Julian answered, offering a provocative smile:

"What is it? Can’t even find the location of your own fiancée, Cole?"

Cole didn't get angry. He turned the camera toward the pale, defiant Elena, twisting the blade in her flesh:

"Julian, you really have raised a loyal dog."

He lifted Elena’s chin. Pale and drenched in cold sweat, she didn't utter a sound. She opened her eyes hazily to see Julian frowning deeply.

He looked furious. Elena felt a momentary lapse in reality.

"Julian, is that Cole calling? Let me—"

Julian’s brow instantly smoothed. He pulled Summer close and chuckled in a low voice:

"Cole, don't you know Summer doesn't like bloodshed?"

The call ended, the screen freezing on Julian’s action of kissing Summer.

Cole smashed his phone, his face so dark he looked ready to kill. He stared coldly at Elena, and his movements became even heavier:

"Since you're useless, then just die."

"You chase after a man surnamed Julian all day, and he’s still entangled with someone else’s woman. You’re truly a pathetic waste."

Elena was thrown into an ice cellar.

The cold wrapped around her like a poisonous snake. Frost hung on her eyelashes as she clutched herself tightly.

She didn't know how long it had been before she started to feel hot, and Julian’s words from the past suddenly echoed in her mind:

"If you feel heat during extreme cold, you’re dying."

"But don't worry about that. Before that happens, I will always hold you tight."

In a daze, Elena seemed to hear the heavy door of the ice cellar open, and then she fell into a familiar embrace.

When Elena woke up, a day and a night had passed.

Julian was at her bedside, his brow furrowed, and only when he saw her wake did he relax.

【The second male lead loves her without knowing it! He gave 30% of his industry to the male lead just for her!】

【Sob Little Bitter Melon just doesn't know how to express it. The world lacks someone who loves him, so Elena appeared.】

Elena’s eyes were hollow:

"…Why?"

Why push her into hell, only to pull her out again?

Julian lowered his head, pressing his forehead against hers:

"I didn't think he would be so ruthless. Elena, you said you would always follow me. I won’t let you leave."

Elena bit her lip and turned her head away.

Julian paused, then said softly:

"I’ll send Summer back in three days… Before that, I need her to see my heart."

"Elena, there’s a one-of-a-kind necklace at the underground ring. Go win it for me."

Chapter 3

Elena offered a bitter smile.

Fortunately, she no longer held any hope; otherwise, her heart would ache even more at this moment.

Julian sensed her reluctance and coaxed her in a low voice:

"I promised you that once I became the Boxing King, I would grant you one wish."

"You can say it in advance; I will fulfill it for you right now."

The wish that had been surging in the depths of Elena's heart for five years was now pressed down hard. She looked straight into Julian's eyes:

"Then my wish is: I won't go."

The amusement in Julian's eyes turned cold as he braced himself up and looked down at her from his height.

After a long while, he sighed:

"Fine."

His tone was gentle, but Elena saw the disappointment and indifference in his eyes.

In the past, she would have exhausted every effort to please him.

But now, Elena only felt a sense of relief.

【The second female lead actually refused? I thought she’d never turn him down in this lifetime.】

【Oh, Julian is going to fight himself, he’s going to get hurt for the heroine again... Can the heroine just look at him, please? Sob!】

Elena paused and turned over, covering herself with the quilt.

For Summer's sake, Julian had ignored her advice and personally abandoned the title of Boxing King he had bled and struggled for.

Now, for Summer's sake, he was going to return to the life-or-death boxing ring...

Even though she had warned herself not to be sad anymore, tears still fell.

By evening, Julian returned covered in injuries as expected, yet his face was full of smiles.

His bloodied hand tightly gripped a beautifully wrapped box. He stood before Summer’s bedroom door, hesitated, and then walked toward the bathroom instead.

The owner of the boxing ring called:

"Didn't I tell you to protect 'Black Hawk'? Why did he appear in the top-tier death match today!"

"If he dies, who will create value for me? And don't even think about that fake-death drug..."

Elena was about to speak when Julian suddenly walked in; she hung up the phone in a hurry.

Julian asked suspiciously:

"Who were you talking to?"

Elena pursed her lips:

"Nothing, just a salesperson."

Julian’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment, but he didn't ask further. He took out a ring:

"I only just learned you became the Boxing King. Congratulations, this is a gift for you."

This scene had appeared in Elena’s dreams countless times, but looking at the ring, she only offered a self-deprecating smile.

Although she had refused Julian’s request, it had become her habit to put his affairs above her own.

So, she had checked on that necklace anyway, and she recognized at a glance that this ring was just a promotional giveaway.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Julian put it on her finger himself and then entered the bathroom.

After coming out of the bathroom, he entered Summer’s bedroom with a face full of joy.

Soon after, a fight erupted.

【Sigh, the necklace the second male lead won at the risk of his life was just tossed aside by the heroine...】

【It’s not like Summer asked for it. What’s the point of blindly loving someone in your own way?】

Indeed, Summer hadn't asked for anything, yet Julian was desperate to offer her the world.

Elena took off the ring, threw it into the trash can, and dragged her feet toward the living room.

Summer slammed the bedroom door shut, eyes still red-rimmed, and ran into the bathroom, furious:

"I don't want you! Don't come near me!"

Julian stopped helplessly before the locked door:

"Fine, I won't come in. Just don't hurt yourself."

But seeing Summer’s slumped figure through the frosted glass, he frowned and kicked the door open.

Seeing Summer washing clothes by hand, Julian grabbed her wrist:

"Leave these things to the maid! Your hands are getting chafed."

But he quickly realized that the maids had already gone off shift, so he said:

"Elena, come over and wash these."

Elena froze, her fingers trembling.

When she was first picked up by Julian, she had done housework with fear and trepidation, only to be stopped by Julian with a frown:

"Your hands are not meant for this."

Elena raised her head, only to see Julian’s firm gaze.

Her eyes fell on his injury-covered hands; she closed her eyes, took a step, and prepared to walk over.

Summer’s eyes widened as she hugged the wet clothes:

"No need! Don't trouble Sister Elena, she doesn't look well..."

Julian’s expression turned cold:

"Elena, why the long face?"

Summer shook her head frantically:

"No, no! Sister Elena looks sick... I won't wash them!"

With that, she ran back to her room.

Julian watched her retreat and let out a low laugh:

"Still so kindhearted."

Then, he glanced at Elena’s pale complexion and paused:

"Get some rest."

He turned and chased after her.

【It’s coming, it’s coming! The male lead is going to hire people to attack the second male lead and snatch the heroine tomorrow!】

【Does the second male lead really think he can keep the heroine? He’s going to have his arm废掉 (crippled) by the male lead!】

Elena’s heart sank.

If his arm was crippled, he would never be able to return to the boxing ring.

Chapter 4

The next morning, Julian wanted to take Summer out to clear her head.

Elena followed in silence. Julian kept giving her warning glances, but after seeing her limp and her pale face, he ultimately said nothing.

Elena knew he felt she was intruding on his time alone with Summer.

She tried her best to ignore Julian’s gaze and kept her eyes on the surroundings at all times.

Summer remained dejected; even though Julian had rented out the entire amusement park, the sadness in her eyes lingered.

Just then, several men in black rushed forward!

Summer shrieked.

The men in black swung their knives toward Summer, yet they never truly harmed her.

But Julian guarded Summer in his arms regardless of his own safety. Through several clashes, Elena could clearly see Julian’s strain—yesterday’s death match had left him severely wounded.

Another blade came down toward Summer. Julian gritted his teeth and pulled her tightly against him.

But the expected pain did not come. He frowned and looked up, seeing Elena catching the blade with her hand, blood streaming down.