In a dark, eerie cabin on the outskirts.
"Here's the first payment of five hundred thousand. Once you bring back the girl from the photo, our lady will pay you the remaining five hundred thousand." The speaker handed a brown paper bag and a photo to a seemingly evil-looking short, plump man among the three present.
The short, plump man took the bag, pulled out a stack of cash, and played with it. "Alright, if there's money, then it's easy to get things done. But, heh heh… did your lady say how to handle this girl?" He looked greedily at the beautiful face and shapely figure in the photo.
"Do whatever you want with her."
The short man's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "Good, that's straightforward. We have a deal."
"Then I'll leave it to you. I have something else to attend to."
After the man left, the short one turned to a dark-faced middle-aged man sitting in the corner. "Boss, once we finish this job, we'll be back on our feet again," he said, trying to curry favor.
"Yeah, Boss. Who would have thought we'd get lucky like this? Just grab a person and we can easily earn a million," another unremarkable-looking man said excitedly.
Jiang Kunhong's eyes turned sinister and cunning; he had been waiting for this day for a long time.
Ever since their heroin smuggling operation with Fang Yongsheng had been exposed, they had suffered immensely—losing men and becoming wanted criminals, forced to evade the police's intense pursuit like rats in the street.
"Dapeng, give the photo to Zhongzai. This girl will be his responsibility along with Heirou," Jiang Kunhong commanded, his face twisted in malice.
Zhongzai took the photo, and exclaimed, "Oh my god! Boss, this girl in the picture—"
"What is it?" Jiang Kunhong frowned and took a look, "There's nothing wrong, why are you making such a fuss?" He reprimanded him with displeasure.
"Heh heh! Boss, I think he's interested in the girl in the photo, just like I am," Dapeng said with a lewd grin.
"No, Boss!" Zhongzai exclaimed urgently, "This girl is the one who escaped from us during the deal at the old warehouse!"
"What?!" Everyone present gasped.
"Then we can't leave any witnesses." Jiang Kunhong's face darkened as he spoke harshly.
"But Boss, such a beautiful girl—shouldn't we have some fun with her before she dies? It'd be a shame to waste her," Dapeng lamented, drawing a fierce glare from Jiang Kunhong. He quickly shrank back, too intimidated to speak further.
"Zhongzai, take an extra brother with you. No matter what, you must succeed; failure is not an option." Jiang Kunhong issued his cold orders.
"Yes, Boss!"
"How's your task coming along?" Jin Haini lounged on a deck chair by a private pool, her voluptuous figure barely covered by a bikini that couldn't hide her curves.
"Miss, I've done exactly as you instructed. I believe it won't be long before that girl can no longer oppose you," He Qiang said, his eyes greedily fixed on Jin Haini's alluring body.
"Ha ha ha—great! You've done well," Jin Haini laughed sharply. "Soon, I'll make Sunny regret what she did to me that day. Heh heh! By then, I won't have to worry about Long Yang being hers."
He Qiang nodded eagerly in agreement. "Miss, it's so sunny—should I apply some sunscreen on you?" he asked, his eyes still lingering on Jin Haini's enticing form.
Jin Haini flashed a seductive smile, teasingly loosening the top of her bikini, revealing her stunning curves.
"Let's start here…" Jin Haini beckoned him with a flirtatious look, her hand gliding along her side.
He Qiang's eyes nearly popped out; the intense desire almost overwhelmed him.
Seeing the enticing invitation in her gaze, he tossed his shirt aside, baring his chest. He poured some sunscreen into his hands and, returning her gaze with equal passion, began to caress Jin Haini's full breasts tenderly…
"Hello, everyone! It's time; I'm taking the roast duck out for a walk," Sunny announced, holding a duck at the door, her big eyes sparkling with excitement.
Still under house arrest, she had finally bargained with Long Yang and managed to earn a bit of freedom, using the excuse of walking the duck to explore outside.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Long Yang, sitting on the sofa, looked up from his documents, his gaze soft and indulgent as he watched her happy expression.
Sunny shook her beautiful head quickly. "No need! Aren't you busy? I can go by myself!" She laughed. If he came along, all the hard-earned freedom would be lost.
"Ha! Long, who would have thought you'd have a day of being neglected as a big romantic?" Bai Haoran chimed in teasingly after hearing Sunny's refusal.
"Right! You can't be the center of attention forever," Lan Feng added, unable to resist joining in with a sly grin.
"That's called good flowers don't bloom forever, good times don't last long," the usually silent Heiying finally made a witty remark.
"Honestly, Long, I really can't help but shed a tear of sympathy for you," Xia Yun followed up, shaking his head with a sigh.
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Shut up if you don't understand; don't spout nonsense," Long Yang said, both amused and exasperated, giving Xia Yun, who was nearest to him, a light punch as a warning.
"Actually, you all don't know Sunny. She sees how busy Long is and doesn't want to burden him further; that's a sign of consideration. Do you know how to write 'consideration'?" Lei Jie said with a gloating tone, earning four eye rolls and two irritated looks.
"Well, it seems Lei Jie understands me," Sunny said with satisfaction, then shot a glare at Bai Haoran, Xia Yun, Lan Feng, and Heiying. "Unlike you lot, who have neither knowledge nor class, claiming to be the vice president of the 'Longmen Society' and part of the mysterious 'Three Stars Group.' You're simply embarrassing the 'Longmen Society'! Sigh," she said, letting out a heavy sigh. "I really don't know if Long Yang's eyes have been blinded; how else could he choose four people without a single good quality?" she mocked softly.
Hearing this, Xia Yun, Lan Feng, and Heiying each made a funny face, as if to say they had expected her to say this.
Lei Jie and Long Yang chuckled quietly.
Bai Haoran, both amused and exasperated, said, "Hey, Sunshine, even if you won't give us a compliment, at least show us some respect! Why do you have to put us down like this?" He shook his head repeatedly, realizing that his teasing backfired, making him the target instead.
"Hmph!" Sunny snorted disdainfully. "Do you think your reputation is bigger than your face?" she retorted, a sunny smile breaking on her face.
Upon hearing this, not just Long Yang and Lei Jie, but even Xia Yun, Lan Feng, and Heiying couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Bai Haoran, realizing his mistake, decided to hold his tongue and not say another word.
"Alright, Sunny, don't you need to take the roast duck for a walk? I'll give you half an hour; hurry back," Long Yang said, smiling at her.
Sunny pouted, "What? Only half an hour?" she complained.
Long Yang's expression darkened. "What? You think that's too long?" he raised an eyebrow.
Sunny reluctantly shook her head. "No, no! Half an hour is fine." She had to obediently agree on the surface, but secretly planned to stretch it to an hour before coming back.
"Then I'm going now," she said, eagerly grabbing the dog leash and running out with the roast duck in tow.
"Strange! Is there a mad dog chasing her? Otherwise, why is she running so fast?" Lei Jie looked at the others, puzzled.
"Poor roast duck! I wonder if it will get choked by Sunny's pulling?" Lan Feng said humorously.
This imagery quickly sparked laughter, and within three seconds, the room was filled with the sound of hearty laughter.
"Enough laughing," Long Yang said, regaining his serious demeanor. "Quickly compile the information on Jiang Kunhong. We absolutely cannot let him slip away this time," he said sternly.
"Long!" Heiying rushed in, his face serious.
"Have you found anything out?" Long Yang asked anxiously, holding the roast duck that the downstairs security had brought up fifteen minutes ago.
Damn it! He had never felt so panicked and helpless. The moment he learned of Sunny's disappearance, a wave of fear washed over him, leaving him disoriented and lost.
"According to the tracker in the watch you gave Sunny, the place where she was kidnapped matches the hideout of Jiang Kunhong's group," Heiying said, looking very worried.
"No wonder! Jiang Kunhong is truly malicious and cunning. I don't know what might happen to Sunny now that she's in their hands," he continued.
"Hmph! With new grudges and old debts combined, even if Jiang Kunhong had a hundred lives, it wouldn't be enough for him to pay," Lei Jie said coldly, a fierce expression on his face.
"Just hope nothing happens to Sunny," Bai Haoran said, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a worried frown.
This remark hit Long Yang hard, causing his heart to tighten, as if he had been struck. His mind went blank with fear.
He fell into deep terror, unable to bear the thought of what would happen if anything happened to Sunny…
Taking a deep breath, Long Yang forced himself to calm down. He had to maintain a clear head to rescue Sunny safely.
"Ah Hao, immediately notify the police about Jiang Kunhong's whereabouts. Also inform Zhang Yuanshan at the police station that the 'Longmen Society' is officially joining this pursuit; ask for their full cooperation. And Lei Jie, Heiying, you two go to Jiang Kunhong's hideout immediately. Before Summer, Lan Feng, and the others arrive, make sure not to alert them. The priority is to protect Sunny; she must not come to any harm," Long Yang quickly issued his orders.
Everyone felt a wave of admiration for him; he truly was the capable commander of the renowned 'Longmen Society,' calmly organizing everything.
No matter what, he could not allow anything to happen to Sunny. Long Yang believed that with the strength of the Longmen Society, they would surely bring Sunny back safely. He had to!
"Damn Jiang Kunhong, you better not harm a hair on Sunny, or I will make you wish you never lived in this world," Long Yang said, his voice colder than ice, his expression terrifyingly grim. Only in his eyes could one see the rage and storm brewing…
Sunny gasped heavily, desperately telling herself that she wouldn't be that unlucky, that it was impossible for her to be that unlucky!
But, damn it, since coming to the twentieth century, many facts proved that she really was at the peak of bad luck.
Who would have thought that she, who always considered herself a genius, would be captured a second time just because she let her guard down? Oh my god! If she told anyone, would she even be able to hold her head high?
And it wasn't just that; the most unbelievable thing was that her kidnappers were none other than Jiang Kunhong's ruthless gang. Sunny gritted her teeth in frustration, wanting to scream loudly as an outlet for her pent-up anger.
Jiang Kunhong, seeing his subordinates successfully bring her back, wore a cruel smile as he approached Sunny, bound to a chair.
"You must be wondering why we kidnapped you, right?" Jiang Kunhong said with a sinister grin.
Sunny glared at him fiercely, refusing to waste her breath on such a petty person.
"To be honest, I don't have a deep grudge against you, but…" Jiang Kunhong grinned viciously. "The problem is that you're just too curious. You shouldn't have seen me dealing in drugs and committing murder." He shook his head regretfully.
"How did you know my whereabouts?" Sunny suddenly asked, her mind consumed with this question.
Logically speaking, finding someone in such a large Taipei was no simple task, especially for someone like them who was wanted throughout the province. They should be hiding, not brazenly looking for her. Moreover, she had hardly left her home lately, making it nearly impossible for them to capture her—unless—
"Did someone tip you off?" Sunny asked, looking at him for confirmation.
"Heh heh! You're quite clever, girl!" Jiang Kunhong said, appreciating her insight. "That's right; someone paid a full one million dollars for us to deal with you. However, ironically, one of my men recognized you as the girl who escaped last time, so…"
"Who? Who paid a million to have me killed?" Sunny interrupted him.
"Hmph! Why should I tell you?" Jiang Kunhong glared at her, displeased.
"Don't tell me you don't know who it is?" Sunny taunted.
"Ridiculous! I, Jiang Kunhong, have a habit of knowing who I'm dealing with before conducting business; otherwise, I wouldn't take the job," he scoffed.
"Is that so? Even when running away?" Sunny raised her voice, eyeing him skeptically.
"Of course! However, heh heh, if you really want to know who it is, seeing as I'm in a good mood today, I might just share it with you for free," Jiang Kunhong said with an evil smile.
Sunny's expression changed abruptly. "Who?" she bit her lip, wondering who would want her dead.
"Jin Haini!"
Sunny's eyes widened in shock. Oh my god! So it was her; this woman was truly ruthless!
"Boss, there's no time! Let's get this done; we still need to head to Kaohsiung to hide for a while, right? It's no longer safe here," Heirou reminded him from the side.
Jiang Kunhong frowned and turned to him. "Is everything that needs to be taken ready?"
"Yes, it's all prepared."
Then Jiang Kunhong turned back to Sunny. "What a pity! After saying all this, you still have to die," he said cruelly, laughing.
His terrifying laughter sent chills down Sunny's spine, and fear began to creep in. Oh my god! Was she really going to die here today?
"Zhongzi!" Jiang Kunhong ordered coldly.
As Zhongzi raised his gun to shoot Sunny, suddenly, a loud commotion erupted outside the building.
"Not good! Not good, boss! The cops have surrounded our hideout!"
"What?" Jiang Kunhong's face changed dramatically. "Damn it, tell the brothers to get ready—"
A fierce gunfight erupted.
When Long Yang and the others arrived with imposing momentum, the natural, overwhelming power of the "Longmen Society" almost scared Jiang Kunhong's men into fleeing back home.
"What do we do now, boss?" Dapao asked, panic in his voice, trembling all over.
Jiang Kunhong peered out through a crack in the window, his face pale. Where did these newcomers come from? Why did they exude such a fierce and royal aura that even he felt a chill run down his spine?
"Boss, what if we go out and surrender? Maybe we can still survive," Dapao suggested, trembling like a coward at this critical moment.
"Boss, Dapao is right. There's a net laid out outside; we can't escape even if we try," Heirou added, looking uneasy.
"Yeah! Boss, as long as we stay alive, we can always find another way," another subordinate chimed in.
With someone initiating it, the few remaining people in the room started chiming in one after another.
"Shut up! If you keep talking, I'll shoot you first," Jiang Kunhong yelled harshly.
Everyone instantly fell silent.
His eyes were filled with a dark anger, but he hadn't forgotten that he still held a trump card.
Meanwhile, Sunny was almost ready to shout with joy. Thank heavens! Finally, the skies showed her some mercy; her life was not meant to end here.
Just as Sunny was smiling, the door of the wooden shack was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang.
In rushed several tall, powerful men, each holding advanced handguns, their faces radiating a cold, deadly aura.
"Wow, you all made it!" Sunny exclaimed excitedly, wishing she could hug each of them if she weren't tied to the chair.
Jiang Kunhong's jaw dropped in shock. He quickly grabbed Sunny, holding a gun to her temple.
"Don't come any closer! If you take one more step, I'll shoot her," he threatened, his face pale.
These people were no joke! He had never seen such a commanding and furious presence on anyone's face before, especially one tall man standing beside Long Yang, strikingly handsome, exuding an aura of authority that made Jiang Kunhong shiver and sweat.
"If I were you, I wouldn't be foolish enough to do that," Long Yang said expressionlessly, his anger reaching a boiling point.
"Y-you… who are you?" Jiang Kunhong stammered, shrinking back.
"He is none other than the famous, earth-shattering leader of the 'Longmen Society,' Long Yang. The two standing to his right are the vice presidents, Lei Jie and Bai Haoran, while the two on his left are the elusive stars of the Three Stars Group: Meteor, Comet, and Dark Star," Sunny said gleefully, her tone sing-song, as if to scare him to death.
"'Longmen Society'—" All the small fry in the room gasped, their faces turning pale. Even Jiang Kunhong was sweating profusely, realizing he was definitely doomed this time.
By heaven's witness, anyone involved in the underworld knew of the Longmen Society, composed of elite members from both sides of the law, whose reputation spread worldwide in just a few short years.
No wonder he had panicked at their first sight; the natural authority and power they radiated had overwhelmed him. But now, oh god! He didn't even have time to curry favor with them; how could he have dared to provoke people he would never dream of offending?
Jiang Kunhong started to regret his choices, as he hadn't realized this girl had significant connections and was actually part of Long Yang's circle.
However, given the tense situation, he couldn't hesitate. Whether he stretched his head or pulled it back, he was in danger either way. As long as he held her as a trump card, he might still have a chance to escape unscathed.
Long Yang's eyes turned cold. "Let her go!" His voice was so chilling it made everyone tremble.
"Sure! But I have conditions," Jiang Kunhong said with a sinister smile.
"What conditions?" Long Yang's hand tightened around his gun, veins bulging with tension.
"It's quite simple; I want your guarantee that I can leave here safely."
"Agreed!" Long Yang replied without hesitation, not even furrowing his brow. For Sunny's sake, he would exchange the entire Longmen Society if necessary.
"Well, it's no wonder you're the feared leader of the Longmen Society; you're quite straightforward," Jiang Kunhong flattered, realizing that the girl in his grasp was not just a trump card but a super trump card capable of commanding Long Yang.
Long Yang turned to Bai Haoran, instructing him to immediately inform the police outside to withdraw.
The others couldn't help but glance toward Sunny.
Just then, Sunny made a sudden playful face, almost making them burst into laughter, breaking the tension of the moment. They wondered if she had been scared silly; how could she still be in the mood for such antics in such a dangerous situation?
"Long! They've retreated," Bai Haoran said calmly as he walked in.
"Can I release her now?" Lei Jie asked coldly, his voice harsh.
"Sure, but only after I'm in the car," Jiang Kunhong grinned wickedly, clearly not intending to let go of this super trump card that could control Long Yang and the others.
Long Yang's face darkened, his fiery eyes seemed ready to scorch everyone in sight, making them instinctively take a step back. He forced himself to endure; for Sunny's sake, he had to hold back.
Once in the car, Jiang Kunhong showed no intention of releasing Sunny.
"Ha ha, President Long, I'm sorry, but to prevent you from laying an ambush or sending someone to follow me, I'll need to hold onto this hostage for a while. When things calm down, I'll send someone to return her to you," he said slyly.
A chorus of curses erupted, every member of the Longmen Society's face turning fierce.
Long Yang's face was overshadowed by clouds of anger, his blood racing as if it would burst from his veins.
Sunny's face also turned pale, her heart tightening. To prevent Long Yang and Lei Jie from being constantly threatened and controlled by this despicable man because of her, she decided to take a gamble.
Taking advantage of Jiang Kunhong's moment of pride, Sunny bit down hard on his arm, then struggled fiercely to break free from his grasp. She slammed the still-opening car door and jumped out just as the engine roared to life.
Long Yang panicked and rushed forward to shield her.
At that moment, several gunshots rang out, plunging the scene into chaos.
Sunny felt a searing heat in her back, a wave of discomfort washing over her. She stumbled a few steps, then collapsed to the ground; she had been shot! This realization struck her just as her surroundings began to blur and spin.
"Are you okay?!" Long Yang held her tightly, looking into her pale, sweaty face with concern.
"I…" Sunny forced a faint smile, leaning into Long Yang's embrace, feeling her strength rapidly draining away.
It wasn't until Long Yang noticed his arms were sticky that he realized something was wrong. Looking down, his face turned pale, his mind blank. He stared in horror at his hands, covered in Sunny's blood. In an instant, fury like a storm surged within him, his anguished scream freezing everyone around him.
"Damn it, Sunny's been shot!" he cried out in a frenzy of pain.
But Sunny couldn't hear his words; she had already slipped into unconsciousness. Just before she lost awareness and fell into a silent, dark abyss, the last image in her mind was Long Yang's anguished roar…
Epilogue
"Long Yang, when can I get out of bed? I feel fine; I'm just about to suffocate from boredom," Sunny mumbled, lying face down on the bed while Long Yang, her temporary doctor since her discharge, changed her bandages.
"You want to get out of bed? Just wait! Who told you not to take your medicine or rest properly?" Long Yang deftly worked on her soft skin.
"But I'm really getting bored!" Sunny pouted, loudly complaining. "If it weren't for Lei Jie and Bai Haoran coming every day to keep me entertained, I would have gone crazy by now."
"Then you should be grateful," Long Yang chuckled.
Fortunately, the three clever guys from the Three Stars Group had quickly fled to Canada to handle urgent matters; otherwise, they might be in the same predicament as Bai Haoran and Lei Jie, suffering under Sunny's whims.
"Ugh, I don't care! I'm already tired of those two. I just want to hurry to your headquarters in Canada and see where you live. Long Yang, don't forget you promised me that when you were in the hospital," Sunny reminded him with a pout.
"I know! We'll go back eventually, but we need to wait until your injury fully heals," Long Yang said, carefully wrapping her bandaged wound.
"Don't! I can't wait any longer; let's go tomorrow, okay?" Her eyes sparkled as she turned to him, suddenly remembering something. "Oh, Long Yang, I almost forgot to ask you about Jiang Kunhong…"
Long Yang's face darkened, cutting her off. "I forbid you to mention his name again. Even though he's been sentenced to death and can no longer harm anyone, I still don't want to hear about him because it reminds me of the pain of almost losing you. I can't bear it." His voice was strained.
When Sunny was brought to the hospital, the bullet had been too close to her heart, and all the renowned surgeons had lost hope, urging him to prepare for the worst. At that moment, his heart felt like it had died, almost following Sunny into the abyss. Thankfully, her strong will to survive triumphed over the grasp of death, allowing her to pull through.
Sunny made a face. "Fine! I won't say anything. No need to be so fierce about it." She pouted, her eyes darting. "Can I at least ask you another question?"
"Sunny!" he warned.
"Please! I just want to know what happened with Jin Haini," she pleaded, looking at him earnestly.
"Nothing much, except from now on, the Zhenming Group will have no business dealings with the Longmen Society, and we'll keep our distance," Long Yang said indifferently. Fortunately, Sunny escaped the death trap; otherwise, Jin Haini and the Zhenming Group's fate could have been worse than that of beggars on the street.
Sunny furrowed her brow, looking thoughtful.
"All done." Long Yang lightly patted her backside. "The bandages are changed."
Sunny immediately turned over, clutching her blanket. "Long Yang, do you know what I was just thinking?"
"What are you thinking about?" he raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
"Thinking about the 23rd century." She sat up abruptly.
"The 23rd century! You still want to go back, don't you?" Long Yang's tone turned fierce as he pulled her into his embrace.
"To say I don't want to would be a lie," Sunny admitted, resting her cheek against Long Yang's neck.
"I won't allow you to think about it, nor will I let you go back," Long Yang said possessively, pressing his lips to hers.
"Hmm… but…" Sunny pulled away, looking at him with red-rimmed eyes, "My family and friends are all there." There was a hint of sorrow in her voice.
"Then marry me!" Long Yang said unexpectedly, revealing words he had long wanted to say, "That way, I'll be your closest person." He gently patted her cheek.
Sunny bit her lip, "What if my answer is no?" A sudden impulse to tease him arose.
Long Yang's expression darkened, "Then you can forget about going to Canada."
"Is that how you threaten people?" Sunny pouted.
"Say whatever you want, but if you don't agree to marry me, then forget about going to Canada," Long Yang said coldly.
"Well, fine then!"
His eyes lit up, "You agreed to marry me?" His tone was excited.
Sunny shook her head, "No, I meant I won't go to Canada." She teased, unable to hold back her laughter at his expression.
"You dare!" Long Yang growled under his breath. "You're already mine, so why won't you agree to marry me?" He gritted his teeth, his face darkening.
"I—"
"I get it; you must not love me, right?" Long Yang pressed her ominously.
"How could that be?" Sunny found it amusing, meeting his gaze unflinchingly.
"Why not? If you did, why wouldn't you agree to marry me?" He shouted angrily.
Sunny suddenly lowered her head, and after a moment, her shoulders began to tremble slightly.
Seeing this, Long Yang's heart tightened. He thought she was crying from his earlier tone, so he hurriedly comforted her, "Sunny, I didn't mean to raise my voice. Please forgive me; don't cry, okay?" His heart raced with worry.
Damn it! He was the worst scoundrel in the world, promising to protect her and never let her suffer, yet he was the first to make her cry.
"Sunny—" Long Yang called out helplessly, gently lifting her chin to wipe away her tears, only to be met with an enormous, triumphant grin.
"Gotcha!" Sunny laughed happily.
Long Yang looked at her smiling face, realizing how much he loved her. "Will you marry me? I love you, really love you…" He was mesmerized by her radiant smile.
"Okay!" Sunny replied sweetly.
"Sunny, think carefully. Since you arrived in the 20th century, aside from me, who else would tolerate your pranks…" Long Yang was about to reason with her when he suddenly paused, digging at his ears in disbelief, "Did you just say you agreed to marry me?" He was momentarily stunned.
"Mm!" Sunny playfully licked his lips, "Are you happy?"
Happy?! More than just happy, he felt an immense weight lift off his chest. Wow! Long Yang wanted to shout with joy.
"Then let's go back to Canada tomorrow, okay?" she seized the opportunity to ask.
"Sure! I'll take you back to Canada tomorrow," Long Yang said cheerfully, ready to grant any wish she had, even if she asked him to pluck a star from the sky.
With her goal achieved, Sunny finally felt at ease, quietly snuggling into his embrace, her gaze drifting thoughtfully into the distance. After all, she was destined not to return to the 23rd century. Although she felt a bit guilty towards her dad, mom, and older brother, she believed they would all want to see her find happiness and love with someone who truly cared for her…