The Insane Youth No One Could Forget

After the 24th failed hypnosis treatment, Nora Riley finally accepted the doctor’s advice and applied for a new drug that could erase the traumatic memory of her car accident.

“Miss Riley,” the doctor said as he adjusted his glasses.

“In clinical trials, this drug has also erased people’s most precious memories. Are you sure you want to go through with it?”

Nora gave a faint smile. Her once bright eyes were now dull.

“I’ve made my decision. Please help me apply.”

“Alright. The process will take about seven days. You can come pick up the medicine next week.”

After going over the warnings and instructions, Nora stood up and left. When she arrived at the underground garage, she noticed a familiar Maybach. It was shaking slightly.

Soft panting sounds echoed in the empty space.

“Benjamin ... ahh ... be gentle!”

Nora froze in place. Her body trembled as a wave of pain spread from her chest to every part of her.

It was Benjamin Hunt, her childhood sweetheart and fiancé and Sally Duncan, her replacement.

Five years ago, Nora was in a serious car accident that left her in a coma. She had been lying in a hospital bed ever since. Her parents cried day after day and Benjamin brought in top doctors from all over the world. But Nora never showed any sign of waking up.

As hope faded again and again, even her loving parents began to give up. They adopted a girl who looked and acted a little like Nora, Sally. They claimed Sally was just a standin, but Nora now saw the truth.

In those five years, she had been completely replaced. Both in her parents’ hearts and in Benjamin’s.

Time had passed.

The once carefree boy had grown into a cold and powerful businessman. The socalled prodigal heir had returned, but not for her. He came back for Sally. It caused Nora to feel hopeless.

Benjamin had always seemed like being blessed by the Fortune Goddess. He was a known rascal, but every move he made could make the girls at school fall for him. Nora was no exception.

Back then, Benjamin had treated her differently.

He would only drink the water Nora gave him during games. Not only that, but he only invited her to car races. Even more, he took pictures of her at cheerleading competitions. He brought her candies when he traveled abroad. He even gave her a heating pad during her period.

All those sweet memories were shattered in a single moment. It had been five years. But to Nora, it felt like just yesterday that Benjamin promised to take her to see the meteor shower.

She stood quietly, waiting.

Then, the voices stopped.

“Don’t worry, Sally,” Benjamin said gently.

“I’ll break off the engagement with Nora no matter what. You’re the only one I want to marry.”

Nora’s face turned pale. She stood still for a long time before pretending she had just arrived. She walked up to the car calmly.

Benjamin was supposed to pick her up for a family dinner.

After getting in the car, Nora’s body shook slightly. Her chest felt heavy and she struggled to breathe. She opened the window for air.

On the large screen of a downtown building, Benjamin’s interview was playing.

“Mr. Hunt,”

The host said, “We heard you planted many tulip plants along the road in your new park. Do you have a special connection to tulips?”

Benjamin looked cold on screen, but his eyes softened as he answered, “Someone important to me has a deep connection to tulips. I wanted to plant a whole street of them for her.”

The host smiled and asked teasingly, “Is there good news coming soon? I wonder which lucky girl holds Mr. Hunt’s heart?”

Benjamin looked up. He didn’t seem annoyed by the question. Instead, he smiled softly, as if thinking of someone. That smile was enough to tell the world. The host continued praising him, full of excitement and blessings.

Even in the car, every word reached Nora’s ears clearly.

Her heart ached. Each sentence felt like a sharp knife piercing through her. Back in high school, there was a road outside the school lined with tulips.

During spring, flowers would bloom beautifully. Nora once joked with Benjamin and said that if he ever wanted to confess to someone, he should plant the flowers that the girl liked along a road. Benjamin had listened so seriously back then and in his eyes, she had seen only her own reflection.

“If it were me … ”

He continued, “I’d plant flowers that had her name in them, just to show the world I loved her.”

Now, that promise belonged to someone else.

Nora looked at Sally through the window, her eyes full of sadness. After a long time, she looked away. She had truly given up.

When she arrived at the mansion, she went straight to her grandfather.

She knelt in front of him and said honestly that she could no longer marry Benjamin.

“Is there anyone else suitable in the Hunt Family?” she asked anxiously.

Her grandfather stayed silent for a moment.

“Yes, there is,” he said at last.

“The head of the Hunt Family.”

"Sebastian."

It wasn't Nora’s first time to ever hear that name. Sebastian Hunt was a wellknown name in the US business world. In fact, he was even considered a godlike figure in Houston.

"I'll try to talk about it with him."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

There were loud voices coming from outside the study.

Nora walked out and saw Sally, who was supposed to go home, was standing behind her parents.

To Nora’s shock, her parents had brought Sally, her replacement, to the family dinner.

"Nora," Mrs. Riley said, holding Sally who was wearing a white dress that made her shine even more.

"Take Sally to see Grandpa."

This was to emphasize Sally's position at the family dinner.

Meanwhile, Nora stood frozen on the second floor. After a long moment of surprise, her heart tightened with pain and she felt like she couldn't breathe.

On the other hand, the older Mr. Riley walked out of the study.

"It's already late at night. Mr. Jones, please send Miss Duncan home early."

One sentence was enough to decide Sally’s fate.

Immediately, Sally’s face turned pale. She couldn’t help but bit her lower lip, feeling hurt. Even though she was rejected on the spot, she didn't seem upset.

Instead, she obediently said, "Yes, Grandpa."

The butler, Mr. Jones, reminded her, "You should call him Mr. Riley, MIss."

Sally’s lips grew even paler, while tears were welling up in her eyes. Mr. and Mrs. Riley were about to speak in her defense, but the butler insisted she leave the mansion.

As for Nora, she just ate her meal absentmindedly. After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Riley quickly took her away and rushed home. When they arrived, Nora saw Sally directing the servants to move her belongings while wiping away tears.

Sally cried so hard that her eyes were swollen.

When she saw Mr. and Mrs. Riley, she said as she sobbed, "The happiest thing in my life is to be your daughter. But what Grandpa said today reminded me that I’m living in Nora's room, so I shouldn’t be occupying the space. I’ll move out tonight."

Sally had never shown any desire to move before. But after facing Grandpa today, she suddenly decided to leave the room. The servants carefully carried her things out, one by one.

The porcelain vase that Nora had used in her room as a child was replaced with an antique Sally had bought. The oil painting Nora’s friend had given her was thrown into the basement, replaced by a landscape painting by a famous artist.

The precious tulips Nora had planted were long gone, replaced by roses that Sally preferred.

When Nora woke up after the car accident, she realized she had even lost her room. She saw all this unfolding before her parents’ eyes. The items were moved out one by one and Mr. and Mrs. Riley looked at Nora with some guilt.

But Mrs. Riley still called the servant, saying to Nora, "It’s just a room, why make such a big deal out of it? Nora, you have a new room anyway. If you want, you can … "

Nora looked up at her and didn’t respond.

Mr. Riley also added, "Nora, Sally is your younger sister. She was humiliated by your grandfather today. Don’t fight with her over the room. Let her live in it now!"

Nora forced a weak smile.

"My parents will decide these things. What more do you want me to say?"

As soon as she said that, she turned around and went upstairs to her room.

After closing the door, Nora received a call from her grandfather.

His voice was unusually cheerful as he told her, "Nora, Sebastian agreed to the marriage. The wedding date has been moved forward since this is urgent, so it will be set for next month."

A heavy weight finally lifted off Nora’s heart.

"Thank you, Grandpa. But … can you not tell my parents yet?"

The older Mr. Riley could only sigh softly as he said, "You stubborn child … Alright then."

After the call, Nora found her diary. The last entry had been written five years ago. She tore out all the pages that mentioned her parents and Benjamin, then picked up the pen and wrote a new entry.

[I just had family dinner. I got engaged with Sebastian Hunt.]

The next day, the older Mr. Riley sent someone to deliver a set of expensive jewelry. At the same time, the Hunt Family also sent a wedding ring meant for Nora. Benjamin also came along to deliver it himself.

"Nora, are you so eager to get married? My marriage ring was delivered by my uncle’s special assistant," Benjamin said with a selfassured tone.

Nora looked at him, but kept silent. She decided to not tell him the truth.

"Get in the car," Benjamin said.

"I happen to be free today. I’ll take you to try on the wedding dress."

"No need," Nora refused.

Benjamin sneered, looking down at her condescendingly.

"What are you playing at now? Do you think I’ll look up to you like this?"

Nora’s heart sank as she looked at his annoyed expression. Suddenly, she remembered the wish she had written in her diary. She wished to wear the most beautiful wedding dress in the world in front of Benjamin.

She hesitated for a moment, then got into the car.

When they arrived at the bridal shop, Benjamin didn’t let her choose. He directly picked a wedding dress for her to wear. The size didn’t fit and the clerk didn’t seem to care much. The heavy wedding dress left red marks on her skin.

As soon as she walked out of the fitting room, she heard Benjamin gently coaxing Sally.

"I’ve let Nora wear the wedding dress you tried on. Sally, when are you going to think about yourself?"

Nora froze as she held up the hem of the skirt. Her eyes fell on the wedding dress that had caused her skin to react.

It turned out that it was the dress Sally had tried on?

Nora felt a sharp, burning pain in her heart. She suddenly pushed open the door of the lounge and was met by Sally's panicked eyes.

"Nora ..."

Sally said carefully, "I just thought this wedding dress was beautiful and asked Benjamin to recommend it to you. I didn't mean anything else... Are you angry with me?"

Benjamin stood behind Sally, protecting her, telling Nora coldly, "I should have married Sally. If you hadn’t suddenly woken up and interfered, do you think you deserve to wear this wedding dress?"

Nora couldn’t help but stare at Benjamin in disbelief.

Her heart ached as she managed to ask, "If I don't deserve it, why did you let me try it on today?"

Benjamin frowned, answering, "If Sally hadn’t thought of you, do you think I would have allowed it? Now that you’ve tried it on, that’s all there is to it."

Without waiting for her response, the shop assistants began to remove the wedding dress from her.

"Miss Duncan had already reserved this wedding dress," one of the employees said, sneering.

"Some people are so shameless, taking the dress and even trying to steal the man."

"Mr. Hunt clearly doesn't like her. Yet someone still keeps trying to get close to him. It’s really pathetic," another added.

"Miss Duncan is the only daughter of the Riley Family. Does this woman really think she’s worthy of this dress just because she calls someone 'sister'?" a third said mockingly.

The employees continued to insult Nora without hesitation. After being in a coma for five years, Nora's movements were slow and unsteady. When she heard their cruel words, she was about to confront the store manager and have them disciplined. However, Benjamin waved her off.

"Nora, I see a rash on your arm. It looks like you’re allergic. You should go to the hospital quickly."

Sally, who knew the truth, pretended not to hear the insults. The employees quickly forced Nora out of the store. With no other option, Nora went to the hospital.

When she returned home, Benjamin was waiting for her.

"I made a mistake about the wedding dress shop," he said.

"I’ll make it up to you. Let’s go see the meteor shower tonight."

Although Nora didn’t want to go, Mr. and Mrs. Riley were excited to hear this and immediately agreed.

That evening, Nora sat in the car. The route they were taking was the same as the one they had planned five years ago to watch the meteor shower. But the night wind was cold, the sky was clear of stars. It didn’t look like the right weather for a meteor shower at all.

They climbed up the mountain to find the best view. Then, Benjamin suddenly said he had to return to the car for a meeting. He left Nora alone to set up the tent.

Half an hour passed, the wind grew stronger and mixed with light rain. Yet, Benjamin was nowhere to be found. Nora realized something was wrong. With no signal on her phone, she returned to the main road, only to find the car was gone.

She was stranded on the empty mountaintop.

"Benjamin? Benjamin!" Nora shouted, but received no reply.

Heavy rain quickly poured down from the sky, soaking Nora completely. She felt like being drowned. Fortunately, she had made a guide to this place five years ago. So, she managed to find the path down the mountain.

Unfortunately, the rain was coming down hard. Not to mention, the night was pitch black. Nora could barely see the road.

She walked down step by step, trembling with cold and fear. She didn’t know how many times she fell, her body covered in mud and soon washed away by the rain. Her knees and arms were bruised.

The only sound that night was the thunder roaring above her and the rain pounding down, mixing with the despair she felt in her heart.

Finally, after hours of walking, she reached the foot of the mountain. She waited until the early morning. When the rain stopped, before she saw a car driving through the suburbs. The kind driver gave her a lift.

When she arrived home, her parents and Sally weren’t there. Mrs. Burnett, her maid, was shocked to see Nora in such a state.

"Nora, how did you end up like this? Didn’t Mr. Hunt say he would take you back to the hotel after the meteor shower?"

Nora sat on the ground, exhausted. Her heart sank. Did her parents trust Benjamin so much that they didn’t even call her to confirm? Or did they simply not care about her at all?

Unable to speak, Nora remained silent as Mrs. Burnett cleaned her up. Afterward, she saw Sally’s latest post on her iPad. The photo showed Sally with Benjamin and her parents at a concert. They all smiled at the camera, looking like one happy family.

Even worse, Nora saw that Sally was wearing a small dress and the gemstone jewelry her grandfather had sent the day before.

Benjamin had also left a message.

[This is your punishment for your unrealistic delusion!]

After being caught in the rain, Nora developed a fever. She felt dizzy, like a fish stranded out of water. Her heart raced and it felt like it might explode. But her throat was tight and she could hardly breathe.

She heard noises downstairs. Sally and her parents had returned. A moment later, Sally came into Nora’s room with a cup of boiling hot tea.

"Nora, mom was worried you might have a fever, so she asked me to bring you this," Sally said, making a point to puff out her chest so Nora would notice the necklace she was wearing.

Seeing that Nora ignored her, Sally wasn’t bothered.

She smiled sarcastically and added, "By the way, Nora, I asked Benjamin to do all of this yesterday on purpose."

Nora’s heart skipped a beat and a sharp pain twisted in her chest. Before she could react further, Sally threw the boiling hot tea in her own face and started crying uncontrollably.

"Ah!"

The boiling tea splashed all over Sally's face, leaving painful red marks and breaking her fair skin. The teacup shattered on the floor, while the sharp edges cut into Nora's calf.

Mr. and Mrs. Riley rushed upstairs quickly. Sally covered her face and cried uncontrollably in their arms, hiding her right hand to keep them from seeing the wound.

"Mom and Dad, don’t blame Nora," Sally said, sobbing.

"She got angry when she saw what I posted on Instagram Live ... but I didn’t expect this … "

Hearing this, the usually gentle Mr. Riley frowned and pointed at Nora.

"What did Sally do wrong? Yes, you were wronged … but Sally kindly brought you warm tea, but you treated her like this!"

Mrs. Riley also looked distressed.

"Nora, we’ve always taught you to be sensible. But today you’ve really disappointed us."

Nora’s head felt heavy and her chest felt tight as if it were blocked by cotton. She was pale, struggling to defend herself.

"It wasn’t me who splashed the tea. It was her..."

"Did Sally splash it on herself? If she did, how culd her face be burned? She’s a lovely girl! How could you be so cruel, Nora?" Mr. Riley scolded, then told Mrs. Burnett to take Sally for a cold shower.

"Sir, Miss Sally shouldn’t have splashed the tea deliberately … " Mrs. Burnett tried to speak up for Nora, but Mrs. Riley shot her a fierce look.

Sally, with tears in her eyes, pulled off the necklace.

"This necklace was given to Nora by Grandpa. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have said I wanted to wear it just because it looked pretty..."

"Good girl," Mrs. Riley said with care.

"If you like the necklace, wear it. We’ll make the decision for you. Don’t be afraid of her."

With that, Mrs. Riley shoved the necklace back into Sally’s hands and helped her out the door to go to the hospital. Nora was exhausted, her calf wound still bleeding, but her parents turned a blind eye. She could only watch as the necklace was snatched away.

Before leaving, Sally gave Nora a mocking smile, covering her face as she left. Nora was left behind to be scolded by Mr. Riley.

"We’ve had a plan in mind for a while. We didn’t want to mention it before because we were afraid it would upset you. But today, you splashed tea on Sally. Let’s take it as your apology to her," Mr. Riley said in a firm tone.

He then told her the plan, "Your mother and I have decided to let Sally change her surname to Riley and give her half of the 10% of the shares that are under your name, so Sally can truly become part of the family."

Nora’s body swayed when she heard it. In fact, she almost collapsed. She looked at Mr. Riley in disbelief. It was her who had been hurt, but she was being forced to apologize to the person who had caused the harm.

Mr. Riley then continued, "Also, you have such a cruel tendency, Nora. You won’t be able to maintain a good relationship with the Hunt Family when you marry. The wedding ring will be handed over to me for safekeeping and I will give it to you when you are older!"

Finally, he added, "I’ve already decided on these two things! Don’t think about complaining to Grandpa!"

After that, Mr. Riley rushed to the hospital. Mrs. Burnett came in with a first aid kit and quickly bandaged Nora’s wound. Nora was faint with fever and pain. The physical pain from her calf and head was unbearable, but the pain in her heart felt like a sharp knife piercing her chest.

The whole mansion was empty. She could only call the number her grandfather had given her.

When the call connected, Nora apologized hoarsely, "I’m sorry, Mr. Hunt. I wasn’t able to keep the wedding ring you gave to me yesterday."

There was silence on the other end for a moment before a low voice responded, "Have you been crying?"

The longlost concern, once offered by a stranger, now felt warm. Nora’s nose turned sour. Immediately, the tears she had just managed to stop came rushing back.

"Don’t worry too much about the wedding ring. I’ll take you to choose one you like when I have some free time. You can call me anytime at this number. By the way … " he then paused.

"Just call me Sebastian from now on."

"Okay," Nora agreed through her sobs.

At the end of the call, Sebastian gave her an address and invited her to come play golf to relax.

Nora had a fever for two days. But once she recovered, she went to the golf course. She wore a sun hat, radiating her quiet elegance.

Unfortunately, Nora was quickly stopped at the entrance of the golf course. She gave her membership number, but the staff said it had already been used.

"How could that be?" Nora asked, confused.

After all, she hadn’t played in five years. But such a highend venue wasn’t supposed to allow anyone else to use her membership. The staff confirmed again that the membership number didn’t belong to Nora.

"There’s already a Miss Riley at the venue," the staff said apologetically.

Not far away, Nora saw the "Miss Riley" they were talking about. It was Sally.

"Let's do this," the staff member said, looking at Nora's outfit and instinctively thinking she must be a part of the Houston’s highsociety.

"It just so happens that our head of golf course is also here today. I'll go ask him. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding."

The Houston’s highsociety circle was small, so everyone knew each other to some extent.

Nora nodded and casually asked, "Who is the head?"

"Mr. Benjamin Hunt."

It turned out that this was the Hunt Family's property. When she realized Benjamin was the head of the golf course, Nora frowned. Just as she was about to refuse, the staff member hurried away, looking guilty as he left.

After a short while, the staff member returned and said apologetically, "Sorry, Miss, Mr. Hunt said he doesn't know you."

Nora felt a wave of disappointment. She was about to leave when another person ran over, lowered his head, whispered a few words and then took her inside. The court was large and Nora initially wanted to play alone.

Unexpectedly, a ball rolled right to her feet. It was hit by a girl next to Sally.

"Hey, pick up the ball!" the girl shouted at Nora.

Benjamin, who was with them, looked amused, while Sally was already aiming at a spot and preparing to swing. Nora hit the ball, but the girl wasn’t happy.

"I told you to pick it up, why did you hit my ball?"

Nora didn't respond, but the next moment, a ball flew straight at her at high speed.

Before she could move, it struck her face hard. The force of the hit made her take two steps back to steady herself. Nora's head rang, a strand of hair fell out of place and her right cheek quickly became swollen and red.

The accident shocked everyone. The ball had come at her as if it was aimed deliberately. Sally looked pale, clearly not expecting it to hit Nora in such a way. She put down her club, ready to run over and apologize, but Benjamin stopped her.

"What are you apologizing for? You didn't hit her on purpose. Nora is just unlucky. She couldn't avoid it in such a big space."

Then, as if remembering something, Benjamin walked over to Nora with the others. Nora covered her face with her hands, tears falling uncontrollably from the pain. When Benjamin saw the blood on her face, he froze for a moment.

Then, he seemed to recall something and sneered, "Why are you pretending? It's just a ball. How painful can it be? Is it as painful as when you deliberately poured hot tea on Sally’s face?"

"If you ask me, this is just divine justice. You deserved it!"

Nora’s eyes filled with tears.

Physically and emotionally exhausted, she was deeply disappointed with Benjamin and just wanted to leave and end this whole mess. She stepped back, but Benjamin took a step closer and grabbed her wrist.

"I invited you here today so you could apologize to Sally in front of me!"

It was clearly her who had been hurt!

Nora felt shaky, knowing Benjamin would never believe her, just like her parents hadn’t. Yet, she remained stubborn. Her long brunette hair covered the wound on her right cheek, while her beautiful profile was now marked by a pair of tearfilled, determined eyes.

Suddenly, Benjamin remembered the heavy rain from that day and realized he might have gone too far.

A girl, who had once treated Nora like her caddy, came over, grabbed Sally's hand and said as she sneered, "Isn’t she the one who splashed hot tea on Sally? Now, she looks like very ugly!"

Hearing Nora being humiliated like this made Benjamin feel irritated.

He tightened his grip on her wrist, pushing her to apologize quickly. The sharp pain from her wrist made Nora tremble slightly. She didn’t understand why Benjamin kept treating her like this when she hadn’t done anything wrong and hadn’t let him down.

As Nora refused to back down, Benjamin became more frustrated. He couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t yield. Especially when her wrist was on the verge of being crushed.

The two of them were stuck in a standoff. Nora's wrist was turning red with her lips being pale from the pain. Finally, Benjamin couldn’t take it anymore and shoved her away.

"Benjamin! You can’t just let her go!" the girl yelled, stamping her feet, eager to defend Sally.

"It’s fine, Benjamin ..." Sally spoke softly, trying to calm the situation.

Benjamin curled his lips, as though showing mercy.

"Who said I would let her go? Here’s what we’ll do, Nora. I’ll hit another ball. Whether you dodge it or not, I won’t hold you responsible for bullying Sally anymore."

Without waiting for Nora's response, he walked back to the spot and swung the club.

The ball immediately hit Nora’s leg, right on the spot where she had been cut by a piece of broken porcelain two days earlier. The wound was just starting to heal and had almost formed a scab. But now, because of the ball, it started bleeding again.

Nevertheles, Nora tried to keep walking even though it hurt. She limped away, trying not to show how embarrassed and hurt she was. But Sally’s close friend didn’t care. She laughed loudly, mocking Nora without any kindness.

On the other hand, Benjamin just stood there as he watched everything. For some reason, he felt a strange pain in his heart. He remembered that Nora wasn’t always like this. She used to be confident and strong.

But then he reminded himself that she had made a mistake. And, people who made mistakes had to face consequences.

When Nora finally got home, her parents saw the red and swollen marks on her face. They looked surprised, but they didn’t ask her any questions. They didn’t ask if she was okay. They didn’t comfort her. Instead, they just stayed quiet.

Later that night, Nora opened her diary. She sat at her desk for a long time, thinking. Finally, she picked up her pen and wrote something simple about Benjamin.

[Benjamin Hunt was my classmate from high school, but we’re not that close anymore.]

Nora knew it wasn’t the truth, but she didn’t want to write anything more. She was tired of everything.

The next morning, something unexpected happened.

Nora received a phone call from Sebastian Hunt, Benjamin’s powerful uncle, for the first time after what happened in the golf course.

“I heard what happened at the golf course,” he said calmly.

“I’ve already punished Benjamin. Our lawyer will visit your house later today to give you some property as compensation.”

Nora was surprised since no one had protected her like this in a long time.

“I’ve been too busy lately,” Sebastian continued.

“I haven’t had time to look after you. I’m sorry. I’ll bring Benjamin to apologize to you in person in a few days.”

Nora didn’t know how to respond. She felt flattered and awkward at the same time.

After a few more words, Sebastian added kindly, “There’s no need for us to act like strangers.”

Not long after that, he hung up.

Later that morning, a lawyer came to the Riley Family’s house.

The lawyer brought a very thick folder full of legal documents. He explained that these were for transferring property to Nora’s name. One of the properties was the golf course where the incident had happened.

Nora stared at the documents in shock. Was this what Sebastian had meant by ‘some property’? She thought Sebastian was only trying to be polite. She never imagined he would really try to give her something so big. Now, she realized Sebastian really was someone worth hundreds of billions.

“I can’t accept this,” Nora said quickly, her voice full of confusion.

The lawyer looked slightly uncomfortable.

After thinking for a moment, he handed her a business card and said, “Miss Riley, this is my contact information. If you change your mind later, we can transfer everything to your name at any time.” Nora took the card and quietly walked the lawyer to the door.

Just a few minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Riley came home in a hurry. Their faces were full of anger and panic.

“Nora!” her father shouted.

“What happened between you and Benjamin?! Do you know that he was punished by the Hunt Family last night? He had to kneel all night as punishment! Now he’s under house arrest!”

“Really?”

Nora said softly. She didn’t smile, but deep inside she thought to herself, ‘That’s good. I also walked alone all night in the cold rain.’

But she didn’t say it out loud. Even though Benjamin had been punished and her parents were now so angry about it, Nora didn’t feel happy at all. She just felt empty and bitter.

Her younger sister, Sally, quickly came to Benjamin’s defense.

“Nora,” Sally said as she shed tears.

“I heard Benjamin was punished very badly. You’ve always liked him so much. You wouldn’t want him to suffer like this, right? Please, go to the Hunt Family and ask his uncle to forgive him. Do it for Benjamin.”

Mr. Riley added, “This whole thing started because of you. I don’t care what exactly happened at the golf course. Young people fight sometimes, but now Benjamin’s family is angry. You need to go there and apologize.”

Nora’s heart felt like it was breaking all over again.

She looked at her father and said, “You’re blaming me without even asking what happened?”

However, Mr. Riley frowned and said, “Benjamin’s wealth was taken away. That’s serious. You must come with me to the Hunt Family and ask for forgiveness.”

After that, it suddenly became clear to Nora.

The property the lawyer had brought to her was all under Benjamin’s name. But now, because he was punished, it was being taken away and given to her. She thought about Sebastian’s words. He had said he would bring Benjamin to apologize.

But now her own father was asking her to go beg for Benjamin’s forgiveness. It was unbelievable. She couldn’t help but feel that the whole thing was ridiculous.

“Dad,” she said clearly, looking into his eyes.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I won’t beg for him.”

Her father’s face turned red with anger.

“I’m doing this for your own good!” he shouted.

“Benjamin is your future husband! Why are you being so stubborn? It’s not good for you to fight with him like this!”

Nora suddenly felt tears filling her eyes. She couldn’t understand her father anymore. He said he loved her, but this didn’t feel like love. If he really cared about her, why didn’t he stand by her side?

With a voice filled with sorrow, she said, “Dad, he’s not my future husband.”

Her father didn’t take her words seriously. He thought she was just being emotional. But Sally looked at him with hopeful eyes. After a moment, Mr. Riley let out a long sigh and rubbed his aching forehead.

“If you’re going to be like this, then fine,” he said.

“Sally will take your place in the marriage. She and Benjamin already like each other anyway.”

The next moment felt like time had frozen. Nora couldn’t breathe. She watched as her father, right in front of her, gave the wedding ring that was supposed to be hers to Sally. Sally smiled sweetly and said softly, “Nora, don’t be sad. You and Benjamin were never meant to be happy together.”

Nora slowly wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her heart felt like it had completely shattered. She didn’t say another word. She just picked up her phone and called the lawyer.

“Mr. Capello?” she said with a quiet but steady voice.

“I’ve changed my mind. I want the property.”

Three days later, it was Sally’s birthday.

Mr. Riley was determined to restore Sally’s reputation and had planned a grand birthday party on a luxurious cruise ship just for her. Sally wore a pure white haute couture dress and a small tiara on her head, radiating elegance with every movement, like a spoiled little princess.

Meanwhile, Nora was standing quietly by her side. She felt more like a maid than a daughter.

The hall was full of guests, toasts and laughter, with the atmosphere at its peak. That was when Mr. Riley made his announcement. Sally and Benjamin were officially engaged. Nora, who was uninterested with the news, stepped out onto the deck to enjoy the cool sea breeze.

The birthday girl, who had been surrounded by everyone inside, came out to find Nora.

“Nora,” she called for the first time.

Her voice was cold as she continued, “You’re such an eyesore. Why don’t you stay asleep? That way, I’ll always be the legitimate daughter of the Riley Family.”

Sally’s face twisted with jealousy, a feeling that didn’t match her flawless makeup.

“Mom and Dad don’t love you. Benjamin doesn’t love you. They’re all mine. You have nothing nos, so why are you still in the Riley Family, getting in my way?”

Sally’s words were sharp and she spoke with a controlled bitterness. Nora was left speechless. She had lost everything she once cared about and in that moment, she couldn’t find the words to defend herself.

Without warning, Sally suddenly stepped closer. Before Nora could react, Sally already pushed her off the side of the cruise ship. For a moment, Nora felt weightless. And then her mouth and nose were filled with cold, salty sea water.

The instant she touched the water, she felt the temperature leave her body. She choked, desperately struggling to stay afloat.

“Oh no, Nora jumped into the sea!” Sally’s panicked voice reached Nora’s ears, followed by the sound of footsteps and frantic conversation.

Mr. and Mrs. Riley rushed to the railing, calling out for a lifeguard to jump into the sea and save her.

“This is crazy, Nora! On such an important occasion … ” Sally’s voice trembled with worry, but it was clear she wasn’t concerned about Nora.

In a moment of “inspiration,” she turned to Mr. and Mrs. Riley and said, “Dad, Mom, why don’t you take this opportunity to teach Nora a lesson? After all, she can swim. Why not just wait for the lifeguard to save her later?”

Mr. and Mrs. Riley hesitated. Instead of calling for help, they paused and simply watched as Nora struggled in the sea. From Nora’s perspective, it was clear they had stopped the lifeguard from coming to her aid.

The waves crashed over her again and again, making it harder to breathe. Her strength was running out. Every time the waves hit her, she swam with the last bit of her willpower. But her body was failing her.

Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Riley remained indifferent, watching from the ship. Nora felt herself slipping into despair, with the water surrounding her like an endless abyss. Her eyelids grew heavy and dry and she could no longer fight against the darkness closing in on her.

The waves carried her away and just as she felt she would be swallowed whole, strong arms suddenly lifted her out of the water. Nora gasped for air, using the last of her strength to open her eyes. Standing before her was a man she had only seen in reports before … Sebastian.

When she woke up again, the sharp scent of disinfectant replaced the salty sting of the sea. Nora was in a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV drip. On the bedside drawer was a bottle of pills prescribed by a psychiatrist, meant to erase her memories.

Nora lay in silence for a moment, then called Mrs. Burnett to bring her diary and pen. She wrote the last sentence she would remember.

[My parents don’t really love me.]

Afterward, she took the pill with a sense of finality.

‘Goodbye, Benjamin.’

‘Goodbye, Dad and Mom.’

At the Hunt Family’s mansion, Benjamin had been kneeling for three days and three nights. When he finally stood up and walked out of the room, he learned from the butler that Nora had jumped into the sea. Benjamin frowned, his face full of contempt.

"Nora was so unreasonable that she jumped into the sea just to ruin Sally's birthday party," he said.

"Is she dead yet?"

The butler looked terrified when he heard it, responding quickly, "Sir, please be careful with your words. Fortunately, the rescue was quick. Miss Riley is now in the hospital and is fine."

Benjamin snorted coldly. He knew Nora better than anyone else. She could swim. She probably called 911 for help before jumping.

The butler hesitated, unsure whether he should mention that Sebastian had rescued Nora. Just then, a servant entered, asking the butler to help arrange the preparations for the marriage. At that moment, Benjamin didn't know about Sally's sudden announcement that she wanted to marry him.

He thought the preparations were for Nora instead.

"How shameless! Is she so eager to marry into the Hunt Family and marry me?"

Benjamin's face darkened, his eyes full of disdain. He snatched the flower decorations from the servant's hands and ordered them to stop making arrangements. After that, he stormed off to the hospital to confront Nora.

Unfortunately, The butler didn’t have a chance to tell Benjamin the truth. The servants could only exchange glances, but they decided to ignore Benjamin’s orders and continue making preparations for the mansion, as Sebastian had instructed.

When Benjamin arrived at the hospital, the entire floor had been booked and the Hunt Family’s bodyguards surrounded the hallways and ward doors. His face grew even more serious. Nora hadn’t married him yet, so why was she using other people's power like this?

As soon as Benjamin stepped out of the elevator, the bodyguards stopped him.

"Look at me! Don’t you know who I am?" Benjamin angrily shouted.

The bodyguards replied calmly, "Sorry, Sir. Except for the medical staff and the head of the family, anyone entering or leaving Miss Riley's ward must confirm with her first. Even you. Also, please speak softly. Miss Riley needs to rest and no loud noises are allowed."

One bodyguard winked at another, who quickly walked to the luxurious ward and knocked on the door. Benjamin was furious and sneered. So, his fiancée, who wasn’t even married to him yet, was already acting more arrogant than him?

No wonder Sally had said that Nora was always hurting her in the Riley Family.

Inside the ward, Nora was eating grapes that Sebastian had peeled for her.

Since she woke up from a long night of unconsciousness, this cool gentleman had been by her side. His name was Sebastian Hunt, the fiancé she had written about in her diary. His bony hands carefully offered her the peeled grapes one by one. Nora blushed slightly and took the grapes from him shyly.

In the meantime, Nora had also learned about her situation from the psychiatrist. Everything felt strange to her now, but the man before her, the one who was supposed to be her fiancé, made her feel a sense of comfort she couldn’t explain.

And then the bodyguard knocked gently on the door.

"Miss Riley, Mr. Benjamin Hunt is outside and wants to see you. What should we do?"

Nora snapped out of her thoughts. She remembered that when she was younger, she used to go to school with Benjamin. The diary also mentioned that their relationship was now distant. She thought it was just a friendly visit.

"Let him in," Nora said even though she was unsure what to expect.

Benjamin entered the room. His face looked grim as if he had come to settle a score. When he saw Sebastian sitting next to the bed, looking gentle, he was taken aback. A strange displeasure rose in him, but he suppressed it and greeted Sebastian.

Nora waited for Benjamin to say something, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t even bring a fruit basket.

Finally, she couldn’t help but ask, “What do you want?”

Before she could get an answer, Benjamin threw the flower decorations he had been holding at Nora like a lit firecracker. Just before the bouquet hit Nora’s face, a pair of strong hands caught it, stopping it midair. Sebastian’s expression darkened after what Benjamin did, looking coldly at Benjamin.

The tension in the room was palpable and Benjamin’s anger, which had been about to explode, was suddenly extinguished.

"Uncle, are you really going to side with Nora just because she’s my fiancée?" Benjamin asked, sneering.

"Nora is just a … "

"Shut up," Sebastian interrupted, his voice as cold as ice.

The room fell silent, but Nora looked confused.

"Who said I was your fiancée?" she asked.

Benjamin snorted.

"Nora, what kind of tricks are you playing now? Trying to act innocent in front of my uncle?"

Sebastian’s voice turned icy as he responded, "Nora is my fiancée. She will be your future aunt. Why don’t you greet her properly?"