I dropped the candied fruit snacks and covered my face, about to run to the bathroom, but she grabbed me with her fair, delicate hand.

"Rafael, there's no need to put on makeup anymore. Anyway, you don't look like Julian even when you try."

I froze in place.

Suddenly, I remembered something from a few months ago. Melia had suddenly ordered me, "Take off your makeup."

I didn’t catch it clearly and looked up in surprise, "What?"

But she stared at me seriously and said, "Rafael, let me see what you look like without makeup."

I firmly refused to agree. That was beyond the scope of my professional duties.

After all, when I received payment, I was expected to act on behalf of others and I had to always show up around Melia with Julian's makeup on.

That way, I could constantly serve as a reminder for the employer.

But now, Melia didn’t say anything. She just turned and walked away. It felt as though whether I wore makeup or not made no difference to her.

"Come here, let’s sleep."

Melia had changed into her sleepwear and was lying in bed, lifting the covers and opening her arms toward me.

The expression on her face was as natural as ever.

I didn’t know exactly when, but our relationship had gradually turned into that of a normal couple.

Every night, she needed to be in my arms to fall asleep.

But the thought that I would eventually leave made me hesitate, unwilling to go over. "Melia, I... I'm not really that tired right now."

Melia looked at me in confusion. "Then don’t sleep yet, come here and hold me while I sleep."

I stood there, dragging my feet.

Melia lost her patience and frowned. "Rafael, are you coming over or not?"

I grabbed a nearby pillow in a panic and quickly ran out. "I... I’ll sleep in the guest room!"

As expected, she didn’t follow.

Lying in the pitch-black guest room, I closed my eyes but couldn’t fall asleep. My mind was filled with thoughts of parting from Melia.

After all, I needed to break the habit even though these three years of being a stand-in had constantly reminded me not to get emotionally involved with my client.

But as the saying went, ‘People were not wood or stone who can be without feelings.’

Even a dog could form attachments, let alone a living, breathing woman.

I had to find a suitable excuse to leave in the next few days.

I woke up from a nap, stretched lazily and before I knew it, someone had pulled me into arms.

I opened my eyes in a panic and realized that I had somehow ended up back in the bedroom in the middle of the night.

"Melia, you..."

Melia had her arms wrapped around my waist from behind, her legs naturally draped over mine. She was still fast asleep but instinctively kissed the back of my neck.

"Be good, don’t move."

In a surge of anger, I turned around.

The moment I saw Melia's sleeping face, my frustration boiled over.

No wonder Julian was willing to spend 15 million to find a stand-in. If I had that kind of money, I’d be scared of such a beautiful woman being taken away by someone else.

But…

She wasn’t someone I could have.

Three more days passed.

I desperately searched for a way to disappear without raising suspicion like disappearing on a trip, being abducted, vanishing without a word.

In the end, I couldn’t settle on a decent plan.

Only three days left.

Julian had called me multiple times, urging me to act.

"Rafael, there are only three days left. You need to hurry up."

"If you haven’t disappeared from Melia’s life by then, you’ll have to pay a hefty penalty."

I could never afford that penalty.

I forced a smile. "Mr. Sinclair, don’t worry. I promise I’ll be gone within three days."

After hanging up, I gritted my teeth and bought a plane ticket for two days later.

Melia, goodbye.

I gazed out the window, lost in thought. In the alley next door, a woman was begging on the street, holding a child in her arms.

Almost instinctively, I ran out into the rain and handed the woman an umbrella.

She immediately burst into tears, bowing to me while holding her child.

"Thank you, thank you!"

She told me her husband was seriously ill and needed an extremely expensive surgery. They had sold their house, emptied all their savings, but it still wasn’t enough to cover the medical costs.

So, she had no choice but to take her child and beg on the streets, hoping to raise some funds through this undignified method.

As I listened, my eyes filled with tears. I thought of my grandmother, bedridden with a serious illness and quickly helped her to her feet.

“I believe everything will get better."

I scanned the QR code and transferred all 3 thousand dollars from my balance to her. "Though it's not much, I hope it helps."

The rain wasn’t heavy, but it was enough to soak through clothes.

I didn't know how long the woman had been kneeling, holding her child, but her clothes were already soaked through.

I watched as she took the umbrella, holding her child as she walked away, unable to hold back my tears.

"Let’s go back." A single umbrella appeared above my head. I turned around and met Melia’s gaze, her eyes filled with a gentle smile.

"Every time, you always remember to give me an umbrella, yet you're the fool who ends up getting soaked in the rain."

Melia took my hand, holding the umbrella as she led me toward the Spring River Villa. "I didn't expect my boyfriend to be so kind-hearted, unable to bear seeing others suffer."

The rain grew heavier.

I could clearly feel the umbrella tilting towards me, making Melia's shoulder soaked through.

I suddenly remembered that when I first gave her an umbrella, Melia had only let me stand in the rain.

It felt like she was punishing me in the same way she had punished Julian for abandoning her.

But later, every time she held the umbrella, she would tilt it towards me.

I stared at Melia in a daze. Had she started forgiving Julian, or had she developed feelings for me?

But I didn’t ask her because the more likely situation was that she had started forgiving Julian.

Julian had returned to the country a few days ago and just now, I had seen a message from him on Melia's phone.

[Melia, I’m back in the country. My friends helped me organize a welcome back party. I’ve sent you the address, hope you can come tonight.]

Melia didn’t reply, but she held her phone tightly, staring at it for a long while, lost in thought.

Now that the main person had returned, I should be helping them get together and then make my perfect exit.

"Sweetheart, check your phone. Just now, you were so helpful, you must be out of pocket. So, I’m here to top you up," Melia said with a smile.

I picked up my phone and saw a transfer of 70 thousand dollars from her.

She knew I loved money. For the past three years, every time she transferred money to me, I would eagerly accept it and send a "Thank you, boss" sticker in return.

But this time, I didn’t accept it.

While Melia went to take a shower, I refunded the transfer to her. When she came out after her shower, I thoughtfully prepared her coat and even carefully ironed it.

"Rafael, what are you doing with my coat?"

I looked up and smiled, "Aren't you going out tonight? I thought I'd prepare it for you in advance."

Melia furrowed her brow. "Who said I’m going out?"

I froze for a moment, unable to answer. I couldn't exactly tell her I had accidentally peeked at her phone.

Her true boyfriend was finally back in the country. I thought for sure Melia would go to the banquet tonight.

But to my surprise, she wasn't in any hurry. Instead, she accompanied me to the supermarket.

Then, I received a message from Julian.

[Rafael, what are you doing? Are you still clinging to Melia? I warn you, no matter what method you use tonight, make sure Melia attends my welcome-back banquet.]