"What's wrong? Are you crying?" Heath asked.
He turned on the light and saw Prisley's sad face.
"What happened? Did Steve do something to you?" Heath's voice grew louder.
"No, he was nice to me. It's just... I met her at the party." Prisley was never one to show her vulnerability in public.
It was only after saying goodbye to Steve that she dropped her facade. She walked back slowly, and tears streamed down her face.
Heath immediately called Steve.
"Got it, thanks, Steve." He got the whole story from Steve.
"I should just leave, otherwise this awkwardness will keep happening," Prisley said, sniffling. Having Heath by her side made her feel a bit better.
Heath gently stroked her waist-length hair. "You don't need to care about her at all."
"How can I not care? I'm just a fake version of her in your eyes." Prisley lay on the sofa, feeling depressed.
Heath's gaze darkened. He reached for a box on the coffee table. "Try this on. Let me see how beautiful it looks."
He took out a luxurious, intricately designed diamond necklace that was clearly worth a fortune.
The expensive necklace glittered on Prisley's delicate chest. It complemented the evening dress she was wearing, making her look stunning.
Heath kissed Prisley's neck lightly. "Beautiful, it suits you perfectly," he said with rare tenderness.
"No, I don't need this." Prisley pushed him away, taking off the necklace and putting it back in the box.
"Why?" Heath was a bit displeased. This was a new piece from a famous designer, and he hadn't expected her to refuse it.
"Heath, you can't provide what I truly need. The things you give me, I don't actually want."
Heath sneered. "Don't expect me to marry you. We agreed on that when we signed the contract." He pulled out the previous check and property documents.
"Take these. I can buy you anything, give you a lot of money. Isn't that enough?"
Prisley felt helpless. Their thoughts seemed like parallel lines that would never meet.
"Maybe I needed it before, but now, Heath, I don't care about these things. I just want a bit of respect from you, but you can't even do that."
"Ridiculous! Haven't I respected you?" Heath found it unbelievable.
"This afternoon in the meeting room, they humiliated me again. If you had stood up for me even once, they wouldn't dare to be so blatant. But you didn't."
"Filla's back, and you won't let me leave. Today I was humiliated by her once, and there will be many more times, but you don't care."
"Heath, I don't know what you're thinking. You can really watch me suffer and not feel a thing." Prisley's tears flowed uncontrollably again.
Heath sighed, thinking this was simply absurd. She was just making trouble for herself.
Maybe, as Steve said, Heath has been sheltered by wealth since childhood and can't empathize with others. What seems painful to Prisley is trivial to him. All he cares about are the company, wealth, and relationships. He was raised this way, trained to be a successful machine in a loveless wealthy family.
He's decisive and calm in business but always too cold and violent emotionally. Prisley, on the other hand, grew up in a warm middle-class family, surrounded by her parents' love. She once believed her love and care could warm Heath's heart, but she was wrong. Four years have passed, and he's still the same.
Heath bought this apartment specifically for Prisley. It's much smaller than his mansion. He spends most of his time at his own place and only comes over when he needs her.
Tonight, he just wanted to bring the diamond necklace to please her and persuade her to give up on leaving. He didn't expect not to get a single smile.
Heath's face turned grim.
He didn't want Prisley to trouble herself over those things. Having her around made him feel much better, but he never cared about what made her unhappy or why. It was always Prisley who cared about him and looked after him.
"Prisley, you're overthinking. I don't want to call you paranoid, but don't you think you're being melodramatic?"
"As for the respect you mentioned, I've always respected you. Don't make a big deal out of it."
"If you insist on being difficult, let me remind you that you’re the party B in our contract. Our contract is still in effect. The termination conditions haven't been met, so you have no choice but to fulfill it!"
Heath's eyes showed a cold, ruthless glint. He paused, maybe realizing his words were too harsh, then stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Prisley's waist, and kissed her earlobe. "Can we just be like before?" he said in a softer tone.
Paranoid? No choice?
Prisley closed her eyes in pain. This man seemed beyond help. She had thought that after four years together, Heath would show some care for her.
Suppressing her slightly trembling voice, she said, "Fine, we'll be like before and follow the contract."
She pushed him away and walked towards the bedroom.
"Where are you going?"
"To fulfill the contract." She forced a smile.
Soon, Prisley emerged from the bathroom, wearing sexy lingerie and smelling of the perfume Heath liked - in fact, it was Filla's favorite scent.
She walked towards Heath.
Heath smiled. As expected, she was still obedient and easy to please.
Prisley dimmed the lights and began kissing Heath's lips, in the way he liked.
Her lips were soft, and she knew exactly where Heath was most sensitive. She knew his body all too well.
Heath closed his eyes, enjoying the long-awaited moment of pleasure. Prisley undressed him, her soft fingers sending tingles over his skin as they moved across his chest, abs, and down to his most prized area.
Heath felt a surge of electricity through his body. His breathing grew heavier as he savored the calm before the storm.
Her fingers were soft and slightly cool, tracing patterns on his warming skin, making him feel incredibly comfortable.
His thighs tensed under her kisses, revealing their muscular lines.
Heath felt his body heat up, a powerful lust surging through him, reaching his head. He let out a low moan, impulsively threading his fingers through her hair.
He opened his eyes to kiss Prisley but was met with her blank stare.
He paused, the heat in his body fading slightly. "Prisley, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," Prisley continued her actions. "I'm just fulfilling the contract." Her voice was cold, her gaze equally devoid of passion.
Heath’s anguished scream tore through the night sky, thick with despair and regret.He could only watch, helpless, as the woman he loved slipped away like a dry leaf caught in the wind—carried off into the darkness, swallowed by the unforgiving sea.The splash that followed echoed like a blade plunging straight into his heart. Every drop of blood in his veins turned to ice.Then, without hesitation, he leapt in after her.By the time Steve rushed over, Heath had already disappeared into the black water.Panic surged in Steve’s chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. He barked orders at the security crew, calling for backup. Within seconds, they were lowering a rescue boat, guards scrambling aboard in life jackets, flashlights in hand.But the lavish lights of the yacht reached only so far—the rest of the ocean remained shrouded in thick, ominous dark. There was no sign of Prisley. No sign of Heath.The music had stopped.Guests gathered, murmuring in confusion and fear.“What happ
Heath pulled Prisley tightly into his arms, letting her cry tears of joy against his chest.It took her a moment to recover from the overwhelming surprise.She leaned back slightly and gave him a playful nudge, her voice filled with mock annoyance, but her eyes sparkled with delight.“You! Honestly! You kept it so well hidden—not even a hint?”She held up her hand, the diamond ring catching the light as she lightly tapped his chest. Tears still clung to her lashes, making her look even more delicate, utterly radiant.Heath took her hand and brought it to his lips, planting a tender kiss on her fingers. His voice was low, warm, and overflowing with affection.“Silly girl. That’s what surprises are for. If I told you, it wouldn’t be special anymore.”He brushed her hair gently, his gaze never leaving her face.Just then, a cheerful voice chimed in, cutting through the moment.“Oh, Prisley, don’t be mad at him!”It was Jennifer, gliding over in a champagne-colored evening gown, her face
Spencer’s condition had continued to improve—faster than anyone had expected.Each day, he recovered more fragments of memory. Moments he had shared with Prisley began to return to him, like pearls rising from the depths of a once-lost sea.The doctors were optimistic. They said he would soon be discharged and could begin his rehabilitation at home. Hearing that, Prisley finally allowed herself a sigh of relief.That week, Heath suddenly told her he’d need to travel abroad for a few days—an important business negotiation, he said.Prisley, though reluctant to see him go, was so preoccupied at the hospital that she didn’t question it. She simply kissed him goodbye and wished him luck.Two days later, to her surprise, Heath showed up at the hospital. After a brief visit with Spencer, he turned to Prisley.“I have a dinner event tonight,” he said with a soft smile. “Something quite formal—I’d like you to come with me.”Prisley was taken aback but nodded. She picked out a pale lilac gown
Days melted into weeks, and everything seemed to be progressing smoothly.Spencer continued his anti-cancer treatments, and with Prisley's devoted help, poring over photos together and listening to her shared stories, he began to retrieve small fragments of his memory.This steady progress brought a newfound lightness to both Heath and Prisley's spirits each day.While Prisley's focus remained entirely on Spencer, Heath's secretly planned proposal ceremony and grand wedding were nearing completion.To ensure perfection, Heath had consulted all of Prisley's colleagues and close friends for their input, with Jennifer being his primary confidante.Of course, Prisley remained blissfully unaware.She only knew Heath was busy every day, but no longer being with the company, she chose not to inquire further.One day, Prisley wore an old dress from years ago to the hospital to visit Spencer.The moment she stepped in, she noticed Spencer's gaze fixed on her, brimming with excitement."Good mo
Days passed in a quiet, uneventful rhythm.Prisley continued her daily visits to the hospital, accompanying Spencer through his treatments, chatting with him, and helping him with his memory recovery.At the office, Heath wasn't particularly engrossed in his usual work.Instead, a constant stream of different individuals came and went from his office, delivering various proposals and samples.At a glance, it was clear these weren't related to the company's typical market procurement.Steve pushed open the door, a look of suspicion on his face, to find two salespeople meticulously presenting something in Heath's office.Several display boards, adorned with various renderings, stood beside the desk.The expansive desktop was covered by open design catalogs, and beside them, an open jewelry box held dazzling, glittering gemstones.Heath stood before the renderings, examining them intently while listening to the salespeople's presentation.Noticing Steve, Heath dismissed the salespeople.
Spencer stared at the doorway, a quiet anticipation building within him.Doctors and nurses moved in and out, a constant stream, yet he couldn't quite pinpoint who it was he longed to see.A persistent feeling told him someone significant was missing.Their image remained a blur in his mind, but he knew, instinctively, that they were important.He strained to recall, but the memories refused to solidify.Spencer sighed, the doctor's words echoing in his head: his memory truly was gone.Just then, Dr. Scott approached, a reassuring smile on his face."Spencer, you're looking well," the doctor said, holding some charts a nurse had just handed him. "All your vitals are better than we'd anticipated."Spencer relaxed slightly. "So, the tumor in my brain – is it all gone?"The doctor chuckled. "The surgery was a complete success, and the tumor hadn't spread at all. I was able to remove it completely. However, it did affect some of the surrounding functional areas.""That's why I feel like s