Natalie Shaw suddenly blacked out while being intimate with her boyfriend, Felix Harrison.

In a haze, she overheard him talking to Steven Keller, his friend who was a doctor.

Steven gave her a quick check and asked solemnly, "Felix, did you drug Natalie so you could secretly take her bone marrow for Mabel?"

Felix gently brushed some hair from Natalie's face. "Yeah. The poison I used is mild. If it reacts more during intimacy, it causes less harm overall."

Steven sighed deeply as he adjusted the medical tools.

"I truly don't get what's going through your head. Sure, Mabel tricked you back then. You chased her to the airport, crashed your car, went into a coma, and ended up blind. Has she ever shown up since? It was Natalie who stayed by your side.

"Let's be honest. If she hadn't cared for you, you might've been long gone because of Mabel.

"Now that Mabel's sick and dumped, she suddenly tells you the child is yours, and you just believe her? You even got married to her, and now you're stealing Natalie's bone marrow to save her. How can you be this heartless?"

Natalie's fingers twitched slightly, but no one noticed.

The sound of tools clinking filled the ward, along with Felix's weary voice.

"Mabel showed me a DNA test. I only got the marriage certificate so her kid would have a legal father. I've made sure all the news is sealed off so Natalie won't find out.

"Seventeen years ago, there was a fire at an art exhibition. My mom was trapped inside and had an asthma attack. Mabel found her medicine and helped her get out first.

"Even if we didn't have a child, I'd still give her everything."

Steven slammed the device down furiously.

"What about Natalie? She's been nothing but genuine with you. Don't tell me you never felt anything."

Felix didn't answer right away. After a few seconds of silence, he said hoarsely, "I only got with Natalie to make Mabel jealous. I didn't know things would turn out like this.

"But the wedding plans won't change. I'll just fake a marriage certificate with Natalie.

"I'll make it up to her. Get ready and send her to the operating room..."

Natalie had no idea how long she'd been unconscious. When she came to, her head was foggy, and her mind couldn't focus.

But the conversation she heard while unconscious kept echoing in her mind.

The fire had always haunted her.

Seventeen years ago, she was only nine and was caught in a terrible fire. After countless surgeries, she finally managed to live normally again. Even now, she hated thinking about it.

At 16, she met Felix at an art contest. Both he and his painting left a lasting impression on her.

She kept her feelings hidden for five years because he already had a childhood sweetheart—Mabel Jefferson.

But Mabel didn't like him. Two days after agreeing to date him, she got involved with someone else.

When Felix confessed to Natalie, she felt surprised and nervous, but she couldn't help falling for his tenderness and love.

Then came the accident. On their college graduation day, he crashed his car and fell into a coma. Mabel disappeared.

Natalie gave up a chance to study overseas to stay by Felix's side. Her father was so angry that he threatened to break off relations with her. He even moved the family to New York, forbidding her mother and brother from sharing the address.

When Felix woke up, he was like a wounded animal, hurting anyone who approached him.

Except for Natalie. No matter how crazy he got, she stayed.

One day, Felix slashed his wrist. Natalie tried to stop him and ended up with cuts.

They collapsed into the bloody tub, and somehow, they started doing intimate things crazily.

"Natalie, don't leave me!"

After that, everything spiraled out of control.

For over six years, Natalie had stayed by his side, shared everything with him, and tried to bring light into his dark world.

But now, she finally saw the truth. What she thought was love had been a lie from the beginning.

Felix poisoned her and slept with her on the night he proposed, just to take her bone marrow and save Mabel.

They even had a child.

Natalie grabbed her phone to call her family, but the first thing she saw was a friend request.

It was from Mabel.

After she accepted it, a message came right away.

"You're finally awake? Felix was worried I might relapse and need your bone marrow again, so he kept you unconscious for over six months. My apologies."

She also sent a copy of her and Felix's marriage certificate.

Natalie searched the current date online and was stunned to learn she had been kept in a drugged coma for half a year.

With trembling lips, she dialed her elder brother's number.

"Liam, I want to go home. If I agree to the arranged marriage, do you think Mom and Dad will forgive me?"

When Liam Shaw heard Natalie's trembling voice, he had a feeling about what had happened. He frowned but chose not to press her for details.

"Dad may seem strict, but he's soft-hearted. He'll be glad to have you back. They've missed you a lot.

"Since Blake is still single, Dad might bring up the marriage again. But if you're against it, they likely won't insist.

"When are you planning to return? I can come pick you up."

The Shaw and Ximenez families had been close for generations, and the elders had long hoped Natalie would marry Blake Ximenez. However, she had always been uneasy around him and kept her distance.

Five years ago, the Shaw family faced a major business crisis. They made a bold decision to relocate to New York. With the Ximenez family's support, they managed to pull through.

Natalie was aware of that. She believed that cutting ties with Felix and following her family's arrangements might lead to a better outcome.

Holding back her tears, she replied, "I'm willing to go through with the marriage and try to get along with Blake.

"I'll return in two weeks. You don't have to come. I'll send you my flight details before departure."

Though she wished to leave immediately, she had to finish jewelry design projects for her clients.

She sat in silence for a long time, feeling hollow inside.

"Natalie, you're finally awake. What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Felix suddenly entered the ward.

Moments later, she felt his lips brush the corner of her eye, and she turned her head away.

Felix assumed she was upset about his absence, so he sat beside her and gently wiped her tears.

She looked at his handsome face, with attractive eyes full of apparent affection.

If she hadn't overheard that conversation, she might have believed his feelings were genuine.

"What illness do I have?" she asked.

Before he could respond, a young boy, around seven, burst in and called out, "Daddy!"

Felix quickly stood up, distanced himself from Natalie, and looked toward Mabel, who had just entered.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

"Eddie said you promised to take him out today. He kept asking me to find you," Mabel replied with a decent smile. "Natalie, my son is still young. I apologize."

Natalie noticed the challenge in Mabel's eyes but remained silent.

The atmosphere grew awkward. Just then, Steven arrived to check on Natalie and pulled Felix out.

Mabel leaned in and whispered to Natalie, "In love, the more you give, the deeper you fall. Those who receive it easily often don't value it.

"You've been losing from the start. What do you have to compete with me?"

Eddie then bumped his head against Natalie's waist.

"Bad woman! I won't let you take my daddy!"

Weakened, Natalie fell to the ground.

Eddie, however, clutched his forehead, sat on the ground, and began to cry.

"What happened?" Felix hurried over.

Eddie sobbed and complained, "That bad woman pushed me!"

Felix gave Natalie a cold glare. "Apologize to Eddie!"

Mabel pretended to help Natalie up.

"No need to apologize. It's normal for boys to fall. He'll be fine after crying a bit. Natalie just woke up today. We came at a bad time. I can understand that she's upset."

Natalie avoided Mabel's hand and stood up on her own, but Mabel pretended to stumble and fell into Felix's arms.

In the commotion, Natalie was knocked down again, along with several IV bottles.

Broken glass pierced her hands.

Felix, however, focused only on scolding her.

"Are you out of your mind? You push Eddie first, then Mabel! What did they do to you? Was it so wrong to ask you to apologize?"

Natalie forced a bitter smile.

After Felix hurt her by accident while harming himself during his eye injury, he once promised he'd never let her get injured again. But now, he ignored her bleeding hands.

The emotional pain spread through her, and she looked up with a pale face. "I haven't done anything to them. Why should I apologize?"

Felix pursed his lips and snorted coldly. Turning to Mabel and Eddie, he said, "Don't mind her. I'll take you to the amusement park."

As he left the ward, he paused and said, "You can be discharged now. Have the driver take you home."

Natalie lifted her chin and blinked away her tears. After getting her wound stitched, she slowly walked back to their house.

Seeing all the matching items, she felt pain.

She had decorated everything according to Felix's preferences, and they had called this place their home.

Every corner held memories of their time together—the living room, the balcony, the bathroom, and so on.

Suddenly, Natalie felt no desire to take anything with her.

A message popped up on her phone. Mabel had sent numerous photos. They seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"Felix loves kids. You've been with him for years, but you never secured your place with a child. How foolish."

The last was a group photo.

Eddie sat on Felix's shoulders, while Mabel leaned against him. The setting sun casts a golden glow over them.

Natalie's hand moved from her waist to her lower abdomen. She and Felix had two children as well.

During her first pregnancy, Felix was in a bad mood. Without explanation, he asked her to terminate it.

The second time, he claimed he didn't like children and wasn't ready to be a father.

Now, it was clear—he simply didn't love her.

Natalie turned off her phone and locked herself in the study, drawing nonstop.

She knew that if she turned in her draft sooner, she could leave sooner.

For three straight days, the maid kept persuading Natalie to stop, worried that she'd hurt her injured hands again, but she didn't step out of the room.

Felix hadn't come home either. He called once to say he was away on business.

Mabel, meanwhile, kept uploading photos. The scenery didn't look like anywhere in America.

Felix was with her, giving her flowers, holding her hand, peeling shrimp, cutting steak, and feeding her fruit.

When Natalie cared for Felix during his injury, he had told her, "Thanks for everything. When my sight comes back, I'll do everything couples do and spoil you like a princess."

He even said, "If you want the stars or the moon, I'll get them for you."

But after he fully recovered, he drugged her and took her bone marrow.

Natalie laughed bitterly at the memory.

On the day she turned in her design draft, the jeweler invited her to dinner. Some of the items up for auction were her earlier works.

She didn't expect to run into Felix, Mabel, and Eddie there.

Felix's expression shifted when he saw her.

"Natalie, you should be resting at home. I didn't think you'd come, so I was planning to send you photos," he said.

Natalie noticed the jewelry Mabel wore.

It was the wedding set she had designed herself—necklace, earrings, bracelet, even the rings.

While working on the design, she and Felix went through many ideas. They started with eyes, then the sun, and finally chose the iris because it stood for light.

When Felix's vision came back, he lifted the design sketch, spun her around with excitement, and said, "Natalie, you're the light in my life! I'll ask a top craftsman overseas to make it perfectly for us."

He had actually traveled overseas to retrieve it.

The final piece was better than Natalie had expected.

But the person receiving it had changed.

Mabel smiled proudly. "Natalie, since you're a jewelry designer, could you help me look at this set?"

She added quickly, "Just so you know, Felix gave them to me. If you criticize them, he might not like it."

Natalie drew in a steadying breath.

She had pictured the wedding Felix once described many times, but now it would never happen.

The jewelry no longer held the same meaning.

Still, she smiled politely. "It's lovely. It looks great on you."

Felix felt guilty and tried to explain, "Natalie, I..."

Before he could say more, Mabel clung to his arm with a shy smile.

"Felix, you've got great taste. Even Natalie agrees it fits me."

Eddie also wrapped himself around Felix's legs, speaking sweetly.

Natalie quietly stepped away and sat near the swimming pool outside, feeling upset.

The night breeze brushed past her, and she tightened her shawl.

Suddenly, a coat was draped over her shoulders.

"Natalie, don't get the wrong idea. I was truly on a work trip. Mabel came along to unwind. I had planned to surprise you with that jewelry set. But she liked it so much, so I gave it to her as a gift for recovering.

"You're an amazing designer—you wouldn't be upset over just one piece, right? The wedding's not for a while. We can work on a better design together."

As he spoke, Felix hugged her from behind.

His warm breath near her ear brought back memories of their closeness.

Natalie felt uncomfortable and stepped away, leaving only his coat in her place.

"Felix, what if I make a big deal out of this?"

She had always been the quiet one in the relationship. For the first time, Felix thought she was being difficult.

"I explained everything. It's only a design. You've made so many. Does it matter who wears this one?

"Or do you just have something against Mabel?"

Natalie turned cold.

"Just because you explained doesn't mean I can't be upset. Saying sorry doesn't mean I have to forgive you. Giving me something else doesn't erase the pain.

"Also, I don't have to like Mabel."

Felix froze for a moment, unsure if she had figured something out.

But after a moment, he convinced himself everything had gone smoothly. He believed Natalie's love for him would keep her from leaving.

Any guilt he had felt vanished instantly.

"You're being ridiculous."

Felix flung his coat around his shoulders and stormed off.

Natalie sat down again, and her sadness slowly faded. She pulled out her phone and began searching for flights three days out.

Only one design needed to be submitted, and three days would be enough.

"Take this, bad woman!"

She turned and got hit full in the face with a blast of water.

Eddie sprayed her with a large water gun.

"Haha, trying to take my daddy? Now you're all wet!"

Natalie didn't know how to handle naughty kids like him. She shielded her face and tried to get away.

"Ah! The bad woman wants to hit me!"

Eddie shouted and shoved her hard into the pool.

Though it wasn't deep, Natalie couldn't swim and struggled to stay above water.

Eddie dove in and yanked at her legs.

She was too weak to fight back.

For a moment, she felt like she was back in that fire from 17 years ago. She couldn't breathe or see anything, and her life was slipping away.

Mabel and Felix rushed out, followed by a crowd.

Felix handed Eddie to Mabel and turned back to pull Natalie out of the water.

He grabbed her roughly and let her head slam into the pool's edge on purpose, causing blood to spread through the water.

Then, he shoved her aside.

"Natalie, how could you attack a child and push him into the pool?"

Mabel bent down, holding Eddie tightly while tears streamed down her face.

She ignored his winks and didn't mention that he'd been swimming since he was two and loved splashing around.

The onlookers whispered among themselves.

"Why would she do that to a kid? What kind of grudge could she have?"

"That's attempted murder! Who is this cruel woman?"

"I heard she lived in Mr. Harrison's other courtyard. Now that Ms. Jefferson's back, there's no place for her. Rumor has it that Ms. Jefferson left with the baby years ago."

"So she's just the hidden mistress? And now she dares hurt Mr. Harrison's son? She's got some nerve."

Mabel began to cry and complain, "Natalie, if you're upset because I wore the jewelry you designed, you could've told me. I'll give it back."

Eddie also started crying loudly.

Natalie looked like she was about to pass out and couldn't speak.

After coughing up water, she curled up and shook all over.

The fear she had felt as a child came flooding back, leaving her frozen and helpless in the face of death.

Felix walked over again and roughly turned her in another direction.

He gripped her pale cheeks tightly and forced her to look straight at Mabel and Eddie.

"Keep apologizing until they forgive you!"

Natalie's eyes lit up briefly when she heard his voice, but they quickly dimmed.

In the past, when she had bad dreams, Felix would hold her close, kiss her awake, and keep her in his arms until exhaustion pushed the nightmares away.

Now, though, he only focused on Mabel and Eddie. He didn't even notice how strange she looked.

"Natalie, I told you to apologize! Who are you trying to impress?"

Natalie looked at Felix. Blood trickled from her soaked hair, her eyes dark and unreadable.

"Why are you accusing me of hitting him and pushing him in? No one saw it happen. You can check the surveillance."

Felix snorted, not even letting her finish.

"Kids don't lie. Mabel and I heard Eddie yelling that you hit him. Only you two were at the pool. He wouldn't jump in just to frame you.

"I used to think you were kind. But after you saw Mabel and Eddie at the hospital, everything changed. You've been against them ever since. And this isn't the first time you've hurt Eddie. How can I believe you?"

Despite feeling faint, she glared back stubbornly.

Felix shoved her again. "Still not going to say sorry?"

He raised his voice to the people around them. "Everyone here—listen up. If you ask her to design jewelry, you're standing against me."

The Harrison family was now the wealthiest in Washington. Since Natalie had crossed Felix, plenty of people eager to stay in his good graces would turn against her.

Her clients were all high-class, either rich or powerful. If gossip spread, her whole career would fall apart.

The jeweler was the first to tell her she didn't need to finish the rest of the designs and asked for the deposit to be returned.

Suddenly, a tall man stepped out from the crowd.

He lifted Eddie and tossed him into the pool.

Felix rushed forward, ready to jump in.

But Eddie flipped in the water, came up, and yelled, "Here comes another bad guy! Daddy, beat him up!

"I've known how to swim since I was three! You can't drown me!"

He climbed out of the pool without help.

The man then explained everything he had seen.

Eddie even stuck his tongue out at Natalie.

"You're so dumb! You're old and still almost drowned!"

Mabel's expression shifted slightly. She raised her hand like she might hit him, but she just grabbed his arm.

"Say sorry to Natalie and promise you'll behave."

Then, she bowed deeply to Natalie. "I'm sorry. I didn't teach him right."

Natalie didn't respond.

Eddie copied Mabel and bowed, repeating the apology.

They looked like they meant it. They kept bowing, waiting for Natalie to reply.

But in truth, they were just pushing her to accept their apology.

Felix stepped forward to back them up.

"Natalie, Eddie is still young. Mabel also let him say sorry. What more do you want?

"We got it wrong this time. I can make it up to you."

Then he remembered what Natalie had told him before—that an apology didn't mean she had to forgive.

He held back the rest of his words and felt a bit of regret.

Wrapped in a towel, Natalie got to her feet. "It's fine."

She truly didn't care anymore.

Once she gave the deposit back, she planned to catch the first flight out.

But her body was weak. Everything went dark when she stood up.

Felix caught her. "Natalie, let me take you to the hospital."

Mabel looked over and suddenly dropped to the ground, making Eddie scream in panic.

Felix immediately let go of Natalie's hand. He turned back to help Mabel, leaving Natalie alone with her injuries.

Natalie lay unconscious in a hospital bed, burning with fever.

In her dream, she kept switching between burning flames and cold water. The nightmare jolted her awake, and her pillow was soaked with sweat.

"You're finally awake."

The man who had thrown Eddie into the pool sat not far away.

It took her a moment to realize it was Blake.

She hadn't seen him in years, and his sharp features seemed even more intimidating. She instinctively shrank back.

"Why are you here? Don't tell Liam. I'll head home in two days after I end the deal with the jeweler."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Blake frowned slightly, and frustration welled up inside him for no clear reason.

"You had five stitches on your head and got a mild concussion. You think you'll be okay to leave in two days?"

Natalie had always been scared of him. She bit her lip and stayed silent.

After a while, she used the excuse of going to the restroom to slip away and return home.

Her phone showed two missed calls from Felix and a few unread texts from Mabel.

"Even though I looked fine, Felix still took me to the hospital and called in doctors from every department. He was overreacting.

"Natalie, you're pathetic. Don't you see who he truly cares about?"

There was a photo of Felix rushing around the hospital for her.

His anxiousness and care were clearly shown.

Natalie stared at each photo until the emotions in her heart slowly calmed down.

Then, the doorbell rang. Felix's assistant appeared, holding a fancy shoe box.

"Ms. Shaw, this was designed by Mr. Harrison and crafted by Ms. Deborah. Please have a look."

The shoes sparkled with diamonds and had detailed embroidery. It was so stunning that she couldn't look away.

Besides designing jewelry, Natalie had a passion for collecting shoes. If she had gotten this earlier, she would've been overjoyed.

She carried the shoes to the custom shoe wall Felix had made for her and placed them inside a crystal box.

That pair filled the last empty spot.

When she got her first pair, Felix said that once the wall was full, he'd build her a whole shoe room in their future home.

Now the wall was complete, but he had forgotten that promise.

So, she no longer wanted the gift, including him.

Natalie didn't want to stay any longer. She packed up and went to the jeweler to return the deposit and cancel the deal.

When the jeweler saw her, he covered his mouth in shock.

He carefully asked about her connection to Blake, ripped the contract, and refused to take the deposit.

After Natalie still insisted on giving back the deposit, he shared a story, trying to win her over.

"Mr. Harrison is always kind to Mabel, but you probably don't know why."

Years ago, Felix's mother, Anna Todd, got caught in a fire at an art exhibition and ended up developing asthma.

A little girl had helped her find her purse and medicine, then ran around shouting for help until firefighters came.

The girl breathed in a lot of smoke and dust from running around and yelling for help.

By the time someone saved the girl, she was barely holding on. All she left behind was a sunflower-shaped diamond hairpin.

Two years later, Anna passed away due to illness. Before dying, she told Felix to find that girl and repay her kindness.

"It's a coincidence. At his mother's funeral, Mabel saw the hairpin and claimed it was hers.

"She didn't just save his mother's life but also helped him get through losing his mother. Do you get it?"

Natalie listened quietly, her chest feeling tight.

The fire that haunted her dreams for years also took place at the art exhibition.

The sunflower-shaped diamond hairpin was the first thing she ever designed as a child. It came in a pair, and she still had the matching one.

Could something like that truly happen by chance?

Natalie walked home slowly, feeling lost.

She only realized that Felix had mistaken someone else to repay his kindness when she found Anna's photo.

But it had nothing to do with her anymore.

She smiled bitterly and bought a ticket to fly home the next day.

Natalie collapsed onto the bed, and the fever came back.

Her phone lit up with two messages from Felix. He was trying to explain.

"Natalie, do you like the shoes I designed for you?

"I rushed Mabel to the hospital last night because I was afraid her old condition might return. Don't overthink. I'll finish work early and come home for dinner."

Even his lies felt lazy and half-hearted.

After reading it, she just felt her love meant nothing.

Later that night, Felix suddenly went crazy and dragged her downstairs.

"You hired someone to rob Mabel and stayed here like nothing happened?" he shouted.

Natalie pointed calmly to the bandages on her head.

"I have five stitches here and got a mild concussion. Do you think I can hurt her in this state?"

Felix looked at her pale skin and the bloody gauze. His heart ached.

Mabel cried softly nearby.

"I was going to return the jewelry, but right after I stepped outside, I was attacked. They said your name while they were grabbing me. Why would they do that?"

Felix's expression darkened. He shoved Natalie on the couch.

"Mabel has always been honest and kind! What excuse do you have now?

"Since I proposed to you, I promised we'd still marry. So why do you keep going after her?

"Haven't I treated you well all these years?"

Natalie felt like her chest was splitting open.

Mabel's lies were obvious, and there was no proof at all, yet Felix still believed her.

After the car crash, Felix had been in a coma for two months. When he woke up, he changed. He became moody and unstable—sometimes crying, sometimes lashing out.

It was all because of Mabel's betrayal. But he had forgotten that.

To make Mabel jealous, Felix gave Natalie an illusion of happiness for half a year, and she foolishly stayed by his side for more than six years.

When his father nearly had him admitted to a mental hospital, she still stayed by his side, even with her head injured and covered in blood.

She studied psychology just for him, helped him through his episodes, acted as his support, and kept his moods steady.

But he had forgotten it all.

After all that pain, he seemed to think that a fake promise of marriage would make her feel content and grateful.

Natalie sneered. "Just say it—what do you want?"

Felix didn't like how she was acting. His expression turned colder.

"You hurt Mabel. Either apologize or endure what happened to her. Pick one."

Mabel wiped away tears and spoke softly, "Felix, that moment scared me so much. If you hadn't come, I don't know what would've happened. Please don't let Natalie experience that.

"Just make her design my wedding rings, okay?"

Natalie clenched her fists tightly, and her glass-cut palms began to bleed again.

She didn't even notice. Staring straight at Felix, she asked, "She wants me to design her rings. Are you fine with that?"

Felix couldn't meet Natalie's eyes, but he still gave in to Mabel's whining.

That night, after sending Mabel home, he returned for the first time.

He even brought Steven to treat Natalie's wound and change her bandages.

She ignored him completely as if he weren't there.

Felix wasn't mad or upset. Instead, he patiently coaxed her.

"I know I haven't treated you right these last few days. Mabel just came back. If you gave her a chance, you'd see she's pretty easy to get along with.

"I'll make time next week to visit your parents with you. Since we're getting married, I'm sure you'd want their blessings."

His voice was gentle, just like it used to be before Mabel showed up.

But Natalie was tired of listening to fake kindness wrapped in sweet words.

She faced away from him and stayed wide awake the whole night.

As Felix left for work the next morning, Natalie had already packed.

She placed three things on the bedside table and asked the maid to tell him.

She left him a sunflower-shaped diamond hairpin, the engagement ring he once gave her, and all the texts she got from Mabel.

She brought nothing but her ID.

She would leave everything behind and forget everything that had happened.

Natalie stepped out of the place she had called home for over six years as if she were just going for a stroll.

She used to see Felix as her entire world and never imagined leaving him. But now that she was walking away, it wasn't as difficult as she once feared.

Her steps felt lighter as she sent her flight details to Liam.

Suddenly, a car screeched to a stop next to her.

Three strong men jumped out, threw a black hood over her head, and dragged her into the vehicle.

In just a few seconds, the car sped off, leaving her phone behind.

Natalie forced herself to stay calm. "Who are you guys?"

But no one answered. Throughout the whole ride, they said nothing.

Eventually, she was tied to a chair in an old, abandoned house.

Mabel sat nearby, also tied up. But instead of looking scared, she was smiling.

"Don't be so tense, Natalie. I just wanted to play a little game with you."

Natalie stopped scanning around and looked at Mabel. "You set this up? Why? What do you want?"

People around them began pouring gasoline all over the place.

Mabel's eyes lit up with a strange excitement.

"I'm already married to Felix, but you're still clinging to him. You'd rather be his hidden mistress than leave him. I had to give you a reason to stop chasing him.

"You're so irritating. Felix even kept our marriage a secret because of you. He never treated me like this before.

"I heard you're scared of fire. Want to bet on something? Let's see who Felix will choose when he gets here. The one left behind will be burned to death."

The house reeked of gasoline after several barrels were emptied inside. The strong odor made Natalie shiver.

"There's no need for this! I already bought the plane ticket—I was on my way to the airport when you had me taken.

"Please let me go. I won't fight you for Felix. He's yours—he never loved me anyway.

"Tell them to stop! Don't set it on fire. Please, don't—"

But her pleas were useless. The lighter was tossed, landing in the gasoline, and the flames quickly spread.

Natalie froze, her breathing ragged as she stared at the fire.

Mabel sneered. "Scared of a little fire, are you?

"Don't blame me for being cruel. I've always liked to grab what I wanted. I don't need anyone's hand-me-downs.

"The game's begun. Let's see how it ends."

Then, her face twisted into panic, and she suddenly started screaming for help.

Natalie, paralyzed by fear, instinctively followed suit.

She was just as helpless as she had been 17 years ago.

Back when Anna was saved, nine-year-old Natalie hid under a table. The roof collapsed around her, black smoke filling her lungs until she could barely breathe. Flames eventually reached the table as well.

Her world became a blur of heat and fear.

The firefighter said he'd be right back, but he never returned until she passed out.

She woke up in the hospital and stayed there for over a year. Even after healing from one operation, she had to go through another. It felt like the surgeries would never end.

"Mabel? Natalie?"

Natalie thought she heard Felix's voice. "Felix? Felix! I'm here—"

Flames were eating away at the old furniture. She was tied to a chair, unable to move.

Felix burst through the door. "Don't be scared. I'll get you out."

Tears streamed down her face as she nodded desperately.

But just as Felix reached for the ropes, Mabel cried out weakly, "Felix..."

He turned toward Mabel.

Natalie saw Mabel smile at her and then collapse.

Felix untied Mabel's rope and said anxiously, "Hold on, Natalie. Wait for me. I'll come back. Don't worry!"

His words were the same as what she heard back then, but the firefighter never came back. Fear of being left behind took over her again.

"Mabel is fine. She planned the whole thing. She wasn't unconscious.

"I'm the one who saved your mother back then. Can you help me out first?"

Natalie was overwhelmed. She was shaking and struggling to speak clearly.

"Natalie, I never expected you'd go this far just to stay alive." Felix tossed Mabel's rope aside and pulled her into his arms. "I had you all wrong."

Tears streamed down Natalie's face. "Please don't leave me! Don't go..."

But he didn't turn back. He vanished into the flames.

She cried harder, pleading with him.

Back when nightmares used to torment her, it was Felix who helped her sleep. He knew everything, yet he still walked away.

He had forgotten those dark days when she was the only light he had.

Natalie understood he would never return to save her.

Every time Mabel showed up, Natalie was the one who got left behind.

The engine's roar cut through the crackling fire, sharp and painful.

Natalie collapsed with the chair and crawled slowly toward the fire, letting the heat sting the ropes still tied around her wrists behind her.

She wasn't ready to die. She hadn't said sorry to her parents. She just wanted to go home.

"You idiot."

A cold snort came from above. Someone lifted her and undid the rope.

"That blind man already ran off with the woman he loves. Even if you burn alive, he's not coming back for you.

"Oh, but he did call the fire department. Think you'll still be breathing when they get here? Still dreaming of his fake sweet words?"

Blake carried Natalie out of the fire.

Her ears rang, and she couldn't catch everything he said.

She clung to his neck, sobbing.

"Please take me home. I want to go home..."

Blake kept answering her, again and again, "Okay. I'll take you home."

Felix took Mabel to the hospital and persuaded her to get a check-up.

But his mind was stuck on Natalie's teary face and her desperate cries asking him to stay.

She wasn't picking up his calls either.

Frustrated, he returned his assistant's long string of missed calls. "Is Natalie safe?"

The voice on the line sounded low. "I'm sorry, Mr. Harrison. I arrived less than five minutes after you left, but there was no one in the flames."

Felix breathed a sigh of relief. "Then someone must've gotten her out. Find her. Search all nearby hospitals. Track down whoever kidnapped them and started the fire!"

He hung up and used all his connections to locate Natalie. Eventually, he found out which hospital had treated her.

But the messenger told him, "Ms. Shaw only treated her wounds. A helicopter picked her up. She just left Washington."

"What?"

Natalie had never left his side before. Felix couldn't believe she was gone.

"Double-check it! Maybe it's just someone with the same name."

Even as he said it, panic crept in.

He left Mabel at the hospital and rushed home.

Everything there was unchanged. The maid was making dinner, and Natalie's belongings were still in place.

Just as he felt a bit of relief, the maid said, "Ms. Shaw told me to tell you she left some gifts for you on the bedside table."

Those words convinced him she still loved him. He wouldn't believe she would leave him.

With a small smile, Felix trotted into the bedroom.

There were two small gift boxes on the bedside table. He opened the familiar one—inside was the engagement ring he had given her.

His chest tightened. He reached for the note beneath the box.

Though there were only a few lines, they were enough to hit him like a lightning bolt.