddenly shut, I froze in shock and broke into a cold sweat.

Liz locked the door expertly and slowly approached me, a malicious gleam in her eyes.

I looked at her coldly. "Have you had enough fun?"

She raised an eyebrow, no longer the innocent girl she used to be. "Sister, what are you talking about? I haven’t done anything yet."

I watched her expression grow darker, and instinctively, I frowned. But before I could react, she pushed me back. I stumbled, hitting the steps behind me, and a painful, bloody mark appeared on my arm.

"I told you, I’ll take everything from you," she sneered, her voice low. "Including Julius."

"Do you think he drank that glass of drugged wine because of you?" Her sharp nails scratched my cheek, but strangely, I felt no pain. I could only stare at her in stunned silence.

"Do you think he stopped that out-of-control car for you? And the kidnapping, do you really believe it was the Spencer family who sent someone to abduct you?"

She smirked as I struggled to process her words, her voice growing colder.

"To be honest, it was Julius who drugged you, tampered with the car, and kidnapped you."

My head spun, the buzzing in my ears louder than ever.

Liz's voice cut through the chaos: "You’ve been blocking my path for too long, so he broke your wings for me. That way, I’ll always get the best before you."

Her eyes flashed with jealousy as she sneered. "I should thank you for choosing such a perfect tool for me."

I woke with a start and shoved her away.

"Aren't you afraid Julius will find out you're using him?"

I pulled out the mechanical pen. "See this? A simple press, and he'll show up immediately."

Liz chuckled.

"Do you honestly believe this little gadget he gave you is useful?"

"Then press it. I'll wait," she taunted.

I pressed the button on the pen, but after several minutes, nothing happened.

Liz waved her hand dismissively, and suddenly a large, fat man with big ears emerged from the compartment behind her. He lunged toward me, purposefully tearing at my clothes.

With a smug smile, Liz flicked her hair and pressed the same mechanical pen that I had.

Almost immediately, the bathroom door crashed open. Julius stormed in, his face a mask of panic.

"Liz!"

Without hesitation, he scooped Liz into his arms, just as he had done that day on the fire.

"Sister... I... I was really wrong. I’ll keep my distance from Julius in the future. I know he’s your bodyguard, and I’ll never dare do this again..."

Tears flooded Liz’s eyes as she struggled to push him away, but Julius held her even tighter.

The moment he saw her tears, his rationality snapped. He barely glanced at the man I had knocked on the ground before turning to me with cold contempt.

"Myra, I really underestimated you. You’re more vicious than I thought."

He stormed out, carrying Liz in his arms.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my face bruised and bloodied. I wiped away the blood with a bitter smile. She truly was the person I had chosen. Even her nature was the same as mine. Once I gave my heart to someone, I could no longer see anyone else.

It was me who was hurt, covered in bruises, yet in his eyes, only Liz existed.

I stumbled back to the Floyd family home, only to be met with a teacup thrown at me as soon as I walked in.

"I told you to go to the banquet! Look at what mess you've caused!"

Father Floyd threw his phone at me. I lowered my head, and when I saw the photo on the screen, my face went pale.

"You shameful thing! If you were half as obedient as your sister, this wouldn’t have happened."

"Kneel here. You’ll stay on the floor until I say otherwise."

With a harsh kick, I was forced to my knees. Warm blood trickled down my forehead, but I didn’t care anymore. All I could think of was the photo of me and the kidnapper, now circulating. That photo—only known to one person—had been released like this.

I sneered and slammed the mechanical pen into the trash can without hesitation. The person who gave it to me, promising to protect me for life, was Julius. Yet, it was him who had pushed me into the abyss.

I trembled uncontrollably as my vision blurred.

Suddenly, the study door slammed open. Julius’s voice cut through the silence.

"How can Liz marry the man from the Fisher family? Everyone in Beijing knows his perverted reputation."

"And who do you think should marry her?" Father Floyd sneered.

Julius hesitated only briefly before speaking firmly.

"I’m willing to give up all the Spencer family’s shares to secure Liz's freedom."

He paused, and his voice grew even more resolute.

"You know all the problems with the Floyd family. I promise you that when I inherit the Spencer family, I won’t touch the Floyd family. As long as I can free Liz, I’ll do anything."

"You’re the bodyguard brought home by Myra. Is it worth it to hurt her like this for an illegitimate daughter?"

Father Floyd raised his voice intentionally.

Julius, however, replied without hesitation, his voice firmly:

"For Liz, everything is worth it."

The villa was eerily silent late at night, but Julius’s words pierced through the quiet, reaching my ears.

It felt like my heart was being torn open, but all I could do was laugh bitterly at myself.

The sharp blade I had sharpened for eight years had finally struck me.

Ignoring the pain, I stumbled to my feet and pushed open the half-closed door of the study.

"I am willing to go through with the marriage."

Father Floyd smiled, satisfied.

But Julius’s expression shifted, panic flashing across his face when he saw me.

I smiled, my relief fleeting, and tore the contract—hidden close to my body—into pieces.

"The contract has expired."

"Julius, I don’t want you anymore."