A few days later, Ashley stepped into Mr. Woodman’s office for a casual chat.

“I have to admit, I’m curious—what made you decide to take the overseas position?”

“You’re already a private banking president and at your age, that’s almost unheard of. Young people these days… your ambition is something else. Seems like even this level of success isn’t enough for you.”

“Your boyfriend’s okay with long distance? No plans to settle down?”

“I’m at a turning point in my career. That’s not something I want to think about right now.”

Ashley dodged the question with an easy excuse, taking a slow sip of coffee to mask the turbulence inside her.

Mr. Woodman, having spent years in the industry, had always admired women who fought their way to the top. She had seen too many give up their careers to focus on family and every time, it felt like a waste.

Ashley saw the pride and admiration in her former boss’s eyes and for a brief moment, guilt flickered through her. She lowered her gaze, pushing down the emotions threatening to surface.

“When will your transfer be finalized?”

“In about twenty days.” She forced a small smile, but behind her back, her fingers trembled.

Twenty more days. Then she’d be in Puerto Vendaval, far away from Max.

He wanted to play the big brother—so why would he care where she went?

As she waited for the elevator, her eyes unintentionally caught a glimpse of Max. Her breath hitched. Without hesitation, she stepped inside, pressing the button, willing the doors to close faster.

Just as they were about to shut, a strong, veined hand slid between them.

Max stepped in, his expression cold, his voice even colder. “You see me and don’t even say hello?” She kept her face unreadable. “Is this how your bank treats high-net-worth clients?”

It was just the two of them. She glanced at the security camera in the corner, then spoke evenly.

“Mr. Laguna.”

Max stilled for half a second before a slow, mocking smile tugged at his lips. “Ash, shouldn’t you be calling me 'big brother'?”

Hearing Max emphasizing their sibling-relationship, a tightness clenched in Ashley’s chest, the dull ache spreading through her like a slow-burning ember.

Her body trembled slightly, but she still gave him what he wanted.

“…Big brother.”

The moment the word left her lips, Max’s expression shifted—his brows drew together, the coldness in his eyes intensifying.

She didn’t understand what had set him off this time, but she had always been good at reading him. And right now, in her own workplace, she had no intention of letting things escalate. So, she took a steady breath and softened her tone.

“Are you here to discuss a corporate loan?”

Before he could answer, the elevator doors slid open on the fifth floor. Without warning, Max grabbed her wrist and pulled her out.

“What are you doing?” she asked, startled.

“Liliana has an interview here today,” he said, voice calm and casual. “She’s young, it’s her first time—she’s a little nervous.”

“I was in the area, so I came to pick her up.”

Then, with effortless ease, he added, “Since you’re here too, why not say hello to your future sister-in-law?”

At the mention of Liliana, the tension in his face eased, his brow no longer furrowed.

Ashley’s lashes flickered.

In the area?

Max’s company was based in the high-tech district and right now, they were in the middle of a critical development phase for their enterprise AI model. Yet instead of staying on-site to oversee operations, he had crossed two districts just to pick someone up—dismissing it casually as on the way.

For a brief moment, Ashley felt lost.

What was I to him?

She had worked tirelessly for years, rising through the ranks. Even last year, when she was promoted to Private Banking Director—a rare achievement for someone in their twenties—Max had been too busy with work to celebrate with her in private.

A wry smile tugged at her lips.

Looking back, maybe he had stopped loving her long before now.

And yet, she had still been foolish enough to hold on, to believe there was still a future for them.

What an idiot.

Her thoughts scattered as the door to the interview room swung open.

A young woman stepped out, her head hanging low. But the second she spotted Max, her entire demeanor shifted—her posture straightened, her eyes lit up and a radiant smile spread across her face.

Ashley recognized her instantly.

Liliana Palacio.

She had seen this girl’s face just the other night—on Max’s social media. In person, she was exactly as she appeared in the photos: fresh-faced, charming and effortlessly sweet.

With a few quick steps, Liliana crossed the room and slipped into Max’s embrace, her voice tinged with frustration as she complained about her interview.

“I totally bombed it. There’s no way I got the job.”

Max's lips curved into a soft smile as he leaned down, wrapping an arm around Liliana. His voice was low and reassuring as he murmured in her ear, "Oh yeah? Funny, I had a completely different feeling."

The tenderness in his tone sent a sharp pang through Ashley’s chest. So this was how gentle he could be—with someone else.

Ashley thought back to their school days. Back then, Max had never spared other girls a second glance. Even after they started working, when he pretended to date other women just to keep his family off his back, he had always kept his distance.

But now… now that it was truly over, everything was different.

For the first time, Ashley saw it clearly—there was no going back.

She turned to leave, but a sudden wave of dizziness hit her and before she could steady herself, her body instinctively leaned toward Max.

He stepped away.

She fell hard onto the floor.

Stunned, she looked up—just in time to catch the fleeting flicker of displeasure on Liliana’s face and the unmistakable irritation in Max’s eyes.

And in that instant, she understood.

He thought she did it on purpose.

“Oops, my bad, little sister. Didn’t see that coming." Max crouched down as if to help her up—only for a smirk to tug at his lips.

“What’s this? A few days apart and you've already picked up new tricks to throw yourself at me?”

Max’s grip tightened around Ashley’s arm as he yanked her to her feet, his gaze sharp with warning. Meanwhile, the moment Liliana heard Ashley was his sister, the wariness in her eyes faded.

With the interview over, Max wasted no time leaving with Liliana.

Minutes later, Ashley’s phone buzzed with two notifications.

One was a friend request from Liliana.

The other—a message from Max.

[Get a grip. Stop crossing the line.]

[If you pull another stunt like that in front of Liana, it won’t just be a simple fall next time.]

Ashley’s fingers trembled as she stared at the screen.

So this was how little he thought of her. She wanted to tell him he was wrong, that she wasn’t putting on an act, that she had already given up on him.

But Ashley hesitated.

Would he even believe her? Or would he see it as yet another attempt to hold onto something that was already gone?

Her grip on the phone tightened before she finally turned off the screen.

There was nothing left to say. Her actions would speak for themselves. She would be gone soon—out of his sight, out of his life.

Slipping a hand into her pocket, Ashley pulled out a familiar bottle of paroxetine, rolling it absently between her fingers.

She let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Guess quitting was never an option."

Unspoken emotions, the weight of passing years and Max’s constant ambiguity had slowly chipped away at Ashley’s confidence in their relationship. Yet, despite everything, she couldn’t bring herself to let go.

The emotions she buried kept piling up, suffocating her, until the anxiety she once dismissed turned into something far worse.

At first, it was just heart palpitations and dizziness. Then, it escalated—shortness of breath, an invisible weight pressing down on her chest, making it harder and harder to breathe.

She never told Max. She didn’t want his concern. And now, nothing he did would matter anymore.

She had waited—from seventeen to twenty-seven—only to arrive at the inevitable ending.

Stripped of love’s illusions, she saw Max for who he truly was—cold, detached, unmovable. She refused to use her illness to earn even a shred of pity.

After finishing up her work at the branch, Ashley picked up her newly issued passport and work visa before heading back to The Laguna Family Estate. She wanted to spend some time with her mother before she left.

Once she explained her decision, she quietly went upstairs to pack.

She didn’t expect to find Max there.

Leaning against the doorframe, he watched her, his expression unreadable. "Why are you back?"

"Let me guess—you only came back tonight because you knew Liliana would be here." Max’s voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. "What’s wrong? Still not over me, little sister?"

Ashley’s hands paused mid-fold, but she kept her composure and replied evenly.

"I took some time off. I’ll be staying here for a few days. Just so you know, I had no idea Liliana was coming. But don’t worry—I won’t be in your way."

Max loosened his tie, irritation flickering in his gaze.

"You’d better not." He was about to say more when his phone rang.

"You’re here? I’ll come down and get you." His voice softened instantly, warm and gentle—a stark contrast to how he had spoken just moments ago.

Not that it mattered anymore.

Ashley watched him disappear down the hall before quietly closing her door. She picked up her phone, idly scrolling through company messages when a notification from Liliana’s social feed caught her eye.

[Question: What should I bring when meeting my boyfriend’s parents for the first time?]

Attached was a photo—two silhouettes leaning close together, radiating warmth and intimacy.

What really caught Ashley’s attention was Max’s comment beneath it.

[Just bring yourself and be good.]

Ashley smirked to herself. No wonder Max had said those things earlier. Without much more thought, she tapped the like button on Liliana’s post and returned to packing.

When Juan arrived, the family gathered for dinner. Liliana, visibly tense, sat stiffly in her chair. She clearly hadn’t expected Max’s father to be such a towering political figure.

Noticing her nerves, Max took control of the conversation, effortlessly easing the tension. His teasing remarks made Liliana giggle and soon enough, she relaxed, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm with a bright smile.

With Max leading the way, no one questioned their relationship or made things difficult. The meal went on smoothly.

Across from them, Ashley remained quiet, idly picking at her food, her long lashes casting delicate shadows over her cheeks.

This—this was how a normal couple acted. Comfortable. Natural. Unlike her and Max, who had spent years in this house carefully minding their every move, terrified of crossing an invisible line.

She lifted her gaze slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Maybe this twisted love ending was a relief.

Juan, in rare high spirits, suggested a toast.

Ashley offered to grab the wine and to her surprise, Liliana quickly volunteered to go with her. Unable to refuse, she led the way.

The moment they were alone, Liliana’s cheerful mask slipped.

"So… dating your stepbrother—was it exciting?"

"Are you even aware of how ridiculous you look? The way you eat, all dramatic—can you cut it out? You're seriously making me nauseous."

Ashley’s expression darkened. She turned to Liliana, her gaze sharp and unforgiving.

"You should be grateful you’re dealing with the current version of me—I used to have a much worse temper."

"And what exactly are you so smug about, Liliana? You just got lucky. Luck doesn’t give you the right to stand on some moral high ground and judge me."

Ashley let out a cold laugh. Luck? No—Liliana simply never had to experience the spiral from a normal relationship into a tangled mess of ethics and betrayal.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Liliana’s anger flared.

Ashley wasn’t even ashamed—if anything, she seemed almost amused.

"I mean, someone like you—a no-name degree, an average family with no resources. Your résumé should’ve been tossed out in the first round."

"But Max took a liking to you, so people made exceptions for him. Be real—by any standard, you don’t even make the cut. I honestly have no idea what he sees in you."

The words were casual, almost offhanded, but they sent a chill down Liliana’s spine.

Ashley's gaze was ice-cold. With just a few words, she had completely stripped Liliana of any sense of worth.

Liliana couldn't understand—she was supposed to have the upper hand. She was the one on the moral high ground. So why did it feel like she was being utterly crushed by the woman in front of her?

Ashley stepped closer, her shadow stretching over Liliana like a suffocating weight. The sheer pressure made her feel as if she were being hunted, trapped with no way out.

She wanted to step back, to run—but her legs refused to move. Fear gripped her so tightly that they buckled beneath her and she collapsed onto her knees.

The wine glass slipped from her hand, crashing against the floor. The sharp crack of shattering glass cut through the tense silence.

Hearing the commotion, Max rushed over. The moment he saw Liliana on the ground, his expression darkened. Without hesitation, he strode toward her. As he passed Ashley, he slammed his shoulder into hers with enough force to knock her back.

She staggered, her foot landing squarely on the jagged shards of glass.

"Liana, are you okay?"

His voice was filled with worry as he helped her up. But almost immediately, his concern turned to fury.

"Ashley, Lili came here just to grab some wine. Is this how you treat your guests—cornering them when no one's around?"

Ashley's chest tightened. She glanced down at her foot, where crimson was beginning to seep through the fabric of her slipper.

When she finally lifted her gaze to meet Max’s, there was something almost imperceptible in her expression—disappointment.

"Is that really how you see me?" Ashley's voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. "Liliana, why don’t you tell Max what you just said? I’m sure he’d love to hear it."

Liliana’s eyes flickered toward the security camera in the corner. Her breath hitched. Then, almost frantically, she shook her head.

"No—Maxie, I fell on my own. It had nothing to do with Ash. We were just… talking."

She forced a smile, but the way her lips trembled and the tears welling in her eyes only made her lie more obvious. Max's chest tightened at the sight. Gently, he pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at the wine stains on her dress, his touch careful, protective.

Then, he turned to Ashley with a cold, cutting glare—only to falter.

Her face was deathly pale. His gaze dropped to the floor and his stomach tensed when he saw the slow spread of crimson pooling beneath her foot.

"Your foot..."

Instinctively, he moved toward her, but before he could take another step, Liliana clutched his sleeve, her voice trembling.

"Maxie… my leg hurts. I just want to go home. Will you take me?"

He hesitated, his jaw tightening, but only for a second. Without another word, he swept Liliana into his arms.

"You’re not going home—I’m taking you to the hospital."

As Max carried her away, Liliana’s lips curved ever so slightly. She turned her head just enough to catch Ashley’s eye, her expression soft—but her gaze victorious.

After they left, Ashley remained where she was, staring at the mix of blood and wine seeping into the floor. A dull ache tightened in her chest and for some reason, her nose stung, as if she were on the verge of tears.

She glanced at her reflection in the glass wall and let out a quiet, mocking laugh.

What were you expecting?

When it came to choosing between her and Liliana, Max hadn’t even hesitated.

A man’s love—or lack of it—was always painfully obvious.

The pain in her foot grew sharper, pulsing with every beat of her heart. With the housekeeper’s help, she made her way upstairs, unsteady but composed. She refused to go to the hospital—she simply cleaned the wound, applied some ointment and wrapped it up. The bleeding stopped, but the dull sting lingered.

That night, sleep was impossible. No matter how she turned, the discomfort kept her awake. Frustrated, she reached for a book from the shelf, hoping for a distraction.

As she flipped it open, something slipped out from between the pages—a faded brown envelope. She was about to toss it aside when a cream-colored wedding invitation slid to the floor.

Her fingers trembled as she picked it up and unfolded it.

‘Groom: Max Laguna | Bride: Ashley Vera’.

The elegant calligraphy seemed to mock her. She ran her fingers over the embossed gold lettering and a deep, aching pressure settled in her chest.

Eighteen. The age of reckless, all-consuming love.

At eighteen, marrying Max had been Ashley’s dream. She had spent years watching invitation after invitation being sent out for grand weddings at the backyard of the Laguna Family Estate. Sometimes, she had even let herself imagine—what kind of invitation would she send when it was finally her turn?

Max had guessed what she wanted, so he secretly bought the wedding invitation and carefully wrote their names on it.

When she saw it, her heart melted. She reached for it, but Max teasingly held it just out of reach, lifting his arm to keep it away from her.

"If you can grab it, we’ll get married."

He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek, his ears turning red as he smiled—youthful, earnest and full of promise.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he hid it away. She never saw the invitation again.

"So this is where it’s been all along..."

The wedding invitation still looked as pristine as the day he had bought it. But now, holding it again, she felt nothing but a hollow ache.

She murmured, "If I had found it sooner… would things have been different?"

The thought barely had time to take root before she shook it off. It was foolish. Pointless.

With a quiet sigh, Ashley hopped on one leg to her desk, picked up a utility knife and carefully sliced through their names.

This was how it should be. Those names never truly belonged on this invitation.

She had just realized it too late.

Knock, knock...

A sudden knock at the door broke the silence. She glanced at her phone—past midnight.

At this hour, there was only one person who would come looking for her.

Max.

Ashley didn’t move. She didn’t want to open the door. But the man outside wasn’t going anywhere.

"Open the door, Ash. I know you’re awake."