Chapter 2

Watching him desperately protect Vanessa, the pain in my heart spread to every organ.

Five years together, and he made a vow in front of my father's memorial photo, saying he would take care of me for life.

After that, Adrian really did treat me with meticulous care. Even my mom praised him constantly, saying he was a man worth entrusting my life to.

We had agreed that once I finished mourning my father, we would get married.

But then I found the recording and bloodstained sheets from his first night with Vanessa hidden in the closet.

In that moment, my world collapsed.

Adrian, you never touched alcohol—how could you lose control while drunk?

So our thousand-plus days and nights together couldn't compare to one night of pleasure with her?

My throat burned with pain. Overwhelmed by grief, I couldn't help vomiting all over the bed.

Adrian's furious expression changed, and he frowned with some concern.

"Ella, are you really not feeling well?"

I didn't want to answer him. Everything spun around me.

In the last second before losing consciousness, I saw him rush over to catch me.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of relief. This kind of life would finally be over soon.

"Ella, you're finally awake. It's all my fault for not being by your side when you had this accident."

When I woke up, my mom sat by the hospital bed, haggard, worriedly holding my hand.

I smiled at her and told her to go home and rest properly. The nurse was here watching me—nothing serious.

As soon as my mom left, Adrian rushed in accusing me: "The doctor said your condition isn't serious. Why did you pretend to faint?"

"Do you know Vanessa's wound reopened because she was so worried about you? Ella, I never thought you'd become so manipulative!"

I looked silently at Adrian, suddenly losing the strength to defend myself.

Whenever Vanessa got hurt, it was always somehow my fault.

What was the point of explaining?

Disheartened, I thought of all our memories together.

He once said I was the most innocent and kind girl in the world, that he would cherish and protect me forever.

But after Vanessa appeared, he started taking her side without limits, stabbing my heart again and again with the cruelest words.

Three people in love was too crowded. I was truly exhausted.

If that's how it is, then I'll let you two have each other.

After Adrian left, I lay exhausted in the hospital bed and made a call.

"Mom, have you picked a wedding date?"

"Ella, Theo's coming back from abroad at the end of this month. Let's set the wedding for early next month."

"Okay."

I put down my phone and fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up, my phone was flooded with messages.

"Ella, Adrian is so romantic. After all these years, he's still devoted to you."

"I'm so jealous, Ella. You must be the happiest woman in Northbridge today."

Confused, I opened my social media. Adrian had set off a huge display of pink fireworks by the river.

But the woman he was holding in the video wasn't me—it looked exactly like Vanessa.

Under the blooming sky, they kissed intimately.

I smiled bitterly and closed the video. This firework display called "Ella's Crossing" was named after me by Adrian.

He said he would only make it bloom for me in this lifetime.

The fireworks bloomed in the night sky over the river, and my friends all thought he was trying to please me.