Waiting for Something That Never Came

Ivory Stone has tried and failed to seduce her stoic steward 999 times. She thinks that maybe Wilson Quill doesn't have a heart. Maybe he won't ever fall in love with anyone. But one day, she catches him pleasuring himself with a bracelet belonging to the fake heiress who stole her life. Chapter 1 It was dark in the room, and a man's low, siren voice drifted out from inside. "Belinda, be good…" He wore a neatly pressed suit that made him look debonair. However, his zipper was pulled down to reveal an imposing, impatient beast. A bracelet that Belinda Stone had recently discarded dangled from it. Ivory Stone silently clenched her fists. He'd yet to finish, but she pushed the door open with malice, wanting to see him panic. However, he remained calm. His eyes were like an unfathomable abyss—she didn't see the slightest flicker of emotion in them. "You need to knock before entering someone's room," Wilson Quill said coldly. He was just a steward, yet his tone carried the dominance that belonged only to someone accustomed to being in a position of power. Ivory raised an eyebrow and mocked, "You should've locked your door if you wanted to do something so shameful. Besides, this is my home. Why should I knock?" Wilson didn't answer. He gracefully tucked himself back into his pants, his eyes still devoid of emotion. "Did you need something from me, Ms. Ivory?" Ivory smiled bitterly. She knew nothing would come out of this, but she still said stubbornly, "Take me away from here, Wilson. Let's leave together and go far, far away. Let's go somewhere where no one will find us." The lights were off in the room, so Wilson didn't see the broken look of despair in her eyes. Or perhaps he did see it but just didn't care. "Please don't joke about these things, Ms. Ivory," he said, his tone still icy. "I'm your steward. My job is just to manage your daily life and keep you safe." As expected, he'd turned her down. This was within Ivory's expectations, but she still felt her heart bleed. She smiled brokenly. "I'm sure you would agree in a heartbeat if Belinda were the one asking." Why did everyone like Belinda so much? Ivory was the Stone family's true heiress—Belinda was just an impostor who'd stolen her life. So why did everyone in the Stone family adore Belinda? Ivory was the one who shared their blood! Now, even the only man Ivory had ever liked preferred Belinda over her… Wilson's Adam's apple bobbed. He seemed to want to say something, but Ivory stopped him. "Don't respond to that. I don't want to hear it." With that, she turned and left. She went to her father, John Stone, and said with a smile, "I've thought it through. I'm willing to take that impostor's place and marry that sadist from the Fuller family." "Who are you calling an impostor? Belinda is your sister!" John's expression turned ugly. "And Mr. Fuller is one of Jeriton's elite! You're marrying above your station by having him as your husband. Stop acting like you're oh-so-unwilling." Ivory curled her lips in mockery at his words. She was marrying above her station? Well, he wasn't wrong. With the Stone family's net worth, they weren't even worthy of worshipping at the Fuller family's feet. But everyone in the upper crust knew what Simon Fuller was like. He was handsome, yet he had a fetish for violence. One of his hobbies was tormenting young, beautiful women. Before Ivory, he'd already had six fiancees, and all of them had died. "Since this is such a wonderful marriage, I won't steal it from the rightful bride." She laughed. "Belinda can marry Simon as planned." John's expression darkened further. "Our family has had this engagement with the Fuller family since before you were born! Don't think you're doing this for Belinda—you were always meant to marry Mr. Fuller!" The Stone and Fuller families did have a promise to marry, but the Stone family's net worth made it clear that they weren't worthy of forming a marriage alliance with anyone from the main family. The engagement was intended for someone from a branch family. However, with Simon's notorious reputation, no one in the upper crust dared have their daughters marry him, no matter how wealthy and powerful the Fullers were. This made Simon's grandfather, Philip Fuller, descend into panic. Simon was the main family's sole heir—he had a massive fortune to inherit, and the line couldn't die out with him. And so, Philip had reassigned the engagement from the branch family to Simon himself. John and his wife, Nancy Brown, couldn't bear to have Belinda marry him. Instead, they'd set their sights on Ivory. "If the engagement was always mine, why wasn't it pinned on me from the very beginning, even before Mr. Fuller Senior said anything?" Ivory asked sarcastically. John paled before flushing with anger. He wanted to say something, but Ivory couldn't be bothered to listen. She said, "I can marry into the Fuller family on Belinda's behalf, but I have my conditions." "What are they?" he snarled. She smirked. "I want all your assets, whether they're liquid funds or real estate. I want everything to be transferred under my name. I also want all of the Stone family's businesses to be given to me. I want to be Stone Group's new chairwoman!" Chapter 2 John slammed his hand on the table, almost erupting with rage. He roared, "Have you lost your mind?" "I'm your only daughter. Is there anything wrong with you giving me all your assets?" Ivory asked coldly. John's expression was hideous. Still, he agreed to her conditions. He figured Ivory would be lucky if she could survive a month with Simon. He could just take everything back once she died. "Fine. I'll do it!" he snarled. "But don't take that steward of yours to the Fuller residence with you. You don't want to upset Mr. Fuller." He expected Ivory to cause a scene over that. After all, everyone in their family knew she was head over heels for Wilson, who was outstanding in every way and handsome to boot. To his surprise, she didn't act up. She said calmly, "Do whatever you want with him. I don't want him anymore." She hated Belinda. And so, if anyone liked Belinda, she would rip them from her heart, no matter how agonizing it was. … Ivory headed to a bar right after leaving John's study. To her annoyance, Belinda and her friends were also there. "Fancy running into you here, Ivy." Belinda stood up when she saw Ivory, looking cautious and apprehensive. "Come and sit with us. I know Mom and Dad don't give you much allowance. It's my best friend's birthday today, and drinks are all on her. You can order anything you like—you won't need to pay." She sounded kind and understanding, but it was clear she was actually mocking Ivory for being broke and stingy. Ivory sneered. Then, she raised her voice and said, "I'm in a good mood today, so everyone's drinks are on me tonight—everyone but Belinda's table!" Everyone cheered at her words. "You're awesome, Ms. Ivory!" "As expected of the true heiress. She's so bold!" But just then, Wilson arrived. As he walked in, he heard Ivory's announcement and how she'd excluded Belinda's table. He frowned, his gaze filled with dislike as he glanced at Ivory. He pulled out his phone and made a call. Soon, the bar's owner hurried forward and said, "Sorry, everyone, but Mr. Quill has booked out the venue tonight. All drinks are now free, courtesy of Ms. Belinda Stone!" The crowd exploded again. "Mr. Quill? The legendary heir, who's rumored to be uninterested in women?" "That's the one. He and Mr. Fuller are equally notorious—one is Jeriton's richest man, and the other is the king of Weston." "Isn't he supposed to be like a monk? Why's he getting involved in our worldly affairs now?" "Looks like the fake heiress is about to soar into the heavens. If she manages to marry Mr. Quill, even the true heiress will have to keep her head down around her." A look of smugness flashed across Belinda's face when she heard the crowd's comments. She stood up, her face flushed as she said, "Since Mr. Quill has booked out the venue, drink up, everyone!" She deliberately paused before turning to look at Ivory. She smiled sweetly and said, "You, too, Ivy. I won't treat anyone differently." Her words earned her another round of praise. Everyone complimented her for being kind while making snide remarks about Ivory, saying that she wasn't half as cultured as a fake heiress. "You're right about me being petty," Ivory forced through gritted teeth. "But I won't take advantage of anyone. I'll only take what's mine. If something doesn't belong to me, I won't want it even if it's forced on me." With that, she turned and left. She headed to another bar. Unexpectedly, Belinda came after her. She blinked innocently and put on a pitiful act as Wilson watched. She said, "Don't stop me, Will. I want to apologize to Ivy. She must've misunderstood me again. I swear I didn't mean anything earlier—I just wanted to patch things up between us." She blinked again, and tears rolled down her face. Wilson's heart ached at the sight. He softened his tone and said, "You don't need to apologize, Ms. Belinda. You did nothing wrong. Someone else is at fault here." Ivory felt like her heart had been stabbed by countless needles. She turned away, no longer wanting to watch them be lovey-dovey to her face. She headed to the dance floor to let loose. At the same time, she took a glass of brandy from a server and downed it. She had no idea someone had secretly laced her drink. Chapter 3 Ivory wasn't the foolish type who put her guard down around everyone. She knew the bar was seedy and had many people with nasty intentions. The only reason she could drink away her sorrows without a worry was that Wilson was around. She felt safe whenever he was nearby. However, Wilson was too busy coaxing Belinda to care about Ivory. He seemed to have forgotten that he was Ivory's steward and was supposed to pay attention to everything in her life. The drug soon took effect. Ivory felt like she was burning up—the heat was only getting worse. No amount of ice cubes could soothe it. A few scions surrounded her and took the opportunity to slip their hands underneath her dress. "Your face is so red, gorgeous. Are you thirsty for a man?" "Jesus, you're hot. Come on, let us satisfy you…" Their actions were becoming less restrained. They even wanted to slip her underwear off. Ivory couldn't take it anymore. She mustered the remnants of her strength and shouted, "Wilson!" Only then did Wilson notice her situation. He didn't hurry to her, though. He said to Belinda gently, "Wait here for me, Ms. Belinda. I'll be right back." Then, he cut through the crowd and stopped by Ivory's side. "Are you trying to be a knight in shining armor so you can save a damsel in distress? Take it from me, and keep your nose out of—" The scions thought they could scare Wilson off by strength in numbers, but he snapped one of their arms before they could finish. "Get lost!" he growled. That was all he said, but it exuded dominance. The scions fled, and Ivory reached her limit. She collapsed weakly in Wilson's arms, her voice shaky as she said, "I… I feel horrible, Wilson…" He frowned. He wanted to push her away when he noticed her flushed face. Only then did he realize something was wrong with her. He swept her off her feet and cut through the crowd, heading to one of the private rooms upstairs. The drug was potent. Ivory tried her best to resist its effects, but she still couldn't help snaking her arms around Wilson's neck. She was itching everywhere. Every cell in her body screamed for attention. She wanted to take off her clothes; she wanted a man's touch… "Help me…" When Wilson put her down, she broke down and stood on her tiptoes. Tears streamed down her face as she peppered kisses on his face. "I feel like I'm dying… Wilson, help me…" The drug made Ivory lose all sense of rationality. She kissed him haphazardly while roaming her hands over his body. She wanted some relief from him; she wanted him to help her get rid of the itch deep within her. Amid her delirium, a bucket of cold water was suddenly poured over her. Wilson stood before her, his eyes still cold and stoic. "Are you a bit more lucid now?" The water soaked Ivory through. The iciness had indeed calmed her down, but her blazing heart was also extinguished. "There's no antidote for the drug here. You can start with cooling yourself down physically," Wilson said coldly. He filled the bathtub with cold water before throwing Ivory in. Her lips turned blue from the low temperature, but he merely watched her stoically. He didn't seem to pity her at all. "Hang on, Ms. Ivory. I'll go get you an antidote." He turned and left without another look back. Ivory waited for him through the night, but he never came back. The iciness of the water seeped into her bones, yet the aphrodisiac was still eating away at her from inside. She felt like countless ants were gnawing at her body. The water's iciness couldn't get rid of the heat inside her—it could only temporarily keep her lucid. She was burning inside, yet she was freezing on the outside. She was trapped between fire and ice. Still, she clenched her jaw and stuck it out. After a night, the heat finally subsided. Ivory was exhausted. Her legs felt like jelly as she got out of the bathtub. She thought Wilson had been gone for the whole night because it was hard to find an antidote, but she heard Belinda's voice drift out from the room beside hers as soon as she stepped out. "I'm sorry, Will. It's all my fault for being dumb enough to twist my ankle. You spent all night massaging it for me—you didn't have time to care for Ivy." "It's fine," Wilson said coolly while carefully massaging her ankle. "Ivory deserves to be taught a lesson." Chapter 4 Ivory wasn't the type to suffer in silence. If she was mad about something, she would take it out on someone on the spot. So, she kicked the door to the room next door down, looking arrogant as she held her head high. She asked, "What is the lesson that I need to be taught, Wilson? If you have something to say, do it to my face. Don't talk badly about me behind my back." Despite being caught red-handed, Wilson wasn't flustered in the slightest. He didn't even bat an eye, remaining as calm and composed as always. He drawled, "For example, you need to learn not to drink anything that just about anyone gives you." Ivory laughed. She wasn't a child—of course she knew that. Still… "Aren't you supposed to be keeping an eye on me?" She looked at him coldly. "I can't drink to my heart's content even with you around. What am I paying you for, then?" He fell silent. Then, he said, "I'll admit I shirked my duties this time." She smiled. "So, you shouldn't be the one teaching me a lesson. I should be the one doing it to you. Now, hold out your hand." He frowned as hints of displeasure flickered in his eyes. Still, he did as told and held out his hand. Ivory grabbed it and chomped down on it so hard that she drew blood. However, all Wilson did was furrow his brows slightly. He didn't even grunt. "That's your punishment," Ivory said. "Even if your conscience isn't weighed down when you throw me to the wolves again next time, at least your hand will hurt." With that, she turned and left without another look back. … That afternoon, Ivory attended her best friend's birthday party. It was a lively pool party. The invited scions and heiresses wore skimpy swimwear as they played in the pool, and the atmosphere was light-hearted and cheery. But just then, four attendants pushed a gigantic object hidden by a red cloth in. One of them bowed his head politely toward Ivory and said, "Ms. Stone, this is a gift to you from Mr. Fuller." Mr. Fuller? Ivory cocked an eyebrow. Her future husband? She said, "It's my best friend's birthday today, not mine. Why has he given me something?" "Mr. Fuller cares about you and doesn't want you to feel neglected," the attendant said with a smile. That was a nice explanation, but Ivory couldn't help feeling uneasy. She instinctively looked around for Wilson, but as soon as she turned her head, she saw Belinda getting out of the pool in a relatively conservative swimsuit. Wilson waited for her with a towel. He wrapped it around her as soon as she got out. "Be careful not to catch a cold, Ms. Belinda." Just the night before, he'd abandoned Ivory in a bathtub full of ice-cold water. He hadn't bothered asking whether she was fine. She'd developed signs of frostbite on her legs, yet he hadn't shown the slightest bit of concern or heartache. Now, the sun hung high in the sky, and the pool wasn't even cold. Belinda had merely been in the water for a swim, yet Wilson was worried about her catching a cold. Ivory clenched her fists and looked away. Then, she said loudly, "I accept the gift. Thank Mr. Fuller for me!" The crowd was abuzz. Though the gift was covered by a red cloth, its size hinted at it being an expensive car. "Ivy, hurry up and lift the cloth." Her best friend, Ginny Wright, was curious about the gift. She kept urging Ivory to unveil it. Ivory didn't want to leave her hanging, so she stepped forward and yanked the cloth covering her "gift". The moment the cloth slipped off, a beast roared, making everyone gasp in fright. Beneath the cloth wasn't the expensive car everyone anticipated. Instead, it was a gigantic cage with an adult male lion in it! "What kind of gift is that? It's monstrous!" "I've long heard about Simon Fuller being a psycho. I thought that was just a rumor, but it seems he's worse than I imagined!" "How is this considered a gift for his fiancee? He's obviously trying to scare and threaten her!" "I suddenly pity Ivory. What's life going to be like for her when she marries a freak like that?" The crowd was abuzz as they looked at Ivory with pity. Meanwhile, Belinda approached with Wilson, blinking innocently as she asked, "What's happened? Why's there a huge lion here? Is this part of a circus act?" The lion went berserk inside the cage at her words. There was no telling whether Simon had done this on purpose or whether the cage itself wasn't sturdy. After a brief struggle, the lion managed to ram the cage door open! The crowd screamed and scattered. Wilson didn't even hesitate as he pounced on Belinda, protecting her with his body. However, Ivory was the one who was closer to the cage. Chapter 5 The lion lunged with its jaw wide open. Ivory wasn't in time to dodge and was bitten on the shoulder. Fortunately, the attendants had tranquilizer guns at the ready. They shot the lion a few times before it collapsed with a heavy thud. Ivory lost too much blood from the attack. Her vision went black, and she passed out. When she woke up again, she found herself in the hospital. Wilson was by her side, his expression as cold as ever. "You're awake, Ms. Ivory. Do you want some water?" She bit her lip and looked at him with resentment. Then, she said hoarsely, "You should've protected me." He lowered his eyes, and his long lashes left shadows beneath his eyes. However, there was no trace of guilt in his gaze. "Sorry, but Ms. Belinda was closer to me at the time." He was lying! Ivory could feel her heart bleeding. She'd clearly seen Wilson dart toward Belinda almost instinctively. It wasn't a choice he'd made rationally—it was already part of his nature to protect her. "This is your second time abandoning me." Ivory shut her eyes, hiding her exhaustion. "Give me your hand." He held it out obediently. She grabbed it and chomped down hard, venting her anger. She deliberately bit the same spot as before. The wound from the previous time had yet to fully heal, and there she was, making it worse. Wilson frowned in displeasure but didn't say anything. He was indeed at fault for not protecting his employer. … Ivory was discharged from the hospital after spending some time there recuperating. However, as soon as she got home, she saw the lion that had bitten her lounging in her backyard. "Ivy, Dad said that you have to take good care of the lion since it's a gift from Mr. Fuller," Belinda said softly. "Make sure it doesn't die, or Mr. Fuller will be upset." Wilson frowned slightly. "Why would Simon Fuller give Ms. Ivory something like this?" He had no idea Ivory was about to marry Simon. Everyone in Jeriton knew about it, and so would he, if he'd paid the slightest bit of attention. "Because she's—" Belinda started. Ivory cut her off. "Because he likes me, of course. What, are you jealous?" Wilson's frown deepened. He tried to keep his annoyance at bay as he asked, "Have you already forgotten what happened at the bar the other night, Ms. Ivory? Why do you keep playing with fire and getting involved with dangerous people? I may be your steward, but that doesn't mean I'll always show up by your side in time when you're in danger." His words made Ivory fall into a daze. She was reminded of the first time she'd met him for some reason. Wilson was a retired member of the special forces. Apparently, he'd left the army after getting injured in battle and had later come to apply for a job as a steward at the Stone family. Ivory had sat on a wall and swung her legs while saying, "You need to have some skills to be my steward, you know. I don't want someone who's just a pretty face." She was the true heiress who'd been switched at birth. Before being reunited with the Stones, she'd lived in the mountains. So, she was used to being unrestrained, and she loved climbing everywhere. Unfortunately, her luck had been down that day. The wall, which had always been strong and sturdy, suddenly collapsed. She'd panicked, and it was too late for her to escape. She'd shut her eyes, but the pain she'd expected hadn't come. Instead, she'd fallen into a warm embrace. Wilson had caught her steadily and used his arm to block the bricks that had flown her way. "Ms. Ivory." His face had been devoid of emotion. "You're more of a pretty face than you think." Wilson had been by Ivory's side from then on. Whenever she was in danger, he would show up in the nick of time and rescue her. When her car had overturned during a race and she'd been trapped inside from the flames, he'd single-handedly ripped the door off and yanked her out. When thugs had tried to hit on her, Wilson was the one who'd scared them off with a single look. And when she'd twisted her ankle while climbing a mountain, he'd carried her through the snow and taken her home. It was almost given that Ivory would fall in love with him. Her adoptive parents had never cared about her, and her birth parents didn't love her. She'd been alone since childhood. However, once Wilson showed up in her life, it was as if her lonely soul had finally found someone to rely on. She'd thought he would remain by her side until the end of time. Yet now, he was telling her that he couldn't possibly show up on time to save her each time she was in danger. Ivory scoffed. She tried to suppress her heartache as she said, "You're right about not being able to show up in time when I'm in danger. But I'm sure you'll do whatever it takes to be by Belinda's side in a perilous situation." Chapter 6 Wilson didn't say anything, but his silence was answer enough. Suddenly, Ivory found the whole thing ridiculous. In this moment, everything seemed so mocking—her love that had once burned like fire, and the heartbreak and despair she'd tried so hard to keep hidden. "Get lost!" She shoved Wilson aside and grabbed a pair of pliers. Then, she headed toward the lion. She couldn't let it die, huh? She tranquilized it, then removed its sharp fangs and snipped its claws. From this day onward, she wouldn't need anyone to protect her. She could do a better job herself! … That night, Ivory unwrapped the bandages around her shoulders, wanting to treat her wounds, when Belinda appeared out of nowhere. "Why are you doing this yourself, Ivy? Let me help you," she said. Then, she scattered chili powder onto the wounds. The searing spice hit the raw wound, and intense pain coursed through Ivory. Beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead from the sensation. She kicked the table before her, overturning it. Then, she slapped Belinda hard across the face. "You're asking for it, Belinda!" She grabbed a whip to give Belinda the lashing of a lifetime. However, she'd just swung the whip when Wilson entered the room. He instantly yanked Belinda into his arms, taking the lash for her on his arm. The whip was barbed, so his flesh split open the moment it came into contact with his arm. "What did Ms. Belinda do to deserve such treatment, Ms. Ivory?" He looked at Ivory coldly, his gaze filled with hatred. Belinda wept in his arms. "I just wanted to help Ivy treat her wound, Will." "You're too kind, Ms. Belinda," Wilson said. "Some people don't deserve such kindness." With that, he turned and left with Belinda, keeping his arm wrapped around her shoulders protectively. He didn't even spare Ivory a glance, so he didn't notice the chili powder on her bloody shoulder. The wounds were even starting to fester under the spice's aggravation. … The following day, Ivory was invited to attend a jewelry exhibition. She only realized Belinda was also there when she arrived. "What are you doing here, Ivy? Do you have any money to buy the jewelry here?" Belinda covered her mouth and laughed daintily. "Maybe I should lend you some. Everyone knows you don't have much allowance." Ivory sneered. "I should be the one saying that to you. Get on your knees and beg me for mercy when you can't foot the bill later. I'll pay it for you." She turned and walked away without another word. Belinda found that odd. She picked a few pieces and tried to pay for them, but she discovered that her cards had been frozen. "Sorry, Linda." Ivory approached her gracefully. "Our darling father has transferred all of the Stone family's assets into my name. Every cent that you spend from now on has to go through me." She held out her own card and smiled. "I'll take all the pieces from the Starlight series, including the ones she wants. Wrap them up and send them to my home. As for the ones that she liked… throw them down the toilet and flush them away!" Belinda stomped angrily, but there was nothing she could do. At that moment, Thomas Fray, the person in charge of the exhibition, appeared. He held a microphone and announced, "Excuse me, everyone. I have an announcement to make! Mr. Quill has purchased all the jewelry on display in this exhibition, no matter the cost!" The crowd gasped, and the socialites squealed. "I thought Mr. Quill was single! Why has he bought all this jewelry?" "Who knows? Maybe he's giving it to the woman who's caught his eye!" "Who could that be? I'm so jealous of her!" Amid the discussion, Thomas stopped before Belinda with an entourage. They held trays of exquisite jewelry, including the Starlight series that Ivory had just been about to purchase. "Ms. Stone, Mr. Quill has gifted all of this to you. Please take a look at them." Chapter 7 Two Ms. Stones stood before Thomas, but it was clear the jewelry was meant for Belinda. She covered her mouth, looking astonished. "They're for me? But why? I've never even met Mr. Quill. Why would he be so nice to me?" "You are as graceful as you are intelligent, Ms. Stone. Your reputation has long spread throughout Jeriton," Thomas said sycophantically. "You may have never met Mr. Quill, but perhaps he's been quietly watching you this whole time. It would explain all the gifts." Belinda blushed, feigning bashfulness. Deep inside, she was smug. Just then, Thomas turned to Ivory. "Ms. Ivory, Mr. Quill wants to see you upstairs." In truth, Ivory had known for a long time that the so-called legendary Mr. Quill was Wilson. The stoic heir had an aversion to women, was a retired member of the special forces, shared Wilson's surname, and also liked Belinda… They shared numerous overlapping characteristics, making it difficult to overlook. Ivory didn't know what Wilson was up to, but she still followed Thomas upstairs. Trusting Wilson wholeheartedly had become second nature to her—she didn't have her guard up at all. Only after entering the VIP private room upstairs did she realize Wilson was nowhere in sight. Instead, some trained hitmen appeared and tied her to a chair. One of them retrieved a barbed whip. Ivory paled, instantly knowing what Wilson wanted. The whip lashed down hard with a crack, making a bloody welt appear on her back. Agonizing pain tore through her, but she burst into laughter. Tears streamed down her face as she laughed. How pathetic. How utterly pathetic. Wilson wasn't worthy of her love at all! Ivory gritted her teeth, refusing to beg for mercy. She endured all hundred lashes without making another sound. In the end, she collapsed to the floor, feeling worn out. Her consciousness turned hazy. Before passing out, she heard someone laugh and ask Wilson, "Didn't you infiltrate the Stone family to find the girl who saved you in the mountains so you could repay her? How did you end up whipping someone?" "Belinda Stone, the second daughter of the Stone family, is my savior," Wilson said. "This is the Stone family's eldest daughter. She's obnoxious and out of line—she needs to be knocked some sense into…" Ivory didn't hear the rest of the conversation. She lost consciousness after losing too much blood. While unconscious, she dreamed of an old memory. When she'd been in her teens, she'd once saved a heavily injured special forces soldier in the mountains. He'd worn a special mask. She'd wanted to remove it, but he'd told her his identity was top-secret and that he would have to kill her if she were to see his face. And so, she'd left his mask where it was and had just treated his wounds. Even until now, she had no idea who that soldier was and what he looked like. But after regaining consciousness, she had her answer. It turned out she'd saved Wilson all those years ago. Still, there was no meaning in discovering the truth now. Her heart had died after the repeated abandonment and betrayal. Coincidentally enough, Ivory woke up on the day she was meant to leave for Weston to marry Simon. She was covered in injuries, and she limped as she walked. She was supposed to be the most beautiful woman in Jeriton, yet she was as pale as a ghost on the day she left to get married. She didn't look pretty at all. Whatever. Becoming a bride was a happy occasion—she had to play the part right. Ivory sat before her vanity, carefully fixing her hair and makeup. Then, she got a dagger and slipped it into her sleeve. If Simon dared to do anything to her that night, she would stab him in the heart. They could just die together, for all she cared. There was nothing in this world that meant anything to her anymore. After hiding the dagger, Ivory summoned Wilson. She said weakly, "Hold out your hand." He frowned, seemingly not used to her being so weak. Still, he did as told. She lowered her head and bit his palm hard again. This would be the last time she did this, but it wouldn't be because he'd abandoned her. This time, she was the one leaving him behind. She couldn't help thinking, "I hope your hand and heart don't hurt too badly when you learn the truth." After biting Wilson, Ivory smiled and gave him her final command before her departure. "Close your eyes, sit here, and count to ten thousand. You can only leave once you're done." "Why?" he asked. "No reason. It's an order," she said. She often gave him these weird commands to test his obedience. In the past, he'd been repulsed by these nonsensical instructions. However, looking at Ivory's pale face, he felt the slightest hint of guilt. And so, he didn't complain as he shut his eyes and started counting. "One, two, three…" Ivory went downstairs with a box of things as he counted. It contained items that commemorated their time together. The ticket stubs from the first film they'd watched together, the first photo they'd taken together, and the paper rose Wilson had folded with newspaper… There wasn't much, really. After all, Wilson didn't like her. The gifts he'd given her could be counted on one hand. She hung them on the peach blossom tree in the garden. Then, she turned and left. The pink blossoms on the tree danced with the breeze. Ivory had once fantasized about someone planting her rows and rows of peach blossom trees before marrying her. Now, she had her rows of trees, but she no longer needed Wilson to marry her. She didn't want him anymore. Ivory boarded a plane with the lion that she'd defanged and declawed. She didn't look back. This was farewell, Wilson.