I pushed the dressing room door open and heard moans. I knew those voices. Alice, my cousin, and David, my boyfriend. I hurled the bouquet at them.
They froze. “Sophie, she came on to me,” David said. “Did she hold a gun to her head? ” I slapped him, then Alice.
My uncle Colton and aunt Michelle rushed in. My uncle’s face went pale. “How do I explain this to the Knights? I won’t marry that scarred Adrian Knight.
”
“Let her marry him,” Alice snapped. My aunt whispered in my ear. “Sophie, after everything we’ve done for you, take Alice’s place. ”
Then she leaned closer.
“I know where your mother is. ”
My mother had been gone for twenty years. I had nothing left to lose. “Fine.
I’ll marry Adrian Knight. ”
The wedding began. At the aisle stood a tall man in a black mask. Adrian Knight, son of Zatwell’s wealthiest family, the infamous heartbreaker.
The mask covered half his face. My uncle placed my hand in his. He stroked my thumb gently. “Are you ready, my bride?
” he whispered. The ring bearer carried a tray. When the host lifted the covering, gasps rippled through the crowd. The Sunset Flame.
The matching stone was worn by the princess of Yafta. Alice gritted her teeth in the audience. “You may kiss your bride. ”
I froze.
We only met today. Adrian hesitated too. At the reception, a man approached with a wine glass. Rory, my husband’s half brother.
“My brother is scarred. He won’t even take off his mask for the wedding, afraid you’ll run away. ”
I glanced at Adrian. He was calm, but he was my husband.
If he wouldn’t stand up for himself, I would. “I choose a husband for his character. If you can’t even treat your own brother decently, that’s pathetic. ”
“You’ve got quite the tongue.
I apologize for my mistake earlier. Consider this an apology drink. ”
I reached for the glass. He tilted his wrist.
Red wine poured down my chest. “My hand slipped. ”
Adrian draped his jacket over me. Rory turned to leave.
“If you can’t even hold a glass, maybe you don’t need that hand. ”
Adrian snapped Rory’s wrist. Rory screamed and crumpled. Adrian yanked his hair and poured wine over his head.
He looked like a drowned rat. Their father, Mike, stormed over. “You brat! What did you do to your own brother?
”
“Since you failed to teach him manners, I’ll do it myself. ”
Another kick landed on Rory’s face. A bloody tooth flew onto the carpet. “Apologize, or I swear I’ll disown you!
”
“As you wish. ”
Adrian lost all his money and properties. He was even worse off than me. I took him to my tiny apartment.
“Sorry if it feels cramped in here. ”
After I changed, I saw him stacking my magazines. “You’re nothing like the spoiled playboy people said. ”
He needed to take a call on the balcony.
I heard him on the phone. “Let me guess, Alice kicked you to the curb the second she found out you lost the money. ”
“She hasn’t ditched me yet. ”
“Soon.
”
It was late. There was only one bathroom. “You go first. ”
After he went in, I moved my blanket to the couch.
Adrian came out wearing only a towel. I quickly shut my eyes and turned away, but warmth filled my heart. The next morning, I woke up half an hour early to make a decent breakfast. Adrian had been sleeping on the couch for a night, and I felt a little guilty.
“Adrian, breakfast is ready. ”
I turned with the plate and found him standing right behind me. I let out a startled cry. My hand slipped.
The whole plate of pasta spilled all over him. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. ”
His suit was covered in sticky meat sauce.
A few drops were on his neck and jaw. I grabbed napkins in a panic. “Let me clean that up. ”
I wiped the sauce off his clothes frantically.
As I wiped, I noticed a few drops of orange sauce on his mask. Bright and glaring against the black. “Take off your mask. I’ll wash it for you.
”
My hand moved faster than my mind. Before he could answer, my fingers hooked around the edge of his mask. “No. I’ll do it myself.
”
He went into the bathroom. I bit my lip in regret. He’d been scarred since childhood and always wore the mask. He didn’t want anyone to see his face.
When he came out, I sat at the table awkwardly with a big bite of pasta in my mouth. “You know, at home you could take off the mask and breathe. We’re married. What’s there to hide?
”
“I’m used to it. ”
I didn’t push it. People with scars were sensitive. His comfort mattered more.
After breakfast, I pulled out my last two hundred dollars from my bag. “Go buy yourself some new clothes. ”
“Keep it. I have money.
”
“Stop being stubborn. Your cards are all frozen. Where would you get money? ”
I shoved the cash into his palm, then quickly put on my shoes and ran out.
Adrian looked at those crumpled bills and smirked. It was the first time anyone had ever pitied him. I went to the Barnes mansion to ask Michelle about my mother. Alice mocked me.
“How’s life with your ugly husband? Where did you spend your wedding night? On a park bench? ”
“I did what you wanted.
I married Adrian. Now tell me where my mother is. ”
“Is that how you talk to your aunt? Did you forget your manners?
”
“I married under Alice’s name. If you lied to me, I’ll tell the Knights the truth. ”
My aunt forced a fake smile and pulled a slip of paper from her bag. “Your mother is alive.
Here’s her number. ”
I dialed with shaking hands. “Soph? Is that you?
”
“Mom. ”
That nickname broke me. I told her I forgave her and begged her to come see me. I was overjoyed.
What I didn’t know was that the woman on the phone wasn’t my mother at all. This was just the start of a conspiracy. That night, the landlord showed up. He was a middle-aged man.
His gaze slithered through every corner of my living room. “What do you want? ”
“Just letting you know, rent’s going up next month. ”
“Again?
This is already ten percent higher than similar places. ”
“I’ll make you a deal. Spend one night with me, and I won’t raise the rent. ”
He reached toward me, leering at my chest.
“Get away from me! ”
Adrian came home just in time and punched the landlord to the floor. The landlord scrambled up. “Get out!
Both of you! I’m evicting you! ”
He threw a pile of cash on the floor. I crouched and picked it up.
We were kicked out. As we walked down the street with our suitcases, a man in sunglasses stopped us. “Need a place? A brand new penthouse.
Four bedrooms, a thousand. ”
I thought he was a scammer. But Adrian was already following him. The door opened and I was stunned.
The place was huge and everything screamed luxury. “All of this for a thousand? Really? ”
“I’m moving abroad, so I’d rather find someone to take care of it.
”
And just like that, we moved into the penthouse. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window looking out at the city lights. “Are we really living here? ”
“Yes.
Get some rest. You have work tomorrow. ”
Our company was acquired by Pinnacle Group. All designers had to take a live exam.
The theme was “promise. ”
I found my seat and noticed my superior, Lila, glaring at me from across the table with hostility. “What can an assistant designer draw? You’re not turning in a blank paper, are you?
”
“Didn’t I help with most of your work? Hope you still remember how to design. ”
I looked down at the diamond on my finger. An idea hit me.
I’d design a men’s ring to match mine. I sketched for a long time. When I turned in my paper, I left with confidence. Unbeknownst to me, Lila was behind me eyeing my design.
The next day I got a termination email. It said my design didn’t meet standards. Impossible. My design couldn’t have failed.
I immediately replied, demanding a review. Then I opened the company website. The homepage displayed the best design from the exam. The moment the image loaded, I shot to my feet.
That was my drawing, but it was signed with Lila’s name. I rushed to the company. My best friend Sarah was already waiting at the entrance. “Sophie, what you said on the phone, is it true?
”
“There were cameras in the exam room. The footage will prove it’s my drawing. ”
We walked to the turnstile, but security stopped me. “Former employees aren’t allowed inside.
”
I argued with the guard, but he stood his ground. Just then, a black Bentley stopped around the corner. Adrian walked up to me and gently pressed my shoulder. “What are you doing here?
”
“Just passing by. What’s going on? ”
I told him about my stolen design and being blocked at the door. After listening, he calmly took off his mask just for the guard to see.
The guard’s face changed instantly. He let me in. I only caught a glimpse of a small patch of skin under the mask. Smooth.
No scars. “Your face—”
“Go inside. Don’t waste time. ”
I didn’t have time to dwell on his face.
I grabbed Sarah and rushed inside. Unbeknownst to me, Adrian took the private elevator to the top floor. I found the design director, Zachary, and demanded the exam footage. He sent his assistant to check, but the assistant came back and said the footage was corrupted.
“Ms. Barnes, do you have any other proof? ”
Lila pulled a yellowed sketch from her desk and claimed it was her creative process. “I kept detailed records of my design process.
Zachary, Sophie has always been jealous of me. She’s just getting revenge. ”
“That’s clearly fake. She could have copied the ring after the contest and faked the date.
”
“Enough. You’re slandering Lila without proof. Sophie, leave now. ”
“Give me ten minutes.
Let us compete right here. Our skills will speak for themselves. ”
Zachary was about to refuse, but Simon, our new CEO, appeared. “I think this is a great idea.
”
Ten minutes later, we handed in our sketches. I pointed to the tiny “K” engraved on the band. “I designed this ring as a pair with the diamond on my finger. The K stands for my husband’s last name.
Lila’s sketch doesn’t have that letter at all. ”
The truth came out. She was fired on the spot and blacklisted from the industry. A few days later, a woman came to me.
She claimed to be my mother. She looked a bit like the mother I remembered. “Mom? Is it really you?
”
“Sophie, I finally get to see you. I’ve missed you so much. You’ve suffered a lot all these years. ”
She brought homemade cookies.
My nose stung. I took them and hugged her tight. “Mom, where have you been all these years? Why didn’t you come back for me?
”
“I had my reasons, Soph. Your father left behind debts. I left to escape the loan sharks. Can you forgive me?
”
I nodded and told her I forgave her, but something felt wrong. Her voice, her eyes. They weren’t the same as I remembered. I told myself maybe she’d changed after all those hard years.
I shouldn’t be so suspicious. A few days later, my mother collapsed at home. A neighbor called an ambulance. She was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure.
She needed a transplant. Her blood type was rare, O negative. Without a transplant, she probably had less than a year. I froze.
I was O negative too. I was her biological daughter. “Doctor, I want to donate my kidney. I’ll pay anything.
Just save her. ”
“First, do the matching test. Living donation is not a small matter. Think it through carefully.
”
When I got home, I told Adrian. His face changed immediately. “Are you insane? Do you know what losing a kidney means?
No late nights, no overworking. Even a cold could cause kidney inflammation. ”
“It’s my body. I’ll take responsibility.
She’s my mother. I can’t just watch her die. ”
“I won’t allow it. ”
We had a huge fight.
I turned and went into the bedroom, locking the door behind me. The matching results came back. It was a match. I silently packed my suitcase.
“Where are you going? ”
“To the hospital for the surgery. ”
“I won’t let you go. ”
He grabbed my wrist.
I tried to pull free, but he only tightened his grip. “Let go of me. ”
“I won’t. I’m your husband.
I have a say in this. I disagree and I won’t allow you to donate. ”
“Adrian, have you forgotten? Our marriage is just a contract.
Why take it so seriously? You almost look like you love me. ”
“You asked if I love you? ”
As soon as we entered the ward, I heard a man crying out.
A man was sitting on the floor, clinging to my mother’s leg, crying like a child. He clearly had mental disabilities. “Mom, don’t abandon me. Come home with me.
”
“Be good, sweetheart. Mommy will come back soon. Go home with the nanny first. ”
“No.
If I leave, you’ll become someone else’s mom. They said you put on makeup to pretend to be someone else’s mom. ”
I stared at her face. Something seemed off.
I rushed to the bathroom, wet a towel, and scrubbed her face hard. “What are you doing? Let me go! Are you crazy?
”
The foundation wiped off, revealing a completely different face underneath. Her features were nothing like the mother I remembered. “You’re not my mother. Who are you?
Why did you lie to me? ”
“It was Michelle. She paid me to pretend to be your mother. She wants your kidney.
”
I felt cold all over. It was all a plot. My aunt wanted to steal my kidney. After the scheme was exposed, Michelle was sent abroad that night by my uncle.
He said she’d never come back. I went back to work and threw myself into my job. “Sophie, guess what? Someone specifically requested you,” Sarah said.
“Who? ”
“Angie Crawford, the general manager of Luxy Fashion. The daughter of the Crawford Group president. She wants to be friends with you.
”
Angie was a top figure in fashion. Countless designers would kill to work with her. I didn’t know why she was interested in me. Soon after, I got a call from her.
“Miss Barnes, I really like your designs. Your ideas are very unique. I’d like to meet you in person. ”
“Of course, Miss Crawford.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity. ”
On the weekend, I got a wedding invitation from my ex-boyfriend, David. He had the bracelet my mother left me, and he was forcing me to come to the wedding to get it back. I hesitated for a long time, and I still went.
That bracelet meant a lot to me. I couldn’t just give it up. David sent Alice away and cornered me in the lounge. He closed the door.
“Sophie, you came. I know you still love me. ”
“Don’t flatter yourself. Give me back my bracelet, and I’ll leave.
”
“Sophie, I know you didn’t want to marry that ugly man. Divorce him, and we’ll start over. You married someone else, I cheated, we’re even. ”
“Are you insane?
My husband and I are very happy. ”
He grabbed my hand and tried to kiss me. I struggled with all my strength, but he was too strong. “Don’t be scared.
Once I get you laid, you’ll forget about him. I’ll treat you nice. Trust me. ”
Just then, the door was kicked open.
Adrian burst in and punched David square in the face. The punch sent David to the floor. Then Adrian kicked David between the legs. David curled up on the floor screaming in agony.
“Stop! You’ll kill him. ”
“Scum like him are better off gone. ”
Adrian pried the bracelet out of David’s hand and placed it in mine.
“Throw it away from me. He touched it. It’s dirty. ”
“Keep it.
It means a lot to you. ”
I lowered my head, tears welling up in my eyes. My mother made this bracelet for me. I didn’t want to throw it away.
When I got home, I washed the bracelet. I found a new red string and re-strung it. “Give me your hand. ”
I tied the bracelet around Adrian’s wrist.
He looked down at it. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. When I got back to the office, the design director, Juliet, called me into her office. She had a look of approval on her face.
“Sophie, the ring you designed for the exams, McCollum wants it. ”
“Really? He wants to commission it? ”
“Yes.
He paid thirty percent upfront and specifically requested that you oversee the whole process. From material selection to craftsmanship, everything is your responsibility. ”
“He just saw the design and he trusts me that much? ”
“And guess what the bonus is?
Eight hundred thousand. ”
Eight hundred thousand. That was enough to pursue my design dreams. I wouldn’t have to work odd jobs anymore.
I could focus entirely on what I loved. I excitedly got the client’s contact information and called him. “Hello, I’m the original designer of the ring ‘Promise. ’”
“Do you want me to change the ‘K’ inside the ring?
”
“No need. My last name starts with K, too. ”
I paused for a moment, finding the client’s attitude a bit strange. But I replied politely anyway.
The ring I was working on needed a top-quality black diamond. I went to the workshop and found a perfect cut black diamond. “This is the one I want. ”
“No.
This diamond is already reserved by a headquarters designer. You branch designers only get second-rate materials. ”
“According to company policy, any unset stone not yet assigned is fair game for every branch. ”
“Rules are rules, but reality is reality.
If you have the guts, go tell Mr. Knight yourself. ”
I picked up the phone and called the group founder directly. The line connected and a deep voice answered.
“What is it? ”
“Mr. Knight, I believe the designers at Pinnacle Jewelry are not inferior to those at headquarters. I request to use this diamond for my work.
”
“I’ve seen your design. The lines are full of life. I approve your request. ”
I was so excited I almost jumped.
I didn’t know that the man on the phone was the same one sleeping next to me every night. I got my bonus and decided to take Adrian out to dinner. I picked an expensive restaurant. We were waiting for a table at the entrance.
“This place is famous in the city. It’s my first time here, too. ”
“You’re paying, so I’ll just eat. ”
Just then, Lila walked over with a bald man.
“Oh, if it isn’t our star designer. Waiting outside? Can’t afford a table? ”
“We’re in line.
Can’t you see? ”
“Poor people shouldn’t pretend to be rich. A steak costs 2,800. Can you even afford it?
”
From behind me, Adrian pulled a black card from his wallet and handed it to the waiter. The waiter’s attitude changed instantly. “Sir, ma’am, please follow me. We have a private suite prepared for you.
”
Lila’s face turned pale. Security escorted her and her date out of the restaurant. I’d always felt guilty about Adrian’s wedding band. The plain ring the Barnes family gave him was so plain.
I used my own savings to secretly custom-make a men’s ring. From design to finishing, everything was done by my own hands. Every detail was filled with my deep love for him. Back at home, when he wasn’t looking, I measured his finger size.
I kept the ring hidden in my bag. Now that we were alone, I took it out. “This is for you. ”
“What’s this?
”
“The ring you gave me is so precious. I designed this ring myself. It’s not worth much, but you deserve a real ring. ”
Adrian didn’t say a word.
He took the ring and slowly put it on his finger. “I love it. ”
On the weekend, my best friend Sarah dragged me to a bar. She said she was heartbroken and needed me to drink with her.
“Tonight we drink until we drop. ”
“That singer I liked, he was kissing the female drummer backstage. ”
“You’re heartbroken over that? You two never even started.
”
I had several drinks with her. My head started spinning. On my way to the bathroom, I passed a half-open private room. I saw Adrian.
A middle-aged woman was holding his arm, urging him to drink. My mind went blank. What was he doing here? Who was that woman?
Then a horrible thought hit me. Was he working as a gigolo? I ran home, curled up on the couch, and waited. When he walked in, I cried and begged him to quit.
“Adrian, don’t do this. I don’t need your money. ”
“What do you think I’m doing? ”
“That woman is Mara.
She’s practically family. She’s known me since I was a kid. ”
I was so embarrassed. I wanted to crawl into a hole.
After we moved to the new apartment, Adrian kept wearing the same few shirts. I used a small bonus from the competition to secretly buy him a new shirt at the mall. Dark blue with soft fabric. When I got home, he was cooking in the kitchen.
I left the bag on the couch and pretended nothing happened. “What’s that bag on the couch? ”
“Nothing. Just for you.
You brought this? Your shirts are all old. I just saw this one and thought it would suit you. ”
“Thank you.
”
I watched him leave the house in the shirt I bought, and a quiet happiness filled my chest. That night, Sarah said she was taking me somewhere fun. She pulled me into a luxuriously decorated club. “What is this place?
”
“A gigolo club. ”
“What? No way, I’m married. ”
“Come on.
Just come with me for the experience. ”
She dragged me inside. As I passed a private room, I glimpsed Adrian again. A dozen thoughts raced through my mind.
Was he really a gigolo? Tears flooded my eyes. This time I didn’t run away. I rushed right in.
“Adrian! Please quit. I don’t want your money. ”
“Here we go again.
She’s Mora, Simon’s mother. I’m here to pick her up. ”
“Oh, you’re Sophie? Adrian has told me about you.
You’re adorable. ”
My face turned bright red. I misunderstood him again. Mora invited me for tea and talked about Adrian’s childhood.
Then she suddenly mentioned his birthday. His birthday? I didn’t know. He’d never mentioned it.
“Tomorrow is his birthday. That boy, why wouldn’t he tell you that? ”
I went to Mora’s house that night to learn how to bake a cake. She said he liked strawberries as a kid.
So I made a strawberry cake. At two in the morning, I came home with the cake. Adrian was still sitting on the couch waiting for me. “It’s so late.
Where have you been? ”
“Happy birthday. ”
I lit the candles and sang happy birthday. He looked at the crooked little cake and his eyes turned red.
“Thank you, Sophie. ”
The competition began. The theme was “love. ” A lead designer from headquarters named Cara was competing with me.
She’d always been hostile to me, trying to outshine me at every turn. At the presentation, I was about to show my sketches. But they were soaked in coffee. My laptop wouldn’t turn on either.
“I told you putting a junior designer on stage is too risky. She can’t even handle basic preparation. ”
“Give me a pen and a piece of paper. I can redraw it right now.
”
“Who has time to wait for you to draw? This is ridiculous. ”
“Let her draw. ”
I drew for ten minutes.
When I held up my sketch, the room went silent. “This earring set is called ‘Echo. ’ Every woman holds something in her mind that remains unspoken, yet echoes beneath her silence. ”
My design won the highest score, but before the results were even announced, Cara accused me of cheating.
“Her accident was too convenient. It made her stand out. Who knows if she planned it herself? ”
“When I left the room to go to the bathroom, you were the only one left in the room.
”
“Since no one will admit it, let Candy settle it. ”
Angie brought in a white poodle. The dog sniffed the coffee-stained sketch, then walked straight to Cara and barked at her hem. “This dog doesn’t understand social manners.
She just tells the truth. If she got it wrong, please forgive her. ”
“I’m sorry. I did it.
Please don’t call the police. ”
Cara was banned from the industry. I entered the finals in first place. I held the trophy, my eyes wet with tears.
The pre-final gala was held at Mr. Powell’s estate. I showed up at the entrance in a blue gown. Alice was there too.
She deliberately lured me to the staircase, leaving me standing there like a fool. Everyone was staring. I didn’t know how to dance. I froze, my palms sweating.
Just as I was about to run, a hand took mine. “Follow me. ”
“I don’t know the steps. ”
“Just follow my lead.
Left foot forward. Yes. Just like that. ”
He spun me around the dance floor.
In my high heels, I stepped on his feet several times. He didn’t get impatient at all. “You remind me of my wife and me. Trusting each other, leaning in when things are uncertain.
That’s what love looks like. ”
He promised on the spot to support my design. I looked at Adrian, and a courage I’d never felt before rose in my chest. Before the gala ended, Alice called me to the second-floor corridor.
Her eyes were full of hatred. “Sophie, you think you’ve won? You’re just a stand-in. ”
“What do you really want?
”
She suddenly grabbed my wrist, then threw herself backward, tumbling down the stairs all on her own. “Sophie, why did you push me? My baby. ”
The whole room erupted.
Everyone was pointing at me. I stood there frozen, trembling. “Even if she really did push you, I’m on her side. ”
Adrian called over the waiter whose tray I’d bumped into.
The waiter pulled out the cash and text messages Alice had sent him. “She paid me to ruin Ms. Barnes’ dress and lure her somewhere without cameras. ”
Alice’s plot was exposed.
She was carried away on a stretcher, glaring at me with venom before she went. After Alice was carried away, the ballroom was silent for a few seconds. Then every eye turned to me. I knew I couldn’t hide anymore.
I stepped forward and spoke to everyone. “I’m not Alice. My name is Sophie Barnes. They forced me to be the stand-in bride.
”
I heard whispers, shaking heads, cold laughs. But I didn’t care anymore. “I’ve known for a long time. I’ve been waiting for you to tell me yourself.
”
Tears poured out of my eyes. He knew everything, but he never questioned me. “From now on, you don’t have to pretend to be anyone else. ”
On the day of the finals, I stood backstage, my palms sweating.
My piece was called “Evermore. ” It was inspired by the Powells’ sixty-year marriage. A circular pendant unfolding in layers like a sundial. It was my turn.
I took a deep breath and walked into the spotlight. “This piece is called ‘Evermore. ’ The Powells’ love never relied on grand promises. But for sixty years, they’ve never left each other’s side.
”
Thunderous applause broke out. The gold medal went to Sophie Barnes. I stood on the podium holding the trophy, tears blurring my vision. I looked down at the audience.
Adrian was standing in the crowd, applauding for me. When the presenter walked onto the stage, I froze. The face was familiar. “Congratulations, Sophie.
”
“Beasley? Is that you? ”
“You still remember me. Not bad.
”
He was the boy who lived next door when I was little. Beasley, who always snuck me candy. He’d become an international supermodel. “Yesterday, someone tried to bribe me to lower your score.
I refused, and I kept the evidence. ”
He exposed the bribery scandal. That’s why my ranking jumped from third to first. “So, Soph.
It’s been so long. Let’s have dinner together. ”
“She’s busy. ”
I thought he was jealous.
After the competition ended, I dragged Adrian to the mall. I wanted to buy a birthday gift for Theo, my team leader. He’d helped me a lot with my designs. “What do you think of these cufflinks?
”
“They’re fine. ”
I didn’t know why he was suddenly unhappy. “You remembered Theo’s birthday and even got him a gift. What about mine?
”
Only then did I remember. Even though I’d made him a birthday cake, I never gave him a birthday gift. “I’m sorry. ”
“You don’t need to apologize.
”
I pulled a crumpled piece of paper from my bag and shoved it into his hand. “This is an exclusive wish voucher. I will grant your wish. Anything you want, as long as it’s reasonable.
”
“Okay. ”
Theo was leaving. He was going to another international jewelry company as design director. “Sophie, do you like me?
Would you consider coming to my new company? ”
“Theo, I—”
“She’s not going. ”
When did Adrian get here? I froze.
“Adrian? What gives you the right to decide for me? ”
“He likes you. Can’t you see that?
”
“It’s my business, not yours to interfere with. ”
We didn’t talk for days. Neither of us gave in. “I’m sorry.
I was afraid of losing you. ”
The way he looked at me, like a child who did something wrong, my anger melted away. “Don’t do that again. ”
On the weekend, Adrian and I went to the mall.
Passing a real estate booth, I looked at the models and suddenly wanted a home. Our current place was rented. I wanted to buy a house that was truly ours. “Which one do you like?
”
I picked a three-bedroom unit and got ready to pay the deposit. The salesperson said there was a raffle today. Every client got a raffle ticket. The grand prize was that penthouse.
I drew a ticket randomly. “Grand prize. ”
I froze. “This can’t be real.
”
“You’re not seeing things. ”
We went to a car dealership next. I won another raffle. I bought a Maybach for sixty dollars.
I thought I was on a lucky streak. What I didn’t know was that Adrian arranged all of it. One day at work, Sarah suddenly sent me a link. “Sophie, look at this.
The tabloids just posted it. ”
I clicked on it. It was photos of Adrian and a famous actress, Daisy. They were trying on wedding dresses in a boutique.
She was holding his arm. He was carrying her shopping bags. They were sitting close in a café. My hands were shaking.
The man in the photos was wearing a black mask, but the build, the suit. I recognized him. “Sophie, are you okay? ”
“I’m fine.
”
I put my phone face down on the desk and pretended to be calm. But my heart felt like it was being torn apart. I’m going to divorce Adrian. That night, I got home before Adrian.
I sat at my desk and wrote a divorce agreement. I gave him the penthouse and the Maybach. “Sophie, come out. ”
“Just go.
The agreement is on the coffee table. ”
“I’m not signing it. ”
“What do you want? ”
“Open the door.
I want to talk to you face-to-face. ”
“We have nothing to talk about. ”
He was silent for a long time. I thought he was gone.
“You want a divorce? Only over my dead body. ”
Angie invited me to Mariposas for inspiration, saying it had the world’s oldest emerald mines. I agreed, hoping to clear my mind.
At the hotel lobby, I saw a woman’s back. Her figure, her walk. So much like my mother who disappeared twenty years ago. I chased after her.
She walked faster and faster, and I couldn’t catch up. Around a corner, she vanished. Just as I turned to leave, a wet cloth covered my mouth and nose. A sharp chemical smell filled my throat.
My consciousness began to fade. I heard a man’s voice. “The buyer wants her kidney. O negative, rare blood type.
Worth a lot. ”
I was locked in a basement, my hands tied to an operating table. The kidnappers said they were waiting for a doctor sent by the buyer. The last kidnapper pressed a gun to my head.
Adrian threw away his weapon. The kidnapper hesitated. And in that split second, Adrian punched him down. I didn’t know how much time had passed.
The door suddenly burst open. Adrian stood at the entrance, his mask glinting coldly in the dim light. “Who are you? How did you find this place?
”
He didn’t answer. Gunshots rang out. One by one, the kidnappers fell. A bullet grazed his arm.
Blood dripped down. I froze. He’d never told me any of this. The bridal boutique was for booking a shoot.
He wanted to give me a real wedding. “Why didn’t you tell me? ”
“I didn’t want you involved. I’m sorry.
”
I looked at his tired face, and my anger slowly faded. We promised each other no more secrets from now on. At the Mariposas Emerald Auction, I saw David and Alice. David deliberately raised the bids, trying to make Mr.
K pay more. “500,000. ”
He thought Mr. K would raise his bid.
“Winning bid, 500,000. The winner is David Lloyd. ”
“What? Impossible.
What about the masked man? He didn’t bid? ”
But when the auctioneer read the result, he froze. David’s face went white.
He didn’t even have 500,000. He was just baiting the trap. He never expected the other side to suddenly back off. He was forced to borrow money to buy the stone.
When it was cut open, only a thin layer of green. The rest was gray waste. 500,000 gone. David was bankrupt.
Alice wailed in the auction hall. I turned away without looking back. After the auction ended, a man named Kevin walked up to me. He was Mr.
K’s assistant. “Ms. Barnes, Mr. K prepared this for you.
”
He opened a box. Inside were more than a dozen emeralds neatly arranged, each one priceless. “This is too valuable. I can’t accept it.
”
“Mr. K said if you won’t take them, throw them all away. ”
I had no choice but to pick the smallest one. When I got home, I turned it into a necklace and put it around Adrian’s neck.
“This is your lucky charm from Mr. K. Thank him for me. ”
I looked at his profile, the way he smiled, the tone of his voice.
There was something about him that reminded me of Mr. K. I heard from Sarah that retired actress Stella Boone had a secret remedy for scars. I immediately booked an appointment with her, hoping to help Adrian remove his scars.
“I’m here to beg you. I heard you have a secret remedy. I want your help to remove my husband’s facial scars. ”
“There’s no secret remedy.
You can leave. ”
She stood up to see me out. Then she clutched her chest. Her face went white and she collapsed.
I immediately called an ambulance and rushed her to the hospital. The doctor said she had a heart attack. A few more minutes and she would have died. “You saved my life.
Tell me, how can I help you? ”
“Please, help my husband remove the scars on his face. ”
“I promise. ”
The treatment lasted a month.
Adrian wore the ointment every day, and the scars on his face slowly faded. “It’s done. Your face is completely healed. ”
She left.
Only Adrian and I were left in the room. He stood in front of the mirror, slowly raising his hand to take off the mask. I held my breath. The moment the mask came off, I froze.
“You… There are no scars on your face. Never. ”
“Then why…? ”
“My mother asked me to wear it.
She said until I was strong enough, no one should see my face. She was afraid of the Knight family. ”
I stared at that flawless face for a long time. Those sharp brows, those deep eyes, that high nose.
He was better looking than any movie star I’d ever seen. “You lied to me for so long. ”
“I’m sorry. ”
I stared at Adrian’s face, my mind a jumble.
His features were striking. “You’re the founder of Pinnacle Group? ”
“Yes. ”
“You’re Mr.
K? ”
“Yes. ”
I took a deep breath. Suddenly, everything made sense.
The penthouse, the Maybach, the diamond, the emeralds. All his doing. “You pretended to be poor, scarred, just an ordinary person. You’ve been acting all this time?
”
“Yes. ”
I raised my hand to hit him, but it stopped in midair. “Do you know how worried I was about you? I pinched every day, terrified you’d go without food or clothes.
”
“I know. I’m sorry. ”
I looked at him, both angry and amused, and finally punched him in the chest. “Why?
Why did you lie to me? ”
“My mother arranged the engagement with the Barnes family when I was a child. I didn’t want to marry a stranger, so I pretended to be poor, hoping my future wife would back out. ”
“And then?
”
“Then you married me in Alice’s place. You didn’t look down on me. You gave me your money, cooked for me, and bought clothes for me. ”
As I listened to him, my eyes slowly reddened.
“I wore the mask for my own safety. My mother told me never to take it off until I found out the truth about her death. ”
I leaned into his chest. His arms wrapped around me, his chin resting on top of my head.
We held each other tight for a very long time. That night, Adrian said he wanted to take me somewhere. He held my hand as we walked through the park paths we used to stroll together. “Remember this place?
This is where you gave me your first gift. ”
“The bracelet? ”
“Yes. I’ve worn it every day.
”
He led me to the flower bed in the center of the park. Moonlight spilled over the grass. It was very quiet. “Why did you bring me here?
”
Adrian pulled out a large bouquet of champagne roses from behind his back. I took the bouquet, surprised. Every rose had a small gift tied to its stem. Strawberry chocolates, a crystal star, a pearl pendant.
“You prepared all of this? ”
I pulled out one rose. Attached to its stem was a ring. Its moonstone was beautiful, glowing gently in the moonlight.
“You said the pink diamond was too flashy. This ring isn’t showy. You can wear it. ”
“When did you prepare this?
”
“From the moment you gave me the ring you made with your own hands. ”
“Thank you, Adrian. ”
“I’m the one who should thank you for coming into my life. ”
One day, I went back to the old house where I lived with my mother as a child.
The house was ransacked, but my old room was clean. I opened a drawer and found a necklace. A silver chain, the pendant engraved with a double-tailed eagle. I didn’t recall my mother ever having a necklace like this.
“This emblem is the Crawford Group’s family crest. Angie’s family. ”
“Your mother’s disappearance might be connected with the Crawfords. ”
I clutched the necklace, my fingers turning white.
Angie befriending me. It was no coincidence. “I’ll find out the truth. ”
Adrian’s people investigated for months and finally pieced together the truth.
Twenty years ago, Angie’s father and Mike Knight tampered with a car, killing my grandparents. I froze. Mike was Adrian’s father. Angie’s father was his business partner.
My mother found out and wanted to report to the police. They were afraid. So they pushed her down the stairs. “What about the knife wounds on your mother’s body?
”
“She and Mike had a fight. Before she died, she used her last strength to wound him. ”
I held his hand. His palm was sweaty.
“We also found your mother. She was kidnapped by Angie and is being held on the Crawford family’s private island. She’s alive. ”
Tears poured from my eyes.
My mother was still alive. Adrian contacted the police and led a raid on the Crawford family’s private island. We found my mother in a small hut on the island. She was nothing but skin and bones.
When she saw me, tears streamed down her face. “Sophie, is it really you? ”
“Mom, it’s me. ”
We held each other and cried for a while.
“I’m taking you home. ”
Adrian stood at the door, not coming in. Mike and Angie’s father were arrested. Mike confessed to murdering Adrian’s mother.
After twenty years, the truth had finally come to light. I brought my mother back to Zatwell from the island. She needed rest. The doctor said her body was too weak.
My uncle Colton came. The moment he entered, he knelt in front of me. “Sophie, I’m sorry. I really didn’t know what your aunt did to you.
I thought she just didn’t like you. ”
“Get up. ”
“Can you forgive me? ”
I looked at his aged face.
I remembered the candy he secretly slipped me when I was little. “I forgive you. But from now on, the Barnes family and I are done. ”
“I understand.
”
The door closed. I was finally free of the Barnes family. The Evermore collection was a huge success. The company decided to promote me to design director.
“Congratulations, Director Barnes. This is your new office. ”
I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window looking out at the city below. Adrian blindfolded my eyes.
“So mysterious. What are you up to? ”
“You’ll see when we get there. ”
I heard the sound of wind, and the air smelled like salty seawater.
He removed the blindfold. We were standing on the deck of a yacht. The deck was covered with rose petals. The sunset bathed the sea in golden light.
Adrian knelt on one knee, pulling out a ring box from his pocket. “Sophie Barnes, will you marry me? ”
“I do. ”
Adrian planted roses all over the yard.
“All these roses, you planted them yourself? ”
“I hired a gardener. But I come to check on them every day. ”
“Why?
”
“Because you like them. ”
Every morning, I sketched on the balcony and he worked at the table beside me. Sunlight fell on us. Quiet and warm.
My mother was slowly getting better. She often came to stay with us, cooking Adrian’s favorite dishes. “Adrian, you’re too thin. Eat more.
”
“Thank you, Zola. ”
At last, we lived a simple, happy life just like any ordinary couple. One year later, I gave birth to a baby girl. I sat on the couch holding our newborn daughter.
Adrian had his arm around us, looking through our wedding photos. “Look at you back then. So nervous. ”
“You’re one to talk.
Your hands were shaking. ”
The doorbell rang. I opened the door. My mother was standing there holding a bag of homemade cookies.
“Where’s my granddaughter? Grandma’s here. ”
She held the baby, smiling from ear to ear. Adrian stood behind me, his arm around my waist.
The photographer pressed the shutter, freezing this moment forever. My name is Sophie Barnes. This is my story.
