Juniper and Nelson’s relationship came to an abrupt and painful end, leaving no trace of him afterward. On social media, his final post showed a photo of himself with another woman, and Nelson’s only reply to her was a single, cutting sentence: “What I haven’t done with you, I have done with her.” In the eyes of everyone around her, Juniper had clearly been used and discarded by Nelson, yet she still clung to the hope of winning back his genuine affection. Their history, however, ran deep: she had first met Nelson when she was just twelve years old. He tutored her after school, helped her find financial sponsors, and even bought her hearing aids. For much of her early life, Nelson was the one constant presence she could rely on. Four years later, they crossed paths again. This time, Juniper was determined to seek a proper, formal closure—a clean breakup. But when she faced him, Nelson asked her, “Have you ever truly loved me?”

Chapter 1"Juniper Lane probably isn't coming today, right? She hasn't contacted us for four years.""If I were her, I wouldn't show my face at a class reunion. The whole homewrecker scandal caused such a massive uproar back then. Doesn't she have any shame?"Juniper's hand had just reached the door handle of the private room when she heard the voices slipping through the crack.Her fingertips curled unnaturally, and she instinctively pulled her hand back to touch her ear."Nelson Saint only treated her well because he pitied her, yet she actually tried to wedge herself into his relationship.""Now that Nelson is married and has a kid, it would be absolutely disgusting if she tried to stir up trouble again.""She deserved to be locked up in that psychiatric hospital! Her delusions were out of control, always claiming she dated him. What a liar.""Wait, what? What's this about a psychiatric hospital?""Oh... so you guys didn't know..."The heated discussion inside instantly froze the courage Juniper had painstakingly built up.Four years ago, she and Nelson really had been dating, but he had abruptly dumped her without a single word of explanation.Right after she had given him her first time, when their love was burning at its brightest, he suddenly went abroad with his childhood sweetheart.The man who had sworn he loved her one second posted a photo with his childhood sweetheart on his social media the next.The only message he left for her was a single, crushing sentence: I've done everything with her that I never did with you.Then, she was blocked everywhere.Every possible channel of communication was completely severed.Her best friend told her she had just been played, that rich heirs like him always went for clueless, innocent girls like her.But she refused to believe it.Four years had passed, and she still didn't believe it.She needed an answer.She stood outside the private room, her outstretched fingers hesitating to push the door open.The comments inside grew increasingly vicious, finally touching upon the one thing she feared most—the psychiatric hospital.She took a massive step back, only for her back to bump into a solid, warm chest.Juniper froze. She instinctively turned around to look, and her pupils instantly contracted.He looked different from the arrogant, fiery boy in her memory. He had grown much more mature and restrained, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. His features were striking, with deep-set eyes and a narrow crease above them that gave him an inherently lazy, seductive look when his gaze swept upward.Nelson was flawlessly handsome. A few buttons on his dress shirt were left undone, revealing the sharp line of his collarbone.He stood there, exuding a cold, untouchable nobility, the overhead lights casting a halo over him like he was encased in glass.They had once shared a bed and promised each other the future, yet a full four years had wedged themselves between their last meeting and this moment.But to Juniper, it felt as though Nelson had never really left. He was everywhere; she saw his shadow around every corner.Her best friend had held her as she cried, telling her she had lost her mind—that Nelson had broken her so thoroughly she had gone crazy.She quietly hid her hands behind her back, clenching them into tight fists."Long time no see, Nelson."His name slipped past her lips with a subtle tremble.She had only shown up tonight because she knew he would be here.Nelson was tall, standing nearly six foot two. He didn't seem to have any emotional reaction to her presence, looking at her as if she were just another old classmate.His gaze lingered on her for only a few seconds before shifting away, his tone indifferent. "Aren't you going in?"The words that tumbled from his throat were chillingly distant.Juniper lowered her eyelashes, the question she had rehearsed for so long catching in her throat. "I came here to ask..."Before she could finish, someone walked around the corner, their tone laced with confusion. "Nelson, didn't I tell you not to wait for me?"Juniper jolted, and when she looked up to see Lydia Thorne, a suffocating wave of despair washed over her.Lydia was Nelson's childhood sweetheart. She was holding the hand of a four-year-old girl, a child whose features bore a striking resemblance to his.Lydia was dressed impeccably and smiled as she greeted her. "Oh, it's you, Juniper. Long time no see."Juniper's gaze fixed on the child, her hands balling into tight fists.The little girl reached up, tugging at Nelson's suit jacket. "Daddy."Nelson bent down and scooped her up into his arms, his expression instantly softening. "What is it?"The little girl's eyes sparkled with joy as she planted a kiss on his cheek.Lydia feigned annoyance. "Sweetie, you just ate a mango cupcake. Don't you know your dad is allergic to mangoes?"She pulled out a tissue to wipe Nelson's cheek, but he habitually dodged her touch. "It's fine."Lydia playfully glared at him. "You always spoil her."She seemed to just remember there was an outsider present and turned back to look at Juniper. But Juniper reacted as if the scene had physically burned her; she abruptly spun around and pushed open the door she hadn't dared to touch moments before.The lively chatter inside came to a dead halt the second they saw Juniper.But when they spotted the three people standing right behind her, a look of twisted amusement rippled across everyone's faces.In her panic, Juniper scrambled to the most obscure corner seat she could find and sat down.She kept her fists clenched tightly in her lap, needing the tension to keep herself grounded. She couldn't afford... to be stupid again.Everyone in the room immediately rushed to greet Nelson.Just like in the old days, he was always the most dazzling presence in any crowd.Only now, there were even more people desperate to suck up to him.Juniper couldn't register what anyone around her was saying until someone asked if that was his daughter.Nelson's tone remained cool as he held the little girl in his arms. "If she wasn't mine, would she look this much like me?"Seeing their faces side-by-side, no one in their right mind would doubt it."Congratulations! Did you guys have the wedding abroad? When do we get to celebrate with you?""Nelson, you really are winning at life. Lydia waited for you for years, right?""She looks so much like you! She's adorable."Nelson's peripheral vision caught the quiet figure huddled in the distance while he casually chatted with the crowd.Lydia took the child from him and warned, "No drinking later."The crowd immediately started teasing them. "Whipped, Nelson! Totally whipped!"Nelson chuckled lightly but didn't say anything.Everyone here had been navigating the real world for a few years now. They were all shrewd enough not to bring up Juniper's past at a moment like this. After all, Juniper had never been a somebody; she was practically invisible back in college. No one believed that a quiet, small-town girl who clawed her way out of poverty could ever really be involved with a golden boy like Nelson. So, everyone silently agreed that Juniper's claims back then had simply been a mental breakdown.The atmosphere around her was buzzing, but none of it reached her. Amidst the warmth of the room, she felt her blood run ice-cold.She lowered her head, desperately wishing she could just disappear, when a woman's voice cut through the noise."Juniper, didn't you search the whole world for Nelson back then? Well, he's right here now."Every pair of eyes in the room locked onto her, dripping with malice.Back then, when Juniper couldn't find Nelson, she had frantically posted on the university forum, only to get doxxed.Rumors spread like wildfire, fueled by the official relationship announcement Nelson posted on his social media, seemingly in a rush to distance himself from her.Even their counselor had called her into the office for a gentle chat. Every word was delivered with a soft smile, yet every sentence accused her of being a pathological liar."You've been funded by a generous benefactor since middle school, right? Do you even know who sponsored you? It was the Thorne Family. Lydia is the heiress to the Thorne estate. And now you're spreading rumors that you slept with her boyfriend? Is this how you repay your benefactors?"Juniper had been terrified and overwhelmed, her face draining of color as she pointed to the marks on her neck to defend herself.How far into a corner did someone have to be pushed to use something like that to prove they had been with a man?Unsurprisingly, the counselor's eyes instantly filled with unvarnished contempt.*"Oh? Ms. Lane was looking for me?"That single sentence snapped her back to reality. With dozens of mocking eyes fixed on her, she met Nelson's gaze.His eyes were dead calm, so calm that it truly looked as if absolutely nothing had ever happened between them.A sharp lump formed in her throat, her heart pounding frantically against her ribs.The woman who wanted to humiliate Juniper pushed further."Yeah, Nelson, didn't you know? After you and Lydia went abroad, Juniper went completely unhinged posting all over the campus forums."Nelson looked like a detached bystander. Not a single ripple of emotion disturbed his eyes as his long fingers slowly turned the wine glass on the table. "Why were you looking for me?"His two consecutive questions essentially announced to the entire room that he genuinely had no idea who she was.Scattered laughter echoed through the room, the sarcastic stares practically burning holes through her.She abruptly stood up, hiding her trembling hand behind her back. "Nelson, happy marriage."The truth was, she didn't need to obsess over that answer anymore.She picked up the glass of liquor in front of her and downed it in one gulp. "I sincerely wish you the best."She didn't dare look into his eyes. Setting the glass down, she quietly lowered her gaze.Back when they were deeply in love, he had promised that they absolutely had to attend their first class reunion together.He had said he wanted the whole world to know that Nelson and Juniper had been together for years.Juniper was stubborn; she took things to heart. She remembered every single promise she ever made. If Nelson forgot, that was fine.She would sit through this reunion until the very end, and then it would all be over.Everyone in the room immediately checked Nelson's reaction.Nelson trailed his fingertips along his glass. He looked entirely unfazed, though his gaze was impenetrably dark. "Thanks."He said that one word and immediately changed the subject.Nobody paid attention to Juniper anymore—except Lydia.Lydia held the child tightly in her arms, her lips pressed into a thin line.Ignored by the rest of the room, Juniper slipped out to the restroom and splashed her face heavily with cold water.When she looked up, she saw Lydia standing right behind her.Back in college, she hadn't interacted much with Lydia. They were in different majors, but Lydia had always been famous.Lydia smiled at her and offered her a tissue. "Are you alright?"Juniper didn't take it. She couldn't read the woman.Lydia moved unhurriedly to the sink and turned on the faucet, washing her hands slowly. Her tone carried an innate arrogance, the kind of quiet confidence bred into children of elite, old-money families."Nelson is a bit of a mess. Because he has an older brother set to inherit the family empire, he's always loved chasing cheap thrills. But he loses interest just as fast. His grandfather was terrified he'd go completely off the rails, so when he saw him getting into reckless stunts like skydiving, he banished him to Oakley in a fit of rage. Nelson's affections are very short-lived. Juniper, he hurt you, and I apologize on his behalf."Juniper felt as if those words were a brutal slap across the face.Lydia slowly dried her hands with a linen handkerchief. "I know you two met back in Oakley. He used to mention you to me all the time. He was even the one who suggested my family sponsor your tuition. I was genuinely happy for you when you made it all the way to Capital City. But you two aren't from the same world. Nelson played with your feelings, and he's already faced the family's discipline for it. Juniper, stop trying to see him. Ordinary girls like you can't afford to play these games."Chapter 2"Juniper Lane probably isn't coming today, right? She hasn't contacted us for four years.""If I were her, I wouldn't show my face at a class reunion. The whole homewrecker scandal caused such a massive uproar back then. Doesn't she have any shame?"Juniper's hand had just reached the door handle of the private room when she heard the voices slipping through the crack.Her fingertips curled unnaturally, and she instinctively pulled her hand back to touch her ear."Nelson Saint only treated her well because he pitied her, yet she actually tried to wedge herself into his relationship.""Now that Nelson is married and has a kid, it would be absolutely disgusting if she tried to stir up trouble again.""She deserved to be locked up in that psychiatric hospital! Her delusions were out of control, always claiming she dated him. What a liar.""Wait, what? What's this about a psychiatric hospital?""Oh... so you guys didn't know..."The heated discussion inside instantly froze the courage Juniper had painstakingly built up.Four years ago, she and Nelson really had been dating, but he had abruptly dumped her without a single word of explanation.Right after she had given him her first time, when their love was burning at its brightest, he suddenly went abroad with his childhood sweetheart.The man who had sworn he loved her one second posted a photo with his childhood sweetheart on his social media the next.The only message he left for her was a single, crushing sentence: I've done everything with her that I never did with you.Then, she was blocked everywhere.Every possible channel of communication was completely severed.Her best friend told her she had just been played, that rich heirs like him always went for clueless, innocent girls like her.But she refused to believe it.Four years had passed, and she still didn't believe it.She needed an answer.She stood outside the private room, her outstretched fingers hesitating to push the door open.The comments inside grew increasingly vicious, finally touching upon the one thing she feared most—the psychiatric hospital.She took a massive step back, only for her back to bump into a solid, warm chest.Juniper froze. She instinctively turned around to look, and her pupils instantly contracted.He looked different from the arrogant, fiery boy in her memory. He had grown much more mature and restrained, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. His features were striking, with deep-set eyes and a narrow crease above them that gave him an inherently lazy, seductive look when his gaze swept upward.Nelson was flawlessly handsome. A few buttons on his dress shirt were left undone, revealing the sharp line of his collarbone.He stood there, exuding a cold, untouchable nobility, the overhead lights casting a halo over him like he was encased in glass.They had once shared a bed and promised each other the future, yet a full four years had wedged themselves between their last meeting and this moment.But to Juniper, it felt as though Nelson had never really left. He was everywhere; she saw his shadow around every corner.Her best friend had held her as she cried, telling her she had lost her mind—that Nelson had broken her so thoroughly she had gone crazy.She quietly hid her hands behind her back, clenching them into tight fists."Long time no see, Nelson."His name slipped past her lips with a subtle tremble.She had only shown up tonight because she knew he would be here.Nelson was tall, standing nearly six foot two. He didn't seem to have any emotional reaction to her presence, looking at her as if she were just another old classmate.His gaze lingered on her for only a few seconds before shifting away, his tone indifferent. "Aren't you going in?"The words that tumbled from his throat were chillingly distant.Juniper lowered her eyelashes, the question she had rehearsed for so long catching in her throat. "I came here to ask..."Before she could finish, someone walked around the corner, their tone laced with confusion. "Nelson, didn't I tell you not to wait for me?"Juniper jolted, and when she looked up to see Lydia Thorne, a suffocating wave of despair washed over her.Lydia was Nelson's childhood sweetheart. She was holding the hand of a four-year-old girl, a child whose features bore a striking resemblance to his.Lydia was dressed impeccably and smiled as she greeted her. "Oh, it's you, Juniper. Long time no see."Juniper's gaze fixed on the child, her hands balling into tight fists.The little girl reached up, tugging at Nelson's suit jacket. "Daddy."Nelson bent down and scooped her up into his arms, his expression instantly softening. "What is it?"The little girl's eyes sparkled with joy as she planted a kiss on his cheek.Lydia feigned annoyance. "Sweetie, you just ate a mango cupcake. Don't you know your dad is allergic to mangoes?"She pulled out a tissue to wipe Nelson's cheek, but he habitually dodged her touch. "It's fine."Lydia playfully glared at him. "You always spoil her."She seemed to just remember there was an outsider present and turned back to look at Juniper. But Juniper reacted as if the scene had physically burned her; she abruptly spun around and pushed open the door she hadn't dared to touch moments before.The lively chatter inside came to a dead halt the second they saw Juniper.But when they spotted the three people standing right behind her, a look of twisted amusement rippled across everyone's faces.In her panic, Juniper scrambled to the most obscure corner seat she could find and sat down.She kept her fists clenched tightly in her lap, needing the tension to keep herself grounded. She couldn't afford... to be stupid again.Everyone in the room immediately rushed to greet Nelson.Just like in the old days, he was always the most dazzling presence in any crowd.Only now, there were even more people desperate to suck up to him.Juniper couldn't register what anyone around her was saying until someone asked if that was his daughter.Nelson's tone remained cool as he held the little girl in his arms. "If she wasn't mine, would she look this much like me?"Seeing their faces side-by-side, no one in their right mind would doubt it."Congratulations! Did you guys have the wedding abroad? When do we get to celebrate with you?""Nelson, you really are winning at life. Lydia waited for you for years, right?""She looks so much like you! She's adorable."Nelson's peripheral vision caught the quiet figure huddled in the distance while he casually chatted with the crowd.Lydia took the child from him and warned, "No drinking later."The crowd immediately started teasing them. "Whipped, Nelson! Totally whipped!"Nelson chuckled lightly but didn't say anything.Everyone here had been navigating the real world for a few years now. They were all shrewd enough not to bring up Juniper's past at a moment like this. After all, Juniper had never been a somebody; she was practically invisible back in college. No one believed that a quiet, small-town girl who clawed her way out of poverty could ever really be involved with a golden boy like Nelson. So, everyone silently agreed that Juniper's claims back then had simply been a mental breakdown.The atmosphere around her was buzzing, but none of it reached her. Amidst the warmth of the room, she felt her blood run ice-cold.She lowered her head, desperately wishing she could just disappear, when a woman's voice cut through the noise."Juniper, didn't you search the whole world for Nelson back then? Well, he's right here now."Every pair of eyes in the room locked onto her, dripping with malice.Back then, when Juniper couldn't find Nelson, she had frantically posted on the university forum, only to get doxxed.Rumors spread like wildfire, fueled by the official relationship announcement Nelson posted on his social media, seemingly in a rush to distance himself from her.Even their counselor had called her into the office for a gentle chat. Every word was delivered with a soft smile, yet every sentence accused her of being a pathological liar."You've been funded by a generous benefactor since middle school, right? Do you even know who sponsored you? It was the Thorne Family. Lydia is the heiress to the Thorne estate. And now you're spreading rumors that you slept with her boyfriend? Is this how you repay your benefactors?"Juniper had been terrified and overwhelmed, her face draining of color as she pointed to the marks on her neck to defend herself.How far into a corner did someone have to be pushed to use something like that to prove they had been with a man?Unsurprisingly, the counselor's eyes instantly filled with unvarnished contempt.*"Oh? Ms. Lane was looking for me?"That single sentence snapped her back to reality. With dozens of mocking eyes fixed on her, she met Nelson's gaze.His eyes were dead calm, so calm that it truly looked as if absolutely nothing had ever happened between them.A sharp lump formed in her throat, her heart pounding frantically against her ribs.The woman who wanted to humiliate Juniper pushed further."Yeah, Nelson, didn't you know? After you and Lydia went abroad, Juniper went completely unhinged posting all over the campus forums."Nelson looked like a detached bystander. Not a single ripple of emotion disturbed his eyes as his long fingers slowly turned the wine glass on the table. "Why were you looking for me?"His two consecutive questions essentially announced to the entire room that he genuinely had no idea who she was.Scattered laughter echoed through the room, the sarcastic stares practically burning holes through her.She abruptly stood up, hiding her trembling hand behind her back. "Nelson, happy marriage."The truth was, she didn't need to obsess over that answer anymore.She picked up the glass of liquor in front of her and downed it in one gulp. "I sincerely wish you the best."She didn't dare look into his eyes. Setting the glass down, she quietly lowered her gaze.Back when they were deeply in love, he had promised that they absolutely had to attend their first class reunion together.He had said he wanted the whole world to know that Nelson and Juniper had been together for years.Juniper was stubborn; she took things to heart. She remembered every single promise she ever made. If Nelson forgot, that was fine.She would sit through this reunion until the very end, and then it would all be over.Everyone in the room immediately checked Nelson's reaction.Nelson trailed his fingertips along his glass. He looked entirely unfazed, though his gaze was impenetrably dark. "Thanks."He said that one word and immediately changed the subject.Nobody paid attention to Juniper anymore—except Lydia.Lydia held the child tightly in her arms, her lips pressed into a thin line.Ignored by the rest of the room, Juniper slipped out to the restroom and splashed her face heavily with cold water.When she looked up, she saw Lydia standing right behind her.Back in college, she hadn't interacted much with Lydia. They were in different majors, but Lydia had always been famous.Lydia smiled at her and offered her a tissue. "Are you alright?"Juniper didn't take it. She couldn't read the woman.Lydia moved unhurriedly to the sink and turned on the faucet, washing her hands slowly. Her tone carried an innate arrogance, the kind of quiet confidence bred into children of elite, old-money families."Nelson is a bit of a mess. Because he has an older brother set to inherit the family empire, he's always loved chasing cheap thrills. But he loses interest just as fast. His grandfather was terrified he'd go completely off the rails, so when he saw him getting into reckless stunts like skydiving, he banished him to Oakley in a fit of rage. Nelson's affections are very short-lived. Juniper, he hurt you, and I apologize on his behalf."Juniper felt as if those words were a brutal slap across the face.Lydia slowly dried her hands with a linen handkerchief. "I know you two met back in Oakley. He used to mention you to me all the time. He was even the one who suggested my family sponsor your tuition. I was genuinely happy for you when you made it all the way to Capital City. But you two aren't from the same world. Nelson played with your feelings, and he's already faced the family's discipline for it. Juniper, stop trying to see him. Ordinary girls like you can't afford to play these games."Chapter 3"Juniper Lane probably isn't coming today, right? She hasn't contacted us for four years.""If I were her, I wouldn't show my face at a class reunion. The whole homewrecker scandal caused such a massive uproar back then. Doesn't she have any shame?"Juniper's hand had just reached the door handle of the private room when she heard the voices slipping through the crack.Her fingertips curled unnaturally, and she instinctively pulled her hand back to touch her ear."Nelson Saint only treated her well because he pitied her, yet she actually tried to wedge herself into his relationship.""Now that Nelson is married and has a kid, it would be absolutely disgusting if she tried to stir up trouble again.""She deserved to be locked up in that psychiatric hospital! Her delusions were out of control, always claiming she dated him. What a liar.""Wait, what? What's this about a psychiatric hospital?""Oh... so you guys didn't know..."The heated discussion inside instantly froze the courage Juniper had painstakingly built up.Four years ago, she and Nelson really had been dating, but he had abruptly dumped her without a single word of explanation.Right after she had given him her first time, when their love was burning at its brightest, he suddenly went abroad with his childhood sweetheart.The man who had sworn he loved her one second posted a photo with his childhood sweetheart on his social media the next.The only message he left for her was a single, crushing sentence: I've done everything with her that I never did with you.Then, she was blocked everywhere.Every possible channel of communication was completely severed.Her best friend told her she had just been played, that rich heirs like him always went for clueless, innocent girls like her.But she refused to believe it.Four years had passed, and she still didn't believe it.She needed an answer.She stood outside the private room, her outstretched fingers hesitating to push the door open.The comments inside grew increasingly vicious, finally touching upon the one thing she feared most—the psychiatric hospital.She took a massive step back, only for her back to bump into a solid, warm chest.Juniper froze. She instinctively turned around to look, and her pupils instantly contracted.He looked different from the arrogant, fiery boy in her memory. He had grown much more mature and restrained, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. His features were striking, with deep-set eyes and a narrow crease above them that gave him an inherently lazy, seductive look when his gaze swept upward.Nelson was flawlessly handsome. A few buttons on his dress shirt were left undone, revealing the sharp line of his collarbone.He stood there, exuding a cold, untouchable nobility, the overhead lights casting a halo over him like he was encased in glass.They had once shared a bed and promised each other the future, yet a full four years had wedged themselves between their last meeting and this moment.But to Juniper, it felt as though Nelson had never really left. He was everywhere; she saw his shadow around every corner.Her best friend had held her as she cried, telling her she had lost her mind—that Nelson had broken her so thoroughly she had gone crazy.She quietly hid her hands behind her back, clenching them into tight fists."Long time no see, Nelson."His name slipped past her lips with a subtle tremble.She had only shown up tonight because she knew he would be here.Nelson was tall, standing nearly six foot two. He didn't seem to have any emotional reaction to her presence, looking at her as if she were just another old classmate.His gaze lingered on her for only a few seconds before shifting away, his tone indifferent. "Aren't you going in?"The words that tumbled from his throat were chillingly distant.Juniper lowered her eyelashes, the question she had rehearsed for so long catching in her throat. "I came here to ask..."Before she could finish, someone walked around the corner, their tone laced with confusion. "Nelson, didn't I tell you not to wait for me?"Juniper jolted, and when she looked up to see Lydia Thorne, a suffocating wave of despair washed over her.Lydia was Nelson's childhood sweetheart. She was holding the hand of a four-year-old girl, a child whose features bore a striking resemblance to his.Lydia was dressed impeccably and smiled as she greeted her. "Oh, it's you, Juniper. Long time no see."Juniper's gaze fixed on the child, her hands balling into tight fists.The little girl reached up, tugging at Nelson's suit jacket. "Daddy."Nelson bent down and scooped her up into his arms, his expression instantly softening. "What is it?"The little girl's eyes sparkled with joy as she planted a kiss on his cheek.Lydia feigned annoyance. "Sweetie, you just ate a mango cupcake. Don't you know your dad is allergic to mangoes?"She pulled out a tissue to wipe Nelson's cheek, but he habitually dodged her touch. "It's fine."Lydia playfully glared at him. "You always spoil her."She seemed to just remember there was an outsider present and turned back to look at Juniper. But Juniper reacted as if the scene had physically burned her; she abruptly spun around and pushed open the door she hadn't dared to touch moments before.The lively chatter inside came to a dead halt the second they saw Juniper.But when they spotted the three people standing right behind her, a look of twisted amusement rippled across everyone's faces.In her panic, Juniper scrambled to the most obscure corner seat she could find and sat down.She kept her fists clenched tightly in her lap, needing the tension to keep herself grounded. She couldn't afford... to be stupid again.Everyone in the room immediately rushed to greet Nelson.Just like in the old days, he was always the most dazzling presence in any crowd.Only now, there were even more people desperate to suck up to him.Juniper couldn't register what anyone around her was saying until someone asked if that was his daughter.Nelson's tone remained cool as he held the little girl in his arms. "If she wasn't mine, would she look this much like me?"Seeing their faces side-by-side, no one in their right mind would doubt it."Congratulations! Did you guys have the wedding abroad? When do we get to celebrate with you?""Nelson, you really are winning at life. Lydia waited for you for years, right?""She looks so much like you! She's adorable."Nelson's peripheral vision caught the quiet figure huddled in the distance while he casually chatted with the crowd.Lydia took the child from him and warned, "No drinking later."The crowd immediately started teasing them. "Whipped, Nelson! Totally whipped!"Nelson chuckled lightly but didn't say anything.Everyone here had been navigating the real world for a few years now. They were all shrewd enough not to bring up Juniper's past at a moment like this. After all, Juniper had never been a somebody; she was practically invisible back in college. No one believed that a quiet, small-town girl who clawed her way out of poverty could ever really be involved with a golden boy like Nelson. So, everyone silently agreed that Juniper's claims back then had simply been a mental breakdown.The atmosphere around her was buzzing, but none of it reached her. Amidst the warmth of the room, she felt her blood run ice-cold.She lowered her head, desperately wishing she could just disappear, when a woman's voice cut through the noise."Juniper, didn't you search the whole world for Nelson back then? Well, he's right here now."Every pair of eyes in the room locked onto her, dripping with malice.Back then, when Juniper couldn't find Nelson, she had frantically posted on the university forum, only to get doxxed.Rumors spread like wildfire, fueled by the official relationship announcement Nelson posted on his social media, seemingly in a rush to distance himself from her.Even their counselor had called her into the office for a gentle chat. Every word was delivered with a soft smile, yet every sentence accused her of being a pathological liar."You've been funded by a generous benefactor since middle school, right? Do you even know who sponsored you? It was the Thorne Family. Lydia is the heiress to the Thorne estate. And now you're spreading rumors that you slept with her boyfriend? Is this how you repay your benefactors?"Juniper had been terrified and overwhelmed, her face draining of color as she pointed to the marks on her neck to defend herself.How far into a corner did someone have to be pushed to use something like that to prove they had been with a man?Unsurprisingly, the counselor's eyes instantly filled with unvarnished contempt.*"Oh? Ms. Lane was looking for me?"That single sentence snapped her back to reality. With dozens of mocking eyes fixed on her, she met Nelson's gaze.His eyes were dead calm, so calm that it truly looked as if absolutely nothing had ever happened between them.A sharp lump formed in her throat, her heart pounding frantically against her ribs.The woman who wanted to humiliate Juniper pushed further."Yeah, Nelson, didn't you know? After you and Lydia went abroad, Juniper went completely unhinged posting all over the campus forums."Nelson looked like a detached bystander. Not a single ripple of emotion disturbed his eyes as his long fingers slowly turned the wine glass on the table. "Why were you looking for me?"His two consecutive questions essentially announced to the entire room that he genuinely had no idea who she was.Scattered laughter echoed through the room, the sarcastic stares practically burning holes through her.She abruptly stood up, hiding her trembling hand behind her back. "Nelson, happy marriage."The truth was, she didn't need to obsess over that answer anymore.She picked up the glass of liquor in front of her and downed it in one gulp. "I sincerely wish you the best."She didn't dare look into his eyes. Setting the glass down, she quietly lowered her gaze.Back when they were deeply in love, he had promised that they absolutely had to attend their first class reunion together.He had said he wanted the whole world to know that Nelson and Juniper had been together for years.Juniper was stubborn; she took things to heart. She remembered every single promise she ever made. If Nelson forgot, that was fine.She would sit through this reunion until the very end, and then it would all be over.Everyone in the room immediately checked Nelson's reaction.Nelson trailed his fingertips along his glass. He looked entirely unfazed, though his gaze was impenetrably dark. "Thanks."He said that one word and immediately changed the subject.Nobody paid attention to Juniper anymore—except Lydia.Lydia held the child tightly in her arms, her lips pressed into a thin line.Ignored by the rest of the room, Juniper slipped out to the restroom and splashed her face heavily with cold water.When she looked up, she saw Lydia standing right behind her.Back in college, she hadn't interacted much with Lydia. They were in different majors, but Lydia had always been famous.Lydia smiled at her and offered her a tissue. "Are you alright?"Juniper didn't take it. She couldn't read the woman.Lydia moved unhurriedly to the sink and turned on the faucet, washing her hands slowly. Her tone carried an innate arrogance, the kind of quiet confidence bred into children of elite, old-money families."Nelson is a bit of a mess. Because he has an older brother set to inherit the family empire, he's always loved chasing cheap thrills. But he loses interest just as fast. His grandfather was terrified he'd go completely off the rails, so when he saw him getting into reckless stunts like skydiving, he banished him to Oakley in a fit of rage. Nelson's affections are very short-lived. Juniper, he hurt you, and I apologize on his behalf."Juniper felt as if those words were a brutal slap across the face.Lydia slowly dried her hands with a linen handkerchief. "I know you two met back in Oakley. He used to mention you to me all the time. He was even the one who suggested my family sponsor your tuition. I was genuinely happy for you when you made it all the way to Capital City. But you two aren't from the same world. Nelson played with your feelings, and he's already faced the family's discipline for it. Juniper, stop trying to see him. Ordinary girls like you can't afford to play these games."