Love on the Rocks

My engagement to Marcus Ashford was, at its core, a merger of two family empires. He had a long-time lover, a crimson rose buried deep in his heart, while I—well, falling in and out of love was my default setting. The moment I heard his beloved was gravely ill, I was the first in line to get my bone marrow tested and blood type checked.

Oh, the irony. The tale of the lovesick fool digging for wild greens was still on loop on my phone, but in a high-society story like this, survival was the only thing that mattered.

01.

Marcus Ashford had a first love named Celeste Song, who was battling leukemia. The first time I laid eyes on her was at our engagement banquet. That day, Marcus dropped to his knees in front of the entire hall, demanding to break off the engagement with the Wang family's daughter.

Unfortunately for him, I was that daughter.

The scene sent his parents into a fury. I stepped in to calm them down, even handing Celeste a cup of tea. I knelt beside Marcus, pleading with Celeste to let us be, swearing I was madly, hopelessly in love with him and begging her not to tear us apart. That little act won me the favor of the Ashford elders.

Afterward, Marcus grabbed my chin, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Mia, your devotion to me is truly touching. So desperate to marry me?"

I shook my head, utterly unfazed. "Honestly, my dad's project is short on funds right now. Besides, the Wangs and Ashfords have been allies for generations. Marrying me benefits both our family businesses."

Marcus: "..."

Seeing his disbelief, I pulled out a phone and shoved it into his hand. "I know your dad won't let you contact her. Use this to reach her. I've set her up in a mountain villa at Lakeside Cove. You can visit her there."

Marcus: "..."

From that day on, Marcus and I lived like strangers playing house. I'd occasionally accompany him to galas or charity events, but most of the time, he was at that mountain villa with Celeste.

The night I found out Celeste had leukemia, I rushed to get tested. Only after confirming our bone marrow didn't match did I breathe a sigh of relief. That villa was my private property—the Ashfords couldn't trace it. I made sure she had the best medical care to recover in peace.

But Celeste had a fiery temper. She'd throw things every other day. Whenever Marcus got fed up with her, he'd come back and take it out on me. His reasoning was simple:

If I'm miserable, you're miserable too.

But this time, he picked the wrong moment. Ryan Qi was in my bed.

When Marcus stormed in, Ryan was drying his hair with a towel, a bathrobe wrapped around his waist, revealing a chiseled six-pack. The two men stared at each other for a long moment before Ryan smirked.

"Hey, sis, I'm already half undressed here, and you—"

I leaned against the wall, turning away, at a loss for words. I sneaked a glance at Marcus's face. It was black as thunder, the veins on his forehead visibly pulsing. He pressed his index finger to his temple.

"Mia, you're quite the player."

Marcus gritted his teeth, his voice laced with venom. I gave an awkward laugh. "No, no, he's the AC repair guy."

I suddenly remembered I *had* called a repairman. I quickly pulled up the WeChat record to show Marcus. His expression softened slightly, but it was still grim. Ryan, meanwhile, looked at me with a knowing half-smile.

I couldn't care less about his feelings at that moment. I just wanted to get Marcus out of here before he ruined the Wang-Ashford partnership.

Just as I was panicking, the doorbell rang like a godsend. I sprinted to the door and opened it. The man outside grinned, holding up his tools. "AC repair."

His smile was innocent, completely unaware of my despair.

Marcus barked, "Enough."

He pulled out a wad of cash and threw it at Ryan's chest. "Take the money and get lost."

Ryan jingled the bills, flashing me a grin that showed his sharp little canines, though his eyes were cold. "Sis, call me again if you have more fun like this."

02.

It had started raining outside. Marcus walked to the car under his umbrella, leaving me to scramble into the backseat, soaked. As soon as I got in, a towel hit me in the face. I looked up at Marcus, who frowned and told me to dry off so I wouldn't mess up his car.

I nodded and started drying my hair. Even with the windows up, I shivered and sneezed. Marcus turned up the heat. "Grandma wants us to have dinner at the Ashford estate tonight."

I hummed in acknowledgment.

After a pause, he added, "Change your clothes before you show up. Don't let Grandma think I'm mistreating you."

I hummed again, still drying my hair.

Marcus seemed bothered by the awkward silence. "Don't you ever want to win your husband's heart and secure your place as Mrs. Ashford?"

He paused, then added, "Not that I'm telling you to compete with Celeste. I'm just saying, if you have any ideas, drop them now."

I stopped drying my hair and looked at him earnestly. "Marcus, relax. I have zero intentions of falling for you. I just want a quiet life."

"There's a video on my Douyin about a lovesick fool digging for wild greens. I've already learned my lesson." I raised three fingers to swear, just in case he didn't believe me.

Marcus hummed again. Suddenly, he swerved and slammed on the brakes, hitting the steering wheel with both hands and cursing under his breath.

I could tell he was in a bad mood today. Sure enough, he got out, yanked me from the backseat, and said, "Walk home."

I froze. "Why?"

In the rain, Marcus smirked coldly. "So Grandma will feel sorry for you. Mia, aren't you the best at playing the victim?"

His black sports car disappeared into the rain. I sighed in exasperation and opened the Didi app.

Half an hour later, I arrived at the Ashford estate, already changed into dry clothes. Grandma Ashford was waiting at the head of the table. Marcus gave me a slight nod of approval, and I smiled back. He leisurely put a piece of beef in his mouth, then handed me a glass of warm soy milk. "Here, Mia, warm yourself up."

Grandma chuckled. "Look at him, taking care of his wife."

I forced a smile as I took the soy milk, listening to Marcus whisper, "How'd you get here?"

"Didi."

Grandma peeled a mango and put it on my plate, beaming. "Mia, you're so thin. Have some fruit."

Before I could refuse, Marcus took the mango. "Grandma, Mia's allergic to mangoes."

Grandma's face flickered with awkwardness. I didn't mind, though. She'd never liked me much anyway. Then she seemed to remember something and patted Marcus's hand. "You better treat her well. Don't forget how she took care of you when you were sick."

I choked on my drink.

Marcus paused mid-cut, giving me an unreadable look. Feeling oddly guilty, I looked down and avoided his eyes.

Grandma was talking about three years ago. Back then, Marcus had been cut off financially by the Ashfords for chasing after Celeste, and he'd fallen seriously ill, needing a huge sum for treatment. My business had just taken off, and I'd made a lot of money.

Later, I found out it was all a setup. Grandma swore I was the kind of person who'd stick by him through thick and thin, while Celeste was just after the Ashford fortune. Even after Marcus recovered, Grandma kept telling everyone how devoted I'd been during his illness.

Except she had the wrong person.

It wasn't me who'd stayed by Marcus's bedside day and night—it was Celeste. She'd even come to me for money when the hospital bills piled up. What had I said back then?

Right, I'd pushed her away. "If Marcus really loved me, he wouldn't have gotten such an expensive illness right when my career was taking off."

Marcus, lying in his hospital bed, had coughed up blood at that.

But for some reason, Marcus never exposed me to Grandma. Instead, he let her believe I was the one. Even now, I felt guilty, so I just kept piling food onto Grandma's plate, telling her to eat more.

Marcus finished the last piece of beef, grabbed his jacket from the chair, and stood up. "Grandma, I'm heading to the office."

Grandma frowned in disapproval. "You can't just bury yourself in work. Spend more time with Mia."

No, thanks.

Marcus gave me a bland look, picked up his car keys, and left. I went back to my congee.

Halfway through, someone nudged my arm. I looked up to see Grandma's excited face. She shoved a thermos into my hands. "Don't be so passive. There are plenty of vixens out there waiting to snatch him." She patted my hand. "Take this congee to Marcus. He barely ate. Wait for him to finish work, and you two can come home together."

I paused, unable to come up with an excuse. I reluctantly agreed. I'd just drop off the congee and be done with it. Whether Marcus drank it was his problem. To keep the driver from tattling to Grandma, I decided to take a cab.

But as soon as I stepped out of the Ashford estate, a cloth was pressed over my nose and mouth. Right before I blacked out, only one thought crossed my mind:

How cliché.

03.

When the hood was pulled off, I found myself tied to a chair in a rundown warehouse, the floor stained with rusty water. My eyes struggled to adjust to the harsh light. A knife was pressed against my neck.

"You're Marcus Ashford's wife?"

I shook my head, then nodded. "I'm his wife, but he doesn't love me. He won't pay a ransom for me. You've got the wrong person. Marcus has a first love named Celeste Song. She's the one he cares about. She lives in a mountain villa at Lakeside Cove. Kidnap her, and Marcus will pay up."

Maybe I'd spilled too much info too fast, because the two kidnappers just stared at each other in silence.

Honestly, I didn't want to drag Celeste into this. But knowing Marcus, if he found out I'd been kidnapped, he'd probably wish I was dead so Celeste could take my place. He definitely wouldn't save me. But if Celeste was here too, that changed things.

A day and a half later, Celeste was brought in with a hood over her head. She was wearing a white dress, her wrists raw from struggling against the rope. I put on my best innocent face. "Celeste, how did you end up here?"

Celeste shot me a look of contempt, then struggled against her ropes again, biting her lip in defiance.

I'd wanted to clear myself of suspicion, and it seemed to be working. I hadn't expected the kidnappers to chime in.

"Didn't you tell us to bring her here?"

I: "..."

I turned to Celeste, who was staring at me in shock. After a long moment, she spat, "You venomous woman."

The kidnappers tied us together and shoved a phone at Celeste. "Call your man."

Celeste turned her head away, fearless.

The kidnapper got angry, slapping her face with the flat of his knife. "Tough girl, huh? Let's see if you're tougher than this blade. Dongzi, take them—"

"Wait." I finally spat out the rag in my mouth. "I'll call him."

The phone was handed to me. I dialed Marcus's number. His low, lazy voice answered, "What?"

I cleared my throat and started crying, telling him I'd been kidnapped and begging him to pay the ransom.

After a long pause, Marcus said flatly, "Oh."

I kicked Celeste. She yelped, and suddenly Marcus was interested. "Where are you? Is Celeste there too?"

Before I could answer, the phone was snatched away. The lead kidnapper grinned slyly. "If you want your woman alive, bring eight million to Seaside Pier by noon tomorrow. If you call the cops—"

He was cut off. "How about four million? I'll only save one."

Listen to him. Was that even human?

Even the kidnapper seemed disgusted. He just snapped, "No eight million, pick up the bodies," and hung up.

04.

The next day, Celeste and I were tied to a rock by the shore, waves crashing below. I was terrified these idiots would pull some "save only one" stunt. I had no doubt Marcus would ditch me without a second thought.

Luckily, they didn't. Marcus threw the money over and let us go. Celeste ran into his arms as I made my way to the other side. A swarm of cops rushed in and tackled the kidnappers.

Marcus glanced at me, holding Celeste and comforting her. But I felt his gaze linger on me. Just as I was about to slip away, Celeste grabbed my wrist. "Mia, where do you think you're going?"

Her grip was painful. I looked up to see her frantically patting Marcus and pointing at me. "Marcus, Mia set this up. If you don't believe me—" Her eyes darted around before landing on the kidnappers. "Ask them."

I looked up to meet Marcus's probing gaze. He stared at me for a long time before finally speaking. "Mia, you'd better hope this has nothing to do with you."

Celeste wasn't happy with his reaction. She wanted him to punish me, but he didn't budge. Instead, she coughed up blood. Marcus scooped her up, called for the driver, and headed to the hospital. As he got in the car, he turned and told me to come along.

I dragged my feet and got in, sitting stiffly in the passenger seat. "You didn't need to call me. Our blood types don't match."

Marcus clicked his tongue against his cheek, then gritted his teeth. "Mia, what goes on in that head of yours? I'm telling you to get checked out too, so Grandma doesn't come after me if you're hurt."

Oh. So he wasn't asking me to donate blood to Celeste?

Guess not all romance novels are accurate. Some CEOs are actually human.

05.

I didn't expect to run into Ryan Qi at the hospital. He was slouched in a gray hoodie, hands in his pockets, lazily playing on his phone. I patted his shoulder. He looked up, frowning, then broke into a grin when he saw me. "Hey, sis, what are you doing here?"

The tall guy practically pounced on me, making me wobble. "A friend's hospitalized. I'm visiting."

"Oh." Ryan nodded knowingly. "You mean that guy from the other day? He's got some serious issues."

I laughed.

Ryan suddenly leaned in, his lips near my ear. "Don't move."

I froze. He plucked a tiny leaf from my hair and smiled brightly. "All good, sis."

I laughed and ruffled his hair, then turned to see Marcus's grim face.

Before Marcus could say anything, Ryan stepped in front of me like a protective cub. "What do you want?"

Marcus sneered at him, ignoring the question. He strode over to me and shoved a carton of warm milk into my hands. "Here. Celeste didn't want it."

I raised an eyebrow, took the milk, and sipped it. Ryan still stood in front of me like a shield, but Marcus didn't even glance at him as he left. He just said he had work and told me to wait for the driver, not to run off and cause him trouble.

Marcus was always like that. He hated anyone being a burden.

06.

When I got home, Grandma Ashford was waiting in the living room. Seeing me, she tapped her cane and gestured to the seat beside her. I obediently sat down. She looked me over, making sure I wasn't hurt, then started scolding me. "Did you hide Celeste at Lakeside Cove? You foolish girl. If you have a problem, come to me. Why do you have to suffer in silence?"

I kept my head down, looking meek and obedient.

Finally, she sighed in frustration. "I've already kicked her out. Since the villa is yours, take it back."

I was stunned. I hadn't expected her to be so ruthless. She patted my hand. "Don't worry. I'll handle Marcus."

Yeah, right. No one could handle Marcus.

I felt a headache coming on. I didn't want to confront him, but I had to explain. The more I thought about it, the more my head throbbed. I excused myself to rest.

Sure enough, as soon as I got to my room, Marcus called. His voice was low and hoarse, sending a shiver down my spine. "You took back the Lakeside Cove house?"

"It was Grandma—"

He hummed. "I know. Get some rest."

I stared at the phone long after he hung up. Since when did Marcus become so reasonable?

07.

I kept a little lamb in the Ashford estate's backyard. I named it Marcus. I'd often poke its nose and ask, "Marcus, what kind of thing are you?"

It couldn't answer. It just went, "Baa."

I never expected my lamb to offend Celeste.

08.

Marcus came to confront me while I was eating. He threw a white dress onto the chair, glaring at my half-eaten sweet potato. "Baijiu with sweet potato... You're still eating? Don't you care about your lamb?"

Confused, I said, "My lamb already ate."

Marcus was momentarily speechless. He pressed his fingers to his temple. "Your lamb bit through Celeste's white dress. I gave her that dress."

Now I was getting angry. I'd had a bit to drink, and liquid courage was kicking in. I rolled up my sleeves and started arguing. "Call Celeste over here. How dare she feed my lamb a dress? My Marcus is so cute. How could she do that?"

The tables turned. Instead of Marcus yelling at me, I was yelling at him to bring Celeste over. Apparently, I was carried back to my room bridal style. Vaguely, I remember someone asking, "What did you say the lamb's name was?"

"Marcus," I said, laughing happily.

But the person's face darkened. He scoffed. "What is it that deserves the name Marcus?"

I earnestly waved my hand. "It's not a thing, just like Marcus."

Maybe I'd had too much to drink, but I swore I saw Marcus's face in front of me, gritting his teeth and saying I'd gotten bold.

09.

The next morning, sober and cowardly, I went to apologize to Marcus. The Wang family wasn't as powerful as the Ashfords, and I lived in constant fear of hearing Marcus say, "It's getting cold. Let the Wangs go bankrupt." Besides, my lamb had been in the wrong.

I sewed the dress back together and handed it to Marcus. He picked it up, laughed, and said, "Where'd you find this rag?"

I was annoyed. "This is Celeste's dress. I spent ages fixing it. It's not a rag."

Only then did Marcus close his laptop and seriously examine my clumsy stitching. "It's well-sewn. Don't do it again."

I snatched the dress back, furious. "Fine, don't wear it. And why did you bring Celeste here? What if Grandma finds out?"

Marcus took a sip of coffee. "Relax. I'm just picking up something for her. Grandma won't know." He paused, then added, "Unless you tell her."

I mumbled, "Oh. Are you staying at the estate tonight?"

Marcus stopped typing and gave me a knowing smile. "When have I not stayed at the estate?"

That hit me like a thunderbolt. "How would I know?"

Marcus ruffled my hair. "You sleep like a log. How would you know anything?"

10.

Grandma went to Florence for a trip. The night she left, I brought Ryan home. But I didn't expect Marcus to bring Celeste too. So the four of us ended up in the living room, staring at each other in awkward silence.

"How about... poker?"

I pulled out a deck of cards.

11.

Honestly, the poker was a front. Bringing Ryan home wasn't my idea either—Marcus had suggested it. I didn't know what he was plotting. All I knew was that my lamb had caused trouble again. Last time, it chewed Celeste's dress. This time, it knocked her over, and she coughed up blood.

Panicked, I stood helplessly as Marcus carried Celeste away. Before he left, he gave me a long, hard look.

Ryan stepped forward, ruffled my hair, and told me not to worry. He even pulled out a pretty collar and put it on my lamb. "Beautiful. Just like Mia."

I felt like crying. Instead, I crouched down and hugged my lamb and Ryan tightly. Between sobs, I looked up at him. "Ryan, if I could grant you one wish, what would it be?"

Ryan shrugged. "I don't want anything. But if I had to pick... help me find a job."

My heart sank. Marcus had said the same thing when he told me to bring Ryan home. "Ask Ryan if he wants anything—like a job. Especially at Ashford Group."

I felt like I'd walked into a trap. Then Ryan added, "Ashford Group sounds good."

12.

When Ryan and I rushed to the living room, Marcus was tending to Celeste's scraped palm. Seeing me, Celeste buried herself in Marcus's arms, crying. Marcus's face was dark. "You've raised quite the beast."

The servants were watching like it was a show. Even the doctor looked up. I felt humiliated, standing there like a child being scolded. "The lamb is usually gentle. I don't know why it hurt Celeste... And it doesn't have thoughts, so it doesn't know—"

Marcus cut me off. "The beast has no thoughts, but does the owner?"

Snickers came from the servants. I felt like I was being publicly executed. Ryan rubbed his nose, opening his mouth but saying nothing.

"It's just a lamb. It doesn't have thoughts. If someone didn't get in its way, how could it hurt anyone?" The doctor, Julian Chase, was packing up his medical kit, smirking. "Mr. Ashford, you're overreacting. Anyone would think the lady in your arms is the real Mrs. Ashford."

I recognized Dr. Chase. He'd just returned from abroad and was highly skilled. I hadn't expected Marcus to call him just for a scraped palm—or for him to defend me.

Marcus was clearly irritated. His grip on Celeste's hand tightened unconsciously, and she winced. "Dr. Chase, you sure know how to mind other people's business."

Julian smiled, his eyes indifferent, like he was humoring a child. "I really couldn't care less."

With that, he picked up his kit and left. Passing the table, he grabbed the bottle of baijiu and shook it, looking at me. "Mistakes come with consequences. This baijiu is bad for you. Confiscated."

13.

After Julian left, I suddenly felt a wave of委屈. "Marcus, after all these years of marriage, do you even see me as your wife?"

Marcus raised an eyebrow, his smile mocking. "What, playing the emotional card now?"

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. This was a business marriage. I shouldn't expect anything from him. "The garden has cameras. Check them."

Celeste's face went pale. Marcus's expression turned cold. "You think I'd suspect Celeste?"

He wouldn't check the cameras. Doing so would be an insult to Celeste, showing he didn't trust her. He'd rather blame me, blindly and unfairly.

I smiled and flipped him off. "Six."

Then I turned and went upstairs. On the stairs, I remembered Ryan's job. "Oh, Ryan starts at Ashford Group tomorrow."

Ryan's face lit up. Marcus, meanwhile, was lazily playing with Celeste's hair, his face dark as he stared at me. If he didn't like Ryan, fine. I'd make sure Marcus saw him every day. I, Mia Wang, was an expert at being petty.

Back in my room, I changed and climbed out the second-floor window, heading to a bar to party. But at the Ashford estate's gate, I ran into Julian again. He was leaning against his car in his white coat, drinking water. When he saw me, he smiled, his eyes crinkling.

I was shivering in a crop top and a miniskirt. I just waved at him and turned to leave, but he stopped me. Julian screwed the cap back on his water bottle and pointed at my clothes. "If girls don't keep warm, they'll get cramps during their periods."

Then I felt warmth envelop me. Julian draped his white coat over my shoulders, tightening it, and handed me his water bottle. "Here, warm your hands."

I held the bottle, unsure. I didn't understand why he was being so kind to me. People get emotional when they're sick, and I was no exception. I sneezed, wiped my nose with his coat, and looked at him innocently. "Dr. Chase, you don't mind, do you?"

I, Mia Wang, was a despicable person—cowardly, selfish, and a crybaby. Julian would find out sooner or later, so better sooner, so he wouldn't waste his kindness on me. Marcus liked Celeste because of her defiant spirit. She dared to throw things at him, while I never had the guts to fight back.

Julian just chuckled softly, pulled out a tissue, and wiped my nose. His fingers were cool, brushing against my cheek, sending a tingle through me. "Dress warmer next time. Don't catch a cold. Get in. I'll drive you. It's on my way."

"But I haven't told you where I'm going."

Julian had already opened the car door, smiling. "I've got nothing to do. Anywhere is on my way."

14.

I said I wanted to go to a club. Julian refused. He turned on the heater and rolled up the windows. "I saw you barely touched your sweet potato. You must be hungry. Let me take you to eat. Guess what we're having?"

My eyes lit up at the mention of food. "King crab."

"Alright, king crab it is."

15.

I used to like Marcus.

The first time I got my period, I thought I was dying. Blood stained my white dress. Marcus took off his jacket and wrapped it around me. His face was red as he handed me a pad. "Here. I just bought it at the store. Don't wear white dresses anymore. They don't suit you."

After that, I never wore white again. But he fell in love with Celeste, who always wore white.

I got the lamb after I realized I liked Marcus. I named it after him. But now, I was ready to get rid of it because I didn't like Marcus anymore. Or maybe I never really did. Falling in and out of love was my specialty.

Besides, Julian was better than Marcus in every way.

As I was sharpening my knife to slaughter the lamb, my phone buzzed. It was Julian asking what I was doing. I sent him a picture of the lamb and told him I was planning a hotpot dinner.

"Why eat it?"

"Because after three years, it hasn't laid a single egg."

Julian sent a laughing emoji, then video-called me, suggesting I keep it. On screen, Julian smiled gently, and I was drowning in pink bubbles. I didn't care about the lamb anymore. I cooed, "Brother, can you name our baby lamb?"

Julian's smile deepened. His hair fell softly over his forehead, his eyes sparkling. I was lost in his beauty and blurted out, "How about 'Chase'? Like you."

Julian pretended to pout, backlit, his pale skin flawless. He tapped the screen. "Idiot. Boop."

Oh my god, he was killing me.

16.

We settled on "Cheese" as the lamb's name, a play on "Chase." Julian and I grew closer by the day.

On National Day, Julian texted me to come downstairs. I opened the window to see him holding a bouquet of roses. I ran down, and he caught me in a hug, spinning me around.

I held the roses, pretending to be coy. "But Dr. Chase, I have a husband."

Julian blinked, his long lashes casting shadows under his eyes. His voice was soft. "I'm just giving you flowers. No ulterior motives. Your husband won't be mad, will he?"

I pinched his cheek, soft and bouncy. "Julian, I'm in a good mood today. Let's drink baijiu."

Julian ruffled my hair, his eyes full of affection. "No baijiu. Let's go upstairs. I'll make you millet porridge."

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Marcus, telling me to come back to the estate tonight. I glanced at it and turned off the screen. Another message popped up: "I'll pick you up tonight."

I blocked him.

Julian was busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron. I sat at the table, banging my fork and knife, demanding food. Soon, he brought out a plate of crab, cracked it open, and fed me a spoonful. "Crab is cold-natured. Your stomach is weak, Mia. Eat less."

I nodded obediently and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Does it taste good?"

Julian froze, his eyes dark. After a moment, he swallowed and deepened the kiss.

17.

I texted Marcus, saying my driver would pick me up. He could either come with me or not.

That evening, I found Marcus waiting downstairs, lighting a cigarette. When he saw me, he blew out a smoke ring. "Mia, you've got guts. Blocking me."

I didn't even look at him as I got into the backseat. After a long pause, Marcus followed. He must have checked the cameras by now and realized Celeste had provoked my lamb. Knowing he was in the wrong, he handed me a diamond necklace. I picked it up, admired its quality, and tossed it aside. Marcus looked ready to explode.

"Marcus, what gave you the idea that a diamond necklace could make up for everything?"

Marcus cursed and threw his cigarette out the window. The cold air made me shiver. "I apologized. What more do you want? Celeste has leukemia. You provoked her."

I was speechless. "If she has leukemia, she should stay home and rest. How am I supposed to not provoke her? Bow down to her every time I see her? I'd probably sprout relics from the burns."

Marcus's impatience was written all over his face. "Mia, you—"

I cut him off. "You what? You want me to get out again? I've had enough of this. This is my car, Marcus. Get out!"

"Fine. You've got guts."

He slammed the door and got out. I was pleased with myself—I'd swiped his phone. It was raining hard, and Marcus couldn't get a cab. I made him walk home.

18.

Grandma was stuck in Florence due to quarantine. Probably for the best. She'd be furious if she came back.

Ryan Qi was now running Ashford Group. He'd started from the bottom and worked his way up, reviving several dying industries. Rumor had it he was Marcus's father's illegitimate son. Marcus had been ignoring the company for months, giving Ryan the opening.

By the time I found out the Ashfords were going bankrupt, Ryan had already moved into the estate. He sat with his legs crossed, smirking. "Surprised, sis?"

I paused. "Actually, no."

Ryan: "..."

"Your bug was too obvious. I noticed it right away." The collar he'd given my lamb had a listening device. He probably wanted to hear me spill company secrets. Hilarious. I was just a pretty, empty-headed heiress. My dad ran the family business. What secrets would I know?

Ryan seemed taken aback by my sharpness. After a pause, he asked, "Do you know who orchestrated the kidnapping?"

"Probably Celeste."

Ryan fell silent again. I continued, "She was too calm, like she knew the kidnappers wouldn't hurt her. She was testing whether Marcus liked me." Not that it mattered. If Marcus really liked me, I'd have known.

Ryan pulled out a card and slammed it on the table. "Sis, a million dollars or Marcus. Pick one."

Easy. I didn't even hesitate. "The million."

19.

After Marcus and I signed the divorce papers, he was kicked out of the estate. But he didn't seem in a hurry. He stood on the road, smoking. When he saw me, he smiled. "You and Julian?"

I didn't answer. He stubbed out his cigarette, his smile bitter. "Mia, you always have that indifferent look. What if I said I wanted to chase you now? Would we have a chance?"

I laughed. "Six."

Marcus didn't get mad. He walked over, took off his scarf, and wrapped it around my neck. "Mia, what if I said I just realized I like you? Would you believe me?"

I was about to flip him off again, but he grabbed my hand. He seemed to realize how ridiculous he sounded and changed the question. "If Julian and I got into a fight, who would you help?"

"Julian."

Marcus's smile turned bitter. "Didn't know he meant that much to you. What if I fought someone else?"

"Someone else."

Marcus: "..."

20.

Turns out, joy doesn't last. Before Ryan could settle into his position, Marcus took back the company. He'd known about Ryan's identity all along. He'd worked with trusted shareholders to transfer a shell company to Ryan, flushing out the traitors. Marcus was always cunning.

If only he'd stop looking at me with that sickeningly affectionate gaze.

Ryan had given me a million to leave Marcus. Now Marcus was offering me two million to stay as Mrs. Ashford. I waved him off. "I'm done."

I ran into Ryan outside Ashford Group, looking dejected. He forced a smile. "Didn't see that coming."

I didn't say anything. Ryan raised an eyebrow. "What, you predicted this too?"

I nodded honestly. "Marcus knew you were his half-brother all along. He told me to bring you in."

Ryan: "..."

21.

Marcus got drunk and texted me late at night, asking if I wanted to get back together. I quickly replied, "Where?"

"Outside your place. Come down and hug me."

I laughed. "I'll send you two bucks for a shared bike."

Julian was always gentle. When I was learning to drive, he'd calmly tell me not to rush. Unlike Marcus, who, when I didn't know how to brake during my test last year, yelled, "Yeah, yeah, run him over."

22.

Julian and I got married. We're happy.

I haven't heard from Marcus in a long time. Some say he went abroad. Some say he died. No one's seen him.

When did I truly give up on Marcus?

It was when Celeste was knocked over by my lamb. He came to my room, looking at me like I was something disgusting. "Mia, don't tell me you had your beast push Celeste just to get my attention. Pathetic. You and your beast are the same."

He called my lamb a beast.

Marcus had forgotten. Back in school, wool felting was all the rage. I'd stayed up three nights to make him a little lamb. When I gave it to him, he hung it on his bag with disgust. "This pig is ugly."

I kicked him. "It's my lamb. I want to raise a white lamb someday. We'll raise it together."

Marcus had drawled, "Oh. Then make sure it's smart enough to take care of itself and you."

Thinking about it still hurts. But I have Julian now. I'll always be loyal to his love. And I'll never forgive Marcus.

[The End]

Bonus: Marcus's Side

Mia once asked me a ridiculous question. "With me as the perfect backdrop, did you never waver in choosing to love me?"

She was always so full of herself. It left me speechless.

The truth is, I fell for Celeste because of Mia's contrast. One day, I was at an orphanage charity event, handing out supplies. I spotted Celeste standing among the children, wearing a faded white dress, smiling gently. She bent down, patted a little boy's head, and gave him a stuffed toy.

Right then, Mia's car pulled up. She jumped out, splashing mud on her little boots, and blurted out, "Damn, there's mud."

It was against the backdrop of Mia, the spoiled brat, that I fell for