Chapter 1

Valeria Neal never thought she would see Sebastian Grant again.

That day, she had taken her six-year-old daughter, Selena Neal, to the hospital for a checkup. Her daughter had a congenital heart condition and required regular checkups.

However, the moment she pushed open the door to the consultation room, she froze in place.

Sebastian was standing there, focused on the computer screen. He wore a pair of rimless glasses and had a white coat on. His features looked cool and elegant, and he radiated a noble, distant air.

Valeria felt the color drain from her face in an instant.

Selena had been coming for these heart check-ups regularly. Today, she'd booked a consultation with Shawn Gordon, the hospital specialist. However, since Shawn was away for an urgent consultation, the nurse suggested she switch to another doctor.

The nurse had said that this doctor studied overseas for his PhD, and was one of Shawn's most talented students.

Now, Valeria stood in the doorway rigidly, and her fingers gripped the door handle tightly. In a flurry, she pulled a mask over her face.

At that moment, there was only one thought in her mind, which was to take her daughter and leave.

Seven years. When did he return to the country?

Her life had been calm and uneventful, so she never imagined she'd run into Sebastian again. It felt like her entire being was shattering, and she didn't know how to react.

She instinctively clutched Selena's hand. Her palm was damp with sweat, and her back was trembling slightly from the tension.

Just then, he said in a clear voice, "Come in."

Sebastian looked up and through the door. His eyes, through his lenses, seemed faintly distant.

The instant their eyes met, Valeria felt her breathing falter.

At 28, he seemed so similar, yet so different from the memory of the 21-year-old man in the white shirt she once knew. He used to be out of everyone's league at their university, yet he had secretly dated a woman who weighed 167 pounds.

She forced herself to meet his gaze and clenched her teeth hard. Even her instinct to turn and leave with her daughter didn't stop her from freezing in place.

Sebastian's dark eyes remained calm as he lightly tapped his fingers on the desk. "Selena Neal, right? Let me take a look at the medical records."

Valeria managed to regain her composure, though she still remained pale. She reached up and felt the mask covering her face, which gave her a fragile sense of control.

He hadn't recognized her.

She was now called Valeria Neal and no longer Jane Carlson from seven years ago.

She was no longer that overweight woman. Now, at five feet seven, she weighed barely over a hundred pounds.

Selena went forward and sat in the chair, letting Sebastian listen to her heart.

As he leaned closer, Valeria glanced at him. That faint coldness he radiated was something strangely familiar yet foreign. She subconsciously pressed her hand on Selena's shoulder.

Out of the corner of her eye, her gaze fell on Sebastian's face.

He wore rimless glasses and had a refined, gentle appearance. Underneath the white coat was a high-quality white shirt.

As Sebastian listened to Selena's heart, he furrowed his brows slightly and said, "Pay more attention to her daily condition. It would be best to prepare for surgery within the next two or three years. You're aware of the cost, right?"

Sebastian's gaze drifted to Valeria's arm, which held a black leather bag with worn handles. Her white canvas shoes were scuffed, and her jeans were faded. With her plain appearance, it seemed unlikely the steep cost of surgery was something she could easily afford.

Scenes like this were common in hospitals, but for some reason, he found himself giving her a second look.

She was slender, tall, and had pale skin. Her mask and low ponytail made her look youthful, but her daughter was already six years old.

The woman lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze.

She stood behind her daughter as still and quiet as a statue.

The large mask covered her face, leaving only her downcast eyes visible.

Sebastian frowned slightly, thinking she had been expecting Shawn and was disappointed with his youth. So, he continued, "If you have concerns about my diagnosis, I can transfer your case to Pediatrics. You and your daughter can consult with Dr. Stone for a second opinion."

Valeria nodded silently and murmured, "Sorry to bother you."

Then, she gathered the medical records from the desk and left with Selena.

Sebastian watched their retreating backs with a frown. After they left, he pushed his glasses up and resumed his work.

He saw two more patients in succession.

During a brief break, he made himself some water and took a call from Luke Zimmer, his former high school class president. "Our class is having a reunion on the 20th of this month. Everyone in the group chat who's in Slate City has confirmed their attendance. You have to come after being abroad for so long."

Sebastian replied, "I'll see if I can make it. My schedule isn't out yet."

"Busy man, aren't you? We've organized so many reunions over the years, and you and Jane are the only ones who've never shown up. Do you still remember her? That chubby girl from back then. She just vanished after graduation. You still remember her, right?" Luke asked.

"Hello? Sebastian, are you there?" he asked after getting no response. "Hey, why aren't you saying anything? Is your signal bad? I can't hear you."

The kettle on the desk hissed and boiled over, causing the water to spill and soak a few papers.

Sebastian sat there and didn't move, the phone still in his hands. He looked calm, but one look into his eyes would reveal a turbulent mess.

The consultation room door was ajar. A passing nurse rushed in in a hurry. "The water is spilled. Dr. Grant, are you okay?"

Sebastian snapped out of his thoughts at that.

He stood up but didn't respond to her. Instead, he quickly walked to the window as his grip on the phone tightened.

"So, she's never attended a reunion?" Sebastian's voice was steady, but his expression was dark.

"Who? Your signal's cutting out. Are you talking about Jane? No, she's been impossible to reach," Luke responded.

Luke was still talking, but Sebastian had no interest in whatever he had to say.

The young nurse helped him tidy things up with a blush. She tried to chat with him, but noticing that he was in no mood to interact, she left reluctantly.

Sebastian seemed lost in his own world, but he still had three more patients that morning. So, he forced himself to focus and finally finished his rounds.

Then, he pulled open a drawer and took out a long blue velvet box. Inside was a black fountain pen.

It had fallen and broken a few days ago. After six or seven years of use, the black lacquer was chipped, and the pen had begun to leak ink badly. He just had it repaired and hadn't used it yet, but he carefully set it back in the drawer.

Sebastian rubbed his forehead, suddenly feeling drained and weary.

…

Valeria sat on the bus with Selena, and her thoughts were a complete mess. She couldn't help but remember that night seven years ago.

It had been Sebastian's birthday.

Back then, she had arrived at the private room filled with joy, clutching his gift excitedly.

There was a raucous roar of laughter inside.

"Holy crap, what's that on Sebastian's neck? A hickey? Sebastian, you didn't sleep with that fat girl, did you?"

"No way, Sebastian. Is that fat chick really your girlfriend?"

"Come on, it's all the same with the lights off."

"Sebastian, are you serious? I saw that gossip on the forums and couldn't believe it. You're really dating her?"

"Please, that fat chick schemed and used Gabriella to threaten him. Why else would he date a pig like her?"

Then, Sebastian spoke. He said something Valeria would never forget as long as she lived.

Perhaps it was because his voice was too distinct and pleasant, but not even the loud music and sneering voices could drown it out. "It's just for fun. I'm going abroad next month anyway."

She had stood outside the private room with red eyes. Her heart ached so badly that she couldn't breathe.

Sebastian was born into an elite family with an illustrious background. Valeria had never hoped for anything long-term. She knew all along that he would leave the country.

That day was Sebastian's 21st birthday. She had planned to celebrate with him and end their relationship.

That brief, fruitless love had turned to ash amid their cruel laughter.

The gift she had bought him was a black fountain pen. She had saved money from her part-time work for over two months to afford it.

His friends had mocked Sebastian over it. "Where did this cheap crap come from? Don't tell me that fatty gave it to you. Are you actually using it?"

"Since when does Sebastian use trashy brands like this? It's totally beneath him."

"Mommy." Suddenly, Selena tugged her hand and shook it gently.

Valeria snapped out of her suffocating memories and hugged Selena tightly.

Looking at Selena's face, which faintly resembled Sebastian's, she felt a pang in her chest. As Selena grew, her features looked more and more like Sebastian's. "Mommy, is that doctor who saw me today my daddy?"

Chapter 2

Valeria never expected Selena to suddenly say those words.

Looking into Selena's eyes, Valeria froze.

Then, it occurred to her. Even though Selena was small and frail from years of struggling with a heart condition, she was still six years old.

As she grew, Selena became increasingly sensitive to the absence of a father figure in her life. The excuse that Valeria had always used, which was that Selena's father went somewhere far away, had gradually turned into a white lie that couldn't hold up much longer.

In Valeria's drawer was a photo of her and Sebastian together, which Selena had seen before.

However, she never thought that Selena would remember it.

It was a photo from high school of the top three students in the class. She had cut out the third person, leaving only the two of them.

Valeria also hadn't expected that she would ever encounter Sebastian again, especially with Selena with her.

The bus screeched to a sudden halt, and she pulled Selena close and shielded her. Then, after a moment's pause, she replied, "No, he's not."

"But Mommy, that doctor looks so much like Daddy," Selena replied.

Valeria went quiet for a few seconds before forcing out, "He just looks like him, that's all…"

…

When they got home, Valeria knocked on Lucy Clark's door downstairs. Lucy was an old lady who lived alone and had a notoriously difficult personality. She was well-known throughout the neighborhood.

Two years ago, when Valeria was trying to enroll her daughter in kindergarten, she ran into a problem with the registration. She met Shane Cooper by chance at the time.

Shane's father was critically ill and wanted to see his son married before he passed. Needing to go abroad soon for work, Shane offered Valeria a deal, which was to marry him quickly and divorce just as quickly, fulfilling his father's final wish.

She met Shane's father, and the old man passed away that very night.

Lucy had been furious when she found out her son had arranged a sham marriage. However, knowing it had brought her husband peace in his final moments, she let it go eventually. After that, Shane left the country for work, and she continued living here alone.

Seeing Valeria raising Selena by herself, Lucy offered Valeria the attic apartment upstairs.

Even though Valeria paid rent as usual, their relationship changed one day when Lucy choked on some nuts and Valeria saved her.

After that, Lucy grew much fonder of them.

The house was an old, cramped duplex. There was no elevator and no shared amenities, but the rent was cheap. Lucy lived downstairs, and the attic upstairs had two small rooms and a little terrace where Valeria and Selena stayed.

There was even a separate entrance.

…

Later, while Valeria was heating up some food she had prepared in advance for lunch, Lucy walked in. "Selena's growing up now. You should get that surgery done for her soon. I can lend you the money if you don't have it. Just treat it as a loan."

Valeria knew Lucy had some savings, but those were for emergencies. If she gave it all to fund Selena's surgery, what would happen if Lucy suddenly needed it?

So, even though Valeria was deeply grateful for the offer, she still shook her head and politely declined.

…

That afternoon, Valeria arrived at L&M Design Studio on the 15th floor of the Golden Lux Building.

As soon as she stepped inside, her coworker, Lindsey Meyer, walked over. "Valeria, Ms. Lawson wants to see you in her office."

Sabrina Lawson was their design director, and also Valeria's direct superior.

When Valeria knocked and entered, Sabrina was still on her call. Glancing at Valeria, Sabrina gestured for her to wait.

Valeria sat down and looked at her watch. It took Sabrina 13 minutes before she finished her call.

Sabrina then said, "Valeria, the client rejected the last design draft your team submitted. Redo it. I expect it on my desk by next week. The designs are too safe and don't stand out.

"Add something edgy, like polka dots or dark embroidery. Anything unusual will do."

"Ms. Lawson, Garment Hall's brand ethos is elegance and sophistication. They cater to women over the age of thirty. We've already incorporated feedback from the marketing and sales teams," Valeria replied.

"Who's the director here? You or me?" Sabrina cut her off coldly.

…

Back at her workstation, Valeria relayed the new instructions to her teammates, drawing a collective groan. Queenie Lurn, who sat opposite Valeria, frowned. "Seriously? What kind of aesthetic is that? Dark embroidery with polka dots? Garment Hall is supposed to be graceful and elegant, and that's just tacky."

"Right? And we're the ones who'll have to clean up this mess later."

"I heard she's about to be featured in a fashion magazine's weekend piece for her rise as a designer."

"She's just playing around here because she's a friend of one of L&M's partners, Nathan Ford."

"Keep your voices down."

Valeria stayed late at the office that night. At some point, Selena video-called her from Lucy's phone to tell her she'd already had dinner.

Lindsey passed by and even waved to Selena on the screen, secretly marveling again.

After three years of working together, she was still stunned that Valeria had a six-year-old daughter.

Given her fair skin and her beauty, Valeria appeared like a fresh college graduate, not someone who had a child of that age.

Lindsey patted Valeria on the shoulder. "Alright, go home to your daughter. We'll finish up and leave in half an hour, too."

…

On the subway ride home, Valeria's phone buzzed again.

She thought it was a message from Selena, but it turned out to be from an old high school classmate.

This particular social media account had no connections to her past life, since she had cut ties with everyone from before.

Except for one person, Taylor Walker, her only friend from high school.

Taylor sent her a long voice message, "Your high school classmates are planning a reunion. Luke couldn't reach you and came asking for your information. I told him I didn't know, but you wouldn't believe the rumors. Some of them are even saying you died.

"What nonsense. They probably wouldn't recognize you if you stood in front of them now. You're so slim and gorgeous."

It was as if Jane had vanished from the world for seven years.

Valeria was silent in thought for a moment before she typed back, "Let them believe Jane is dead."

No one had ever truly liked Jane, not even Valeria herself. She had changed her name, shed her old self, and wanted to leave that version of her behind forever.

Taylor sent another message. "I heard that Sebastian might show up too. He's back in the country now. Do you want to come? Honestly, with how you look now, he probably wouldn't recognize you."

Taylor had been Valeria's high school friend from a neighboring class. They had kept in contact the whole time, and she had even attended Taylor's wedding.

Not being able to recognize Valeria at first, Taylor was shocked to see how the once-chubby girl had transformed into such a beauty.

Valeria's fingers hesitated on the screen, looking at the name.

She was tempted to mention that she'd already met Sebastian, but she merely typed in reply, "Not going."

Chapter 3

At 10:00 pm, Valeria lay on the bed and opened her long-neglected Telegram account.

There were a few messages from Luke.

Luke: "Jane, we're having a class reunion next week at Evening Breeze. The details are all in the Telegram class group. You're the only one we're waiting on. Are you coming?"

Luke: "I've messaged you a few times, but you're not replying. Jane, you can reach out to us old classmates, if you're having any difficulties in life. We'll help however we can."

Valeria opened the class group chat and saw the steady stream of messages.

She had actually considered leaving the group before, but with all 48 classmates around, her sudden departure would have stood out.

That said, she hardly ever logged into this account anymore.

Scrolling up through the messages, she found exactly what she expected. No one mentioned her at all.

Back in school, she'd been like air, but not the kind that people could ignore. Because she'd been so fat, even though she had tried so hard to make herself invisible, whispers and snickers always followed her.

Fatty, pig, tub of lard…

It didn't matter what she did; just walking past was enough to spark hushed giggles and remarks.

Valeria hadn't always been overweight. She'd been average-sized back in middle school, but after a serious illness and an overdose of steroid-based medication, her body ballooned.

Meanwhile, Sebastian's name was the one mentioned the most in the chat. He always ended up being the center of attention wherever he went.

He was always described with words like golden child, campus heartthrob, wealth, and power.

Sebastian and Valeria had always stood at opposite extremes.

Clicking on his profile photo, she noticed that it was an old picture. He probably didn't use Telegram much either.

Before she knew it, Saturday arrived.

It had been a hectic week. In the end, Garment Hall's management decided to accept the first version of the draft and signed the contract. Unsurprisingly, Sabrina's version of the draft had been rejected.

Sabrina wasn't happy about it, but L&M's co-partner, Nathan Ford, invited everyone out for a celebratory dinner.

The venue happened to be at Evening Breeze, a trendy new hotspot in the city for dining and entertainment.

Valeria felt a flicker of familiarity at the name, but there was no way for her to wiggle out of this company dinner, especially with Nathan attending.

…

At about 7:00 pm, the private room was bustling with activity. Everyone raised their glasses in celebration, and Valeria had two drinks as well.

At the same time, in a neighboring room, Sebastian had arrived late.

The room was filled with their old classmates, and they started egging him to drink the moment he stepped in.

However, that was all they dared to do. No one pushed him when he shook his head in rejection.

He explained in a calm, aloof manner that he couldn't drink in case he got called into the hospital later.

Several female classmates blushed and stealthily snapped photos with their phones.

Whether it was at high school or Stredview University, the attention had always been on Sebastian. He had the looks, brains, and a powerful family background.

Someone asked, "Do you have a girlfriend now?"

Someone else mentioned, "As a doctor, he's probably too busy to date."

"I heard you're in cardiothoracic surgery. Isn't that exhausting?" asked Yelena Quinn, the class beauty back then. Her cheeks were flushed as she looked at him shyly.

It was obvious to everyone in the room that Yelena liked him, and someone even teased her, which made her blush even more.

There happened to be an empty seat next to her.

Sebastian merely nodded and glanced at her, but he seemed not to recognize her.

The private room was spacious, with card tables and karaoke equipment.

He walked straight to a single-seater couch. He'd had a media interview earlier in the afternoon, so he was still dressed in formal business attire. Slipping out of his black suit, he draped it over the chair. His pale blue shirt only served to accentuate his features.

Leaning back, Sebastian massaged his temples with a faint weariness before he checked his watch.

He wasn't particularly interested in the reunion. He had only come because Luke had invited him repeatedly, and because he happened to be free.

Yelena felt a little disappointed by Sebastian choosing not to sit next to her.

Luke walked over and handed Sebastian a glass. "Have some water."

"Thank you," Sebastian replied politely.

"We're all old classmates. There's no need to be so formal," Luke replied, patting Sebastian's shoulder.

The two of them exchanged a few polite words. Luke's family was in the furniture business and had dealings with the Grant Group in the past. He really wanted to get closer to Sebastian, even if the current heir was Alexander Grant.

Sebastian might not have been involved in the family business at that moment, but everyone knew that he was the biological son of the Grant family, unlike Alexander, who was adopted.

Sebastian wasn't even the latest to arrive.

As more classmates trickled in, he would instinctively look up.

He didn't know what he was hoping for, but he seemed to be waiting for a certain someone to walk through the door.

The room buzzed with laughter and conversation. The last classmate to arrive was a female classmate. Luke went over to toast her, and she quickly downed two glasses of wine.

Someone teased, "Lily Carter, how did you become fat?"

"Yeah, I barely recognized you. You must have put on dozens of pounds."

Sebastian's head jerked up at the word "fat". His eyes flickered with a trace of unexpected disappointment.

A strange irritation stirred in his chest, and he poured himself a drink.

Sitting on the couch, he drank glass after glass.

The platinum watch on his wrist gleamed faintly. With his eyes cast down, he seemed to radiate an air of aloof elegance, so much so that some of the women in the room felt their hearts flutter. Yet, they didn't dare to approach him.

Yelena summoned her courage and walked over. "Sebastian, I have a relative with a heart condition. Could I bring them to see you during your clinic hours?"

Sebastian frowned slightly. He looked up and answered coolly, "My appointments for next week are full. If it's serious, they could get an emergency slot."

"I see." She wanted to say more, but she noticed his indifference. In the end, she returned to her seat, disappointed.

…

Meanwhile, Luke was busy acting as the host. He handed out little gifts to everyone, which were discount membership cards for his family's furniture brand and some cutlery sets.

"Hey, can anyone get in touch with Jane? I'd like to send her a gift too," Luke said.

Sebastian had been tired all day. The alcohol was making his head buzz as he leaned back and rested with his eyes closed.

However, the moment he heard that name, his brows furrowed. It was like an alarm going off in his brain, jerking him wide awake.

"Jane? You meant that fatty? I still remember when she tried to run 800 meters in high school. What a sight that was…"

The one who spoke was a male classmate called Horace Parker. He stopped abruptly when his gaze met a pair of cold eyes staring right at him.

Horace felt as though his throat had been gripped tight and shut his mouth awkwardly.

He only assumed that he had been too loud and had disturbed Sebastian's rest, but soon, the whispers started up again.

Valeria, of course, hadn't come to the reunion. She would never know that even after "disappearing" for seven years, her name could still stir up so much talk.

Then, a woman hesitated before saying, "I heard that Jane might be dead."

The room fell eerily silent for a few seconds. It felt as if time had stopped.

"What? Dead? That can't be."

"No wonder she never shows up at these reunions. I messaged her privately, too, but she never replied. So, she's really…"

The group collectively sighed.

"It's true. Six years ago, I was at the hospital because my grandmother wasn't well. I saw her there. She was skin and bones but had a huge belly. At first, I thought it might have been a tumor." The woman paused with a soft sigh. "Poor thing."

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

Someone glanced at Sebastian and asked, "Hey, don't we have a doctor in our class? Sebastian, if she really had a tumor, would it have been terminal? I remember her family didn't have much money either. I guess we know why no one's heard from her now. She's gone."

Everyone looked at Sebastian, who froze in place.

Chapter 4

The private room was brightly lit, and the harsh light glared straight into Sebastian's face. His expression was calm. Between his fingers, a cigarette had burned down so much that it singed his skin, but he seemed not to feel it at all.

A faint smell of his own scorched flesh reached his nose, but his nerves felt numb.

Suddenly, he stood up, bent down, and picked up the suit jacket that had fallen to the floor.

His face remained impassive, but he had a dark look. "The hospital just called. I have to leave."

Sebastian walked out quickly. His steps had a restless energy to them, as though he couldn't bear to stay there for another second.

Luke hurried after him but soon realized that Sebastian had already vanished, so he could only return to the room.

At that moment, a female classmate who had been silent all night hesitated. Then, she spoke softly. Her voice was quiet, yet it instantly silenced the entire room. "Didn't any one of you hear the rumor?"

"What rumor?"

She answered, "Jane and Sebastian were both at Stredview University. They secretly dated for three years."

The words sent shockwaves through the group.

Yelena's voice was shrill with disbelief. "Mona Nolan, what nonsense are you spouting? Jane? That ugly, fat woman? Why would Sebastian ever stoop so low? Are you dreaming?"

"Yeah, Mona, are you confused? If Jane could land Sebastian, then I would already have married into the Grant family by now."

A male classmate couldn't help but interject, "Hey, that's not fair. Jane might have been chubby, but she wasn't ugly. She had really fair skin and a soft, gentle voice."

Mona nodded. She had been shocked when she found out. "It's true. My sister went to Stredview University, and this gossip was all over campus. A chubby woman and the campus heartthrob in a secret three-year relationship. If you don't believe me, ask Sebastian yourself."

Of course, no one would dare to ask him. It sounded absurd, but her confidence made everyone start to believe her.

"Still, is Jane really dead now?" Someone asked hesitantly.

Yelena gritted her teeth in annoyance. "She probably is. Wasn't she supposed to have a huge tumor on her belly? She's probably gone. Otherwise, someone would've heard from her after all these years."

In this age of social media, it did seem likely that someone with no presence was gone.

Sebastian turned a corner and ran straight into someone.

A soft voice yelped as the other person staggered back a few steps.

Valeria instinctively reached out to grab something for balance and clutched the man's shirt. "I'm so sorry," she blurted, letting him go.

As she looked up at his familiar, striking face, all color drained from her face.

She hadn't expected to see him again. Was the world really this small?

"Sorry," Sebastian muttered as he brushed past her. His mind was in chaos, and he needed a place to calm down.

The faint, crisp scent he carried faded from the air, and Valeria remained standing there.

She had only come out to use the bathroom, but she never expected to run into the person who used to be the center of her world.

Her gaze dropped to the floor to see an intricately crafted cufflink there.

She bent to pick it up. Then, she instinctively turned in the direction Sebastian had gone, taking a few steps before stopping abruptly.

They no longer had anything to do with each other. Being strangers was the best outcome.

…

Back home, Valeria showered and lay in bed, staring at the cufflink she had set on her nightstand.

Her fingers brushed its smooth surface as memories surfaced.

The man's habits and preferences didn't seem to have changed. He had always loved this brand—niche and understated, but made exquisitely.

Her thoughts were broken when her phone rang. "Hello, Grandma."

"Valeria, why did you send me more money? I don't need it. I barely spend anything at home."

Hearing her grandmother, Margaret Jameson's, mix of reproach and affection, Valeria let out a soft smile. "Then, help me save the money."

They chatted briefly.

Work had been hectic lately. Valeria had planned on taking Selena home before the school term began, but she hadn't managed to find the time.

Once things settled down, she thought about having Margaret stay with them for a while.

Margaret was the only family she had left.

As they were about to hang up, Margaret hesitated before speaking again. "Valeria, your uncle might have… Well, he's still your uncle. He came home recently and asked about you…"

Her voice trailed off.

Valeria didn't want Margaret worrying about those people.

Her parents had divorced when she was a child. Her mother walked out and never returned, not even when her grandfather died.

That happened when she was two years old, so she barely even remembered her mother.

As for her father, he was a gambling addict. He would disappear whenever he lost money, and when he won, he'd bring her a treat. During his absences, he'd leave her at her grandparents' home.

They were the ones who had raised her.

"Grandma, I know," Valeria replied gently, but only to comfort Margaret.

She had no intention of bringing up her uncle or aunt again, or ever contacting them, even though they lived in the same city.

After hanging up, Valeria placed the cufflink in a sealed bag and stored it carefully.

When Valeria needed to take Selena for her routine hospital checkup later, she would deliberately avoid Sebastian's consultation days. He was in the clinic every Tuesday, so she just needed to go on Mondays and Wednesdays.

It wasn't as though they had never crossed paths. After all, hospitals were crowded places full of weary people and the scent of illnesses.

…

Wearing her mask, Valeria held her daughter's hand and stepped into the packed elevator.

Suddenly, a nurse called out. "Dr. Grant."

Behind her, a deep voice answered the nurse.

Valeria's hand tightened around Selena's. She felt sure Sebastian was standing right there, close enough that she could almost feel the rise and fall of his breath.

…

When they arrived on the third floor, the crowd spilled out. Both Valeria and Sebastian were headed toward the same consultation area.

She lined up outside Room 6 and watched as Sebastian disappeared into Room 8.

"Mommy, your hand is all sweaty," Selena commented suddenly, glancing up and shaking Valeria's mother's hand gently.

Valeria lowered her gaze and loosened her grip. Sure enough, her palms were slick with sweat.

Every time she ran into Sebastian, her nerves would betray her, even if she knew he wouldn't recognize her.

Their encounters were usually accidents that were beyond her control, yet she couldn't help the feelings that stirred in her heart.

She left the cufflink he'd dropped at the front desk for the nurse to return.

…

That night, Valeria peeked into Selena's room.

Selena was hugging a rabbit plushie, fast asleep. With the same brows and nose, she looked a lot like Sebastian.

Valeria went into the bathroom and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

She was slim and fair, with long hair draped over her shoulders. No one would ever associate the woman in the mirror with the overweight Jane Carlson from seven years ago.

In a bustling city of over ten million people, a fleeting encounter made them nothing more than strangers.

…

That evening, Sebastian returned to the Grant family home.

At dinner, his father, Nicholas Grant, let out a cold huff and set down his cutlery. Martha Bond, his mother, glared at Nicholas before turning to look at Sebastian.

The first year she married Nicholas, her best friend died in a plane crash, leaving behind a 12-year-old son, Alexander Dennings.

The Grant family adopted him and later gave him their last name.

Martha didn't conceive until she was 33, giving birth to their daughter, Mallory Grant.

Both Alexander and Mallory were left in charge of the Grant Group.

At 45, Martha finally had twin boys, Florian Grant and Sebastian Grant. However, the twins were abducted in a notorious kidnapping case that rocked the city.

Only Sebastian survived.

At the thought of her dead son, Martha's eyes reddened.

But seeing the cheerful atmosphere at the family dinner, she discreetly wiped her tears and focused on her surviving son.

He had always been reliable and never given them any cause for worry. The only problem was when it came to matters of the heart, which was an alarmingly blank part of his life.

More than once, Martha had wondered if her son suffered from an undisclosed condition.

She was already in her 70s, and she was normally always cheerful. However, tonight, she looked at Sebastian sternly. "Sebastian, why didn't you meet with the Lawson family's daughter on Wednesday?"

"I see," Sebastian replied.

"What do you mean by that?" Martha rubbed her temples. "I've met Sabrina. She's beautiful. She often came to play at our house when she was little. Both your grandfathers were comrades-in-arms, so you should at least meet her and get to know her."

She added, "Even if you don't like her, you have to start somewhere. You're almost 30 now."

Sebastian frowned. "If that's what you want, you can make the arrangements."

Chapter 5

"I'm going upstairs," Sebastian added, getting to his feet.

Martha watched Sebastian's retreating figure and pressed a hand to her chest.

Nicholas sighed. "He's just like you. He's almost 30 now. Other men his age are already married with children, and yet all he ever thinks about is the hospital."

"So what if he's like me? Sleep in the study tonight. I'm going upstairs too." She shot him a glare.

Just as she reached the stairs, Sebastian appeared again. He was already changed into his work clothes and heading back down. "Mom, the hospital just called me in for an emergency surgery. I need to go."

He was already gone by the time Martha could react.

In the dining room, Nicholas slammed the table. "Just look at your son. All he thinks about is the hospital. He's only been home for an hour, but he's already gone without a word. What kind of lady would be willing to marry him?"

"What are you yelling at me for?" Martha dug at her ear in annoyance. "It doesn't concern you if you say he's my son. Sebastian is just being a responsible doctor."

…

When Sebastian returned from the hospital, it was already 11:30 pm.

A cream-colored Golden Retriever trotted over lazily and rubbed against him. He reached down to pat the dog on the head.

Pouring himself a glass of water, he headed into the study.

That morning, he had left without closing the windows. The wind had scattered books and papers across the desk. He bent down and picked them up one by one.

They were mostly medical records he had been reviewing recently. There were so many potential causes for massive abdominal swelling.

Reading the case files made his eyes ache with exhaustion. He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, but it didn't help.

Glancing at his phone, he saw an unread message from Luke that had been sent earlier that morning. "I asked Taylor. She was in the neighboring class and used to be the closest to Jane. Even she says she hasn't been able to contact Jane."

Sebastian stared at that line of text. Not even her best friend could contact her?

He opened their old Telegram group chat. Out of 48 members, most had their names as nicknames, but six or seven accounts didn't.

He hadn't used this app in years.

Jane had long since blocked him on other social media.

Now, staring at those six or seven anonymous IDs, he added each of them.

Within minutes, three replied.

After some polite small talk, he realized none of them were Jane.

…

By the next day, the other three accounts had also replied, but not a single one was hers.

Finally, there was one anonymous account left.

The account wasn't private, but it also had no useful information. The avatar was an outdated, tacky-looking cartoon girl, and yet Sebastian was certain it was Jane.

…

That night at dinner, he glanced at his phone again.

There was still no response.

He tried adding her again, but three verification questions popped up. "Why are you adding me? Who are you? Who am I?"

His replies were short and to the point. "I'm Sebastian Grant."

"Jane Carlson."

A colleague nearby commented, "Dr. Grant, you've been so distracted by your phone today. Are you waiting for your girlfriend to text you?"

Plenty of female doctors at the hospital admired him. This instantly drew a few curious gazes that were hungry for gossip.

After all, Sebastian had famously rejected the dean's daughter when he first joined. That news had spread like wildfire through the hospital.

One after another, nurses and doctors had tried to approach him with confessions or breakfast deliveries. However, he had the same behavior—cold and reserved, rejecting every advance with detached politeness.

He didn't bother answering his colleague's teasing remark, and the doctor awkwardly chuckled before letting the matter drop.

…

A week later, Valeria opened her Telegram on a whim and nearly dropped her phone in shock when she saw Sebastian's request.

Staring at the request, she forced herself to act as though nothing had happened.

However, that same week, Sebastian kept opening the app during his break time.

Every day, he would click into her profile, staring at it. His request remained unanswered. It was as if she hadn't logged in for years.

He refused to believe that she really was dead.

…

After spending another afternoon in the clinic, Sebastian pulled out his phone and created a brand-new Telegram account.

Maybe Jane was still alive and just didn't want to add him. It was just like when they broke up and she mailed back every single item he'd ever given her, cutting ties completely.

He answered those same questions again.

"Why are you adding me? Who are you? What do you want?"

This time, he replied, "I am Salem Jones and I need to talk to you."

Salem Jones had been a basketball star and one of the most popular boys in school back then.

Sebastian remembered once seeing Jane and Taylor deliver a love letter to Salem.

That afternoon, Jane's cheeks had been flushed red. She was so fair-skinned, and the rosy glow on her was impossible to miss.

On the stairs, she had skipped alongside Taylor as though something wonderful had happened.

Was delivering a love letter worth that much joy?

Sebastian admitted that pretending to be Salem to add her was underhanded, even shameless, but he had acted purely on impulse.

If she accepted, then didn't that mean she was still alive?

There was a thorn in his chest that he couldn't get rid of, no matter how he tried.

It was something that had been festering inside him for seven years, twisting into something strange and complicated.

He had just returned to the country this year. In the seven years since, he had dreamed of Jane a few times.

In the first semester of his senior year, he had asked her out to a hotel before leaving to study abroad.

At first, he was only with her because of a fluke. However, she slowly became something of an addiction to him.

Even Sebastian recognized that he had certain peculiarities in this aspect. He liked seeing her cry. It provoked something in him that made him feel alive.

Jane had been chubby, but he was a tall, athletic man. He had no trouble carrying her at all.

Before leaving, he had given her a bank card with 200 thousand dollars in it. She had accepted the money, which deeply pleased him, because she usually resisted his gifts.

In their three years together, Sebastian had bought Jane many things, and she had always refused. Only when he threatened to toss them in the trash did she reluctantly take them.

That night, her skin flushed as she lay in his arms. He had told her to use the money to buy herself something nice.

She had agreed softly and obediently.

It was barely a month after he went abroad that Martha called. She informed Sebastian that there was a courier in his name, only for him to have it set aside.

He fell sick from the change in climate overseas and spent two feverish weeks in bed. He hadn't contacted Jane, but he never expected that she would not reach out to him at all.

In their three years together, they might have been in a relationship, but Jane was so submissive that she rarely contacted him herself.

However, when he finally messaged her, his texts bounced back. She had blocked him.

Sebastian, who had always lived a perfect life, was stunned. He was the golden child, the pride of his family. He could have any girlfriend he wanted.

So, why should Jane be different?

It wasn't as though he wasn't coming back. He was only studying abroad, yet she had cut him off coldly.

He found it laughable and infuriating.

…

When he returned home for the New Year, a large package was waiting for him in his study, with the sender being "Carlson".

Sebastian's heart thumped hard in his chest as he opened it.

Inside were all the things he had given her during their three years together, containing every gift and the amount of each monetary transfer. Jane had consolidated all his transfers into a single bank card and sent it back.

Each item had a sticky note attached with the date, the place, and what he had given her. Even the meals and drinks they had shared were recorded down to the exact cost.

Every hotel stay and every night together was itemized and documented as well.

The most expensive gifts—four purses, a bracelet, a necklace, and a watch that were worth a small fortune—were left pristine and unused.

Even the cheapest things, such as daily necessities or meals, were carefully accounted for.

Sebastian felt his head throb as he stared at all the items. He sent the box tumbling with a furious kick, and all the contents scattered. Two boxes of unused condoms spilled across the floor.

They landed at his feet, as if they were mocking him for being a fool.

She had severed all ties between them without any hesitation, leaving nothing of association with him.