She was Engaged to the Man Waiting for Her Sister

Terri Darton hesitated, clutching the bills tightly in her hand.

She took a deep breath and stepped into the shop in front of her.

It was a small shop, unmanned, with only a few indistinct words visible—[family planning] and [adult].

Moments later, she wrapped her oversized scarf tighter around her head, gripped the bag in her hand, and turned to disappear into the darkness.

Terri had no other choice.

Blayne Holzman never came home at night. They had been engaged for so long, yet their relationship existed only in name.

Since Blayne refused, she would handle it herself.

Pain was inevitable, one way or another.

Her socalled title as the future wife of Blayne Holzman was just that—a title.

No one truly cared about her, so even if she returned home in the dead of night, no one would notice.

The villa was empty. She shut the door behind her with a flick of her wrist and went straight into the bathroom.

Moments later, Terri was kneeling on the floor, her face contorted in pain.

It wasn’t working.

She rubbed her eyes, forcing back the tears welling up from sheer physical distress.

In the end, she gave up.

“What is it?”

A knock sounded at the door, accompanied by the faint rustle of movement outside.

It was around the time when Mrs. Tilley usually brought her food. Without hesitation, Terri opened the door.

But the moment she saw who it was, she instinctively took a step back.

Blayne—the man she had longed for yet could never seem to meet.

——

“Hhey… why are you here?”

She hesitated for a moment, asking in surprise and uncertainty.

Blayne—her fiancé in name and the man she had loved in silence for so long.

But it was obvious. She loved him, and though he had once liked her, his love for her paled in comparison to his love for her sister.

Ever since their engagement, he had vanished.

And today was no special occasion. His sudden appearance wasn’t something that brought her joy—it only surprised her.

Because ever since Valerie returned to Massachusetts, Blayne’s eyes had only ever been on her.

“I came to check on my lonely fiancée in this empty room.”

His words were casual, yet every syllable dripped with ridicule.

Watching Terri’s face turn slightly pale, Blayne’s lips curled into a smirk, unable to hide his satisfaction.

Yes, he did it on purpose.

He looked down on Terri.

She knew he loved Valerie, yet Terri still conspired with his grandfather to exchange marriages for money.

Any past fondness or affection Blayne had for Terri had long since turned to resentment because of what she had done.

She deserved whatever situation she found herself in now.

Terri felt a dull ache in her chest at his mocking tone.

Her gaze flickered to the object hidden beneath the blanket, and shame burned through her as she instinctively moved to shut the door. “I’m tired. I want to rest.”

Blayne made no move to step back. Instead, he lifted his foot, blocking the door from closing.

With his superior strength, he pushed the door open with ease—finally taking in the full sight of Terri.

She had gotten up in a hurry, wearing only a pair of shorts.

In her rush to get up, she had only put on a pair of shorts. Her legs were slender, fair, and soft—impossibly alluring.

As he took in her appearance, his gaze grew darker and more intense.

Terri had no idea why he had come here so late at night.

But under his unrestrained stare, she instinctively stepped back.

She barely took two steps before her body was suddenly lifted off the floor.

Blayne’s fingers wrapped around her throat, pinning her against the wall.

It was a show of dominance, a silent warning—yet thick with something unmistakably intimate.

His body leaned in, closing the distance.

Terri struggled to breathe, the weightless sensation sending a wave of panic through her. Without meaning to, she wrapped her legs around Blayne’s waist for support.

“You are my woman, Terri. Even if I don’t want you, you don’t get to go looking for someone else.”

Blayne looked down at Terri with a threatening gaze, towering over her.

Because of her movements, it now felt like he was holding her soft, delicate body in his arms.

With such a fragrant, tender warmth so close, Blayne suddenly realized his body was reacting on its own.

His grip tensed for a moment. Terri, feeling the discomfort, took the chance to turn her head and pry his hand away.

As her warmth left him, Blayne was momentarily, instinctively reluctant to let go.

But this wasn’t concern nor was it love. The possessiveness in his words was nothing more than a matter of pride and control.

She didn’t know if he had come to confront her because of some baseless rumors or if Valerie had told him something.

Her eyes were slightly red, but she forced herself to swallow the pain cutting through her chest and replied indifferently, “You’re overthinking it.”

The place where Terri lived was remote, so there was no way Blayne had come all this way just to exchange a few harsh words with her.

Of course, she wouldn’t be conceited enough to think it was because of her, either.

Sure enough, Blayne took another look at her face—one that bore some resemblance to Valerie.

He let out a cold chuckle before turning to leave.

Terri’s throat tightened as she remembered what was hidden under her blanket.

“Tomorrow, your Grandma is sending someone to examine my purity. What am I supposed to say then?”

Before leaving, the old lady had given Terri a cold warning.

“Don’t try to fool me with any tricks. I despise liars the most.”

Blayne paused. He had almost forgotten about that.

Demetria, his grandmother, was born into a prestigious Victorianera aristocratic family and continued to uphold the feudal rules of the past.

It had been three days since the engagement. Though they weren’t married yet, Terri was already expected to fulfill wife’s duties. Tomorrow, they will come to collect the Cathedrallength wedding veil.

But Blayne didn’t care for her, much less wanted to touch her. From the moment their engagement party ended, he had completely disappeared.

She couldn’t afford to offend the old lady. Terri had no choice but to find a way to deal with it herself.

Blayne didn’t respond. Instead, he suddenly turned back and scooped her up in his arms.

The abrupt sensation of weightlessness made her chest tighten, her heart pounding wildly. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

Because of her background, Terri had never truly belonged—neither in the Dartons nor in the Holzmans.

And Blayne was her only possible refuge.

At that moment, a tiny, foolish hope quietly rose in her chest.

If he was willing to touch her, did it mean she held even the slightest place in his heart?

She clutched his collar tightly and caught a faint whiff of roses.

It was the same scent her sister always wore.

A sharp, trembling pain rippled through her heart, but her face remained expressionless.

She was used to it.

Blayne placed her onto the bed and reached up to unbutton his suit.

Terri clutched the blanket tightly, a trace of panic flashing in her eyes.

Sensing her gaze, Blayne glanced up, revealing his strikingly handsome face.

But there was only mockery in his expression.

“Come on, Terri, don’t get delusional.”

Meeting her startled eyes, he reached for the scissors on the table.

Grabbing the white silk cloth from beneath the blanket, he made a swift cut across his arm.

The wound was on his forearm—somewhere discreet, unlikely to raise suspicion.

Blayne put his clothes back on and left without looking back, his expression calm, distant, and laced with unmistakable disgust.

“It’s done. Make sure it looks convincing. Don’t cause trouble for me and Vee.”

Terri listened in silence.

At the doorway, he paused for a moment.

“You’ll be attending the party tomorrow. Don’t forget. In front of others, act properly. Do what you’re supposed to do.”

Terri stood still for a long while before stepping barefoot into the bathroom.

She took out everything she had bought from the family planning store, shredded them into pieces, and tossed them into the trash.

Terri pulled up the contract on her phone.

Without hesitation, she signed it.

She put on her sunglasses as she got into the car.

She didn’t want to go, but she had no choice.

Her makeup was thick, covering the dark circles under her eyes.

After Blayne left last night, she cried herself into a daze and couldn’t sleep no matter what.

In the middle of the night, Mrs. Tilley texted her.

Blayne had gone back to get the jewelry his mother left behind.

Terri knew that necklace.

Back when Blayne was lost in the moment, kissing her with unrestrained passion, he had promised—once she married him, he would put it on her himself.

And now?

They weren’t even officially together, but even drunk, Blayne still made sure Valerie got her dignity.

Bitterness filled Terri’s chest, yet somehow, she felt a little lighter.

It didn’t matter. She had already signed the termination papers.

Five more days, and she could finally leave.

“Terri, isn’t it?”

Terri snapped out of her thoughts and turned toward the voice.

The car window on the other side rolled down—both front and back.

She finally saw who it was.

Her sister—Valerie.

And someone else.

Blayne was there too.

The two of them sat together in the backseat, their fingers tightly interlocked, leaning into each other.

Side by side, they looked straight at Terri.

She had been prepared for this, but seeing them like that still sent a sharp sting through her chest.

Then, she scoffed at herself.

Why was she even reacting?

She had known this was coming.

“You only sent a driver to take Terri? Today’s her first public appearance as your wife, after all.”

Valerie glanced at Terri, then turned to Blayne, pretending to chide him.

Her eyes were full of warmth—sisterly concern, soft and affectionate.

But she never let go of his hand.

Terri was Valerie’s younger sister.

And Blayne was, in name at least, Valerie’s brotherinlaw.

Yet here he was, sitting with her.

“One person is fine. She’ll have to get used to it sooner or later.”

Blayne shrugged, his gaze on Valerie filled with tenderness.

Even with Terri sitting right there, he didn’t spare her a glance.

In the backseat, Terri clenched her fingers together.

The spot on her waist—where Blayne had held her down last night—was still faintly warm.

The thrill of being wanted.

The sting of being ignored.

The emotions tangled together, making her legs instinctively press tight against each other as she swallowed back the aching in her chest.

“I don’t mind going alone…”

She had barely started speaking when Valerie cut in.

“We happened to run into each other. I’ll go have a chat with Terri—we haven’t seen each other in a while.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned to Blayne.

He didn’t object.

He only sat up straighter, watching Valerie step out of the car.

His warm expression shifted into something else.

A warning.

His lips moved silently.

“Stay in your place. Don’t make trouble.”

Terri suddenly felt like laughing.

Stay in her place?

Don’t make trouble?

What trouble, exactly?

Did he mean when he had almost forced himself on her after finding out Valerie had left the country?

Or when he had thrown money at her face, only to pull her into bed night after night?

Valerie was his precious jewel.

And Terri?

What was she?

A standin? A decoration?

For once, a faint sense of satisfaction burned in Terri’s chest.

She lowered her gaze, pretending not to see Blayne’s warning look.

“I heard Blayne went to see you last night?”

Valerie got into the car, rolling up the window behind her.

The outside world disappeared.

Her earlier warmth vanished.

Her eyes were cold as she looked at Terri.

“He didn’t come to see me. He came to warn me.”

Terri’s voice was calm, but the bitterness was impossible to hide.

Terri denied it.

Valerie’s eyes were filled with undisguised disdain.

She let out a sneer and tossed the phone over.

On the screen, only Blayne’s back was visible, but Terri’s legs were clearly wrapped around his waist.

The way their lower bodies overlapped made it look like she was begging for him.

In the world of adults, some things don’t need to be spelled out.

Terri’s expression tightened. “It’s not what you think—”

Before she could finish, Valerie’s slap landed hard across Terri’s face.

“A stray raised under someone else’s roof, and you actually think you’re a real Darton?”

Five distinct finger marks instantly appeared on Terri’s pale skin.

She wasn’t the type to just take it. Clenching her teeth, she wanted to slap back.

Her fingers curled, but then, they loosened. In the end, she held back.

Valerie sat at an angle, looking down at her, her gaze sharp with warning.

“I’ll arrange a match for you. You and Blayne aren’t legally married, so when I tell you to leave, you leave.

“Terri, be smart. Don’t covet things that aren’t yours.”

With that, Valerie stepped out of the car.

Terri froze. Her skin was fair, making the slap mark stand out even more, both in color and in pain.

Yet, as if determined to rub salt in the wound, she turned her head to look outside.

In the side mirror, she saw Valerie stepping out—and Blayne immediately following, reaching for her hand.

From beginning to end, through it all…

Despite Terri being right there, Blayne didn’t spare her a single glance.

One was a handsome, accomplished man. The other, a beautiful, elegant woman.

They were a perfect match.

Blayne could feel someone’s gaze lingering behind him. He knew it was Terri.

A voice in his head told him to turn around and look at her.

But he didn’t.

His steps hesitated for a second—just one second.

Then, he tightened his grip on Valerie’s hand and walked away without looking back.

Terri stared blankly, memories suddenly flooding back.

Everyone said Valerie and Blayne were childhood sweethearts, a match made in heaven.

But after Valerie became an adult, she left the country without informing anyone—disappearing completely.

The Holzmans were powerful.

When word got out that Blayne was single, Terri’s mother forced her into his life, pushing her to seduce him.

She refused.

Clarissa, her mother, slapped her face and used her own life to threaten her, forcing Terri to comply.

Trying to change the family’s fate through her.

But Terri wasn’t cheap. She had no interest in being a replacement, in scheming her way into power as some pathetic mistress.

Yet when Clarissa pressed a shard of glass to her own wrist, Terri gave in.

She understood her place.

Valerie was the one Blayne truly cared about. She had neither the status nor the history to compare.

Even if Valerie openly said she only saw Blayne as a backup plan, even if she never intended to marry him…

Being sent to his bed was still a humiliation.

At worst, she’d just be thrown out.

Terri was used to being humiliated. If it could fulfill her mother’s dream of climbing the social ladder, so be it.

That night, Blayne had been drinking.

He pinned her against the stairwell wall, tearing her clothes, gripping her shoulders, ready to take her.

She had no experience—she broke down crying.

Her tears dripped onto his skin, scalding hot.

Maybe he pitied her. Maybe he just found it troublesome.

Either way, Blayne let go.

In the end, all he did was hold her through the night.

After that, wherever he went, Terri followed.

He was gentle with her. Attentive.

Terri loved steamers. So this highborn, privileged young master peeled them for her by hand.

He knew she had a hard time in the Dartons, so he directed a few lucrative projects their way—making it clear they had to treat her well.

Terri was anxious as she put on the lingerie her mother had stuffed into her hands, preparing to offer herself in return for a favor.

But Blayne’s expression turned uncharacteristically cold. Holding her tightly in his arms, he was both angry and heartbroken.

He cradled her like something precious, his voice gentle as he placed a hand over his chest and swore, “I don’t need you to repay me. I just like you. I like you, Terri. For you, I’d do anything willingly.”

From then on, he gave her whatever she wanted. He never raised his voice and never forced her to do anything she didn’t want.

Terri thought it was real. She had always thought so.

But everything changed when Valerie returned from Scotland.

Being someone’s standin never ends well.

Terri knew that. But at the time, she hadn’t believed it.

Now, she did, so she didn’t bother to cover the marks on her face.

When they arrived at the party, she got out of the car alone, walking in with her head high.

She wasn’t ashamed.

She had spent too much of her life being humiliated by others. This was nothing.

But before she could take more than a couple of steps, someone grabbed her wrist.

Blayne frowned at her. “Do you even know what kind of event this is? And what’s with your face? Are you deliberately making a fool of yourself, or are you trying to embarrass the Holzmans?”

To the outside world, Terri was known as Blayne’s parents’ daughterinlaw. So, whether he wanted to or not, Blayne had to come back and pick her up for an occasion like this.

But the moment he turned around and saw the slap marks on her face, his sharptempered nature flared. His tone, halfquestioning, halfmocking, was laced with concern.

It was the first time he had shown any real concern for Terri since Valerie returned.

Terri suddenly recalled the way Blayne used to be—how he was always by her side, inseparable.

Back then, it hadn’t felt like she was just a standin. There had been no distance, no Valerie between them.

As if they had never changed.

But it was just as if.

Pulled back to the present by his questioning, Terri spoke, her tone indifferent.

“It’s nothing. I just happened to run into you and Valerie. How do you think this happened?”

Blayne’s grip tightened. “What do you mean? You’re saying Vee hit you?”

“What else?”

She lifted her head, meeting his gaze headon, unwavering.

“Blayne! Terri! What are you two talking about? Why aren’t you coming over?”

Valerie approached them, but when she saw the slap marks on Terri’s face, she gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

“What happened? Terri, I told you I don’t blame you—why would you hurt yourself like this?”

Blayne’s expression darkened. “What do you mean?”

Valerie sighed and explained, “After I left the country, Terri took my place by your side. She kept bringing up the past, saying she felt guilty toward me. I told her I didn’t blame her, but she wouldn’t believe it. She even grabbed my hand and made me slap her! She got so emotional that I had to get out of the car.”

She hesitated, then looked troubled. “And… she squeezed my wrist too hard. She left a bruise.”

Blayne’s face hardened instantly. He stepped forward. “Let me see.”

Terri was shoved aside, stumbling slightly.

Standing behind them, she watched as Blayne’s concern for Valerie played out before her eyes.

Valerie rolled up her sleeve, revealing a faint bluish mark on her wrist.

The look in Blayne’s eyes shifted—from shock and suspicion to something darker.

“Apologize to Vee.”

“I didn’t do it!”

Terri lifted her chin. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she refused to back down.

“I’ll say it again. Apologize to Vee.”

Blayne’s gaze sharpened, his voice carrying an unmistakable warning.

That made Terri’s throat tighten.

Terri held back the sting in her eyes and looked up at Blayne. “Are you serious? You believe whatever she says? Why would I hurt her? Why would I slap myself?”

“I won’t say this a third time, Terri.” Blayne pulled Valerie—who looked hurt and wronged as if she had just been falsely accused—behind him, shielding her like a protector.

“The money from the marriage contract you signed with my Grandpa goes through the company’s accounts. Terri, I’d advise you to be smart and not piss me off. Otherwise, you’ll end up with nothing—not a single cent.”

Terri took a step back.

Even though the contract had been terminated and she and Blayne were no longer legally married, she still couldn’t believe he was using it to threaten her.

For a moment, Blayne hesitated under her gaze, unable to meet her eyes.

“Forget it, Blayne,” Valerie said gently. “Terri is still young, and there are so many people around today. If it really bothers you, I can change into a longsleeved gown later to cover it up. It’s not a big deal.

“Today is an important day for the Holzmans. Let’s not ruin it over something so trivial.”

She stepped forward to take Blayne’s hand, playing the understanding, considerate one.

With that movement, her bruised wrist was suddenly and unmistakably exposed—whether by accident or on purpose, it was hard to tell.

Seeing the purple marks on her skin, the momentary softness in Blayne’s heart hardened again.

His almond eyes narrowed, brimming with undisguised contempt and disgust. “Oh, Terri, you really don’t know what’s good for you. Keeping you far away was the right choice.

“A woman like you, so consumed by jealousy that you’d even go after your own sister—I have no idea what my grandfather ever saw in you. If it were up to me, not even if you begged would I let you have a single thing from the Holzmans.”

The words cut deep.

Terri’s eyes turned red, but she refused to lower her head. She clenched her jaw and shot back, “Blayne, you knew exactly who I was when you first met me. So what the hell are you saying now?”

She never thought he’d talk about her like this.

Especially for Valerie.

Back when Valerie left the U.S., Blayne spent his days drowning himself in clubs and bars.

Oswald, his grandfather, had no choice. Seeing that Terri bore a slight resemblance to Valerie, he gritted his teeth and sent her over.

From then on, Terri stayed by Blayne’s side.

He loved lychees, so she arranged for them to be flown in from Hawaii.

Her mother was vain and constantly pestered her for money. Blayne, instead of letting her deal with it, gave Clarissa a supplementary card just to shut her up.

There was sincerity in it.

Every night, he held Terri in his arms, gently caressing her face, calling her his precious girl.

When things got heated between them, she once asked him why he never took it further.

Blayne buried his face in her neck and whispered, “Let’s wait until we’re married. I want to give you the best.”

She cried until her heart melted.

But then—the day before the wedding, she saw him lounging in a hotel room, holding Valerie in his arms.

He was beneath her, their bodies intimately entwined.

Blayne frowned at Terri now, unable to understand why she still didn’t know when to quit.

“You think your little tricks aren’t obvious?” He pulled Valerie into his arms. “You just want to frame your sister so you can come running to me, playing the victim?”

Valerie clung to his arm, looking troubled. “Whatever it is, let’s talk about it later. The party's about to start, and there are people everywhere. You’ll need a date when you go in. I won’t hold this against Terri—it’s not worth it.”

Saying that, she reached out as if to take Terri’s arm.

Terri turned away in disgust.

Blayne let out a cold laugh. “Someone like her? She actually thinks she deserves to walk in with me and attend the party? Still clinging to the title of my fiancée? As if.”

The staff behind him, quick on their feet, stepped forward with a dress box in hand.

Terri remained where she was, unmoving. She was waiting for Blayne’s final verdict.

‘This is good.’

With every action, Blayne was wearing down the last remnants of her patience and attachment.

The final stage of desensitization.

Once she had cried out all her tears, she would leave—swiftly, cleanly, without ever looking back.

Blayne tightened his hold around Valerie’s waist. “Go back the way you came. My family’s party doesn’t need someone as manipulative and disgraceful as you. You’re not fit to be my wife, let alone my fiancée.”

The dress matched Blayne’s outfit perfectly.

Terri watched as he handed it to Valerie.

Terri looked at Blayne, her expression unusually calm, without a hint of emotion.

She nodded. “Alright.”

That made Blayne seem caught off guard.

Something about the way she looked at him gave him an unsettling feeling as if he was losing something.

But he quickly dismissed the thought, convinced she was just putting on a front.

With a look of contempt, he turned away, holding Valerie’s hand as they brushed past Terri.

Valerie shot her a triumphant smile.

Just then, Terri’s phone chimed.

A message from Valerie.

[The Crimson Club, Room 304. Remember what I told you. Otherwise, you know what’ll happen.]

A familiar face flashed through Terri’s mind.

Her grip tightened around her phone as she stepped out the door.

From a higher vantage point, Valerie watched Terri’s retreating figure. She tugged at the sleeve of the man beside her, pouting.

“Mr. Hemphill wants me to sign the contract now. The party doesn’t start for a while, so we have just enough time. Blayne, come with me?”

Terri didn’t want to go.

But she had no choice.

Oswald, Blayne’s grandfather, had her in his grasp. He thought she was easier to control than Valerie, so he insisted she marry Blayne.

Now, Valerie was using the same tactics.

Years ago, Terri’s mother had been young and naive when she was taken advantage of by Giddeon, Valerie’s father, while he was stationed in a quiet Midwest town.

In places like that, a woman in Clarissa’s situation would have been sent away in disgrace.

Clarissa didn’t want to disappear, so she clung to Giddeon and followed him to Massachusetts.

She kept her head down and survived by playing the obedient, submissive role under Demetria’s watch.

But even then, in that household, Clarissa remained the perfect target for the cruelty of Belladonna, Valerie’s mother.

And by extension, Terri became Valerie’s punching bag.

Controlling Terri was easy.

All they had to do was threaten to expose Clarissa’s past as a mistress and cut off her financial support.

Clarissa was a timid woman who had lived her whole life afraid. If that day ever came, it would push her straight to the edge.

Terri couldn’t let that happen.

Even if it meant being treated like a dog, she had to go.

From inside the private room, crude, degrading voices mocked the female servers.

Terri’s lashes quivered.

She hesitated for a moment until she pushed open the door.

“Well, well, this must be Miss Valerie’s socalled sister, the one who tried to seduce her fiancé?”

All eyes turned to the entrance.

Their gazes were lewd and amused as if Terri’s presence had been expected.

Terri took a deep breath. “I’m here to get the documents Valerie told me to retrieve.”

The fat man at the head of the table let go of the server in his arms and lazily lifted his chin at Terri.

“That’s not how you ask for favors. If you want the contract, show some humility.”

He pulled out the document and placed a tall glass of fortified wine on top of it.

“Drink it, and the contract is yours.”

Terri wasn’t stupid.

She knew exactly what kind of trap they had set for her.

If Terri really drank the wine, she’d be nothing more than a dish served up on the table.

“I think I’ll pass. I’m allergic to alcohol. If needed, I can call Valerie and have her come instead.”

Terri tried to step back, but a few women on the couch grabbed her by the wrist.

“You took advantage of Valerie being in Scotland to seduce her man. Like mother, like daughter—both of you are shameless sluts. Who the hell are you pretending to be, huh?”

“Be smart and drink up. If you obediently become Valerie’s stepping stone, well, you might suffer a little less.”

One of them yanked her hair and shoved her back onto the couch.

Another woman picked up a glass of liquor from the table, grabbed Terri by the chin, and forced it down her throat.

She couldn’t break free. The burning alcohol slid down her throat as tears streamed down her face.

Once the glass was empty, the two women suddenly let go of her.

Right then, the door opened.

Blayne walked in and immediately saw Terri slumped on the couch, her face flushed.

Valerie covered her mouth in disbelief. “What happened here?”

The fat man exchanged a look with her, then sighed as if troubled. “Miss Valerie, Miss Terri insisted on taking your place to negotiate the contract with me. I tried to decline, but she just started drinking. I… I really didn’t know what to do.”

He was making it sound like Terri had tried to steal Valerie’s contract.

Blayne’s expression darkened as he looked at Terri, his face turning cold. “Has Valerie not treated you well enough? You couldn’t slander her, so now you resort to this kind of shit?”

Being accused time and again, ignored, and misunderstood—Terri’s eyes turned bloodshot. “I didn’t slander her, and I wasn’t trying to steal anything. I came here because Valerie told me to pick up the damn contract!”

Blayne rubbed his temples in frustration. “Dammit, Terri. I never thought your jealousy could go this far. You can’t stand to see your sister have anything, can you?”

Terri’s voice trembled. “I didn’t—”

Seeing the growing disdain in Blayne’s eyes, Valerie knew she had achieved her goal. She subtly signaled to the others in the room.

Then, with teary eyes, she clutched her chest, looking heartbroken. “It’s my fault. I should’ve done better. Don’t blame Terri—she’s still young…”

And with that, she collapsed into Blayne’s arms.

Panic flashed across his face. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and rushed out.

His eyes were filled with urgency and concern.

Meanwhile, Terri wiped her tears and stumbled out the door, struggling to stay on her feet.

That’s when it hit her—there was something in that wine!

A drunk, unaccompanied woman in a private room of a club… She suddenly realized exactly what Valerie was trying to do.

The drug took effect quickly. She staggered, pressing against the wall as dizziness overwhelmed her.

With her last bit of strength, she unlocked her phone and tapped the only pinned contact.

Blayne’s phone buzzed. Seeing the caller ID, his chest tightened for some inexplicable reason.

On the hospital bed, Valerie noticed the change in his expression.

She bit her lip and gave a frail smile. “It’s okay, Blayne. If you have something to take care of, go ahead. I’ll be fine here on my own.”

At her words, Blayne didn’t hesitate.

He hung up.

In the end, it was a female server who called an ambulance for Terri.

The doctor diagnosed her with a drug overdose.

Not only was it an aphrodisiac, but if left untreated, it could’ve caused neurological damage.

That was the polite way of putting it.

Terri calmly thanked the doctor.

Then, she pulled up her bank account.

It was the card Oswald had given her when she agreed to marry Blayne.

It had been locked. The balance was zero.

Of course, it was empty.

The night Blayne had humiliated her while drunk—over Valerie—Terri had already signed the termination agreement.

The last line of the agreement read: [From now on, Terri Darton and Blayne Holzman have no further relationship.]

She waited until her account was locked—that would be the final proof. The proof that she was truly free.

Because of that drink, Terri had injured her stomach and remained in the hospital for treatment. During this time, Blayne never once called or asked about her.

When she was finally cleared for discharge, her phone rang.

Looking at the familiar number, she hesitated for a moment until she picked it up.

“Grandma went to the villa today, and not a single soul was there. What kind of stunt are you pulling this time? You got the money, the marriage is done—what the hell do you want now?”

It was rare for Blayne to call, but his tone was as sharp and irritable as ever.

He didn’t sound like this when things were good between them.

Back then, his voice was gentle, carrying a hint of boyish warmth.

This sharpness, this impatience—this was how Blayne spoke to outsiders.

Right.

In his eyes, Terri was an outsider now.

The last lingering trace of sentiment in her heart disappeared completely, leaving behind a peace she had never felt before.

His tone no longer hurt her.

Calmly, she replied, “I’m in the hospital. The doctor wanted me to stay for observation, so I didn’t go back.”

And she never would.

But she didn’t say that.

There was a brief silence on the other end, then his voice turned even more annoyed, laced with sarcasm. “Can you stop competing with Ver over everything? She gets hospitalized, and suddenly, so do you? You’re not even trying to hide it. Jeez, you’re starting to disgust me!

“Listen, this is the third time already. If you still want any money from my family, then wait until you apologize to Valerie. When she says the word, I’ll wire you.”

After saying that, he hung up without waiting for Terri to speak.

Regardless, her gaze remained indifferent.

She tapped on Blayne’s profile. The name displayed was [Love].

Without hesitation, she blocked him.

She was exhausted. Tired of it all.

She split her savings in half, keeping only what she needed to live on. The rest, she transferred to her mother.

She knew full well why Valerie kept tormenting her—to make herself seem more important in Blayne’s eyes.

But once Terri was gone, Valerie would lose interest.

And without her in the picture, her mother’s life would finally get easier.

Terri had played this game of cat and mouse long enough.

So she chose to leave.

She blocked every number and silenced every notification.

She was going far away—to Texas.

To start a new life.

Blayne would never hear from her again.

They would never cross paths again.

She found a gap in her schedule to return one last time, gathering all of her belongings.

Everything Blayne had bought her remained untouched.

One New Year’s, he gave her a gift—holding her hand, he guided her as they wrote in elegant script together.

[Terri, may you be happy year after year.]

She had hugged him then, tears streaming down her face.

Back then, she had believed it was real.

She had treasured that piece of letter like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Now, she took it out and set it aflame without a second thought.

The fire curled around the paper, flickering hungrily, but her expression remained impassive.

She placed the villa’s key back where it belonged, erasing every last trace of herself.

As if she had never been there at all.

Sitting in the airport lounge, she wore oversized sunglasses that hid her expression.

Overhead, the announcement came.

“Passengers on flight DL760, please proceed to boarding. May you have a pleasant journey.”

As the artificial voice echoed through the terminal, Terri pulled out her SIM card and tossed it into the trash.