Vance Stafford, the top scion of New York's elite circle, had finally recovered after three years of paralysis. His close friends threw a celebration party for him at a private club.

Roselyn Presley stood at the private room door, a meticulously wrapped gift in her hands. Just as she was about to push the door open, she overheard the conversation between Vance and his friends.

"Vance, Roselyn did a great job taking care of you over the past three years. Without her, you wouldn't have fully recovered."

"Yeah, she massaged you every single day and stuck with you through rehab. She barely slept soundly because she was afraid you might have a breakdown in the middle of the night... You owe her for life."

"She truly is remarkable." Vance's voice was deep and gentle.

Roselyn's fingers trembled slightly. A warm feeling welled up inside her.

Then someone asked, "So when are you gonna marry her?"

The room fell into an eerie silence.

Roselyn's hand froze mid-air, her heart pounding. She held her breath, as if waiting for a verdict.

After a long pause, Vance replied flatly, "I only see her as a younger sister."

"A sister?!" his friends cried out in disbelief. Someone added, "She's stood by you for three years, and you just see her as a sister? Vance, you're not still hung up on Caroline, are you? When you had that accident, she just left without a word. Now that you've recovered, she returned. She doesn't deserve your love!"

Vance said nothing.

Standing outside the door, Roselyn felt a sharp tightness in her chest.

His silence implied his answer.

She had believed that three years together would win his heart, only to find he still held onto the woman who had abandoned him.

Three years ago, Vance was a golden boy, standing at the pinnacle of success.

Heir to a business empire and an alumnus of a top university, he was skilled in everything from skiing to horseback riding. Even his face looked like a work of art.

Roselyn, on the other hand, was just a poor student sponsored by the Stafford family.

She first saw Vance at a school award ceremony.

He stood on the stage, cool-faced and upright, radiating an unapproachable aura.

She sat in the last row, clutching the envelope holding her scholarship money. She didn't even dare to clap too hard.

And beside him stood Caroline Hobson, the most beautiful girl in school and his equal in family status.

Everyone said they were a perfect match, like a prince and princess from a fairy tale.

Then Vance had a car accident.

He suffered a spinal injury, and doctors said he might never walk again.

Caroline didn't even visit him in the hospital. She just sent a breakup text and vanished without a trace.

Overnight, the golden boy who'd commanded the spotlight everywhere was cast into darkness.

He became irritable and withdrawn. He even tried to kill himself.

His parents were heartbroken, but there was nothing they could do.

Then Roselyn offered to help.

She squatted in front of Vance's wheelchair and said softly, "Vance, everything will be fine. I'll get through this with you."

For the next three years, she learned various massage techniques. And she only slept two hours a night, terrified he'd hurt himself in the middle of the night.

During a breakdown, he attempted to smash his legs with a chair, but she darted over without hesitation, taking the blow herself.

After years by his side, she became the most important person in his life.

Everyone said Vance couldn't fall asleep without Roselyn around.

Now that he'd recovered, everyone assumed he'd marry her.

Roselyn had also dreamed of that.

But now, she knew what she was expected to do.

With Vance healed and Caroline back, it was time for Roselyn, whom he considered only a sister, to be out of the picture.

Roselyn took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The room instantly fell into silence. Everyone looked over, their eyes filled with guilt.

"Roselyn? Wh-when did you get here?" someone asked tentatively.

"Just now." Roselyn forced a smile, pretending she'd heard nothing. She handed the gift to Vance. "Congrats on your recovery."

Just as Vance was about to take it, the door swung open again.

Caroline stood at the doorway, her eyes slightly red. "Vance, I heard you've recovered. I'm here to congratulate you."

The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.

"What are you doing here?" Vance's friends scowled. "When Vance was at his worst, you fled. How dare you show your face now?"

Caroline flushed with embarrassment. Her eyes welled up with tears. She stuffed her gift into Vance's hands, then turned to leave.

But Vance grabbed her wrist. "Since you're here, you should stay."

Everyone was stunned, all eyes turning to Roselyn.

She stood there, her smile unchanged. Only the way she clenched her hand gave away how she really felt.

As it turned out, three years of companionship meant nothing in front of Caroline. She merely had to shed a tear to command his attention.

The party took a weird turn after that. The atmosphere became suffocatingly awkward.

Vance's friends deliberately ignored Caroline, instead teasing Roselyn and Vance incessantly.

"Roselyn, didn't you give Vance massages every day during his rehab?"

"Absolutely! She's so professional. Vance only had her massage him. He'd get mad if anyone else even touched him."

Roselyn kept her head down, pretending not to notice Caroline's jealous glares.

Though Vance remained silent, she could sense that his attention was fully on Caroline.

At one point, someone suggested playing a game in the public section. Caroline was the first to lose, and her punishment was to ask a random guy for his contact info.

She instinctively looked at Vance, her eyes pleading for help.

But Vance lowered his head, fiddling with his phone as if he hadn't noticed.

Caroline bit her lip and stood up defiantly. "Alright, I'll do it."

Roselyn watched her walk toward the next table. Caroline was then quickly surrounded by a group of men.

One of them, drunk, grabbed her wrist. "Beauty, I'll add you on WhatsApp, but can I touch you now?"

"Let go of me!" Caroline's scream pierced the air.

Vance's head snapped up. In the next second, he lunged forward and punched the man in the face. "You're courting death?"

Chaos erupted instantly.

"Vance! Stop!" His friends hurried over to stop him.

Given that Vance had just recovered, Roselyn also rushed forward to stop him, fearing something might happen to him. "Vance, don't..."

Before she could finish, Vance shoved her away. "Get out of my way!"

Caught off guard, Roselyn slipped. She tumbled down the stairs, her head slamming hard against the floor. Her vision went black. Blood trickled down her forehead, blurring her vision.

Struggling to get up, she saw Vance carrying Caroline away.

He didn't even glance back at her.

A sudden pang of pain seized her heart, so intense she could hardly breathe.

Suddenly, she thought of the incident that had happened when he was drowning in despair from his paralysis.

One day, he tried to smash his legs with a chair, and she rushed to stop him and got hit. The force of his outburst broke three of her ribs.

With bloodshot eyes, he roared in anger, "My legs are already useless. It makes no difference if I break them! Are you trying to get yourself killed? Can't you tell what's more important?!"

Sweat dripped down her face from the pain, but she still clung stubbornly to his legs and said softly, "I do know.

"Your legs are important, and that's why I have to stop you."

"One day, I'll help you stand and walk again."

Vance trembled as he pulled her into his arms. His voice was choked with emotion. "Roselyn, don't ever leave me..."

Outsiders said Vance's recovery was a miracle.

But they knew it had nothing to do with a miracle.

It was Roselyn who had fought to pull him out of hell.

Now he was saved, but he no longer needed her.

Just then, Roselyn's phone rang.

She trembled as she pulled out her phone. The words "Mrs. Stafford" on the screen stung her eyes.

She knew exactly what this call meant.

Sure enough, as soon as she answered, Tessa Stafford's gentle voice came through, "Roselyn, Vance is now the CEO of a publicly listed company.

"He can't marry someone with no social status. He needs a wife who can be helpful to him.

"You've taken great care of him over the past three years, and I'm very grateful. But without our family's sponsorship, you wouldn't have been able to attend college. Let's call it even for all that kindness, okay?"

Vance's mother paused, as if waiting for Roselyn to scream in protest or beg.

Roselyn looked up in the direction Vance had left. The deserted hallway seemed to mock her for her three years of one-sided devotion.

"Okay." Her voice was so calm. "I'll leave. I'll never appear in front of him again."

Roselyn hung up the phone and went straight to the hospital.

Her forehead wound required three stitches. The doctor told her not to get it wet.

She nodded blankly. When she walked out of the consulting room, she spotted Vance's Maybach not far from the hospital entrance.

The car window was half-down. Caroline was leaning on his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Vance, I failed you back then..." Her voice was choked. "It's a lot to ask for you to forgive me. But I had my reasons for leaving. My parents didn't approve of us being together and sent me abroad against my will. They even took away my phone. It's not that I didn't want to find you..."

Vance sat in silence, his profile sharp and cold.

Roselyn stood not far away, her feet rooted to the spot.

"Why did you come back now?" Vance finally spoke, his voice low.

Caroline lifted her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Because I can't forget you... I know you're with Roselyn now. I don't ask for anything else. Just don't drive me away... It's nice enough just to know you're safe and sound."

Standing in the shadows, Roselyn watched as Vance remained quiet for a long moment. Then he finally wiped away Caroline's tears.

"I don't blame you," he said. "As for Roselyn, I just see her as a sister. It's not what you think."

Caroline's eyes lit up. She smiled through her tears, "Really?"

Vance nodded.

Overjoyed, Caroline threw herself into his arms.

Roselyn gave a self-mocking smile. She turned around and left, heading straight for the immigration office.

***

At the immigration office, a staff member handed her a form. "Your visa should be ready in two weeks."

Roselyn thanked them. By the time she walked out of the building, it was getting dark.

She went back to Vance's villa.

For three years, she had lived there to care for him.

Once, she'd naively thought of this place as home. By the entryway sat the slippers she'd carefully chosen. In the living room were the succulents she'd nurtured. On the kitchen wall were some stomach-soothing recipes she'd jotted down.

Now, she had to erase all these traces personally.

While packing her luggage, she found a photo at the bottom of a drawer.

It was taken the day Vance successfully finished his rehab. He rarely smiled at the camera, but in this photo, he did. She stood beside him, beaming.

The photo's edges were yellowed and worn thin from touch.

Roselyn stared at the photo for a long time, then gently tossed it into the trash can.

She should've stopped dreaming a long time ago.

Early the next morning, Vance's call came through.

"I forgot to bring my stomach medicine. Bring it to the company for me." His voice was hoarse. His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened the night before.

Roselyn hesitated before saying, "Okay."

When she arrived at the company, the elevator doors opened just as Caroline was coming out with an exquisite lunchbox.

"What a coincidence," Caroline smiled brightly. "I brought Vance his lunch. Would you like to join me?"

Roselyn said nothing, following her into his office.

Vance was reviewing documents. When he saw them come in together, he raised an eyebrow. "Why'd you two come together?"

"We ran into each other on the way," Caroline said, opening the lunchbox. A rich, spicy aroma filled the air instantly. "I made your favorite spicy dish!"

Roselyn's face paled. "He has stomach issues. He can't eat spicy food."

Vance glanced at her, picking up his fork. "It's fine to have it once in a while."

He picked up a piece of beef coated in spicy juice and ate it without flinching.

Roselyn's knuckles turned white as she clutched the stomach medicine in her bag.

Before long, sweat appeared on Vance's forehead. His fingers holding the pen trembled slightly.

"Vance? Are you feeling unwell?" Caroline asked with concern.

"I'm fine." Vance forced a smile. "I still have work to do. You two can head back now."

Roselyn gave him a deep look. She silently placed the medicine on his desk before turning to leave.

When they reached the first floor, Roselyn couldn't hold back any longer. "His stomach condition is severe. You should be more mindful of the food you bring."

Caroline suddenly laughed, "Roselyn, haven't you figured out your place yet?

"You're just a special caregiver to Vance, so you need to remember these things. But I'm different. He loves me, so I don't need to pay attention to this stuff."

She stepped closer, her lips curving upward. "Even if I gave him poison, he'd still have it. Do you understand?"

Roselyn's fingers trembled, her heart aching.

She knew Caroline was right.

It had taken her three years just to get Vance's attention.

Yet he'd have willingly swallowed poison for Caroline, if only she'd asked.

That night, Vance's face was terrifyingly pale when he got home.

Roselyn was in the kitchen pouring water. She turned around at the noise and almost dropped his glass.

"Didn't you take your medicine?" Her voice was strained.

"It was too bad. I had to go to the hospital for stomach pumping." Vance collapsed weakly onto the sofa, his bangs soaked with cold sweat.

Roselyn's hand trembled, and scalding hot water splashed onto the back of her hand, leaving an instant red mark.

Did he love Caroline so much that he would eat the food she made even if it meant having his stomach pumped?

She brought over a cup of warm water, then squatted down to gently rub his stomach.

After drinking the water, Vance felt the soft comfort from the massage. His furrowed brows gradually eased. He leaned groggily against her shoulder and drifted off to sleep, just as he had done countless times before.

But this time, Roselyn didn't gaze greedily at his features as usual.

She gently laid him down on the sofa, covered him with a blanket, and went upstairs without looking back.

***

When Roselyn woke up the next day, Vance was already standing in the living room, dressed in a suit.

"Why are there so many things missing from the house?" He frowned and looked around.

Roselyn opened her mouth to explain, but before she could, he changed the subject. "Carol is having an art exhibition today. She invited us to go."

"I..."

"She just returned from abroad and doesn't have many friends," Vance cut in. "Just think of it as showing your support."

Roselyn clenched her fists, then finally nodded.

At the gallery, the moment Caroline saw Vance, she walked up to him and affectionately linked her arm through his.

"Vance, I recommend this piece the most." She pointed to an oil painting of snow-capped mountains, her voice soft. "I painted this in Switzerland. I thought about you every day back then."

Vance listened quietly, his eyes fixed on the painting. His expression was unreadable.

In the end, he bought every single piece there.

People around started whispering.

"I heard that Mr. Stafford used to dote on Ms. Hobson. So it's true."

"He abandoned her once, and yet he still supports her like this. He truly loves her."

Caroline shot Roselyn a gloating glance. When Vance went to the front desk to pay, Caroline walked up to her, saying. "Did you hear that? Even after I was gone for so long, I'm still the one he holds onto."

She lowered her voice, her lips nearly brushing Roselyn's ear. "If you still refuse to accept it, I can make it even clearer for you."

As soon as she finished speaking, the piercing shriek of the fire alarm erupted through the gallery.

"Fire! Run!"

Chaos instantly erupted among the crowd. Roselyn was knocked down, her ankle twisting sharply. The pain made her vision go dark.

As she struggled to stand up, she saw Vance rushing against the crowd, back into the building.

"Carol, where are you?! Carol!"

His voice held a panic Roselyn had never heard before.

In the next second, he found the terrified Caroline. He pulled her tightly into his arms and rushed outside without looking back.

Roselyn collapsed onto the floor, watching their figures disappear into the thick smoke.

She was struggling desperately to stand up when a loud crash echoed as a burning beam came crashing down.

***

When Roselyn woke up again, the first thing she saw was the white ceiling.

"Rosie, you're finally awake!" Roselyn's best friend, Elaine Mervyn, rushed to the bedside, her eyes swollen and full of distress. "You scared the hell out of me! Do you know you almost died?!"

Roselyn struggled to move her neck. Every bone in her body ached as if it had been broken and put back together.

"How is Vance?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

Elaine's face darkened instantly. "He's with Caroline right now. You broke a rib, but Ms. Hobson had a scratch, and he has to take good care of her, doesn't he?"

Roselyn closed her eyes, the pain in her chest making it hard to breathe.

"Vance's gone too far! When he was paralyzed, you took care of him day and night. You only slept two hours a day, afraid he'd do something stupid. Now you're severely injured, but he..."

Elaine tightly held her hand, her voice choking. "Rosie, he's already recovered, but he still hasn't said a word about being with you. How long are you going to keep sacrificing yourself like this?"

Roselyn said nothing. Only the steady beep-beep of the heart monitor cut through the silence.

After a long time, Roselyn spoke softly, "I'm applying for a visa.

"Once it's granted, I'll leave." She gazed at the ceiling, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

As soon as she finished speaking, the ward door was violently pushed open.

"Leave?" Vance stood in the doorway, his face grim. "Who's leaving?"

"It's nothing. Elaine needs to leave early because she has work to do." Roselyn lowered her gaze to avoid Vance's probing eyes.

Elaine glanced at her, hesitating whether to call her on the lie. In the end, she only shot Vance a fierce look. "Rosie, call me anytime if you need anything."

Once the door closed, Vance approached the bedside. He said with an apologetic tone, "The crowd was so chaotic that day... I didn't see you."

"It's OK," Roselyn interrupted calmly, reaching for the water cup on the bedside table.

As she sat up slightly, the collar of her hospital gown slipped open a bit. Just below her collarbone, a grotesque burn scar was revealed.

Vance's eyes widened in shock. "You got hurt this badly? I was told it was just minor smoke inhalation."

Roselyn glanced down and adjusted her gown casually. "It's nothing serious."

Vance's frown deepened. "I didn't know you were so seriously injured. I thought you'd only passed out from the smoke."

She gave a bitter smile.

How could Vance have known?

He only had his eyes on Caroline. How could he have noticed how badly Roselyn was hurt?

Roselyn took a sip of water without responding.

"I'll take care of you these next few days," Vance said suddenly.

"No need." Roselyn shook her head. "You're busy with work. Don't worry about me."

Vance was about to respond when his phone rang.

"Vance..." On the other end, Caroline's voice was tearful. "My hand hurts so much... The doctor says the wound might be infected..."

Vance instantly became hesitant.

Roselyn looked at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Go ahead."

"I..." Vance held the phone, his brows furrowed. "I'm not very good at taking nursing. I'll hire a nurse to look after you."

Roselyn nodded. "Alright."

After Vance left in a hurry, the ward finally fell quiet again.

Roselyn stared at the ceiling and suddenly chuckled.

He said he'd take care of her, but at a single call from Caroline, he left without hesitation.

Just like in that fire, he rushed toward Caroline without even looking back at her.

Roselyn slowly closed her eyes, the heartache almost suffocating her.

Some promises were never meant to be taken seriously from the very beginning.

***

On the day of her discharge, Vance came to pick her up personally.

"There's an auction tonight. Come with me." He handed her a newly bought cashmere coat.

Roselyn instinctively refused. "I'm not..."

"Are you still upset?" Vance frowned slightly, misunderstanding her reluctance. "I truly didn't see you that day. But when I realized you hadn't come out, I immediately sent people back in to search for you."

Roselyn opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately stayed silent and took the coat.

After getting in the car, Roselyn realized Caroline was inside too.

"Carol wanted to attend it, so I brought her along," Vance explained casually.

Roselyn said nothing, sitting quietly in the back seat.

During the drive, Caroline chatted animatedly with Vance, from the fun things they did as kids to her experiences studying abroad. Vance didn't say much, yet his measured responses kept the conversation flowing smoothly.

Roselyn gazed out the window at the fleeting scenery silently, feeling like an outsider.

At the auction, Vance bid on and bought every item Caroline even slightly liked, gifting them to her. His lavish spending quickly drew attention.

"Isn't that Mr. Stafford? He's so generous with his companion."

"I heard his girlfriend took care of him for three years. No wonder he dotes on her."

"That's not Ms. Presley from the news. She looks like the one who once abandoned Mr. Stafford."

As they whispered, someone mistook Caroline for Roselyn.

Vance froze when he heard that. He then seemed to remember something and turned to Roselyn. "Is there anything you want?"

Just then, a sapphire necklace was presented on stage, glowing with a deep-sea-like luster under the lights.

Roselyn's gaze lingered on it.

Vance immediately raised his paddle. "1.5 million!"

"This necklace has a history," Caroline interjected. "It was a token of love given by a foreign king to his queen. It symbolizes fidelity and everlasting love."

She glanced meaningfully at Roselyn. "It'd suit Ms. Presley perfectly."

Vance's fingers paused.

When the necklace was brought over, he handed it directly to Caroline. "This suits you better."

"Is that okay?" Caroline pretended to hesitate. "Ms. Presley likes this piece, doesn't she?"

"I'll buy her something else." Vance turned to Roselyn. "What do you want?"

Roselyn lowered her eyes, a self-deprecating curve lifting the corner of her mouth.

A gift symbolizing faithfulness couldn't be given to her but could be given to Caroline.

That was how one treated their true love in a completely different manner.

"No, thank you," Roselyn said softly.

After the auction ended, guests left in small groups.

While some people approached Vance to greet him, Caroline walked up to Roselyn.

"Roselyn, you see the truth now?" Caroline lowered her voice, a smug smile playing at her lips. "Vance loves me. If you keep pestering him, it'll just annoy him further."

Roselyn looked at her, her eyes calm. "You'll get what you wish for."

"What do you mean?" Caroline frowned.

Roselyn didn't answer. She turned to leave.

Suddenly, a scream came from behind her.

Roselyn turned around to see Caroline tumbling down the stairs.

"Roselyn!" Vance's roar echoed through the venue.

He rushed over and pushed Roselyn aside so hard that she stumbled and hit the wall.

"What has Carol ever done to you? How could you do this to her?" he snapped harshly, his eyes cold and sharp with fury. "If you're angry at me for failing to protect you earlier, take it out on me! Why hurt her?"

Roselyn leaned against the cold wall. Her voice was soft but firm. "I didn't push her."

"Vance..." Caroline weakly grabbed Vance's sleeve. "I tripped... It has nothing to do with Ms. Presley..."

"Don't speak up for her!" Vance shot a cold glare at Roselyn before bending down to scoop Caroline up. "You're on your own. Get home by yourself."

Roselyn stood in place, watching Vance hurry away with Caroline in his arms.

His suit jacket was draped over Caroline. He held her as delicately as if she were some priceless treasure.

This was a recurring pattern. Whenever Caroline shed a tear, he'd immediately hold Roselyn to blame.

She brushed her fingers over the plane ticket in her pocket. In a week, once she boarded that flight to London, she'd finally be free from the suffering and this tangled-up relationship.

Soon, she'd disappear from his world for good. He'd probably be glad to be rid of her as a burden.

The auction venue was far from the villa and in a secluded location. Roselyn couldn't get a taxi, so she had to walk to the villa.

It started to rain just as she was halfway there.

Her hair and clothes were soaked through with cold rain, her shoes sloshing full of water. Every step sent a piercing pain shooting up her feet.

By the time she finally made it home, blisters had formed on her feet, and her body was burning with fever.

She dragged herself around to find medicine, treated her wounds, and fell into a heavy, feverish sleep.

The next day, Roselyn was awakened by noises from downstairs.

When she came out of her room, she saw the living room piled high with Caroline's luggage.

Vance's voice came from the living room, "Carol's parents are abroad. It's not safe for her to live alone. She'll stay here for a few days. I expect you to behave. Don't play any more tricks."

Roselyn held onto the stair railing, walking down with a pale face. "I won't."

She wouldn't play any more tricks.

And she no longer loved him.

During Caroline's stay, Roselyn learned another side of Vance that she'd never known existed before.

He remembered Caroline's dislike of onions and would take the dishes she disliked off the table the moment she frowned.

On thunderstorm nights, he'd rush to comfort Caroline when she was frightened.

Vance had never allowed Roselyn to enter his study before, but now it was freely accessible to Caroline.

Roselyn finally understood how Vance treated his love.

Over the years, she had secretly been pleased that he would refrain from self-harm during his depressive episodes when she was present. She had mistaken his restraint for affection. How ridiculous that was.

That day, as Roselyn passed the study, she caught a glimpse of Caroline playing with something out of the corner of her eye.

She then peered through the ajar door.

In Caroline's hand was the emerald pendant Vance's grandmother had left him.

She played it between her fingers and nearly dropped it more than once.

Roselyn's heart raced. She rushed in and snatched the pendant away.

"What are you doing? This is Vance's grandmother's keepsake. How dare you play..."

"What's it to you?" Caroline snapped, grabbing it back impatiently. Seeing how anxious Roselyn was, she suddenly curled her lips into a malicious smile.

"You care that much, do you? Watch this." She deliberately released her grip.

The pendant hit the floor with a bang, splitting into two pieces.

Roselyn's heart tightened.

That was Vance's most treasured possession, an heirloom his grandmother had handed him on her deathbed.

"What's going on?" Vance's voice came from the doorway.

Roselyn looked up, seeing him glare at the shards on the floor, his face dark.

"Ms. Presley dropped it," Caroline said quickly, her voice tinged with grievance. "I was just looking at it, and she rushed over and tried to snatch it..."

Vance's eyes turned cold instantly. "Roselyn, how dare you..."

"The study has a surveillance system installed," Roselyn cut in, her voice trembling slightly. "Check the footage to see what really happened."

The atmosphere instantly tensed up.

Caroline's expression changed. She reluctantly corrected herself. "I'm sorry, Vance. I ... broke it by accident... I know it meant everything to you. I'll get you an identical one."

Surprisingly, Vance's anger faded in an instant.

He strode to Caroline and took her hand. "Are you hurt?"

Roselyn stood frozen, her heart fracturing as she watched Vance meticulously examine Caroline's fingers.

No one knew better than her what that pendant meant to Vance.

Three years ago, when Tessa had accidentally lost it, Vance had just undergone leg surgery.

He'd dragged his weakened body through the snowy night for three hours searching for it. When he got back, he'd argued fiercely with his mother. He then locked himself in his room and smashed things.

Then Roselyn dug through every inch of the snowy yard. Her fingers went numb from the cold, but she finally found the jade pendant at dawn.

And now, after Caroline deliberately shattered it, all he cared about was whether she had hurt her fingers.

Roselyn let out a self-mocking laugh.

How deeply he loved Caroline.

And she had been naïve enough to believe that Vance would marry her once he recovered.

Countless nights, she'd sat by his hospital bed, watching him struggle through rehab, silently vowing to stay by his side for life.

Even in his darkest, most defeated moments, she had written in her diary that foolish promise: "I'll marry him when he stands again."

Now, looking back, she realized she'd been nothing but a complete joke.

Fortunately, she had finally woken up.

She'd never devoted herself to him again, not when he'd never cherished that devotion in the first place.

After that day, Roselyn barely left her room.

That evening, during dinner, Caroline suddenly clutched her stomach and collapsed into Vance's arms, her face deathly pale.

"What's wrong?" Vance panicked and immediately called for the family doctor.

After the examination, the doctor's expression turned grave. "She was poisoned."

The villa descended into chaos.

The servants stood by nervously as the butler began to question them about the preparation of the dinner.

"I... I saw..." a young, female servant spoke up timidly. "I saw Ms. Presley put something into the soup..."

Vance's eyes turned cold.

He strode over to Roselyn. He grabbed her wrist, his grip so tight it nearly crushed her bones. "You want to kill Carol just because of that emerald pendant? Roselyn, what have you become?"

Roselyn looked up at him, her voice faint. "I didn't do it."

"You deny it?" Vance's face turned cold and harsh. He turned to the servant and said, "Bring the rest of the soup."

Roselyn was frightened. "What are you doing?"

"Teach you a lesson," Vance grabbed her chin, his voice icy. "So, you'll learn what you should and shouldn't do from now on."

The servant brought over the remaining soup and forcibly poured it into Roselyn's mouth under Vance's instruction.

Roselyn struggled desperately, but two bodyguards held her firmly in place.

The warm liquid was forced down her throat, causing her to cough violently.

The effects of the poison set in fast.

Roselyn crumpled to her knees in agony. Cold sweat drenched her back instantly. She curled up in a ball, clenching her fists tightly. Yet she stubbornly repeated, "I didn't poison her..."

Vance ignored Roselyn completely. He stayed with Caroline, devoted to her care. He fed her water and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a wet towel, his gaze soft.

"Vance..." Caroline weakly took his hand. "Ms. Presley..."

"Don't speak for her," Vance cooed softly. "Just get some rest."

Roselyn's consciousness began to fade. The excruciating pain made her vision go black. Before she passed out, she felt herself being roughly lifted into an ambulance.

She spent the entire night in the hospital. Not a single person came to see her.

When she returned to the villa the next day, no one was there. The whole place was quiet.

Her phone buzzed, lighting up with a photo from Caroline.

In the photo, Vance had an arm around Caroline's waist by the sea, both grinning brightly at the camera.

The caption read: "A trip to the beach to relax. Someone insisted I needed to unwind after the incident."

Roselyn quietly locked her phone and began packing.

When she zipped up the suitcase, she suddenly realized that after living here for three years, she didn't have many belongings.

A single 24-inch suitcase was enough to hold all her belongings.

It turned out she'd never truly belonged here, just as she'd never truly won his heart.

"Have you realized your mistake?" Vance's voice suddenly came from behind her.

Roselyn turned around to see him standing at the door, dressed in a tailored suit. His brows furrowed slightly as he scrutinized her.

"Yes, I have," she said softly.

She thought to herself, "I was wrong to have fallen for you and have stubbornly stayed by your side all these years."

Vance's expression softened slightly. "Good. Change your clothes. We're going to a party."

"A party?" Roselyn froze for a moment.

"Today is my birthday. You don't remember?" His frown deepened, his tone tinged with disbelief. It was as if he found it unreasonable.

Only then did Roselyn recall that today was his birthday.

In previous years, on his birthdays, she'd meticulously prepare a cake, pick out a gift, and even decorate everything personally.

She'd remembered his favorite flavors, his most detested decorations, and his birthday wishes.

Yet today, she forgot his birthday entirely.

"You go ahead," she said quietly, her voice almost inaudible. "I'll change my clothes and bring your gift later."

"Vance!" Caroline called from downstairs, her voice sweet and coquettish. "Everyone's waiting for you."

Vance nodded, giving Roselyn one last look. "Hurry up."

With that, he turned and left, his footsteps fading away.

Roselyn stood in place, watching his figure disappear at the end of the hallway. A faint, self-mocking smile touched her lips.

She thought to herself, "Vance, this time, vanishing from your world is my birthday gift to you. I'm setting myself free. I won't stand between you and Caroline anymore."

She picked up her suitcase, took one last look around the place she'd lived in for three years, then walked away without looking back.

The airport was bustling with people.

Standing in front of the boarding gate, Roselyn took out her phone and sent Vance one final message, "Vance, I'm leaving. I wish you and Caroline a long, happy life together."

Then, she turned off her phone and walked toward the boarding gate.

After three years of foolish devotion, she'd finally woken up.

From this day forward, they would be worlds apart, and their paths would never cross again.