"In your heart, am I that kind of woman?"

Lucas’s Adam's apple bobbed as he tried to say something, but the doorbell rang. Julian was standing outside holding Sophia, looking exhausted. "I'm sorry. Sophia has been crying half the night and refuses to sleep."

The emotions that had just barely settled in Lucas began to churn again. It could have been anyone else coming to see Jade and he wouldn't be this jealous. It just couldn't be Julian.

With Jade’s back to him, the sight of the three of them felt like it isolated him, pulling time back five years. Looking at Sophia’s tear-streaked face, Jade’s heart trembled. She knelt down and stroked the girl's head, but ultimately steeled herself to refuse.

"I'm sorry..."

Before she could finish, Sophia used every ounce of her strength to stutter out a sentence: "Is it... because Sophia is bad... that's why... that's why everyone doesn't want me? I... am very good. Mommy hit me, and I... I was obedient. I didn't make a sound."

Chapter 23

The air froze for a moment. Julian stood rooted to the spot, his eyes darkening. "What did you say? Selina often hits you?"

But Sophia only looked at Jade and didn't speak again. Lucas rubbed his temples, his voice sounding tired. "Vina, you and Julian take the child to the police station to make a statement."

Jade couldn't understand why the two of them had just been fighting over this, yet Lucas was now making a concession. She turned to look at him; his emerald eyes seemed covered in a layer of gray, no longer as brilliant as before.

Jade felt a pang in her heart, sensing something coming between them. "Lucas, come with us."

Lucas ruffled her hair, his expression returning to its usual state. "This child only talks this much in front of you. Autistic children don't like crowds; I'll only be a bother if I go. I spoke a bit harshly just now, don't take it to heart."

Jade stared directly at him, trying to read something from his face. Seeing that his eyes still held the same affection as always, as if he had truly let go of the argument, she finally sighed in relief and left with Julian and Sophia.

As the night grew deeper, the rain pattered against the car windows. Sophia, still a child, soon fell asleep in Jade’s arms. In the rare quiet of their shared space, the emotions stirred by the rainy night began to grow, wrapping around Julian’s heart.

At a red light, he took out an earring and handed it to Jade. "I found the one you dropped."

Jade glanced at it but didn't reach for it. "I don't need it anymore. Lucas bought me many pairs."

The name "Lucas" completely severed the nostalgia Julian had been building, turning it into waves of bitterness. As the light turned green, he stepped on the accelerator. "If it weren't for Selina, would I be the one with you right now?"

Jade gave him a cool look, her voice chillingly calm. "No."

The veins on the back of Julian’s hand bulged. It felt as if the rain outside wasn't water, but silver needles piercing his heart. "Why?"

"Julian, how do you still not understand?" Jade said. "I didn't leave you because of Selina. Five years ago when I had the miscarriage, I said I didn't push her, and you didn't believe me. Now, five years later, I said I didn't kidnap Sophia, and you didn't believe me either. What destroyed our relationship was your lack of trust and lack of love. Even without Selina, there would have been another woman."

Before they knew it, the car had stopped at the police station. Julian didn't get out. He grabbed Jade’s wrist, his voice incredibly hoarse. "Jade, how can you be so heartless?"

The weather in the South Seas was hot, and the rain had made it humid. Julian’s sleeves were rolled up halfway, revealing a faint scar. The moment her eyes landed on it, Jade’s eyelashes trembled, and memories she had tried to forget came rushing back.

When the villa had been on fire, Julian had already made it out, but upon learning she was still inside, he charged back into the flames. He had carried her out, comforting her repeatedly: "It’s okay, I’ll get you out."

It wasn't until the medical staff arrived that Jade realized how severe his burns were. She had stayed by his side day and night to care for him, her eyes swollen from crying. Julian had comforted her then: "A little injury in exchange for our lifetime together is nothing."

At that time, she truly believed he was her destination, her forever. But he was the one who made the promise, and the one who broke it with his own hands. Being "devoted" to two women can no longer be called devotion.

Jade looked at him and said each word clearly: "Julian, it’s not that I am heartless. It’s that you are too cold-blooded. After finishing the statement with them, I will return to America to marry Lucas and settle there forever."

Julian’s face turned completely gray. He released her weakly. Even though he had seen the proposal and knew their relationship, hearing Jade say it out loud still stabbed his heart so hard he couldn't speak. He opened the car door and watched blankly as she stepped out, her footsteps shattering the reflection of the moon in the puddles.

His dream shattered along with it.

Jade wanted to get back to Lucas as soon as possible, but Selina refused to speak, dragging the process out. It wasn't until morning that the statement was finished. She dragged her exhausted body back to the hotel, but as she opened the door, she froze.

Inside the room, Lucas’s suitcase was already packed and standing by the door. He was standing by the window, looking like he was ready to leave.

Chapter 24

The room was filled with the smell of smoke, which wound its way into Jade’s heart. Lucas had quit smoking after they got together.

An uneasy thought rose in her mind. "Isn't our flight tomorrow?"

Hearing her voice, Lucas finally turned to look at her. His clear eyes were bloodshot, and his normally brilliant hair had lost its luster. Jade was startled. She walked up to him and touched his face. "What happened?"

Lucas’s golden eyelashes flickered as he finally spoke: "I booked a ticket for early this morning."

Jade was confused. "What?"

It turned out that the reason Lucas had let her leave the night before was that he wanted her to make the choice herself. Even though they were engaged, even though he knew losing her would be agonizing, he still handed the choice to her. He told himself that if she didn't return by midnight, he should leave.

Like a prisoner on death row, he had packed his things and waited for the final verdict. At midnight, he did something unprecedented and lit a cigarette. He changed his flight to 2:30 AM, then from 2:30 to 3:45, and so on.

The number of cigarette butts in the ashtray grew, and his heart sank further. His pride wouldn't allow him to call or text her like a jilted lover to ask why she wasn't back. Yet every five minutes, he checked his phone for a message from her. He had to admit that in front of Jade, the "relaxed" and "composed" demeanor he prided himself on had completely failed. He was filled with anxiety, his heart racing and slowing unpredictably; he didn't feel like himself at all.

At 7:25, Lucas canceled the final flight. Only one thought remained in his mind: even if he were to leave, he had to ask her clearly why she chose Julian.

He thought it, and he asked it.

Jade’s eyes instantly turned cold. "You still don't trust me. Lucas, Julian and I were only making a statement. It only took longer because Selina refused to cooperate."

Before Lucas could feel fully relieved, Jade continued, "Do you know why Julian and I broke up? It's because he only ever believed Selina."

In the years they had been dating, they had their share of arguments, but neither had ever mentioned breaking up. Lucas froze, his heart skipping a beat. He reached out to take her hand, trying to explain, "Vina, I..."

In the next instant, Jade shook off his hand. "Lucas, a relationship without trust is truly exhausting."

As a member of a top-tier New York family with outstanding looks and talent, Lucas was always the one being pursued and flattered. He had never truly been obsessed with anything or tried to plead for someone to stay. But this time, he was truly panicked.

The moment Jade turned to leave, he frantically grabbed her hand, his fingertips trembling. "I'm sorry, Vina. I didn't want to make things this ugly. I just wanted to respect your choice, but in the end, I realized I couldn't do it. I want to marry you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life."