LOGINEzra's hand, which had been idly toying with the lighter, stilled. The metal casing clicked, the crisp sound unusually sharp in the quiet night.He slowly turned his head, surprise filling his eyes.He raised a brow, his expression caught between curiosity and confusion. "What do you mean? Weren't you just about to win her over? Weren't you smug and satisfied a few days ago? What is this supposed to be now?"Backing out halfway, giving up at the final step… that's not your style, Prince."Bruce did not answer. He took another deep drag of his cigarette.The inhale was harsh and forceful, as if he meant to crush the surging emotions in his chest that had nowhere to go.After a moment, through the drifting smoke, he spoke in a low, heavy voice. "She… doesn't have me in her heart."Ezra froze."No way, right?" he said at once. "The way she treats you—""To her, every moment of staying by my side is torment," Bruce said, curling his lips in self-mockery.He thought of the way she
'Be rational. Be rational, be rational. The man in front of you is your greatest benefactor. I can't, and shouldn't, throw a tantrum at him. Endure, endure, I have to endure…'Isolde took a steady breath, careful not to show it, then slowly exhaled. The stiffness in her expression eased back to normal.She lifted her gaze, her tone calm. "Prince, if you went out, you must have had something important to deal with, right?"She tilted her head slightly, her smile flawless. "If I ask about everything, wouldn't that make me seem too inconsiderate?"'Considerate… Ha!' Bruce looked at her composed expression and felt a surge of twisted anger, laced with a deep, chilling coldness, rush to his head.He straightened abruptly and pulled away from her, no longer looking at her.His soaked shirt clung to his tense back, outlining sharp lines. With his back to her, his voice turned cold and hard. "Yes, you're very considerate."He raised his hand and glanced at his watch."It's almost time
Then Isolde activated her AI assistant. "Heart, put this number on the blacklist and block all unknown calls.""Okay, Isolde. The number has been blacklisted, and unknown calls have been blocked." After the assistant's reply, the room fell into a long silence.Isolde leaned back on the sofa, completely drained, her eyes empty and lifeless.Bruce peered through the crack in the door, watching her. He had never seen her like this.Around him, she was always cheerful and smiling, always gentle. Even when her hands hurt, she endured it without complaint.'So… all this time, has she never shown her true self to me?'"You've been through so much together, spent so long side by side, and you still don't love him… You will never love him in your life…"Alan's words echoed in his ears, each one like an ice spike piercing his heart again and again.Bruce's throat tightened."Isolde…" He whispered her name without thinking, his voice hoarse and almost unrecognizable.Pain surged like a
Bruce forced himself to calm down. He could not scare Isolde.Just as he twisted the doorknob and eased the door open a crack, a man's voice came from inside.It was Alan. He was asking Isolde, "Since you know Bruce and Claudia are together, why haven't you left him?"Bruce froze mid-motion. Blood seemed to congeal in his veins, and his grip on the doorknob tightened until his knuckles turned white. He held his breath and strained to listen."It's none of your business. Don't call me again." Isolde's tone was sharp with disgust.She moved her wrist to end the call.Alan's fierce, distorted voice rose at once. "You still won't leave him after he cheats on you? Isolde, are you out of your mind? Do you love him so much that you have no limits and can't let go?"Bruce's heart leapt into his throat.Alan seemed to realize something. "No… that's not right!"His voice filled with manic delight. "With your personality, you can't tolerate even a grain of sand in your eye. You would nev
Bruce ended the call, his mind buzzing. 'Isolde knows. She has known all along…'Every detail clicked into place. The way she avoided his gaze when she handed him the sobering soup that night. The unreasonable question before his birthday, asking whether he would have time. Her strange remark the night before about going back to the palace being better for him.She knew.The realization struck his chest like a hammer and left him momentarily breathless.He slammed his foot on the accelerator. The sports car roared down the empty early-morning streets, the needle climbing rapidly.He had to get back immediately, see her, and explain everything. Claudia, the deal, the one-week arrangement, all of it could go to hell. He only needed Isolde not to misunderstand him.But the universe seemed determined to oppose him. As soon as he reached the main city road, he ran into a tailback that stretched endlessly ahead.Morning rush hour, combined with a minor accident, had completely paralyz
Isolde began to wonder how much longer she could endure. At this rate, she would never be able to repay her debt of gratitude. What should she do?Late that night…Bruce's phone vibrated softly, waking him. He picked it up with minimal movement and held it to his ear.After a moment, his eyes darkened.He ended the call, rose quietly, put on his coat, and left the room.The door closed almost without a sound. Yet the instant it clicked shut, Isolde opened her eyes.She stared at the dark doorway and felt the empty space beside her. A hollow weight settled in her chest, as if her heart were sinking deeper into the surrounding darkness."He must be going to see Claudia. How considerate, waiting until I fell asleep before leaving." A bitter laugh slipped from her lips as she closed her eyes again. "I don't care. It's as it should be. I agreed to this. I don't care. There's no need to care. Just sleep…"Beneath the covers, however, her fingers tightened around the sheets, betraying
Isolde's anxious mind latched onto the clue. "What happened to him?""Fine. I'll be nice and tell you all about it," Sandra said.She sounded less generous than thrilled to deliver bad news. "Bruce spent 700,000,000 dollars on the medicine and another sizeable fortune covering the losses of your a
Jane chortled. "Oh God, she's strong-arming you into this whether you like it or not!" She rolled up her sleeves and stretched her arm with excitement."There's only one way to free yourself from this clanker, Bruce. Want me to smash this thing into scrap metal? Your wish is my command!"Bruce reg
Spade froze, then slumped into standby mode.Bruce studied it, his eyes narrowing, and knew exactly who was piloting it.A few seconds later, Spade snapped back online. "Allow me, Master Bruce."It reached for his buttons without hesitation or shame. The pilot had clearly ejected from her cockpit
Sandra was on the verge of collapse. "Jason! Are you really going to stand by and watch me get kicked out?"Jason fell silent for a moment. Then he lowered his voice and offered a dangerous suggestion. "Haven't you already gotten married? You're Alan's legal wife. Find a way to transfer funds from







