Chapter 4

Sylvie and Hayden rode home in silence.

After much contemplation, she finally explained hoarsely, "Today is Joshua's birthday. When he was little, he experienced a stampede accident at school, leaving him with deep mental trauma.

“I didn't mean to leave you behind. I was planning to leave him in a safe place first, then come back to pick you up."

After four years together, Hayden had grown accustomed to her icy tone and deliberate criticism, so he was not used to her forced explanations.

The reason she ignored his plea was simply that Joshua was more important to her.

He understood.

Besides, he was about to leave soon and no longer cared. He just nodded slightly. "I understand. You don't need to explain so much. Otherwise, I'll delude myself into thinking that you're in love with me."

Sylvie's face darkened all of a sudden, her tone growing colder. "I just feel like I haven't fulfilled the responsibilities of a fiancée. It has nothing to do with love."

'Responsibilities?' Hayden thought, letting out a sigh of relief.

This transaction would be over soon.

The burden on her was about to be lifted, and the shackles on his heart were about to be removed.

Once they arrived home, Sylvie brought out the first-aid kit and began tending to his wounds.

Perhaps fearing she might cause him pain, she cleaned the injuries with extreme gentleness and care.

Her gentle care was so different from her usual demeanor that it caught Hayden by surprise.

Before long, her phone rang.

Seeing it was Joshua, she stood up and answered immediately. "You hear footsteps outside your door? Lock it from the inside. Don't be afraid. I'll have someone take care of it."

Hayden caught a glimpse of the name on the screen, and his eyelashes fluttered slightly.

She did not leave after ending the call, instead picking up a cotton swab. Hayden could not help but speak up. "Your childhood sweetheart is in danger. Aren't you going to go check on him?"

Sylvie's hand paused. "Didn't we agree on some terms? Unless previously arranged, I'm not to leave you, whether we're out together or at home, to go attend to someone else."

It turned out she was only staying because of those terms.

Hayden rubbed his brow and then waved his hand dismissively. "Since the situation is dangerous, go ahead and check on him today. Consider this a one-time exception."

He had once refused to let her go home even when her mother and brother complained that their roof was leaking in the middle of the night. However, he agreed to let her spend time with Joshua today.

Sylvie was taken aback. Sensing that something was off, she wanted to get to the bottom of it. "Why?"

"Aren't your mother, your younger brother, and your childhood sweetheart the three most important people in your life? If something were to happen to them, wouldn't you be haunted by guilt for the rest of your life?

“I'm just trying to be helpful. Whether you go or not is entirely up to you."

Hearing his languid tone, Sylvie froze, her gaze on him mixed with complicated emotions. However, she did not deny it. Quickly composing herself, she grabbed her keys and headed out.

Once she left, she never returned.

Hayden did not ask where she had gone. He simply tended to his wounds and went to rest.

The next day, he gathered his belongings, packed them, and arranged for a courier to ship them to Areland.

In the process, he unearthed various items they had bought as a couple—things he had bought for her, along with photographs he had insisted they take together...

He threw them all away.

On the third day, he met up with a few friends at a bar. After drinking a bit too much, he could not find the private room he had reserved.

He stumbled around, searching upstairs and downstairs, until he stopped outside a room on the first floor, where he suddenly caught a familiar name.

"Sylvie, are you really planning to call off your wedding for Joshua’s sake? We've all seen how genuinely Hayden has treated you over the years. Are you really going to bite the hand that’s been feeding you for years?”

"Hayden isn't a bad guy, but he's got the attitude of a spoiled heir. If Sylvie marries him, won't she be completely under his thumb for the rest of her life? I say call off the wedding! Making him panic will take his arrogance down a peg or two!"

"I think so too. He's clearly head over heels for you. He's spent a fortune on you, gone against his family's wishes, and even proposed to you himself. It's obvious he's crazy about you.

“Even if you leave him at the altar, he'll come crawling back to apologize. When that happens, just take the opportunity to give him a way out, and you won't have to keep pampering him anymore."

Amidst the chatter, Sylvie sipped her drink, remaining completely silent.

Seeing her say nothing, her friends began to probe, unable to gauge what she was thinking.

"Sylvie, what's actually on your mind? If you're really going to leave him at the altar, the rest of us are bringing our cameras to capture all the drama!"

"Exactly. Say something! What are you hesitating for? Don't tell me you've actually fallen for Hayden? If that's the case, I guess you won't be leaving him after all."

Through the gap in the ajar door, Hayden caught a glimpse of Sylvie's face.

It was cold as ice.

"Falling for him? How could anyone ever develop feelings for someone who forced them into a relationship from the very beginning? All these years, I've felt nothing but loathing for Hayden."