Lost in the Pause

Sated from their passionate deed, Jonathan Sheffield rises and gently scoops the worn-out Eloise Carter into his arms. He cleans her in the bathroom, carries her back to bed, and lets her settle in. Normally, Eloise will have fallen asleep by now. But she won't allow herself to doze off tonight, not before she takes out the birthday present she's carefully prepared for Jonathan. Jonathan is making a phone call out on the balcony when Eloise quietly takes out the present she has hidden. It's a red velvet box, containing the ring she plans to give him when she proposes. She inches closer to the balcony and is about to speak when she freezes. A shocked, male voice rings out from the other end of Jonathan's phone, which he's casually left on the balcony ledge. "What the hell? You must be out of your mind, Jonathan! You're planning to take Eloise's heart and give it to Sonia?" Chapter 1 Jonathan Sheffield casually leaned against the wall, looking insouciant as a cigarette dangled from his lips. "With the way Sonia's condition is progressing, she's racing against time. As things are, Ellie's heart is the only one that's compatible. I can't just watch Sonia. I can't bear it." He spoke openly, perhaps confident that Eloise Carter was already asleep. "You must be out of your mind!" The voice on the other end of the phone was filled with anger. "Jonathan, as your pal, I think you should think this through calmly. Ellie has stuck by you through life and death. Don't do anything rash, or you'll end up regretting it!" Jonathan snubbed the cigarette and exhaled a mouthful of white smoke. He snapped impatiently, "Do you think I want Ellie to die? I want to spend forever with her, too, but you know as well as I do that her days are numbered due to late-stage liver cancer. "Since she's dying sooner or later, I may as well donate her heart to Sonia. Sonia will get to live, and what's so bad about me saving a human life?" There was no breeze out on the balcony, yet Eloise felt like she'd been whipped hard across the face by a gust of wind. A week ago, Eloise's family had arranged for her to get a pre-marital health check-up, and she'd been diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer. She hadn't told anyone about this. Fortunately, the hospital later confirmed that there had been a mistake in the report and Eloise was perfectly healthy. However, she had no idea when Jonathan had come across the erroneous report and believed she was on the brink of death. "Aren't you going to look into this whole cancer thing?" Jonathan's friend was still pleading with him to reconsider. "What if there's still hope for Ellie to get treatment? She can make the odds count and live another day. "She went through hell for you years ago and protected you with her life when everyone else mocked her for it. Even if her days are numbered, it's too cruel for you to donate her heart to someone else without her consent, don't you think?" "Shut up!" Jonathan cut his friend off, raising his voice. "I'll make this clear one more time—I will spend the rest of my life loving Eloise and no one else. She's the only one I'll marry. But there's no way I'll let Sonia die without doing anything to stop it!" Eloise felt like she'd been hit by a truck. For someone who claimed to love her, what Jonathan was doing now proved that he was still in love with Sonia and couldn't stop thinking about her. So what did that make Eloise? What would become of the sacrifice she'd made for him and their relationship all these years? Eloise was born as the real heiress of the Jensen family, but she'd been swapped at birth with Sonia. By the time Eloise reunited with the Jensens, Sonia and Jonathan were already engaged. One day, Sonia and Jonathan got into a fight in the car. The car spun out of control and fell off a cliff. Jonathan was in a vegetative state after that. Sonia didn't think twice before abandoning him, leaving an exasperated Eloise to step up and take Sonia's place in the engagement. Nobody expected the scion of the Sheffield family, who had been declared dead several times, to miraculously wake up a month after being under Eloise's tender care. However, his mental capacity had devolved to that of a seven-year-old, and he'd become inexplicably tempestuous, too. There were times when Eloise wanted to fight back, but her heart softened when she saw the dazed and helpless look on his face after his tantrums. She couldn't bring herself to leave. And just like that, she stuck by him through his gradual recovery and supported him while he regained his former glory. She'd endured five whole years of hardship for Jonathan's sake. Jonathan had solemnly vowed that he would do right by her for the rest of their lives. But after learning she had late-stage cancer, misdiagnosis or not, he'd chosen to give her heart to his first love rather than spend more time with her during her final days. Eloise stored the square, velvet box away and dried her tears. She then quickly wrote a text on her phone to send out, "Grandma, I want to forget about ever having loved Jonathan. Please help me erase my love for him." Chapter 2 It didn't take long for Eloise's grandmother to agree to Eloise's request. Everyone in Corhaven believed that the then-lost heiress of the Jensen family had lived like an orphan with no one to rely on during the years she was separated from her biological family. But no one knew that Eloise had been raised by her adoptive grandmother, Marie Carter, a top cognitive neuroscientist. Marie's kind and gentle voice sounded on the other line. "I support whatever decision you make, little one. Love isn't all there is in life, and you don't have to hold on to everything you encounter in this world. If you're unhappy in this relationship, just forget it." The resentment Eloise had bottled up over recent years burst at the sound of Marie's voice. Her days since reuniting with her biological parents had been nothing short of exhausting. "I've saved up plenty of money for you. Once we've erased your love for Jonathan and you've moved on from him, we'll travel around the world together," Marie promised. Marie ran a company that possessed the world's most advanced neurotechnology. The technology worked to erase one's love for another without interfering with one's memories. One only had to provide a picture of the person they wanted to stop loving for the procedure. The technology was the result of brilliant and noble research. It helped heartbroken women move on from relationships they tried but failed to forget about, and encouraged them to pull themselves together. Eloise pulled up her phone's photo gallery, and the first picture that popped up was one of her and Jonathan. In the picture, Jonathan was holding her close, and they had their backs to the sea, their smiles dazzling as they faced the sun. However, upon closer inspection, Eloise was visibly uneasy in the picture. It was taken on the day she was misdiagnosed with late-stage liver cancer. At the time, she truly believed she was dying, and she'd hidden under the blanket and cried her heart out. After that, she researched many dating spots and dragged Jonathan along to each one, hoping to make happy memories for him with whatever little time she had left. But what had Jonathan made of her diagnosis? Had he felt sorry for her that she didn't have much longer to live, or had he been thrilled that his precious Sonia would finally be saved? Eloise was spacing out when a weight suddenly pinned her shoulder down. She instinctively glanced over, only for someone to peck her firmly on the cheek. Jonathan swiftly put on his jacket and said, "Something urgent came up at the company. I have to go take care of it. Let the butler know if you need anything, and don't stay up late." In the dim light of the bedroom, Eloise watched as Jonathan left, her heart growing colder by the second. It was his birthday today, but he didn't even ask her for a present. Shortly after, Eloise saw Sonia's post on Instagram, captioned, "I'm glad to have you by my side in my darkest days." The post was accompanied by a picture of Jonathan's side profile. He was crouched on the floor, entirely focused on fixing Sonia's childhood toy. So, this was the "urgent matter" he'd mentioned earlier. Not wanting to leave any room for backtracking, Eloise forwarded several pictures of Jonathan to Marie, then deleted his pictures from her phone. She dragged her tired body out of bed and began packing up her stuff. Since Jonathan regained his former success, they'd moved into the villa and lived together. She had plenty of belongings to show for it, too, and sorting them out was a strenuous undertaking. But she'd made up her mind to end things with Jonathan for good, so she had to purge every trace of their life together. "Pack these up and throw them out!" Eloise did not want to keep anything from their relationship, but when she saw the square, red, velvet box, her heart tightened uncontrollably. In that box lay the ring she'd painstakingly prepared for her proposal. The next second, she tossed that box into the fireplace while the household staff watched. The flames surged and licked away at every part of that box, burning the love she had for Jonathan into ashes. Night had turned into day by the time Eloise sorted out her belongings, but Jonathan had yet to come home. It was clear he had spent the night at Sonia's. Eloise pulled her suitcase behind her as she made to leave the villa, but she had only just stepped out of the front door when she ran into Sonia. Sonia stood on the other side of the street, beaming as she waved. She began to cross the street, but a car suddenly zipped down the street at a maniacal speed and hurtled toward her. Eloise stepped back instinctively but fell when she lost her footing, scratching her palm. Blood streamed from the cut, and the car sped away. Across the street, Sonia had been knocked unconscious. Jonathan frantically ran over and scooped Sonia into his arms. "Don't be scared, Sonia. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you!" He did not glance at Eloise even once. Chapter 3 Eloise didn't return to her parents' home, though to be accurate, she hadn't had a place to truly call home since leaving Marie. Thankfully, she'd saved up enough money over the years to buy a small apartment. At least she had a roof over her head. Exhaustion washed over her as she opened the bedroom door. She had a long dream. In it, the Sheffields gradually grew to shun Jonathan after the cliff incident, and they couldn't care less whether he died or lived. Eloise's biological parents did not want their precious Sonia to marry Jonathan and suffer hardship, so they devised ways to force Eloise into taking Sonia's place. Eloise had been only 18 then. She'd shown up at her parents' residence with a cake she baked herself, thrilled and eager to please them. But the next second, she was roughly manhandled and shoved through the door of Jonathan's bedroom. "You came back too late, Eloise. We don't feel an ounce of affection for you. Don't bother returning to the Jensen family after this. We'll just pretend we never had a daughter like you. This will be your home from now on for the rest of your life," Eloise's parents told her. Fear, resentment, bitterness, and hopelessness filled Eloise. She couldn't understand how her biological parents could be so cruel as to abandon her. Why had they bothered bringing her back into the family, to begin with? She curled up in the corner of the room and stared at the unmoving young man on the bed. She was panicked and terrified, and her tears wouldn't stop falling. At that point, she and Jonathan were nothing more than pitiful children abandoned by their families. The dreamscape shifted, and Eloise was suddenly staring at Jonathan, whose mental capacity had devolved to that of a seven-year-old. She was trying her best to cheer him up. He had become extremely capricious due to his diminished mental capacity. Each time he threw a tantrum, Eloise would rush up to him and hug him around the waist, soothing him in low, comforting tones. The house they'd lived in was small, but it carried many of their memories, which were both bitter and sweet. On days when the sun was out, Eloise would play tag with Jonathan, their laughter reverberating through the house. When thunder rumbled across the sky, she'd hold him tightly and cry with him. The scene changed once more. Jonathan lost control of his emotions and threw a fit, and Eloise ended up knocking her head on the table. Blood seeped from the gash in her forehead. When Jonathan saw the crimson blood dripping from her forehead, his towering build went still. This time, he did not helplessly break down in tears like usual, and instead gaped at Eloise before carefully pulling her into his arms. "Silly Ellie, does it hurt? Don't be scared. I'll protect you from now on," he told her. Eloise woke up with tears streaming down her face. She wiped them off, only to realize she had yet to clean the cut on her palm. Dirt and grime still covered the cut, courtesy of the street she'd scraped her palm on. "It hurts, Jonathan." But this time, no one was there to blow on the cut for her or promise they'd take care of her for the rest of her life. She saw that she had multiple missed calls on her phone. At first, she thought the calls were from her company, but they turned out to be from Jonathan. "Ellie, could you come to the hospital? I need to talk to you." Eloise had set up a biotechnology company that was currently collaborating with the hospital run by the Sheffield family. Upon hearing Jonathan's words, she thought there'd been a hiccup with their collaboration. She got out of bed and quickly cleaned the cut on her palm with antiseptic, then left the house with her purse. From a distance, she saw Jonathan's bodyguard standing outside a VIP hospital room. She entered the room to find an ashen-faced Sonia on the bed. Jonathan had claimed the caretaker's chair by the bedside, looking defensive of Sonia. A bowl with the dregs of what appeared to be chicken noodle soup was set on the table, too. Eloise's gaze darted to the other side of the room, where her parents were seated on the couch. Everyone was looking at her, their expressions hardened. It was as though they were in a criminal inquiry. Baffled by the scene, Eloise asked, "What's going on here?" "I should be asking you that! What are you playing at?" Eloise's mother, Helena Norris, snapped as she stormed up to Eloise like an angry beast. "What kind of a sick psychopath would hire someone to kill her own younger sister? "Did you want to get rid of her so you could inherit the family fortune? If you thought that would work, dream on!" Eloise's father, David Jensen, approached her furiously as well. He did not move to strike her, but the hateful look in his eyes was enough to kill her. "How could an upstanding person like me have produced a heartless monster like you? I wish you'd die outside the family instead of disgracing us!" These were Eloise's so-called parents. Not once did they show they loved her, but they certainly did not hold back in letting her know they hated her. "So, did you ask me to come here to confess my sins?" Eloise's gaze fell on Jonathan. He had stood up and approached her while her parents admonished her. Now, he was looking down his nose at her. Alas, he wasn't here to speak up for her. He looked grim, and his gaze was frigid behind his gold-rimmed glasses. "Why did you hire someone to run Sonia over? Had that car gone a little faster, did you know that Sonia might not have just gone into a shock, but worse?" "How are you so sure that I was behind it?" Chapter 4 Rage threatened to consume Eloise. Knowing that Jonathan and her parents wouldn't believe her, she decided not to waste her breath arguing. She just let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Go on, then, tell me what you're hoping to get out of me through this dramatic confrontation." Helena and David were about to speak when Jonathan beat them to it. "Apologize to Sonia and compensate her, and we'll consider this incident settled and let you off the hook." As he said this, he furtively reached for Eloise's hand, as if hinting that this was the lightest punishment she could get off with. However, Eloise found this ironic, seeing as she had nothing to do with the incident at all. At that moment, Sonia spoke from where she sat on the hospital bed. "I don't need Eloise's apology. She's easily embarrassed, and I don't want to make this harder for her than it should be. Besides, she was probably confused when she orchestrated this mess. "As for the compensation… Eloise, if you give me the Southam project, I won't press charges against you." Eloise couldn't help snorting. She glanced at Jonathan and asked, "Is that what you also think?" Jonathan's gaze was far colder than she imagined. It was clear he agreed with Sonia's suggestion. "And what if I refuse?" Eloise countered. "On what grounds?" Jonathan was so hung up on Sonia nearly getting run over by a speeding car that he only wanted to make things right for her. "Ellie, for the sake of the five years we've spent together, I went along with your decisions and stood by you. I even promised to marry you. "Isn't that enough? You already have what you wanted, so why would you plot against Sonia?" "I told you I didn't do it! What makes you think I'd pull a deadly stunt against her in public?" Eloise knew that Jonathan didn't believe her, but she refused to be blatantly accused of something she didn't do. Jonathan closed his eyes impatiently, not wanting to hear Eloise's explanation. "Eloise, it's only right that you're punished for your wrongdoing. If Sonia wants the Southam project, let her have it. If not, I'll take it by force and give it to her." Such was Jonathan's great love for Sonia, unreserved and bold. His threat was like a bucket of ice water tipped over Eloise's head, chilling her to the bone. She slowly raised her gaze to look him in the eyes. "So what will I have to do for you to back off the Southam project?" Eloise did not hail from a powerful family or have parents to support her. She had to work twice as hard for what she wanted. She'd prepared for the Southam project for a whole year. She stayed up on countless nights, drank until her stomach bled, and the doctors almost lost her on two occasions. In other words, she'd earned the Southam project with her life. Jonathan knew all this as well, yet here he was, threatening to take the project by force. It was absurd. "Eloise, beg on your knees for my forgiveness." A gentle smile curved Sonia's lips. "If you apologize to me, I'll spare your project. I know you nearly killed me, but the Southam project is your blood, sweat, and tears. I can't bring myself to take it from you, and I don't want Jon to choose between us." Sonia had finally come out with the truth. She had never dabbled in biotechnology, so why would she want the Southam project? It was more likely that she wanted to humiliate Eloise in a different, roundabout way. Jonathan's sharp gaze landed on Eloise. "Since Sonia has spoken, just do as she asks. Get on your knees and apologize to her, Eloise." "You want me to get on my knees?" There was a time when Jonathan threw a huge, violent fit, and two maids had to pin him down and beat him into submission with an electric baton. Eloise had rushed toward him and shielded him with her body. The maids forced her to get on her knees and apologize, or they'd continue beating Jonathan. Eloise had no choice but to do as the maids asked, all so she could protect Jonathan. He'd had the mental capacity of a seven-year-old then, but that night, he cried while blowing on her bruised kneecaps. "I'll behave from now on, Ellie. Don't get on your knees for me anymore. I won't let anyone make you do it. You're the most important person in the world to me." He might be mentally a child, then, but he knew how humiliating it was for one to get on one's knees. But Jonathan had gone from a gullible child to a shrewd and ruthless adult. He fixed Eloise with a grave look, expecting her to beg for Sonia's forgiveness at the expense of Eloise's pride. "You were wrong, so you must deal with the consequences." It was as if an icy, phantom breeze had blown into the room, sweeping away all that was wonderful and leaving only a deep chill in its wake. "Fine, I'll get on my knees." Eloise gritted her teeth and turned to face Sonia. She bent her legs slightly. The corner of Sonia's mouth curved up in a smug smile. "Just get on your knees and I'll forgive you, Eloise." But just as Eloise's knees were about to hit the ground, she suddenly straightened up and summoned all her strength, then slapped Sonia across the face. It was a loud and hard slap, and blood trickled out of the corner of Sonia's mouth. "That's my apology!" Eloise snarled. She would not apologize for something she didn't do! David and Helena charged forward like rabid animals when they saw Sonia getting slapped, but Eloise dodged them. Not wanting to put up with these rotten folks anymore, Eloise headed for the door. But she had taken only a few steps when someone kicked her in the back of her knees. She lost her balance and staggered, then fell on the floor with a loud thud. Pain seized her. She looked up, meeting Jonathan's dark, menacing gaze. "You crossed the line, Eloise." At that moment, the two bodyguards who'd been at the door entered the room. Jonathan ordered, "Get her on her knees and keep it that way for three minutes." Having heard Jonathan's instruction, the two burly bodyguards stepped forward and gripped Eloise's arms. She tried to break free, but she was no match for two male bodyguards. They shoved her head toward the floor until her forehead knocked on the tile. No sooner had she risen than they shoved her head down once more. Before long, blood bloomed across the floor. Sonia was clutching her chest, feigning concern like the drama queen that she was. "Please be gentle with Eloise! Don't be too hard on her." Meanwhile, Jonathan reached out to cover Sonia's eyes, fearing the gory sight before her would scare her. All Eloise heard was the sound of her dignity shattering. If she'd known this would happen five years ago, would she have chosen to fall in love with Jonathan still? No, she wouldn't. When the bodyguards finally let her go, Eloise was already sapped. Fresh blood trickled down her forehead and into her eyes, then dropped on her white dress. Crimson bloomed over the front of her dress. Her hair was a mess from being gripped, and she looked every bit the pathetic loser. She stared at Jonathan as he protected another woman. This was the man she'd loved and protected for five whole years—a man who had taken her dignity and crushed it. "I don't want you anymore, Jonathan," Eloise muttered hoarsely. She was unsteady on her feet as she headed out the door, her parents hurling abuse at her from behind. "If she didn't have late-stage cancer, I'd hire someone to beat her into a pulp!" "Good riddance! She ought to die outside the family. She won't have a place in the Jensens' mausoleum!" As it turned out, everyone thought Eloise had cancer and believed her days were numbered. And yet, no one felt sorry for her or sided with her. No one offered her even the slightest warmth in her final days. Even after all these years, she was still alone. Eloise's eyes prickled. Her mind went blank, and the next second, she collapsed on the floor. Chapter 5 When Eloise opened her eyes again, she was greeted by the white ceiling of the hospital. The sky outside was as dark as ink. At her bedside was Jonathan, the faint shadow of his stubble covering the lower half of his face. He looked worn out, but his eyes lit up when he saw that Eloise was awake. It was as if life had been poured back into him. "Ellie, are you thirsty? Would you like some water?" This concerned man was miles apart from the one who had forced Eloise to get on her knees earlier. Eloise sported a bandage around her head, and her lips were badly chapped. She was too weak to speak, and only managed a soft, "Get out." However, her voice was barely more than a whisper, and Jonathan didn't hear her. It took her a moment to finally raise her voice, albeit not by much. "Get out. I don't want to see you." Jonathan's hand shook while holding the glass. He recalled feeling as if a part of his heart had been hollowed out when he went out of the hospital room to go after Eloise earlier, only to see her delicate frame lying on the floor. When he scooped her into his arms, fresh blood had flowed from the gash on her head down his arm and wrist. He'd nearly lost his footing. "I'm not going anywhere until you recover." Jonathan brought the chicken noodle soup over to the bed. Taking a spoonful and blowing on it to cool it off, he brought the spoon to Eloise's mouth. "There are too many things for me to explain, but I hope you'll understand that I'm your biggest defender." Eloise's face was practically ashen. Her thick lashes fluttered as she let out something of a laugh. It sounded weak but sarcastic. "But can I count on you, Jonathan?" Jonathan wanted to say yes on instinct, but when he saw the subtle, cynical curve to her lips, an inexplicable rush of fear and panic gripped him. He was reminded of the way she told him she didn't want him anymore. His heart tightened, and he suddenly pulled her into his arms. Resting his chin atop her head, he murmured, "Don't blame me for this, Ellie. Your parents have always played favorites. They were so angry when they found out you hired someone to run Sonia over that they said they wanted to kill you. "They'd find ways to get back at you if they didn't hear you apologize. I can't always be there to protect you, so I had to force you—" "So, in short, I still can't count on you to protect me." Eloise gently wiggled out of Jonathan's embrace, though a bitter smile still played on her lips. No one, other than Marie, had loved and cherished Eloise since young. "Get out. I want to rest." "Okay." Jonathan decided to let her have some time alone to cool off. When he reached the door, he glanced over his shoulder at her. "Ellie, we'll get married after you recover. I don't know how long we'll have as husband and wife, but I won't marry anyone but you." Eloise curled up under the blanket and said nothing. She wouldn't be dying. She wasn't marrying him, either. She would hold on to the memories they shared, but forget about ever loving him. He'd just become someone she used to know. For the next few days, Jonathan guarded Eloise's bedside faithfully. He'd sleep on the chair when he was tired or occasionally doze off on the bench outside the room. He'd show up if Eloise so much as coughed, as if she were the most important person in his life. The day Eloise was discharged from the hospital finally arrived. It was also her birthday. Jonathan brought her on a luxury cruise, and only then did she know he was throwing an elaborate cruise party in her honor. Upon arriving at the party, Eloise and Jonathan were met with envious looks from the scions of the upper-crust society. They sang praises of Eloise and Jonathan, making the former sound like an angel who fell from heaven. But the moment Jonathan left Eloise's side, the same scions who had lauded Eloise with praise immediately turned against her. Their words took a vicious turn, too. "Jonathan's probably toying with Eloise. Did she think he'd marry her just because she took care of him for five years? Please. Sonia is his true love." "Yeah, and he even risked his life to protect Sonia when they got into that accident years ago. It's obvious he's deeply in love with her." "If Jonathan had to marry someone, he'd pick Sonia without a doubt. The Jensens love her more, too. They even gave her their entire fortune. Shows how much more important she is to them than their biological daughter." "Hey, you guys know Eloise was only 18 when Jonathan first woke up from his vegetative state, right? She was so pure and naive when she moved in with him. Do you reckon he's slept with her already?" "I bet he did. Any man would jump at the chance to ride a little slice like Eloise." The few scions huddled together as they chortled over their crude jokes, but their laughter ground to a halt when Jonathan slowly entered the hall with Sonia. Sonia's arm was looped through Jonathan's, and she wore a pristine, white gown, clinging to him like a sweet, helpless young lady. A gentle smile played on her lips. She was like a princess who welcomed the people's reverence. As Sonia stopped before Eloise, she handed Eloise a small box. "Eloise, this is the present I picked out for you." Eloise opened the box to find a broken crown nestled within. Snorts and sniggers immediately sounded around her. "I got the gift on short notice. I hope you don't mind." Sonia blushed and quickly closed the box. "It's all Jonathan's fault for overreacting. He said I was too weak to go gift-shopping alone, so he had his assistant do the job for me. The assistant should have been more careful with it." Jonathan's brows furrowed as he lovingly flicked the tip of Sonia's nose. "I wasn't overreacting. You need to take better care of yourself." There was no hiding the affection in his tone. The guests around them began to quip, "Still hung up on Ms. Jensen, huh, Mr. Sheffield?" "If you care about her so much, why don't you get back together with her? Today's a good day for reconciliation. Come on, give us something to cheer about!" A smile tugged on Jonathan's lips, but perhaps Eloise's presence beside him prompted him to stop the crowd's jesting. "Ellie, don't take their words personally." Eloise didn't, and she'd stopped caring about Jonathan, too. During the cake-cutting ceremony, Eloise had just picked up the knife and was about to make the first cut when Sonia asked sweetly, "Jon, can I have the first slice?" It was customary for Eloise to make the first cut and eat the first slice, considering it was her birthday. "If my parents hadn't stopped me all those years ago, I would be the one by your side. But I know there's no chance of us getting back together. "Eloise is your fiancee now, and it's your job to look after her." Sonia dried her tears as a quiet sob escaped her. "But I really want to have the first slice of cake, and I want you to cut it for me. Think of it as a closure for the years we spent together. Let's get married in the next life, okay?" No one thought Sonia was wrong for making such remarks. Some of the guests even spoke up for her. Hope glittered in Jonathan's dark eyes. He glanced at Eloise. "Ellie, this is Sonia's only wish. Let her have this moment, okay?" Eloise stared at the scene before her. She found this entire birthday party to be a farce, and she was the biggest joke. Chapter 6 Since returning to the Jensen family, Eloise had deferred to Sonia more times than she could count. But this time, Eloise wasn't so much compromising as she was letting go of what she no longer wanted. She set the cake knife down and turned to leave. Jonathan gripped her hand and pulled her to a stop. "What are you doing? Where are you going? I threw this party for you, and you choose to throw a hissy fit now? "What is it that you want? If you want the first cut that badly, you can have it. I'll talk to Sonia about this. I'm sure she'll understand." Eloise found it odd, as that cutting the birthday cake was her right, seeing as it was her birthday party. Yet Jonathan made it sound like Sonia had granted her that honor. "No need." Eloise smacked Jonathan's hand away and left, looking as if she'd made her resolve. Jonathan instinctively made to chase after Eloise, but Sonia suddenly put her hands to her chest, looking pained. "Jon, my heart hurts. Am I dying?" He immediately stopped and pivoted to scoop Sonia into his arms. "Don't worry, you'll be just fine. You won't die." That was a given, seeing as Sonia was only faking. Deep down, she didn't think Eloise was a match for her at all. Meanwhile, Eloise stood on the deck and leaned against the rail, letting the sea breeze whip her face. The cruise was steering back the way it came, and it was evening when Sonia suddenly appeared. "You look like you're enjoying yourself. I told Jon I'd come and comfort you, but he told me you were still angry. He was worried you'd give me a hard time. But surprisingly, you don't look sad at all." Eloise was determined to ignore Sonia. In truth, she'd fantasized about becoming as close as sisters with Sonia when she first returned to the Jensen family. But Sonia was promiscuous and once even tossed one of her condoms into Eloise's backpack to frame her. After that, Eloise stopped hoping that she and Sonia would ever get along. When Eloise didn't respond, a cold gleam flashed in Sonia's eyes. "Do you know what I hate most about you? You always act like you're better than me. What's with that holier-than-thou attitude anyway? "Let me tell you a secret. After you collapsed in the hospital, the doctor didn't just carry out any ordinary bloodwork for you, but tested your blood for its compatibility with mine. Why did you think Jon guarded your bedside so faithfully? He doesn't love you. He was just worried you'd become suspicious!" Although Eloise had already decided to give up on Jonathan, her heart still cracked when she heard the cold, hard truth. As it turned out, Jonathan hadn't stayed with her out of guilt, nor was he trying to make it up to her. It was because she carried the heart that could save Sonia, his first love. Eloise mocked herself for being so stupid and naive. To think she'd been somewhat touched by Jonathan's gesture while he was guarding her bedside. Just then, Sonia drew closer to Eloise, who stepped back and demanded warily, "What are you doing?" "Jonathan can't choose between us, Eloise, and that pisses me off. I'm going to force him to make a choice!" With that, Sonia suddenly clutched Eloise's arm and tugged her forward. There was a loud splash as they both fell into the water. However, Sonia probably never thought Eloise would be an amazing swimmer. It didn't take long for Eloise to break the surface and wipe the water off her face. She then began to swim toward Sonia. Fear belatedly struck Sonia. She made to swim away, but it was too late. Eloise gripped her hair from behind and pulled, then shoved Sonia into the sea. Panic seized Sonia, but she had barely taken more than a few breaths before Eloise pinned her under the water again, not at all letting her speak. "You haven't stopped picking on me since I returned to the Jensen family, Sonia! Who gave you the right? You accused me of stealing what was yours, but when did I ever do that?" Not once had Eloise fought with Sonia over their parents' love or Jonathan's affection. "I'll make you pay for the suffering you put me through all these years!" Eloise repeatedly pulled Sonia up by her hair, only to pin her underwater again. After several rounds, Eloise's rage finally ebbed. She waited until Sonia had no fight left in her before gripping the rope dangling off the side of the liner. She hauled herself aboard with Sonia in tow, but the moment Eloise climbed onto the deck, someone slapped her hard across the face. It was the first time Jonathan had hit her, and in front of a crowd, no less. Chapter 7 Eloise couldn't remember how she got off the cruise or how she found her way back to her apartment. All she remembered was Jonathan's hand striking her across the face and the deafening laughter that had ensued around her afterward. The guests had spat abuse at her, calling her a shameless whore and a homewrecker who failed. She was then "accidentally" jostled and pushed by the crowd. Each time they shoved her around like they were passing a ball, she could hear men and women alike laughing at her. The noises eventually formed a tidal wave and crashed over her, threatening to pull her into the rowdy undertow. As for her so-called fiance? He carried his half-drowned first love and walked away without so much as a backward glance at Eloise, even though she'd gotten hurt on her birthday. Eloise thought she'd never shed a tear for Jonathan again, but traitorous tears cascaded endlessly down her face nonetheless. When she returned home, she soaked herself in the tub. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Sonia had made it into that evening's list of trending topics on social media. Someone had posted the footage of Jonathan cradling Sonia while seeking medical help for her, and the netizens lauded them with blessings. It wasn't long before someone dug out Jonathan and Sonia's history. Everyone soon found out that Jonathan and Sonia were heirs to prestigious families. They were practically a power couple. Their relationship was an example of refined and materialistic perfection, a pair who had grown from childhood friends to sweethearts. Even the story of how Jonathan had risked his life to save Sonia was included. No one could come close to beating such a flawless match. It didn't take long for the netizens to become fans of this pairing. Eloise, whose face had been blurred in the footage, was always the forgotten one. Sonia posted on her Instagram, too. "Of all the fields we've played, we're still each other's endgame." Accompanying that caption was a picture of Sonia getting an IV drip while Jonathan fussed over her. In the picture, Jonathan had a bleeding cut on his finger, presumably from peeling fruits. Eloise double-tapped on Sonia's post, then unfollowed the latter. She also unfollowed Jonathan, Helena, David, and the sycophantic scions on her list. When Eloise's body was feeling much better after a long soak in the tub, she rose and put on her clothes. After that, she began to plan her future. She decided she'd travel around the world for a year once her love for Jonathan had been erased. To do so, she'd have to sort out her business in advance. It was already dark outside by the time she was done planning. At that moment, Marie called. "Hello, darling. The surgery's tomorrow. Will you be able to make it, or shall I reschedule your session?" "It's alright, Grandma. I've already bought the plane tickets." The love-erasure surgery had yet to officially launch in the medical industry, and the ones presiding over Eloise's surgery were elites in the medical research world. Their time was precious, and she didn't want their trips to be wasted. Having hung up, Eloise dropped by the house she and Jonathan used to live in. It had been a while since anyone occupied the property, which explained the overgrown plants and grass in the yard. Eloise walked about 15 steps along the pebbled path before stopping at the second evergreen tree. She dug up a little box and opened it. A pretend marriage certificate lay within, and written on it were her and Jonathan's names. "Ellie, what does it mean to be married?" Jonathan had asked her once. "It probably means that we'll get to sleep together, eat together, live together, and never be apart when we grow up. We'll be closer than anyone else we know," Eloise had answered. "I don't ever want to be apart from you. Must we wait until we grow up to get married? I want us to be married now." "No, I can't marry you now. If I do, you'll be committing a crime." "How do we make it not a crime, then?" Jonathan pressed earnestly. "I think you might get away with it in the olden days." That year, Jonathan had the mental capacity of a seven-year-old, but he pored over various books and tried to understand the complex sentences in them. He then mimicked those in the olden days and painstakingly penned a "marriage certificate". At the time, Jonathan had loved Eloise boldly and unreservedly. He once told her, "We'll spend forever together, Ellie." There was once when Marie came by to take Eloise away. Jonathan had chased after their car through half the city barefoot, leaving bloody footprints in his wake. He'd nearly lost his life as he clutched the marriage certificate and cried out Eloise's name hysterically. That day, Eloise caved and got out of the car. But now, the man who vowed to protect her forever had shoved her aside and hurt her until she was barely whole. Eloise's heart grew colder and colder, and she didn't even realize she was crying until her tears splattered on the back of her hand. She forcefully tore the marriage certificate into shreds, then tossed those pieces into the air along with the scattered moments of her past. "I will love you forever, Ellie. No one will pick on you on my watch!" "Ellie, I'll behave from now on. Don't get on your knees anymore, okay?" "Ellie, I'm better now. I'll protect you for the rest of your life." "You know I can't just watch Sonia die." "What the hell are you playing at, Eloise?" "Why couldn't you have just drowned at sea, Eloise?" Eloise had stuck by Jonathan's side for five years, yet she was still no match for Sonia. Chapter 8 With the pretend marriage certificate torn into pieces, Eloise turned around, only to find Jonathan behind her at one point. He stood in the pine grove, his shadow stretched long and lean by the lamplight. His calm, unreadable eyes were fixed on her. Eloise silently gazed back at him. She stood still in the wind, the pine trees around her having grown tall with him. She was standing in that familiar spot, looking his way just as she had so many times before. Only this time, there was no trace of past affection in her eyes. That strange ache returned to Jonathan's chest. A sudden sense of loss crept in, like something precious was slipping away. He reached for it, only for the feeling to vanish when he was about to grasp it. The unknown inexplicably frustrated him. He pursed his lips and asked, "What are you doing here?" Eloise didn't linger. She strode toward the main gate without batting an eye at him and coldly replied, "To wrap up some personal business." Her unfeeling tone only deepened Jonathan's frown. He forcefully yanked her arm, questioning, "What kind of tantrum are you throwing this time? You were the one who repeatedly gave Sonia a hard time. Can't you cut her some slack? "Please, she's already pitiful enough! And who do you think will buy that pathetic look you're pulling right now?" Was Sonia pitiful? Of course. She had heart disease at an age when her peers were out living their best lives. But what about Eloise? Wasn't she also a terminal patient with late-stage liver cancer? Where was that same pity Jonathan showed Sonia? Eloise kept her thoughts unvoiced. She simply stared at Jonathan quietly, wishfully trying to see the young man she once adored deeply reflected in the eyes of this mature and cold man before her. She longed for the young man who once loved her to the bone. "Hey, Ellie? If I regain my mind and become that cold and aloof man you talk about, would you still love me?" "Of course! Now the question is—will you feel the same for me, Jonathan?" "You don't even have to ask! Jonathan will love Ellie forever and ever, and we'll never separate!" Of course, forever was a lie. "Goodbye, Jonathan," Eloise said softly. It was a farewell meant for both the man standing before her and the young man she had wholeheartedly loved for five years. Without a word, Jonathan watched as her figure faded into the distance. Then, a dull ache stirred in his chest. For some reason, he couldn't shake off the feeling that Eloise's farewell hadn't been a normal goodbye. The way she looked at him felt almost foreign, like she wasn't looking at him. On top of that, it felt like she didn't want him anymore. That thought flashed through his mind, sending him into a panic. He took a hurried step and chased after her. By the time he arrived, Eloise had already opened the car door and gotten in, leaving only a blurry silhouette behind. Gone was her figure from his sight. Just then, Sonia, wrapped in a thin blanket, slowly appeared from the side. Having been soaked earlier, she looked fragile, each step seeming as if the wind could knock her over. "Sorry, Jon. I was late." Jonathan's gaze fell onto her. "It's fine. The gate happened to be open, so I was just out here, waiting for you." When he took Sonia to the hospital today, she suddenly expressed a desire to see where he had lived for the past five years. Truthfully, he hadn't expected to run into Eloise here. He noticed her face seemed rather swollen and couldn't help but wonder if he had been overtly rough with her. Fine. He would apologize to Eloise after comforting Sonia. The former was always kind and rarely stayed mad. At worst, she would just hit him back. At that thought, a smile spread across Jonathan's face. He reached out a hand to Sonia, and they walked hand in hand into the villa. Meanwhile, on the freeway, Eloise gripped the steering wheel with one hand and stepped on the accelerator. The car sped forward, heading toward the airport. Four hours later, she touched down at Valoria Airport. Six hours later, she lay on the operating table.