Olivia eventually backed off.Not long after, Aldoria was rocked by a scandal involving the elites. Olivia and Brad's intimate photos in bed spread around the internet like wildfire, and even the Cruzes couldn't contain the fallout.Just last night, she'd been begging me for forgiveness, and by morning, she was in Brad's bed. That sure was the Olivia I knew.Of course, I knew Brad must have been involved. He likely tipped off the press and made sure they got those photos, just to force Olivia into marrying him.It was a clever move. He knew elite families like the Cruzes cared more about reputation than anything else. So, no matter how obsessed Olivia was with me, she could never defy her family's wishes.On the day before her wedding, she texted me. "I'm getting married, Tristan, but it's a pity you're not the groom.""I have your favorite blue roses at the wedding, and I'm even wearing your favorite perfume. That way, it'll feel like I'm marrying you.""Now that I've lost yo
On the night of the celebratory gala, I stood under the blinding lights and gave a passionate speech."Look! Tristan's actually the creator of Arcanum Dracon!""No way!""God, it is him! Olivia, look! Hasn't he somehow gotten better-looking? Wait… Who's that woman beside him?"Olivia and her friends were also present among the crowd. Our eyes met across the sea of flashes as my speech reached its climax."To stand here tonight, I owe my gratitude to one person…"Everyone who knew us assumed we hadn't broken up, so they shot her envious smiles."It has to be Olivia!""Wow, she's kept it so quiet. Imagine how lucky she is to have such an outstanding man!"Even Olivia nervously gripped the hem of her dress, but I turned to smile at Marilyn at my side and exchanged a knowing glance with her."...Ms. Russell! Without her sharp eye and faith, Arcanum Dracon would never have been born. Tonight's success belongs just as much to her."Dressed in an elegant high-slit dress, Marilyn ac
A week later, I found Olivia crouching by the wall. When she heard the door open, she got up and tried to run after me. "Tristan!"Her legs must have been a little numb, because she stumbled slightly and reached out to steady herself, but I pulled away.Her hand froze in midair, and tears shimmered in her eyes. "I swear I'll never see Brad again. Is that enough?"For fear that I'd turn away, she frantically pulled out her identification documents and showed them to me like they were proof. "We can register our marriage today. I've brought everything, and this time, I'll never leave you."I've thought about it. If we register today, we can hold the wedding by mid-month. I'll take you to get your suit tailored in a few days. What do you think?"For a moment, she stared at me with panic in her eyes, and then I laughed. So, the marriage I had once dreamed of turned out to be such a simple task, yet she had never bothered to bring it up.Last year, on our fifth anniversary, I had kn
Brad recoiled and withdrew his hand before leaving with the others in resentment.I stood there in silence, clutching Mom's funeral portrait, fighting to keep the tears from spilling.I had endured hardships my whole life. I had slept on construction sites and gotten my skin burned under the sun; I had delivered food until dawn and survived accidents. Through all of it, I had never once broken down, clinging to the belief that men should never cry.But Mom's death had me breaking down countless times.Beside me, Olivia sobbed softly. It was only after a long time that she whispered, "Tristan, could you give me another chance?"I calmly met her eyes and saw the fear and unease in them reach their peak. Only then did I answer in a slow, sharp tone, "Why don't you die and ask my mom?"The unconcealable hatred in my gaze made her stumble back, and her face was ghostly pale. "Tristan… you weren't like this before."What was I like back then? My eyes used to be full of love when I loo
Olivia's eyes widened at Daniel's words. "No, that's impossible…"She snatched the death certificate and scanned it over and over before looking up at me with desperate hope. "Tristan, you're lying, aren't you? Tell me you faked this."I forced a hollow smile and murmured, "Whatever you say."Daniel stepped in to remind her, "This can't be forged. The hospital's stamp is right there, and I just called the hospital's staff. They said…""What did they say?" Her expression stiffened as if her soul had left her body, and her fists clenched by her sides."They said the morning before the last, his mom had a heart attack at 9:05 am. She was by a deserted road, and by the time the ambulance got her to the hospital, half an hour had passed. She was long dead by then. The doctors said if she had arrived just a few minutes earlier, she might not have died…""Enough!"The words hit Olivia like a lightning bolt. She staggered back and shook her head, as if denying the truth.What had she b
This time, Olivia actually lowered herself to explain. "Look, I should've handled things differently, but it was urgent. We could go back for the marriage registration another time, right? Tristan, we can still do it… Next Monday, you'll pick me up, and we'll get it done at the city hall."Even in her apology, her voice carried that same heiress arrogance. Once, I would've given in and pulled her into my arms. Burying my face in her neck, I would've murmured, "Don't ever do it again."But now, my eyes were cold, and my tone carried a mocking edge as I said, "No need. The great Ms. Cruz doesn't crawl back to her ex, does she?"It was the first time I had ever addressed her in such a distant tone. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she drew in a sharp breath and gripped the edge of the table as if to steady herself.Her voice was trembling as she asked, "Tristan, are you going to break up with me over something so trivial?" Trivial? What trivial stuff was she referring to? Was Mom'