Chapter 3

Because of an offhand remark, Cary held a grudge against me for six years.

He personally cut me down to size, bringing me crashing down to earth, casting me into the dust.

He appeared when I was at my most helpless and filthy, saving my life like a savior.

How laughable.

So I would rather peel back the scars just to see Cary in pain.

At last, the engagement party ended in a farce.

Despite Cary's efforts to keep it under wraps, word still got out.

I watched coldly as he handled everything, then clung tightly to me all the way back to the villa.

"Elliana, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." In the darkness, he kept repeating these words, his arms holding me as if trying to fuse me into his very being.

I turned on the light, watching the pain on his face, then slowly removed my wedding dress in front of him.

The pristine dress fell to the floor, revealing skin covered in scars.

"Do you know how I got these scars?" I spoke softly, tears welling up in my eyes.

The knife scar on my waist was the result of resisting those people.

The burn on my arm was from a cigarette.

Other scars were from fighting to survive.

I pointed them out one by one, recounting the stories.

After listening to what I said, Cary's voice trembled with a sob as he held me, "Elliana, please stop, I beg you..."

It was only when the warm liquid fell on my skin that I realized Cary was crying.

In all the years we had known each other, it was the first time he shed tears for me.

But this past year taught me that tears were the most useless thing.

Subsequently, on the following day, I was having a meal with my friend Anthony Harris.

"How have you been lately?" Anthony asked, adding sausages and cheese to the fondue, his eyebrows raised in a way that made him look a bit fierce.

During my toughest times, he took me in, and nearly a year of living together revealed that despite his fierce exterior, he was actually very kind.

"Not bad." I lifted my head from my meal to flash him a smile.

Anthony helplessly patted my head and said, "If anyone bullies you, come find me. After all, I'm still a member of the Harris family."

The Harris family had been in business for generations, a top-tier family, though Anthony, the youngest, was rebellious from a young age.

He later became a notorious figure in Detroit, living a wild lifestyle of racing, brawling, and partying.

"Anthony, why are you so good to me?"

During the year we spent together, I asked this question countless times but never got an answer.

Anthony's gaze darkened slightly as he slowly placed an amethyst bracelet on my wrist, then said, "This is an amethyst bracelet I had someone buy for you. It symbolizes health and safety. Wear it."

I stroked the amethyst bracelet, speculating that he must have gone to great lengths to obtain it.

"Why ask so many questions? Silly girl!" As I pondered, my forehead was suddenly tapped lightly by him.

I gave him a bright smile and didn't press further. "Thank you, Anthony."

What I didn't know was that after I left, Anthony leaned against his car, watching my departing figure, lighting a cigarette. In the misty rain, his voice was somewhat elusive: "Silly girl, you forgot about me so easily. If I had been there back then, I wouldn't have let you suffer so much."

As soon as I returned to my room, a warm body pressed against my back, the scent of alcohol mingling with the breath on my neck.

"Elliana, where did you go?"

Cary's hands tightened around my waist, his tone carrying a hint of cautiousness and appeasement.

I tried to break free from his grip, but he only held me tighter.

"Don't leave me, please?"

His voice was almost pleading, already choked with emotion.

I turned to face him, looked at him for a moment, then suddenly raised my hand and slapped him hard.

"Asshole! Do you deserve it?"

I had long wanted to do this.

The feeling of being bewitched by the gentleness on his once cold and noble face had long vanished, leaving only endless disgust.

"Cary, don't forget, it was you who pushed me away."

With those words, Cary's face turned pale and weak, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry, Elliana. If you don't like it, I won't ask again. You should rest. I'll leave now."

With that, he left in a hurry.

In the following days, Cary indulged me greatly, even agreeing when I asked to go to the company.

He appointed me as his secretary, handling trivial matters.

When he founded the company, I stood by him during the toughest times, even getting my parents to help him.

That was how the Walsh Group came into existence.

Cary would casually mention the past in front of me, hoping that I would reminisce and forget the experiences of the past year so as to reconcile with him.

He put aside company affairs to take me on trips. We went skiing in the north, watched the aurora, and even embraced and made wishes under a meteor shower.

As the starlight fell, it illuminated the face of the man beside me.

He closed his eyes, his once cold and sharp features softened, making a sincere wish.

Once, when I loved him most, I would coyly beg him to take me on trips.

I wanted to fill my best youth and memories with moments of us together.

But he always used work as an excuse, saying it was all for our future.

Now, the things I once dreamed of were laid before me, yet they were things I no longer needed.

Too little, too late, and people were no different.

A month before the wedding, Kay finally couldn't resist and confronted me.