"Mom, Derek, my study abroad application got approved. I'm gonna move to London."

In the quiet living room, Beatrice Filmore's voice was soft and light.

Her mother, Celia Harrell, sitting opposite on the couch, was overjoyed. "It got approved that fast? When are you leaving?"

"In ten days."

Celia hadn't expected it to be so soon. Amid her excitement, a trace of reluctance surfaced in her eyes. "I'll start packing for you right now! It's your first time going so far, let alone to another country. I'm really worried. I actually reached out to an old friend of mine. Her son happens to be in London too. If you need anything, just contact him. Don't feel like you're bothering him. Our two families agreed for you two to get married when you were kids! See if you hit it off. If you do, that's perfect; if not, you can just be friends."

Beatrice nodded. "Okay, Mom."

Celia did a double-take. "Bex, you're okay with that? Did you ... finally break up with that boyfriend of yours?"

Beatrice fell silent immediately.

Her stepfather, Derek Melton, caught on instantly and slammed his hand on the table. "He never wanted to come meet us! It was obvious he wasn't serious about you! Good riddance to that loser!"

"Boyfriend? What boyfriend?"

A voice suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere in the living room.

The three of them turned to see Maverick Melton walking through the front door.

Dressed in a black shirt and trousers, he was tall and poised, with an air of lazy elegance in his every move.

Beatrice trembled slightly and stood up. "Mac."

Maverick responded with a meaningful "Mhm", tossed his car keys aside, and headed upstairs.

That night, Celia cooked a feast and popped open a bottle of red wine.

She raised her glass, beaming at her family, ready to announce the good news. "Come on, let's have a celebration today! Bex's soon..."

Beatrice sensed trouble and cut her off quickly, "Mom, this wine tastes bitter. Is it expired?"

Celia looked puzzled. She was sure it wasn't. But Beatrice had already pulled her into the kitchen under the pretext of getting a new bottle.

"Mom, don't tell Mac about me going abroad yet."

At first, Celia found this strange.

But then she remembered how her stepson doted on Beatrice over the years. She figured it was just a sibling bond; they hated to be apart. So, she nodded in agreement.

After eating just a few bites, Beatrice excused herself and returned to her room.

After washing up, she lay in bed and slowly fell asleep.

At exactly midnight, a warm body slid into bed beside her.

Hot breath fanned her neck, followed by soft lips nipping gently at her skin. The cool, damp sensation jolted Beatrice awake.

Her body stiffened. Instinctively, she shoved him away and sat up abruptly, her voice sharp and resistant. "Maverick!"

"What's wrong?" Maverick's lips curved into a faint smile in the darkness. His voice was utterly lazy. "Now that the family's trying to set you up with a guy, I'm not allowed to touch you? After all these years together, you think you can just walk away?"

Beatrice knew he'd misunderstood, but she didn't bother explaining.

Maverick's expression darkened further in the heavy silence.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms. "Beatrice, have I ever told you? You're not allowed to have a boyfriend. You can only be with me."

Feeling the heat from his body behind her, Beatrice didn't want to argue. She lied, "I'm on my period. I don't feel well."

At her placating explanation, Maverick's expression softened a bit, though he still frowned. "Didn't it just end? It's back already? Fine. I won't touch you today. Go to sleep."

With that, he held her tightly in his arms.

The steady, calm sound of his breathing filled her ears, but she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

No one knew that her boyfriend was her stepbrother, Maverick!

When she was twelve, her mom married into the Melton family, making her and the Meltons' only son, Maverick, stepsiblings.

By fourteen, they'd grown close. To everyone else, they looked like the very image of a close, well-mannered sibling pair.

At eighteen, he found her secret diary filled with his name. He leaned lazily against her desk, a smile in his eyes as he read it over and over. Then he caught her hand as she tried to snatch it back and planted a kiss on her flushed cheek.

At twenty, they crossed the line for the first time. Since then, they found it addictive, and things spiraled out of control.

By day, they were siblings, but by night, they snuck into the same bed, hidden from everyone.

Beatrice had always been a good girl. Being with Maverick was the one reckless thing she'd ever done in her life.

She loved him so much that she'd even convinced herself it was okay if they never went public. They could just run off to another country and get married in secret someday.

But that fantasy was shattered completely two weeks ago when she overheard him talking with his friends.

It had been pouring rain that day. She'd rushed to bring him an umbrella, but just as she was about to open the private room door, she'd heard his friend's voice.

"Mac, what's the deal with your stepsister? I thought you were just gonna have some fun and dump her. Why haven't you ended it yet?"

Another one spoke, "Yeah, you only got with her to get back at her mom for marrying into your family, right? Don't tell me you're getting soft up on her."

Beatrice was shocked.

He wasn't with her because he loved her, but for revenge!

Beatrice's face went pale. Her mind went blank, and her whole body started shaking uncontrollably. But she stubbornly stayed, desperate to hear Maverick's response.

Then, Maverick's cold, cruel voice reached her ears.

"If I don't play the long game, how to make her hurt more?"

The whole room erupted in laughter. She stood outside the door, feeling cold all over.

So, he didn't love her. Calling her his girlfriend, sleeping with her night after night—it had all been a revenge plot, just because he resented her mom for taking his own mother's place?

Her mom still had to live with the Melton family. Beatrice couldn't let this become a huge scandal.

After thinking it over, the only solution she could see was to run away, to leave this house and leave him.

Thus, she applied to study abroad.

Now, only ten days remained until she could slip away silently.

Looking at the countdown on her phone, Beatrice gently pried Maverick's arm from around her waist.

But within minutes, he'd wrapped it around her again. She'd remove it, and unconsciously, it would find its way back.

Her patience worn thin by the back-and-forth, she finally grabbed a pillow and wedged it between them.

This time, he stayed still.

Beatrice had her peace.

She knew their story was coming to an end soon.

She'd no longer belong to him, no longer be his possession.

Beatrice's alarm went off sharply at 8 AM, jolting her awake.

When she opened her eyes, Maverick was already gone.

Afraid of their parents finding out, they had a rule: Maverick would come to her room at midnight and leave promptly at 5 AM. They'd kept this up for five years.

But soon, they'd be nothing more than siblings. He'd never have to sneak around again.

After getting dressed, she went downstairs and immediately spotted a strange woman sitting on the couch.

Celia waved her over enthusiastically. "Bex, come here! This is Mac's girlfriend. Go get our guest some water."

Maribel Mowbray stood up, extending her hand with a bright, dimpled smile.

"You must be Mac's sister! Nice to meet you. I've heard him talk about you nonstop, even though this is our first time meeting."

Beatrice's hands trembled slightly. She glanced at Maverick but didn't ask anything, just turned to get the water.

She'd just poured a cup of water when Maverick walked into the kitchen.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned in for a kiss.

Beatrice quickly turned her head away. "Stop messing around. Your girlfriend is right in the living room."

Maverick raised an eyebrow and pecked her lips. "Jealous? Forgot to tell you. She's just a childhood friend who went abroad years ago and just got back. Dad's been on my case about marriage, so I brought her here to keep him from setting me up with random women. It's just an act.

"You know who my real girlfriend is, don't you?"

Beatrice listened silently, her expression neutral as she nodded casually in response.

Her calm reaction made Maverick's eyes flicker with surprise.

He'd fully expected to spend ages coaxing her.

Back when other girls gave him love letters, she found out and got so jealous that she'd cry her eyes out.

When he found out and asked her, she refused to tell him. He had to resort to all sorts of tricks just to coax a word or two of truth out of her.

She was convinced their forbidden love was unacceptable to the world, that she could never openly stand by his side as his girlfriend.

Thus, she never dared to confront him or get angry. She just sulked alone under the covers.

This was the same old story, yet she remained uncharacteristically calm.

It left Maverick confused.

Before he could ask, Beatrice slipped past him, carrying the glass of water out to the living room.

Once breakfast was ready, the family sat down as usual.

Maribel was seated next to Maverick.

The two chatted and laughed about childhood memories, looking perfectly chummy.

Maribel liked runny eggs. When Maverick found out, he gave her the sunny-side-up egg from his plate.

She immediately put on a shy, coquettish smile and offered him the egg she'd taken a bite from her plate.

Maverick instinctively glanced at Beatrice.

She was focusing on eating her food with her head down, as if she hadn't seen a thing.

When she looked up to grab a napkin, he picked up that egg and took a bite.

Beatrice happened to look over just then. Silently, she put down her fork and left the table.

Seeing she seemed to be heading out, Maribel called out, "Bex, are you going out? Mac and I are going on a date. Wait up. We can go together!"

Just as Beatrice was about to refuse, Derek spoke up, "It's raining outside. Let Mac drive you. Your mom and I won't feel right letting you go alone."

Since Derek insisted, Beatrice couldn't refuse. She headed to the garage first.

She was going to the visa office. If he drove her, wouldn't Maverick find out about her plans to go abroad?

She thought it over, but there was no other way. She just gave up trying to hide it.

So what if he knew? Her plans were set in stone. There was nothing he could do to stop her.

A few minutes later, Maverick and Maribel arrived and got into the car.

To Beatrice's surprise, Maribel slid into the backseat beside her and started making small talk, clearly trying to strike up a conversation.

Beatrice wasn't in the mood, responding with short, distracted replies.

As the car pulled away, the sound of rain tapping against the windows grew louder.

Maribel leaned close to her ear, deliberately lowering her voice.

"I know you don't like me. And I know you and Mac aren't just ordinary siblings. But you two have no future. And Mac also has some feelings for me. Believe it or not, if I want to, I could steal him from you in a heartbeat."

Beatrice's heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Maribel and saw her provocatively pull out her phone and set an alarm.

A minute later, the alarm went off right on time.

Maribel faked answering a call, and within seconds, she shed a few tears, her eyes glistening as she looked toward the front seat.

"Mac, the housekeeper just called! My puppy is sick! I'm so worried. Could you please take me home now?"

Maverick pulled the car over. He frowned, looked at the pouring rain outside, then turned back.

But seeing her tear-streaked face, he hesitated for a few seconds before shifting his gaze to Beatrice.

"I'm taking Ria to the west side now. We're not on the way. You can get out and take a taxi."

Afraid she might refuse, Maribel quickly handed her an umbrella.

Beatrice's eyes darted between the two of them. In the end, she said nothing and opened the car door.

Rain dripped through several holes in the umbrella's canopy, quickly soaking her completely.

The rain was torrential. She couldn't flag down a cab, so she had to run quickly with her bag held over her head.

After running for thirty minutes, she finally arrived at the visa office, completely drenched and disheveled.

Even after finishing her visa paperwork, she still couldn't get a taxi. Beatrice had to walk home in the rain for another hour.

The moment she got home, she could feel a fever coming on, her whole body aching badly. She collapsed onto her bed, dizzy and disoriented.

She had bizarre nightmares, her body breaking out in a cold sweat, feeling like a monster was chasing her.

When she finally forced her eyes open, she realized the "monster" was Maverick.

He was holding her in his arms, feeding her medicine. His gentle tone held a trace of concern. "Good girl, take your medicine. You'll feel better soon."

For a moment, Beatrice couldn't tell if she was dreaming or awake.

She swallowed a few mouthfuls of water and drifted back into a hazy sleep.

When she woke again, the fever had broken.

Instinctively, she looked beside her.

No one was there.

Only a phone kept vibrating on the nightstand.

She picked it up and unlocked it, finding that Maverick's friends were tagging him in a group chat.

"Mac, your acting is super! You bailed on a multi-billion-dollar project just to go home and take care of your little sister when you heard she was sick?"

"I'm starting to think Mac is for real. He ran over twenty red lights to rush home when he found out she had a fever. Has he actually fallen for that girl?"

"I think so, too. He was way too frantic for it to be an act."

At the bottom of the messages was Maverick's only reply.

"Like her? Over my dead body. I'm just committed to the role. I want her completely devoted, so it'll hurt even more when the truth comes out, right?"

A chill ran through Beatrice with every word she read.

Five years together, and all it earned her was "over my dead body".

"Maverick, you're so heartless," she thought.

A wave of exhaustion washed over her. Her hand fell limply.

The next second, the bedroom door swung open.

Maverick entered with a glass of water in hand. He saw it, and his expression shifted slightly. He hurried over and snatched the phone from her hand.

His usual lazy voice held a barely noticeable trace of nervousness. "What did you see?"

Beatrice lowered her head, hiding her slightly reddened eyes, and spoke hoarsely, "Is there something I'm not supposed to see?"

She didn't understand. Since he knew how hopelessly in love she was with him, why wouldn't he stop?

Was it necessary to drag this act out for so long?

Did he not get tired of putting on this show, of hiding it all from her?

Wasn't it enough? His goal was achieved! She was already in enough agony!

Unaware of her thoughts, Maverick just assumed she was upset from being sick. He quickly hugged her to comfort her. "Nothing! I'm just planning a surprise for you. I didn't want to ruin it. Since you're upset, I'll tell you now, okay?

"I found out Denmark allows marriage between non-blood-related siblings. Bex, let's move there and get married, okay? I'm already making the arrangements."

They had talked about this very dream countless times during late nights before.

Hearing it now, Beatrice felt no surge of emotion, only a dead calm.

She knew there was no future for them.

In ten days, they'd be out of each other's lives.

After recovering from her illness, the first thing Beatrice did was tally up all the money the Melton family had spent on her over the years.

Sitting at her desk with her bank card, she listed every single cost since moving into the Melton's house a decade ago.

From tuition fees to various living expenses, the total was five million dollars.

Her late father's inheritance and their house combined were worth over 3 million dollars. Adding her savings from part-time jobs over the years, she was still short by around a hundred thousand.

It looked like she'd need to find some work before leaving to make up the shortfall.

Beatrice was a photography student. With this in mind, she posted online that she was available for photography gigs.

Soon, around eight clients contacted her, booking everything from wedding photos to graduation pictures.

She took every job, working from dawn till dusk. She was often so worn out that she could barely stand straight, but she never complained.

Her mom had told her that Derek was already divorced before they met. He just hadn't publicized it.

From start to finish, her mom and Derek's relationship was decent. She was never a homewrecker.

Neither Beatrice nor her mother had ever coveted the Melton family's wealth.

Beatrice was leaving, but she didn't want Maverick to keep resenting her mother, who would still live with the Melton family.

That was why she was determined to pay back the money.

After around six grueling days, Beatrice had only saved up a little over five thousand.

Just as she was growing anxious about the slow progress, a huge opportunity came her way.

A client contacted her, asking her to photograph a birthday party for a fee of over 30 thousand dollars.

But this generous payment came with a condition.

The client said the birthday girl was extremely picky. She had to be 100% satisfied to get the full payment.

Desperate to raise the money quickly, Beatrice agreed without hesitation.

On the day of the party, she arrived with her camera bag only to find familiar faces.

A bitter pang shot through her chest at the sight of Maribel in the princess dress and tiara, with Maverick in a black suit beside her.

Seeing her exhausted face, Maverick frowned. "Why are you taking jobs like this? Isn't your dream to be a top photographer? Didn't the family give you living expenses?"

"I'm an adult. I like the work, so I took it."

Maverick's face darkened. Just as he was about to speak, Maribel quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Bex, Mac's just worried about you. He doesn't want you to overwork yourself. Don't say things to upset your brother."

As she spoke, Maribel linked arms with her, leading her into the venue, saying she wanted to see her photography skills.

Though her words were polite, Beatrice didn't get a single minute's rest all night, clicking the camera shutter nonstop.

After taking around five thousand photos, Maribel still wasn't satisfied. She insisted Beatrice haul her tired body upstairs for an overhead shot.

Carrying dozens of kilograms of equipment, she made her way to the third floor, set up the tripod, and aimed it at the center of the stage.

Through the lens, she saw Maverick step onto the stage amid cheers and personally place the necklace, reportedly a Melton family heirloom, around Maribel's neck.

Maribel flashed a triumphant smile, deliberately looking up toward the third floor before throwing herself into his arms.

Beatrice knew Maribel was putting on a show just for her.

All evening, she'd clung to Maverick, going out of her way to flaunt their "affection" in front of her.

She fed him sips of her champagne, pulled him into a dance, making guests whisper about their possible engagement. She whined softly that her legs hurt and asked him to massage them...

The memory cards were filled with countless such intimate shots.

Beatrice had grown numb.

Watching them embrace, she quickly pressed the shutter.

Just as she was about to take a second shot, Maribel stood on her tiptoes and kissed Maverick.

Beatrice's hand froze.

Her blurred eyes briefly cleared, focusing sharply through the lens.

In the high-resolution viewfinder, Maverick looked stunned.

But after just three seconds, he wrapped his arm around Maribel's waist, cupped the back of her head, and deepened the fleeting kiss!

"Wow, look at the lovebirds!"

"Looks like it won't be long before I'm toasting to my son's wedding!" Derek's voice sounded from behind.

Beatrice snapped out of it at his voice.

She quickly raised her camera and snapped several photos, clearly capturing the grand climax of the evening.

The two on stage soon pulled apart. Maribel, looking bashful, waved toward the third floor.

"Bex, thanks for your hard work! That's enough for today!"

Beatrice finally breathed a sigh of relief. She packed her gear, went downstairs, and stood beside Celia and Derek.

Celia was holding Maribel's hand, chatting with her cheerfully.

"Derek and I got held up on the way, Ria. You're not upset with us, are you?"

"Of course not! You're just in time. We haven't cut the cake yet."

Derek looked at Maverick with pride, patting his shoulder. "Mac, I'm so happy you're settling down. Since you've given Ria the family necklace, shouldn't we invite her parents over? Our families should discuss setting a wedding date."

Maribel's face flushed bright red, and she looked at Maverick with pure happiness.

Then she turned her gaze to Beatrice.

"I'm available any time! But I don't have many friends here. Maybe Bex could help out and be my bridesmaid?"

Beatrice was rubbing her sore hands and didn't catch what she said.

Celia nudged her and repeated it before she understood.

Beatrice looked up, her face still neutral, showing no emotion.

"Sorry, I'll be tied up with things later. I don't think I can make it to the wedding. But I sincerely wish you and my brother a happy life together."

Her words brought smiles to the three of them, except for Maverick.

He shot Beatrice a gloomy look.

The faint smile on his lips slowly faded.

After the long, painful job, Beatrice went straight to the bathroom when she got home.

After washing up, she pushed open her door, exhausted.

Before she could step inside, a pair of strong hands suddenly pinned her against the hallway wall.

Then came a barrage of kisses, trailing up her damp neck, leaving red marks.

The sudden assault nearly made Beatrice scream.

She pressed her tongue hard against the roof of her mouth to stifle the sound, twisting and turning to break free.

But the more she struggled, the more fiercely Maverick kissed her. In the end, he grabbed her chin, forcing her to stay still.

She struggled frantically, the terror in his eyes growing with the sound of footsteps coming upstairs.

"You're insane!"

At her words, Maverick let out a cold laugh, his eyes bloodshot, and leaned close to her ear.

"Maybe I am! Why don't you scream? Let everyone see what we really are! Let them see how this brother of yours kisses his sister until she completely falls apart."

Only when the footsteps paused and then retreated downstairs did Beatrice's racing heart finally calm.

She mustered her strength to pry his arm away from the wall and ducked under it. Her voice trembled with lingering fear.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Maverick's gaze followed her, the darkness in his eyes still not fading.

"Who's the one acting crazy? You actually want me to marry Ria?"

Beatrice froze.

She couldn't understand. He'd gotten close to her for revenge.

Why did he care about these small things?

"What's wrong with that? Aren't you getting married? You even kissed in front of me!"

"Beatrice! How many times do I have to explain? It was an act! I only kissed Maribel because I saw Dad and your mom!"

He seemed genuinely angry, his words sharp and urgent.

Beatrice couldn't tell if this outburst came from a genuine emotion or was a calculated performance.

But she instinctively believed he was just putting on a show for her. She nodded.

"Yes, you're really good at acting!"

How much longer did he plan to keep this up?

She was already broken, just as he wanted. Wasn't that sufficient?

She didn't voice the last thoughts. Instead, she blinked a few times, and the tears she'd been holding back finally spilled over.

She was too tired to keep playing his game.

Would he still not let her go?

Beatrice's words and the unexpected tears sent a jolt of panic through Maverick.

In their four years together, it was the first time he'd seen Beatrice look so utterly helpless and heartbroken.

Before, no matter what happened, she'd always smiled brightly around him, full of energy.

She did it because she was afraid he'd think she was losing faith in their relationship.

Though he didn't know exactly what had triggered her, he instinctively pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry, baby. Don't cry. It's my fault. I got so mad when you wished me a happy marriage. I won't do it again, okay?"

Then he tried to kiss her again.

This time, his movements were gentler than ever.

But Beatrice still pushed him away.

"I'm on period."

"It's still going? It's been a while."

"Yeah. Maybe it's because of the fever I had the other day. It's been dragging on."

He remembered how delirious she'd been with fever, and a flicker of worry crossed Maverick's face.

He didn't force it. Instead, he gently carried her to her room, turned off the light, and held her as they got into bed.

Beatrice was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open and fell into a deep sleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

Watching her peaceful face in the soft glow of the nightlight, Maverick was momentarily transfixed.

A jumble of memories flooded his mind. It was 3 AM before he finally kissed her forehead tenderly and drifted into a light sleep.

The curtains were left open, and the morning sun streaming in woke Maverick.

The person beside him was still asleep. She turned over slightly, sending a dull ache through his numb arm.

He opened his eyes, saw the clock reading 9:00, and froze.

He wondered why he didn't wake up as usual this morning.

Remembering that breakfast was usually around this time, he quickly got out of bed.

He opened the door and tiptoed toward his own bedroom down the hall.

But he'd barely taken a few steps when Celia appeared at the top of the stairs. She froze when she saw him walking out of Beatrice's room in his pajamas. "Mac?!"

Maverick instinctively looked down at his disheveled collar, his heart pounding wildly.

Celia, recovering from her shock, looked even more suspicious.

"Mac? Why were you in Bex's room?"

His still-groggy mind went blank.

Just as he was scrambling for an explanation, the door behind him opened.

Beatrice emerged, fully dressed, and looked calmly at the two of them.

"Good morning, Mom."

She turned to Maverick. "Mac, you came to get me for breakfast. Why did you rush off so fast?"

So, it was just a misunderstanding.

Celia let out a sigh of relief. She waved at them. "Hurry up. Breakfast is ready."

Beatrice responded softly, quickened her pace, took her mom's hand, and went downstairs.

Reaching the bottom, she froze. Maribel was sitting at the dining table, smiling and waving at her.

"Bex, I'm here to discuss wedding plans with Mac. You don't mind, do you?"

Before she could speak, Celia laughed and chimed in. "Silly girl, Bex is Mac's sister, and you're Mac's girlfriend. Why would she mind you two discussing your wedding?"

Beatrice gave a faint smile. Right. From now on, she was just his sister. Of course, she had no reason to mind.

She sat down at the table and silently listened as Maribel pulled Maverick into a conversation about the wedding.

"Mac, if we have a wedding, do you think a lawn ceremony would be nice? Or should we do it by the beach? Do you prefer diamond or gemstone rings..."

Beatrice ate without lifting her head or listening to Maverick's response.

After finishing, she was about to leave when she received a few messages on WhatsApp.

It was a transfer from Maribel—30 thousand dollars, not a penny short.

Beatrice looked up and locked eyes with her, Maribel's smile holding a subtle smirk of provocation.

Right after that, another message popped up.

"I loved the photos you took yesterday, especially the kissing ones. They're gorgeous! I'll definitely send them to Mac for him to check out. Your hard work won't go to waste!"

Beatrice replied with a "Got it."

She accepted the transfer and deposited it into her account.

Staring at her account balance of exactly 5 million dollars, she let out a soft smile.

While they were still eating and not paying attention to her, Beatrice went upstairs to change, then hailed a taxi.

She had plans to say goodbye to a few close girlfriends today. If she didn't leave now, she'd be late.

Rushing as fast as she could, Beatrice arrived at the private club right at noon.

After a few words of greeting, her friends talked to her with voices full of reluctance, "Bex, are you really going abroad to study?

"How long are you staying? Are you coming back?"

"Yeah, three years for studying. Then I'll find a job there and settle down. I probably won't come back."

At that, all three young women looked shocked.

"What about Mac? He's here, and you're settling in the UK? Didn't you two plan to get married someday?"

Beatrice hadn't kept her relationship with Maverick a secret from them. After all, their relationship was taboo. Fearing it would consume her if she bore it alone, she'd told her closest friends.

Now, hearing their question, she forced a faint smile. "I've moved on. I don't like him anymore."

She sounded casual. But her besties had been there through it all. They knew her pain and struggle. They didn't know what had made her so set on leaving, but they were on her side.

"Good riddance! Now you don't have to worry about your mom finding out and getting hurt."

"Yeah, exactly! There are so many hot guys in the UK. You'll have no trouble finding someone new. Hey, I've never been to the UK, Bex! You gotta video call me often once you get there. I wanna see you feeding the pigeons in the square!"

As she listened to her friends chattering on with their encouragement, a real smile slowly spread across Beatrice's face.

She was about to start a brand-new life.

Why would she be troubled by the past?

For the following days, Maverick didn't come home.

Beatrice didn't care where he'd gone.

During her last days before leaving, she spent all her time with her mother.

The two went shopping, took photos together, and ate all the foods they'd been craving for ages. Her mom also gave her tons of tips for living alone.

Time slipped away quietly during these warm, ordinary moments.

Five days before she was due to leave, Celia went away on a business trip with Derek.

Beatrice was at home when she got a call from her aunt, who said her dad's cemetery needed to be relocated due to government plans and asked her and her mom to come handle it.

Ever since Celia married into the Melton family, the family had always given her a hard time. Beatrice didn't want her mom to get gossiped about over this, so she decided to go alone.

Beatrice hurried to call someone and bought a nice new burial plot.

Just as she was about to leave for the cemetery to collect the ashes, she ran into Maverick, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, at the door.

After asking where she was going, he frowned and grabbed her hand. "Do you even see me as your boyfriend? Why wouldn't you ask me to come with you for something this big? How is a girl like you supposed to handle this alone?

"Get in the car. I'm going with you!"

Staring at him as he said those words with a serious look, Beatrice couldn't tell if he was being sincere or just putting on a show.

She couldn't win against his insistence, and time was tight, so she got into his car.

But halfway there, he suddenly took a detour, saying he needed to pick someone up.

When Beatrice saw Maribel walking over, her heart lurched.

She desperately wanted to ask Maverick why he absolutely had to bring a complete outsider to relocate her father's ashes. Were they really that inseparable?

But time was pressing. She swallowed everything.

On the way to the new cemetery, Beatrice walked ahead alone, holding the urn, not saying a word.

Everything was ready, and just as they were about to lay the urn, Maverick's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, frowned, and stood up to walk outside.

Beatrice didn't ask where he was going. She just focused on placing the urn. But Maribel blocked her way, a mocking smile on her face.

"Mac promised to watch the sunset with me today. Giving you a ride to the cemetery was just a detour. You didn't know that, did you?"

Beatrice really hadn't known.

But she didn't care. She just wanted her father to rest in peace as soon as possible.

Thus, she ignored Maribel's provocation completely. She didn't even glance at her, just walking with the urn to bury it.

Maribel had never been ignored like this before. Furious, she grabbed Beatrice's arm. "Beatrice, quit playing dumb! Can't you hear me talking to you?"

Seeing how precious the urn was to her, Maribel made a split-second decision. She snatched the box out of Beatrice's hands and smashed it hard on the ground!

With a loud crash, the urn tumbled down the steps and shattered into pieces.

Pale gray ashes scattered everywhere.

Instantly, Beatrice lost it.

"Dad!"

She ran down the steps like a maniac, dropping to her knees and crying as she tried to scoop up the ashes.

But a sudden strong wind blew, shattering her last bit of hope.

She could only hopelessly watch as the ashes were carried away by the wind. She fought desperately to hold onto them, but it was useless.

Those were her father's ashes—from a living man to this. And now she was losing even that.

Filled with uncontrollable rage, she forced herself to stand up, walked over to Maribel, and slapped her hard across the face.

"Maribel! That's my dad's ashes. They're the last thing he left me in this world! Don't you know that desecrating the dead is unforgivable?"

A loud slap echoed, and Maribel's pale cheek immediately turned red and swollen.

Maribel was stunned by the slap. She was about to fight back when she caught a glimpse of Maverick walking back.

Her sense of self-preservation kicked in instantly. She pretended to stumble backward and tumbled down the steps.

Maverick, who had no idea what had happened, ran over and scooped Maribel up. "Beatrice, what the hell did you do?!"

"What did I do?! You should be asking her what she did!"

It was the first time Maverick had seen Beatrice so hysterical. When he looked up and saw her tear-streaked face, his face froze with anger.

The next second, Maribel threw herself into his arms and sobbed uncontrollably, "Mac, I accidentally knocked over Bex's dad's urn.

"The wind blew all the ashes away, and Bex got so mad she pushed me down the stairs. I'm bleeding so much. Let's just call it even, okay?"

Maverick's heart tightened as he looked at the shattered urn nearby.

He wanted to say something to comfort Beatrice, but the words that came out were different. "Ria didn't mean to..."

"Get lost!"

The two words from Beatrice used up all her remaining strength.

Maverick tried to explain further, but Maribel clutched his sleeve, weeping, "Mac, it hurts so much... Is my leg broken?"

Maverick glanced at her. Finally, he chose to pick Maribel up and quickly walk away!

A staff member brought a new urn.

Beatrice carefully placed the last tiny bit of ash from her palm into it. Then, before the grave, she bowed heavily.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I fail you. I loved the wrong person.

"Dad, forgive me. I failed to protect you.

"Dad, sorry, I have to leave soon. I won't be able to visit you for the next few years."

After three bows, she lifted her head and watched a flock of cawing crows fly across the sky.

A trickle of blood from her forehead traced a path down past her red-rimmed eyes.

It looked like tears of blood.

At dusk, Beatrice left the cemetery, went home alone, and dragged the belongings she'd sorted out days earlier downstairs.

The secret crush diary filled with Maverick's name was thrown into the fire.

The matching couple's items she'd secretly bought for them were tossed into the trash.

The candid photos taken with Maverick were cut into pieces, one by one.

After dealing with it all, she returned to her room.

The moment the door closed, she heard the front door open downstairs.

She locked the door, turned off the light, and curled up on the bed in the darkness.

Soon, there was a knock at the door.

"Bex, open the door.

"Bex, let me explain."

It was Maverick's voice.

She didn't respond, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

What was there to explain?

Explaining that he wasn't using her for revenge? Or why didn't he take her side after Maribel smashed her father's urn?

After a while, the knocking stopped, but her phone started buzzing repeatedly.

Beatrice saw Maverick's incessant explanatory texts. She opened his profile, blocked him, and then deleted his contact.

All night, no matter what sounds came from outside, Beatrice ignored them.

The next morning, hearing her mother's voice, she finally opened the door and threw herself into her arms.

Celia didn't understand what had happened, but she gently patted her daughter's back, comforting her softly like she did when she was a child.

Maverick, who hadn't slept all night, watched the scene from nearby. After a long silence, he turned and went downstairs.

For the next few days, to avoid Maverick, Beatrice slept in Celia's room.

During the day, they packed her luggage together. At night, they slept holding each other, sharing little secrets only they knew.

In Celia's embrace, Beatrice felt a peace she hadn't felt in a long time.

The night before her departure, she wanted to sleep with her mother again.

Celia, worried her daughter wouldn't get enough sleep from talking all night, insisted she rest properly in her own room.

Beatrice had no choice but to return to her room alone, staring at the dark ceiling.

At midnight, the sound of a key turning in the lock came from the door.

Maverick used the spare key to slip in again, wrapping his arms around her.

"You're still mad at me? It was my fault. Don't be angry anymore, okay?

"You've been giving me the silent treatment for three days. If this continues, I'm gonna lose it."

Beatrice didn't speak. She closed her eyes.

At her soft, even breathing, a flicker of helplessness crossed Maverick's eyes.

He knew she'd been through hell these past few days, so he didn't want to bother her further. He just kissed her forehead.

Listening to his heartbeat so close, Beatrice didn't sleep a wink all night.

In the morning, Maverick's phone rang abruptly.

She picked it up, and when she saw "Maribel" on the screen, she shook him awake and held the phone out to him.

Bleary-eyed, Maverick squinted and answered the call.

After just a few words, he released his hold on her waist and sat up abruptly.

After hanging up, he turned back and said softly, "Bex, I..."

"Don't turn on the light. Just go."

In the darkness, Beatrice's voice was barely a whisper, devoid of any emotion.

Maverick thought she'd finally cooled down. He grunted in agreement, got up, and left.

Before opening the door, for some reason, a sudden panic gripped him. He couldn't help but look back at the figure curled up on the bed.

"Bex, I'm just stepping out for a bit. I'll come back to be with you later."

Beatrice didn't need his company. And she wouldn't be waiting for his return.

They were over.

She waited until she heard the car start outside and watched Maverick drive away before she turned on the light.

She got up, changed clothes, and washed up as usual.

Once she was ready, Celia knocked on her door, calling her down for breakfast.

She finished her meal, just in time to see Derek directing the staff to carry her suitcases downstairs.

As the last suitcase was being taken, she remembered something. She went back to her now-empty room, opened a drawer, and took out a bank card and a letter.

Then, she placed them all in Maverick's room, right where he'd see them the moment he returned.

"Maverick, this time, I'm the one letting you go."

After that, Celia's voice came from downstairs, "Bex, hurry up, or you'll miss your flight!"

She replied, then hurried down the stairs.

A car was waiting outside. After saying goodbye to the two elders, Beatrice got into the car to the airport.

Behind her, Celia's voice came, thick with tears, "Bex, take good care of yourself.

"Also, I put the number of your arranged match in your pocket. If you need anything, be sure to contact him.

"Focus on chasing your dreams. Don't worry about things at home."

Beatrice rolled down the window, her eyes red, responding to everything until the figures behind her disappeared from view. Then she looked out the window.

It was a bright day, full of promise, much like the future that lay ahead.