Louisa Jacobson confessed her love ninety-nine times and finally won Simon Griswolds, the most handsome man in New York. He said he loved her deeply, but he kept hurting her again and again because of Rebecca Harrison, the woman who had saved his life.

When a chandelier fell, Simon carried Rebecca away but left Louisa hurt. He allowed Rebecca to throw a birthday party for Louisa, knowing well that Louisa’s birthday was also the day her parents had died.

When Rebecca spread lies about Louisa, he didn’t even ask questions. Instead, Simon had his bodyguards throw Louisa into the swimming pool and forced her to walk home barefoot.

Louisa later fainted with a fever, her feet torn and bleeding, but Simon only cared about Rebecca. When Micah’s life was on the line, Simon even sent all the doctors to treat Rebecca instead.

The nurses in the hospital whispered to each other.

"I heard Miss Harrison on the top floor tore herself from too much sex last night. She’s been dizzy all day. After many tests, they found nothing wrong. Mr. Griswolds was so worried that he called all the specialists to examine her."

"Shh! Mr. Griswolds said no one can spread this news. You could lose your job!"

Louisa’s blood turned cold. She ran to the top floor, begging Simon to send a doctor to Micah, but his bodyguards blocked her. Her beloved brother closed his eyes forever.

At that moment, Louisa finally understood. Simon never loved her.

She then made a call.

"Hello, Mrs. Perkins. This is Louisa Jacobson. I’m going to Boston to arrange a marriage with Mr. Perkins, but I need a favor. Erase every trace of me."

Louisa wanted Simon to know that her love wasn’t for everyone. She would leave, making him and Rebecca pay the price.

——

“Miss Jacobson, all of Micah’s doctors were called by Mr. Griswolds to treat Miss Harrison,” the nurse spoke carefully as she watched Louisa, whose red dress swayed around her legs.

Everyone in New York high society knew who Louisa Jacobson was. A stunning, spoiled and strong-willed woman. She was very different from the polite, educated daughters of old money families.

But Simon Griswolds, the most-seeked bachelor of the New York elites, managed to be win over by Louise after she confessed 99 times to the man who infamously known to hate women. Two months earlier, Simon had brought back his savior named Rebecca Harrison after finishing his expedition.

Rebecca was a reporter who went with the team. While gathering data at the top of the mountain, heavy rain suddenly hit. She and Simon got separated from the others. Unfortunately, Simon was accidentally hurt. Thanks to her survival skills, Rebecca was able to save Simon.

They spent a stormy night together in a cave before help arrived the next day. Out of gratitude, Louisa gave Rebecca boxes of jewels and expensive gifts. However, Rebecca kept refusing. Instead, she sad that she had self-respect and didn’t save lives for rewards. After that, Louisa didn’t push her.

From the moment Louisa met Simon, she wanted to stay by his side forever. She even prepared to propose and had done so seven times already, but each attempt failed. The reason was simple. Simon was always called away because of Rebecca’s sudden emergencies.

Today was the eighth try. Rebecca fainted due to low blood sugar. Without saying a word, Simon shoved Louisa aside and rushed to the hospital.

If the nurse hadn’t called her, Louisa wouldn’t have known that Simon had taken all of Micah’s doctors for Rebecca. He knew well that Micah’s heart condition couldn’t wait.

So, Louisa took a deep breath as she pushed down the bitterness in her chest before heading toward Rebecca’s room. The door was half-open. Rebecca rested against Simon’s arms with half-closed eyes while he gently wiped her forehead with a damp towel.

Louisa kicked the door open with her high heels, which caused the loud sound that startled everyone inside.

Rebecca woke up, leaning on her elbows and smirking as she said, “Louisa, you’re here!”

Louisa crossed her arms and walked closer as she let out a faint smile.

“What kind of sickness needs so many doctors? If they can’t fix it, I’ll hire an expert from overseas.”

Before she could get near, Simon stood up. He immediately blocked her with his tall frame. In the light behind him, his brow furrowed as he spoke coldly, “Louisa, don’t cause trouble. Did you come here just to make things harder for Rebecca?”

Louisa sneered in response before asking, “Cause trouble? Who gave you the right to take all of Micah’s doctors?”

Simon just sighed as he said, “Rebecca isn’t feeling well. I just asked a few doctors to come check on her. Stop being so unreasonable. Besides, Micah is safe here in the Griswolds hospital.”

Before Louisa could reply, Rebecca let out a weak groan. Simon quickly turned to the doctor with his voice sounded urgent. After that, he grabbed Louisa’s wrist and dragged her out roughly. He ignored how red and sore it became under his grip.

Just before the door shut, Louisa saw Simon carefully lift Rebecca’s coat and help her sit up. Rebecca shot her a smug smile. In the hallway, wealthy ladies gave Louisa mocking looks with passing nurses whispered behind her back.

Louisa bit the inside of her cheek to calm herself. After she left the hospital, she drove straight to Brooklyn. Without further ado, Louisa drank glass after glass of wine. Her vision slowly blurred thanks to that.

Memories of her eighteenth birthday flooded back. The Jacobson Family had held a grand party for her. She had been overjoyed until news came that her parents had died. That rainy night, the crash, the blood and her mother clutching the birthday cake burned into her memory forever.

Her uncle, Jonathan Jacobson, wanted her family’s fortune. Not to mention, the elders of the Jacobson Family saw her as nothing more than a bargaining chip. To protect herself, Louisa began living a life of excess as she became the spoiled heiress known to the elite families.

However, the Jacobson Family would lower their guard this way. It meant that her sick five-year-old brother, Micah Jacobson, could stay safe. Everyone tried to use her, except Simon.

Simon was her father’s close friend. He stayed by her side during the funeral and sent Micah to the Griswolds Hospital for careful care. He took her skiing, watched sunrises with her, chased the northern lights and told her stories to chase away her nightmares.

Whenever she liked something, no matter how rare or costly, Simon made sure she had it.

He once told her, “Louisa, you can let it all out. No one will dare hurt you. I’ll always stay with you. You, me and Micah, we’ll always be together.”

Louisa fell deeply in love with him and chased Simon relentlessly. It was the only thing she had ever truly committed to. She drank more wine now as she was trying to drown out all her painful memories.

As night fell, she stood to leave the bar. When she passed by the VIP room of the bar, she froze. Simon sat with his friends inside the VIP room.

“Why did you tell Jonathan Jacobson about that weak heir of the Perkins Family looking for a bride and then give him land in the south so he could trick Louisa into thinking you’d marry her?” one of the Simons’ friends asked.

Simon swirled the ice in his glass with a crisp and cold sound.

After a pause, he spoke, “Rebecca’s mother doesn’t have long to live. She wants to see Rebecca married before she dies. Rebecca begged me, so I can’t say no.”

“Louisa is too wild. I can’t let Rebecca’s mother see me marrying her. Louisa will just have to suffer for a while. She’s used to being spoiled.”

“After Rebecca’s mother passes, I’ll give Louisa a grand wedding.”

Simon said each word with certainty as if he already arranged everything like it was already decided.

Meanwhile, Louisa’s legs went weak. She immediately leaned on the wall for balance. No wonder her family had treated her so kindly lately. Even Uncle Jonathan had started preparing her dowry. It was all Simon’s plan. Her mind went blank and a buzzing filled her ears.

Just as she turned to leave, Simon’s voice rang out again, “In a week, Rebecca and I will marry to fulfill her mother’s wish. Make sure Louisa is taken away for a few days. Otherwise, she’ll definitely cause trouble.”

His friends agreed without hesitation. Louisa didn’t remember how she got home. As soon as she walked in, Uncle Jonathan called.

“Louisa, your wedding with Mr. Griswolds is coming soon. Isn’t it time to pack your belongings in the Jacobson Family’s estate? After all, a married daughter doesn’t need to go back to her original family.”

In response, Louisa stayed silent. But her uncle didn’t sound surprised.

“Louisa, just remember to pack,” he repeated.

But Uncle Jonathan forgot to hang up. A few seconds later, Aunt Wynona’s voice came through on the other end, “Baby, you’re so smart. You tricked Mr. Griswolds and the Perkins Family. We’ll knock her out and send her to the Perkins. That way, we’ll take money from both sides.”

“Since Louisa sleeps around, no one will be surprised.”

Louisa trembled, then hung up. It took her a long time to steady herself. She called a friend and asked for the Perkins Family’s number.

After that, Louisa went to her study. She pulled out her plan for the ninth proposal and her photo album and fed them into the shredder without hesitation. Soon, everything turned to confetti.

Her seven years of love, from eighteen to twenty-five, were reduced to ashes in minutes. Message notifications rang nonstop. At the top was Simon’s final message.

[Louisa, don’t be mad. I really, really love you!]

She didn’t open it. Instead, she dialed the number her friend gave her. After a pause, a woman answered.

“Hello, Mrs. Perkins,” Louisa said, her voice steady.

“I’ll be in Boston in a week to arrange a marriage with Mr. Perkins. But I need one thing. Destroy the Jacobson Family and erase all traces of Micah and me.”

The woman on the other end went silent, then asked carefully, “Louisa, are you certain?”

Louisa’s reply was firm and cold.

She thought to herself, ‘Simon, my love is something I can give … and take back.’

After Simon came home, Louisa sat quietly on the sofa. There was an unlit cigarette resting between her fingerst. Meanwhile, the neon lights outside the window cast shifting colors across her pale face.

“Louisa, I’m back!”

Simon smiled softly as he walked toward her. He gently took her wrist and brushed it with his fingertips.

“I was too impatient this afternoon. I’m sorry. Please, don’t stay mad.”

After that, Simon sat beside her as he pulled Louisa into his arms, speaking tenderly, “The specialist team has created a full treatment plan for Micah. The surgery has a very high success rate. After it’s done, he’ll be able to live a normal and healthy life.”

Louisa kept her eyes down in silence as she refused to look at or speak to him. Simon cupped her neck and tilted her head up. Then, he kissed her lips over and over.

His tone was full of regret as he continued, “I know you’re upset with me, but Rebecca saved my life. Her health isn’t good, so I’m just helping her as repayment. Other than that, there’s nothing between us.”

Louisa’s heart trembled. She lifted her gaze. Her beautiful, bright eyes were now misty with emotion. She stared at him and she asked Simon with a soft yet firm voice, “If I had been the one to save you, would you do anything for me?”

Simon froze for a second, but then smiled and gently stroked her hair.

“Of course. But I would never let you be in that kind of danger in the first place. I couldn’t stand to see you hurt.”

While Simon continued to talk, he failed to notice the light fading from Louisa’s eyes. Meanwhile, Louisa didn’t answer. Instead, she slowly pulled her hand from his and stood up to go to the bedroom. She left Simon on the sofa who thought that she was simply throwing a childish tantrum.

The next day was the Jacobson Group’s press conference. Louisa had to attend as the company’s representative. She hadn’t wanted to show up at such an event, but she couldn’t let her Uncle Jonathan take full credit for the company her parents had built with their own hands.

The moment she appeared, all attention turned to her. Whispers filled the crowd, full of awe and envy.

“Miss Jacobson is truly stunning. No wonder Mr. Griswolds, who used to hate women, fell for her.”

“Anyone else who tried to get close to Mr. Griswolds would be dismissed, but Miss Jacobson can do whatever she wants in front of him.”

“When her high heels gave her blisters, Mr. Griswolds knelt on the ground to put a Band-Aid on her foot. Who would’ve thought that a man like him would bow so low for love?”

Louisa heard every word clearly. When she saw their jealous expressions, it made the bitterness in her chest grow even sharper. She quickened her steps into the interview room.

Moments later, the reporters arrived. But leading them was Rebecca who was dressed in an elegant, expensive designer dress. Holding the microphone, she smiled sweetly at Louisa.

Louisa frowned, her voice cold as she spoke first, “Why are you here?”

Before Rebecca could answer, Simon appeared behind her. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a slim waist. His custom suit highlighted his powerful build and his commanding presence instantly silenced the room.

Simon walked over calmly, leaned slightly toward Louisa and spoke in a patient tone. “Rebecca’s never been to a press conference like this. I wanted her to come and get some experience. Don’t worry, this is your event. So, we’ll make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Louisa almost laughed. Her lips curved into a small, sharp smile. However, she stayed quiet. She blinked several times as she was trying to hold back her feelings, but her lashes were already damp.

After that, Louisa turned away to raise her hand and gestured for the staff to continue. On the other hand, Rebecca’s smile faltered. She couldn’t understand why Louisa didn’t explode in anger. Louisa was known for being bold and forceful who would never let anyone take advantage of her.

Rebecca held the microphone with a pleasant smile, but her eyes were sharp and challenging as she stared at Louisa.

“Miss Jacobson, there have been many rumors about you,” she said smoothly.

“From visiting brothels to fighting with the young members of the Harrison Family. Why do you rarely speak about women’s struggles and instead focus only on living a wild, wasteful life?”

The room went silent for a few seconds. Then, camera flashes went off in a frenzy. Meanwhile, the livestream chat exploded with comments. Rebecca’s fans and Louisa’s critics filled the screen with harsh words.

[You’re wasting the Jacobson Family’s wealth, caring only about your own pleasure and showing no sense of responsibility to society.]

[What a shameless woman! She must only be good in bed. Otherwise, how could she have trapped Mr. Griswolds?]

Simon, who sat nearby, turned grim because of anger. Nevertheless, he didn’t move or speak. On the other hand, Louisa clenched her fists tightly. She then lifted her head to meet Rebecca’s gaze.

She spoke firmly, “This question doesn’t matter, so I won’t answer it.”

After she said that, Louisa raised her hand to signal the end of the interview and walked toward a quiet corner to breathe. As she left, Rebecca quickly followed and blocked her way. Her usual gentle look was gone.

“Louisa, do you really think Mr. Griswolds would truly love a woman like you? Someone who only wastes money and still dares to throw it at others?”

Louisa stopped and slowly turned her head. A cold, sarcastic smile tugged at her lips as she replied in a flat voice, “What does it matter if I spend my own family’s money? If Simon doesn’t love me, does that mean he actually loves you?”

“The Griswolds Family and mine are a perfect match. And you, a greedy gold digger, are accusing me of throwing money around?”

As soon as she finished speaking, a sudden creaking sound came from above. The next moment, a heavy light fixture broke loose and crashed down. Screams erupted as the crowd scattered in panic.

Simon reacted instantly and rushed forward. But the first person he grabbed was Rebecca, who was standing farther away from the falling light. He scooped her up and ran to safety.

Louisa, who was standing right beneath the fixture, couldn’t dodge in time. It smashed into her shoulder with brutal force, which knocked her out. Her vision blurred to black as she collapsed. Just before she lost consciousness, she saw Simon desperately checking Rebecca for injuries worily.

When Louisa woke up, she was lying in a hospital bed.

As soon as her eyes opened, Simon leaned over as he asked her in panic, “Louisa, you’re awake! Are you in pain?”

Louisa shook her head slightly as she lowered her lashes to hide her emotions. The ache in her shoulder was nothing compared to the sharp, aching pain deep in her heart. After a moment of silence, she looked at Simon and spoke calmly with a hoarse voice, “Simon, you like Rebecca.”

In response, Simon froze as his brows knitted.

His voice was steady but firm as he responded, “Louisa, don’t think nonsense. How could I like her? I only love you. What happened yesterday was an accident.”

“Really?” Louisa cut him off with her lips curling into a faint, bitter smile as she met his gaze.

“If you only love me, then give Rebecca some money and tell her to leave New York. Tell her never to come back.”

Simon’s expression darkened, but his voice was full of disapproval.

“Louisa, don’t be selfish. Rebecca came here for her career as a reporter. She’s working hard and deserves support. I’m just repaying her for saving my life. You can’t be so unreasonable.”

Louisa listened quietly, then suddenly let out a soft laugh. She didn’t argue with him out loud. In her heart, she whispered to herself, ‘She won’t leave … but I will.’

Just then, the ward door burst open with a flustered nurse rushing in.

“Mr. Griswolds, Miss Harrison is having a nightmare. She’s talking in her sleep, repeating that the cave is cold. She’s very agitated.”

Simon’s expression changed immediately. He jumped to his feet without hesitation. Louisa watched his anxious expression and spoke slowly and calmly, “Go ahead. After all, she saved your life. That’s a debt you’ll carry forever.”

Simon paused for a moment. When he saw no trace of jealousy on Louisa’s face, he felt relieved. He surely was thinking that Louisa had finally come to understand him. He then leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.

“Rest well, sweetheart. I’ll be back soon.”

After that, Simon turned and hurried out of the room without looking back. Louisa just stared at his retreating figure, while wiping the tears spilling before reaching for the bedside call button to press it.