Chapter 1 Chapter 1

On the day of my one-year anniversary with Jasper Cole, his first love suddenly returned from abroad and kidnapped me. Giselle Ackley patted my face, her long, diamond-studded nails slapping against it. "So, you're Aurora Greene? Jasper's charity case—the poor university student he's been sponsoring for six years? "You really do look a lot like me…" she remarked. I was stunned. I had always heard from Jasper's friends that he had a childhood sweetheart, a perfect "first love" that everyone adored. There were supposedly enough guys chasing after her to form a long line. This was the first time I had seen her. Looking at her face, I had to admit we did share some resemblance. However, she was the golden girl dressed head-to-toe in luxury brands, while I was an orphan who needed financial support just to attend university. I let out a bitter laugh. Jasper had sponsored me for six years after seeing my photo. I had once thought of him as my savior. It turned out his kindness wasn't out of goodwill—it stemmed from his inability to forget her. Just then, the doorbell of the hotel room rang. Giselle hooked a finger under my chin, her eyes full of malice. "Aurora, I heard you're still a virgin. Too bad—will you still be one tomorrow?" she wondered aloud. "Don't bother screaming. He'll be very gentle with you," she added. Then, she seemed to remember something, her tone mocking. "Oh, I forgot. You can't scream—you're mute!" Hearing that, I struggled with all my might. Thankfully, the ropes were tied loosely. While Giselle went to the bathroom, I immediately broke free and ran to the door. I was saved! The door opened with a soft metallic click, revealing a cold, handsome face. Like a frosty winter breeze, his features were both chilling and breathtakingly beautiful. Jasper's lips were pressed into a thin line as he looked at me, his brow furrowed. He didn't say anything, but I knew he wasn't one for words—I was used to it. Words didn't matter. The fact that he had come to save me meant I held some place in his heart. I bit my lip, holding back tears. As soon as I saw him, all my grievances flooded my heart, and I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face. Jasper frowned when he saw me. He slowly pushed me aside and called out to my back, concerned, "Giselle, where are you? Are you okay?" My back slammed into the door handle, a dull ache spreading through me. Ignoring the pain, I looked up in disbelief at his retreating figure. The tears froze on my face. Jasper walked straight into the bathroom and carried out a seemingly unconscious Giselle. He glared at me, his expression dark. "Did you do this to her? Are you out of your mind?" Faced with his accusations, I frantically shook my head. I desperately wanted to speak. I wanted to tell him it wasn't me who cut her arm—I had been tied to a chair the whole time. I signed as much, and his secretary, who knew sign language, interpreted for me. "Mr. Cole, Ms. Greene says she doesn't know anything and that she didn't hurt Ms. Ackley." Jasper calmed down, falling silent. He knew I had always been timid. It wasn't like me to do something so extreme. Just then, Giselle opened her eyes and clung to Jasper's shirt, sobbing quietly, "Jasper, Aurora had me kidnapped. "Thank goodness you came, or else I would have been harmed. She must really hate me, thinking I'm just a replacement for her. It's okay, though. I don't blame her." I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. It was all a setup. One by one, the so-called "evidence" was presented to Jasper. The kidnappers had been caught and identified me as the mastermind. They were from my hometown. Just a few days ago, I had had dinner with them and even invited them to celebrate Jasper's and my anniversary. The more Jasper listened, the darker his expression became. Before leaving, he ordered me to go to the hospital with them. "You and Giselle have the same blood type. If she needs a transfusion, you'll give it. If you still want your tuition and living expenses next month, you'd better cooperate." I sat on the floor, staring blankly at my phone. The electronic card on the screen flashed with the words: [Happy One-Year Anniversary, Jasper and Aurora.] Jasper saw it too and let out a cold laugh. "What? After all the trouble you've caused, you still expect to celebrate our anniversary?" In the end, I got up on my own. Just like every other day, I was once again trailing after Jasper.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Actually, Giselle was wrong. I didn't hate her—I envied her. I envied her for having so much love. Just like now, when people were seeking me out for revenge, all because she had been hurt. They were either her admirers or her family. They didn't care about the truth—only that I had wronged her. They cornered me, threatening and kicking me. "How dare you kidnap Giselle? Look at yourself. You're not even worthy! If anything happens to her, I'll make sure you suffer!""She's probably some messed-up mute with issues. Hey, you! Stay away from Giselle!" I curled up on the floor, trembling. Jasper's secretary found out what was happening and rushed to the stairwell. "Ms. Greene, are you okay?" she asked. I asked her where Jasper was—did he know they were bullying me? The secretary hesitated, finally telling me to leave the hospital. I laughed bitterly. I wasn't mistaken. Those shoes I had seen stepping into the stairwell earlier and then leaving were definitely Jasper's. After all, I polished his shoes every night until they shone. How could I be wrong? He had come but had let them take out their anger on me. The needle mark from the blood draw began to ache again—a sharp, cutting pain. I should have just left, but my feet carried me to Giselle's ward instead. Through the glass of the VIP room, I saw Jasper holding a bowl of soup. He blew on it gently, occasionally testing the temperature with a spoon until he was sure it was cool enough. We had been together for a year, and he had never treated me this way. Sure, he would sometimes "serve" me food. It was always cold and detached, as he ordered the housekeeper or someone else, "Aurora is too thin. Give her more meat." I would look at the meat on my plate, not upset that he forgot it made me nauseous, but just happily thanking him. As it turned out, the difference between liking me and loving her was vast. I couldn't bear to watch any longer, so I pulled out my phone and sent Jasper a message. I informed him I hadn't kidnapped Giselle and that I would investigate to prove my innocence. I also told him I didn't need his money anymore since I had won a scholarship. I told him I was tired and suggested we break up. Jasper's phone buzzed. When he saw it was a text from me, he didn't bother to open it. When I didn't receive a response, I left on my own. - I tracked down the two guys from my hometown, and they agreed to meet. The meeting spot was a fancy club. As soon as I entered the private room, they grabbed me and pinned me down. They looked delighted. "Aurora, you really had the nerve to come here on your own. You're like a walking cash machine for us! Perfect! We were just wondering how to get our next payday!" one of them said. They connected a video call, shoving my head toward the screen. They asked gleefully, "Ms. Ackley, we got her. What's next?" Giselle looked down with a grin. "Aurora, why do you think you're so capable? Trying to prove your innocence to Jasper? He doesn't even care that you've been kidnapped. "Because we're getting engaged." She seemed in a great mood, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Just keep an eye on her and don't let her run off. Do whatever you want beyond that," she said dismissively. The two men exchanged a glance before smiling and dragging me toward the bathroom in the suite. After what had happened last time, I had come prepared. When I saw things going south, I quickly pulled my homemade pepper spray from my pocket and sprayed it directly into their faces. As they screamed and clutched their eyes, I grabbed my phone and fled the room. Before I could even celebrate recording the evidence, I ran straight into someone in the hallway. He was wearing the club uniform, with a black mask covering his face. He was also tall and broad-shouldered. I figured he must be a security guard. His watch fell to the floor with a sharp sound. "You knocked my watch off," he said, frowning.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I bent down to pick up the watch and gestured an apology. He grabbed my arm, his voice low and firm. "Trying to run off with my watch, thief?" I attempted to pull away, but his grip didn't budge. I tried to explain, but he didn't understand sign language. With no other choice, I pushed him into the empty bathroom of the neighboring private room. In the small space, our eyes met, and the atmosphere felt a bit awkward. I placed the watch on the sink and pushed it toward him, then typed an explanation on my phone, telling him what had happened. He finally understood, confirming, "So, you're hiding from two bad guys, not trying to run away." I nodded. "Then why didn't you call the police?" he asked. I lowered my eyes. The Ackleys had too much power. Calling the police now would only alert them. I needed to gather more evidence to deliver a fatal blow. Once I was sure those two guys had left, I pushed open the door, ready to leave. The man grabbed my arm again. "Wait, you're just going to leave like that? Take off your jacket first," he said. I froze, my breath catching in my throat. I couldn't believe I had escaped the wolves only to run into a tiger—and I was out of pepper spray. Just then, there was a commotion outside. I turned, ready to open the door and call for help. He covered my mouth, pulled off my jacket, and tossed it out the door. "Sorry, my girlfriend and I had an argument. Could you all please find another room?" he announced. When the people outside saw the jacket on the floor, they backed off. Sweating, the man took off his mask and looked at me with a playful smirk. "What do you take me for?" he teased. "I was just worried those two guys might still be around. With that outfit, you'd be too easy to spot." I stood there, stunned, my ears burning red. He had a cool, aloof look, but when he smiled, it was like ice melting in the spring. "My name's Waylon Pritchard," he said. "You're hiding from people, and I don't want to be seen either. Why don't we team up and get out of here together?" I nodded. Waylon took off his uniform jacket and handed it to me. He then pulled a pink hair tie from who-knows-where. Maybe it belonged to his girlfriend. He patted my head. "Change your hairstyle yourself. I'm not great at tying up girls' hair." Blushing, I took the hair tie and pulled my hair up into a bun. - When we left the club, one of the two guys was indeed waiting by the door. However, in the dim light, with my changed clothes and hairstyle, he didn't recognize me. It was already late, and the dorms at school were locked. I didn't want to go back to Jasper's place either. Noticing my hesitation, Waylon said, "If you don't mind, you could stay at my place in the suburbs. It's close to your school, and my younger sister sometimes stays there, so you'll have some company. If you end up staying long-term, I'll even give you a discount on the rent." My eyes lit up. Sometimes, I worked late, and returning to the dorm was inconvenient. That was how Waylon became my new landlord. - The next day, I snuck back to Jasper's place to grab my things. I hadn't expected him to be home. He rarely was. Today, he sat on the couch, his face dark and unreadable. When he saw me, he sneered. "Still remember to go back home?" I was surprised and a little touched. Was Jasper worried about me? Had he really been waiting for me this whole time? I stole a glance at him. He still wore the same clothes as yesterday. He must have been too busy to even eat. I headed to the kitchen, planning to make him a bowl of chicken soup as a farewell gift. Just then, Giselle emerged from the kitchen, carrying a dish. "Jasper, I'm coming! You stayed up all night taking care of me. I specifically asked Mabel to make steamed fish for you," she said sweetly. I froze. Giselle wore a new Parada pajama set—the one I had mentioned to Jasper that I liked. It was a couple's set.