Her Husband’s Lies Drove Her Toward Another Man’s Care

“Boss, I’ve decided. At the end of the month, I’ll head abroad to film the reconstruction project as a reporter. Put my name down.”

The words had barely left her lips when a startled voice echoed from the other end of the line.

“Quinn, are you serious? You’ve already won so many awards here in the US; your future is dazzling. If you leave, who knows when you’ll return?”

Quinn Suarez’s fingers instinctively brushed against the safety charm hanging around her neck, and she answered softly, “Hmm.”

The boss hesitated, still doubtful.

“I heard your relationship with President Montero has always been good. Did he agree to let you go to such a dangerous place?”

“I won’t let him know.” Quinn’s voice rasped, heavy with weariness. “Besides, he doesn’t care anymore.”

The call ended abruptly.

Quinn remained seated in silence, her thoughts heavy, until the pale moonlight slipped through the window and fell across the large wedding portrait on the wall.

In the photo, Valerian Montero leaned down slightly, pressing a tender kiss against Quinn’s lips, a smile brimming at the corners of his mouth, his eyes filled with nothing but her.

Anyone who looked at it would have praised them as the picture of a devoted couple.

But Quinn tugged harshly at the safety charm on her chest, hot tears slipping down her face and soaking into its carved patterns.

She had first met Valerian during a business interview.

Rumor had it that he was cold and unapproachable, a man who never entertained interviews. Yet Quinn managed to secure one with her skill and professionalism.

Valerian wore a faint smile throughout their talk, his tone soft and unhurried. Surprised by how different he was from his reputation, Quinn could hardly reconcile the contrast.

Then, at the end of the interview, Valerian suddenly asked, “Miss Suarez, are you married?”

The question left her stunned, her breath caught in her throat.

From that day on, Valerian pursued her with relentless fervor.

He would fly across oceans just to buy a photography piece she admired.

He would reserve an entire skyhigh restaurant to celebrate her birthday.

He even lit up enormous city screens with bold declarations of love.

Quinn had long understood the shadows behind wealthy families, playboys everywhere, each carrying their own scandals.

But Valerian ignored every protest from his family. With his own hands, he placed the diamond bracelet, the mark of “Mrs. Montero”, around her wrist. He told her that the first moment he saw her, he knew he would never marry anyone else in this life.

And Quinn chose to believe him.

For three years of marriage, Valerian proved his words true. In their social circle, whispers said Valerian had spoiled her beyond measure.

When Quinn was gravely injured and slipped into a coma while undercover in the mountains investigating abducted women, Valerian’s rage was terrifying; he personally wiped out the entire den.

The man who had never bowed to any god even went to Roseville, kneeling step by step, just to seek a safety charm for her.

A month later, Quinn awoke.

Before her stood Valerian, his eyes red with exhaustion, and Juliette, her chin lifted in pride.

Valerian explained that on his way back he had been caught in an avalanche, and Juliette had been the one to save him. He told Quinn not to let her thoughts wander.

But this same Valerian, the man who once valued her life above his own, disappointed her time and again.

The first time was when she confronted him with a reporter’s article about his affair. He only laughed, pulling her into his arms, murmuring that the title of Mrs. Montero would forever belong to her, insisting he had merely given Juliette some jewelry.

The second time came when she learned he had donated a building to Juliette’s alma mater, and during the speech, his gaze lingered on her with unsettling tenderness. When Quinn pressed him, asking if his heart had shifted, he silenced her by settling her on his lap and kissing her, saying he only pitied the girl for being an orphan.

The third time was the cruelest, when the media filled with reports of him attending banquets at Juliette’s side. Quinn said nothing then. Instead, she threw the divorce papers at him. Valerian panicked, clutching her as if she might vanish, swearing over and over that Juliette was only a naïve girl, unversed in the world.

But Quinn left anyway. She moved out without a word.

For three days and nights, Valerian stood drenched in the rain outside her building, vowing feverishly that such betrayals would never happen again.

Seeing him drenched to the bone, his body burning with a fortydegree fever, Quinn’s heart softened once more.

For several months after that, no more rumors surfaced.

Until one night, when she went to fetch a drunken Valerian.

“Valerian, no offense, but why spend so much money suppressing every piece of news about you and Juliette?” one of his friends teased.

“Yeah, she may have saved your life, but what you’ve done for her has more than repaid the debt. What exactly are your feelings for her?”

Outside the door, Quinn froze, her breath faltering as her hand clenched tight around the doorknob.

Valerian lifted a glass, downing the liquor slowly, his voice deep and husky. “At first, I thought it was only repayment. But over time, the girl kept rejecting every gift I sent, saying saving me had been her choice, that she wanted nothing in return.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips. After a pause, he added quietly, “I think…I might have fallen for her.”

The words struck Quinn’s heart like a merciless hammer, shattering her last thread of hope.

Inside, silence lingered for several seconds before someone finally dared to speak.

“Then… what about Quinn? She never forgives betrayal. If she learns the truth, she’ll leave you without hesitation.”

“She will always be Mrs. Montero.”

Valerian’s grip on the wine glass tightened, his tone cold.

“Then she must never know.”

Outside the door, Quinn felt her blood turn to ice. The truth struck her like a merciless blow, stealing the air from her lungs until her chest burned with pain. She clung to the doorframe, gasping for breath, while tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

‘Valerian, since you fear so much that I’ll leave, then I will leave you forever.’

The sudden creak of the doorknob snapped her back, and the glow from the computer screen pierced her eyes like knives.

She stared at the full page of work handover procedures and signed her name without the slightest hesitation.

“Baby, why didn’t you come pick me up!” Valerian staggered in, proudly holding up the things in his hands. “Look, I brought your favorite roasted chestnuts and strawberry cake.”

Quinn cast him a glance, her expression untouched.

Valerian leaned his chin on her shoulder, his words slurred with drunken warmth.

“It’s okay if you didn’t come pick me up… I still like you.”

But when she remained silent, he narrowed his eyes, rubbing against her with drunken stubbornness.

“Baby, why won’t you talk to me…”

Then his gaze fell on the bold words glowing on the screen, “Work Handover Procedures.” In an instant, sobriety ripped through the haze. His face changed drastically.

“Baby… where are you going?!”

Valerian’s voice snapped her out of her daze.

Quinn hurriedly closed the laptop, but he still caught the shadow of panic flashing in her eyes.

“It’s nothing,” she said, forcing calm into her voice. “Just some changes at work. Have you eaten? I’ll cook you…”

She stopped short when Valerian pulled her into his arms, his tone threaded with deceptive gentleness. “I’m not hungry.”

He lowered his head, his words brushing against her like a whisper filled with threat.

“If you really want to change jobs, choose something safer. I don’t ever want to imagine what might happen if something like last time repeats.”

Last time? Very soon, there would be another.

“You won’t leave me, right, baby?” His hand clamped on her chin. “I love you too much. How could you stand to leave me?”

Pain burned through her palm where her nails pressed into her skin. She summoned every ounce of willpower not to tear herself free.

“Hmm.”

The sound was faint, but it was enough.

Valerian released her, satisfaction flickering in his eyes.

He rolled up his sleeves with practiced ease and walked toward the kitchen, his voice turning light, as though nothing had passed between them.

“Do you want me to make your favorite sweetandsour ribs?”

The warm glow of the light bathed his figure, his strong arms gleaming with a tenderness that felt like an illusion.

Quinn remembered the days when her stomach gave her trouble.

To coax her into eating, Valerian had stayed up through countless nights, poring over recipes, perfecting each dish until it was just right on her plate.

Once, he had even simmered soup for her while presiding over an international video conference, leaving the directors on the other end dumbfounded.

The phone on the table chimed; it was Valerian’s, left carelessly on the sofa.

Quinn picked it up with practiced ease. The moment her eyes landed on the message, the color drained from her face.

[Mr. Montero, don’t think that giving me jewelry makes me happy. I told you, I don’t want to ruin your family.]

Attached was a playful post from Juliette, laughing about mosquito bites. But what struck Quinn most was not the words; it was the gleaming jewelry in the photo and the kiss marks, each one burning into her eyes like a cruel brand.

Her hands shook as she scrolled upward, uncovering truth after truth.

That answered why.

On the evening she had walked home alone beneath a downpour, he had driven across the city to fetch Juliette.

On the day she suffered cramps and longed for his presence, he had sat by Juliette’s side, feeding her medicine with gentle care.

On the day she had casually said she wanted cake from the west side, he had gifted the very same to Juliette.

…

The cake on the table, now spoiled, seemed to sneer at her silently, mocking her as nothing but a clown.

Quinn wordlessly swept it into the trash.

The following afternoon, as soon as she left the office, Valerian pulled her into his car.

“Baby, why are you dressed so thinly?” He wrapped a coat around her shoulders. “Do you want to get sick and frighten me to death?”

Quinn lifted her gaze, staring into the tenderness of his eyes, baffled at how easily he pretended nothing had changed.

“Tonight there’s a gathering with some brothers. You’ll come with me.”

Her silence lingered, but Valerian accepted it as her agreement.

The opulent private club.

Even before they stepped inside, bursts of laughter and chatter spilled through the doorway.

“Juliette, you’re incredible, traveling through more than thirty cities all on your own at such a young age.”

“And you’re beautiful and kind, even saving Valerian’s life.”

“Valerian may not say it out loud, but he already acknowledged your place in private. Look, he even asked me to bring you this limitededition camera from overseas.”

Through the halfopen door, Quinn caught sight of Juliette, feigning refusal with a playful pout, teasing that Valerian only knew how to shower her with gifts.

Yet her laughter soon slipped out, soft and delighted, as she accepted it with sparkling eyes full of charm.

At the sight, Valerian’s hand tensed, his grip on Quinn’s shoulder growing tight.

“Quinn, listen to me. I can explain…”

“You don’t need to.” Quinn curved her lips into a gentle, knowing smile. “I understand. You’re just repaying a debt.”

Her calm words eased him, and for a fleeting moment, relief crossed his face.

But in the next heartbeat, his expression turned hard. With a sharp kick, the door slammed open.

“Who allowed you to bring her here?!”

Valerian’s voice cut through the air like ice, his entire being wrapped in frost.

“Valerian, last time you mentioned Juliette so specially, I thought this time you would…” someone began.

“Thought what?! Juliette is nothing more than my lifesaver!”

He stole a glance at Quinn, searching her expression with unease.

“This is a brother’s gathering. Other than my wife, I’ll bring no one. Have you all forgotten the rules?”

With that, he drew Quinn gently into his arms, his touch protective, almost possessive.

The group of men exchanged awkward looks, quickly zipping their lips in silence.

Across the room, Juliette’s eyes reddened as she stared at him.

“President Montero, I may be young, but I understand perfectly well. There’s no need to cloak your humiliation in words.”

“Save it. I’ll leave on my own.”

Her gaze shifted to Quinn, full of arrogance.

“Mrs. Montero, I never intended to destroy your marriage. But you ought to keep your husband in check. As for this gift, though I don’t care for it, only the right hands can use it properly. I doubt you, a mere housewife, even know how.”

With that, Juliette hurled the camera at Valerian, her eyes brimming with resentment, before storming out.

Valerian watched her retreating figure, worry etched between his brows, his lips twitching as if he wanted to speak but could not.

Then, in haste, he lowered his head toward Quinn, his voice trembling with unease.

“Quinn, she’s just a young girl who doesn’t know any better. I’ll apologize on her behalf, please, don’t take it to heart.”

Before she could utter a word, he turned and strode away without so much as an excuse.

Quinn no longer had the strength to feign a smile.

Her mind drifted to the past, when no one could even approach Valerian, let alone throw something at him.

Valerian, oh Valerian… you had long since changed.

The private room was left with only her.

She sat in a daze at the table, absentmindedly lifting her utensils. The moment the food touched her throat, a fiery sting spread, making her cough uncontrollably until tears pricked her eyes.

When she regained her senses, she realized the entire table was filled with spicy dishes she could never eat.

Perhaps it was Juliette’s taste again.

Her lips curved into a selfmocking smile. A sharp spasm twisted her stomach, and she could no longer hold it back. She hurried toward the restroom.

Just as she stepped out, ambiguous voices drifted from the next room.

Juliette, her cheeks flushed, pushed Valerian away, ripples still trembling on her lips.

“President Montero, you were the one who told me to leave. What are you doing now?”

“Darling, I had no choice then. Don’t make it harder for me,” Valerian murmured, holding her hand firmly against his chest. “Don’t you already know where you are in my heart?”

“Hmm. So what if I do, so what if I don’t? I may be poor, but I would never ruin another woman’s marriage.”

“We shouldn’t see each other again.”

Juliette had just finished speaking and was about to jump down from the washstand when Valerian’s arm tightened firmly around her waist, his voice urgent and domineering.

“Whoever dares to say anything about you must be tired of living!”

From his inner pocket, he drew something out and placed it in her hand.

“This is?” Juliette gasped in surprise.

“Darling, this is the Montero family’s heirloom diamond bracelet. Only Mrs. Montero is meant to have it. Now, are you satisfied?” He gently brushed the tip of her nose.

“Then… what about the one on her wrist?”

“Don’t worry. Yours is the real one. The one on her hand, I had replaced with a flawless copy.”

At his words, Juliette’s eyes lit with joy, and she clung to him tightly.

Quinn stared at the diamond bracelet on her own wrist, tears spilling down her face.

She remembered the time when Valerian had pursued her, how he had fastened the bracelet onto her wrist with forceful tenderness, confessing with deep affection that even if she was uncertain, it didn’t matter, Montero men only ever lost their wives to death, never to divorce, and that his wife, in this lifetime, would only ever be her.

But now, that same bracelet was in his hand as he whispered promises to another woman.

Through the doorway, Quinn watched as the two of them kissed again.

Without hesitation, she slipped the bracelet from her wrist and tossed it into the trash. Then she turned and left.

She sat alone in the villa until two in the morning, when Valerian finally returned.

“Baby, why are you still awake?” Valerian set down his coat and sat beside her.

“Just thinking about some things,” Quinn answered evenly.

“Whatever it is, think about it tomorrow. It’s too late, staying up will ruin your health.” Valerian pulled her into his arms, attempting to guide her toward the bedroom.

“Valerian, do you still love me?” Quinn brushed him off, her gaze fixed firmly on his.

Valerian froze, his gaze locked on her calm eyes, and his heart tightened. He dropped to one knee, urgently circling her waist with his arms.

“Baby, what are you saying? Of course, I love you.”

“Was it tonight that upset you? If you’re unhappy, hit me.” He seized her hand and pressed it against his face.

“I swear, I truly didn’t know Juliette would be there. That gift was nothing more than gratitude for saving me. The one I love most is you. There’s nothing between her and me, believe me.”

Quinn’s eyes flickered toward the lipstick stain on his collar. She quietly straightened it, her expression unreadable.

“Hmm, I believe you.”

“Just repaying a debt.” She pulled at the corner of her lips in a faint smile.

“Baby, don’t scare me. Why is your face so pale…” Valerian’s chest tightened the instant he noticed her bare wrist. His voice trembled. “Baby, where’s the bracelet I gave you? Why aren’t you wearing it? Do you… not love me anymore?”

“I just didn’t feel like wearing it these days, so I put it away.” Quinn met his eyes with a soft smile. “Why would you even ask that? Could it be… You did something to betray me?”

Hearing the first part, Valerian’s heart eased, yet the latter words instantly tightened his chest.

“How could that be? I love you so much, how would I ever dare betray you?” Valerian’s gaze locked firmly on her.

Quinn sank into those seemingly tender eyes, yet she still caught the faint trace of guilt hidden within. She pressed her lips together and said nothing.

“Alright, don’t overthink it. Don’t you love photography the most? Tomorrow, I’ll take you to a photo exhibition, let you unwind.” Valerian drew her tightly into his arms.

At the photo exhibition.

Midway through, Valerian answered a call and hurried away.

Quinn wandered past landscapes from across the country, her eyes dull with disinterest. She had two boxes full of similar shots, many of which had even won National Geographic awards.

Just as she was about to leave, her steps faltered.

There, at the corner, stood Valerian, the man who had just claimed something urgent. And beside him was Juliette.

Valerian gazed at Juliette with tenderness as she chattered on with introductions, his eyes brimming with affection.

Quinn watched as he patted her head, praising her courage and knowledge, saying it was no wonder she was the one he liked. She saw him lean down to soothe Juliette’s pout, gently promising to accompany her in the future. She saw him draw a small notebook from his pocket, carefully jotting down even her unreasonable requests.

Her feet felt nailed to the floor.

The instant Quinn recognized that familiar notebook, her blood turned ice cold.

She remembered when Valerian had pursued her, bringing her to an art exhibition. She had widened her eyes in surprise when he suddenly took out a pen and paper. With a tilted smile, he had said, “The more I understand your preferences, the faster I can win you over.”

Back then, her heart had melted completely.

But now, in that same notebook, he was recording for another woman.

From a distance, Valerian lifted his head and inadvertently caught sight of Quinn’s tearfilled eyes.

“Baby, why are you crying? Did I upset you again?” He hastily reached out, brushing away the tears at the corner of her eyes.

“It’s nothing, I just saw a very moving piece,” Quinn replied softly.

“You’re still so sentimental, my little crybaby.” Valerian bent closer, lightly brushing the tip of her nose.

Quinn frowned and turned away, refusing his touch.

“Mrs. Montero, I never imagined my work could move you. What an honor,” Juliette said with a faint, mocking laugh.

Quinn stood frozen, her gaze fixed blankly on Valerian.

“Baby, I promised I wouldn’t contact her again, but I didn’t know this was her exhibition when I brought you here.” Valerian raised his hand quickly, as though swearing an oath. “She and I only met by chance. Believe me.”

Quinn no longer wished to stay a moment longer and turned to leave.

“Baby, since we’re already here, let’s finish looking before we go.” Valerian caught her arm, unwilling to let her go.

For the rest of the exhibition, Juliette took the role of guide, her voice smooth, her steps deliberate. She lingered unusually long before a photograph of a lone back view.

“They say if you see the Golden Mountain at sunrise, you’ll have good luck for a whole year.” Juliette looked at Valerian, her tone soft. “But I think meeting someone to watch that sunrise with me is my true good luck.”

In the photo, a tall man stood with his arm draped around Juliette, his head tilted slightly toward her.

It was only a back view.

Yet Quinn knew with absolute certainty that man was Valerian.

Her mind flashed back to the moment he had smiled and told her that since he had seen the Golden Mountain sunrise, she would surely be blessed with good fortune.

‘Valerian, back then, who were you truly thinking of?’

Her palm tightened. She turned her head and saw Valerian staring at the photo in a daze, his eyes dark and distant, his hand clenched so tightly he seemed not to notice.

Her heart ached as though pierced by countless thorns.

Quinn curved her lips into a selfmocking smile and quietly pulled her hand away.

She had only walked a few steps when the surging crowd struck her down.

“Fire! Fire!”

The panicked crowd surged toward the exit, trampling marks deep into her hands and back.

One photo after another slipped before her eyes, the crackling of flames ringing in her ears.

Her breaths grew heavier, her vision cloudier.

Quinn clearly heard the pillar beside her splintering.

Inside, a single thread of unwillingness twisted tight, unwilling to die here, unwilling that she had not yet become a field reporter.

Just as the pillar came crashing down, “Quinn!”

In the final moment, before the world dissolved frame by frame into darkness, she saw Valerian hurl himself over her.

The first thing that met her eyes was the pale ceiling. When Quinn opened them, she found herself lying with an IV drip attached.

“President Montero truly treasures Mrs. Montero, risking his own life to save hers!”

“They say when the fire started, he was already at the exit. He could have escaped, but when he realized his wife wasn’t there, he ignored everyone holding him back and rushed in after her!”

The nurse ended her chatter, pulled out the needle, and quietly left.

Quinn’s fingers curled against the sheets. Her gaze lingered on the bandages wrapped across the back of her hand, her mind sinking into silence.

Drawn as if by a ghost, she stepped into Valerian’s hospital room.

At once, Valerian, propped against the headboard, caught sight of her, and his eyes brightened.

“Baby, you’re awake!” His voice carried deep worry. “You almost frightened me to death. Are you feeling unwell anywhere else?”

“Why did you go back?” Quinn asked.

“What?” Valerian’s brows drew together in puzzlement.

“The day of the exhibition, you could have gotten out, so why did you come back to save me?” Quinn’s words trembled despite herself. “The fire was so big, you knew you might die.”

“So that’s what weighed on your heart?” Valerian’s taut expression suddenly eased.

“Baby, you’re my wife. In that moment, nothing else mattered.” His voice carried gravity, his eyes steady and sincere. “I love you. To me, your life is worth more than mine.”

Her gaze sank into the depths of his dark eyes, and her heart grew heavy with bitterness.

‘Valerian, if love for her was gone, why had you defied instinct to save her life? But if love still remained, why did another woman also dwell in your heart? Your heart was unbearably vast.’

Quinn lowered her eyes and smoothed his blanket. She was just about to pour water when a voice broke the stillness.

“Mrs. Montero, I told you already, I won’t destroy your family. But not controlling your husband is one thing. Why would you go so far as to set fire to my exhibition?”

At the door, Juliette’s hair was slightly disheveled, her voice carrying sorrow.

“Those were works I poured my heart into. Why is your jealousy so overwhelming?”

Meeting Juliette’s resentful gaze, Quinn stood utterly stunned.

Valerian’s eyes swept over the wounds on Quinn’s arm, his heart aching as his tone cut sharply.

“Juliette, instead of tending to your injuries, what madness are you stirring here?!”

“President Montero, do you truly trust your wife so blindly?” Juliette’s reddened eyes glistened as she lifted her phone.

On the screen, a video flickered: a woman tearing a photo from the wall, stomping on it again and again with malice. Then came the sight of gasoline being poured, the spark of a lighter.

It showed only a back view. But the coat she wore was the very same one Quinn had worn that day.

“President Montero, I know you love your wife, but I deserve an explanation.” Juliette’s tears trembled, refusing to fall. “I may be poor, but I still have dignity. Every piece was born of my painstaking effort…”

“I didn’t. I didn’t do it. How could I possibly do such a thing?” Quinn’s voice came out wooden, hollow.

Valerian stiffly clasped Quinn’s hand, yet his gaze remained fixed on Juliette, who held the phone aloft.

The air froze for several seconds.

“Apologize,” Valerian murmured as he lowered his head, gently rubbing Quinn’s palm.

Quinn looked up at him in disbelief.

But suddenly, Valerian lifted his head, his sharp tone cutting through the silence, leaving no room for argument.

“Apologize to my wife!”

Juliette stared at him, stunned.

For a few long seconds, their eyes locked before she finally spat, “Bastard,” and stormed out.

“Quinn, she’s just a young girl who doesn’t understand. I’ll apologize on her behalf.” Valerian’s lips tugged into a distracted curve.

He pulled Quinn into his arms, though his gaze lingered at the doorway.

In the days that followed, Quinn remained at the hospital, tending to him.

The day before his discharge, Valerian insisted on sending her home, using the excuse that he wanted the soup she had made.

After finishing everything, Quinn began packing her luggage.

Halfway through, the door was pushed open.

“You came back earlier than…” Before she could finish, Valerian’s gaze swept over the luggage. Without another word, he seized her wrist and dragged her out.

“Valerian, you’re hurting me!” Quinn yanked herself free.

“Sorry, baby.” His tone softened, yet the smile on his lips never reached his eyes. “Didn’t you say you wanted to see the stars on the mountain? Since I’m free today, I’ll take you.”

Though something about him felt off, Quinn was still halfpulled, halfcoaxed into the car.

On the mountaintop, Valerian told her, “I’ll go buy water,” and left her waiting there.

An hour later, rain began to fall.

Quinn looked around the desolate mountaintop and dialed his number. “Valerian, when are you….”

Before she could finish, the cold mechanical voice cut her off. “Sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable…”

The rain on the mountaintop fell harder and harder, a relentless curtain with no shelter in sight. Quinn ran desperately downhill, her fingers redialing Valerian’s number again and again.

The downpour blurred her vision, and the unease in her chest grew heavier with every step. She prayed the call would connect and prayed for his voice. But dozens of times, the line rang into silence.

Her body was drenched, her steps weighed down by water and fear.

A deafening crash tore through the mountain. Quinn’s heart jolted. Not good. It was a landslide!

Boulders thundered beside her, rolling faster, closer. No matter how frantically she ran, one finally caught her, knocking her to the ground.

Warm, sticky blood slid from her forehead. Her trembling fingers clutched the safety charm tightly as she tried one last call.

“Valerian…” Her lips parted weakly.

But instead of him, Juliette’s playful voice spilled through the receiver. “Valerian, don’t think that just because you put medicine on me, I’ll forgive you. What happened last time isn’t over yet.”

Quinn’s hand stiffened around the phone, her knuckles white.

“Darling, sweetheart, don’t fuss anymore. It was my fault. Just focus on healing first. If it leaves a scar, you’ll end up crying again.” Valerian’s voice was soft as flowing water.

“No way! What about last time when you scolded me? That’s not over yet!”

“Darling, don’t worry. I’ve already taught Quinn a lesson. I left her alone on the mountain overnight; that was my way of apologizing to you,” Valerian coaxed gently.

“But last time you didn’t save me, and I got hurt. I’m scared next time I’ll…”

“Never again, it won’t happen again. I even got you a peace amulet.” Valerian tied it carefully around her wrist. “I braved the heavy rain to get this. God will protect you, for me.”

Those words pierced Quinn’s heart like a blade, shattering the last fragile illusion she had been holding onto.

Trapped beneath the boulder, Quinn let out a soundless laugh. It grew louder and louder until her chest convulsed violently.

She laughed as tears and blood mingled down her face.

The moment before darkness claimed her, she tore the safety charm from her neck.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in the hospital.

“Baby, you’re finally awake!”

The moment Quinn’s fingers stirred, Valerian clasped them tightly, his voice trembling with relief.

“Baby, I’m sorry. It was my fault. I never should have left you alone on that mountain because of some sudden company matter.” His eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You’ve been in a coma for so many days, were you trying to break my heart?”

Seeing the heavy shadows beneath his eyes, Quinn swallowed back the questions burning inside her.

Forget it, she told herself. In a few days, she would be gone anyway.

During her stay in the hospital, Valerian rarely left her side.

Before she could even try to sit up, he would gently place a pillow on her back. When she shifted in her sleep, he would rise instantly to cover her with a blanket.

When she mentioned wanting oatmeal from the west side of the city, he had it delivered within hours, feeding her spoon by spoon with patience.

After her discharge, Valerian treated her with even more tenderness than before.

However, the first thing Quinn did upon returning home was quietly begin collecting the memories they had once shared.

The grand wedding portrait, the anniversary gifts, the thick bundle of love letters, Quinn tossed them all into the trash.

When Valerian returned home with a velvet box of highend jewelry and saw the barren living room, his chest tightened. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though something precious was slipping from his grasp.

“Baby.” He hurried into the bedroom, relief flooding his face when he found her there. “You scared me. I thought you had left.”

Pulling her into his arms, he asked, “Where’s our wedding photo?”

“I cleaned up the house and put it away,” Quinn answered evenly.

“That’s fine. If you don’t like it, we can always take new ones.” Valerian brushed a kiss against her cheek and held out the box. “Here, this is for you. Don’t be angry anymore, alright?”

“Hmm.”

Her hand, hidden from his view, clenched tightly at her side.

The next morning, Quinn went to work as if nothing had changed. Yet the moment she stepped into the office, her supervisor stopped her.

“Quinn, let me introduce you. This is our new intern.”

Lifting her gaze, Quinn met the eyes of Juliette standing across from her, lips curled in a deliberate, mocking smile.

“Quinn, long time no see!”

In the company’s break room, Juliette stretched out her hand, blocking Quinn’s path.

“Quinn, stop pretending. You know very well that Valerian has already fallen for me. So why are you still clinging to the title of Mrs. Montero?” Juliette’s voice dripped with venom.

“The one pretending all this time, hasn’t it always been you?” Quinn’s gaze swept over the jewelry adorning Juliette’s neck.

Juliette’s eye twitched, her back straightening with pride.

“What are you so proud of? I’m Valerian’s lifesaver, there’s nothing I can’t have!” She ran her fingers over the necklace at her throat, her tone sickeningly sweet. “He gave you one yesterday, too, didn’t he?”

Quinn’s expression faltered ever so slightly.

“Let me kindly remind you, yours was nothing more than one of my leftovers.” Juliette’s lips curved into a smile. “Not only that, but my photography exhibition was funded by him, and he secured this internship for me.”

“As long as I shed a few tears and play the helpless girl, he’s willing to lay the world at my feet.” Her eyes glinted with cruel triumph. “Quinn, what do you possibly have to compare with me?”

Quinn’s fists clenched so tightly that the coffee scalded her palm, yet she did not flinch. She fixed her gaze on Juliette, a faint smile curving her lips.

“Indeed, I can’t compare. After all, you are his lifesaver.”

“Then why won’t you leave?” Juliette’s teeth ground together, her voice sharp. “No one can stop me from climbing higher!”

“Soon.”

Quinn paused, her tone soft as she continued, “I’m about to become a field reporter. Maybe, in this lifetime, I’ll never see him again.”

“Really?!” Juliette’s eyes gleamed with delight.

Quinn paid her no mind and walked away without another word.

In front of an abandoned warehouse, a colleague looked at her nervously.

“Quinn, how about letting someone else handle this?”

“We’ve planned this for so long, and confirming the location wasn’t easy. How can we give up now?” Quinn frowned, her voice firm.

Lately, scandals of egg donations and illegal sales had surfaced across the city. She and her team had combed through shopping mall restrooms, yet every phone call they made was met with wariness.

Disguised as a university student, Quinn had finally traced a criminal group and resolved to go undercover to expose them.

Before entering, she discreetly pressed a button.

The sight inside was appalling: the doctor without even a mask, the filthy sickbed, the crooked needles scattered carelessly.

Seeing the girl beside her drenched in sweat, Quinn’s fists tightened.

Just as the needle was about to pierce the skin, the doctor caught sight of the reflection in Quinn’s glasses. Cursing, he yanked her up.

The next second, a gunshot split the air.

Police and colleagues swarmed in, and the room dissolved into chaos. A needle pressed against Quinn’s neck.

Her colleague tried to negotiate softly for her release, but the doctor’s eyes lit with sudden malice. With brutal force, he plunged the needle in.

Quinn collapsed into darkness.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in the villa.

Before she could rise, the sound of loud crying reached her ears.

“President Montero, what should I do? I didn’t mean it! I just wanted to reveal the truth. I never thought it would cause Mrs. Montero to suffer online abuse!” Juliette pouted miserably at Valerian. “What should I do? Will Mrs. Montero scold me? Will the company fire me?”

“No, it’s already over. You didn’t mean it.” Valerian stroked her head with a pained tenderness.

“No… no, that won’t do. If I did wrong, I should be punished. President Montero, punish me, otherwise I won’t feel at ease…” Juliette sobbed.

“Alright, little girl, punishment it is?” Valerian’s gaze lingered on her moist lips, his eyes darkening before he kissed her.

Ambiguous sounds swirled through the room, but Quinn’s mind held only the words online abuse.

She sat up, her voice hoarse.

“What online abuse?”

Hearing the sound, Valerian immediately pushed Juliette aside and rushed to Quinn.

“Baby, you’re awake. Are you trying to worry me to death? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Seeing the calmness in her eyes, Valerian anxiously clutched her hand, his voice hurried.

“Baby, don’t misunderstand. I only wanted to ease the girl’s guilt; I was just comforting her.”

“I swear, there’s truly nothing between us. The one I love most is still you. Please, don’t turn away from me.”

Quinn gently pulled down the hand he raised in oath and gave a faint, weary smile.

She unlocked her phone, only to be instantly swallowed by a flood of vicious comments.

[These days, reporters really will do anything for a scoop, won’t they? Ignoring people in need of saving just to film!]

[While she was busy filming, the other girl had already been rescued!]

[I heard that the girl will never be able to have children again. I declare that the reporter’s uterus should be removed too!]

[I agree!]

By the time her finger slid to the bottom, Quinn’s face had turned pale as paper.

The most prominent report carried Juliette’s name.

“Juliette, you slandered me; this isn’t the truth!” Quinn’s hoarse roar broke from her throat.

Juliette tilted her head with a smile, though a glint of cunning flickered in her eyes.

Valerian stepped in front of her protectively, his brow furrowed as he explained.

“Baby, it’s over now. She didn’t mean it.” He bent toward her, reaching out as if to caress her face. “Darling, leave it to me. Trust me to handle this, alright?”

Quinn turned her head away, then suddenly hurled the phone at him.

“Get out!”

Valerian handled the matter swiftly, and before long, the tide of online abuse vanished.

To avoid further trouble, Quinn spent her remaining days resting quietly in the villa.

One afternoon, as she sat on the garden swing, a commotion broke out.

“Sorry, you can’t go in!”

“Where’s that heartless reporter? Tell her to come out here!”

A woman brushed past the nanny’s obstruction and charged straight at Quinn.

“The other day when I went in, it was already…” Quinn stepped back, trying to explain.

The woman drove the blade viciously into her stomach.

The moment before collapsing, Quinn heard her curse through gritted teeth, “You ruined my daughter’s chance to make money, now you’ll pay with your life.”

A sharp, sterile scent of disinfectant stung her nose.

“Darling, you’re finally awake!” Valerian anxiously clutched her hand.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let a single one of those who hurt you escape.” His voice turned cold. “I’ve already sent her to prison.”

Quinn was about to speak when Juliette, feigning timid guilt, softly interjected.

“Mrs. Montero, I’m sorry. It was my fault. If she hadn’t come to the company causing trouble, I wouldn’t have been forced to tell her where you lived.”

“There’s still one more,” Quinn said calmly, pointing at her.

“I…” Juliette’s eyes shimmered with tears as she turned to Valerian for rescue.

“Get out!” Valerian’s voice cracked sharp as a whip.

At the sight of his furrowed brows, Quinn swallowed her words, the courage to speak slipping away.

The day she was discharged also happened to be the day she left.

Valerian arrived early to pick her up.

“Baby, don’t be upset. Later, I’ll take you to an auction, whatever you want, I’ll buy for you, alright?” he said with an eager smile.

Just as Quinn was about to refuse, her eyes fell on Juliette seated in the back.

“She hasn’t seen much of the world, so I thought I’d take her along.” Valerian held her hand, his tone coaxing. “Baby, I promise this is the last time. She’s about to graduate; after this, I’ll never see her again.”

Quinn’s lips curved into a selfmocking smile. ]Valerian, you and I, it’s also the last time we’ll see each other.]

“Hmm, I know,” Quinn spoke calmly. “I left something at the hospital. You two go ahead, I’ll come later.”

Though puzzled, Valerian released her hand.

When he saw the calm, rippleless gaze in her eyes, his heart suddenly pounded violently, as if something precious was slipping through his grasp.

Back at home, Quinn lifted the suitcase she had packed long before. She quickly ordered a car.

Everything tied to Valerian had already been discarded, except for the camera that still hung around her neck.

As the ground fell farther and farther away beneath her, she blocked and deleted all of Valerian’s contacts without a flicker of hesitation.

A rare wave of relief washed through her heart.

Never again, Valerian.