She held up her hand; the massive pink diamond ring on her ring finger glimmered in the sunset, stinging Julian’s eyes.

"Tomorrow is our engagement banquet. If you have time, Mr. Fu, feel free to come for a celebratory drink."

Celebratory drink.

Julian’s vision went dark; his fingers turned white from the force of his grip, almost digging into the window glass.

"I don't believe it... you love me... you’ve loved me for ten years..."

Mason sneered and pressed the window-up button.

"Drive."

The window closed ruthlessly, cutting off Julian’s desperate gaze.

The Rolls-Royce sped away, leaving only exhaust fumes in its wake.

Julian stood in place, watching the taillights disappear into the traffic.

"Sienna!"

He roared and chased after the car for a few steps, but fell heavily to the ground.

His knee was cut, blood seeping out.

But he couldn't feel the pain.

Because the massive hole in his heart was being flooded with cold wind, and it hurt so much he wanted to die.

Chapter 13

Julian was "invited" into the side hall of the villa by the Qin family’s bodyguards.

"Invited" was a euphemism for being dragged. He was tossed onto the expensive handmade carpet like a dead dog, soaked through, his bloody knee staining a patch of the rug.

Mason sat on the leather sofa, slowly pouring a glass of whiskey. The crisp sound of ice hitting the glass was jarring in the dead-silent hall.

"Mr. Fu traveled all this way to Haven City—if this is just to act insane, I can only call the police." Mason swirled his glass, his eyes playful and cold.

"Let me see her." Julian climbed up using his strength, his hands clutching the sofa armrests so hard his veins bulged, his eye sockets red, "This is a matter between husband and wife; it’s not your place to intervene! I’m a scumbag, but I love her! I will spend the rest of my life making it up to her, I beg you to let me see her once..."

"Love her?"

Mason laughed softly, as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world. He took a sip of his drink, his eyes suddenly turning sharp.

"Julian, your love is truly eye-opening. Love her enough to save your ex-girlfriend first when the landslide hit? Love her enough to cause her miscarriage? Love her enough to personally send her to the police station to clear the name of your 'white moonlight'?"

Julian trembled violently, looking up in disbelief: "You said... miscarriage? What miscarriage?"

He only knew Sienna had a lower abdominal injury when she left, but he had never thought in that direction.

Mason set down his glass, leaning forward, filled with an oppressive aura: "It seems you really are ignorant. In that very landslide, while she was buried under the ruins waiting for you to save her life—your child, already three months old, was lost in that pile of mud."

"When I dug her out, she was covered in blood. Before she lost consciousness, she grabbed my hand and begged me to save the child. And what were you doing? You were holding Chloe, comforting her not to be afraid."

"Boom."

Julian’s world collapsed.

He remembered the bloodstains on Sienna’s pants in the car that day, remembered her pale face when Chloe claimed it was "lochia," remembered the dead look in her eyes when she said, "It doesn't matter if we really kissed."

So... back then, there was already a human life standing between them.

"No... I don't believe it..." Julian clutched his head, his nails digging deep into his scalp, "How could there be a child... she didn't tell me..."

"Tell you?" Mason sneered, "Tell you, so you could force her to abort it to make space for Chloe?"

Julian slumped to the floor, a sound like a dying beast’s whimper coming from his throat.

Remorse gnawed at his heart like a thousand ants, hurting so much he curled into a ball.

After a long time, he looked up, his face covered in tears, his dignity completely gone.

"Let me see her once..." his voice was hoarse and broken, "I beg you, let me see her once... even if I have to kowtow to her, even if I have to die..."

Mason looked down at him for a long time.

So long that Julian thought he would be thrown out.

"Want to see her, right?" Mason pointed to the courtyard outside the floor-to-ceiling windows where the rain was pouring down, "Go kneel there. Kneel for twenty-four full hours. If she’s willing to see you then, I won't stop you."

Julian didn't hesitate at all.

He pushed himself up on his aching knees and stumbled toward the downpour.

Thump.

He knelt on the cold, hard stone path, his spine held straight, facing the window on the second floor that was lit with light.

Chapter 14

The storm in Haven City raged all night.

The late autumn rain was bone-chilling. Julian had been soaked through for a long time; his old wounds flared up, a high fever made his vision blurry, and his body couldn't stop shivering.

But he didn't move, like a weathered stone statue.

In the second-floor bedroom.

Before the floor-to-ceiling windows, Sienna wore a bathrobe, holding a cup of hot milk, quietly watching the figure kneeling in the rain downstairs.

Mason walked over, embracing her from behind, his chin resting on her neck, his warm breath spraying against her ear.

"Soft-hearted?" he asked, a trace of imperceptible tension in his tone.

Sienna sipped the milk, her eyes as calm as if she were looking at a stray dog in the rain.

"No."

"I was just thinking, if I had been this ruthless back then, maybe none of these things would have happened later."

Mason sighed with relief, kissed the top of her head, reached out to pull the heavy blackout curtains closed, completely cutting off the view outside.

"Sleep. Tomorrow is a big day."

Sienna turned and burrowed into his arms, closing her eyes.

Outside, the thunder and rain raged, but she slept exceptionally soundly.

The next morning, the rain stopped.

Julian had been kneeling in the rain for a full day and night.

His consciousness was fading; he was holding on by nothing but a single breath. His knees had long since lost all sensation, as if they didn't belong to him anymore.

The gates opened, and the Qin family’s butler walked out.

"Mr. Fu, time is up." The butler said emotionlessly.

Julian struggled to lift his eyelids, his lips blue and purple, trembling as he tried to stand, but his legs turned to jelly, and he fell heavily into the standing water.

He struggled to crawl forward, his fingers digging into the gaps between the paving stones, wearing down to the bone.

"Sienna... let me see Sienna..."

The butler ignored him and waved his hand.

Two bodyguards stepped forward, hoisting him up like a dead dog and tossing him into a utility room nearby.

"Give him some glucose. Don't let him die at the Qin residence; it’s bad luck."

Julian was force-fed medication, changed into dry clothes, and drifted off into a delirious sleep.

When he woke again, it was to the sound of deafening salutes.

It was already dark.

The banquet hall of the Peninsula Hotel was brightly lit, filled with luxury cars.

Tonight was Mason and Sienna’s engagement banquet. Although it was called an engagement, the grandeur was even greater than most weddings; half of the Haven City socialites had come.

Julian rolled off the bed, stumbling as he rushed out the door.

He didn't know where he found the strength, but he pushed aside the servants blocking his way, hijacked a car, and drove toward the Peninsula Hotel like a madman.

He had to make it.

If she really got engaged, he would truly have no chance left.

Chapter 15

Inside the banquet hall, the crystal chandeliers shone brilliantly.

Sienna wore a mermaid-cut red gown, looking breathtakingly beautiful. She held onto Mason's arm, standing in the center of the stage, receiving everyone's blessings.

The master of ceremonies held the microphone, beaming: "Now, please, the bride and groom, exchange your tokens of commitment."

Mason took out a uniquely designed diamond ring, about to place it on Sienna's finger.

"Bang—!"

The banquet hall doors were violently burst open.

The tremendous sound brought the entire hall to an instant silence, and everyone turned around in shock.

Julian stumbled his way in.

He was in an extremely disheveled state; his suit did not fit properly, his hair was messy, and his complexion was as pale as paper, with only his eyes burning with an alarming intensity.

Security guards rushed forward to block him, but he pushed them away like a madman, knocking over the champagne tower. Glass shattered everywhere, and amidst the gasps of the crowd, he rushed toward the stage.

"Don't put it on——!!"

His hoarse, broken roar echoed throughout the banquet hall.

Sienna’s finger paused slightly, and she turned around, looking down at him from the stage.