MasukThe dim lighting inside the nightclub's VIP room cast only a faint purple glow. On the glass table, several bottles of liquor were scattered around, accompanying a glass that Juna kept refilling with trembling fingers. He leaned back against the leather sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling with dull, lifeless eyes.His mind suddenly replayed every harsh word he had thrown at the Ashford residence earlier that afternoon. The image of Camelia's silent tears became a blade that now turned back and pierced his own heart."I went too far..." Juna muttered hoarsely, his voice catching in his throat, which felt unbearably dry. He buried his face in both hands, letting out a short breath laden with overwhelming regret. "I'm sorry, Camelia... Your brother was just confused... I truly don't know how to fix things with Ziyi anymore."Slide.The sliding door of the VIP room slowly opened, allowing the pounding music from outside to seep in for a brief second before silence returned. Steady footst
The week felt like a slow, creeping torture for Juna. Without any certainty, without a single glimmer of hope, Ziyi continued to treat him like an invisible shadow in the corners of southern China. However, a new piece of information obtained from his confidant suddenly burned Juna's heartburn with a different kind of pain. Ziyi—the woman who was still status-wise his wife—had apparently always asked for advice and opinions from Camelia before making the decision to ignore him.That fact hit Juna's ego hard. A deep sense of disappointment crept into his chest. *Why does Camelia seem to be on Ziyi's side? Just because they are fellow women? This is truly unfair,* Juna thought, his jaw clenched tightly throughout the entire journey back to New York.At the Ashford residence in New York, Camelia and Calvin had just set foot in the living room after a long flight from Bali. The warm atmosphere left over from their honeymoon instantly evaporated when the main door was knocked on harshly. A
The heavy rain outside gradually subsided into a thin drizzle, leaving behind a piercing cold that penetrated to the bones. In the apartment yard, Juna's body no longer had the strength to support its own weight. His lips turned a dark blue, and all his joints were as if locked by an extraordinarily intense stiffness.*Thud.*With one heavy gasp of breath, Juna's consciousness collapsed completely. His tall body slumped, lying helpless on the cold, muddy ground with his eyes tightly closed.Behind the second-floor curtain, Ziyi witnessed the very moments of the man's fall. Ziyi's hand that gripped the curtain fabric instantly trembled violently. There was a strong urge inside her chest to immediately run down and embrace that frail body, but Camelia's words buzzed loudly in her mind again. *Don't give forgiveness easily. Let him struggle.*"I must be strong..." Ziyi whispered hoarsely, wiping away the tears that fell again, wetting her pale cheeks. She turned her bod
Thunder rumbled relentlessly across the night sky in the southern outskirts of China, followed by a sudden downpour that poured down mercilessly. Fierce winds whistled through every crack in the buildings, carrying a chilling cold that sent shivers down anyone's spine. Yet amidst the raging storm, a tall figure remained standing firmly in the middle of the apartment courtyard, allowing his body to be battered by thousands of raindrops falling mercilessly from the sky.Juna did not move an inch. His shirt clung tightly to his soaked body, revealing how violently he was beginning to shiver as the temperature dropped drastically. Rainwater streamed down his forehead, nose, and sharp jawline, disguising the tears of frustration that had long been falling from his eyes."Ziyi..." Juna whispered hoarsely, his voice trembling violently between his chattering teeth as he struggled against the overwhelming cold. "I won't leave... I don't care..."Behind the thin curtains on the second floor, Z
Ziyi had just placed her teacup on the small dining table in her apartment when a loud knock echoed from behind the front door. Her brows furrowed. In this remote place, she hardly knew anyone, let alone received visitors this late at night.Knock! Knock! Knock!"Who is it?" Ziyi asked, stepping closer as a sudden sense of unease crept up the back of her neck.There was no verbal response from outside, only a series of knocks that grew increasingly impatient. Ziyi took a short breath, then slowly turned the lock and opened the wooden door.Click.Ziyi's body froze instantly at the doorway. Her eyes widened in complete disbelief as she stared at the tall man standing before her in wrinkled clothes and with a face that looked utterly worn out."Ziyi..." Juna whispered, his voice hoarse, filled with an overwhelming sense of relief after spending days lost and directionless in a foreign land."You... how did you find this place?!" Ziyi shouted, her voice suddenly rising sharply, filled wi
The crystal chandeliers on the ceiling of the presidential suite emitted a warm golden glow, creating an atmosphere that was both highly intimate and sensual. Camelia stepped out of the bathroom with the remnants of warm water vapor still steaming thinly around her body. Her porcelain-white skin appeared freshly flushed, with her long hair left wet and loose, framing her beautiful face. She was only wearing a single large white towel wrapped around her body from her chest down to her thighs.Before Camelia could take another step closer to the bed, a well-built silhouette suddenly lunged forward, blocking her path. Calvin was already standing there. The man had already shed his shirt, leaving his sleek, muscular body clearly outlined under the dim lights of the bedroom."Calvin, you startled me—"*Sret!*"Ah!" Camelia shrieked under her breath as her words were cut short in midair.Without warning, Calvin’s sturdy fingers moved with a swift jerk, pulling the end
Chapter 16The door to Calvin’s apartment opened just as the clock hands pointed to nearly midnight.Samantha walked in with quick steps, kicking off her high heels carelessly. The moment she saw Calvin standing in the living room, still wearing his work shirt, her face immediately brightened.“Cal
Chapter 13Camelia Collyn closed her eyes. Her body lay on the sofa in Jonathan’s apartment, a thin blanket covering her. It was already late at night, the city lights faintly visible behind the curtains. That quiet atmosphere instead made her mind noisy.Old memories slowly surfaced.Ten years ago
Chapter 14Two months passed quickly, but for Calvin Ashford, his days felt heavier instead.That morning, Calvin had just sat down at the dining table when nausea hit him again. He covered his mouth, stood up in a hurry, and rushed to the bathroom.“Ugh—”The sound of vomiting was clearly heard.S
Calvin closed his eyes in his office chair. The lights in the office were still brightly lit, but his head felt heavy. Somehow, his thoughts had been drifting more and more often without permission. He took a deep breath, then slowly let it out.Yet the memory still came.That night, the rain was p







