She greeted the familiar nurses as naturally as usual, but they only gave her perfunctory smiles before awkwardly looking away.

Clara’s heart sank, but she forced herself to keep her composure.

It wasn't until after lunch that she ran into Summer in the stairwell.

Summer’s eyes were somewhat swollen. Seeing Clara, she walked straight over. "Clara Tang, we need to talk."

Hearing the change in how she was addressed, Clara’s lips twitched slightly.

Indeed, there was no going back.

They walked to a more secluded spot in the corner of the stairs. Summer turned abruptly, her chin slightly raised. "Ethan explained everything about you two to me yesterday. I feel the same way he does—I hope you stay far away from us."

Clara’s hands at her sides clenched into fists. "What did he tell you?"

A flash of disdain crossed Summer’s eyes. "About how you've been pestering him... Clara Tang, I didn't realize you were so thick-skinned."

"Ethan hasn't remembered you for a long time. It’s useless no matter how much you cling to him."

"Besides, if you really love him, you should want him to be happy—even if that happiness isn't with you."

Every one of Summer’s words was like a nail being driven into Clara’s already numb heart with unstoppable force.

Looking at the triumphant Summer, Clara suddenly remembered Ethan’s mother standing before her a year ago, sobbing as she begged: "Cece, I’m begging you. Ethan doesn’t remember you. If you love him, don't let him suffer any more pain."

The pleas of Ethan’s parents and the unbearable looks from her friends weighed heavily on Clara. Everyone told her to give up; everyone told her to let Ethan go.

But not one person told Clara what she had done wrong to deserve losing her lover.

No one told her how exactly she was supposed to let go of the man she had loved for so many years.

Even today, Clara had no answer.

The corners of her eyes grew red as she looked at Summer, her eyes suppressing intense emotion.

Summer didn't seem to care about her response. After venting her feelings, she turned and left.

As she brushed past Clara, a familiar woody scent lingered on her—

It was the perfume Ethan always wore.

The light in Clara’s eyes shattered bit by bit until all brightness finally vanished.

...

The Suili Bar was buzzing with excitement over the weekend.

As soon as Clara walked in, she was hit by a wave of noise.

The ache in her heart found a momentary, slight relief.

Seeing her enter, a familiar bartender rushed over to greet her. "Miss Tang, long time no see! You're a bit late today; your teammates are already celebrating."

Clara was stunned for a moment before she understood what he meant.

Suili was the place where she, Ethan, and their former teammates used to celebrate after every successful rescue mission.

Since leaving the team, she hadn't been back for a long time.

"Where are they?" Clara’s voice carried a faint trace of nostalgia.

The bartender looked puzzled for a second but then answered clearly, "The usual spot."

Clara started walking toward the area but stopped dead after only a few steps.

She caught a familiar voice.

At the sound of someone calling out "Sister-in-law," Clara instinctively looked over.

She saw Summer sitting among the people she knew so well, leaning against Ethan with a flushed face, their posture intimate.

Chapter 6

The cheers and teasing of the crowd grew louder, and as Clara Tang stood at the edge of the scene, she felt a sense of surreal detachment.

The place that once belonged to her was now occupied by another woman. Her former lover and teammates had all accepted it so naturally, as if she were the only one unable to move on.

A sharp pain tugged at her chest. She clenched her fists tightly, struggling to suppress the surging resentment and grievance.

Among the group sitting around the table, a tanned young man with smiling eyes happened to glance toward her.

In the next instant, his smile froze. He stood up abruptly and instinctively called out, "Sister-in—"

But the voice stopped dead the moment he caught sight of Ethan Shaw, who was sitting beside him and looking toward Clara with an icy expression.

"Sister Clara."

With that one sentence, everyone in the booth seemed to hit the pause button.

Despite the roar of the crowd nearby, the atmosphere in this corner turned uncontrollably stagnant.

The group’s eyes all turned toward Clara. Summer Sheng saw her as well, her body tensing up.

Sensing her unease immediately, Ethan, who was sitting right next to her, slowly turned his head and began to whisper comforts to Summer under the weight of those silent stares, acting as if they were the only two people in the world.

He completely ignored Clara’s presence.

Clara felt cold all over. Her gaze followed Ethan’s movements.

One second, two seconds... she couldn't stay a moment longer.

Clara fled almost in a panic, leaving the group behind to exchange confused glances.

The long rainy season was laced with the winds of early winter, biting and bitter.

Clara walked along the street, appearing lost and soul-crushed, seemingly oblivious to the cold.

She looked at the familiar streets and remembered a night years ago. After a celebration at the "Suili" bar, she had acted on a whim and begged Ethan to carry her on his back. He had carried her all the way home.

Back then, Ethan had promised he would carry her for the rest of his life.

But in just a few short years, everything had changed.

He had probably already overwritten their exclusive memories with Summer. She was someone he had long forgotten, and it was only she who hadn't realized the truth.

On the streets approaching midnight, pedestrians hurried along, none of them noticing Clara as she wept in silence.

...

The hospital.

Clara focused intently on her patients' conditions, her mind clear of distractions.

Over the past month, the rumors about her had gradually subsided. Even when gossip flared up again, Clara did her best to ignore it.

Summer, acting the part of the "victim," was thriving at the Third Hospital, while Clara had become an "outsider."

But she didn't care. Clara walked out of the ward and took a deep breath of cold air to steady her thoughts.

As she turned around, she saw Ethan, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, standing behind her. Summer was by his side.

Clara pursed her lips. Remembering Ethan’s warning, she moved to step aside and leave.

Unexpectedly, in the next second, Summer spoke up first, calling out to her naturally, "Clara, it’s been a while since I ran into you."

Her tone was so affectionate it felt as if the previous aggressive confrontations were nothing more than a dream Clara had imagined.

Clara’s pace faltered. Looking at the two standing together, her voice was tense. "Is there something you need?"

She wasn't foolish enough to believe Summer was there to make amends.

Ignoring Clara’s attitude, Summer nudged Ethan’s arm.

Ethan, who had remained silent, pulled out a gold-embossed invitation. His tone was as cold as ever.

"Summer wants you to attend our wedding."

Chapter 7

Clara instinctively looked down at the invitation, and her breath hitched.

It felt as though she had been plunged into an abyss. Unbelievable grievance and pain were lodged in her throat.

"Cece, you’ll come, won't you?" Summer had a gentle smile on her face, but her movements were quite insistent.

She stepped forward and shoved the invitation into Clara’s hand. The sudden movement made Clara instinctively recoil.

Summer used considerable force, seemingly demanding a definitive answer, while Ethan just stood behind her with an air of indulgence.

"Okay," Clara whispered, forcefully pulling back her reddened hand.

Summer immediately turned to Ethan. "I told you Cece would agree."

Then she turned back to Clara. "You can bring Mr. Zhou along, too."

"Fine." Clara’s eyelashes trembled as she lowered her gaze to hide her expression.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going. I have work."

Clara didn't give them a chance to respond. She fled the scene in what could only be described as a desperate escape.

Back in her office, Clara realized the invitation in her hand was crumpled from her tight grip.

She sat exhausted at her desk for a long time before her trembling hands finally opened the invitation.

The names "Ethan Shaw" and "Summer Sheng" were arranged one above the other. The words Groom and Bride stung Clara’s eyes.

The heart that had been teetering on the edge finally collapsed at that moment.

There was no turning back.

...

On the last day of November, the weather was gloomy, but it didn't dampen the bustling atmosphere of the wedding.

The crystal chandeliers were dazzling, and the venue was decorated in a romantic, warm style.

Clara had rarely put on makeup, and she sat in the audience, staring blankly at the scene.