He had pursued her for two months, asking every time they met, and Jade’s answer had never changed.

"No."

But this time, she added, "Don't waste your time on me."

Lucas asked, "What do you mean by wasting time?"

"Vina, you filmed movies under the name Jade Yu, only to eventually deregister it and come to America with nothing. Do you think filming those movies was a waste of time?"

Vina was the English name Jade had once used.

Lucas always called her that; it made it feel as though she belonged to him alone.

"You don't think so, and neither do I."

"I won't force you for an answer. Even if you never love me for the rest of your life, I will still love you. This is my heart, my instinct—it’s not an investment, nor a transaction where I demand your love in exchange."

"Every second spent with you is the happiest time of my life. It is never a waste of time."

Jade’s heart shook violently, and she suddenly looked up at Lucas.

She couldn't describe the emotions in her heart; it felt like a tangled ball of yarn that couldn't be unraveled.

After a long silence, she finally spoke: "I need some time."

Jade had left her previous relationship with absolute resolve.

But being resolute did not mean she wasn't wounded.

Lucas said, "I will wait, no matter how long it takes."

That wait lasted two years.

Jade finally opened her heart and began dating Lucas.

Three years later, Lucas took Jade on a flight to the South Seas.

Under the blue sky and emerald sea, Lucas dropped to one knee, his eyes overflowing with affection. "Vina, will you marry me? I will make you happy."

Joy surged through her like a rising tide.

Jade reached out, just about to say yes, when suddenly, a familiar male voice called out: "Jade Yu!"

There was only one person who would still call her by that name.

Jade froze, instinctively looking toward the source of the sound.

She saw Julian Grant in a suit, walking toward her with a look of deep devotion she had never seen before.

Julian’s eyes were bloodshot, yet he didn't dare blink for a second, fearing this was a dream.

He never imagined he would encounter Jade in a place like this.

In the five years since losing her, he had been trying to reconcile with the past.

He thought time could heal everything, and that he had long since moved on.

But at the sight of her, Julian felt as if he had been pulled back to the very beginning.

At this moment, Julian realized that Jade was a wound etched into his marrow, one that would never heal.

He had imagined many possibilities for their reunion—Jade being furious, resentful, or even disgusted.

But he never imagined she would ask him with a happy smile:

"I'm getting married. Would you like to attend our wedding?"

Those light words sent a shock through Julian’s heart, and his mind went blank.

The South Seas were prone to rain; the sun was suddenly obscured by dark clouds, and a cold drizzle began to fall.

Standing in the rain, Julian questioned her hoarsely, "Who are you marrying?"

"Jade Yu, I am your husband!"

"Julian Grant, you should know that if a husband and wife are separated for two years, the marriage loses its legal effect."

A chill seeped into his body along with the raindrops.

Before Julian could respond, Lucas had already led Jade away.

At the InterContinental Hotel.

Lucas was composing music in the room, while Jade went downstairs alone for some fresh air. Suddenly, a warm little hand took hold of hers.

Looking down, she saw a little girl about four years old.

Perhaps because she had lost two children of her own, she was exceptionally soft-hearted toward children. She knelt down and asked, "Little one, where are your parents?"

"Sophia Grant, who said you could run off like that?"

Selina’s impatient voice drifted over. Sophia heard it, jumped in fear, and hid trembling behind Jade.

Seeing Jade, a flicker of surprise crossed Selina’s eyes, and she violently snatched Sophia away.

"What are you trying to do to Julian’s and my child?"

Chapter 17

Jade frowned. "I didn't do anything. She came to me on her own..."

Before she could finish, Selina issued a vicious warning: "I’m telling you, I’ve already married Julian. There is no longer a place for you by his side!"

With that, she dragged Sophia away.

As soon as the door closed, a sharp slap landed on the girl's arm.

"You ungrateful brat! I provide you with good food and drink, and you still go looking for trouble!"

A terrifying red mark immediately appeared on Sophia’s arm, and her large eyes filled with tears.

But she didn't dare cry.

Crying would only bring a heavier blow from Selina.

Seeing Sophia’s cowering expression only annoyed Selina more, and she pinched the girl's ear.

"Who are you putting on this pitiful act for?"

"Why did I give birth to a useless girl like you? If you were a boy, Julian’s attitude certainly wouldn't be what it is now!"

Five years ago, Selina gave birth to Sophia.

But when Julian’s parents saw it was a girl, their expressions changed instantly.

Before her postpartum recovery period was even over, they were already pressuring Selina for a second child.

"We really misjudged you. How could it be a girl!"

"Selina, if you want to marry into the Grant family, you must give us a son."

Selina wanted to, but the problem was that Julian refused to touch her.

It was only with the help of Julian’s parents, who got him drunk once, that it happened.

The next morning, Julian looked at Selina beside him with a face colder than midwinter snow.

He bought contraceptive pills, squeezed Selina’s jaw, and forced them down her throat with his own hands, showing no mercy.

Selina choked until tears came, her voice incredibly hoarse.

"Julian Grant, how can you treat me like this? Do you really not want my child that much?"

Julian’s grip tightened, nearly crushing her bones.

"You aren't worthy of bearing a child of the Grant family."

Those few words planted seeds of hatred in Selina’s heart.

If it weren't for Jade Yu, how could her life be this miserable and difficult?

If she hadn't given birth to a girl, how could she have fallen to this state?!

Since she couldn't offend the Grants, Selina took out all her anger on Sophia.

Since the day she was born, the girl never had a patch of clear skin; she was always covered in bruises.

When asked to go and charm Julian, Sophia would only look at him timidly, unable to even call him "Daddy."

Selina had beaten and scolded her many times. By the time she reached kindergarten age, Sophia still couldn't speak, only managing to stutter out a few fragmented words.

When taken to the hospital for a check-up, the diagnosis was autism.

Julian had finally softened and taken them out for a trip under Selina’s tearful performance, only for everything to be ruined by Jade!

At that thought, Selina’s rage intensified, and her grip grew harder.

"What autism? If you really had autism, why would you go see that bitch? You're faking it, aren't you!"

Large tears fell as the girl sobbed, "No, Mommy..."

Selina gave her a hard shove. "Don't call me that. I don't have such a pathetic daughter."

With a muffled thud of a heavy object hitting the floor, crimson blood flowed down Sophia’s forehead.

The next moment, a knock sounded at the door. Selina’s expression changed instantly. She scooped up Sophia and cooed softly, "Don't cry, don't cry."

Seeing Julian enter, Selina said, "Sophia missed you. She ran out everywhere looking for you and tripped on the floor."

"Julian, come see us more often, okay? Look at these past two days you’ve spent with her—she’s much better."

Julian frowned, his gaze falling on Sophia’s arm.

"The marks on her arm don't look like they're from a fall."

Selina’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately cried out, "How did she get into this state?"

"It’s all my fault for not watching her closely. She came back from Jade’s side looking like this..."

Chapter 18

"Jade wouldn't do something like that," Julian said firmly.

Seeing Julian defend Jade so resolutely, Selina’s expression turned distorted. "Why wouldn't she? She can't have children, so of course she would be jealous of me and my child!"

Julian’s face changed as if he remembered something. He looked at Selina gloomily, the coldness in his eyes turning to ice.

Selina froze, bit her lip, and let a thin layer of tears form.

"If it wasn't Jade, who else could it be? Would I, her own mother, harm my own child?"

"Julian, you won't marry me. I can endure that humiliation, but I will never let Sophia suffer even a bit of grievance..."