Chapter 3

**Ben Hayes POV**

Today was my birthday party.

As the host, I was worried, constantly glancing towards the entrance.

Nova had promised to come, but she still hadn't shown up.

The banquet hall buzzed with cheerful guests.

Suddenly, a stir at the entrance.

Ronnie had arrived.

He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, Iris Miller clinging to his arm in a flowing white gown.

Iris gently held his arm, while Ronnie carried a baby in a blanket.

The picture of a happy family of three captured everyone's attention.

**Ronnie Thorne POV**

I ignored everyone's stares and walked directly towards a figure in the corner.

Nova had arrived sometime earlier.

She wore simple jeans and a white T-shirt, bare-faced, holding a glass of juice, as quiet as an outsider.

She had lost weight; her chin was so sharp it hurt to look at.

A flicker of an unfamiliar emotion crossed my mind, but it was quickly replaced by annoyance.

She was playing these disgusting games again.

I walked up to her, deliberately shifting the baby in my arms closer to Iris.

Iris spoke softly.

"Nova, long time no see. I know you're hurting, but you can't force feelings. Ronnie is a family man now; you should let go."

**Nova Hayes POV**

Ronnie's friends immediately surrounded me, chanting in unison.

"Exactly, Nova, you've chased him for eight years, haven't you faced reality yet?"

"It was one thing when he was single, but now he has a kid. If you keep clinging to him, you'll just be making a fool of yourself."

"You should know your place. Don't make things awkward for everyone."

Each mocking word, each sneering laugh, felt like countless needles piercing me.

And Ronnie, he just stood there, watching coldly.

I knew he was waiting.

He was waiting for me to break down, to cry and make a scene, just like I had countless times before.

But I just lifted my eyes and looked at them.

I looked at the smiling Iris, then at the baby in Ronnie's arms.

Finally, I looked at Ronnie's cold face.

I smiled.

"Is that so?"

"Then I wish you both,"

I raised my glass of juice towards them.

"May you grow old together."

With that, I drained the juice in my glass, then turned and walked towards another group of people.

Ronnie's smile froze.

Iris's expression was also a little bewildered.

The friends around them exchanged glances, no one speaking another word.

3.

**Ronnie Thorne POV**

A surge of indescribable irritation swelled within me.

I hated this feeling of losing control.

Nova shouldn't have reacted like that.

She should have cried, she should have screamed, she should have demanded to know why I was doing this to her.

Then I could have thrown all my harsh words at her face, making her disappear from my world forever.

But she didn't.

She just calmly wished us well, then walked away.

"Ronnie, this..."

The person next to me was at a loss.

Iris gently tugged my sleeve.

"Ronnie, did I say something wrong? Nova looks really upset."

I suppressed that flicker of unease and scoffed.

"Upset? She's faking it."

Even as I said that, I couldn't help but watch her.

Nova walked to the other end of the banquet hall. Ben immediately went to her, murmuring something to her with a worried expression.

Nova shook her head, even offering a reassuring smile.

That smile infuriated me.

Ben suddenly looked up, glaring at me furiously.

He shielded Nova behind him and stormed over.

"Ronnie!"

Ben's voice was laced with towering rage.

"It's my birthday today. What's with you bringing people here to put on a show?"

I held the baby.

"I came to wish you a happy birthday. What's the problem?"

"Don't you dare pretend with me!"

Ben was so angry he spoke without thinking.

"Don't think I don't know what you did to Nova! What kind of person are you?"

"What did I do?"

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"I just let my fiancée and baby meet everyone in advance, so some people don't cling to unwarranted fantasies. I'm helping your sister, making her face reality sooner."

"You—"

Ben raised his hand, ready to throw a punch.

"Ben!"

**Nova Hayes POV**

I quickly walked over and grabbed his arm.

Looking at my brother, I gently shook my head.

Seeing this, Iris quickly stepped forward, clinging to Ronnie's arm, and softly said to Ben,

"Ben, don't be angry, it's all a misunderstanding. Ronnie didn't mean any harm."

As she spoke, she seemed to stumble, her body swaying.

The red wine glass in her hand accidentally slipped, spilling the entire contents perfectly onto my white dress.

"Ah!"

Iris cried out in surprise, quickly pulling out tissues to wipe the wine stain from my chest.

"I'm so sorry, Nova, I didn't mean to. Please don't blame me."

I felt her hand, seemingly wiping, but actually tugging hard at my clothes.

The more she "wiped," the dirtier my dress became.

I slapped Iris's hand away.

"Don't touch me."

Iris was pushed back a step, her eyes instantly reddening. She looked at Ronnie, wronged.

"Ronnie, I..."

Ronnie's anger flared.

He handed the baby to someone nearby, shielded Iris behind him, and sharply barked at me,

"Nova, what the hell is wrong with you? Iris apologized, what more do you want?"

I looked at him, feeling only absurdity.

I said nothing, turning to leave this place.

The moment I turned, a sound came from above.

Everyone instinctively looked up.

The giant crystal chandelier in the center of the banquet hall was plummeting from the ceiling!

Right below it were Iris and I!

I saw the terrified screams and scattering figures of the people around me.

I saw my brother, Ben, rushing towards me in a panic.

I saw Ronnie.

I saw him move.

His movements were decisive, he rushed towards Iris without hesitation.

He pulled her tightly into his arms, turning his back to the danger, shielding her perfectly.

In that moment, in my world, there was only Ronnie's resolute back.

Turns out, in such a moment, I didn't even deserve a glance from him.

"Nova—!"

Ben's heartbreaking cry was drowned out by a colossal crash.

A sharp pain struck me from above. The second before my consciousness was swallowed by darkness,

the last thing I saw was Ronnie, looking down, anxiously and gently comforting a startled Iris in his arms.

My vision went black, and I completely lost consciousness.