It was empty. Her little bunny slippers were nowhere to be found.

She searched several times before finally spotting them in the trash can outside the front door.

Along with the slippers were her water mug, toothbrush, towel, pajamas...

Everything that belonged to her was in there.

"Miss Sterling, the young master ordered those to be thrown out. Please use these shoe covers for now," the housekeeper said.

Selina stared at the trash can, falling into a long silence.

Because the Sterlings and Thornes had been close for generations, she visited almost daily and often stayed the night.

Julian had once prepared a guest room specifically for her, filling it with daily necessities—all in the bunny patterns he knew she loved.

He used to tell her that the Thorne house was her home and told her never to feel like a stranger.

They had hidden from their parents to share breathless kisses in the doorway, interlaced their fingers under the dining table, and shared moments of tender intimacy in the study.

Now that Nina was here, he was terrified his secret crush would misunderstand.

So, he had thrown away every single trace of her.

It took Selina a long time to steady her heart before she put on the shoe covers.

As soon as she walked in, she saw Julian peeling fruit for Nina. They were laughing and chatting.

He sat on the sofa, dressed in a custom satin suit, his hair meticulously styled. He wore a hint of cologne, exuding the refined aura of a "gentleman in disguise."

Back in school, Selina had heard many girls say he was so handsome he could look good in a burlap sack. They said if he ever actually put effort into his appearance, he’d put every idol in the entertainment industry to shame.

But Julian was naturally a rebel; he usually preferred casual T-shirts and never cared for dressing up.

So, even a man like him will preen like a peacock for the one he loves?

The man who had been tangled in the sheets with her just yesterday now acted as if he barely knew her. He spared her a single glance before shifting his gaze back to Nina.

They talked about everything—from hobbies to the weather, from work to jewelry brands, and from childhood stories to their school days.

Watching Julian constantly find new topics and talk with such eloquence, Selina lowered her eyes in self-mockery.

So, he can be this proactive when he's with someone he actually likes.

"It was quite a coincidence in high school," Nina said with a smile. "You were a year ahead of me and we weren't even in the same building, yet we ran into each other all the time. It felt like fate."

Hearing Nina reminisce about the past, Selina saw the slight flush on Julian's ears and smiled silently.

Fate?

Every "coincidence" had been a calculated move by Julian.

Back then, Selina had followed behind him, watching with an aching heart as he exhausted every effort to be near his crush.

When Nina moved abroad, Selina thought she had finally gotten what she wanted.

But looking at it now, Julian was the one who had finally gotten his wish.

While Selina was lost in thought, she suddenly heard her own name.

"I heard back in high school that you had a childhood friend you were very close with. That would be Miss Sterling, right?"

Selina blinked, looking up to meet Nina’s probing gaze.

Before she could speak, Julian's parents chimed in cheerfully.

"Oh, they’re very close. They’ve been inseparable since they were toddlers. We even used to joke about an arranged marriage—"

Halfway through the sentence, Julian’s face darkened, and he cut them off.

"Mom, Dad, stop talking nonsense. I would never fall for Selina."

Selina lowered her head to hide the flash of hurt in her eyes, forcing a bright smile. "Same here. I’d date anyone before I’d date Julian Thorne."

For a split second, the expression on Julian's face froze before quickly returning to normal.

He draped an arm over Selina’s shoulder like they were just "bros," his expression indifferent. "Exactly! Ours is a purely platonic friendship."

The tension in the living room dissolved instantly.

Selina laughed along with them. In the midst of the chatter, she heard Julian lean in and whisper a sigh of relief.

"Not bad. Thanks for backing me up."

She said nothing. She simply took a few quiet steps to the side, subtly putting distance between them.

Backing him up?

No. Everything she had said was the absolute truth.

Chapter 3

As evening approached, the Thorne family arranged a car to take them to the restaurant.

The three young people sat together in the back seat.

All along the way, Julian, sitting in the middle, was incredibly attentive to Nina.

He constantly adjusted the air conditioning, offered her a blanket, and even opened her water bottle for her.

On the left, Selina watched them lost in their own world and quietly turned away to gaze at the scenery outside the window.

Midway through the trip, a torrential downpour began to lash the city.

The visibility was poor, and a car ahead suddenly flicked on its high beams. As they went downhill, the driver was momentarily blinded, failing to make the turn in time and slamming straight into the guardrail.

In that split second of danger, Julian’s first instinct was to pull Nina into his arms to shield her.

Crash—

The window glass shattered and sprayed everywhere. Selina, sitting on the side of the impact, was left drenched in blood.

A searing pain radiated through her entire body, and she felt as if her bones were being crushed.

Through her fading consciousness, she saw the right door swing open.

Julian stepped out, cradling Nina in his arms with frantic anxiety. He called the hospital while whispering tender comforts to her.

It was as if he had completely forgotten there was another person in the car. He didn't even look back.

When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics suggested treating the more severely injured person first.

Yet, standing between Selina, who lay in a pool of blood, and Nina, who was merely dazed and frightened, Julian only hesitated for a few seconds. He chose to take Nina to the hospital first.

Watching the car disappear into the rain, Selina’s vision began to blur, and she couldn't stop the tears from streaming down.

Julian Thorne...

Twenty years of devotion, and it couldn't even weigh more than a single look from her!

Her eyelids grew heavy, and the agonizing pain seemed to dissipate like mist.

She couldn't wait for the next ambulance. Everything went black as she fell into a deep coma.

She didn't know how much time had passed before she heard a cacophony of voices.

Opening her eyes, she saw Mrs. Sterling clutching her chest, her voice filled with a mix of worry and relief.

"Thank God, Selina! You're finally awake. It’s a miracle the ambulance got you here in time, or you would have bled out. The hospital’s blood bank was almost empty. How is it that the three of you were in the same car, yet Nina only scratched her hand while you were hurt so badly?"

Mr. Sterling sighed in relief and took a sip of water.

"Well, that’s because Julian protected her, of course. True feelings show in a crisis, and that girl is deeply moved. I just went next door to check on them, and Julian was feeding her porridge. Just looking at the way they were staring at each other... I’d say they’re officially a couple now."

Selina listened quietly. Once they finished their gossip, she spoke up in a raspy voice.

"How long have I been asleep? Is the immigration paperwork ready?"

"You were out for two days! You scared us to death!"

"Don't worry about the paperwork. It’ll be finalized in about twenty days. You just focus on recovering."

Knowing there was less than a month left, a sense of liberation washed over her.

Over the next few days, Selina heard whispers from the nurses about everything Julian was doing for Nina.

He stayed by her bedside night and day. If he heard her cough at midnight, he’d worry for hours and run to the nurses for hot water.

He insisted on testing the temperature of every medicine himself and prepared sweets and candies, fearing the "little princess" would find the medicine too bitter.

To keep her from getting bored in the ward, he found all sorts of gadgets and toys to make her laugh.

Selina listened to it all in silence, saying nothing.

When a nurse wheeled her out for a check-up, she heard a commotion in the hallway.

Passing by the room next door, she glanced in and saw Julian holding a massive bouquet of roses, confessing his love to Nina.

"Nina, I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you eight years ago. All those 'accidental' encounters back then were me trying to get close to you. I remember everything you like, and I know your dreams. I didn't get the chance to tell you back then... will you give me that chance now?"