Love is both salvation and torment.

If Bella Ramsey were given another chance, she swore—she would never fall in love with Seth Rogan again.

The one thing Bella Ramsey regretted most in life was falling in love with her late father's friend.

She was ten the first time she met Seth Rogan—a tall man who held the newly orphaned girl in his arms and promised to protect her for the rest of his life.

He adopted her, raised her, and treated her like a real uncle.

At fifteen, when Bella was being bullied, it was Seth who showed up and made her tormentors kneel and apologize.

At eighteen, when one of Seth's missions failed and he was on the brink of death, Bella ignored the doctors' warnings and donated part of her liver to save him.

That same day, she stole a kiss from him, only for Seth to wake up at that very moment and see it happen.

There was no sweetness, only shock in his eyes—and a distance that never seemed to close.

Later, when Seth's one true love, Faye Walters, was critically ill, Bella was the only compatible donor.

The usually aloof Seth came to her then. He said that if she agreed to donate her kidney, he would do anything she asked.

Bella gave no reply. Her silence was her refusal. Faye died on the operating table.

Seth didn't shed a single tear. Life continued as if nothing had happened.

But on the seventh day after Faye's death, Seth made Bella's diary—filled with the secret longings of her teenage years—public.

He nailed her to a pillar of shame for loving her uncle.

On Bella's birthday, Seth drugged and kidnapped her. She was assaulted.

He stood by and watched, saying only, "Don't even think I'd touch you. You disgust me."

Just before she lost consciousness, Seth threw a bucket of cold water on her.

Dazed, she saw him walking toward her, knife in hand.

Then came the blade, swift and cold as ice. "This is what you owe Faye."

When she opened her eyes again, Bella found herself back on the day he had asked her for the kidney.

…

"I'm begging you. This kidney might mean nothing to you, but without it, Faye will die. If you agree to donate it to her, I'll do anything you ask."

Seth's pleading voice rang in her ears, snapping Bella fully awake.

She had come back to life.

In her past life, she had turned him down on this day and ended up suffering a fate worse than death.

But she had already lost part of her liver for Seth. How could she survive losing a kidney too?

Yet now, living this day again, Bella understood everything.

If not donating meant death anyway, then this kidney would be repayment—for eleven years of care from Seth. After that, they'd be even.

Gripping her hands into fists, she answered firmly, "I'll do it."

The words caught in Seth's throat. The doctor beside him looked stunned.

"Bella, are you sure?" the doctor asked, alarmed. "We usually don't recommend a second organ donation—it makes the surgery far more dangerous, even life-threatening."

Bella nodded. Of course, she understood the risks. But if it meant staying away from Seth forever, she was willing to die.

Watching her sign the agreement with his own eyes was the only thing that finally eased Seth's heart.

He had feared she was lying to him. He hadn't expected her to go through with it, without hesitation.

His gaze softened as he looked at her. "Since you agreed to donate, I'll keep my word. Whatever you want, name it."

"I only have one request. I want to sever ties with the Rogen family. From now on, I am no longer one of you."

Seth frowned. "Are you serious?"

He had assumed she would use this to force him into marriage. He never expected her only request would be to cut him off.

Bella met his eyes, her voice cold. "Yes."

Seth studied her for a few seconds, then his expression darkened.

"Bella, I suggest you give up your little schemes. Don't think that just because you cut ties with the Rogen family, there's a chance between us. There will never be anything between us. I only love one person—Faye. Not you."

Bella's lashes trembled. "I know."

The memories of her past life's humiliation were still fresh. Of course, she knew how much he loved Faye.

That was why, this time, she would never love him again. All she wanted was distance—distance and nothing else.

Seth looked at her for a moment longer.

He didn't know why, but something about her felt different now. He couldn't quite say what.

Just as he was about to speak, a voice from the hospital room interrupted them.

Faye.

He rushed inside instinctively. Bella's face dimmed, but she followed.

Faye was coughing, her eyes rimmed red.

"Seth, stop pressuring Bella. I know she doesn't like me. Even if she refuses to donate, I understand."

Before she could say more, Seth grabbed her hand, his voice full of joy. "Faye, Bella agreed. You're going to be okay!"

Faye froze. Her gaze snapped to Bella, stunned—then her eyes turned bloodshot. "Seth, did she make you promise to marry her?"

Before he could answer, Faye slapped Bella across the face.

A red mark bloomed instantly. Clutching her chest, Faye shouted, "Bella, do you have no shame? Seth is your uncle—how could you suggest something so disgusting? Seth, if you marry her, I'd rather die right now!"

Her outburst didn't even make Seth glance at the bruised Bella. He only held Faye tighter.

"Faye, the only one I love is you. I'll marry no one else. As for anyone else—don't even think about it."

Bella touched her burning cheek and let out a small, bitter smile. She took the hint and quietly left, but just as she stepped out, she heard their voices.

"She already donated her liver to you. Would donating a kidney now be dangerous?"

Bella paused mid-step. A part of her still hoped for his answer.

But it shattered the next second.

"You know me, Faye. I don't care what happens to anyone else. I only want you to get better. That's all that matters."

Bella stood still for a moment, then calmly pulled out her phone and made a call.

"Hello, Counselor? About the Caledon Volunteer Program you mentioned last time—I'd like to join."

The counselor lit up instantly. "That's wonderful, Bella. I'm proud of you. This country needs more young people like you, who are willing to give of themselves. But the program is tough. Remote locations, difficult conditions. Will your uncle even agree to let you go? He's always been so protective of you."

Bella tightened her grip on the phone. Her voice came out steady, no room for doubt. "I don't need his permission. I can decide for myself."

The moment she ended the call, the strength drained from her. Her legs felt weak. She wanted to lean against the wall and catch her breath.

But when she stepped back, she collided with a firm chest.

Startled, Bella's body tensed. Seth frowned.

"Who were you on the phone with? What were you talking about joining?"

Bella hesitated, then replied calmly, "Oh. A teacher asked if I wanted to join a school club."

Seth didn't press her. Instead, his tone shifted, firm and impersonal. "The surgery is scheduled for next week. In the meantime, I'm bringing Faye home."

There was a beat of silence. Then his voice turned cold. "And I don't want to see any strange letters in my study that might give Faye the wrong impression."

Bella turned her head to the side. Her fingers dug into her palm as she answered bitterly, "Okay."

Ever since she had kissed him that one time, Bella had taken to writing Seth a long love letter every week, trying desperately to express what she couldn't say aloud.

But every single letter ended up in the trash.

Still, she kept writing. She hadn't realized that what to her were heartfelt confessions were to him strange, unwanted, and inappropriate.

Seth said nothing more. He gave the driver a few instructions, then turned and walked into Faye's hospital room.

An hour later, Bella saw Seth's car pull up at the hospital entrance. He helped Faye into the car.

She hurried downstairs, rushing to the roadside, just in time to reach for the door.

The car pulled away before her fingers could touch the handle, trailing exhaust in its wake.

Frozen on the spot, she stared blankly after the receding vehicle. Then her phone buzzed with a message.

[Faye has a cleanliness obsession. She doesn't like unfamiliar smells. Take a taxi home.]

Her eyes dimmed. Slowly, she lowered her phone, flagged down a passing cab, and got in.

She didn't say a word. Just stared out the window in silence.

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, concern in his voice. "Miss, your face doesn't look so good. Want me to stop by a pharmacy?"

She shook her head. Her eyes grew even darker.

Not one word of concern from her so-called family. The only person who'd shown her any kindness today was a stranger.

How ironic. How pathetic.

Eventually, the cab stopped in front of Seth's villa. Bella got out and pushed open the door.

Inside, there was no sign of Seth. Only Faye, idly toying with a necklace.

Bella looked closer. Her heart clenched.

It wasn't just a necklace. It was the pendant she had locked away in the safe—her parents' only keepsake, the one she treasured so much she hadn't dared to touch it for years.

And now it was in Faye's hands.

Her expression turned cold. She stepped forward and held out her hand. "Give it back. Faye, you entered my room without permission. Is that what you call proper upbringing?"

Faye's expression soured. But before she could respond, Seth's voice came from upstairs. "I told Faye she could go in. She'll be the lady of this house sooner or later. She's free to enter any room she likes. In fact, even if she wanted to live in your room, you shouldn't have a problem with it."

He descended the stairs and stopped in front of Bella, his face expressionless, his gaze sharp.

Her face went pale.

Faye, emboldened by his presence, scoffed. "It's just a cheap old pendant. You want it back? Fine."

She held it out, then let it slip from her fingers.

It hit the floor.

Crack.

"No!"

The sound of it breaking cut through the air like a blade.

So did Bella's heart.

That pendant—her only link to her parents, her only keepsake, her only memory of them—was now shattered on the floor.

Her eyes turned red.

She shoved Faye aside and dropped to her knees, no longer caring about appearances.

Her hands moved desperately, trying to piece it back together, but the cracks ran deep, and nothing she did could make it whole again.

Faye stood awkwardly to the side, taken aback by the intensity of Bella's reaction. She hadn't expected this.

Seth's brows knitted slightly. After all these years living together, this was the first time he'd ever seen Bella lose control.

But seeing Faye so shaken, he still frowned and tried to soothe her.

"That's enough. Faye didn't do it on purpose. I'll pay you back for the pendant."

Bella didn't respond. She simply gathered the shattered pendant and placed it gently into her bag.

After a long silence, she turned to Seth and gave him a smile—thin, distant, and tinged with sorrow. "No need, Uncle."

She said it lightly, almost casually, and then walked off in a hurry, leaving Seth standing there, frozen.

Uncle…

She hadn't called him that since confessing her feelings. No matter how many times he insisted on the title, she had refused to say it. But now, she'd said it herself. Voluntarily.

Seth stood rooted to the floor, unmoving. Dazed.

It wasn't until Faye tugged on his arm that he blinked back into focus.

"Seth? What's wrong?"

He quickly composed himself, his voice smoothing into one of calm reassurance. "Nothing. Don't think too much about what just happened. Bella's not a bad person, just a little spoiled after all these years. That's on me."

Faye froze for a moment, surprised he was defending Bella. She managed a sweet nod, but her eyes flickered with something darker—something jealous and sharp.

Seeking comfort, she wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against him as she said softly, "Seth, once the surgery's done… let's get married, okay? I can't wait to start our life together."

A trace of warmth appeared in Seth's gaze. He tapped her nose with his finger. "Alright. Whatever you want."

"Really?" she beamed. "Then I'll be the most beautiful bride in the world."

...

For days, Bella buried herself in paperwork for the Caledon Volunteer Program. Morning to night, she ran between offices and lecture halls, doing what needed to be done.

Though they still lived under the same roof, she hadn't seen Seth even once.

One evening, she carried a large box of old letters—those densely written love letters she'd once poured her heart into—and headed toward the fireplace.

One by one, the pages curled and blackened in the flames.

By the time she reached the last letter, Seth's voice snapped behind her. "What are you doing?"

Bella didn't reply. He stepped closer, catching sight of the letter still burning, not yet turned to ash.

His face darkened. He grabbed her wrist, holding it in an unyielding grip.

His voice was low and hoarse, heavy with accusation. "Bella, what the hell is this? Another stunt to get my attention? Is this supposed to mean something?"

She lowered her head and pulled her hand free.

"You're overthinking it."

But to him, it only confirmed his suspicion.

He stepped back, his voice sharp and flat. "Ten days from now, I'm marrying Faye. You're welcome to attend."

Her face drained of color. Still, she forced a brittle smile.

"Congratulations."

In ten days, she'd be gone to Caledon, beginning a life entirely separate from his. She didn't say it. There was no point.

She turned to leave, but just as she reached the door, he called out again.

"Faye said a wedding only happens once in a lifetime. She doesn't trust anyone else to handle it."

Bella paused, uncertain what he meant.

"So?" she asked quietly.

"So," he said, "I want you to plan the wedding. I raised you. You should know better than anyone what I'd want."