LOGINLater, my life truly turned a new page. Through my own effort, I earned respect and fulfillment in my career.Most importantly, I finally had a healthy and equal relationship. The storms of the past finally faded, becoming nothing more than distant background noise.Every now and then, I'd hear news from my old circle.Once Lisa got out, the first thing she did was seek out the broken, defeated Leo. She might have still imagined them clinging together as fellow lost souls, but he merely told her to get lost.That absolute rejection ignited the last sparks of madness in Lisa, while years of regret and drowning in alcohol had left Leo with nothing but sharp, searing hatred.In their endless entanglements and mutual torment, they ground the last remnants of any affection between them to dust.Tragedy struck on a rainy night. After a fierce confrontation, a mentally unhinged Lisa drove straight at Leo.Leo narrowly survived, but his spine was severely injured, leaving him relian
The investigation moved quickly over the next few days. I handed over everything I could. At the same time, Amie worked another angle, using the proper channels to clarify the official ruling on my old case and the other family's issues.Slowly, the tide turned. Reason gradually drowned the thrill-seeking rumors.The official findings cut even closer to the heart of the storm. Technical tracing revealed that the encrypted channels first leaking details about Patricia's death overlapped in inexplicable ways with Lisa's social circle. Meanwhile, the earliest accounts pushing the so-called evidence pack from my old case showed network activity linked to one of Lisa's distant relatives. Digging further turned up several money transfers that were badly timed and hard to trace.When those preliminary findings were compiled into a report, Lisa's family tried to influence the investigation, but faced with a solidifying trail of evidence and mounting public pressure, there was no turning the
During the worst days of the rumors, I didn't even dare step out of my dorm.The hallways were plastered with insults scrawled in red, and people pointed and whispered whenever I walked by. Just when I felt like I couldn't breathe, Leo found me.His face was dark with anger as he pulled me into an empty corner. "Did you leak what happened with my mom?" he demanded.I looked at him, my chest tightening. After all these days, his first words were already meant to condemn me."But that old rumor of yours," he added quickly, a hint of desperation in his voice, "that wasn't me. Raina, you must trust me."Suddenly, I felt completely drained. Did he really think we had called it even?"Leo!" Raina suddenly rushed out from a corner and grabbed his arm. Her face was shockingly pale, and she was breathing heavily. "I finally found you. We need to talk now."Leo frowned. "Lisa, wait…""I can't wait!" Her voice rose shrilly as she glared at me. "Are you going to fall for her lies again? Sh
The public revelation of Lisa and Leo's relationship didn't earn them any blessings. If anything, our circle's sympathy swung toward me. Amid the gossip, I slowly got rid of my status as "Leo's fiancee" and returned to a normal life again. Then, the storm hit without warning.A few days later, an old secret blew up without warning. Leo's mother, Patricia Norman, hadn't died from the sudden heart attack as the official report claimed. Finding out about his forbidden relationship with Lisa had shocked her so badly that it caused acute failure. At her deathbed, Leo had sworn never to mark Lisa as his mate.The clan erupted, while scorn and contempt washed over them. In a mix of rage and fear, Leo was convinced I had leaked the news. He stormed to my apartment and gripped my wrist with iron force. "It was you! You're trying to destroy us, aren't you?" he demanded angrily.I wrenched free and looked down at the visible marks on my wrist. My voice was cold as I said, "Digging up that o
After the banquet, Leo stayed silent for three days. On the fourth day, he began to try to make amends clumsily and awkwardly.In the mornings, there would be maple syrup pancakes with slightly crisped edges at the door, breakfast food I mentioned in passing. During training, he'd hand me sports drinks quietly. A rare silver clover appeared on the windowsill, with a card that read, "Thought you'd like this." He even started reading books I was interested in so he could "run into me" at the library and awkwardly bring up related topics.One day, he brought me a pair of silver bracers set with deep-sea blue sapphires, their inner surface engraved with delicate trailing vines. "You push yourself too hard in training. These will protect your wrists." His voice sounded unnatural as his gaze landed on the old scar on my wrist.I didn't take them. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm used to getting hurt."His hand froze midair as a flicker of frustration and hurt crossed his dark eyes. It seemed
For the next few days, Lisa stopped with the blatant insults. Instead, she switched tactics, staging run-ins, and happened to forget things behind.For example, I found a faded custom necklace pendant engraved with "L&L" in my locker of the training grounds I frequented. At the seat I usually took in the library, an old poetry book was left there, opened to a specific page, with a bookmark tucked inside. On the back were the words, "Got this with Leo."The turning point came after the fighting tournament, at the celebration that followed.During the celebration party, Lisa swayed over to me, dressed to the nines with a champagne in her hand."Raina, you won first place in combat today. That was impressive." She smiled sweetly, her voice pitched just loud enough for others to hear. "Not like me. Leo always says I'm fine just as I am. I have no need to work as hard as you do."Her sweet words carried a sting. Curious glances started to gather around us.I put down the plate I was h







