Chapter 3

Before he could say anything more vicious, Vivian behind him let out a terrified scream.

"There's a bear!"

In the distance, a massive bear was slowly walking toward us.

Even Maxwell was trembling with fear. He released his grip on me.

I gasped for air, then flashed him a brilliant smile.

"Maxwell, I do love you."

"So let's die here together, reunited in the bear's belly."

Maxwell glanced at me in shock, treating me like I'd truly lost my mind.

As the bear drew closer, his eyes darted between me and Vivian, hesitation in his gaze.

No matter how fit he was, he could only take one extra person with him to escape.

In the end, he grabbed Vivian's hand and ran for their lives.

"I'm sorry, Winona. Once I get outside, I'll immediately call for help to rescue you."

Between me and Vivian, he made his choice.

After Maxwell's abuse, I didn't even have the strength to run. I could only watch helplessly as the bear approached.

I closed my eyes and silently prayed.

Mom, I'm coming to see you.

The bear was so close I could smell the stench from its mouth.

Just as the bear was about to strike, the crack of a gunshot rang through the air.

The bear's head was pierced by a bullet. Its body crashed to the ground.

I stood frozen, not yet understanding what had happened.

A middle-aged man dressed like a hunter emerged, holding a rifle.

He had only one piece of advice for me:

"Girl, next time you choose a man, remember to use your eyes."

I smiled bitterly. I couldn't agree more with those words.

The look in Maxwell's eyes as he left was burned into my mind.

Though it was full of regret and hesitation, his body was more honest than his heart.

The people Maxwell called arrived quickly at the scene.

Surrounded by bodyguards, he rushed up to me and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Are you hurt anywhere? Winona, I'll take you to the hospital right now. I'll find you the best doctors in all of Sea City."

"Don't worry, I absolutely won't let anything happen to you."

I stared blankly at the man before me. The concern in his eyes and words seemed genuine.

But it only made me feel worse.

Because it proved he wasn't incapable of loving me—there were just things more important to him than his love for me.

Like Vivian, for instance.

Seeing us embrace, a flash of malice crossed her eyes. Suddenly she cried out and collapsed, claiming she was in shock.

Maxwell immediately let go and rushed to support Vivian, whispering comfort in her ear.

As for me, he simply waved his hand and had a bodyguard take me to the hospital.

When I left the hospital, I took all of my mother's remaining belongings and had them cremated.

Holding the lightweight urn, I returned home with a numb expression, planning to confront Maxwell and end everything.

This relationship that had lasted ten years had exhausted me. It was time to end it.

But as soon as I opened the door, I saw Vivian acting coy with Maxwell.

Maxwell's eyes were full of laughter as he recorded everything on his phone.

Hearing the door open, both of them looked over at once.

I froze in place, my mind blank.

Maxwell's brow was furrowed at first, but when he saw the urn in my hands, understanding dawned.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"I didn't expect you to actually be into this kind of thing."

"Considering your performance in the mountains today, I suppose I can play along with this little act of yours. Call it compensation."

"Vivian, hold my phone. Record this scene."

As he spoke, he took off his shirt and strode toward me.

Not until his arm wrapped around my waist and his hot breath fell on my ear did I snap out of it.

"Let go of me right now. Maxwell, what are you trying to do?"

"I didn't expect you to get into character so quickly. Have you been rehearsing?"

As his actions grew more brazen, I slapped him hard in my fury.

His eyes instantly turned cold and hard as he stared at me.