Chapter 1 Leaving Jensen for Good

The dim yellow light mixed with the scent of burning incense, making the room feel thick with tension. Wearing a sheer nightgown, Natalie Summers found herself pressed against the door. Jensen Luke’s hand gripping her neck. “Natalie, you’re mine tonight.” He leaned in. Jensen was 6'2", towering over Natalie, making her seem even more petite. Before she could say anything, Jensen’s lips pressed against hers, taking her breath away. Natalie tilted her head up and met the lust-filled depths of his eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed just inches from her, and his scorching breath made her face flush and her body go weak. It was the fifth anniversary of their relationship. Overflowing with love, she kissed him back. The sound of tearing fabric and shallow breaths filled the room as the tension between them grew. Just as they were about to become one, Jensen’s phone rang. Interrupted at such a moment, his irritation was obvious, but he answered anyway. Natalie, panting, caught a glimpse of the caller ID: it was Felix, Jensen’s closest friend. “Jensen, are you out of your mind? You—” “Switching to Fracian. Now’s not a good time.” Jensen quickly changed languages. There was a pause, then Felix spoke in fluent foreign speech: “You really went and got married to Sharon? What the hell are you thinking? Five years ago, you got into that street race to save her and nearly died in the crash. But Sharon? She ditched you and ran off overseas with another guy! She's had boyfriend after boyfriend while she was gone—she never cared about you! And now you’ve actually married her?” Felix’s words automatically translated in Natalie’s mind into her native tongue. Her eyes flew open. The heat in her body still lingered, but her heart had plunged into an icy abyss. Jensen hadn’t noticed her reaction. His voice was cold and measured. “Sharon has cancer. She doesn’t have long. Her final wish is to marry me, to be my wife. She said the person she owes the most in this life is me, and she wants to end our first love story with a perfect ending. I can’t let her die with regrets.” “And what about Natalie? After your crash, she was the one who never left your side, who cared for you day and night. She gave you everything she had. You really think she deserves to find out she’s the other woman? How is she supposed to live with that?” Felix’s anger didn’t shake Jensen. “She won’t find out,” he said coldly. “As long as everyone keeps it quiet, Natalie will never know. When Sharon’s gone, I’ll marry Natalie.” “Do you seriously believe Sharon has cancer?” That question pushed Jensen over the edge. “Enough! I know what I’m doing.” With that, he hung up. He turned back to Natalie, ready to pick up where they left off—only for her to push him away. “I don’t feel so well.” Natalie wrapped her arms around herself, trembling slightly, her face pale as a sheet. Jensen had no idea she’d spent the last six months secretly mastering three foreign languages—one of which was Fracian. She’d never had the chance to use it—until tonight, when Jensen unknowingly shattered her heart with it. Seeing her like that, Jensen looked genuinely concerned. “What’s wrong? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?” His concern didn’t seem fake—but Natalie’s heart ached. How could he care so deeply while secretly marrying someone else? She was about to turn him down when his phone chimed again—this time with a distinctive WhatsApp notification sound. Jensen glanced at the screen. “Something’s come up at the office. I need to take care of it right away. Try to rest. If you still feel sick, call me—I’ll have someone take you to the hospital.” Natalie barely had time to nod before he was grabbing his clothes and walking out the door. She watched his retreating figure, and the tears finally spilled down her cheeks. She had seen it. The message was from Sharon. It read: "Jensen, I’m in pain. Please come." Natalie clenched her fists tight, her heart feeling as if a gaping hole had been torn through it. Tears blurred her vision as memories she had tried so hard to bury came flooding back. She had been switched at birth and raised by the Summers family, living a life of luxury until she turned eighteen—when the real Summers daughter, Sharon, was found and brought home. From then on, Natalie’s life descended into hell. Sharon believed Natalie had stolen eighteen years of her happiness and resented her to the core. She demanded Natalie be locked away in a dark, windowless basement. That damp floor and moldy corner became Natalie’s entire world. Sharon would often come down with a twisted smile, whipping her with cruel delight. Each lash was a punishment for the “sin” of being loved. Her adoptive parents, who should have protected her, ignored her suffering to please their real daughter. Night after night, Natalie curled up in the corner, shaking from pain, drowning in despair, swallowing her tears in silence. A year later, one evening, she seized a moment of carelessness from the guards and escaped the basement with every ounce of strength she had. Tattered and bruised, she didn’t make it far—she collapsed at the feet of a visiting guest: Jensen. In that moment, Jensen was like a ray of light piercing her darkness. He took her away and nursed her back to health. Jensen had promised to protect her and that he would be her family now. He knew about her past with the Summers family, so he did his best to shield her from ever seeing them again. And over the years, she fell for him—deeper than she ever imagined. Then one day, Jensen suddenly insisted on joining a street race. No one could talk him out of it. By the time Natalie heard, he’d already crashed—critically injured and comatose, with doctors warning he might never wake up. The Luke family was powerful and wealthy. Losing Jensen wouldn’t destroy them—they had other heirs. But Natalie had no one else. Just him. To save him, she poured her heart and soul into his recovery—day and night care, searching everywhere for miracle doctors. Finally, her efforts paid off. She found an elusive healer known for working miracles. But his price was steep. Natalie gave up something deeply precious to her in exchange for Jensen’s life. Thankfully, he pulled through. Less than a year after recovering, Jensen took full control of Luke Corp and became its CEO. He told her he’d marry her on the fifth anniversary of their relationship. And yet, on that very day, he married Sharon instead. Until now, Natalie had never once considered leaving Jensen. But now that she knew he was married, she would never allow herself to be the other woman. Especially not to Sharon. Wiping her tears, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number. “I accept Grant International Holdings’ training offer in Murica. I want to leave Jensen. For good.”

Chapter 2 I'm Not Interested in Being the Other Woman

"That's great news, Natalie. You finally came to your senses!" Renee's fingers trembled around her phone. This genius designer junior had willingly become invisible at Luke Corp just to stay by Jensen's side. After his car crash five years ago, Natalie had even sacrificed a rib—and something far more unspeakable—to help bring him back to life. Since then, she'd thrown herself into the relationship like a moth to a flame. But now, the voice coming through the phone was low, hoarse, and hollow—utterly unlike the Natalie she knew. "Natalie, did Jensen do something to you?" Renee immediately picked up on the real issue. After a long silence, a choked sob came through. Renee should’ve known—only Jensen himself could’ve hurt Natalie enough to make her give up on him. She wanted to curse Jensen out. She wanted to comfort Natalie. But when the words reached her lips, she didn’t know where to begin. "Just get that visa sorted and come over. A woman needs her own career. Natalie, this Grant International Holdings training program is huge. With your talent, you’re going to shine there." Renee’s words made Natalie nod slightly. "I’ll get the visa sorted as soon as I can.""I’ll be waiting!" After hanging up, Natalie finally noticed the rain pouring outside. Violent winds rattled the wind chime in the living room. That wind chime was made from the paper cranes she’d folded daily while praying when Jensen lay in the hospital after his crash. After he recovered, Jensen had it turned into a wind chime and hung it in the living room—to commemorate their love. Now, as she looked at it, Natalie found it bitterly ironic. She instinctively moved to take it down, but her elbow knocked over a photo frame on the nearby bar counter. The glass shattered, revealing two photographs inside. Natalie frowned slightly. Two? She bent down to pick them up. One was a photo of her and Jensen taken five years ago, when they officially became a couple. But the second—was of Sharon and Jensen together. Sharon was beaming radiantly in the picture, and Jensen stood behind her, one arm around her waist, eyes filled with nothing but affection. Below the photo, Jensen had written in flamboyant script: "Farewell, my love." The timestamp was 3 a.m.—the night after Jensen’s recovery. Exactly seven hours before he brought Natalie roses and asked her to be his girlfriend. Natalie's fingers trembled as she gripped the photo. Suddenly, all of Jensen’s tenderness over the years turned ice cold. What she had believed was mutual love… was really just his consolation prize for a love he’d already lost. In a frenzy, Natalie ripped down the wind chime. Paper cranes scattered across the floor, as broken as her heart. Her phone dinged twice. It was Renee—forwarding her the official training invitation from Grant International Holdings. Natalie composed herself, grabbed her documents, and took a cab to the immigration office. After reviewing her paperwork, the clerk said, "Ms. Summers, your visa will take about ten days. Please wait for our notification.""Alright. Thank you." Just as Natalie walked out of the office, her phone rang. It was Jensen. "Natalie, something urgent came up at work. I won’t be home tonight." Before she could respond, he hung up. Then her WhatsApp chimed. It was Sharon. She received two short videos. In the first, Jensen and Sharon were holding red marriage certificates, kissing. The timestamp was yesterday. In the second, Jensen was kneeling with a ring—proposing to Sharon The same ring Natalie had personally designed for her own future wedding. Jensen had promised to put that ring on her finger on their fifth anniversary. But now… it was on Sharon’s hand. The timestamp? Five minutes before Jensen had just called her. No wonder he wasn’t coming home tonight. It was his wedding night. Natalie let out a cold, bitter laugh. Then Sharon sent a voice message. "Natalie, Jensen is my legal husband now. You’re not allowed to see him anymore! If you do, I won’t go easy on you. And don’t think it’ll be as simple as that little basement punishment from last time." Natalie replied without hesitation. "Don’t worry. I have no interest in being the other woman." Then she blocked Sharon. The moment Jensen chose to marry Sharon, there was no turning back for them. In ten days, Natalie would be gone for good. She never wanted to see Jensen again. She pocketed her phone and caught a cab home. Downstairs, she asked the supermarket owner for a few cardboard boxes and carried them up to her place. She was going to throw out everything that reminded her of Jensen. Everything he’d given her over the years—except for the valuable jewelry—went into the boxes and straight into the trash. By the time she was done, it was already past midnight. Too physically exhausted to feel sad, Natalie showered and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. The next morning, she took all the expensive jewelry Jensen had gifted her and locked it in a bank deposit box. She instructed the bank manager to give the key to Jensen in ten days. When she got back home, she started packing for her move abroad. And just then—Jensen came back. He immediately sensed something was different. "Did something go missing in here?" Without looking up, Natalie said calmly, "I just cleared out some old junk. Figured it’s time to get new stuff soon.""Sure. If you see anything you like, let me know. I’ll have my assistant take care of it." Jensen shrugged off his coat onto the couch, but then his eyes caught something on the side table. They were design drafts. "The launch for the ‘Devotion’ jewelry line is tomorrow. You should come with me." Natalie’s hand paused mid-pack. She’d worked at Luke Corp for three years and designed several blockbuster jewelry pieces—but Jensen had never once invited her to any of the product launches. No one besides Jensen even knew that Sundy, Luke Corp’s chief designer, was actually her. This invitation must’ve come from guilt—because he’d married Sharon behind her back. Natalie quickly replied, "Okay." Before she left Jensen for good, she would reclaim her place in the spotlight. Just then, her phone buzzed from the bed. An international number lit up on the screen, and Jensen's brow furrowed. "Why are you getting calls from overseas?"

Chapter 3 So This Is What Favoritism Looks Like

Natalie froze, glancing at the incoming call. Her heart dropped. That number—it was from the Witch Doctor. But why was he calling her? Their transaction had ended five years ago. Instinctively, she pressed a hand to her side, where the pain of having her rib removed still echoed deep in her memory. She quickly rejected the call and said flatly, "Spam. Probably a scam number." Jensen glanced at her, then nodded, thinking of the recent scam warnings involving foreign numbers. "Scam calls are getting through? That means your number’s probably been leaked. I’ll have my assistant get you a new number tomorrow." Before Natalie could respond, Jensen’s own phone rang—with that distinct ringtone. She instantly knew: it was Sharon. Jensen shot Natalie a guilty glance, quickly declined the call, and mumbled, "Assistant calling about work. I’ll take it in the living room." Without waiting for a response, he rushed out. Natalie’s eyes drifted to her phone. It was still linked to the smart voice assistant in the living room—Alexa. Jensen thought it was just a Bluetooth speaker. He had no idea it had a built-in surveillance camera. Natalie had never used it to spy on him. But today, with Sharon calling, something twisted inside her. She wanted to know how he acted with Sharon when she wasn’t around. She lowered the volume and opened the Alexa app. On-screen, Jensen sat at the bar, holding his phone. His eyes gazed out the window, completely unaware that the wind chime—symbol of their love—was gone. His voice was soft and gentle. "I’ll come back to you in a bit." Sharon’s voice came clearly through the mic. "Jensen, you’re the sweetest. Hey, the new Luke Corp jewelry line is launching tomorrow. Can I come? I heard it’s the Devotion series by Sunny—it’s perfect for our honeymoon vibe! You designed it, didn’t you? You’re Sunny, right?" Jensen paused, slightly startled. "I’m not—""Oh come on, don’t lie to me. Back when you stood out among all the Luke heirs, it was because of that Heart of the Ocean design. Nobody knows who Sunny really is, but every time Luke Corp has a breakthrough, Sunny designs something in perfect sync. Who else would care that much about Luke Corp?" Natalie gave a cold, bitter smile. She had poured her heart into every piece she designed, each one a tribute to Jensen’s milestones. Jensen stayed quiet for a moment. Then Sharon went on, "Jensen, my biggest dream has always been to become a jewelry designer. But fate won’t give me the time. We’re married now—could you let me borrow Sunny’s identity, just once? Let me feel what it’s like to be admired and adored." Natalie’s grip on her phone tightened. Did Sharon even understand what she was asking? Jensen hesitated, glanced toward Natalie’s room, then said softly, "Okay. Tomorrow, at the press conference, I’ll announce to the media that you’re Sunny.""Yay! I love you, Jensen!" Sharon’s giddy laughter echoed from the speaker. But Natalie’s heart had gone completely cold. How could he? Jensen knew she was Sunny. Yet with just a few sweet words from Sharon, he was willing to hand over everything—her years of blood, sweat, and brilliance—without even asking her. So this is what favoritism really looked like. Natalie couldn’t listen anymore. She cut off the Bluetooth connection, chest heaving. If Jensen was going to give Sharon what was hers—then she would fight to take it back. Without hesitation, she redialed the international number. It rang three times before the Witch Doctor picked up, his voice cold and emotionless. "Well, well. Look who finally grew a spine. Hung up on me, did you? Want me to take Jensen’s rib tonight instead?" Natalie bit her lip. "I don’t care what you want me to do. Just help me with one thing, and I’ll agree to anything." There was a pause, then a snort of laughter. "Didn’t you say you’d die for love five years ago? What changed?""Cut the crap. Do we have a deal or not?" Her fingers dug into her phone. For five years, Jensen had been her only family, her only love, her only connection to the world. Now, she had no one to turn to—except the Witch Doctor. Even if the price was steep. "Deal." Natalie immediately explained what she needed and hung up. Just then, Jensen came back in. "Natalie. You can’t come to the launch event tomorrow.""Why not?" She looked up at the man she’d loved for five long years. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart. Jensen avoided her eyes. "Sunny’s identity needs to remain a secret. Just stay home. After tomorrow, I’ll give you whatever you want." And with that, he turned and walked away. Natalie’s eyes burned. Her fists clenched so tightly, her nails pierced the skin of her palms—but she didn’t even feel it. The past five years suddenly felt like a cruel joke. Her phone chimed again. It was the Witch Doctor, sending her an official invitation to tomorrow’s Luke Corp product launch. Sharon wanted Sunny’s glory? Let’s see if she could handle it. Natalie didn’t sleep a wink that night. The next morning, she put on a pearl-white gown, elegantly styled her hair, and made her way to Luke Corp’s launch venue. The first thing she saw was Sharon, clinging to Jensen’s arm with a radiant smile. And Jensen… gazing at Sharon with such warmth and tenderness, never once taking his eyes off her. You can’t fake love—not in your eyes. She had been blind and foolish. Natalie gave a small, mocking smile, then lifted her chin and walked in. Her stunning, ethereal beauty immediately drew attention. Jensen instinctively turned—and his face changed the moment he saw her. He shook off Sharon’s arm and stormed over, eyes bloodshot, grabbing her wrist. "Who told you to come here?"

Chapter 4 This Is Mine

Natalie felt as if her wrist might snap under Jensen’s grip. He had never handled her like this before. And now… she saw it—panic and anger flashing in his eyes. Because she showed up, he was furious? A smile tugged at her lips. She suddenly leaned in, warm breath brushing Jensen’s throat, making him involuntarily shiver. Then, in a voice only the two of them could hear, she whispered softly, "This is my launch event, Mr. Luke. After all these years, don’t you think it’s time I made an appearance?" Her clear, luminous eyes made Jensen inexplicably uneasy. His voice turned cold. "It’s not your time to appear yet. I’ll arrange it later. Just go home for now." His brows were tightly furrowed, clearly agitated. Natalie’s chest ached. Even now, even after hearing everything, part of her still wished he might come clean—still wanted to give him a chance. Even if he confessed now, even if he begged her to give up on exposing the truth, she might have stopped. But no. He said nothing. She was, once again, disappointed. Suppressing her emotions, Natalie smiled. "You really plan to reveal my identity?""Natalie, what are you trying to do? You’ve never been this unreasonable! Just go home. We’ll talk later. I’ll have the driver take you." He fumbled for his phone, an uneasy feeling clawing at his chest. Natalie’s hands balled into fists, her eyes glistening. This was the man she’d loved for five years. "I'm not leaving." Her voice was firm, unwavering. Jensen’s gaze darkened. "You don’t have a choice." He reached for her again, but Natalie dodged him. Instead, she caught Sharon’s eye—and deliberately raised her wrist, revealing a diamond bracelet that glittered under the lights. She shot Sharon a provocative smile. That did it. Sharon’s temper flared instantly. Natalie, flaunting her closeness with Jensen in public, was humiliating her. She was the one who came with Jensen. She was his legal wife. Who gave Natalie the right to act so smug? Why did the bracelet look so familiar? Fury boiling over, Sharon stormed toward her and shoved her hard. "Natalie, today’s the launch of Luke Corp’s Devotion series. Why is that bracelet on your wrist? Did you steal it?" So this was how Sharon was going to do it—publicly shame her, drag her down. Her voice was loud enough for the whole crowd to hear. Everyone turned to Natalie. In her pearl-white dress, the moonlight diamond bracelet gleaming on her wrist, she was a vision. But thanks to Sharon’s outburst, the atmosphere changed instantly. "Someone that pretty… a thief?""Just goes to show you never really know people. And the way she was hanging on Mr. Luke just now? Definitely shady." Natalie’s face paled under the weight of their judgment. She bit her lower lip, voice trembling but resolute. "This is mine." Sharon burst out laughing. "Yours? Don’t make me laugh! A broke fraud like you can afford diamonds?""Let me enlighten you all," Sharon turned to the crowd dramatically. "This woman’s name is Natalie. She was the fake daughter our family raised by mistake. We kicked her out five years ago. She couldn’t possibly afford that bracelet." Natalie’s hands trembled. Sharon made it sound like they simply sent her away. But the truth? She had nearly died in that house. The whip scars on her back still throbbed at the memory. And Jensen—he knew. He was the one who had carefully tended those wounds, terrified of hurting her. Now, when Natalie looked to him, he looked away. He didn’t speak up for her. Didn’t defend her. He didn’t dare cross Sharon. She had known he wasn’t worth hoping for. But it still hurt like hell. Five years of love flashed before her eyes—every tender smile, every warm touch, now just dull blades slicing her to pieces. She swallowed it all and said, "Ms. Summers, accusing me of theft based solely on identity… isn’t that a bit presumptuous? How do you know I haven’t made a name for myself over the past five years?" Sharon sneered. "You? Made a name for yourself? That’s rich! You want proof? Fine, I’ll give it to you." She tossed her hair and turned to the crowd proudly. "Everyone here knows this launch is for the Devotion series designed by the elusive Sunny. Well, I’m Sunny. That bracelet she’s wearing is my design. Mr. Luke can confirm it!" Gasps erupted throughout the hall. "What? Ms. Summers is Sunny?""Mr. Luke, is this true? Sunny has only ever worked with Luke Corp, and no one’s ever seen her. Is it really Sharon?" Reporters swarmed forward. Natalie didn’t look at them. Her sharp, elegant eyes stayed locked on Jensen. Her fists clenched around the fabric of her dress. She wanted to hear him say it. With his own mouth. Jensen felt her gaze and his brows creased tighter and tighter. Then Sharon clung to his arm and whined softly, "Jensen~" Just that one word. A plea. He remembered she didn’t have long to live. His heart softened. "Yes. Sharon is Sunny. She’s been Luke Corp’s chief designer these past five years." The moment the words left his mouth, Natalie heard her heart break. No one knew better than Jensen how much she had sacrificed to create those designs. And now, without hesitation, he handed it all to Sharon. Fine.So be it. Natalie bit down so hard on her lip she tasted blood, the copper tang igniting her fury. Sharon, thrilled by the attention, grinned. "You all heard it. That bracelet is my work. Which means Natalie stole it. She probably took other designs too. Security! Strip her down, take her bag—I want to check everything myself!" Two guards stepped forward without hesitation. They seized Natalie’s arms and slammed her to the cold floor. With a sharp rip, her dress strap tore open—exposing her back. The crowd gasped at the sight of the disfiguring whip scars running down her spine. And in the audience, a man clenched his wine glass so tightly it shattered in his hand. Blood dripped from his palm, red against the white shards—his eyes glinting with barely restrained murderous rage.

Chapter 5 You Might Forgive and Forget—But I Won’t

“Let me go! What you're doing is illegal!” Natalie thrashed against the guards, her wrists straining in their grip. She raised her eyes to Jensen, her teeth clenched so tightly they audibly ground together. “Jensen, can you really look me in the eye and say Sharon is truly Sunny?” Her eyes were swollen, but still stunning, locked onto him with unwavering intensity. And on her back—those brutal whip scars—stood as a loud, ugly slap across Jensen’s conscience. His hands curled into tight fists. He’d been the one to dress those wounds, nursing her day after day. He once told her he would never let anyone hurt her again. And yet... Jensen instinctively took a step forward—but Sharon clung to his arm. “Jensen, my stomach hurts…” Her voice was soft, almost fragile, but to Jensen it was a bucket of ice water. Right. Sharon was terminally ill. What did it matter if he gave her this spotlight? Natalie still had her whole future ahead of her. He forced down the guilt boiling in his chest and spoke clearly, coldly. “She’s my designer. I’d know. Sharon is Luke Corp’s chief designer, Sunny.” Sharon beamed with pride. And Natalie—just one tear slipped down her cheek. Even after Jensen married Sharon behind her back… Even after she’d resolved to let go… She still wanted to protect the five years they’d shared. But what a fool she was. Jensen saw her cry, and something twisted deep in his chest. For five years, no matter what she went through, Natalie had never cried. But now... He started forward again. “Don’t just stand there!” Sharon snapped. “Strip her. Or do I have to do it myself? Jensen, right?” She pouted, playing the pitiful wife. Jensen’s throat went dry. He looked at Natalie and forced his voice steady. “If you didn’t steal anything, you’ve got nothing to hide.” Natalie let out a laugh. She was still on the ground, body bent awkwardly, dress strap torn at the shoulder. Her scars were exposed. Her laughter—frayed, sharp, unsettling—cut through the murmurs of the crowd. “Enough! Take her backstage and check her.” Jensen couldn’t bear to look at her any longer. Sharon wanted to say more but was silenced by the flicker of coldness in his eyes. The guards stepped forward, ready to drag her away—but Natalie yanked herself free. “No need! If Mr. Luke believes I must be searched, why hide backstage? Wouldn’t that look suspicious? Strip me, right? Fine—I’ll do it myself!” And with that, she tore off her moon-white gown and flung it into the air. Wearing only black underwear and matching undergarments, her pale skin glowed beneath the lights—but so did the vicious scars on her back and legs. Gasps echoed around the room. “Oh my god… what happened to her?” Reporters, sensing a scandal, raised their cameras and snapped away. But Natalie ignored the stares. Staring straight at Jensen and Sharon, she spoke slowly, deliberately. “This is everything. Nothing left but my underwear. If Mr. Luke and Ms. Summers still think I’m hiding something, feel free to come search me yourselves.” Jensen’s expression darkened. Those scars—he remembered them. The bloodied girl he’d found five years ago, half-dead at the foot of the Summers estate. He’d spent days dressing those wounds, coaxing her back to life. She never wore off-shoulder dresses. They’d never even been fully intimate—because of those very scars. Now she was laying herself bare in front of the entire world. And he felt... afraid. Sharon’s brow furrowed when she saw the lash marks. What the hell was this woman trying to do? She jumped in quickly. “Natalie, you were kicked out of the Summers family because you were a tramp, remember? Dad and Mom couldn’t stand your behavior. And now you want to flaunt the proof of your indecency? You’re disgusting!”“What? You mean those are from sleeping around?”“She was what—seventeen, eighteen back then? Slutty even as a teen? No wonder her family tossed her out.” The crowd’s gaze turned sour—disgusted. Sharon’s lips curled with triumph. So what if she gave those beatings? There were no cameras in the basement. Her parents wouldn’t speak up. She owned the narrative now. Even if Natalie denied it—who would believe her? Jensen looked at Natalie, eyes wide. “So that’s where the scars came from.” If looks could kill, Natalie would’ve been torn to shreds under Jensen’s glare. She stared at Sharon—who now looked exactly like she had five years ago: full of malice, eyes burning with cruelty. Natalie chuckled coldly. “Sharon, just because no one saw you abuse me doesn’t mean you can rewrite history. You think you can spit filth and everyone will believe you?”“What are you implying?” Sharon snapped, a sliver of doubt in her tone. Natalie raised her arm and displayed the diamond bracelet again. “You say this bracelet is part of the Devotion line. You say you designed it. Then tell us—what does it do?” All eyes turned to Sharon. She hadn’t expected this. In truth, she didn’t even know if that bracelet was part of the collection. She just needed an excuse to disgrace Natalie. Now put on the spot, she glanced at Jensen. He said nothing. His frown deepened. Natalie could see the growing tension in his jaw. Could feel his unease. “That’s enough. Sharon doesn’t have to prove anything. She said it’s her design—then it is. Give the bracelet back, and we’ll let you leave quietly.” His tone was lofty, magnanimous. Like he was offering her mercy. Natalie let out a cold laugh. "You two might forgive and forget. But I won't." She lifted her wrist again and tapped twice on the bracelet. The shining diamond shifted aside—and a soft blue beam burst forth, casting a glowing projection onto the massive display screen at the venue. Everyone was stunned. Their eyes widened and their mouths dropped. The video began to play—and the entire room watched, stunned.

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The dim yellow light mixes with burning incense, thickening the air with false intimacy. I'm pressed against the door, Jensen's hand around my neck—not tight, but possessive. "Natalie, you're mine tonight," he says, lips crashing down on mine. I kiss him back, heart full. It's our fifth anniversary. Love swells in me—until his phone rings.

Felix's voice cuts through, speaking Fracian. I've spent six months mastering it just to understand Jensen's world. Now, I hear every devastating word: Jensen married Sharon. The girl who had me whipped in a basement. The one who left him to die. He did it for her 'perfect ending.' And me? I'm just waiting for her to die so I can have the leftovers.

I push him away. Say I'm sick. He leaves for 'work.' But I see the message: Jensen, I'm in pain. Please come.

Tears burn my cheeks. Memories flood back—the moldy basement, the lashes, the silence of my adoptive parents. Then Jensen found me. Saved me. I gave up a rib, my privacy, my future—for him.

Now, I pick up my phone. Dial Renee. "I accept Grant International Holdings' training offer in Murica. I want to leave Jensen. For good."