Yichen's POV
What the hell—
She's opening the door of a car.
My heart stuttered when I saw who was behind the wheel.
No.
No way.
That face.
That smirk.
Those damn dimples that always make people think he's charming.
Yiran.
Of course it's him.
I started running before I even realized what I was doing.
For a second, I thought maybe I was imagining it. Maybe it wasn't her.
But then I saw her hair—messy from the wind—and the way she hesitated before getting in.
It was her.
And she was leaving.
With him.
"Why… why the hell is she getting in his car?!" I muttered, every word burning through my throat.
Is she insane?
I reached for my phone immediately, already dialing her number.
She didn't pick up.
I called again. And again.
Nothing.
She was ignoring me.
Zhang Wei's voice echoed in my head, reminding me of what he'd told me earlier that day.
"Mrs. Hua seemed unwell. She said she felt nauseous and dizzy—"
... Maybe she's pregnant?
Pregnant?
The thought slammed into me like a train.
No. That can't be—
They broke up. Two weeks ago. It's impossible.
Right?
My head was spinning. My breath came out uneven.
"Damn it, Hua…" I muttered, pacing back and forth. "What are you doing?"
The phone rang again in my hand. Still no answer.
I gritted my teeth and stormed toward the parking lot.
If she thought she could just walk into my life, mess with my peace, and run away with my brother again—
She was wrong.
Hua's POV
The phone wouldn't stop buzzing.
I flipped it over and let it ring on silent.
I didn't want to talk to him. Not now. Not with Yiran sitting right next to me, eyes darting toward me every few seconds like he was waiting for me to explode.
"Are you really not going to answer him?" he asked finally, voice calm, almost too calm.
I ignored him, staring out the window.
The city slipped by—neon signs, busy streets, people with places to go.
I wished I could disappear among them.
"Did you two have a fight or something?" he continued.
"Where are we going?" I asked instead, my tone sharper than intended.
He didn't answer right away.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel, jaw set.
"To a special place," he said simply.
I frowned. "That's not an answer."
"You'll see."
Hours passed.
The buildings faded into fields, then forests, then the faint sound of waves reached my ears.
I looked up, confused.
He parked by the sea.
My breath caught when I recognized the place.
We used to come here.
Years ago.
When things were still… good.
It was our little escape—the place we'd go to hide from the world.
He drove all the way up to the stone seawall, then got out, opening my door like he always used to.
I hesitated before stepping out, the salty breeze hitting my face.
He walked ahead, hands shoved in his pockets, before stopping at the old stone ledge we used to sit on.
Then, leaning back on his palms, he tilted his head toward the sky and exhaled deeply.
"Ah… I needed that," he murmured.
I stood awkwardly beside him, clutching my bag.
The sound of the ocean filled the silence between us.
I didn't want to be here.
Not with him. Not after everything.
And yet… the crashing waves had a way of numbing everything—the chaos in my head, the ache in my chest.
So for a moment, I let my mind drift.
Minutes passed in silence before his voice cut through the wind.
"I'm sorry."
My head snapped toward him. "What?"
"I didn't know about the engagement," he said quietly. "That's why I couldn't warn you. When I found out, it was too late. And when it happened…"
He looked at me then, eyes glassy. "You were the only person I wanted to see."
I stared at him, unsure how to react.
"I wanted to tell you that I was being forced into marriage," he continued. "But I couldn't. Everything happened so fast."
For once, he looked… genuine.
Not the usual cocky, untouchable Yiran I used to know.
But someone fragile. Lost.
"I know you probably hate me," he said, voice cracking slightly. "But trust me, Hua. Wait for me. I'll end this marriage soon, and we can go back to how we used to be."
My heart sank.
He opened his bag and took something out.
My eyes widened.
"My earrings!" I blurted.
The ones I'd been desperate to get back.
He smiled softly, leaning closer. "Let me."
Before I could move, he reached up to place them on my ears.
The gesture was too familiar. Too intimate.
"Wait—" I stepped back quickly. "Don't."
He blinked, confused. "Why?"
"I don't want them anymore."
"What? You worked so hard for these!"
"I'm glad you said that," I snapped, my tone sharper than I expected. "Because you gave them to your wife for your wedding, remember? Why would I wear something that isn't mine anymore?"
He flinched.
"What kind of sick game are you playing, Yiran?" I demanded.
A faint smile curved on his lips—smug, almost amused.
"You saw the wedding pictures, huh?" he said, sounding oddly proud.
I stared at him, speechless. Is he serious right now?
"She bought them herself," he explained. "Probably copied the design from a photo she found on my phone."
My chest tightened with reluctant relief—but that didn't make it right.
He was still married. And whatever we used to have… it didn't exist anymore.
I glanced at his wrist then. His watch.
The one I'd bought him with my first paycheck.
I remembered saving up for months, just to surprise him.
Now, watching the reflection of the waves dance on its glass surface, I realized something painful—he'd never bought me anything. Not once.
Maybe our whole relationship had been more convenient for him than for me.
My thoughts spiraled until his sudden grip on my arms jolted me back.
"There's nothing between me and that woman," he said urgently. "It's just convenience."
I almost laughed.
He sounded exactly like his brother.
"And that's why," he continued, voice rising, "you can't marry him, Hua. Don't do it. Wait for me."
His eyes burned with something desperate. Passionate.
For a second, I felt guilty.
But it wasn't fair to let him keep hoping.
"We're already married," I said softly.
He froze. "What?"
"We signed everything. No ceremony, but… it's done."
"No!" His voice broke. "I refuse!"
I stood, brushing the sand from my skirt. "It is what it is. Too late to change it now."
He jumped to his feet, anger flashing in his eyes. "Then divorce him!"
I laughed. Genuinely laughed this time. "I can't."
His expression twisted—confusion, pain, disbelief. "But you don't love him, right?"
"I—"
The words caught in my throat.
I couldn't tell him the truth.
It was in the contract—no one could know the marriage was fake.
"I…"
He waited, searching my face for an answer I couldn't give.
Before I could speak, the roar of an engine tore through the sound of waves.
A car stopped abruptly nearby.
I knew that car.
Yichen.
He stepped out, slamming the door behind him, his eyes dark with fury.
"What the hell are you doing?" he barked, striding toward us. "You just can't move on, can you? Do you know how pathetic you look right now?"
Yiran's face turned scarlet.
"Shut up," he snapped, grabbing me suddenly, pulling me into his arms. "You can't separate us! We're meant for each other!"
I stiffened. His grip hurt.
Yichen's lips curled into a mocking laugh.
"Meant for each other?" he repeated, voice dripping with scorn. "You mean the kind of love that hides in the shadows while I marry another one in daylight? That kind?"
Yiran's jaw clenched, fury twisting his features.
Step by step, Yichen advanced.
Step by step, Yiran retreated.
Until I realized—
We were too close to the edge.
The seawall dropped straight into the cold water below.
"Let her go!" Yichen ordered, his tone sharp enough to cut glass.
Then—
Click.
I froze. "What was that sound?"
Yichen turned his head slightly. "Journalists."
Yiran panicked immediately.
He let go of me like I burned him, covering his face as he backed away.
"This isn't over!" he shouted at Yichen before turning to me.
"Hua! Think about what I said—I love you!"
Then he ran to his car and drove off, the tires screeching against the gravel.
For a second, all I could hear was the sea.
Then I turned—and Yichen was staring right at me.
Oh no.
His eyes were stormy, his jaw clenched tight.
He looked furious.
I took a step back.
Then another.
Until I realized too late—
There was no more ground beneath my foot.
And before I could even scream—
Cold water swallowed me whole.