Chapter 4

In the days that followed, I threw myself entirely into the final preparations for my overseas application. Soon, I received an acceptance letter from a university abroad, with my departure date set for the following month.

The day before I was due to leave, I had just walked out of the library when two men in black suits blocked my path. "Mr. Hayes, Ms. Thorne would like to see you."

I was forced into a car that sped off, eventually stopping at the top floor of a skyscraper overlooking the entire city skyline.

"Ms. Thorne is busy. Please wait here." The bodyguard led me into a glass-walled room, then turned and locked the door.

The room had an excellent view, with an entire wall made of huge, floor-to-ceiling glass. And directly opposite the glass was the city's most exclusive rooftop garden restaurant. At that moment, the restaurant was brightly lit, buzzing with people, and a grand birthday party was underway.

The guest of honor was Brandon Montgomery. He was dressed in a lavish suit, surrounded by a crowd. And standing beside him, adjusting his tie, gazing at him tenderly, was Eleanor.

I watched as Eleanor took Brandon's hand and they began the first dance. They spun, drew close, whispered, intimately resembling a perfect couple. The surrounding guests clapped, their faces filled with congratulations.

I suddenly wanted to laugh—laugh at my obsession in the previous life. Was it worth sacrificing my entire life for a woman who didn't love me? I closed my eyes, not wanting to see that dazzling scene anymore. But Eleanor's bloodied face from the earthquake in the previous life, and her trembling spine as she shielded me, resurfaced in my mind, uncontrollably.

She hated me, yet she saved me. This debt felt like a giant net, trapping me, unable to move.

I don't know how much time passed, but the party seemed to be winding down. The door behind me suddenly opened. I turned and saw Brandon Montgomery standing in the doorway. A triumphant smile played on his lips as he walked towards me, step by step.

"Julian Hayes," he stopped in front of me, looking down at me. "How does it feel? Watching the woman you love throw such a grand birthday party for *me*?"

It clicked. These bodyguards weren't sent by Eleanor; they were Brandon's. He wanted me to give up completely. But he didn't need to do this; in this life, I had no feelings left for Eleanor.

I said nothing, just looked at him coldly. My silence seemed to infuriate him, and the smile on his face twisted. "You think you can pretend to be noble by staying silent? Let me tell you, what's not yours, you'll never get!"

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "Do you know? If you hadn't suddenly appeared, Eleanor and I would have been engaged by now! You ruined everything for me!"

"Are you done?" I asked calmly. "If so, please let me leave."

Brandon Montgomery trembled with rage at my attitude. He suddenly pulled a knife from his suit's inner pocket, its blade gleaming menacingly in the light. My heart clenched.

"What are you going to do?"

"What am I going to do?" Brandon sneered, a flicker of madness in his eyes. "I'm going to show Eleanor how you pushed me! I'm going to make her realize that as long as you exist, I'll never have peace!"

Before I could react, he raised the knife and slashed his own wrist. He looked at me, a smile on his face, then shrieked loudly, "Please! I can give you anything! Why do you insist on pushing me to my death?!"

Outside, hurried footsteps immediately sounded. Eleanor was the first to rush in, clutching Brandon tightly in her arms, her face grim. Brandon leaned weakly against her, pale, and pointed a trembling finger at me. "Eleanor, he said he's the real Montgomery son, that I don't deserve any of this, that I should just die..."

Eleanor looked up, her eyes blazing with fury. "Julian Hayes," she said coldly. "Didn't I warn you to behave?"

"Today is Brandon's birthday. It was supposed to be the happiest day for him, and you ruined everything!"