Louisa trembled as she asked, “Why?”

Simon’s gaze were icy cold as he spoke threateningly in a sharp tone, “It’s because you hurt Rebecca without a care. If you don’t do as I say, Micah’s surgery tomorrow will be delayed.”

The moment he spoke, Louisa’s face turned pale. She stared at his merciless expression. Her shaky laughter fading as tears spilled down her cheeks. Slowly, she bent down, slipped off her high heels and placed her bare feet on the icy ground.

“Fine, I’m leaving.”

Simon gave a cold snort and carried Rebecca away. With every step Louisa took, sharp pain shot through her feet like needles piercing her skin. The gravel at the bar entrance and the rough sand along the roadside cut into her flesh, but none of it hurt as much as the ache in her heart.

As she walked, memories of their past flooded her mind.

The very first time Louisa confessed, Simon said, “Louisa, you’re still too young.”

The tenth time, he told her, “Louisa, I only see you as a sister.”

The fiftieth time, his eyes held back desire as he said, “I want you to like me for who I am, not just because you depend on me.”

And on the ninety-ninth time, before she could even speak, Simon pulled her into his arms with his voice choked with emotion. “Louisa, I’ll accept it even if it’s just a reckless impulse!”

Simon used to hold her whenever she felt wronged. He would tell her to fight back and never let herself be bullied. When Louisa sprained her ankle, he stayed home for two whole months. He would work remotely just to care for her. He had been her legs, carrying her everywhere she wanted to go.

Now, that same love had turned into a blade stabbing her heart.

Each step left painful as she kept bleeding. Louisa didn’t know how long she walked before she finally reached home. By then, her feet were a bloody mess, cut and bruised, tiny stones and sand clinging to the wounds. Every movement brought excruciating pain.

Leaning on the doorframe, Louisa staggered inside and immediately called the family doctor. After he treated her injuries, she was lying on the sofa as she trying to calm down. Then, her phone vibrated. It was Simon.

She froze for a moment, but she then answered the call almost without thinkin. Before she could speak, a breathless, sticky voice came through the line.

Rebecca panted softly, speaking, “Simon, I feel so awful …”

Simon’s voice was low and tense as he said, “You’ve been drugged. Don’t be scared, I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Rebecca’s tone turned sweet and coaxing as she responded, “No … If we go to the hospital, people will see. I don’t want anyone to know.”

Louisa’s hand shook violently as she clutched the phone. She could hear fabric rustling on the other end. Then Rebecca’s soft groan rang out, followed by her pleading words.

“Simon, help me … ”

Her voice was seductive, almost whispering, as she continued, “I know you love Louisa. I won’t tell her about this. I’ll leave New York afterward. Just … just think of it as repaying the debt of saving your life, okay?”

Silence hung in the air, broken only by Rebecca’s breathless moans. Then, Louisa heard Simon’s heavy breathing and the distinct sound of clothes falling to the ground before the call ended abruptly. A loud ringing filled her ears as her mind went blank.

Louisa shot to her feet and stumbled into the bathroom, ignoring the sharp pain in her injured feet. She knelt by the toilet and retched violently. Acid burned her throat as tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision.

She stayed there all night, vomiting until dawn. Then, her phone rang again. This time, it was the nurse’s urgent voice.

“Miss Jacobson! Micah’s having an emergency. The doctors are treating him now. Please come quickly!”

Louisa snapped out of her daze. Ignoring the pain in her injured feet, she grabbed her coat and ran out the door. She stumbled her way to the hospital and rushed straight to the emergency room. Nurses hurried in and out, but there was no sign of a doctor.

“Where’s the doctor?” Louisa asked urgently.

The nurse looked away, stammering nervously. Louisa’s heart sank. This hospital was run by the Griswolds Family. Everyone there followed Simon’s orders. That meant Simon had to be involved.

She spun around and dashed for the top floor with her panic growing with every step. As she neared the elevator, she overheard two nurses whispering as they stepped out.

“Miss Harrison is upstairs. I heard she got hurt badly last night and has been dizzy all day. They couldn’t find anything wrong, so Mr. Grisworth called in all the top specialists for her.”

“Shh! Mr. Grisworth said no one can talk about this, or you’ll get fired!”

Louisa’s blood froze. Her heart pounded wildly as she raced up to the top floor, only to be stopped by several bodyguards.

“Let me through! I need to see Simon. My brother is in critical condition and he needs a doctor!” Louisa shouting with her voice breaking, while pushing at them desperately.

The bodyguards didn’t move. One of them spoke in a flat voice, “Miss Jacobson, Mr. Grisworth ordered that no one enters today. Don’t pretend your brother is seriously ill to get in. Mr. Grisworth won’t fall for it.”

“He’s dying! Get out of my way!”

But no matter how she begged or fought, they wouldn’t let her pass. Instead, the bodyguards lifted her off the ground and half-dragged her back to the elevator. Louisa stumbled away and ran to the emergency room door. The moment she pushed it open, a long and flat beep rang out.

The room fell silent except for the sharp, piercing tone. Louisa walked forward slowly with her body trembling. On the bed, Micah was lying still. His young face looked pale. The corners of his lips were slightly curved as if he had simply fallen asleep.

She held his tiny hand gently and whispered, “Don’t be scared, Micah. I’m here to take you home.”

A nurse’s eyes filled with tears. She stepped forward and held Louisa’s shaking shoulders.

“Miss Jacobson, I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Louisa’s whole body trembled. A wave of suffocating pain crashed over her, making it hard to breathe. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She tried to call the funeral home, but her fingers wouldn’t work. The nurse helped by calling and giving them the details.

Before long, the funeral staff arrived and quietly took Micah away. The hallways stayed silent. No one came to comfort Louisa because every doctor and nurse had been ordered to the top floor to care for Rebecca.

Louisa followed the staff to the funeral home in silence. That night, Micah was cremated. She didn’t cry, didn’t speak, just moved like a lifeless shell.

At dawn, she returned home carrying his ashes. She placed the urn gently into a suitcase, then went to Micah’s room and began to fold his clothes one by one, carefully packing them away.

After a long while, Simon came back. When he saw Louisa’s pale, empty eyes, a flicker of guilt crossed his face. He couldn’t explain why he spent the night with Rebecca. His mind had been a mess. Not to mention, the person before him was Lousa.

Simon then took out a delicate blue diamond necklace, the Heart of the Ocean and held it out like a precious gift. Gently rubbing Louisa’s hair, he asked softly, “Louisa, are your feet still hurting?”

Louisa didn’t look up or speak. She just kept folding Micah’s things. Simon hesitated.

“Micah’s surgery has been pushed to the day after tomorrow. When he gets better, how about we take him skiing?”

Louisa’s hands froze. Her back trembled as memories of Micah clinging to Simon flashed before her eyes. The pain in her chest was so strong that she could hardly stay upright.

After a long pause, she finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “I’m going on a trip.”

Simon blinked in surprise. He’d been thinking of ways to send her away for a while, but she had made the decision herself. For some reason, his chest tightened with unease.

Without another word, Louisa walked toward the greenhouse where she kept her beloved orchids. She wanted to take one with her. Just as she picked the flower, Rebecca appeared with a bright smile on her lips.

“Louisa, you heard Simon and me together last night, didn’t you? It must hurt. Tomorrow, Simon and I will be married. You’ll be swallowed whole by the Jacobson Family, sold off by your Uncle Jonathan and despised by the Griswolds Family,” she cruelly said.

Louisa struck Rebecca hard across the face. However, Rebecca didn’t get angry. Instead, she smirked and leaned close to Louisa’s ear, whispering something. It made Louisa’s face go pale in shock.

The next moment, Rebecca threw her lighter onto the exposed electrical wires.

Sparks burst out as the flames spread quickly through the flowers and vines. When Simon saw the fire, he rushed in, ignoring the servants trying to hold him back. He grabbed Rebecca, who was closest to him and turned to run.

Louisa opened her mouth to call out to him, but sharp pieces of falling glass stabbed into her back before she could. She couldn’t help but wail painfully. Then, a loud explosion erupted. The blast sent her flying, hitting the ground hard in the yard.

Simon ran out carrying Rebecca. Once he was safe, he realized Louisa wasn’t with them. He turned to go back, but Rebecca clutched his arm as she cried pitifully.

“Simon, it hurts so much! My leg might be broken … ”

Simon looked down at her. After a brief pause, he made a decision. He scooped her up and ran toward the car.

“We’ll get you to the hospital first!” he said urgently.

Then, he ordered the driver, “Take Louisa to the hospital too.”

Simon didn’t notice Louisa lying on the ground, trembling in pain.

Firefighters arrived soon after and put out the flames. Louisa was lifted into an ambulance, treated with simple bandages and sent home alone.

Moving like a ghost, she packed her luggage into the car, picked up Micah’s urn and drove to the cemetery. She buried him quietly beside their parents. When it was done, she didn’t look back. She went straight to the airport and boarded a plane to Boston.

At the hospital, Simon waited, expecting Louisa to arrive, but she never came. He questioned the driver, who told him she had been taken away by ambulance earlier. Simon reached for his phone to call her, but Rebecca caught his hand gently and spoke in a soft, coaxing tone.

“Simon, it means Louisa wasn’t badly hurt if she isn’t here. Didn’t she say she was going on a trip? Maybe she’s already on her way now.”

Simon said nothing. A heavy, uneasy feeling filled his chest. When his phone rang, he quickly answered, thinking it was Louisa. But it was only the bridal shop.

Rebecca leaned against him and acted spoiled, her voice sweet as she said, “Simon, we’re getting married tomorrow. I don’t want my mom to have any regrets. Can you just stay with me for these two days?”

Simon let out a deep sigh. Then, he texted his assistant.

[Light a sky lantern and take a picture of the diamond. Send it to Louisa’s favorite jewelry store and have them make a ring. After that, he ordered his assistant to find the best wedding planner for a proposal.]

After sending the message, he finally felt calmer and turned off his phone. The next day, Simon kept all news about the wedding completely secret. But that same day, Boston was buzzing with gossip about Mr. Perkins, who was said to be preparing a grand wedding. No one knew who the bride was.

On the way to the wedding manor, Simon overheard people talking excitedly.

“I heard Mr. Perkins spent billions on this wedding! He even shipped over furniture and decorations from New York and dozens of boxes of rare New York roses. He said the bride is used to living there, so he wanted to make Boston feel like home.”

“Then the bride must be from New York too. Mr. Perkins must really love her!”

Simon’s heart tightened and Louisa’s face flashed in his mind again and again.

The ceremony started. Simon held Rebecca’s hand and walked toward the priest. Her mother and the guests gave their blessings, but Simon felt nothing but emptiness inside. All he wanted was for it to end.

As soon as the ceremony was done, he turned to leave. Rebecca grabbed his hand as she kept blinking her eyes in uncertainty.

“Simon, where are you going?”

Simon pulled his hand away and looked at her coldly as he said, “I’ve fulfilled my duty by being here. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other.”

With that, Simon walked away and pulled out his phone. He wanted to call Louisa to find out where she was. But to his shock, he realized she had blocked him. Every message showed only red exclamation marks.

What he didn’t know was that at the exact moment he and Rebecca exchanged rings, Hugo Perkins from Boston had approached Louisa, offering her a pair of priceless heirloom rings.