She did not lose heart.

As long as there was no other woman by his side, she hadn't lost yet. The days ahead were long, and one day, Julian would be moved by her.

Until that day, Vivian was again holding gifts, preparing to leave them at the door and sneak away.

But as she reached the door, she saw the couple kissing in the garden not far away.

Her mind exploded with a boom, and the music box in her hands fell to the ground with a loud bang.

It was clearly Shen Nanzhi and... Julian.

But aren't they siblings?!

A monstrous rage struck her chest; she clenched her fists and rushed over.

"You animals!"

She raised her hand to slap Shen Nanzhi, but the next second, Julian shielded her behind him.

Her hand froze in mid-air.

Looking at the undisguised vigilance in Julian’s eyes, and at his tightly clasped hands with another woman.

Her breath nearly stopped; her blood seemed to freeze.

Everything here once belonged to me...

A long while later, she finally suppressed the suffocating pain and glared fiercely at Shen Nanzhi behind him.

"Julian is your own brother, how could you—"

"You really are naive."

Shen Nanzhi lazily lifted her eyelids to glance at her, her voice faint but hiding undeniable mockery.

"I am only Julian’s adopted sister in name. Even by law, there is nothing wrong with us. As for you, a coward who can't even control her own lower body, what qualification do you have to come and say these things?"

So they have no blood relation at all...

All the strength in her body felt instantly drained. Vivian lowered her head in near-disarray, blood surging in her eyes, staring at Shen Nanzhi with wide, tear-filled eyes.

"You’re taking advantage of the situation!"

Shen Nanzhi curled her lips, the smile in her eyes flippant and mocking.

"And so what if I am? Actually, I should thank you."

"If you hadn't been blind and confused enough to treat that scheming man like a treasure, how would I have had the opportunity to get close to Julian?"

As she spoke, her expression darkened, and every word seemed to be squeezed through her teeth.

"Vivian, stop putting on this act of regret. When you faked your death for seven years, there were plenty of people better than you and me pursuing Julian, but he rejected them all without batting an eye for your sake. But you—how did you treat him? Everything today is just your own reaping of what you sowed."

Bang—

It was as if Vivian had been struck over the head with a heavy club; a surging, tidal wave of regret nearly drowned her.

Yes.

Ending up in this state today, wasn't it just her own doing?

She couldn't blame anyone else; she could only blame the past version of herself for being too despicable.

But fate never favored anyone; what was done was done, and there was no room for regret.

She hurriedly wiped away the wetness in her eyes and looked at Julian for a long time—so long it felt like she was nailing that face deep into her mind. There was too much choking in her voice.

"Julian, I wish you happiness."

Even if there was no longer any place for her in that happiness...

From here on, the world was vast, and to meet again would be to meet as strangers.

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THE END