After the divorce, with my legs broken and eyes blinded, I changed my identity, vanished without a trace, and opened a dessert shop in the South. I saw Sebastian Evans again five years later. A runner, here to pick up an order, told me, “For all these years, Mr. Evans hasn’t had a single woman by his side. He’s been waiting for you.” The words had barely left his lips when Sebastian walked in. The man was in a black suit, four bodyguards trailing behind him, his entrance silencing the entire street. I felt him standing at the counter, watching me for a long time, his gaze so heavy it chilled my heart. But in the end, he simply uttered coldly: “Willow Hayes, long time no see.” “Mmh, long time no see.” I fumbled, wiping the counter, my face devoid of emotion. I remembered five years ago, it was only because his adopted sister, Clara, claimed I had drugged her drink, leading to her assault. Sebastian flew into a rage. He had my kneecaps shattered on the spot. Then he took screenshots from the intimate videos we’d made and scattered them across the entire clubhouse. “Personally tested, soft-bodied, seductive voice, knows how to please. Free delivery.” His subordinates tried to reason with him: “Willow is about to be your lawfully wedded wife, Mr. Evans. Why would you destroy her?” Sebastian, however, kicked over the incense table. “She dared to touch Clara; she should know the consequences.” “I only wanted to scare her. I didn’t actually send her out. Let her taste what it’s like to be humiliated.” I leaned against the doorframe, standing in the shadows, my vision black, yet I could feel his icy gaze. He showed no remorse, gripping my chin and saying, “This time you crossed a line. Your suffering is your own doing.” “As long as you go kowtow to Clara, admit your mistakes, and atone for the pain she suffered, I’ll still make you Mrs. Evans.” I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my throat, picked up the photos one by one, and tore them to shreds in front of everyone. The next second, a whistle sounded from outside the clubhouse. “I’ll take this dame.” Sebastian suddenly smashed the teacup in his hand. His subordinates immediately fell silent. Someone quietly advised, “Sir, maybe just let it go. It wouldn’t sound good spreading around…” Sebastian turned to me. “Willow Hayes, what do you say? Will you admit your mistake?” I lowered my eyes, then turned and felt my way towards the back room. Behind me, I heard his ice-cold sneer: “Your… friend here has no objections, why are you all so anxious? Since the gentleman doesn’t mind her being ‘soiled,’ I must fulfill his request.” I slowly walked out. Many people in the corridor pointed and whispered about me. My hands and feet were numb with cold. A drunken thug suddenly lunged, wrapping his arm around my waist, spewing obscenities. “Heard you specialize in serving the sick? Coincidentally, I just got out of the hospital, full of filthy diseases…” I screamed, struggling, but passersby disgustedly moved away. Whispers drifted faintly: “That’s her, right? The one Mr. Evans discarded. So dirty.” “Serves her right. She put those photos out herself, and now has the nerve to cry for help.” I trembled all over, hissing, “My man is Sebastian Evans! How dare you touch me—” “Got a man but still hooking up outside? Those videos of yours are everywhere. What kind of lowlife would want you?” “Call your man out then. If he really comes, I’ll let go.” Before the words fully left his mouth, the door to the private room at the end of the hall opened. Sebastian emerged with his men. Hearing his footsteps, my tears instantly flowed. “Sebastian! Save me!” But he didn’t even glance at me. He just smiled at the drunkard. “Brother, she likes this kind of attention. She specifically picks those with… conditions.” Then he walked straight past. The drunkard roared with laughter. “Mr. Evans doesn’t even want you, why are you still putting on an act?!” I don't know how much time passed, but suddenly a large amount of blood gushed from below me. The man, startled, let go and ran off, cursing. I stumbled to my feet and went to the nearest clinic. The baby was gone. I had planned to tell Sebastian I was pregnant on our third anniversary. But now, all that remained were blurry blood clots in a sterile tray. The doctor on duty looked at me, her expression full of unspoken words. “Miss Hayes, Mr. Evans sent word… he demands you never touch perfumery again. Your studio has also been trashed. And apparently… you owe him five million dollars.” I closed my eyes, the taste of rust rising in my throat. The doctor’s eyes reddened. “How could Mr. Evans become like this… Years ago, he almost had a shootout with a rival gang to protect your perfumery studio; the last time someone caused you trouble, he risked his life, rushing in alone to carry you out.” “He clearly loved you so much, how could he now, for an adopted sister, cripple your perfuming hands and ruin the rest of your life?” Yes, why? I shook my head, unable to speak. When I first met Sebastian, I didn't know he had an adopted sister. He was injured during a brawl at the docks, a knife piercing his lung, just half an inch from his life. I nursed him for three days and nights in my family's apothecary, using an ancestral recipe to pull him back from death's door. The day after he woke, he sent his men to summon me. Bandages wrapped around half his body, he smiled hoarsely at me. “Miss Hayes, for saving my life, my life is yours from now on.” I took it as mere courtesy from a man of the underworld. But he truly pursued me for a whole year, deflecting countless troubles from my small apothecary. Knowing I often stayed up late perfuming, he would always wait at my shop door with hot soup whenever he returned. It was hard not to be moved, yet I dared not be. Until three years ago, a rival sent assassins into my perfumery studio. Sebastian completely shielded me with his body, taking a knife in his back and another in his arm. The day he had his stitches removed, I said yes to him. For these three years, everything had been perfect. Until he was absent on the day we were to get our marriage license. Three days later, he appeared with Clara, only vaguely saying he’d forgotten. Sebastian asked me to take good care of Clara. I did my best. Three days ago, Clara came to me, complaining of a rash. She begged me not to tell her brother. I assumed it was an allergy and took her to our family’s trusted old doctor, who prescribed an external ointment. But when I saw the medical notes, I froze—they stated an STD. Before I could figure out how to tell her, Sebastian burst in with his men, shielding a red-eyed Clara. With a single command, my kneecaps were shattered with an iron bar. I curled up on the ground in pain, asking him why. He looked at me coldly. “I thought you were different from those other women. I never imagined you were so malicious.” “Just because I missed getting our license, you gave Clara tainted medication, making her contract that disease?” “She’s only twenty!” “You don’t deserve to touch perfumery. Crippling your legs is a lesson.” Clara suddenly burst into tears, pointing at the medical notes on my table. “Willow, you planned this all along! You hurt me and then falsified medical records!” “Do you hate me that much? Then I’d rather die!” “Have you already spread these medical records? What’s the point of me living anymore!” She lunged towards the corner of the table, but Sebastian caught her in his arms. He looked at me, his eyes icy. “Willow Hayes, you’d force my sister to her death just for a piece of paper?” “Publicly apologize. Admit that you deliberately harmed her out of personal resentment and falsified medical records.” Tears in my eyes, I shook my head. “Sebastian, this will ruin the Hayes family’s centuries-old reputation!” “I didn’t do it. I will never admit to it.” But no matter how I defended myself, how I begged him to have the ointment tested, he only signaled his men to hold my head, and under the gaze of all the clubhouse members, made me kowtow a hundred times to Clara. Blood dripped onto the floor. Onlookers raised their phones. I finally couldn’t bear it anymore and passed out. When I woke, I received a message from his confidant, telling me to find Sebastian at the casino to explain everything clearly. Clutching the last shred of hope for Sebastian, I made my way there. But I heard with my own ears that he intended to give me away to someone else. The doctor, seeing my painful expression, said no more and handed me a course of post-exposure prophylaxis. “Take these on time. Come back for a check-up in a month.” I thanked her softly and dazedly made my way back to my place. My phone lit up with a message, accompanied by a boat ticket. “Willow, don’t be afraid. Brother is coming to pick you up. No matter the cost, Brother will cure you.” Tears streamed down, and I cried myself to sleep. Half-awake, half-asleep, my injured knee was forcefully pressed. The intense pain made me scream and jolt upright. “Don’t touch me—!” “Willow, it’s me.” In the dim light, I heard his voice. It was Sebastian. He carried the scent of sandalwood from a recent shower, the exact same fragrance Clara habitually used. My body instantly stiffened. He hugged me indifferently, saying, “So I left you with that thug and didn’t care? Do you really have to make such a fuss with me, not letting me touch you?” “Who in the underworld doesn’t know you’re mine? With me around, who would dare truly harm you in the slightest? See, everything’s fine now.” I couldn’t stop trembling, tears rolling down my cheeks. He frowned, seemingly finding my reaction overly dramatic. “Willow, you’re a Hayes lady, a perfumer. Is your spirit really so fragile?” He picked up the box of medicine from the bedside table, his tone softening slightly. “Do your knees still hurt? I specially had Black Jade Ointment brought from the South Seas. With this, combined with physical therapy, you’ll be well soon, it won’t affect your walking or perfuming later.” “Stop making a fuss. Tomorrow morning, go and apologize to Clara in person. Then this matter will be over.” The fragile calm I had maintained finally shattered. I raised my tear-filled eyes to him. “Sebastian, let’s get a divorce.” No sooner had I spoken than he looked down at his phone, a smile playing on his lips. He abruptly looked up at me. “What did you just say?” Without waiting for me to repeat myself, he impatiently waved his hand. “I just landed a big deal. If you want to buy anything, just charge it to the account. Consider it my compensation.” “Clara said she wants to help you pick out your wedding dress. You’re coming with me to the bridal shop now to try on dresses for Clara to see.” He half-threatened, half-coaxed, pressing gently on my injured knee. “This time, cooperate with her properly. Let her blow off some steam. Understand?” “If anything goes wrong again, I really will send you to that buyer, you know.” He completely ignored my reaction, forcefully taking me to the bridal shop. I silently followed. The jade pendant my mother had left me, I had always kept at the bridal shop, intending to wear it at the wedding. Now, it seemed unnecessary. In the bridal shop, Clara was already waiting, still obedient and timid. Though I couldn’t see, I could hear her delicate voice: “Chloe… please don’t be like this. I’m scared.” “Willow!” Sebastian warned, squeezing my wrist, then pressed lightly on my injured knee. I paled with pain, gritting my teeth to squeeze out, “No.” Clara then smiled and said, “Willow, let’s go look at the dresses.” The assistant brought out the wedding dress Sebastian had specifically customized for me. Clara’s voice brightened. She nestled against Sebastian and whispered, “Brother, can I try it on? Just for a moment…” Her voice suddenly choked. “I’m already… not clean. I might never wear my own wedding dress in this life… Just to fulfill a dream, okay?” Sebastian’s voice was gentle. “Okay.” He turned to me, the pressure in his tone implicit. I closed my eyes, nodding. “Thank you, Brother!” Clara chirped excitedly, then exclaimed, “This jade pendant… it’s so beautiful. Brother, can I have it? I want it as a keepsake.” I gasped, lunging forward, trying to retrieve the pendant. “No! This can’t—” “Give it to her.” Sebastian’s hand was already in front of me. My heart felt struck by a heavy hammer. I clutched the jade pendant. “Sebastian, this is my mother’s only memento…” “So what?” He unceremoniously pried my fingers open. “Don’t forget, you already owe Clara. This jade pendant will serve as compensation.” “No! You can punish me however you want… but not this!” I desperately tried to snatch it back. Just as my hand was about to touch the jade pendant, Clara suddenly shrieked and recoiled! “Willow, why did you push me!” “Clara!” Sebastian shoved me aside, striding forward to catch Clara. My feet found no purchase, and I tumbled down the stairs. My bones felt dislocated, the pain so intense that my vision blurred to black. A metallic sweetness surged into my throat, and I coughed up dark blood.
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