Ep2

Ryan did not blame her for making him lose face. With a cigarette between his lips, he slowly followed after her.

Only lively chatter remained in the room.

“Who is that…?”

“Don’t you know?

His young lover.”

“Well, figures. With Ryan's wealth now, how could he possibly stay only with Thenia?”

“The white rose has turned into plain rice!”

“Oh, come on, it’s actually not a big deal.

If it were me, as long as he gave me money after marriage, that’d be enough. I wouldn’t pursue it.”

I stood frozen outside the door, feeling the blood in my body gradually turn cold along with their mocking voices.

I quickly turned around, but bumped into the waiter who was bringing the wine, stumbled a little, and then twisted my ankle.

Looking a little awkward, I limped out.

The night wind swept in from all directions, like wild beasts revealing their sharp, cold teeth, tearing at my bare skin.

The cold and the pain made me a little more alert, and I suddenly noticed the dull ache in my chest.

Is having money enough...?

But I've been by his side since he was at his poorest.

When we first met, I was a sweet, weak girl cornered by a gang of thugs.

And he was a rebellious and unruly student who happened to be passing by.

Normally he lives a quiet and aloof life, and I didn't dare hope for anything when I asked for his help, but he fought a bloody battle for me.

From then on, I became his little shadow, stepping into his dark and decaying world.

After his mother passed away, his stepfather fell into gambling and alcoholism.

He might treat his own children well, but with Ryan, his "stepchild," he constantly beat and verbally abused him.

Even when he was burdened with a huge debt, the man forced Ryan, with his strong, well-built body, to fight in underground matches to make money.

Because of that, he always came to school covered in wounds.

The first time I saw the horrific injuries on his body, I pounded my chest and swore:

“Thenia will love you and protect you.”

The first thing I did for him was help him escape from his brutal stepfather.

I contacted my uncle, who already had some reputation in the legal field at the time. He patiently gathered evidence bit by bit and helped Ryan file a lawsuit against him.

Back then, he always tried to hide those shameful wounds. Each time, he would coldly say:

“So?

Is this miserable enough?

You shouldn’t come near me…”

“If I don’t come near you, how can I get you out?”

I smiled and asked in return, placing the small white cotton hat on his head, my warm hands covering his ice-cold ears.

"Ryan, it's getting too cold."

"I'll take you out to sunbathe."

Ryan seemed accustomed to standing alone in the dark, cold rain, his face turning pale.

At seventeen, Thenia wished to take Ryan to a place brightly lit with lanterns, a place where spring was warm and flowers bloomed profusely.

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