Chapter 1

"Yuliana, are you really moving abroad? You're not even going to talk it over with Charlie?" Madelyn Gardner asks.

Yuliana Beckett lets out a self-mocking laugh. "We're already divorced."

"You got a divorce?" Madelyn gasps, staring at Yuliana in disbelief. "Charlie actually agreed to that? After everything you've done for him these past three years, even a heart of stone would've softened by now."

Madelyn speaks up for Yuliana, indignant on her behalf.

But it's only after Yuliana boards her flight and leaves the country that Charlie Zimmer finally realizes what he's lost. He chases her across the ocean like a man possessed.

In the face of his remorse, Yuliana has only one thing to say.

"I don't love you anymore."

Chapter 1

The post-lunch lull had wrapped the restaurant in silence. Yuliana Beckett broke it with a calm declaration, laying out her plans so abruptly that her best friend, Madelyn Gardner, could only stare at her in disbelief.

"Yuliana, moving abroad is a huge decision," Madelyn said. "Are you really not going to talk it over with Charlie?"

Rain drizzled against the window. Yuliana absentmindedly stirred her cold coffee, her voice flat as she replied, "We're already divorced."

"What?"

The news hit Madelyn so hard that her fork slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the floor. Yet, the shock lasted only a moment before she sprang to Yuliana's defense.

"Charlie actually agreed to that? Everyone has seen how devoted you've been to him these past three years. Even someone with a heart of stone would have softened by now. Does he really feel nothing for you?"

Yuliana gave a faint smile, but the light in her eyes dimmed.

The truth was, she didn't actually know if her husband, Charlie Zimmer, had truly agreed or not.

Two weeks earlier, she had handed him the divorce papers while he was buried in work. Moving from one document to the next, he probably assumed it was just another contract in the pile and signed it without so much as a glance.

Since then, neither of them had brought it up.

There were only two weeks left until the divorce became official. After that, their marriage—built entirely on misunderstandings—would finally be over.

The sudden ring of her phone snapped Yuliana out of her thoughts.

"It's pouring out there," a deep male voice said on the other end. "Send me your location. I'll come pick you up."

She sent him the address.

A few moments later, a man in a long brown trench coat strode into the restaurant. Rain was pouring outside, soaking a wide patch across his shoulders, with droplets clinging to the tips of his hair.

Madelyn was still reeling, her mouth opening to demand how Charlie could possibly have agreed to the divorce, but Yuliana cut her off before she could say a word.

"If there's nothing else, I should get going. I'll call you later," Yuliana said, standing up. She grabbed her coat and followed Charlie out into the rain.

During the drive back, Yuliana remained lost in thought, her heart heavy. The weather forecast droned on from the car radio, but she didn't register a single word.

"Yuliana," Charlie called out, breaking the long silence. "What was that document I signed for you two weeks ago?"

His question snapped her out of her daze.

Two weeks had gone by, and only now had he noticed. Then again, it wasn't surprising. When had he ever paid attention to anything about her? His heart only had room for Alyssa Larson.

Yuliana pressed her lips together, hesitating over whether to tell him the truth about the papers.

Just then, Charlie's phone rang. A woman's voice came through the line, sugary and cloying, "Charlie, it's thundering outside. I'm so scared. Can you come over and keep me company?"

At the sound of that whining tone, Charlie's expression darkened at once. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly that veins stood out on the back of his hand.

His voice sharpened with warning. "Alyssa, I've told you many times. I'm a married man."

The line went quiet for a beat before Alyssa replied, completely unfazed, "Have you forgotten? That title was supposed to be mine. Yuliana is just living the life I was meant to have."

Alyssa's words sent a surge of anger through Charlie, yet he looked trapped. He bit his lip hard, as though wrestling with an impossible choice.

For years, Alyssa had been the only woman capable of making Charlie lose his composure.

At the next traffic light, he suddenly swerved, changing lanes to take a different route.

"You know I have a weak heart," Alyssa continued. "If the thunder startled me and something happened…"

She broke off abruptly. After a long pause, she spoke again, her voice choked with tears, "I understand. I won't bother you anymore. I hope you two are happy."

The call ended, but Charlie's brows remained tightly furrowed. He abruptly pulled over to the shoulder, tires spraying water as the car screeched to a stop.

He slumped forward, pressing his forehead against the steering wheel, his expression twisted in torment. After a long moment, he let out a resigned sigh, pulled out his phone, and typed a short message.

"I'll be there soon."

Yuliana watched him hit "send". Before he could say anything, she beat him to it. "It's fine. Go take care of whatever you need to. I'll find my own way back."

Charlie watched her open the car door and step into the downpour. When he saw her standing there, bracing herself beneath her umbrella, a flicker of guilt crossed his face.

"I'll come find you as soon as I'm done."

Yuliana stood in the rain, watching him speed away until his car disappeared into the gray mist.

They were in the middle of nowhere, and the weather was awful. The chances of catching a cab were slim to none.

Charlie must have regretted his youthful impulsiveness long ago.

The only reason he still bothered to play the role of a husband was out of lingering responsibility—or perhaps guilt. Whatever it was, she knew it wasn't love.

Chapter 2

Even now, Yuliana remembered the flutter in her heart when she first saw Charlie eight years ago.

On her very first day of college, she had watched him at the podium, delivering a speech on behalf of the student council, and fell for him instantly.

Bathed in the glow of the spotlights, he was impossible to ignore. Countless women in the freshman class were infatuated with him, and Yuliana was no exception.

Charlie was the scion of the prestigious Zimmer family, blessed with striking looks and a lineage most people could only dream of.

Yet, despite the endless line of admirers trailing him, his heart belonged solely to his childhood sweetheart, Alyssa.

They had been together for years, and Charlie's devotion to her was the stuff of campus legend. He once spent a fortune lighting up the sky with fireworks in the heart of the city just to celebrate her birthday.

He was fiercely protective, too. The first time he ever lost his composure and got into a fistfight was when jealousy flared after another man tried to pursue Alyssa. It had ended with a permanent mark on his academic record.

Every morning, without fail, he bought her breakfast and waited faithfully downstairs at her dorm.

He once even stood waiting in the snow until he ran a high fever. Later, when it turned out that Alyssa had simply ditched him to go shopping with her best friend, he didn't utter a single word of complaint.

Everyone said that Charlie loved Alyssa to his very core.

Yuliana believed it, too. With Alyssa in the picture, she buried her own feelings for Charlie deep in her heart, content to remain a silent observer and wish them well from afar. In her mind, simply being able to watch him was enough.

After graduation, Charlie couldn't wait to make Alyssa his wife.

Yuliana hadn't actually been invited to that lavish wedding, but she went anyway, slipping in under the vague guise of a former classmate.

But to everyone's surprise, Alyssa never showed up.

By nightfall, Charlie was frantic. He had called her 99 times, only to realize she had blocked and deleted his number.

He stared at that cold exclamation mark on his screen, frozen in place, while the guests began to assume the wedding would be called off. As a wave of pity for Charlie slowly filled the room, he suddenly did something that stunned everyone.

He walked onto the stage and took the microphone.

"Today, I, Charlie Zimmer, have decided to find a new bride," he announced. "Is there a single woman here willing to marry me?"

At that moment, Yuliana, who had always been a shadow in the background, felt her heart slam against her ribs. Perhaps it was the weight of years of suppressed feelings that finally gave her the courage to break through her own insecurity. The moment his voice faded, she stood up without hesitation.

That day, wearing a wedding ring engraved with Alyssa's name, she blindly married a man who didn't even know who she was.

If Alyssa hadn't disappeared, Yuliana's world would never have collided with Charlie's, let alone ended in marriage.

For the next three years, they fulfilled their duties as husband and wife. Their days together were fairly peaceful.

Yuliana had always known the truth. She was nothing more than a thief who had stolen someone else's destiny.

Then, a month ago, Alyssa suddenly returned.

The news was like a stone dropped into still water, shattering the fragile dream Yuliana had lived in for three years.

Since Alyssa's return, Charlie had been spending less and less time at home.

Deep down, Yuliana knew it was time to return the title of Mrs. Zimmer—a title she held in name only—to its rightful owner.

By letting go, she gave them a chance at happiness and found her own peace.

A bolt of lightning tore across the sky, followed by a crash of thunder outside the window. At that very moment, Charlie was likely holding Alyssa in his arms, murmuring soft reassurances.

Yuliana took out her phone and sent him a message.

"The document you asked about is tucked under the back seat cushion of your car. If you want to know what it is, just open it."

She braved the rain to get home, but she still hadn't heard back.

It wasn't until dusk settled in that Charlie finally replied.

"No need. I trust you."

Once again, he had missed his chance to learn the truth.

But of course he had. He was so wrapped up in comforting Alyssa, who was terrified by the storm, that he didn't have a moment to spare for Yuliana—not even to glance at a piece of paper.

Chapter 3

The rain fell steadily all through the night, and Charlie never came home.

Yuliana stayed in, pulling out a thick, heavy sketchbook from her college days. Inside were hundreds of drawings, each page featuring the same face.

One by one, she tore the portraits to shreds, severing the last of her lingering attachments.

By the time the floor was buried under a layer of paper scraps, her phone chimed with a notification—Alyssa had posted something new on Twitter.

The photo was taken at a high-end restaurant, the table set for a romantic dinner with roses and champagne. In the bottom-left corner, the slender, elegant hand of a man was just visible.

A comment underneath read, "So sweet! Out for another romantic dinner with your boyfriend?"

Alyssa had replied, "Don't be silly. He isn't my boyfriend. He's just a friend who knew I was scared of thunder and came all this way to keep me company."

"Just a friend". The audacity of saying that out loud.

Yuliana knew Alyssa was doing it on purpose, but strangely, she was past the point of caring.

She turned off her phone and went to the bathroom for a hot shower.

When she stepped out, her skin still damp and steaming, she found Charlie sitting in the living room. On the coffee table in front of him lay a bouquet of fresh flowers and a strawberry cake.

Yuliana froze for a moment. "I thought you hated sweets. Why the cake?"

Charlie walked over and pulled a small box from his pocket, revealing a necklace.

"Happy birthday."

Yuliana went numb.

Since she had grown up in an orphanage, birthdays had always felt foreign to her. She had never had a party, never received a gift, and until she met Charlie, she hadn't even known what birthday cake tasted like.

But in the three years of their marriage, no matter how demanding his schedule was, Charlie had always made it home to celebrate her birthday with her.

He had once promised her, "I'll be with you for every birthday from now on. I'll spend the rest of our lives making up for everything you missed out on as a kid."

Back then, when she looked into his eyes—so earnest and sincere—she let herself believe, if only for a heartbeat, that he had truly fallen for her.

She remembered how he would care for her devotedly when she was sick, staying by her side even when he was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion. He had showered her with expensive gifts and taken her on beautiful vacations.

Yuliana allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she had carved out a small place in Charlie's heart.

Then, Alyssa came back, and reality crashed down all at once.

This year, on Valentine's Day, Charlie claimed he had to work unexpected overtime. Yuliana sat alone at home, eating the candlelit dinner she had meticulously prepared.

Just as the weight of her disappointment bore down on her, a photo from Madelyn popped up on Yuliana's phone.

In the photo, a woman—clearly intoxicated—was draped over a man's shoulder. Their posture was suggestively intimate.

That man was undeniably Charlie.

"Yuliana, isn't this your husband? I just saw him at the park with another woman."

Yuliana's mind went blank, a dull ringing echoing in her ears.

By the time she rushed to the park Madelyn had mentioned, she found the man who was supposedly working overtime locked in a desperate embrace with Alyssa.

Charlie's expression was dark with rage as he tried to shove Alyssa away.

"Alyssa, what do you take me for?" he snarled. "A dog you can whistle for whenever you feel like it? I'm a married man!"

But Alyssa wasn't listening. She lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist as she sobbed. "I'm not leaving! I won't! I'm the one who was supposed to be your wife!"

Charlie let out a frustrated growl through gritted teeth. "Have you lost your mind?"

Alyssa released him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Fine. If you don't want me, then there's no point in living anyway. I swear I'll never show up again. You'll never see me for the rest of your life!"

With that, she bolted toward the edge of the lake.

Charlie's face went deathly pale. He lunged after her, catching her around the waist just in time to haul her back.

"Let go, Charlie! You're married! Why do you care whether your ex lives or dies?" she screamed.

"Alyssa, calm down! I didn't mean it like that! You've always been in my heart!"

In his panic, his true feelings had finally slipped out.

At that moment, Yuliana's entire world collapsed. The dream she had so carefully woven for herself shattered into pieces.

A flurry of memories flashed through her mind. The boy kneeling on one knee before the entire school on the track, the way he always angled his umbrella toward Alyssa in the rain, and his silhouette standing motionless for three hours in the freezing snow…

Each memory was proof of how deeply Charlie loved Alyssa.

Yuliana had known it all along, yet she had still clung to a pitiful sliver of hope.

What if he felt something for her? What if her devotion finally moved him? What if he forgot Alyssa? What if…

But there were no what-ifs.

Charlie's heart had never budged an inch toward her. Every kindness he showed her was nothing but borrowed affection, salvaged from the years Alyssa had been gone.

He tossed her scraps of warmth whenever his mood allowed, and she had been foolish enough to believe she was receiving the whole world.

Yuliana touched the necklace, but her heart didn't flutter at all. She simply gave him a polite nod. "Thank you."

Charlie lit the candles, a gentle smile playing at his lips. "There's no need to be so formal with me. Come on, make a wish."

Yuliana nodded. But just as she was about to blow out the candles, Charlie's phone rang.

She caught the brief shift in his gaze and didn't need to see the screen to know who was calling.

Sure enough, the call ended a minute later, and Charlie walked out the door, leaving his promise behind.

As Yuliana watched his car disappear into the rainy night, a bitter smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

The living room window was still open. A cold draft whipped the candle flames, their frantic flickering reflected in her eyes.

She brought her hands together, fingers intertwined, and made her 24th birthday wish.

"From now on, let there be nothing between Yuliana and Charlie."

Chapter 4

A week later, Yuliana attended her college friend Bella Harper's wedding as a bridesmaid.

Everyone from their department had been invited, including Charlie.

As usual, he was the center of attention, surrounded by a crowd of old classmates. But the moment he spotted her, he immediately broke away and made his way over.

"That bridesmaid dress really suits you," he said.

Yuliana gave a faint smile in response.

The surrounding crowd cast strange, sideways glances their way as they stood together.

Yuliana knew it was all because of her. To their old classmates, she was a social climber who had only married Charlie for the Zimmer family fortune. They looked down on her for it, but she didn't care about their malicious assumptions.

Instead, she focused all her energy on ensuring Bella had a perfect wedding.

Finally, the ceremony reached its finale, and it was time for the bouquet toss. While every other woman hoped to catch that symbol of happiness, Yuliana remained still.

She had no interest in joining the fray. A woman who was about to be divorced had no reason to chase a symbol of marital bliss.

But then, Bella turned around, her eyes shimmering with tears as she looked at Yuliana.

She took the microphone and announced, "I'd like to give this bouquet to my best friend from college, Yuliana."

Yuliana's heart clenched at the sound of her name. A sudden, heavy hush fell over the entire hall.

"Traditionally, the bouquet is meant for an unmarried woman, but it represents so much more than just marriage—it represents happiness. As my best friend, I want to pass this happiness on to you."

Bella glanced at Yuliana and went on, "And I want to congratulate you for finally being able to stand beside the man you've loved in secret for so many years."

Charlie, who had worn an impassive expression the entire time, finally showed a flicker of a reaction.

"Others may not know, but I know exactly how much you've given over the years. You fell for Charlie when you were 19 years old. Even though he didn't know, and even though you were sure it was a love that would never be returned, you still chose to love him quietly.

"I once asked you why you refused to give up, even knowing your secret love might lead to a dead end. You told me it was simply because you loved him.

"You loved the way he shone under the spotlight. You loved how he instinctively shielded you from a flying basketball in the evening breeze. You even loved his sincere, polite grace when he turned others down.

"I saw you burn the midnight oil studying just to qualify for a competition he was in. I saw you brave a storm to buy him medicine when he was sick, only to secretly slip it into his desk drawer. I've seen your diaries filled with his name and the 999 love letters you wrote for him."

Bella paused, choking back a sob. "You once told me that love is the most magical thing in the world. Watching you persist so wholeheartedly is what gave me the courage to pursue my own happiness.

"I'm giving you this bouquet today because I hope you and Charlie will be happy forever, my dear best friend."

When she finished, the hall fell into pin-drop silence, and Charlie stiffened all over.

He couldn't help but think back to their wedding, a day too painful to remember. He saw her again, rising without hesitation amid the gasps of the crowd and walking toward him with unwavering resolve.

Only now did he realize that Yuliana hadn't chosen him to cling to power or status. She truly loved him, and she had loved him for a long time.

A ripple suddenly stirred in the stagnant pool of his heart.

As the wedding wound down, Charlie sought out Yuliana, desperate for answers. But before he could utter a word, a call from Alyssa came through.

"Charlie…" she sobbed. "I was having dinner and accidentally spilled some juice on the people at the next table. Now they won't let me go. They've even called reinforcements, trying to force me to go to a hotel with them."

Before she could finish, Charlie's expression darkened instantly. He hung up and jumped into his car, flooring the gas and racing through countless red lights.

The moment he saw the men in the restaurant, the anger he had been holding back snapped. He charged in and swung his fist at them.

He seemed to lose all reason, raining down such brutal, vengeful blows that several of the men began coughing up blood.

Alyssa hid behind him, clutching his shirt and wailing that one of the men had kissed her.

Hearing that, Charlie pinned the man against the wall and delivered more than a dozen hard slaps to his face. Even when blood began pouring from the man's mouth, he refused to let up.

The onlookers were paralyzed with fear. They didn't dare to speak, and only a few had the mind to quietly call the police.

Charlie grabbed a bottle opener from a nearby table and used it to wrench a tooth right out of the man's jaw.

By the time Yuliana arrived, the restaurant was a scene of carnage. Thugs lay scattered across the floor, and among them, a blonde man had been beaten until his face was swollen and his mouth was a bloody mess.

She froze in shock. When she looked up, she saw Charlie shielding Alyssa, leading her away. The man who had been ruthless moments ago now wore a look of pure tenderness, murmuring soft comforts as he held Alyssa close.

It was a tenderness Yuliana had never known.

She lowered her eyes, forcing back the emotions welling up inside her, and let out a self-mocking smile. Realizing she was only in the way, she turned and quietly went home.

It was nearly midnight when Charlie finally returned from giving his statement at the police station.

Yuliana was already in bed, her back to him.

Charlie knew she wasn't asleep. He sat on the edge of the mattress, the weight of him making the bed sink.

"Yuliana… There were so many people there," he explained. "Regarding Alyssa… I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."

Yuliana only gave a soft, noncommittal hum while her eyes remained closed.

Just then, her phone lit up on the nightstand with a chime. Charlie caught a glimpse of the screen, and his expression shifted.

"Yuliana, why is the court sending you a message?" he asked, his voice sharp.

Chapter 5

Yuliana spun around and snatched the phone right out of Charlie's hand.

"It's nothing. I was just looking up whether what those guys did counted as disorderly conduct."

Charlie wanted to push further, but seeing her closed-off expression, he swallowed his questions. They were husband and wife, after all. He believed she wouldn't lie to him.

He nodded and got up to freshen up, but Yuliana called out to him.

She reached into the cabinet and pulled out a first-aid kit. "Your hand is hurt. Let me take care of it."

Charlie blinked, then obediently sat back down on the edge of the bed. He held out his hand, revealing a jagged, bloody cut. He had planned to ignore it, thinking it wasn't deep enough for a bandage, but he hadn't expected Yuliana to notice.

As he watched her focus intently on dabbing the wound with an alcohol swab, his mind drifted back to the ceremony.

"Yuliana, about what Bella said at the wedding today—"

"Don't get it wet when you shower, or it'll get infected," she interrupted. "And try to be more careful the next time you get into a fight. After this, there won't be anyone around to patch you up anymore."

She muttered that last part so softly that Charlie couldn't quite catch it.

"What did you just say?"

Yuliana offered a faint smile. "Nothing. It's late. I'm going to get some rest."

With that, she put the kit away and climbed into bed.

By the time Charlie finished his shower and came back out, Yuliana was still awake. He climbed in beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist and reaching for the buttons of her pajamas.

Yuliana reached up and caught his hand, stopping him from going further. Her voice was flat, stripped of its usual warmth. "It's been a long day. I want to sleep early tonight."

Charlie didn't force her. He simply tucked her in and turned off the light.

…

The following morning, Yuliana was jolted awake by a commotion coming from downstairs.

She dressed and headed down, only to find Alyssa in the living room, chatting and laughing with a large group of people in the living room.

Charlie stood to the side, brows furrowed, his tone laced with his signature impatience. "What are you doing here?"

Alyssa didn't miss a beat. Lounging on the couch as if she owned the place, she arched a playful brow at him. "What, not happy to see me?"

A few of Charlie's friends walked over with a grin. "Alyssa said you're the hero who saved her last night. She was so grateful she just had to come by and thank you in person."

Charlie's scowl deepened as he took in Alyssa's languid pose on the couch. "I'm not seeing much sincere gratitude here."

Alyssa smirked, and with a magician's flair, she pulled a box of chocolates from behind her back.

"Back in college, I used to make you chocolates every Valentine's Day. After all these years, I'm sure you've missed the taste."

Charlie didn't reach for the box, but the hard lines of his face softened noticeably.

Seeing the opening, Alyssa tossed the chocolates into Yuliana's arms. "Those are Charlie's favorite almond chocolates. Please put them away for him."

At that, Charlie's brows knit together again, his voice turning cold as he said, "Alyssa, you're the one who likes almond chocolates. Don't put your tastes on me. And Yuliana is my wife, not a maid. She's under no obligation to take orders from you."

A glacial chill swept the room, freezing everything in its path. Except for Yuliana—her smile remained perfectly still on her face.

So, almond chocolate was Alyssa's favorite.

It all made sense. Whether it was a corporate gala or their own wedding anniversary, there was always almond chocolate on the table.

She wondered if, every time Charlie prepared them, he was secretly revisiting those college Valentine's Days with Alyssa.

Without a word, she handed the box to the housekeeper to put in the fridge.

Alyssa shot her a look of renewed hostility, but Yuliana ignored it, carrying her breakfast into the dining room.

Because of the open floor plan, even from the dining room, every word from the living room carried over with perfect clarity.

"Charlie, isn't this the painting I did for the art competition in college? I can't believe you kept it! You even had it framed and hung in the living room. If you like my work that much, I'll paint you some new ones.

"And the pebbles we collected at the beach! I thought you'd tossed them ages ago. I never expected to see them in a crystal display box.

"Wait… I remember throwing this guitar with the broken string in the trash years ago. Did you actually take it back?"

Every corner of the house bore traces of Alyssa.

Yuliana remembered when she first moved in. She had asked about these items, and Charlie had simply dismissed them as sentimental mementos from school.

He never offered details, and she never pried. But she had been too blind to see the raw emotion hidden in his eyes whenever he looked at them—a mix of restraint, resentment, and agonizing love, all stirred by Alyssa.

Chapter 6

After a morning of commotion, Alyssa offered to pick up the tab for lunch.

Charlie didn't even stop to think before turning her down. "Don't bother. If you've had your fun, just go home."

But Alyssa had no intention of listening. Ignoring his protest, she grabbed Charlie by the arm and started hauling him toward the door.

His friends, afraid he wouldn't go, made sure to pull Yuliana along with them.

They drove to the beach, where a party was already in full swing. Between the roaring bonfires and the blaring music, the shoreline was teeming with life.

The pounding bass of the heavy metal music made Yuliana's heart race, leaving her feeling unwell. She slipped away from the noise to a quieter stretch of sand, sitting in silence as she stared out at the endless ocean.

Charlie noticed her discomfort and walked over, intending to give her a slice of cake.

Yuliana saw him approaching and reached out to take it, but he brushed past her, weaving through the crowd toward Alyssa instead.

Alyssa was just about to take a drag of her cigarette when Charlie snatched it from her lips.

"Didn't you promise me you were done smoking?" he demanded.

Alyssa blinked up at him, putting on an innocent expression. "I just forgot for a second. Why are you so worked up?"

As she spoke, she reached out and took the cake from his hand with a bright, playful smile. "Thanks for this, though."

Charlie paused for a moment, his empty hand curling into a tight fist.

Without another word, he drifted back to where Yuliana was sitting and absentmindedly held out the cigarette he had confiscated from Alyssa.

Yuliana looked up and saw that his gaze was still glued to Alyssa. She didn't reach for the cigarette. Instead, she stood up and brushed the sand from her clothes.

"Thanks, but I don't smoke," she said. "I'm going to the pool."

Only then did Charlie realize how distracted he had been. He was so spaced out that he had forgotten he was holding a cigarette instead of the cake.

He opened his mouth to explain, but Yuliana was already gone. He never even got the chance to say a word.

Yuliana waded into the pool, letting the cool water close over her. The chill shocked her system, finally quieting the noise in her head.

Perhaps she had been wound too tight lately, because the sudden wave of relaxation left her lightheaded. Her eyelids grew heavy, and before she knew it, she drifted off.

The thumping music drowned out the sound of Charlie calling her name.

When he didn't get a response after several tries, panic seized him. Afraid she had gone under, he sprinted to the edge of the pool. Seeing her floating there, seemingly unconscious, his heart skipped a beat. He dove in without a second thought and hauled her out of the water.

Yuliana opened her eyes groggily. Before she could even process who was holding her, she instinctively looped her arms around his shoulders.

She was wearing nothing but a swimsuit, and Charlie was shirtless. As they clung to each other, skin pressed against skin, the atmosphere between them grew heavy with intimacy.

Her warm breath brushed the crook of his neck, sending a shiver through him. He looked down at her, his Adam's apple bobbing, until his resistance finally gave way and he leaned in.

Just as they were about to kiss, a piercing scream shattered the moment and forced them apart.

Alyssa stood there, face pale, her teeth biting into her lower lip as tears filled her eyes.

Without waiting for Charlie to explain, she turned and bolted.

Charlie froze for a split second before hastily setting Yuliana down and taking off after Alyssa in a blind panic.

"Alyssa! Wait! It's not what you think! You've got it all wrong!" he shouted as he ran.

Yuliana wondered. What was there to get wrong? The "misunderstanding" of a legal husband almost kissing his wife?

Even after all these years, Charlie was still trapped in his role as Alyssa's boyfriend. His first instinct when caught with another woman was to apologize and explain. That reflex was etched into his very bones, a habit he could never seem to break.

It wasn't until Charlie disappeared from sight that Yuliana realized the moisture on her face wasn't pool water. It was her own tears.

She changed clothes, desperate to escape the place where she so clearly didn't belong. But as she neared the shore, Alyssa burst into view again.

Charlie grabbed her by the arm, and their heated argument drifted over to Yuliana.

"I was just worried Yuliana was drowning!" Charlie barked. "I was saving her. I would've done the same for a total stranger! Is there really a reason to be this angry?"

The words hit Yuliana like a punch to the gut. So that was it. After three years of marriage, she held the same status in Charlie's heart as a total stranger.

Alyssa wrenched her hand free. "Fine! You're such a hero, so compassionate toward everyone. Go back to your wife, then! Why are you wasting your breath explaining yourself to an ex-girlfriend?"

"Alyssa, do you have to be so hurtful?"

"Hurtful? I'm just stating the facts!"

At that, the air between them fell into a tense silence.

"From now on, stay out of my life!" Alyssa snapped.

With that, she left Charlie standing there, jumped into her car, and sped away.

Without a second thought, Charlie hopped into his own car and tore after her.

The party ended miserably. The beach, so vibrant only moments ago, was now desolate and cold. The only sound left was the relentless, heartless crashing of the waves against the rocks.

Just as Yuliana was about to leave, Charlie's friends called out to her.

"This is bad! Yuliana!" Ethan Carter shouted, stamping his feet in panic. "Charlie just jumped into the ocean!"

Chapter 7

By the time Yuliana reached the scene, Alyssa's car was already submerged in the ocean. Alyssa was slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious.

Without a second thought, Charlie plunged into the water, fighting the battering waves to reach her.

He swam with everything he had, shouting over the roar of the waves, "Alyssa! Alyssa, don't be afraid! I'm coming for you!"

"It's my fault… It's all my fault," he choked out. "I shouldn't have made you angry. I shouldn't have let you drive off alone. If you hadn't been so upset with me, you wouldn't have been speeding. This never would have happened…"

He trailed off. The mere thought of it seemed to cause him unbearable pain. He took the full weight of the blame upon himself, consumed by remorse.

Yuliana stood on the shore, a memory surfacing of the time she nearly died from an alcohol allergy last year. Back then, Charlie had stayed away, claiming he was buried in overtime. He never once visited her during her entire hospital stay.

The contrast between love and its absence was glaringly obvious.

The saltwater was piercingly cold at this time of year. Charlie's face had turned deathly pale from the cold, yet he pushed forward with a terrifying determination.

When he was still some distance from Alyssa's car, his face suddenly contorted. Yuliana recognized that look—he hadn't warmed up before diving in, and his calf was cramping.

"Can any of you swim? Someone, help him!"

But none of Charlie's friends gathered there knew how to swim. They could only stand there, uselessly watching the tide.

Charlie's strength was flagging. He struggled to stay afloat, nearly dragged under by the waves several times, choking down mouthfuls of saltwater. His lips had turned purple, and his face grew more ghastly by the second, yet he refused to turn back.

"Charlie, come back!" his friends on the shore shouted. "Otherwise, you'll lose your life too!"

But Charlie didn't listen. He fought the current as if he had already decided that if he couldn't save Alyssa, he'd rather go down with her.

Finally, he reached the car. Seeing Alyssa motionless inside, he shouted her name at the top of his lungs, "Alyssa! Alyssa, wake up! Look at me!"

But Alyssa had completely lost consciousness and remained unresponsive. In a desperate frenzy, he slammed his bare fists against the window—once, twice, over and over until his hands were shredded and bloody. Blood stained the frothing water around him, yet the glass refused to yield.

As the water rose past Alyssa's chin, Charlie delivered one final, bone-shattering blow. The glass finally gave way, the shards slicing deep gashes into his hand.

He hoisted Alyssa onto his back. No matter how many waves slammed against his face, he wouldn't let the woman on his back suffer even a scratch.

After they finally made it ashore, Charlie had barely set Alyssa down before he passed out.

Fortunately, the ambulance arrived just in time to rush them both to the hospital.

Charlie's friends watched the ambulance fade into the distance, letting out a collective sigh.

"Charlie is usually cold and distant with everyone. How did he end up so hung up on Alyssa? He's reckless when it comes to her. Once, just to keep her from drinking, he drank himself into the ICU, nearly losing his life."

"Yeah, he'd give her his heart if he could," another added. "Remember that high school hiking trip when they ran into a mudslide? He pushed Alyssa to safety and got trapped in a cave himself. The rescue team spent three days and nights saving him. Any later, and he would've been a goner."

"Everything Charlie has ever risked his life for has been for Alyssa. I thought he still had feelings for her, so I was trying to get them back together."

They kept reminiscing about the epic love story of Charlie and Alyssa, completely forgetting that Yuliana was standing right there.

Their words left Yuliana's mind blank. At that moment, she finally understood why everyone had looked at her in shock when she stood up at Charlie's wedding. Looking back, she must have seemed like a complete joke to them.

His heart had already belonged to someone else. No matter how hard she tried, she was never going to move the needle even a fraction of an inch.

She had been wrong from the very beginning, and this total defeat was entirely her own doing.

…

When they arrived at the hospital, the doctor was already wheeling both of them out. The group crowded around him anxiously.

"The lady is out of danger. But the gentleman… The bones in his hand are shattered. He may lose the use of that hand permanently."

The doctor couldn't help but add with a sigh of admiration, "In all my years, this is the first time I've seen a man so willing to sacrifice himself for the one he loves."

Yuliana stood at the back of the crowd. Watching the agony etched on Charlie's face, she lowered her eyes and let out a cold, hollow laugh.

Chapter 8

It wasn't until the morning of the third day that Charlie finally drifted back to consciousness.

Even before he opened his eyes, he was mumbling Alyssa's name in a daze. Probably caught in a nightmare, he suddenly jolted awake, his forehead slick with sweat.

"Alyssa… How is she?"

His mind was so consumed with thoughts of Alyssa that he failed to notice the dark circles under Yuliana's eyes—evidence of two sleepless nights spent watching over him.

Yuliana nodded, her voice hoarse. "The doctor said she's out of danger. She just needs a few months to recover."

Her voice faltered. "But your hand…"

At her words, the crushing weight on Charlie's chest finally lifted.

He dismissed her concern, saying, "My hand doesn't matter. As long as she's safe, I'd pay any price."

Still, he was too worried to rest. Despite his weakened state, he tried to force himself out of bed to see her.

However, the moment his feet touched the floor, his body went weak, and he collapsed.

Yuliana couldn't hold him back. It was the nurse who came to administer the IV who helped lift Charlie back onto the bed.

Anxiety was etched into his every feature. He was desperate to know how Alyssa was doing.

After racking his brain, he finally came up with an excuse.

"Yuliana, Ethan called Alyssa's distant cousin. He should be at the hospital by now. Could you go find him and give him my regards? And… check on her while you're at it."

What a "convenient" errand.

Yuliana didn't argue. She simply nodded and did as he asked.

After a brief stop at the supermarket for a fruit basket, Yuliana made her way toward Alyssa's hospital room.

She was just about to knock when she heard Alyssa's voice drifting from inside, coy and flirtatious.

Then came a man's voice, "I never expected Charlie's friend to call me. If he ever finds out about us, our whole plan goes up in smoke."

"What are you worried about?" Alyssa replied. "I use a separate phone when I'm with him. I even saved your number as 'Cousin.' He'll never suspect a thing."

"That's my clever girl," the man chuckled.

Yuliana's heart jolted violently, yet she stayed where she was and kept listening.

The man continued, "We were supposed to get married this year. I never thought you'd get into an accident. Looks like the wedding will have to be postponed."

"What's the rush? Once I've squeezed more money out of Charlie, we can book an even bigger ballroom for the wedding," Alyssa said dismissively.

Yuliana's hands curled into tight fists as she heard that.

Alyssa was in a relationship—about to get married, even. To her, Charlie was nothing more than a human ATM to fund her wedding.

Just then, a doctor came in to change the IV, pushing the door open and startling the two inside.

Alyssa looked up and went pale the moment she saw Yuliana standing there.

"What are you doing here?"

Yuliana walked in and set the fruit basket on the table. "Someone asked me to check in on you. But seeing how well you're recovering, I'm sure he has nothing to worry about."

With that, she turned and walked out without looking back.

Terrified that Yuliana would blow her cover, Alyssa ignored her injuries and scrambled after her, finally catching up with her at the stairwell.

"Are you going to run back and tell Charlie? Do you really think he'd believe a word you say?" Alyssa demanded.

Despite her defiance, the guilt was plain on Alyssa's face. Her words sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than anyone else.

Yuliana turned to face Alyssa, her voice cutting like ice. "Why are you lying to Charlie? You're about to get married, yet you refuse to let him go. Is it really just for his money?"

Alyssa arched a brow and sneered. "The money is part of it, sure. But what I really enjoy is watching him lose his mind over me. I love having him wrapped around my finger, basking in the way he worships me."

"Charlie was willing to die for you. And you're just trampling all over his heart?" Yuliana shot back.

Seeing Yuliana's righteous fury, Alyssa scoffed. "That's his choice. I'm young and beautiful, and I hold all the cards. Even the high-and-mighty Charlie Zimmer is nothing more than a dog begging at my feet."

With each word she spoke, her arrogance grew, leaving Yuliana at a loss for words.

Yet her silence only emboldened Alyssa. She looked Yuliana up and down with disdain, as if watching a pathetic clown in a cheap comedy.

She let out a mocking scoff. "Besides, you should be thanking me. I let you play Mrs. Zimmer for three free years. You're nothing but a thief living someone else's life."

She leaned closer and whispered, "I'll tell you another secret. I didn't actually go abroad on our wedding day. I hooked up with two seniors a few days earlier and accidentally got pregnant. I was at the clinic getting an abortion.

"If Charlie hadn't been trying so hard to spite me, do you think he would have looked at you twice?"

The rage Yuliana had suppressed for years finally hit its breaking point.

She instinctively raised her hand, but before she could even touch Alyssa, a twisted, unreadable smile flashed across Alyssa's face. Suddenly, as if struck by a massive force, Alyssa threw herself backward and tumbled down the stairs.

Before Yuliana could even register what had happened, a violent shove sent her crashing to the floor.

Charlie rushed down the stairs, his face stricken as he gathered a bruised Alyssa into his arms. He looked up at Yuliana—who stood frozen in shock—with eyes blazing with fury.

"Alyssa is in a fragile state! How could you lay a hand on her?" he roared.

Tears streamed down Alyssa's face as she clung to Charlie's hand, her voice a fragile whimper. "It's my fault. I'm just your ex. I shouldn't have shown my face in front of your wife. She had every right to push me."

Charlie's expression darkened with every word. Yuliana knew that no explanation would ever reach him.

Yet to him, her silence was an admission of guilt.

He looked away in disappointment, lifted Alyssa into his arms, and walked off without sparing Yuliana another glance.

Chapter 9

After that day, Charlie never showed up again.

Yuliana finally received notification that her visa application had been approved.

There had never been much in the house that belonged to her—just a few sets of clothes to pack.

Looking around the villa where she had spent the last three years, she felt no nostalgia, only the relief of finally being free. She was finally escaping the cage that had trapped her for three long years.

With only a week left before her departure, Charlie never came home. Alyssa, however, filled the void with a daily barrage of provocative texts.

On the first day, she sent a photo of Charlie asleep with his head on her lap, a faint smile on his lips as if he were having a sweet dream.

As Yuliana stared at the photo, she threw every gift she had given Charlie over the years into the trash.

On the third day, Alyssa sent more photos. This time, Charlie was down on one knee, sliding a ring onto Alyssa's finger.

Yuliana slid off her own wedding ring, which Charlie had bought for her after their marriage because everything in their marriage had originally been meant for Alyssa. Even the inner engraving of the ring bore Alyssa's name.

She dropped the ring into the kitchen sink, watching without blinking as the rushing water carried it down the drain.

On the fifth day, Alyssa sent a video of Charlie at a high-end auction, winning a breathtakingly expensive necklace for her, leaving the entire crowd stunned.

Unfazed, Yuliana packed up every gift he had given her during their marriage and donated them all.

It took her just seven days to erase every trace of her three-year existence in that house. Perhaps it was because this villa had never truly been her "home".

When the housekeeper, Mila Dixon, saw Yuliana carrying out the last of her things, she grew worried and approached Yuliana to ask what was going on.

Yuliana offered a faint smile. "Nothing major. We're just getting a divorce."

Mila was shocked. "Does Mr. Zimmer agree to this?"

Yuliana had no answer. Charlie hadn't even looked at the divorce papers yet, but she could tell that once he finally did, he would likely feel relieved—or even pleased.

Their marriage had been nothing more than a mistake born of youthful impulse. Without her standing in the way, his relationship with Alyssa would only grow closer.

After all, Alyssa was the only one he ever saw and the only one who had ever existed in his heart.

On the final day, Yuliana deleted the contact information for Charlie, Alyssa, and everyone connected to them, bidding a permanent farewell to her past.

On the day she left, delicate, light snow sifted down from the sky.

Yuliana carried the box filled with love letters she had written to Charlie over the years but never dared to send, along with diaries filled with his name, out into the courtyard.

She burned her love for Charlie into ash, and in the rising smoke, her younger self drifted away.

As snowflakes drifted down onto her shoulders, she wondered how long it would take for the snow to cover the charred remnants of her past.

Lost in thought, she didn't hear the footsteps approaching from behind.

"What are you doing out here?" Charlie's voice rang out behind her.

Yuliana turned and saw him standing there, a suitcase in hand.

She stepped slightly closer to the burning letters, keeping her expression natural as she said, "Nothing. Just burning some trash."

The sight of the pink envelopes made Charlie's thoughts flash back to Bella's speech at the wedding.

The irritation he had been harboring all week ebbed away, replaced by a dull, unidentifiable ache in his chest. Yet, he didn't realize what that strange feeling meant.

"I'm buried in work, so I won't be back for a few days," he said. "When I get a chance, let's sit down and have a proper talk."

Talk? There was nothing left between them to discuss other than divorce.

Yuliana shook her head. "No need. I told you everything you wanted to know a month ago."

A month ago? Had she said something back then?

Charlie opened his mouth to ask, but his phone buzzed. As he heard the voice on the other end, his expression softened, and a hint of a smile touched his lips.

Meanwhile, the fire consumed the last scrap of paper, leaving nothing but cooling ash.

By the time he hung up, the question had already slipped his mind.

Yuliana walked him to his car.

A sudden gust of wind scattered the ashes, whisking them away across the yard. Charlie noticed how thinly she was dressed and urged her to go inside before she caught a cold.

The engine hummed to life. Through the car window, Charlie saw Yuliana's lips move. He didn't hear her, but he assumed it was the usual "drive safe" or "take care" and didn't give it another thought.

Only when his taillights disappeared from view did Yuliana pull her shawl tight. She returned to her room, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out the door for the last time.

The snow fell harder now, a white shroud trying to bury the wreckage of her youth.

As her plane lifted off, Yuliana took one last look at the city that had held 20 years of her life. Softly, she repeated the words he hadn't stayed to hear, "Goodbye for good, Charlie."