A Love Lost in the Years

After my father passes away, my mother—now married into the wealthy Hawthorne family—brings me to live with them. Everyone laughs, saying I'm being groomed to become either of the Hawthorne brothers' bride. Even I start to believe it. But later, when I try to marry one of them, both reject me. The older brother says, "I'll need to marry for business one day. Why would I marry her?" The younger one scoffs. "She's older than me. Who'd want an old woman?" But the very next day, the two of them propose—together—to my assistant. I instantly become a joke. After that, I call my mother. "Mom, I'm willing to marry into the Grant family." Chapter 1 Just as I stepped out of the office, my phone buzzed. It was Wesley Hawthorne. His voice was cold, laced with irritation. "Savannah, why did you leave without saying anything? Didn't I tell you to wait for Jade?" From the background, Nathan Hawthorne couldn't help but chime in. "Yeah, why didn't you tell us you were leaving early? Jade's still at the office. Now that you're gone, who's supposed to take her home?" I caught my reflection on the phone's screen. My complexion was ghostly pale, and my body felt so fragile that a breeze might carry me away. I was born premature and struggled with ongoing health problems from the very start. When I first came to live with the Hawthorne family, both Wesley and Nathan showered me with care and attention. As a child, they watched over every meal I ate, carefully managing my diet. Whenever I fell ill, they never left my side, doing everything they could to comfort me and lift my spirits. There was a time when Wesley was halfway across the world on a business trip. The moment I mentioned a headache, he booked three connecting flights just to get back overnight. However, everything shifted after Jade Aldridge came into the picture. Suddenly, my migraines were met with indifference. When I fell sick, their worry had all but disappeared. I ended the call quietly. Once inside the car, I called my mother, Tina McCurdy, saying, "Mom, I've made my decision. I'm ready to go through with the marriage into the Grant family." There was a pause before she asked, "Savannah, are you sure about this?" When I was little, my parents divorced, and I stayed with my father, Henry Lockwood. He passed away from illness when I was eight. After that, my mother who remarried into the wealthy Hawthorne family brought me to live with her. I still remembered what she said to me back then. "Savannah, if you want to remain in this family, you have to please Mr. Francis Hawthorne and his two sons." Later, she added, "Mr. Hawthorne wants to form an alliance with the Grant family. You should give serious thought to marrying their son." At the time, I couldn't understand why she was pushing me into an arranged marriage, especially after all her efforts to bring me into the Hawthorne family. Eventually, I realized she'd been the one with clarity all along. She always knew I was nothing more than a passing amusement for Wesley and Nathan. So from the very beginning, she had mapped out a way for me to escape. I opened my phone to book a plane ticket. Just then, a message from Jade appeared, accompanied by a photo. "True love always falls from the sky. I'm thankful for fate's blessing." In the photo, she proudly wore two emerald bracelets on her wrist, set against the unmistakable backdrop of my greenhouse. Those bracelets had once been a birthday gift from the Hawthorne brothers. Now, they were hers. I didn't hesitate to block Jade immediately. "Mom, I'm serious. I'm ready to marry into the Grant family." "Okay, I'll talk to Mr. Hawthorne. The Grant family's set the date—it's Wednesday. They say it's a lucky day for wedding registrations. Just make sure you're in Frostholm before then." "Okay," I replied. Maybe my mother already suspected the truth. Just before hanging up, she added, "Make sure you have a proper conversation with them." I said nothing. Instead, I tilted my head and gazed up at the sky. Six days remained, and I was determined to say a proper goodbye to it all. Chapter 2 The moment I stepped through the gate, a blast of freezing water hit me head-on. The wind whipped around me, and I couldn't stop shivering. "Ms. Lockwood, I was filling the pond. You could've warned me before showing up," Jade said, still holding the hose steady. She didn't stop spraying until I was drenched to the bone. I forced my eyes open. To my dismay, the roses I had carefully tended for years at the Hawthorne residence were torn out and tossed across the lawn. Where the flowerbed once bloomed, a small pond had been installed, with workers now busy planting water lilies along its edge. I said nothing and turned to walk away. But the weight of my drenched clothes slowed me down. After just a few steps, I began to shiver again. Meanwhile, Wesley and Nathan lounged in the living room, sharing a look of disdain as they took in my disheveled appearance. It was clear they were ridiculing me for making a fuss the moment I stepped through the door. "Damn, Savannah, you actually remembered to come home. I thought you'd vanished for good," Wesley sneered. Nathan chimed in, "Her dad's dead, so her mom brought her into our family. Where else would someone like her go?" A sharp ache tightened my chest. My mind drifted back to the day I first arrived at the Hawthorne residence. Nathan had gripped my hand tightly, worried I'd feel out of place. He kept telling jokes, trying to coax a smile from me. "Savannah," he said gently, "this is your home now." Wesley had even given up the largest, most comfortable room so I could have it. Though we moved countless times over the years, he never wavered, always ensuring I had the best space. Once he started working, he bought a house close to his office. He promised to put it in my name, saying it would be a home for the three of us. Once Jade became my assistant, though, she began to get in and out the company and the villa at will. Every day, she either latched onto the Hawthorne brothers or schemed to turn them against me. At first, I held back, feeling sorry for her troubled past. But to my disbelief, she crossed the line—shattering the keepsake my father had entrusted to me, right before my eyes. I couldn't stay silent any longer. I stepped forward to confront her, only to be pushed aside. Wesley's expression darkened. "Jade's had a hard life. Why do you have to make things worse for her?" Nathan added, "She just graduated. You're older—can't you show some leniency?" Gazing at the broken fragments of my father's keepsake, a sense of confusion and helplessness washed over me. From that moment forward, everything changed. To them, I was no longer important. Jade was quietly taking over, becoming the mistress of the house and driving me out without mercy. At that point, staying wasn't even an option anymore. Staring at the chaos they'd created, one thought repeated in my mind—pack up and leave now. As I made my way upstairs, I spotted my belongings thrown carelessly across the hallway. With his arm draped around Jade, Wesley was barking orders to the housekeepers to clear my things out. Their eyes blazed with arrogant contempt. "Savannah, you and your mother are nothing but dogs raised by our family. Since you can't recognize your place, it's time you learn some respect! "From this moment on, you're off the clock. Jade will take over your duties. You'd better step down and learn how to be a proper assistant instead of bullying your subordinates." Nathan was even harsher. Just to please Jade, he smashed the birthday gift my mother had bought for me. "Savannah, stay away from Jade, or I won't go easy on you." If the old me had heard those words, I'd have been broken, tossing and turning through countless sleepless nights. But now, I was ready to walk away, drained of any desire to argue. It all felt meaningless. I simply nodded, a faint smile on my lips. "Yes, you're right about everything. I'll gather my things and leave soon. "Mr. Wesley, if you see me as a liability to the company, then I'll resign." Wesley sneered, "Just like Jade said—you've been clinging to our family, trying to take what doesn't belong to you. Too bad this company carries our name. You won't see a single dime. "Still, for your mother's sake, I'll throw you a bone and offer you the assistant position. "But don't get it twisted—in my eyes, that's the only role you're fit for. Don't even think about aiming for more." I walked past Wesley without hesitation. "I won't ask for anything," I murmured. This place had once been filled with moments I held dear, but in the end, it was never truly mine to call home. Chapter 3 At first, I expected packing to take forever. However, when I was done, I realized I owned very little. Every piece of clothing I had was a gift from Wesley, who used to say, "You're so beautiful, my princess. You deserve nothing but the finest." Now, those clothes were drenched and reeked of a foul, unexplainable odor. I had gone from being his cherished treasure to a worthless parasite. Hidden among the clothes were a few photographs. They were taken by Nathan—quiet reminders of our happier times, moments of joy frozen forever. Nathan used to be obsessed with photographing me, saying he wanted to capture every version of who I was. Whenever we took group photos, the two brothers always competed to stand closer to me, but now, in those very pictures of the three of us, my face had been ruthlessly crossed out in red ink. I couldn't bear it any longer—I grabbed everything and tossed it into the trash without a second thought. Just then, Wesley and Jade came downstairs and caught me. A flash of shock crossed Wesley's eyes—after all, I used to cherish those photos like priceless treasures. That quickly faded into a sneer as he taunted, "So this is how you waste our family's money, huh?" There was a time when Wesley spared no expense just to see me smile, but now, in his eyes, everything I did was wrong. I had lost the right to be stubborn, and with it, the will to stand up for myself. I said firmly, "I will repay Mr. Hawthorne for every penny I've ever spent." "Our family doesn't care about the money, but remember this—don't ever cause trouble for Jade again." Jade pulled Wesley aside. "Wesley, don't waste your energy on those who don't matter. I want to get to the Prism Room. Let's move." My footsteps wavered as a flood of memories crashed over me all at once. Chapter 4 "The Prism Room," as Jade referred to it, was the private screening room Wesley had lovingly built for me when I first arrived at the Hawthorne residence. At that time, my mother and Francis were buried in work. Being three years my senior, Wesley was entrusted with the responsibility of looking after me. He gifted me nearly every beautiful thing life could offer. He called me his little princess and had the screening room designed just for me. That night, as the credits rolled, he gazed at me tenderly and promised, "Savannah, this room is yours alone—and so is all my love." For twenty years, we cherished that secret refuge, shaping our dreamlike home side by side. Gradually, my heart quietly turned toward Wesley, but every time I tried to confess, Nathan would interrupt, causing a scene that shattered every opportunity. Now, both of them had moved on with new people, leaving me behind in the past. But it no longer mattered. I took a deep breath and turned to leave. I didn't need either of them anymore. As I stepped away, Jade suddenly grabbed my wrist with a harsh, painful grip. She hissed, "Ms. Lockwood, why won't you hear me out? Do you really think I'm not worth your attention?" I struggled to pull free, and in the scuffle, she lost her footing and tumbled to the floor. "Wesley, help me!" she cried out. Wesley's face paled as he hurried to her side, pulling her close into his arms. Before I could respond, his hand suddenly connected with my cheek in a sharp slap. Nathan stormed over, shouting, "Savannah, why did you push Jade? Remember, if your mother hadn't pleaded with my dad to look after you, you'd be dead just like your unlucky father! And this is how you repay kindness—with nothing but hatred!" My ears rang loudly. It was the first time I'd ever been hit, and in that moment, it felt as though my whole world was falling apart. Wesley looked at me blankly, as if suddenly aware that he had lost control. "Are you okay? I—" Chapter 5 "It's fine." I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, holding back from blaming Wesley. That slap was the closing chapter of all we had once shared as childhood sweethearts. From this point on, all debts and feelings between us were settled. Just then, Nathan stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "You're not leaving until you apologize to Jade!" His gaze was sharp and unyielding—so different from the boy who used to trail after me with wide eyes. I looked toward Jade, who stood there wearing a smug, victorious expression. I swallowed the fury rising in my chest, expressing, "I didn't do anything wrong. I won't apologize." I wasn't afraid. Whether they forced me out or not didn't matter—my decision to leave had already been made. Nathan was filled with rage, but Wesley seemed weighed down by guilt. He stepped forward, gently holding Nathan back, his voice softening. "Forget it. I lost my temper. Don't take it personally. How about this—after work tomorrow, I'll treat you to some buffalo wings. "But you have to promise me one thing—no more picking on Jade." A slap paired with kind words was Wesley's typical way of keeping me in check. Yet, he seemed to forget I had a weak stomach. I couldn't handle spicy food. Back then, Wesley and Nathan spared no effort in consulting nutritionists. They took turns, meticulously overseeing my diet to aid my recovery. Now, it seemed all that care had been completely forgotten. A cold breeze swept past, sending a shiver down my spine. That was when I noticed my clothes were still drenched. I was likely running a fever. Just as I was feeling unwell, Nathan abruptly shoved past me. "Stop acting," he sneered. The shove threw me off balance, and I fell hard to the ground. Wesley looked back, hesitation flashing in his eyes, but ultimately, he sided with Nathan and led Jade away. After a long, agonizing struggle, I managed to stand before calling for an ambulance. The doctor was my former physician, and upon seeing my condition, his expression darkened with anger. "Do you realize what your body has been through? How could you walk around in wet clothes in this weather? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I said nothing in reply and simply followed his instructions, remaining in the hospital for several days under observation. Only once my fever broke was I allowed to be discharged. Because of the setback, I had no choice but to hasten the rest of my plans. When I returned to the office to finalize my resignation paperwork, Wesley and the others were nowhere to be found. After waiting outside for most of the day, I learned they had taken Jade on a business trip. They'd gone to Yathenfall, my favorite place. Their itinerary also included Duskwater Lake, a destination I had long dreamed of but never had the chance to visit. I forced a bitter smile and handed in my resignation. I had once been conflicted about whether to stay or leave, but now it was clear that my presence no longer mattered to anyone. All that remained was to bid farewell to my mother and Francis. After that, I could walk away without anything holding me back. Chapter 6 Francis and my mother had canceled an important meeting just to wait for me. As soon as she saw me, my mother gave me a once-over and sighed. "You've lost weight again, haven't you?" Francis nodded. "She's right. You look thinner. But since you've accepted the engagement with the Grant family, I won't press the issue. From this day on, you're officially my daughter. If they ever mistreat you, don't be afraid. Your mother and I will always be here for you." I smiled gently and handed him the bank card I had prepared. "I'll be sure to visit you and Mom often. Thank you for welcoming me when I had nowhere else to turn." Francis let out a warm laugh. "I always hoped you'd stay in the family as my daughter-in-law. Even though that path didn't work out, you're still family to me. "And keep your money—what kind of father would ask his daughter to pay him back? You're marrying into the Grant family on our behalf. If anything, I should be giving you shares in the company as a wedding gift." My mother sighed quietly. "You don't owe us anything. Just live well—that's all I ask." I blinked back the tears welling in my eyes and offered a grateful smile. I knew Francis—his warmth was always tucked beneath a calm, sometimes distant exterior. Yet all these years, he had treated me like family. Feelings simply couldn't be forced. I understood that—and so did he. Just as I was about to leave, Wesley, Nathan and Jade came in. The moment their eyes landed on me, their expressions hardened. "So, you're here to snitch, huh?" Wesley sneered. Nathan quickly stepped in front of Francis. "You can't trust anything Savannah says. She always goes after Jade!" However, Francis raised his hand to silence him, his gaze fixed on both of them, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Dad, you can't believe Savannah's made-up stories," Nathan complained. "When Wesley and I proposed to Jade, we weren't joking. "Jade may have come from a small mountain town, but she worked hard to put herself through college. When we asked her, she didn't say yes right away. In fact, she made it clear she wouldn't accept just because of our family's wealth. "She's nothing like Savannah. She's smart and strong-willed. Honestly, she's the most remarkable woman I've ever met." Jade stood quietly behind Nathan, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. She looked up at him shyly, her eyes warm with affection. Wesley spoke evenly, "Jade might be just an assistant, but she's full of valuable ideas for our projects. Savannah, however, only knows how to use her power as vice president to bully others. I just wanted to teach her a lesson. "She came to complain to you, didn't she? I knew it. Dad, just stay out of this." Furious, Francis slammed his cup down, the porcelain shattering loudly across the floor. "I should have known why Savannah agreed to the engagement with the Grant family. You two—take this young woman away. Our home doesn't welcome those who don't know their place!" After they stormed out, it took me quite some time to calm Francis down. My mother didn't try to hold me back either. Instead, she quietly slipped a bank card into my hand. "Here, take this—it's the wedding gift I've been saving for you." I walked away, carrying the last bit of warmth they'd given me. My heart was heavy, tangled in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. … Just as I was stepping down the stairs, someone grabbed my arm. The unexpected pull knocked me off balance, and I fell hard against the steps. Wincing from the pain, I looked up—and there was Nathan. He yanked me toward Jade and snarled, "Savannah, apologize to her!" I couldn't believe it. I was already leaving—wasn't that enough? I bit back my frustration, but even my patience had limits. Finally, I snapped, "I didn't do anything wrong!" As soon as the words left my mouth, Nathan's hand lashed across my face. The impact sent a jolt of pain through me, and my cheek burned, already beginning to swell. "Savannah, remember this," Nathan growled. "Hurting Jade comes at a cost. That slap was your warning. I'm nothing like Wesley. Next time, you won't get off so easily." Without hesitation, he drove his foot hard into my chest. An intense, stabbing pain overwhelmed me, making it feel like my bones were about to break apart. I curled into a tight ball on the floor. As my awareness faded, only one thought lingered. "At last… we're even." After twenty years, the bond between us was finally severed.