The two scions of New York were always seen with rings on their fingers—never took them off, not once.

Those who looked closely saw they were nothing but plain platinum bands.

No one knew I'd casually picked them out at a little shop when I was just ten.

Yet to them, those rings were treasures—they wore them for fifteen years straight.

Until Vivian Gregory showed up—and they took off those plain bands, replacing them with the simple silver rings she gave them.

At that moment, I decided to walk away from our tangled four-way love story.

I agreed to the match my family had arranged.

***

"Mom, Dad... I've made up my mind. I'm coming home to get married." Elena Sandoval had just gotten back from the hospital. Her voice was quiet and composed as if she were talking about someone else's life.

On the other end of the line, her mother, Olivia Elliott, went silent in shock before replying, her voice bubbling with excitement, "That's amazing, Elena! Everything's all set—we've just been waiting for you to say the word. When will you be back? Do you want to get to know your fiancé first? I can send you his number."

Elena's tone didn't change. "No need. Set the wedding for early next month. I'll fly back the day before we sign the papers."

Just as she hung up, the door to her bedroom swung open.

As she instinctively looked around, she found Vivian standing there, radiating happiness and presenting a fresh bouquet.

Vivian, her large eyes glistening, blinked with curiosity. "Ms. Sandoval," she asked, "are you going to a wedding? Whose wedding is it?"

Elena, having just hung up the phone, replied icily, "Leave. I have a pollen allergy."

Vivian's face drained of color. "O-oh, Ms. Sandoval, I'm so sorry! I forgot again about your allergy. My mistake! I'm so clumsy," she stammered.

Elena's gaze remained cold and steady. "Finished? Then you can go."

She began to shut the door.

"Ms. Sandoval, I'm truly sorry about what happened at the hospital. It was my fault... I didn't mean to hurt you..."

Abruptly, a look of sheer terror washed over Vivian's face, and she bowed as if anticipating physical violence from Elena.

Just then, Grayson Harmon and Austin Harmon reached the top of the stairs and witnessed the scene.

Their expressions shifted immediately. They hurried forward, positioning themselves protectively in front of Vivian, their eyes searching her face with concern as if she had just been victimized.

Despite being physically fine after they arrived, Vivian winced from the prick of a rose thorn.

Grayson carefully took her delicate arm in his hands, with a hint of pain flickered in his eyes.

The usually collected and composed golden boy of New York was now brimming with gentleness, his voice soft and soothing as he attended to Vivian.

Usually so composed, he now sharply turned his anger on Elena, all for Vivian, a secretary he barely knew. "Elena," he stated sternly, "why the outburst again? This isn't your home; this is North Carolina."

Austin, typically more lighthearted, tenderly brushed Vivian's hair from her face, his voice soft with concern. "You got scratched. I'm sure that stings."

Turning to Elena, his tone hardened. "Elena, why are you bullying Vivian? From now on, she's under my protection. No one hurts her."

With that, Austin took Vivian's hand and led her away.

Grayson followed closely, taking Vivian's other hand. "Come with me. I've already called a doctor to the house to look at it."

Vivian wiped her eyes and offered a small smile. "A band-aid would be enough... Isn't a doctor a bit much?"

Grayson replied gently, "Better safe than sorry. Don't worry, I'm here."

Softly, Vivian thanked him, then looked at Austin, a little helpless. "Austin, please don't argue with Ms. Sandoval. I'm just a house staff. I'm not worth it."

Seeing her so vulnerable, Austin was indignant. "Hmph, I wasn't arguing. She's the one bullying you! Being a house staff doesn't matter; you're the most important to us. Right, Grayson?

Elena watched their retreating silhouettes disappear down the hall, then leaned against the window, the sensation akin to waking up from a deep sleep.

Before Vivian entered their lives, the relationship between Elena and the Harmon brothers was far from antagonistic.

Suffering from a delicate constitution and acute pollen allergies since she was a child, Elena faced a constant challenge in San Diego, a city where flowers blossomed throughout the year.

Consequently, at the age of five, her parents sent her away from San Diego to recuperate in North Carolina, a region known for its temperate climate and distinct seasons.

It was in North Carolina that Elena met Grayson and Austin, who lived near her new residence.

From that day forward, the three were inseparable, sharing childhood games and growing up together.

During elementary school, they included her in their games of house, taking turns playing the bride and groom.

In middle school, they would tear up any love letters she received, deterring any boys from approaching her.

As they matured, one took the helm of the family business, becoming a CEO, while the other developed into a talented designer.

Even with their busy work lives, they bought the houses next to Elena's, joined them together, and moved in with her, making sure to cook her dinner every evening.

Despite Elena getting better and her family wanting her to return to San Diego, the brothers didn't hesitate; they were adamant about going to San Diego with her.

They always said, "Wherever Elena goes, we'll follow."

And it was because of them that Elena, even after recovering, never went back to San Diego.

But everything shifted with Vivian's arrival.

Vivian was the housekeeper Elena had hired.

The family's longtime nanny, Paige Reese, had been unwell and had moved into a care facility.

Elena, wanting to ease Paige's burden, decided to let her retire and hired a new housekeeper through an agency.

Upon hearing this, Grayson suggested a secretary from his company who hadn't passed probation but might be suitable.

Elena had envisioned an older, more experienced woman. Instead, a young girl arrived, someone even younger than Elena herself.

The young woman immediately began recounting her difficulties. Touched by her plight, Elena hesitantly agreed to hire her.

Later, Austin also met Vivian.

The normally distant and proud Austin spoke with a gentle voice when he addressed Vivian.

Whenever Vivian smiled, he became uncharacteristically pliant, almost a different person entirely.

Grayson, who would stubbornly work through the night on international calls with executives, disregarding everyone's advice, would yield instantly if Vivian merely pouted.

Incidents like these had become commonplace for Elena since Vivian's arrival.

The platinum rings Elena had once given the brothers—cherished by them for a decade—were removed after Vivian came and replaced with the simple silver rings Vivian gifted them.

Their past affection for Elena now felt like a distant memory.

Fortunately, back in college, Elena hadn't chosen between the Harmon brothers when they had pressured her to.

Elena had once cared for them deeply, even considering a future with one of them.

But now, agreeing to a family-arranged marriage didn't seem so undesirable.

Elena smiled softly and set a countdown for her wedding on her phone.

Having decided to leave, it was time to bid farewell to her friends in North Carolina.

She had already packed her things and gone out for coffee with some acquaintances.

When Elena got back to the villa, her friends, who had heard about her upcoming San Diego wedding, were already flooding their group chat with congratulations.

"Elena, don't forget to visit North Carolina often after you move back to San Diego!"

"You're just getting married like this? Who's the groom? Do I know him?"

"Elena, are you going for the classic newlywed romance storyline?"

Even her usually steadfast best friend couldn't help but ask, "Honey, are you really going through with an arranged marriage this time?"

Elena nodded and smiled faintly. "Yes. And while I'm at it, I'll also take over the family business."

Her best friend nodded, understanding dawning, and quickly sent her well wishes.

By the time Elena finished replying, the chat had gone silent.

Night had fallen. She rubbed her eyes and was about to put her phone away when a message from Vivian appeared.

Elena tapped the message open without thinking.

"Why aren't you home yet?" The message read.

A second later, another message arrived.

"Ms. Sandoval, so sorry, wrong recipient! It's my birthday today. Grayson and Austin both gave me presents. I'm really touched and cooked dinner myself. Would you like to join us?"

Elena scoffed and closed the chat immediately, not at all curious about their activities.

However, as she drove home, she saw her villa brightly lit.

She thought, "They're having a birthday celebration for the housekeeper in my house?"

As she opened the door, the expected sight of numerous gifts filled the living room.

The decorations, flowers, and cake were all in shades of rose. The three "hosts" were even dressed festively. At first glance, Elena almost mistook it for a wedding suite.

Just then, Grayson came out of the kitchen with a cake, while Austin picked up a guitar and began to play softly.

Vivian stood between them, her face beaming with happiness.

She clasped her hands, made a wish, and then hugged both men. "This is my first birthday celebration. I hope you'll both be by my side every year from now on!"

Then, she turned toward the doorway and gave Elena a sweet, glowing smile.

Elena knew perfectly well that Vivian's actions were deliberate.

Back then, she wouldn't have tolerated Vivian's teasing, nor would she have accepted Grayson and Austin so easily giving away her things to someone they'd only known for a month.

But now, none of it held any significance for her. She simply didn't care.

She observed Vivian's little display with calm, indifferent eyes, then gave a small nod. "Happy birthday."

It was only then that Grayson and Austin seemed to notice her return. They paused, taken aback, but remained silent.

After a short silence, Elena had already gone upstairs to her room.

Whatever was happening downstairs no longer held her interest.

From now on, she and the Harmon brothers were merely neighbors—nothing more.

Over the following days, Elena began her preparations to leave.

She entered the storage room and started sorting through all the gifts the Harmon brothers had given her over the years.

Their history went back so far. Every holiday, every special occasion, they had lavished her with presents until the shelves were overflowing.

Now, one by one, Elena packed those items into cardboard boxes. The objects were the same, but the people were different.

None of it mattered anymore.

She contacted a moving company and arranged for all the memory-filled gifts to be donated to a children's orphanage on the edge of the city—giving the old items a new purpose, and hopefully bringing some joy to the children.

Grayson and Austin happened to arrive home just as the movers were examining the boxes.

When Grayson clearly saw what was inside, he hurried forward, his voice slightly shaky. "Elena, what are you doing?"

Elena looked at him steadily, a subtle expression briefly crossing her face. "The storage room was getting too full. I'm just getting rid of some old things."

He instinctively reached to take a box from the mover, but Elena stopped him.

Without realizing it, Grayson's tone softened. "It's not like we're short on space. These are all gifts from Austin and me!"

Austin chimed in, his voice a bit annoyed as he looked at the taped boxes, "That's right! I actually drew some of those paintings!"

Elena chuckled quietly.

It felt absurd to Elena. She thought, "They constantly ignored me in favor of Vivian, treating me like I didn't exist. But these old gifts? Now they evoked such emotion? What would their reaction be if they knew I planned to leave the city?"

Still, she smiled. "Out with the old, in with the new."

"Exactly! We'll pick out even better gifts for you next time," Grayson said, trying to compromise.

Austin quickly chimed in, "Yeah, I'll buy some for you and Vivian tomorrow."

Elena laughed to herself again, this time with a hint of bitterness.

Grayson and Austin mistook her silence for agreement and felt a wave of relief.

They were about to head inside when they noticed something missing—the abstract artwork and modern pieces that had been on the walls that morning were gone.

"Where are the decorative paintings I made?" Austin asked, puzzled.

Without looking up, Elena replied, "I felt like a change. Wanted something new."

Grayson looked around. "Why does the place feel so empty? Where did everything go?"

The same uneasy feeling settled in both their minds. Something was different about Elena today, a feeling neither Grayson nor Austin could shake.

Grayson was about to ask more when a sudden ringtone cut through the silence.

Austin answered the call, and Vivian's worried, helpless voice came through the speaker. "Austin, it just started pouring... I can't get a cab. Can you come pick me up?"

Grayson's expression changed instantly upon hearing her voice. Before Austin could reply, Grayson interjected, "Vivian, don't worry. I'm on my way."

Outside, the wind was intensifying, the trees swaying wildly in the storm.

Austin's brow furrowed. His usually carefree face now showed clear concern.

As soon as Grayson left, Austin grew restless as well. Without even saying goodbye, he hurried out and sped off in his car.

Throughout it all, Elena remained calm.

After they had both left, she picked up her phone and called their mother.

From the moment Elena arrived in North Carolina, the Harmon brothers' parents, Reynard Harmon and Tara Carlson, had showered her with kindness, almost considering her their goddaughter.

Now that she was leaving, a proper farewell felt necessary.

When Tara learned Elena was returning to get married, her voice held a surprise, but even more so, reluctance. "Elena, do Grayson and Austin know you're going back to get married?"

Elena paused briefly before replying, "I haven't told them."

Tara sighed deeply. "Well... after all this time, the three of you have been inseparable. I truly thought you'd end up marrying one of those boys. What a pity... I suppose you weren't meant to be my daughter-in-law after all..."

Elena offered a faint smile and replied calmly, "It's not a pity. We're simply not the right fit for each other."

Tara didn't try to argue. She just said, "Elena, I always figured you'd go back home someday—just not this quickly. I've seen you grow up. Promise you'll visit before you leave, okay? Once you're in San Diego running the company, who knows when we'll get another chance to see each other..."

Elena smiled warmly, her voice tinged with gentle affection. "I will. I even prepared some gifts for you. I'll miss you too."

Hearing this, Tara chatted a little longer before finally ending the call.

Elena woke up from her nap to the sound of the doorbell ringing.

She walked slowly to the door and opened it, finding Vivian standing outside with a pitiful expression.

Despite the downpour, Vivian wasn't wet at all.

As Elena opened the door, Vivian bit her lip as if wronged, her eyes welling up with tears. "Ms. Sandoval, did you change the door code? Did I do something wrong? I can change, Ms. Sandoval."

Elena frowned slightly, her smile lacking warmth. "You didn't do anything wrong. I simply don't need a maid anymore. Starting today, you don't need to come back."

As she spoke, she transferred Vivian's monthly salary to her account.

Vivian looked stunned as if deeply offended.

"Ms. Sandoval, how can you go back on your word like this? My brother just graduated and is getting married soon. If I lose this job, how will he afford his wedding?"

Elena showed no reaction, unmoved by the tears now freely flowing down Vivian's face.

At that moment, Grayson and Austin drove up and witnessed the scene.

They immediately rushed to her, instinctively shielding her as if she were the injured one.

"Vivian!" Both brothers surrounded her, their eyes filled with worry as they gently wiped away her tears.

Suddenly, Vivian sank to her knees, sobbing and pleading, "Ms. Sandoval, please... Please don't fire me!"

Austin quickly helped her up. Seeing her cry like a delicate flower battered by the storm tugged at his heart. "You don't need to beg her!"

Vivian's beautiful eyes filled with more tears, her words choked with sobs.

Seeing her cry so distressingly, Grayson's expression hardened. "Elena, Vivian's family is poor, and she needs this job to support them. She's already struggling. How can you fire her? Have you no compassion?"

Elena was so stunned that a bitter laugh almost escaped her lips. "She's poor? If you feel so sorry for her, why don't you marry her? Give her money yourselves! What does a maid even earn here? Let me repeat, I don't need a maid. I'm firing her!"

Elena's body trembled with fury. She pointed at Vivian, her voice icy. "I paid you to work, not to flirt and play love games. Tell me, am I wrong to fire you?"

With each of Elena's words, Grayson's face grew darker. "I'm truly disappointed in you. Vivian has worked so hard, and yet you're jealous of how Austin and I treat her, now you're even slandering her? Elena, you've changed. You've become... bitter and ugly."

Without another look, Grayson turned and walked away, pulling Vivian along with him.

"Elena, you've become so unreasonable lately. So superficial, so petty." Austin spat out the words with a cold glare before hurrying after Vivian to shield her with an umbrella.

Watching them leave without a second thought, Elena stood frozen. Grayson's harsh words echoed in her mind. He thought she was unreasonable, but the truth was, they were the ones who had changed.

A delayed ache spread through her chest, settling as a pang in her heart, and a sudden coldness touched her face. It was then that she realized she was soaked. Drenched by the heavy rain, unnoticed by either of them.

Elena closed the door. She dried the rain from her skin, but a coldness had already begun to settle in her heart.

That evening, Elena received a message from the Sandoval family.

Olivia had sent over the latest haute couture wedding dress designs and asked her to pick one.

Elena carefully looked through them, then called Olivia.

As soon as the call connected, Olivia sensed the fatigue in Elena's voice and couldn't help but ask if something had happened.

The humiliation of the day caused a slight redness in Elena's eyes, but she remained silent, simply shaking her head. "Mom, I'm almost done packing here. How are the wedding preparations going on your end?"

Just then, Grayson and Austin walked through the door.

Hearing Elena's last word, both men spoke at the same time, "Wedding? Whose wedding?"

Elena murmured a brief explanation into the phone, then ended the call.

Elena, her expression neutral, looked directly at them. When they averted their eyes, she said, "I'm going back to San Diego for a wedding in five days. You two want to join?"

Grayson and Austin had grown increasingly distant.

Once she returned to San Diego, they wouldn't see each other again—wouldn't even be friends. So, there was no need to mention something as unimportant as her wedding.

After her announcement, Grayson and Austin exchanged a quick, curious glance.

But neither of them lingered on it. They replied casually, "Nah, you go ahead. We've been pretty busy lately."

Then, seemingly still upset over the fact that she fired Vivian, Grayson shot her a cold look before walking away.

Austin also frowned and said, "Vivian cried herself swollen because of you today. You'd better take back what you said about firing her. Otherwise, Grayson and I won't forgive you."

With that, he stormed off.

Elena laughed bitterly, not even bothering to argue.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains as Elena woke.

She pushed open her bedroom door and was startled to find the entire house filled with incense burners, each releasing thick, fragrant smoke.

The scent wafted toward her with the breeze.

Elena's face turned pale in an instant, her heart rate skyrocketing.

With asthma and sensitivity to some incense, she tried to take deep breaths, but they became increasingly difficult. Her chest heaved, and her vision started to go blurry.

The more she inhaled, the less oxygen she seemed to get. Breathing became increasingly difficult.

"Help..." Driven by instinct and desperation, Elena staggered toward the medicine shelf, trying to find her inhaler.

But her fingers trembled uncontrollably, struggling to move, and she accidentally knocked over several nearby incense burners.

They shattered on the floor, ash and fragments scattering everywhere in a chaotic mess.

The sound of breaking porcelain caught Grayson and Austin's attention. They hurried over.

When they saw the scene, they ignored Elena's obvious discomfort, their attention fixed on the mess. "What are you doing?" Grayson asked sharply.

At that moment, Elena had just gotten her hands on the medication. She could hardly concentrate enough to answer.

With alarm, Austin rushed ahead, pushing her gently out of his path to reach the smoking incense.

Weakened already, Elena was shoved hard. Her knee slammed against the corner of the cabinet, and the skin scraped and swelling instantly.

Holding her inhaler, her hands trembled as her breathing grew more rapid and shallow.

Finally, she opened the cap and found the spray nozzle.

Like grabbing onto a lifeline, she used the spray and limped over to the window.

As the medication entered her lungs, the raw pain in her airways eased just slightly.

She had barely managed to save her own life.

Meanwhile, Grayson and Austin were still busy cleaning up the mess on the floor.

Elena quickly put on a mask and turned to leave.

But before she could take a step, Austin grabbed her arm.

Above her head, his voice came sharply. "Is it really so hard for you to accept Vivian? She said the house had a strange smell, and even after quitting, she went out of her way to make it smell nice. And this is how you repay her? Breaking everything?"

Anger evident in his tone, Grayson chimed in, "Elena, what was Vivian's or those things' fault? You've really gone too far!"

Those words left Elena with a feeling of hollow lightness.

She trembled, overcome by both fury and pain. A thousand things she wanted to say burned inside her.

But in the end, she only asked one quiet question, "I've gone too far? Is it really me, or is it you two? I'm allergic to incense. Did you forget?"

Her voice was gentle, yet every word resonated in Grayson and Austin's minds like a peal of thunder.

They used to be the most attentive when it came to Elena. Whenever she had an allergic reaction, they were the first to panic.

They used to sit by her bedside with red eyes, refusing to leave, no matter who tried to pull them away.

But now, they had even forgotten something so critical.

"So, after all these years growing up together, what exactly is it that you still remember about me?

A subtle shift crossed Grayson's face—perhaps a dawning realization that he had been wrong.

A moment later, a faint hint of apology touched his usually indifferent features.

"Sorry." The hostility in Austin's eyes softened. Remembering Elena's past allergic reactions, he instinctively took a step toward her. "Elena, are you alright? Vivian probably just forgot about your allergy. Her intentions were good. Please don't blame her. And earlier, I was too upset. I'm sorry."

Elena remained silent. Seeing her color gradually return to normal after she took her medication, Grayson and Austin quickly called someone to ventilate the room and clean the house.

For the next few days, neither Grayson nor Austin came back to the villa.

Elena didn't mind. She was busy finishing her farewells in North Carolina.

Once that was done, she finally took a closer look at the house.

The villa had been a dowry from her family, and she'd moved in after her coming-of-age ceremony, mostly for convenience.

Grayson and Austin, in their efforts to be near her, had bought the two villas on either side.

They had even connected all three properties to make it easier to care for her.

Even though they didn't need to take care of her now, their things were still in the combined properties.

Selling the property without telling them would create problems.

On the third-to-last day before her departure, Grayson and Austin finally came looking for her, only to encounter Elena seeing a real estate agent out.

Grayson and Austin exchanged a look, both registering shock in the other's eyes.

Their expressions turned cold simultaneously. Elena glanced at them and offered a small smile. "Perfect timing. I'm planning to sell the villa. You two should find time to gather your things so I can have the three units sealed off."

Hearing this, Grayson and Austin immediately felt a knot of unease. "Why are you selling it? Weren't you perfectly fine living here?"

Grayson seemed to recall the day of Elena's allergic reaction, a dawning understanding in his eyes.

He asked directly, "Elena, are you still upset about what happened the other day?"

Clearly flustered, Grayson, for once, felt the need to explain. "We didn't forget your allergy on purpose. Can you forgive us?"

Elena shook her head calmly. "I'm not angry..."

What she left unsaid was that she simply wanted nothing more to do with them—or this villa. She wanted none of it.

But instead, she said aloud, "I've graduated from college. This place doesn't really suit me anymore. I want to live somewhere else."

Grayson's expression darkened. He wasn't ready to let it go. "If that's the reason, we can look for another place together. You choose the neighborhood, we'll buy something new. Just don't sell this one. Don't you remember how we picked this villa together? Can you really bear to part with it?"

"Exactly. The three of us spent so long choosing it. And your parents gave it to you as a dowry. Why sell it?" Austin chimed in, clearly against the idea.

Elena furrowed her brows but still shook her head. "It's just a house. I have plenty. Besides, Vivian doesn't have a place to stay, right? You guys can buy it for her."

The moment she mentioned Vivian's name, both of them visibly brightened, though they hesitated.

Eventually, Austin couldn't resist speaking first. "Then let Vivian live here. She'll definitely take good care of this place."

Only Grayson seemed uneasy. His gaze was complicated as he looked at Elena. "You're okay with... Vivian living here?" He couldn't pinpoint why, but something about this felt off.

Before he could ask more, Elena chuckled softly. "Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

Then she made her decision without hesitation. "It's settled, then."

At her words, both Grayson and Austin fell silent, offering no further objections.

With the villa issue resolved, Elena felt a sense of relief.

When the agent returned with a buyer that afternoon for the signing, Elena noticed something ideal—the final handover date aligned with her departure day.

She wouldn't have to explain anything to Austin or Grayson.

The moment she signed her name, she stood alone in the small garden for a long, long time. The plants they had once planted together were still blooming.

But the one who had planted the mint was no longer there.

At that moment, Elena knew without a doubt that all her attachments, every bit of that so-called emotion and loyalty, had simply disappeared. Everything here was over.

With only one thing left on her mind, she went to see Paige at the care center. Paige greeted her with a bright, joyful smile "Elena, all grown up and heading for marriage!"

Elena couldn't help blushing, smiling shyly. "Paige, once the wedding's over, I'll bring him to meet you!"

"Fantastic! Then I will make sure he's worthy of you!" Paige laughed, her eyes crinkling.

Hearing her playful teasing, Elena couldn't stop herself from smiling too.

Tea was sipped, and conversation flowed easily between them. Jokes and stories filled the space and just like that the day was done.

After dinner, Elena reluctantly said goodbye to Paige.

"Paige, I'm heading back in three days. If you need anything, just call me, okay?"

Paige fought back her tears, nodding again and again as she placed a bank card in Elena's hand. "San Diego is so far away. I can't make that trip with my condition anymore. Here's a little something from me. It's not much, but please take it. Elena, your blessings are only beginning."

Elena's eyes turned red as she respectfully accepted the card. "I know. Don't worry. He's someone Mom personally picked for me. You don't trust her taste?"

Then, Elena quietly leaned against Paige's knee.

Paige waved her hand. "You don't need to worry about me. After you get married, just live well. On holidays and special occasions, give me a call, or video chat with me. If you can, come visit so I know you're doing okay."

When Elena walked out of the care center, she saw Grayson and Austin standing on either side of the car.

Vivian was with them.

Grayson looked up and saw Elena's red-rimmed eyes after she said goodbye to Paige. His chest tightened for no clear reason, and he blurted out, "Is Paige doing okay, Elena? Why are you crying?"

Seeing them, Elena wiped her eyes and replied calmly, "She's doing fine. It's been a while since I visited Paige. I'm about to leave, so it was hard to say goodbye."

Hearing her say that, Grayson visibly relaxed, and Austin also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Since we're all in North Carolina, whenever you miss Paige, Grayson and I can go with you anytime."

Paige, walking out from behind Elena, looked at the two boys, who were still completely in the dark. If they knew Elena was going home to get married, who knew how they'd react—they'd probably lose their minds.

She sighed and patted Elena's hand.

Elena gestured that she was fine and shifted her gaze to Vivian.

Only then did Paige pull her hand back and ask, "So... what's going on here?"

Grayson and Austin suddenly snapped out of it, looking flustered. They quickly explained, "Today's Thanksgiving. Vivian was alone, so we brought her home for dinner."

"Exactly. Don't misunderstand. We tried calling you, but you didn't pick up."

Their panic was obvious. In the past, during every holiday, they had fought over who got to take Elena home.

For the Harmon family, those festivals were big deals. Bringing a girl home during those times was essentially their way of introducing a potential daughter-in-law.

Elena never quite felt like she belonged, but she still accompanied them home every year.

But this year's Thanksgiving was different; they were bringing Vivian.

The significance was unmistakable.

Elena didn't call them out. She simply offered a polite smile. "Understood. Please say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Harmon for me."

With that, she turned to leave, heading toward her car.

Just then, Grayson and Austin called after her, "Elena!"

She turned back, her expression calm, which seemed to ease them both slightly.

Grayson stepped forward and took her hand. "Where are you going? We came to pick you up."

Austin quickly nodded in agreement.

For a brief moment, Elena saw a flicker in the eyes of both boys who had once adored her.

Time marches forward; old things fade, and new beginnings arise. This is the way of the world, and people are no different.

Elena glanced at Vivian, then shook her head. "You two go ahead. I have dinner plans with a friend tonight."

Without looking at Grayson or Austin again, she turned and walked away.

Later that evening, Elena received a call from Vivian after dinner.

Her soft voice came through the phone, tinged with clear smugness. "Ms. Sandoval, I went to the Harmon family's house tonight. Their parents were so lovely to me. Especially Grayson's grandmother! She even brought out the family heirloom and said she wanted to give it to me. Can you believe that they're..."

Elena calmly interrupted her as she said, "Ms. Gregory, I'm not interested in your affairs. You don't need to tell me any of this."

She ended the call.

The day before she was to leave, Elena went out again. She had arranged to go shopping with Celia Wilkinson, a friend from her study abroad days.

Elena didn't have many friends in North Carolina. Growing up, Grayson and Austin tightly controlled her social life. They wouldn't let her date and even tried to manage her friendships with other girls.

Back then, they would say things like, "Elena, aren't we enough for you? You're so amazing that I'm afraid even girls might fall for you."

They had been incredibly possessive, wanting her to make them the center of her universe. Yet, now, their own actions had driven her away.

After walking around for a while, Elena and Celia found a cafe to rest.

Celia sighed. "Elena, I can't believe you're really going back to San Diego to get married. I'm going to miss you so much. I really thought you'd end up marrying one of the Harmon brothers and staying in North Carolina. Then we could still hang out all the time."

Elena offered a small smile. "They had other options, and so did I."

Hearing that, Celia seemed a little disappointed.

She suddenly thought of Vivian, her expression clouding over as she said sharply, "You were so good to that maid, and she..."

Elena gently cut her off with a smile. "It's okay. No need to talk about people who don't matter. Once I'm back in San Diego, I probably won't see her again anyway."

Just as she finished speaking, Vivian walked in.

Since Elena and Celia were sitting near the entrance, Vivian overheard part of their conversation, but not all of it.

She came over immediately and asked excitedly, "Ms. Sandoval, are you going on a trip? Can I come? I've never traveled before!"

Elena had seldom encountered such a poor understanding of personal space. But perhaps she'd grown tolerant of Vivian's lack of awareness. Additionally, as her leaving date approached, Elena felt no anger, just a tranquil indifference.

However, Celia was furious. She slammed her coffee cup on the table and glared at Vivian. "We're going to Europe! Do you have money? Do you have a passport? Oh wait, it doesn't matter. Even if you do, I don't want you there. Seriously, do you have any boundaries? Do we even know each other that well? You're curious about everything. What's next? Are you going to try eating dog poop just because someone else did?"

Her voice was loud, and her words were cutting.

Vivian recoiled, looking genuinely surprised. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes and began to fall.

She turned with a pitiful look to Grayson and Austin, who had just entered behind her, her eyes pleading helplessly.

Grayson walked in and immediately saw Vivian's tear-streaked face. His expression darkened as he instinctively pulled her into his arms. "As long as I'm here, you can go anywhere in the world you want."

Austin chimed in, "So am I! Don't worry about a thing. If you want to go to the moon, I'll make it happen. Just ignore those irrelevant people."

With the two men fussing over her from both sides, Vivian finally smiled through her tears.

Then Grayson and Austin sat down with Vivian at the table right next to Elena's. Both men took turns serving Vivian food, their eyes full of affection.

Celia's anger was so intense she couldn't even drink, while Elena remained perfectly calm.

Celia rolled her eyes and didn't say a word. After paying the bill, she took Elena's hand and they left.

That day, neither Grayson nor Austin apologized. They didn't offer a single explanation.

Elena didn't care. She was busy shopping for her wedding shoes.

On her last day in North Carolina, Vivian moved into the villa.

Grayson and Austin got up early. That morning, the three of them were loud and cheerful in the kitchen.

When Elena came out of her room, they even invited her to eat with them.

With forced calm, she finished signing the paperwork with the agent and returned to her room, seeking to be out of sight and mind.

Grayson was packing Vivian's luggage. Vivian was telling Austin what to do as he cleaned.

When Elena stepped out to get some water, Vivian turned and asked if she wanted to help clean the house.

Elena smiled silently, offering no response. They didn't realize North Carolina was no longer her home, and their future would no longer include her.

Outside, the noise increased; it was clear they were moving luggage in.

Elena ignored it all. After finishing her packing, she got a call from Olivia.

When she answered, Olivia's warm voice came through. "Elena, what time is your flight? I'll send a driver to pick you up."

Elena checked her ticket and replied softly, "A little after five. I'll be home in time for dinner."

Just then, her door opened. She turned her head slightly and saw Grayson and Austin standing there.

Austin asked curiously, "You have dinner plans tonight?"

"Yeah." Elena hung up the call and answered coldly.

The coldness in her voice took them aback.

Elena had been growing increasingly distant since Vivian entered their lives. Grayson hadn't felt an explanation was necessary, but her recent coldness kept replaying in his thoughts, making him feel uneasy for the first time.

He unconsciously blurted out, "Elena, Vivian is different from you. Her father passed away, her mother is still seriously ill, and she has a younger brother who is still in school. She has had a tough life since she was young, so I couldn't help but help her more, there is nothing else."

Austin also chimed in, "Yeah, we were just pitying Vivian. Besides, didn't you also pity her in the beginning, letting her work as a maid in your house? How can you be jealous of her?"

Elena remained calm and said, "Okay, I understand. If there's nothing else, you can go. I still need to pack up my things."

They both exclaimed in unison, "Elena!"

The three of them grew up together as childhood friends, cultivating a deep understanding over the years.

As soon as she opened her mouth, they knew what she was going to say.

As soon as she reached out her hand, they knew what she wanted.

How could they not notice her dissatisfaction in her current state?

But now, they were increasingly unable to see through her.

Elena's eyes contained a hint of coldness, as if she was looking at two irrelevant people: "Is there anything else?"

Austin looked at her resistance and couldn't help but complain, "Elena, my brother and I just see Vivian as a friend. Can you please stop being mad at us?"

Elena completely cooled down, "I wasn't angry. Didn't you say you only see her as a friend? I am also your friend, so why should I be angry?"

For a moment, the two of them were speechless.

Austin remained silent for a long time, finally unable to resist saying, "Elena, you know, what I want is not just friendship."

Grayson couldn't control his emotions on his face. "How have I been to you all these years, Elena? Do you really think we're just friends?"

Elena naturally knew what they were talking about.

They all liked her and wanted to be with her.

But if helping Vivian bully her is what they liked, she couldn't bear it.

She nodded, "Yes, we were not friends."

Because it happened so quickly, she and they were no longer even friends.

They would only be strangers to each other in the future.

Her words hinted at something.

Grayson's heart suddenly skipped a beat, feeling inexplicably uneasy, about to speak.

The next moment, the driver called.

Elena grabbed her suitcase and headed towards the door. "You guys are busy, I have things to do."

Upon hearing this, Austin became extremely annoyed. "Can't you go on a business trip at a different time? Vivian just moved in and now you have to leave. Vivian is sensitive, she will think you have a problem with her!"

Elena laughed, "I really have something to do. You guys go help Vivian clean up. The villa is so big, and she's just a little girl, delicate and weak. She can't carry or lift things, she needs your help even more."

Austin sensed the sarcasm in her words, furrowing his brow as Vivian called out to him from the kitchen.

"Austin, Grayson, can you guys come help me? This is too heavy, I can't carry it by myself."

A voice of grievance and vulnerability came through, clearly falling into the ears of everyone in the living room.

The two of them exchanged a glance, then looked at Elena's cold expression. In the end, they decided to go help Vivian first.

Grayson walked into the kitchen and looked at Elena. "Vivian can't handle it herself, I'll go help her."

Austin grabbed a pair of gloves and said, "I'll come with you."

When Elena was about to leave, Grayson couldn't rest assured and walked out from the kitchen, saying, "Elena, I know you can't listen to me right now. I've booked a restaurant. After we finish moving, a few of us will have a meal together. I'll explain Vivian's situation to you later."

Before Elena could answer, Vivian started calling her again.

Watching his back as he walked away without looking back, Elena tugged at the corner of her lips.

Explain later?

Unfortunately, there was no future between them.

Not to mention, during this time, Elena didn't know how Grayson and Austin could explain their actions.

At this moment, the phone vibrated a few times, and Vivian sent another message full of provocation.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Sandoval, but I had to clean up, so Austin and Grayson left you to help me. I can't believe they just left you alone! I have already scolded them. Please don't be mad at them, Ms. Sandoval!"

Elena did not reply, she just blocked all of Vivian's contact information.

Then came Austin.

Finally, it was Grayson.

The list was cleared one by one.

These three people will completely disappear from her world in the future.

Finally, she boarded the plane without looking back.

There was no turning back anymore.