As Ryan emerged from the room clutching his notebook, his voice was hopeful, "Madeline, let's go together when we fill out the college application forms in a few days."

I regarded him with a cold detachment. "Ryan, that night, I made it clear. I want to end our relationship, and you agreed. Your choice of university is no longer my concern. Now, get out of my house immediately."

Ryan turned sullen, yet he suppressed his impatience and gently comforted me. "I was only kidding that day. How could I truly want to part with you? Look! I bought this especially for you. Do you like it?"

From his pocket, he produced a small box, which he opened to reveal a necklace, delicate and exquisitely crafted.

Yet, I knew its worth since I had seen it in a store.

It cost a mere hundred dollars.

It was discarded in a corner, and its style was hopelessly outdated.

Elena had a blemish on her face, but Ryan had subsisted on plain bread for two months, saving to splurge on expensive skincare products for her.

She had flaunted her new products on social media, captioning it, [You are my blatant partiality and my well-known selfishness.]

The image of those skincare products was accompanied by a cute emoji and a thumbs-up from Ryan.

His penny-pinching finally made sense, yet it stung to realize I had been so naive. I had worried about his financial struggles and even shared my own hard-earned savings with him.

Seeing Elena's post, I felt like a fool.

In contrast to the love he showered on Elena, his affection for me seemed cheap and tawdry.

The fissures in our relationship were laid bare that day.

Taking the necklace, I tossed it into the trash when he stared at me with expectations.

His eyes were immediately blazing with fury. "Madeline! I've gone to great lengths to appease you! What more could you possibly want?"

Without so much as a glance, I replied, "I want to break up with you. I want you out of my sight."

With a thunderous slam, Ryan departed. "Madeline, you are utterly unreasonable!"

The last time I had seen Ryan so enraged was when he had defended me from a drunken assailant.

Now, as he stormed out, I closed the door with a heavy finality.

It no longer mattered.

I had no intention of comforting him.

On the bustling streets, Ryan and I crossed paths.

I was closing up my street stall when Mia vanished.

Panic-stricken, I scoured the streets, and my voice became hoarse from calling her name. But Mia still didn't show up.

Finally, I went to the police station.

At the police station, just as dusk fell, Ryan appeared with Mia in tow, meeting my frantic search.

He handed her to me, cautioning, "There are many people on the street. Be careful next time."

I embraced Mia tightly, tears and scoldings mingling.

Ryan frowned. "Why are you so harsh? It's not the child's fault."

Mia felt guilty and whispered, "Sir, don't blame my sister. She works so hard, setting up the stall daily. If not for the stall, we wouldn't have money to live.

"Madeline, I'm sorry. I just wanted to buy you some hot dogs. I heard your stomach growling with hunger. I promise I won't wander off again. Don't be angry."

Wiping away my tears, I murmured, "I'm not angry. I was just so afraid I'd never see you again."

Ryan frowned and inquired, "Where are your family members?"

Mia shook her head. "Sir, I only have my sister."

My parents had perished in a car accident during my high school years.

Apart from the monthly government compensation, I had taken Mia to the streets after school, selling something to sustain us barely.

I didn't want to reveal my dire circumstances to a stranger despite his aid in finding Mia.

I thanked Ryan for his help and led Mia home.

The next day at school, I encountered Ryan again.

Both of us were surprised to realize we attended the same high school.

Known as the school bully, Ryan had persistently sought my tutoring upon learning of my academic prowess.

In gratitude for his earlier assistance, I agreed to help him.

During holidays, he even assisted at my stall, tending to Mia.

One evening, as I returned from the stall, Mia stammered, "Madeline, I noticed the way Ryan looks at you is different."

I asked, "How is it different?"

"Just like when the sandwich seller next door looks at his wife. Madeline, are you going to marry him in the future?"

Mia's eyes twinkled with mischief. After that, she went to bed.

Mia's playful banter only served to annoy me.

Deep down, I couldn't ignore the subtle changes in Ryan's demeanor.

But at that point, my focus was solely on studying and earning money to support Mia; romance was a distant thought.

I began to distance myself from Ryan, even relocating our street stall to a different area.

One day after school, Ryan intercepted me.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked.

His eyes were filled with sadness and confusion.

I offered a vague excuse, hoping to dismiss him.

However, as I was returning home from the stall with Mia one evening, a drunken man accosted me.

He began to undress, looming over me.

Mia attempted to intervene, only to be kicked to the ground.

In my terror, Ryan showed up like a Superman.

His fury was palpable as he punched the drunk, sending him fleeing.

After ensuring the drunk wouldn't return, Ryan righted the stall, cradling a sobbing Mia in one arm. "Come on, I'll take you home," he said.

The moonlight cast a long shadow over us both.

My heart raced, and something deeper stirred within me.

That night marked the first time he had ever set foot in my home.

After gently putting Mia to sleep, he turned to me with an earnest expression. "Madeline, I like you. I also understand why you've been avoiding me. Don't worry. I won't push you into sex until you're ready. It's too much for you to make a living alone. I feel for you, and I want to be here to protect you."

After a moment's contemplation, I responded, "Then you have to study hard and get into college. Only then will I consider being your girlfriend."

His eyes brightened immediately. "Okay, it's a deal."

A moment later, he lowered his head, slightly embarrassed. "But my grades are poor, so you'll have to help me with my studies."

I agreed.

Though the journey was arduous, we found moments of sweetness within it.

His academic performance gradually improved, and even his teachers took notice and praised his progress.

Ryan was becoming increasingly familiar with me.

We made a pact to apply for the Skyford University together.

Mia was overjoyed, remarking, "Finally, Madeline found someone she could lean on."

However, in the second semester of our senior year, a transfer student named Elena Smith joined Ryan's class.

She became his deskmate.

Elena was delicate, and even a loud word from Ryan would make her eyes well up with tears.

Ryan often complained to me, "God must have sent Elena to torture me, seeing how well I was doing."

I would sometimes tease him, "It's because you always look so fierce; who wouldn't be afraid of you?"

Gradually, Ryan stopped complaining.

Whenever he mentioned her, a smile would always play at the corners of his mouth. "Elena is so adorably silly. How can there be such a girl?"

My heart began to sink.

I asked, "Ryan, are you in love with her?"

He ruffled my hair playfully. "How could that be? She's just my deskmate."

Yet, Ryan continued to fight for her, even carrying her to the hospital in the rain when she fell ill.

On my birthday, he left me to watch Elena's artistic performance.

No matter the time or circumstance, Ryan would rush to Elena's side for the slightest issue.

I endured this repeatedly, but when I saw him saving up to buy skincare products for Elena, I finally snapped.

I confronted him, tearing into my gentle facade with harsh words.

We parted ways bitterly.

The little affection I had left for Ryan turned to ash with Mia's death.

I murmured, "Ryan, I no longer cared for you."

Unexpectedly, the next day, he returned to my house.

This time, he arrived with Elena and several of his close friends in tow.

They arrived in a large group as if ready for a fight.

Ryan surveyed my room with a sullen expression.

"Madeline, why haven't you cleaned up the house yet? Are you really going to argue with me?"

I pulled him outside without hesitation. "What exactly do you want?"

Ryan inquired calmly, "Where's Mia?"

It was then that he remembered Mia.

I pointed to the coffin in the room and hoarsely said, "Mia is in there."

Ryan's eyes filled with a chilling disbelief. "Madeline, stop lying to me and call your sister out!"

I retorted angrily, "Ryan, what are you implying?"

He continued to shake me and shouted, "Don't you know what this means? Elena's file bag is missing! You took your sister to steal it, and you even beat her! That file concerns her future! You must want to ruin her, don't you?"

Ryan's words cut deep, like hooks that tore at my heart, drawing forth a torrent of pain.

I had hoped that his dramatic return was borne of remorse, that he had realized the gravity of his actions in sending Mia out alone that fateful night.

Perhaps he had come to apologize or even to confess his guilt upon learning of her tragic demise.

But I was wrong. Ryan had not come to atone; he had come to defend Elena at any cost.

He indirectly killed Mia, but he even dared to accuse Mia.

The depth of his accusation stung more than I could bear.

I sneered harshly, "Ryan, you can shield Elena all you want, but don't you dare sully Mia's name!"

He thrust his phone in my face. "Is this me smearing her? Look for yourself!"

The screen displayed a surveillance video.

The footage showed me and Mia standing at Elena's door. Mia clutched a bag. Elena pursued her, only to be met with a slap from me.

"That's definitely me and Mia in the video," I seethed, my anger boiling.

Ryan was already on the verge of rage.

I continued, "But do you know why I hit her? Because Elena had hired someone to bully Mia!"

Ryan's expression shifted, a flicker of doubt crossing his face as he glanced at Elena.

She shook her head vehemently, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Madeline, I know you're protective of your sister, but I'm at my wit's end. Can you just return my portfolio first?"

Ryan turned cold once more. "Elena is fragile, so how could she possibly bully Mia? Madeline, are you trying to shield Mia?"

"Oh, this is what happens when someone is born but no one cares for them. They grow up without manners! I truly misjudged you!"

I sighed with sorrow. "Ryan, how blind must you be to fall for her lousy acting. Mia has always seen you as a brother. How can you not know her character?"

Ryan's cold demeanor softened slightly at my words, a hint of emotion stirring within him.

Elena spoke timidly, "Madeline, please, I beg you. I'll kneel for you. My mother has struggled to support my studies. I can't bear the thought of her worry."

With that, she knelt.

Ryan pulled her up with concern. "Elena, stand up! Only the guilty need to kneel!"

He embraced her and turned to me. His brow furrowed with anger. "Now, call Mia out. Or else, don't blame me for being uncivil. You stole and slapped Elena, yet you dare to confront me. Today, I'll teach you a lesson in place of your deceased parents!"

I was too weary to engage, ready to close the door on him, but Ryan blocked my path.

"Why? Feeling guilty?" he sneered.

Elena joined in, her voice pleading. "Madeline, I can't attend college without my portfolio. Can you ask your sister to return it?"

Enraged, I shouted, "Silence! I'll say it again! Mia and I didn't take your things! You're doing this just to cause strife and be with Ryan, aren't you? I'll make it clear. I've already broken up with him."

With that, I shrugged off Ryan's grasp and turned to enter the house.

Ryan looked livid. "Madeline, how long will you keep up this charade?"

He pushed past me, striding into the house and wrenching open the coffin. "I'll put an end to your act! Neither of you and Mia is innocent!"

Inside lay Mia, motionless. Her pale face was the only sign of her tragic fate.

Ryan bellowed at her, "Mia Hunter, do you think pretending to sleep will work? Wake up!

"Where is Elena's portfolio!"

But Mia was dead.

How could she possibly respond to him?

Seeing no reaction, Ryan reached for her.

"Stop!"

I wanted to rush over, but Elena ordered Ryan's companions to restrain me.

Despite my struggles, I was pinned to the ground. My eyes burned with fury as I glared at Ryan. "Ryan! Stop! You've already taken Mia's life!

"Do you still think she won peace even in death?"

Observing my fervor, Ryan looked confused.

With a cursory glance, Elena uttered disdainfully, "Madeline, where did you unearth this puppet? It's uncannily lifelike.

"I simply wish for you to return the file bag to me. Was such theatricality truly necessary?"

Ryan turned gloomy. "Madeline, aren't you and Mia fearful of retribution?"

I laughed maniacally, "Ryan, if there is retribution, it's you and Elena who will face it! You shall not meet a peaceful end!"

Unaccustomed to my despair, Ryan stood transfixed.

It was then that he detected an odd scent permeating the house.

The others noticed it, too.

One of the men restraining me queried, "What's that smell?"

Ryan was surprised as he instinctively turned to me.

I was unable to contain my grief, and tears streamed down my face. "That's my sister! The scent of her body. Are you content now, Ryan?"

A flicker of panic crossed his eyes as he averted his gaze to the coffin.

With tremulous hands, he rolled up Mia's sleeves, revealing the wounds concealed by her garments.

His pupils constricted in horror, and he swiftly looked away, unable to bear the sight.

Upon witnessing this, Elena paled and fled towards the door, seized by fear.

The men who had bound me released their grip.

Ryan shook his head in disbelief. "No, I refuse to accept this! She was merely bitten by a dog. How could she have died? Madeline, don't you dare deceive me!"