"See you tomorrow, Rachel."
"See you tomorrow."
Waving goodbye to her colleagues at the company entrance, Rachel Foster didn't notice the white car parked a short distance away.
After parting with her colleagues, she headed to the roadside to hail a taxi, only then spotting the familiar tall figure leaning against the white car.
She stopped, staring momentarily at the familiar, elegant face.
Jasper Reed walked over to her, a smile on his face just like in old times. "Hi, long time no see."
Her throat tightened inexplicably, "Hi."
Jasper said, "I know you live at the Westwood Apartments. Would you mind if I give you a ride?"
She looked at him deeply.
After three months, his face was noticeably thinner, and he didn't look as well as before.
These past months must have been tough for him.
A wave of sadness washed over her, and she nodded slightly.
Just like old times, he thoughtfully opened the car door for her, shielding her head as she got in before returning to the driver's seat.
He had already fastened the seatbelt as she reached for the seatbelt.
She glanced at him just as he looked at her, asking, "What's wrong?"
She shook her head, turning her gaze forward, her eyes slightly red.
Why was he still so kind and gentle to her?
As the car drove toward Westwood Apartments, she spoke, "Have you been well these past three months?"
"Have you been well these past three months?"
Unexpectedly, they spoke in unison.
They both laughed.
Jasper answered first, "Same old, same old at Silverstone... and you?" He hesitated before adding, "Are things good with him?"
"Mm."
Jasper smiled slightly, "I've seen some tabloid news about him recently... Your complexion suggests it's just idle gossip."
Rachel laughed dryly, again only replying with a "Mm."
"There was a business charity event last night that Kingsly didn't attend. Is he not in the city?"
"He went to the United States." It's been five days.
"To be with his wife?"
"Mm."
Jasper sighed deeply, "Rachel... I only learned today that you went to Kingsly because Mom told you not to let me sell Silverstone, right?"
His voice held a hint of frustration, and she could tell he must have argued with his mother about it at home.
Rachel quickly said, "Jasper, my going to Kingsly had nothing to do with Auntie. You know I would never want you to sell Silverstone."
"You didn't break up with me because you wanted to be with Kingsly. You just didn't want to burden me."
Rachel closed her eyes painfully before slowly opening them, "It's in the past, Jasper. Let's not bring it up again."
Jasper slowly pulled the car to the side of the road, gripping the steering wheel as he gazed at her intently, "Rachel, Mom regrets it deeply. She told me she never imagined choosing Silverstone would mean losing you. She hopes you'll come back."
Thinking of the warmth the Reed family had given her over the years, her eyes quickly filled with a thin layer of tears.
Jasper looked at her reddened eyes, his voice trembling slightly, "We've been together for six years, through so much. Can you really let it go?"
Rachel started to cry.
Jasper gently held her trembling shoulders, his expression pained, his eyes red with unshed tears, "Do you know how hard it's been without you?"
Rachel shook her head vigorously.
"Sweetheart, I can't be without you..." Jasper pulled Rachel into his arms, holding her tightly. His voice was filled with pleading, "If you're willing, we can pay off that debt and start over, okay?"
Rachel leaned against Jasper's shoulder, shaking her head firmly.
"Sweetheart..."
Tears streamed down Rachel's pale cheeks as she painfully pushed Jasper away.
Jasper looked at her with equal pain.
She gazed at him apologetically, struggling to say, "I can't be with you, not just because I don't want to burden you, but because I'm not worthy of you."
Jasper shook his head fiercely, holding her, "No... I don't care."
"I'm not talking about being with Kingsly. I'm saying I'm not good enough for someone as wonderful as you."
"Why?"
"Because you're right. All these years, I've never been able to forget my first love... No matter how hard I tried to love you, I couldn't forget him."
"If you truly couldn't forget him, why didn't you go to him sooner instead of waiting until you were desperate?"
"Because I never intended to have anything to do with him again."
"Why?"
"Back then, his family fell on hard times. To care for my siblings, I broke up with him, who loved me dearly at the time..."
Jasper was stunned, "You mean..."
Rachel nodded, "Yes, after breaking up with Kingsly, I was introduced to you... Initially, I was with you because of your comfortable life for me and my siblings."
"Even so, I don't mind... I know you've been sincere with me all these years."
"But I can never give you what you want... I love him, deeply, truly." For the first time, she laid bare her heart.
Jasper looked at her intensely.
"Countless sleepless nights, I thought of him... For years, I lived in guilt, regret, pain, and sadness, worried about him... Thankfully, fate was kind to him, giving him the best of everything."
"If you've always silently blessed him, why stay by his side now?"
"Because I owe him so much that even a lifetime by his side won't repay it."
He couldn't understand.
Rachel then told Jasper about her indirect role in Kingsly's parents' deaths.
Jasper listened, shocked for a long time.
Rachel said mournfully, "I'll never be able to make up for the lives of his parents. All I can do is stay by his side and make him happy."
Jasper leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes in pain. After a long silence, he opened them, his voice hoarse, "You're ruining your life to make amends."
Rachel wiped her tears, taking a deep breath, "I'll never be happy again. I just wish for his happiness."
Jasper stared blankly ahead, "I'll never be able to convince you, will I?"
Rachel nodded firmly.
Jasper said nothing more, his gaze resting helplessly on her sorrowful face, filled with heartache.
***
In the United States.
Luna Bennett stood on the balcony, enjoying the cool breeze.
"Luna, it's getting cold, come inside!"
Hearing Kingsly Scott's voice, Luna turned to see him in a robe, having just woken up.
Kingsly walked over and wrapped an arm around her. "The temperature's dropping, and you didn't return inside."
Luna said nothing, letting him lead her inside.
Once inside, Kingsly sat Luna on his lap, resting his chin on her shoulder. "You don't seem too happy about my return this time," he said.
Luna gently pulled away, putting some distance between them. Her expression was neutral as she looked at him. "You're leaving for the city tomorrow. There's something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead."
"Maggie told me Rachel moved into your apartment."
Kingsly got up, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and took a sip before speaking calmly, "There's nothing special. I'm used to sleeping in my own bed."
"Seeing her again, do you really feel nothing?"
Kingsly smiled, setting down his glass and leaning closer to Luna. "Now I know there's no woman in the world who doesn't get jealous, no matter how understanding she usually is."
Luna pouted, "I'm not as good as you think."
Kingsly lifted her chin, smiling, "I've given you the title of Mrs. Scott. What else is there to worry about?"
"I..."
Kingsly's gaze deepened, "I said once I handle this, we'll have the wedding you want."
"I don't want to wait too long."
Kingsly gently caressed Luna's face, his voice soft and warm, "I promise you won't wait long."
Luna asked, "What exactly are you hoping for?"
"When the time comes, you'll see."
"I'm afraid I'll have to wait a long time."
"When have I ever lied to you?"
Luna looked at him with deep affection, "I'm not worried you'll lie. No matter how many years, I'll wait for you..."
Kingsly smiled, "Good girl."
Luna slowly leaned into Kingsly's embrace, resting her ear over his heart. "I'm just worried she'll captivate you again," she said.
Kingsly held her, murmuring, "Tripping once is a mistake; doing it again is foolish."
Luna closed her eyes, content in his arms, "Leo told me she seems nice, polite, getting along well at Titans Group, and most importantly, she's good to you."
"What are you trying to say?"
Luna looked up at his handsome face, "Could it be she's also feeling guilty and treating you well because of it?"
"She has a pure appearance that makes it easy to mistake her for an innocent person."
"What do you mean?"
"A woman who can give up everything for money, do you think she still has feelings? Even if there's a sliver of guilt, staying by my side isn't for atonement."
"Then what is it for?"
"As I said, she's a woman who'd give up everything for money."
Luna understood, "She's staying with you for money!"
Kingsly's eyes narrowed, hinting at coldness. "She plays hard to pique my interest. She knows how to play the long game."
"Even though Jasper could have helped with her brother's debt, she came to you immediately as if she was afraid he'd pay it off."
"She knows 'Kingsly Scott' is worth more than Jasper."
Luna asked curiously, "What will she do next?"
Kingsly lifted Luna's chin, "What do you think?"
Luna hesitated, "I can't guess."
Kingsly smiled, "Let me give you a hint."
"Hmm?"
"Isn't a wife the most entitled to share her husband's assets?"
"Yes..." Luna suddenly realized, "She wouldn't..."
Kingsly affectionately tapped Luna's nose, "I guarantee in the coming days, she'll do anything to disrupt our relationship, trying to take your place."
Luna was shocked.
Kingsly laughed heartily as he walked away.
****
Night.
"No!"
With a scream, Rachel sat up abruptly, waking from a nightmare.
She hurriedly turned on the light, and only after seeing the familiar surroundings did she relax, leaning against the headboard.
This was the third nightmare she'd had.
In her dreams, Kingsly's parents appeared, covered in blood, demanding justice...
She'd never had such terrifying nightmares, a reflection of her guilt and remorse over their deaths.
Getting out of bed, she poured herself a glass of water and glanced at the clock pointing to one.
It was still daylight in the United States. She wondered what he was doing.
The nightmare left her too scared to sleep again, no matter how she tried.
After tossing and turning, she finally sat up, picking up the phone by the bed.
The phone rang twice before he answered.
"It's around 1 a.m. at my side. You're still awake?"
Hearing his voice, her fear eased slightly.
"I just had a nightmare," she admitted.
"What kind of nightmare?"
"Uh, just a strange one... I was scared, so I called you."
"Should I be grateful for this nightmare... If I recall correctly, this is the first time you've called me?"
She leaned against the headboard, her forehead still damp with cold sweat, "Can you talk to me for a while?"
She was scared and didn't want to disturb his time with his wife. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his parents' tragic deaths.
"I'm a bit tired, so I can't talk now."
She remembered the last time they were at his villa, when he paused during their kiss to answer his wife's call, comforting her after a nightmare.
The same situation, but his response to her was different.
Of course, she felt no resentment, nor would she.
"Okay... I'll hang up now."
After the call, hearing his voice seemed to lessen her fear.
Just as Rachel was about to leave the light on and sleep, there was a knock at the door.
The late-night knock made Rachel sit up, her hair standing on end.
At that moment, her phone rang, showing Kingsly's name. She quickly answered, "Hello... Kingsly, someone's knocking. I'm scared..."
Kingsly laughed, "Don't be scared; get up and open the door."
Rachel hid under the covers, clutching her phone tightly, "No..."
"How can I be with you if you don't open the door?"
"Hmm?"
Opening the door, Rachel saw Kingsly standing there. She froze briefly before jumping into his arms, clinging to him like an octopus.