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."

Bella lowered her gaze and gave a quiet smile, masking the scorn and bitterness in her eyes.

"Uncle, I really don't love you anymore. You don't have to humiliate me like this."

With that, she turned and walked out of the villa, leaving Seth frozen where he stood.

She took a cab to campus—there were still documents left to fill out for the Caledon Volunteer Program. After submitting the last form, she stepped out of the office and suddenly felt countless eyes turning in her direction. There were murmurs, snickers, and unmistakable ridicule in the air.

"Oh my god, is that real? Rich people are wild."

"The more proper they look, the freakier they are in private."

"I've already got the novel title in mind—The Tycoon's Kept Canary."

Still clueless, Bella was pulled aside by a panicked dormmate.

"Bella, check the trending list—now!"

She took out her phone. Right at the top, a headline jumped out at her: [Rogen Heir's Forbidden Love Exposed!]

Her fingers trembled as she tapped the link. It opened to a blurred-out, suggestive video. The faces had been pixelated, but anyone who knew them could still tell.

It was her. And Seth.

She was pinned beneath him, moaning shamelessly, begging him for more.

Her eyes went bloodshot. Her fists clenched tightly.

"This video is fake. I never did anything like this."

"I believe you, Bella! That trending post—it's obviously bought. You have to find out who did this. They can't get away with it."

Without another word, Bella jumped in a cab and rushed back to the villa. She needed to talk to Seth to clear this up.

But just as she reached the stairs, she saw him standing there, blocking her path.

Before she could speak, his eyes—cold and sharp—cut through her.

"This is what you meant by 'you don't love me anymore'? You're a girl. Just to ruin my wedding with Faye, you'd throw away your own reputation? Have you no shame?"

Bella bit down hard on her lip. She wanted to respond, but no words came out. She hadn't expected him to think of her this way. Her heart dropped. Whatever strength she'd held onto vanished completely.

Seth mistook her silence for guilt. His lips curled into a cold smirk.

"If you think public pressure will force me to marry you, you're dreaming. I will marry no one but Faye."

The words had barely left his mouth when Faye, who had overheard everything, stepped forward.

Her voice was laced with disdain. "Bella, a woman should know how to respect herself, not degrade herself like this."

Bella opened her mouth to explain, but Faye suddenly gave her a hard shove.

Behind Bella, a staircase loomed—fifty steps tall.

In that same moment, Faye feigned a twist of her ankle and fell forward toward the stairs.

Seth didn't hesitate. He lunged and caught Faye's hand.

It wasn't until he heard the loud, thudding crash of a body falling down the stairs that he turned and saw Bella.

She lay crumpled on the steps, curled into herself in pain, hugging her knees. Silent, heavy tears streamed down her cheeks—as if crying could dull the agony burning through her.

Seth's eyes darkened. His chest tightened.

He dashed down the stairs.

"Bella! Are you okay? Talk to me. Are you hurt?"

When Bella opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Seth's worn, haggard face.

Seeing her awake, his voice softened—just slightly. "I didn't save you... because Faye is sick."

Her voice was calm, almost distant. "I understand."

Seth let out a barely audible sigh before continuing, "You still have the kidney donation in a few days. You need to take care of yourself."

A bitter smile flickered across her lips. So that's why he'd stayed to look after her—he was afraid an injury would delay the operation for Faye.

After a moment of silence, he added, "No matter what happens, I won't forget my promise. Even after I marry, I'll protect you. Always."

Bella raised her eyes slightly at that.

In her heart, she quietly answered, 'Too bad. I don't need that anymore.'

The rest of the day, Seth never came back. Bella sat alone, waiting for the IV drip to finish. She checked herself out of the hospital by herself.

Just as she completed the discharge papers, a stretcher rushed past her toward the emergency room.

She caught a glimpse of Seth running beside it—his face tight with panic.

And on that stretcher… was Faye.

Her mind suddenly blanked.

In her previous life, she hadn't donated the kidney, and Faye had died.

But now—she was willing to donate. So why was Faye still being wheeled into the ER?

She didn't have time to search for answers. She just ran.

At the emergency room doors, Seth sat with his head bowed, fingers tapping anxiously on the bench, his whole frame radiating tension.

Bella asked what had happened. Only then did she learn that Faye had a clotting disorder. She'd gotten dizzy while showering, fallen, and hit her head on the tub. The impact had caused internal bleeding.

Not long after, a doctor emerged from the emergency room.

"She's lost a lot of blood. Is there any family who can donate?"

Seth stood up instantly. "I will!"

"What's your blood type?" the doctor asked. "The patient is Rh-negative."

At that, Seth's face turned ghostly pale. His voice came out trembling. "I'm type B."

Rh-negative blood was rare, like a red wolf's. And of everyone there, only Bella had it.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward. "I'm Rh-negative. I'll do it."

The memories of her last life were still vivid. She had come so far—she couldn't let things play out the same way again.

Led by the nurse, she gave a full thousand milliliters of blood.

As the last drop drained, her vision went black. She collapsed in the donation room.

When she came to, she was alone. The room was silent.

She tore the IV from her hand and got out of bed, barefoot, hurrying toward Faye's ward.

Just as she reached the door, a tender scene met her eyes.

Seth held Faye tightly, his voice choked with emotion. "You're okay… you're okay…"

Faye, pale and weak, managed a faint smile. "Seth, if I had died, at least it would've freed you to be with Bella. Why are you doing all this?"

Seth shook his head, solemnly pulling her hand to his chest. "Faye, don't say things like that. Do you hear this? My heart only beats for you. Don't bring up people who have nothing to do with us to hurt what we have. This life and every life after… I'll only love you."

Hearing that, Bella's heart jerked violently in her chest. It was real—sharp, physical pain. She leaned against the wall, sorrow washing over her eyes.

Softly, as if only for herself, she murmured, "This time… the tragedy won't repeat."