With a thunderous crash, my carefully healed world cracked open again.]]


    Unwilling to believe it, I clicked on the materials Damien had sent.]]


    My heart grew colder as I read.


    I’d never forget that ident.]]


    Dad was on his way to buy my birthday present when a drunk truck driver mmed straight into him.


    That truck driver looked a lot like Sebastian.]


    And just a month ago, Sebastian had picked him up from prison.[]


    “What’s wrong, Vera?”


    Sebastian saw how pale I looked and crouched down to ask.[]


    I showed him my phone screen.[]


    .


    “I can exin…“]


    “No need!”


    I somewhat hysterically shouted at him:[]


    “if you approached me to make amends, sorry, I don’t need it!”


    Sebastian was thrown out, and tears streamed down my face.


    …[


    Dad’s thank–you banquet was about to begin. I forced myself to pull it together and handle everything.


    “Tonight, thank you all for honoring us with your presence.“[]


    Dad sat in his wheelchair wrapped in a nket.]


    But his presence was no lessmanding than those who stood.]


    Those people had to bow when talking to him.


    “Old John, I heard five years ago you made my daughter drink five bottles of liquor before signing a contract with her?”


    Dad said this with a cold smile.[]


    Old John felt his skin crawl and quickly apologized.[]


    52 <b>4</b><b>% </b>


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    “I won’t make things too hard for you today. You just drink five bottles of liquor too.“]


    Old John didn’t dare refuse, grimacing as he drank bottle after bottle.]]


    Dad watched coldly, then wheeled over to another person who’d been watching the show.]


    “Mr. Lee, I heard your son’s been going around saying my daughter’s a whore.“]


    “I’m sorry! I’ll go discipline him right away!“]


    “I hear they need coal miners up north. Send him there for some real–world experience.“[]


    …D


    Person by person, incident by incident.[]


    Dad settled every score for me.]]


    This “thank–you banquet” was really a tribunal.[]


    My heart swelled with warmth, and I wanted to cry.[]


    Finally, Dad wheeled over to Damien and Aria.


    Damien instinctively swallowed.


    “Young Thorne, if I could stand up, I’d really like to kick you.“]


    “My daughter married you only to be humiliated by you? Idiot!”


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    ?????????


    Aria stepped in front of Damien. “What right do you have to curse <i>at </i>


    Mr. Thorne?“]]


    Dad looked at her coldly.


    “Using my old methods, you’d be at the bottom of some unknown sea right now.”


    Aria shuddered, and Damien couldn’t help defending her.


    “Don’t frighten her.“[]


    “Hah, Damien, you’re such a fool.“]


    Dad pulled out a <b>contract </b>from his jacket to show him.


    “The woman you’re desperately protecting has been secretly transferring your assets. You’re broke now, and I can’t even be bothered dealing with you.“]


    Damien looked at it in disbelief.


    Mr Thorne, let me exin… ah


    Aras dapped to the ground hard. then Danten grabbed her by the throat


    For ter know whys Motor News,


    “Bitch<b>, </b>why did you do this to me!“[]


    Aria was tired of pretending andughed hoarsely:]


    “Because I love money. I only approached you for money too.“[]


    Damien suddenly loosened his grip.]


    He’d been drawn to Aria precisely because she seemed to only have eyes for him.]]


    Now even she had been deceiving him.]


    Aria saw her chance to escape, but Damien’s bodyguards held her down.[]


    “Dump her anywhere. I never want to see her again.“]


    “NO!”


    Aria struggled desperately but was still gagged and dragged away.[]


    Damien stared nkly at the sky, suddenly remembering all my good qualities.[]


    But he no longer had the face to approach me.[]


    The following days passed peacefully.


    Except yellow roses expressing apology kept appearing at my front door.


    I refused them all, having the servants throw them in the trash.]


    Dad sighed and said:[]


    “I don’t even me Sebastian, so don’t box yourself into a corner.“]


    “His father abandoned him and his mother long ago. His father’s actions have nothing to do with him.“[]


    “Life is short, gone in a blink. Don’t keep making things hard for yourself, sweetheart.“[


    After Dad left, I sat alone until dawn.[]


    From my room, I could see the front gate.]


    Sebastian<b>, </b>wearing a gray coat, ced dew covered yellow roses by the door and was about to leave silently.[]


    I ran downstairs, opened the iron gate, and found myself face to face with a shocked Sebastian.[]


    “Hey, that dinner I promised to buy you–do you still want it?”


    Sebastian fruze, the corners of his eyes slowly reddening, and he softly said “yes.“[]