Right after he said that, William turned and ran out of the airport.

Jasmine numbly pulled out her phone.

Just as she had guessed, the top post on her feed was from Jennifer Farrell. The latter didn't write anything—just shared a painting.

And that was all it took for William to walk away from Jasmine and the promise he made.

"Miss, we're about to close the gate."

Snapping out of it, Jasmine stopped looking in his direction and turned to go the opposite way. When she landed in Zaryen, Jasmine got a text from William.

[I'll be two days late. Go have fun first.]

Jasmine was a little surprised. He was going to be late instead of just ditching her completely.

Guess he really was desperate to break free from her.

Jasmine didn't wait. She found a local guide and joined a tour group. However, she couldn't keep up. Most of the time, she was resting alone in her room.

By the time William showed up, she had already packed her suitcase and was ready to leave.

"Jasmine, I ditched so much work to come all the way out here and go along with your madness—you think this is funny?"

He kicked over her suitcase in frustration.

As her clothes scattered across the floor, Jasmine let out a bitter laugh.

"Go along with me? Really? Isn't Jennifer right next door?"

William froze, and his voice wavered a little when he next spoke. "Jennifer's just here to sketch. You don't need to pick a fight with her every time."

Jasmine's fingers curled slightly, but she didn't say another word. She just bent down and started picking up her clothes.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Jennifer suddenly appeared in the doorway, and the anger on William's face vanished instantly.

It was replaced by concern and urgency.

"You said you weren't feeling well—why are you up?"

"Oh, I can't just lie around forever. What were you and Ms. Spencer talking about? I heard loud voices, so I thought I'd come check."

When William heard Jennifer's words, he glanced at Jasmine.

"It's nothing. You hungry? I'll grab you something to eat."

Jennifer gave a small, shy nod.

William turned to leave, but then he suddenly stopped. He looked at Jasmine, clearly annoyed.

"What about you? What do you want to eat?"

Jasmine had just finished packing the last of her clothes, and even that small bit of effort had left her sweating. She could hear the shift in his tone, how he flipped back and forth.

She replied quietly, "Nothing. I'm good."

The second William heard her refusal, his face darkened. "Suit yourself. Starve for all I care. You look like a ghost already!"

Then, the door slammed shut behind him, and only Jasmine and Jennifer were left in the room.

It wasn't Jasmine's first time meeting her.

The Farrell family had made their money fast—new money. Naturally, the Graham family looked down on them.

And Jennifer, with her proud personality, had always thought the Graham family was arrogant and snobbish.

Back then, she had stormed off in anger, hoping to make a name for herself overseas.

Now she had come back with her tail between her legs. And the first thing she did?

Rekindle things with her old flame.

As someone watching from the outside, Jasmine found the whole thing pathetic.

And now that William was gone, Jennifer didn't even bother pretending.

"Long time no see, Ms. Spencer."

As Jennifer spoke, she kicked over Jasmine's suitcase. All the things Jasmine had carefully sorted and folded were ruined in an instant, just like that.

Seeing her effort so easily ruined lit a fire in Jasmine's chest.

She knew Jennifer was doing it on purpose—trying to get under her skin.

And it worked.

Without hesitation, Jasmine slapped her across the face.

William walked in just in time to see the red handprint blooming across Jennifer's cheek, and her watery eyes.

He was holding a bowl of stew meant for Jasmine, but it crashed to the ground.

Without asking a single question, he stormed over and struck Jasmine hard across the face.

"Jasmine, know when to stop!"

Jennifer let out a soft sob and looked up at William.

"It was my fault. I knocked over her suitcase by accident. I know I'm not welcome here. I'll leave."

After saying that, Jennifer rushed out the door.

William didn't hesitate and turned to follow her, but Jasmine suddenly called out.

"William!"

He paused.

"The third thing: Stay."

William clenched his fists and glared at Jasmine.

Jasmine knew exactly what he was thinking.

She let out a heavy breath, feeling all the strength leave her body as she sank to the floor.

Rubbing her ear where he had struck her, she looked at the mess of clothes on the ground and slowly started folding them again.

"You're just waiting for the divorce, right? Then you'll marry Jennifer?

"Two more things to go after this. Don't tell me you're going to quit now. Honestly, I wasn't happy with how you handled the first two. You're not backing out on me, are you?"

After she finished speaking, she looked up and met his eyes.

His dark eyes were full of mockery.

"Jasmine, knowing your place is important. Too bad you don't get that."

"I agreed to this third thing, but remember this: the Spencer family can't protect you anymore. If you touch Jennifer again, I'll make sure you die a miserable death!"

Jasmine lowered her head and laughed bitterly.

Anyone could talk tough.

Back when they fought the hardest, William had never been a match for her. Not to mention, he would soon get his wish, and he wouldn't have to lift a finger.

William called Jennifer to calm her down, and then he arranged for her to return home early.

Jasmine watched the way he carefully protected Jennifer, and it felt like swallowing bitter medicine.

It hit her—William knew how to love.

He just didn't love her.

When William returned, Jasmine still hadn't finished packing. He couldn't stand it anymore. He grabbed her and started picking up her things, bending down to fold them himself.

"Pathetic. It's just this little bit of stuff, and you can't even get it together. With how you're acting like you don't even have enough strength for this, anyone would think you're about to die."

Jasmine suddenly felt a bit playful and decided to tease him.

"Yep, I'm about to die. So what? Will you regret how you treated me when I'm gone?"

William froze for a second. When he looked up again, his face was full of mockery.

"Regret? You've got it all wrong. If you die, I'll throw a party, fireworks for three days straight, and feast with everyone in Jovelle."

Jasmine laughed through her tears, clutching her stomach.

"William, your words are as sharp as ever. Given that we've shared a bed before, you could at least spare me the venom."

Jasmine didn't linger in Zaryen. She could feel her body reaching its limit.

After returning to Jovelle City, she spent another week in bed. Each time she had chemotherapy, her hair fell out at a noticeable rate.

When William called, pushing her about the last two things, she locked herself in the bathroom and cried the entire afternoon. Once she finished crying, she went to the mall to buy a wig, covered in sunglasses and a hat.

"Did you cut your hair?"

Jasmine didn't answer him. She simply walked straight to his car.

"Let's go."

William furrowed his brows, instinctively reaching for her wig, but she quickly pulled away.

"Hurry up, are we going or not?"

William got in the car and started the engine. "Just a heads-up, there's less than a week left until the waiting period ends. You better figure out the last two things quickly."

Jasmine didn't respond. Her gaze was fixed on the window. She had been so busy before, busy fighting with William, trying to get his attention, that she had missed so much of the beauty of Jovelle City.

She thought that if she stood on the same level as him, they could walk side by side and enjoy the view together.

But the truth was, when a man didn't love a woman, even standing side by side wouldn't make him notice her. But for someone he loved, he would bend down and lower himself just to be with her.

Jasmine's fourth request was simple—she wanted William to go with her to an amusement park.

"That's childish!"

William glanced at her, looking unimpressed.

Jasmine looked down at her hands in her lap.

She had seen William take Jennifer to the amusement park before—saw him patiently pose for photos with her, again and again.

This wasn't about comparing herself to Jennifer.

It was just that going to the amusement park with William had been a childhood dream of hers.

This fourth thing on her list was for the little Jasmine who never got to do it.

William was there in body, but his mind was somewhere far away. His eyes stayed glued to his phone.

Jasmine had to call his name four or five times before he finally looked at her.

When night fell, William urged her to leave three separate times, but she ignored him.

Then, the lights on the Ferris wheel lit up in the distance.

Her eyes lit up too. She pointed toward it, full of hope.

"Just ride this one with me. After that, we can go."

William froze when he saw the faint glow in her eyes. After a moment, he pressed his lips together and said flatly, "Even if the Ferris wheel takes us to the very top, I still won't fall in love with you."

The silence stretched, the seconds ticking by.

Jasmine's eyes stung, and she turned her head quickly.

"What are you talking about? I've just never ridden one before, that's all."

Just then, William's phone rang, cutting through the moment. On the other end, Jennifer said something in a rush.

After hanging up, William left again in a hurry.

This time, he didn't even apologize.

As the Ferris wheel rose to the very top, Jasmine looked down at the city glowing below her.

Tears slid down her cheeks as she whispered, "Happy birthday, Jasmine."

-

After that day, Jasmine was rushed to the hospital with a high fever.

Machines beeped steadily by her ear, but to her, it was as if the world had gone completely silent.

In her fevered dreams, Jasmine thought she saw William standing by her bed. But even after seeing her in such a half-dead state, there wasn't a hint of pity in his eyes.

Instead, he gave her a wide, cruel smile.

"Serves you right. Karma always comes for the wicked. You might as well die now, then I won't have to waste my time finishing that stupid last task of yours."

In the dream, Jasmine was so angry that her teeth clenched.

But her heart?

It ached painfully.

She forced herself to wake up with a sharp breath.

However, the person she wanted to see wasn't there.

"Thank God, you're finally awake. Do you know how long you've been out?"

Jasmine had always been strong-willed, and the world she lived in was full of people who only cared about power and reputation.

The Spencer family had fallen, and William clearly didn't care about her. Everyone knew he would be the first to laugh at her downfall, so they had all picked sides long ago and cut ties with her.

The only person left at her side was a close friend who was also the nurse who had been quietly caring for her, Tania Judd.

When she heard Tania's words, she looked over in panic. "What day is it today?"

Tania thought Jasmine was upset again about how little time she had left. She tried to hide her expression and spoke gently, trying to comfort her.

"The 28th. Jasmine, you—"

Jasmine cut her off. "My wig. Where is it?"

Tania paused for a second, surprised. "It's right here. I kept it safe for you."

Jasmine's fingers curled slightly as she took the wig from her hands. Her gaze was lowered, her thoughts unreadable.

"While I was out, did anyone come to see me?"

Her voice was cautious, and her fingers clutched the wig a little tighter when she spoke.

Tania felt a dull ache in her chest at the sight of her like this, but she didn't want to lie to Jasmine.

"Jasmine… William hasn't come."

She quickly turned her head, blinking away the redness in her eyes.

Not only did he not show up, but he wouldn't even listen to the calls and hints Tania had made.

"Coma? What kind of joke is that? Jasmine would never be the one in a coma," he had said coldly.

"I'm busy. I don't have time to play along with her nonsense. Aside from that last thing she wants, I'm not doing anything else for her. Tell her to stop wasting everyone's time!"