Chapter 2

Caelan's heart skipped a beat. He dug his fingernails hard into his palm to keep his composure.

He took a step back to put some distance between himself and Misty and responded politely, "It's a surprise; it's a gift to congratulate you and Mr. Caldwell on your marriage."

Inwardly, he thought, "That gift was my decision to leave you for eternity."

Noticing the wall he'd deliberately put up, she parted her red lips slightly, a sharp pang of pain flashing across her luminous eyes. However, after a moment's hesitation, she looked away and pretended not to care.

"I'm glad you've finally come to your senses. I'm ten years older than you, and I'm your older sister on paper. From now on, don't spout foolish things about wanting to marry me. You're still young, so you should spend more time with people your own age."

Just then, the comments appeared again.

[Don't believe her, Caelan. Misty's only saying the exact opposite of what she means because she's hurt by the way you're distancing yourself from her!

[Ever since you confessed to her at 18, she's already convinced herself. She doesn't give a damn about the ten-year age gap or about being your 'older sister'. It's just that you're still too young now. The only reason she's keeping you at arm's length is to protect you from public opinion.]

[Exactly! She rushed over to find you just now to tell you that the shattered emerald pendant has already been sent out for repair. She paid a fortune to hire the best gemstone restorer!]

Caelan lowered his gaze and answered without hesitation, "Don't worry, Misty. I won't spout such nonsense again."

With that, he turned and walked toward his bedroom. His parents had left him several properties, and it was time for him to pack his bags and move out.

Misty hadn't expected him to agree so readily. She stared at his retreating figure long and hard and remained silent for a long while before following after him.

When they walked through the foyer, Caelan was stopped by her once more. She said, "It's Valentine's Day today."

Misty held out her hand. Resting between her slender, fair fingers was a small protective charm.

Caelan's heart skipped a beat.

[Caelan casually wished that he could receive a protective charm from the person he loved on Valentine's Day. I can't believe Misty actually remembered it and went out of her way to get one for him!]

[I'm seriously crying! After Caelan was shot and fell into a coma, she knelt before the cross for an entire day and night, praying for her little prince to make it through safely... I'm completely losing it over these two!]

Caelan looked at the protective charm embroidered with his name. He tried to smile, but the corners of his lips barely lifted. "Thank you, Misty. However, from now on, you should give gifts like this to Mr. Caldwell instead."

Misty froze, her lashes fluttering. She was about to say something when a burst of laughter interrupted her. "God, he's so trashy! How does he have the nerve to run around outside in such an obvious knockoff?"

Ezra stood amid the crowd in a knockoff designer hoodie with the brand name misspelled across it. His face was ghastly pale, and his handsome face flushed red with humiliation.

The moment he spotted Misty, he latched onto her like a drowning man grasping a straw. His voice trembled as he defended himself. "One of the housekeepers told me Caelan wanted me to wear the outfit he gave me, so I changed into it. I had no idea…"

Misty immediately had one of her bodyguards take off his jacket and drape it over Ezra's shoulders. When she shifted her attention to Caelan, the last traces of warmth in her eyes had completely vanished, leaving behind nothing but sheer disappointment. "Caelan, you swear up and down that you'll be sensible, yet behind my back, you resort to such dirty tricks! Is this how you were raised?"

Caelan felt as though someone had ripped his heart open. He tilted his head back and blinked away his tears before looking at her calmly. "I never gave him that hoodie, nor did I ever send someone to tell him to wear that. That's not how I do things. Once I let someone go, they cease to exist to me. Why would I waste my energy scheming to reclaim what I've discarded?"

As soon as those words left his lips, Misty's expression softened slightly.

Ezra pulled out another gift box, a puzzled look on his face. "I'm sorry, Caelan. I must have misunderstood… That housekeeper handed me two gift boxes. Did you mean for me to wear the clothes in this one instead?"

He unboxed it, but his hands fumbled, and he dropped it onto the ground. A cheap plastic toy watch rolled out alongside a scrap of paper bearing a cruel message that seemed to glare back at him. "Who do you think you are, attempting to marry my woman? You're only good enough for cheap street-market junk for the rest of your life, you filthy beggar!"

The guests erupted into another wave of jeers at Ezra's expense.

Engulfed by humiliation and anger, he passed out.

Misty's expression instantly hardened. She whipped her head toward Caelan, her tone filled with a trace of disgust he had never heard before. "Do you really think Ezra would stake his own reputation just to frame you? When did you become such a deceitful, scheming liar, Caelan?

"So long as you're a member of the White family, I have a duty to discipline you on behalf of your parents. Guards, escort him to the back room and make him kneel for 12 hours!" Having said her piece, she helped Ezra up and strode out.

Caelan instinctively chased after them to explain himself. "Misty, I—"

But Misty spun around and slapped him across the face. "Back off!"

She didn't pull her blow back with that swing. Caelan stumbled back a step in surprise and slammed hard into the decorative stone accent. The wound at his waist, which had not yet healed, tore open again, and blood instantly soaked through his white shirt.

The bodyguard nearby panicked and hastily tried to call out to Misty. Caelan, however, endured the pain and stopped him. "Escort me to the back room to serve my punishment."

He would slowly repay the kindness he had received from them over the past ten years. From now on, he and Misty were square.