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- 2 months ago
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PeopleTranscript
00:00On the day of my alpha wedding dress fitting, my sister said she wanted to come with me and help
00:05me judge the look.
00:06The first thing I saw when I stepped out of the fitting room was her standing in front of my
00:11fiancé rising onto her toes to straighten his tie and smooth down his lamples.
00:15Her movements were practiced, her expression natural as if she were the real bride.
00:21I had just been about to say, I'll do it, when the etiquette counselor was already walking toward her with
00:25a bright smile.
00:26Future bride, this way please. Let's go over the details of the ceremonial shoal and veil.
00:32Lillian and Lucien exchanged a look, both wearing the faintest hint of a smile on their lips.
00:36The next second, Ethan, who was in charge of the lips of the wedding pre-shoot, brushed past me with
00:42his camera raised and went straight after them.
00:44The shutter clicked again and again. I stood where I was, watching them through the lens.
00:49Standing together, the two of them looked exactly like one of those elite werewolf couples on the cover of an
00:54upper-class society magazine.
00:56And I, the real bride, the true fade mate recognized by the council, looked like an outsider who had wandered
01:01in by mistake.
01:02Later, when I got the pre-shoot proofs, I discovered that out of 99 photos, almost all of them were
01:08of Lucation and Lillian.
01:10There were shots of him holding up her skirt hem for her.
01:13Shots of her tilting her head up to fix his collar.
01:15Shots of the two of them standing in front of the floor-length mirror, smiling at each other.
01:20Not a single one was a proper front-facing shot of me, the bride-to-be.
01:25I froze where I stood.
01:30When we were kids back in town, Ethan, Lillian, and I used to play house together.
01:35Ethan and Lillian always fought to play the bride and groom, while I was the one responsive for scattering petals
01:40from the flower basket at their feet.
01:42Now that we were grown up, it seemed nothing had really changed.
01:46Only the groom had changed to Lucian.
01:48The setting had shifted from the little backyard in town to a luxurious bridal salon in the city center, and
01:54I was still the one standing off to the side.
01:57Ella, can you hand me that bouquet of white roses?
02:00The stylist said it'll make the shots feel better.
02:02I hadn't even moved when Lucian had already walked over to me and gently taken the bouquet from my hand.
02:08His tone was even gentle, if anything.
02:10Ella, why are you spacing out?
02:13Go take a look at the invitation paper samples first.
02:15When we're done shooting here, I'll come help you shoes.
02:17I looked up at him.
02:19His expression was calm, as if he were handling the most natural little in matter.
02:26As if he didn't see that I was standing there in a bridal gown, without even room to cut into
02:30the conversation.
02:32Ethan crouched halfway down to adjust the focus and suddenly showed half his face from behind the camera.
02:38Ella, move two steps to the side, you're blocking the key light.
02:41Silently, I stepped back until my spine touched the corner of the wall.
02:44In that instant, I suddenly understood exactly what my place was in this wedding, not the lead, not the bride.
02:52I was just someone who needed to cooperate with everyone and not cause trouble.
02:59Since this wedding didn't seem to need me at all, then maybe if I didn't show up, no one would
03:04care either.
03:05I picked up the handbag resting on the shoe bench, turned around, and pushed open the door.
03:10The brass bell hanging at the entrance gave a light chime, clear, brief.
03:15No one called after me.
03:16I turned back for one last look.
03:18Lillian was standing in front of the mirror, spinning in a circle, while Lucien stood behind her with his head
03:23lowered, adjusting the bow decoration at the back of her waist.
03:26Yes, that's the angle.
03:28Don't move.
03:28Great.
03:30The shutter went off several times in a row.
03:33I withdrew my gaze and walked out of the shop.
03:35When I got into the car, my phone lit up.
03:38It was a message from the wedding planner.
03:41Mrs. Winston, the wedding date is coming soon.
03:43May we finalize the invitation design today?
03:45I was just about to reply when another message followed.
03:48Or Miss Lillian can decide for you as well.
03:50Her taste is very suitable for a bride's ceremony.
03:53The car was very quiet.
03:55So quiet I could hear the sound of my own breathing.
03:59In, out, as if it were counting something for me.
04:02Counting how many times I had been forgotten in this relationship.
04:05How many times have I been passed over.
04:07How many times, in arrangements everyone else had silently accepted, I had automatically lost the right to speak.
04:13I stared at the screen for a long time.
04:15In the end, I only replied with three words.
04:20Listen to her.
04:24I meant it.
04:25Really listen to her.
04:26Because in the end, Lucien would listen to her too.
04:29The other side replied quickly.
04:31Okay.
04:31Received.
04:32Looking at those four words, I totally felt that on other the end had probably sighed in relief too.
04:36After all, not having to repeatedly confirm details with a bride who was always hesitant.
04:41Always yielding.
04:43Always unable to state exactly what she wanted.
04:46Really did make things much easier.
04:50Very soon, the pack ceremony planning chat started filling with notifications again.
04:54Ethan uploaded the pre-shoot photos one by one.
04:57I opened the full-size images.
04:59His composition and lighting was still excellent as ever.
05:03The golden light fell on Lucien and Lillian's faces, making them look like a luxury wedding advertisement.
05:08I let out a bitter smile.
05:10When I was little, watching other people play bride, I would always secretly envy them.
05:14Later, when Lucien pursued me, I had once nighly thought that, at least this time, I would finally be able
05:21to stand openly in everyone's sight and be the one and only heroine.
05:24That was why I took this wedding so seriously, and why was I so careful, as if I were desperately
05:30trying to prove to everyone that I was worthy of standing beside an alpha, worthy of becoming the future bride,
05:37worthy of having a life where I was firmly chosen.
05:40But in the end, I was still squeezed out of the frame.
05:42I had brought Lillia with me this time because she was the person closest to me.
05:46I thought that in such an important setting as trying off a wedding dress, nothing could possibly go wrong anymore.
05:51After all, in a scene like this, the camera should only have one hero and one heroine in it, and
05:57I was supposed to be that heroine, but the result was still the same.
06:04My phone lit up and went dark, then dark again and lit up once more.
06:08Messages in the group chat kept coming in.
06:11I didn't reply again, and no one noticed.
06:14I drove back to my own apartment.
06:16There was a sticky note on the refrigerator door, one I had written last week.
06:19Bride ceremony countdown seven days.
06:22I stood there looking at it for a few seconds, then reached out and tore it down.
06:27I crumpled the paper into my palm, then gently threw it into the trash can.
06:31It wasn't until noon the next day that I really turned on my phone.
06:35There were already 99-plus messages piled up in the wedding planning group chat.
06:39I scrolled down for a long time before I saw the only voice message Linietti had specifically Atwat mentioned me
06:46in.
06:46I hesitated for a moment, then tapped it open.
06:49Sis, I changed the ceremony background music you originally picked.
06:53The one you chose was too old and too dull.
06:56A bride's ceremony should of course be livelier and have more atmosphere.
06:59Under the voice message, Lucien followed with a short line of text.
07:03Mmm, the original one wasn't suitable.
07:05I stared at that line without moving.
07:07That song was one I had spent an entire month choosing before finally settling on it.
07:11Every time I heard the intro, my nose would sting.
07:14It was the first dance song from my biological parents' wedding.
07:18They died too early.
07:19I had only wanted, in this way, to let them accompany me once at my wedding.
07:24Lucien knew.
07:25Lillian knew too.
07:27But they still thought that song was not suitable.
07:32In the group chat, Lillian was still speaking lightly.
07:36Ella doesn't really understand these things in the first place.
07:39Her taste is more conservative, so it's better if we just decide for her.
07:42Lucien replied with one more word.
07:45Mmm.
07:45I looked at that mmm and didn't move for a long time.
07:48The messages were still constantly scrolling upward.
07:52Discussing flowers, seating cards, vow order, ceremony arch, dinner wine list.
07:57Every single detail had to do with my wedding.
07:59But not one of them was decided by me.
08:01No one noticed that I was in the group chat.
08:03And no one noticed that I hadn't said a single word.
08:06At that moment, I suddenly realized that my level of participation in this wedding was
08:10practically zero.
08:11No, not practically.
08:13Completely zero.
08:14I opened my private chat with Lucien.
08:16The chat history was still stuck on yesterday.
08:18I had said, I'm a little nervous.
08:20He replied with a reassuring emoji.
08:22And then, blankness.
08:24As for why I left early, he hadn't privately asked me even once.
08:28Last night, he had only casually mentioned me in the group chat.
08:31What's wrong?
08:32So nervous you ran off first?
08:34There was no follow-up and no concern.
08:37Lillian posted of herself smiling and lifting her skirt with the caption,
08:41Today's dress-dress fitting went sooth-moodly, and the wedding gown and bride's shawl all
08:45finalized.
08:46And so the matter was lightly glossed over just like that.
08:49As if the person who had left was not the bride, but only some insignificant staff members.
08:55They continued talking about flowers, lighting, invitations, banquet backdrop panels.
09:00I suddenly felt that I wasn't just unnecessary.
09:02At least being unnecessary would mean there had originally been a place for me.
09:07And I was more like someone who had never truly been included from the very beginning.
09:13While I was packing my things, Lillian suddenly sent a video call request.
09:21After I answered, I saw her sitting in front of a vanity mirror with several stylists surrounding
09:26her, trying makeup, curling her hair, and matching jewelry for her.
09:31She smiled sweetly at the camera.
09:33Sis, you're way too slow.
09:35Your makeup and styling team still hasn't been finalized, so I went ahead and tried to look
09:40for you first.
09:42I'll send you the photos later, and you can just pick whichever one suits you best.
09:45I held my phone and quietly looked at her.
09:47A lot of words rushed up to my throat, but I couldn't say a single one.
09:51For example, two weeks ago, I had already said that my best friend from college would
09:55personally come do my bridal makeup.
09:56For example, when you all were making these decisions, did any one of you ask me first
10:01whether I was willing?
10:02But in the end, I said nothing, because I knew very clearly in my heart.
10:07It wasn't that I had never tried to fight me for myself, but every single time, all I
10:12ever got in return was one sentence.
10:14She's your sister.
10:15Give it to her a little.
10:16It had always been like this since childhood, and it was still like this after growing up.
10:20Ethan was clearly my childhood best friend, but his camera, his attention, and his stance
10:25all seemed to favor Lillian more.
10:27Later, when Lucien pursued me, he said I was quiet, slow, and adorably clumsy.
10:32I thought that was exactly the kind of me he liked.
10:35But ever since Lillian officially entered our lives, he began saying more and more often,
10:40girls should be a little livelier, a little smarter, a little more opinionated to be lovable.
10:44Until that day, I finally couldn't help asking him,
10:48Can you stop always being so close to Lillian?
10:54I had always doted on her.
10:56Lucien should have known that the fact I could even say those words already meant I had endured
11:00it for a long time.
11:01But he still didn't take it seriously.
11:04He just smiled and ruffled my hair.
11:06She's your sister.
11:07Do you want me to become enemies with her?
11:09I fell silent.
11:10Of course I didn't want that.
11:12But no one had ever asked whether I would be hurt too.
11:15All these years, the words,
11:17You're the older sister, had been like an invisible lock, pressing down on me,
11:20as if I was born to be sensible,
11:23born to give way,
11:24born to be the one who cleaned up the mess.
11:27But I'm only two years older than her.
11:29I also wanted someone to ask me,
11:31Ella, do you like it?
11:32Ella, are you happy?
11:34Ella, are you tired?
11:35I suddenly remembered that every time we finished playing house as kids,
11:38they always left first.
11:39I would gather up all the flower petals scattered across the ground by myself
11:42and put them back into the basket.
11:44No one ever helped me,
11:45and no one ever asked if I was tired.
11:50That afternoon, I called my landlord first
11:53and said I would be moving out early today.
11:55There was a pause on the other end of the line.
11:58You're really moving out?
11:59You've lived there for four years.
12:01When I had just gotten together with Lucian,
12:04he had suggested that I move directly into his penthouse.
12:07But Lillian said that living together before marriage wasn't formal enough
12:11and also wasn't good for the traditions before the bride ceremony.
12:14And I myself also wanted to preserve a bit of boundary and dignity for this relationship.
12:20So I rented this apartment near Blackwood Group headquarters.
12:23I thought if I lived a little closer to him,
12:25we would have more chances to see each other.
12:28Over the years, this place had held our dinners,
12:31held our arguments, held our silences,
12:33and also held his nountless hurried departing figures.
12:36Yes, I'm moving out today.
12:38The landlord sighed and told me to just leave the key in the mailbox in the lobby.
12:42I had just hung up when the apartment door was pushed open from the outside.
12:47Lucian and Lillian walked in one after the other.
12:50Lillian turned back and smiled at Lucian.
12:53It's a deal, okay?
12:55After my sister moves to house,
12:57the bay window study that was originally left for the bride has to go to me.
13:01It's just that I want to change the curtains to light pink.
13:04It feels more like home that way.
13:06I stood in the middle of the living room,
13:08and for a moment I thought I had heard wrong.
13:10Her tone was too natural.
13:12So natural that it sounded as if moving into Lucian's home after the wedding
13:16and invading the private space that should have belonged to him and me
13:20was the most logical thing in the world.
13:23As long as your sister doesn't mind.
13:26My sister dotes on me so much.
13:29How could she mind?
13:31As I stood there,
13:32I suddenly felt something loosen in my throat,
13:36like a thread that had strangled me for too long had finally snapped.
13:40I looked at them and spoke softly.
13:42What if I say I'm not willing?
13:44The air went still for two seconds.
13:47Lillian was obviously stunned,
13:49probably because she had never imagined that I,
13:51who had always been silent and yielded,
13:54would reject it to her face.
13:55Very quickly,
13:56her eyes reddened,
13:57as if she had suffered an enormous grievous.
14:00What exactly is wrong with you today?
14:03Ella,
14:04weren't you always the most willing to give things up for her?
14:07And now just because of one room,
14:09you want to make such a fuss?
14:10I'm not making a fuss.
14:12Then what do you mean?
14:12What's the problem with Lillian moving in?
14:14She's your sister,
14:15not an outsider.
14:16That apartment is so big,
14:17if the room is left empty,
14:18it's still just left empty.
14:19That is the marital home for the Alpha and his bride.
14:22Is she going to marry you too in the future?
14:24Lillian was choked by my words for a moment.
14:27Sis,
14:27I just wanted to be closer to you.
14:29If you're unwilling,
14:30then forget it.
14:31I won't move in.
14:32Look at you,
14:33one sentence from you,
14:34and she's like this.
14:35She's a girl,
14:35and she's your sister too.
14:37Can't you think a little more for her?
14:38Then who thinks for me?
14:41You arranged for her to enter Blackwood Group,
14:44gave her a high-paid,
14:45respectable position,
14:47and everyone is taking care of her emotions.
14:50What about me?
14:52Enough.
14:53Ella,
14:53be reasonable.
14:54It's because of you that I've taken extra care of Lillian.
14:57Do you really have to be this petty?
15:00Petty.
15:00I suddenly laughed a little.
15:02Then I didn't want to say anything else anymore,
15:04because only at that moment did I finally understood.
15:07In their eyes,
15:08all of my sadness,
15:09disappointment,
15:10humiliation,
15:10and sursactions would in the end
15:12only be summed up in four words,
15:14being petty.
15:15Forget it,
15:16Lucien.
15:16Don't say any more.
15:18Sis is probably just under too much
15:19stress before the wedding lately,
15:21and her emotions are a little unstable.
15:25Ella,
15:25this matter is soddled.
15:27Lillian moving in will be more convenient
15:29for both of you sisters.
15:30Whatever.
15:31Because that was no longer my home to begin with.
15:34Because that apartment,
15:35that wedding,
15:36that kind of future,
15:37from this moment on,
15:39had nothing to do with me anymore.
15:42Lucien seemed to let out a breath of relief.
15:45Lillian also raised her hand
15:46to wipe the corners of her ears
15:48and smiled again.
15:50I turned around and went back to the room
15:52to continue packing my luggage.
15:54Can I really change the crits of pink?
15:56Whatever you want.
15:58Behind me,
15:59I still heard her tentative,
16:00cosling voice.
16:01That afternoon,
16:03I went to Blackwood Group headquarters.
16:05In my bag were his access card,
16:08his office key,
16:09and a set of client materials
16:11he had asked me to help sort
16:12a few days ago.
16:13When the receptionist saw me,
16:15she smiled in the familiar way.
16:18Miss Ella,
16:19you're here.
16:19Would you like me to notify
16:21President Lucien?
16:22No need.
16:24Please help me pass this to him.
16:25When I reached the area
16:26near the emergency stairsick,
16:28I suddenly heard Lucien's voice
16:30coming from behind
16:31the half-opened meeting room door.
16:33Going to get your nails done
16:34with you on Saturday?
16:35Got it.
16:35You want to attend the wedding
16:37looking beautiful,
16:37so I'll go with you.
16:38I'll talk to Ella.
16:40I stood there,
16:42my fingertips growing colder
16:43little by little.
16:45I suddenly remembered
16:46that we had clearly agreed
16:47to make up for one thing
16:49we had never managed to do
16:50while we were dating
16:50before the wedding.
16:52To go watch a sunrise.
16:54It had been postponed
16:55from last winter to spring,
16:57all the way until
16:58before the wedding.
16:59And at last,
17:00we had finally set it
17:01for this Saturday.
17:03But now,
17:04he had given that day
17:05to Linian.
17:06And the reason
17:07was still so light.
17:09I didn't keep listening.
17:10I just went straight
17:12down the stairs.
17:13When I pushed open
17:14the glass doors
17:15of the building,
17:16the wind blowing at me
17:17was a little cold.
17:18I got into the car,
17:20started the engine,
17:21and drove straight back
17:22to the small town
17:22where my aunt lived.
17:24The next day,
17:25while I was helping
17:26clean up the old house,
17:27Aunt Margaret came.
17:29Ella, take a break.
17:31She took the rag
17:32from my hand
17:33and gently patted
17:34the back of my hand.
17:35I shook my head
17:36and said it would
17:37be finished soon.
17:38She looked at me,
17:39and in her eyes
17:40there was a kind of heartache
17:41that had been suppressed
17:42for many years.
17:46You've been wronged
17:47all these years.
17:50Although Lillian
17:51was adopted by your parents,
17:53all these years
17:53you've always loved her
17:54as your own sister.
17:57You gave in to her
17:58and everything
17:59and protected her,
18:00and little by little
18:01she started taking
18:01all of it for granted.
18:04The family
18:04actually all saw it.
18:06It's just as that
18:08they were afraid
18:08you'd be hurt,
18:10afraid that
18:10bringing up the adoption
18:12would damage the bond
18:13between you sisters,
18:14so no one dared
18:15to say much.
18:17Now you're getting married, too.
18:18It's finally your turn
18:19to live your own life.
18:21I was silent
18:22for a long time,
18:23only smiling faintly
18:24without responding.
18:26After a while,
18:26I finally spoke.
18:28Auntie,
18:29you should move
18:30into this house
18:30in the future.
18:32If it stays empty
18:33too long,
18:33it'll fall into ruin.
18:34How could it stay empty?
18:36After you get married,
18:37you'll still come back.
18:38I know you'll be living
18:40in the Blackwood family's
18:41penthouse in the future,
18:42but when you come back
18:44to the town
18:44to visit us,
18:45you still need
18:45somewhere to stay.
18:48Okay,
18:48but still insisted
18:49on letting her move in.
18:51She thought I was
18:51just being palimes,
18:52and I did not explain.
18:54I just knew very clearly,
18:55once I lie left this time,
18:57maybe I wouldn't come back
18:58for many years.
18:59At dusk,
19:00Lucien came to the town
19:01by tradition
19:02to visit Uncle Robert.
19:04Lillian followed behind him
19:05and came in with him.
19:07When they saw me,
19:08both of them
19:08were obviously stunned.
19:10Ella,
19:10why are you here?
19:12I was the bride
19:12of the wedding.
19:14Wasn't it the most
19:15normal thing
19:16for me to stay
19:16at my maternal elder's home
19:17before the wedding?
19:19But in the next second,
19:20I understood.
19:21To him,
19:22whether I was there or not
19:24had never been the point.
19:26As long as Lillian was there,
19:28the scene was lively enough
19:29and complete enough.
19:31Lillian immediately walked over
19:32and linked arms with me,
19:34affectionate as if
19:35nothing had happened.
19:36Sis,
19:37it's perfect that you're here.
19:39Lucien said he was
19:39coming to see Uncle,
19:40and I happened to be free,
19:42so I came along.
19:43I said nothing.
19:45Lillian had actually
19:46never liked coming back
19:47to the small town.
19:48She thought it was old,
19:50thought it was too quiet,
19:51thought it didn't have
19:52the circles
19:53and spotlight
19:54she was familiar with.
19:55In the main hall,
19:57Uncle Robert and Lucio
19:58were talking about
19:59traditional procedures
20:00and wedding attitict.
20:01Lillian sat off
20:02to one side,
20:04proactively handing tea
20:05to Lucio,
20:06picking up the conversation
20:08and smoothing the atmosphere.
20:09I sat on the other side
20:11like a piece of old furniture
20:12placed properly,
20:13yet unused.
20:16No one looked at me
20:17in any special way,
20:19and no one remembered me
20:21in any special way either.
20:23I lowered my head
20:24and glanced at my phone.
20:25Lucien sent me
20:26a private message.
20:27These past two days
20:28I've been busy
20:29with the wedding
20:29and neglected you.
20:31But why didn't you tell me
20:32in advance
20:32that you went back to town?
20:34Neglected.
20:35I stared at that word
20:36and only found them
20:37a little ironic.
20:38He was always appearing
20:39in the group chat,
20:40discussing wedding details
20:42with everyone,
20:42but he rarely ever
20:44asked me privately
20:45even once,
20:45what are you doing?
20:46Have you eaten?
20:47Are you unhappy?
20:48So he didn't know
20:49I had gone to the company,
20:50and he didn't know
20:51I had already started
20:52packing to leave.
20:53And he knew even less
20:55that my return to town
20:56was not to await marriage,
20:57but to say goodbye.
20:58I lowered my head
21:00and replied with two words,
21:02go ahead.
21:05Anyway,
21:06the things you were busy with
21:07had long since
21:08had nothing to do with me.
21:10After the polite conversation ended,
21:12Uncle Robert stood up
21:13to see the guests out.
21:14Following the family's
21:15old rules,
21:16he instructed,
21:17For the three days
21:17before the wedding,
21:18the couple must not
21:19see each other again.
21:20It's for good luck.
21:21These next few days
21:22don't come looking for Ella.
21:23Wait until the day
21:24of the ceremony
21:25to pick her up.
21:25Ella,
21:27go back to the city
21:28with them tonight.
21:29According to the rules,
21:31the future bride
21:32should stay
21:32at the designated place
21:33and quietly await
21:35the ceremony.
21:36So there's no need
21:37to keep traveling
21:38back and forth.
21:40After the wedding,
21:42when you return home
21:43for the customary visit,
21:45then come back and stay.
21:47I had wanted to say no,
21:48but looking at his earnest
21:50and expectant expression,
21:51when the words reached my lips,
21:53I heels wallowed them back.
21:54Okay,
21:55I'll go get my luggage.
21:57I went back to the room,
21:58packed my suitcase,
21:59and checked it all over again
22:00to make sure
22:01I hadn't left anything behind.
22:02But when I dragged my luggage
22:03out of the courtyard,
22:04Lucien's car was already gone.
22:06Outside the courtyard gate,
22:07it was empty.
22:08Only the evening wind
22:09passed through.
22:09I stood where I was,
22:11stunned for two seconds.
22:12Then I lowered my head
22:13to look at my phone.
22:15Lucien had sent me a message.
22:16Lysian wanted to go see
22:17the final wedding venue
22:18set up first,
22:19so I took her there first.
22:21Just now,
22:21I forgot for a moment
22:22that you were there too.
22:23Drive yourself back.
22:25Forgot.
22:27Again,
22:28forgot.
22:29Lucien,
22:30why do you always forget me?
22:33The wedding was held
22:34three days later,
22:35on Monday.
22:36Early in the morning,
22:37Lucien personally brought people
22:38to the hotel
22:39to pick up the bride.
22:40He sat in the driver's seat,
22:41lowered his head
22:42to glance at the navigation,
22:43and turned to ask Lillian.
22:45The address is right,
22:46isn't it?
22:46It's right.
22:47I already sent it
22:48to my sister long ago.
22:49This hotel is high-end enough,
22:50and it also auntie's house.
22:53Taking her up here
22:54is more convenient
22:55than going to her apartment.
22:56You're still the thoughtful one.
22:58We can't be like my sister,
22:59so slow with everything.
23:01Uncle Robert said
23:01the couple can't meet
23:02before the wedding,
23:03and these past few days,
23:05she's barely even replied
23:06to messages.
23:07Lucien didn't respond,
23:08only reaching out
23:09to pull open the car door.
23:10Let's go.
23:11My sister will probably
23:12start urging us in a bit.
23:14Outside the car,
23:15Ethan was holding his camera
23:16when he suddenly said,
23:18Lillian,
23:18that's the bride's seat.
23:19Ride in my car.
23:21I don't want to.
23:25Lucien drives steadily.
23:27I won't get car sick.
23:28I really can't do anything with you.
23:30The convoy quickly drove
23:31to the front entrance
23:32of the hotel.
23:33Lucien walked in front,
23:34Lillian at his side,
23:35and Ethan habitually
23:36raised his camera
23:37and took a few shots.
23:38In the lens,
23:39the two of them
23:39still looked like lovers
23:40preparing to hold a ceremony.
23:42The front desk staff
23:44politely stopped them.
23:45Hello.
23:46How may I help you?
23:47We're here to pick up the bride.
23:48302.
23:49Ella Winston.
23:50The staff member
23:51lowered her head
23:52to check the system,
23:53then looked up again,
23:54her expression somewhat hesitant.
23:56I'm sorry, sir.
23:57There is no check-in record
23:58for Ella Winston
23:59in this room.
24:01What?
24:05Check again.
24:07302.
24:07Ella Winston.
24:08There's no way it's wrong.
24:09The staff member
24:10confirmed it again,
24:11but still shook her head.
24:13There really isn't.
24:14This room was not checked into
24:15under that lady's name.
24:17The lobby instantly fell silent.
24:19Lillian frowned.
24:20My sister really is something.
24:21Could she have gone
24:22to the wrong hotel?
24:23Today is the wedding.
24:24How can she still be this careless?
24:26With a dark expression,
24:27Lucien lowered his head
24:28to look through his phone
24:29and directly dolled my number.
24:31Once.
24:31Twice.
24:32Three times.
24:33No answer.
24:34He sent a voice call request
24:35and a video call too.
24:36There was no response at all.
24:38In the chat box,
24:39he sent more than
24:39dozen messages in a row,
24:41all like stones
24:42thrown into a deep L
24:43with no echo.
24:44She's not answering.
24:46Lucien's brows mitted tightly.
24:48Ethan held up his camera,
24:49his expression a little strange.
24:51Has Ella seemed
24:52a little off lately?
24:53Didn't she leave
24:54the dress fitting
24:55by herself last time too?
24:57And she didn't tell anyone.
24:58But today's the wedding.
25:00No matter what,
25:00she can't throw a tantrum
25:02at a time game like this,
25:03right?
25:04Isn't this embarrassing
25:05for Lucien?
25:09Lucien's expression
25:10grew even uglier.
25:11He was silent for two seconds,
25:12then called Aunt Margaret.
25:15Lucien?
25:16Did you pick up Ella?
25:18Auntie,
25:19Ella isn't at the hotel.
25:21She,
25:21are she still with you?
25:23How could that be?
25:25Wasn't she supposed
25:26to have gone back to the city
25:27to wait for the wedding?
25:28According to our customs here,
25:29the future bride
25:30should be at the place
25:31she's leaving
25:31from the day before the wedding
25:32and her younger sister
25:33should stay with her too.
25:35Lillian didn't stay with her?
25:38At not year,
25:39she too rined
25:40to seem to sink thon,
25:41loose in some canciestly
25:42turn for De Lillian,
25:44that a man's
25:45are due in a port.
25:46In a wedding of each other day
25:47yesterday,
25:48she helped me judge them
25:49with them.
25:50They had lunch together
25:51at noon,
25:52tasted wine together
25:53in the afternoon,
25:54and at night
25:55there had even some
25:56so-called
25:56pre-wedding
25:57indentions night.
25:58A whole group of people
25:59have going on
26:00making noise
26:01going the after
26:01Widjat Desperch
26:02and the Bishow Descend.
26:04If Lillian had not
26:06stayed with me at all,
26:07if I had not checked
26:08into the hotel either,
26:09then where exactly
26:09had I spent the night
26:10before the wedding?
26:11All alone?
26:12A sudden,
26:13indescribable guilt
26:14rose in Lucian,
26:15as if he had finally realized
26:16that somewhere along the line,
26:18he seemed to have been
26:19terribly wrong.
26:22Ella Winston
26:23calmed by.
26:24On the other end
26:24of the phone,
26:25Aunt Margaret
26:25also became alert.
26:26What's going on?
26:27Lillian didn't stay
26:28with her sister?
26:29I clearly explained
26:30everything,
26:30how she should help
26:31for the wedding,
26:31and she didn't take
26:32in a single word.
26:33Lucian did not respond.
26:34After hanging up,
26:35he stood in the hotel lobby,
26:36his mind somewhat chaotic.
26:38Let's go
26:38to Ella's apartment.
26:39A few seconds later,
26:41he finally spoke
26:41in a low voice.
26:42As he walked out,
26:43he seemed to be
26:44finding reasons for himself.
26:45She's probably still upset
26:46that I didn't wait for her
26:47when I went to the small town
26:48that day.
26:48We'll pick her up first,
26:49then make up the ceremony.
26:50Thinking about it now,
26:51he really neglected her.
26:53He was not aware
26:53of how humiliating
26:54it would be
26:55if word got out
26:55that the bra for the metting
26:56had been left behind
26:57by her fiancé.
26:58But that day,
26:59he had only thought
27:00that Ella would always understand.
27:01Ella had always been
27:02the most sensible.
27:04But being sensible
27:05had never meant
27:05she wouldn't be hurt.
27:06Oh no,
27:07I forgot something.
27:08What?
27:09The wedding dress.
27:10No, the bridal gown.
27:11That dress is still
27:12in my closet at home.
27:13I left in too much of a rush
27:14and forgot to bring it.
27:15Why is it at your house?
27:17After I tried on the dress
27:18last time,
27:19I just took it back with me.
27:20I thought I'd keep it safe
27:21for my sister.
27:22Standing there,
27:22Lucien suddenly felt
27:23that everything was wrong.
27:24They had come to pick up
27:25the bride and found nothing.
27:26The dress was not with the bride.
27:27The makeup and styling team
27:28was nowhere to be seen.
27:30No one had even truly confirmed
27:31exactly where the bride
27:32was staying
27:32or who had accompanied
27:33her last night.
27:34It was as if the entire wedding
27:35had revolved around
27:36everyone else everywhere.
27:37But the one person
27:38who should have stood
27:38at the center
27:39had instead seemingly
27:40been completely excluded.
27:42Go to your house first
27:43and get the gown.
27:43Then go to Ella's apartment.
27:48On the way back
27:49to get the gown,
27:50the silence inside the car
27:51was terrifying.
27:53Lucien gripped
27:54the steering wheel,
27:55his phone resting
27:56on the center
27:57constal mount.
27:58My chat window
27:59was still frozen there,
28:01not a single movement.
28:03He stared at that
28:04quiet screen,
28:05his brows
28:06mitting tighter and tighter.
28:08What exactly was wrong
28:09with her?
28:10She had clearly
28:11been looking forward
28:12to this wedding so much.
28:13She had clearly
28:14wanted so much
28:15to stand at the center
28:16for once as the real focus.
28:18He had thought
28:18he was fulfilling her wish.
28:22So why,
28:23in the end,
28:24was she the one
28:24who disappeared first?
28:26After getting the gown
28:27from Lillian's house,
28:29Lucien did not start
28:30the car immediately.
28:31He was silent
28:32for a few seconds,
28:33then suddenly said,
28:34When we see Ella,
28:35you apologize to her first.
28:37Lillian was fastening
28:38her seatbelt,
28:39and at those words,
28:40her movement stiffened.
28:41What?
28:42I said,
28:43After we see her,
28:44you apologize first.
28:46Lillian's expression
28:46instantly turned ugly.
28:48Why?
28:52I've been running around
28:53for this wedding
28:54from beginning to end,
28:55and meanwhile,
28:55she throws a tantrum
28:56and disappears,
28:57and I'm the one
28:58who have to apologize to her?
28:59Lucien turned
29:00to look at her,
29:01his gaze frighteningly cold.
29:03Running around
29:04from beginning to end?
29:06So busy
29:07that you don't know
29:07which hotel
29:08she's staying at?
29:09So busy
29:10that you hung her gown
29:11in your own house?
29:12So busy
29:13that you didn't even confirm
29:14whether the makeup
29:15and styling team
29:16had met the bride?
29:17Lillian opened her mouth,
29:18her voice dropping lower.
29:20The makeup artist?
29:22I originally told them
29:23to just wait at the hotel,
29:25but they said
29:25they never saw the bride.
29:28Lucien's face
29:28darkened completely.
29:30Lillian.
29:31When he said her name,
29:33his tone was already
29:34cold as ice.
29:36Do you actually want her
29:37to marry me smoothly or not?
29:39Lillian lowered her head,
29:40her fingers twisting
29:41the seatbelt,
29:42her lips moving.
29:43After a long time,
29:45she finally spoke softly.
29:47What if I say,
29:49I want her to get married,
29:51but not to you?
29:55Lucien froze for a moment.
29:56He looked at her.
29:58She looked up at him too,
29:59her eyes ringed red,
30:00and something in her gaze
30:02was finally no longer concealed.
30:04But Lucien did not respond
30:05to that sentence.
30:06He only withdrew his gaze
30:08and restarted the car.
30:10That bay window room
30:11in the marital home
30:11was originally left
30:12for your sister as a study.
30:14It won't be given to you
30:15in the future.
30:16But my sister already agreed.
30:18Lucien said nothing more.
30:20The car drove
30:21to the apartment building
30:22where I lived.
30:23The three of them
30:24went upstairs together.
30:25No one spoke
30:26in the elevator.
30:28Lillian stood in the corner.
30:30Ethan leaned against
30:31the elevator wall,
30:32lifting his camera
30:34several times
30:34and then slowly
30:35putting it down again.
30:37Lucien stood at the front,
30:39his expression dark enough
30:41to frighten anyone.
30:42The doorbell rang several times
30:44and finally footsteps
30:45came from inside.
30:47The door opened.
30:48Ella, I...
30:49Before Lucien
30:50could finish speaking,
30:51his whole body stillened.
30:55The person who opened the door
30:57was a strange man
30:58around 27 or 28 years old,
31:00his hair half wet
31:01as if he had just showered.
31:02He leaned against the doorway,
31:04his expression lazy but wary.
31:06Who are you looking for?
31:07Lucien's gaze instantly turned cold
31:09as he stepped forward.
31:10Who are you?
31:11Why are you here?
31:12Do you have the wrong door?
31:14Tell Ella to come out.
31:15Lucien's voice deepened,
31:17the pressure of an alpha
31:18almost instinctively spilling out.
31:20This is her apartment.
31:22What's your relationship with her?
31:24Behind him,
31:25Lillian seemed startled
31:26and asked in a duo west,
31:28Could sis have
31:29gotten together with someone else?
31:31Those words were like a needle
31:33stapping visibly
31:34into Lucien's nerves.
31:35He shoved the door open
31:36and barged straight in.
31:38The living room,
31:38bedroom,
31:39study,
31:40kitchen,
31:40bathroom.
31:41He checked every one of them in turn.
31:43I wasn't there.
31:44The whole apartment
31:44was far too clean
31:45with only the basic furniture
31:47and traces of a stranger's life left.
31:49The man stood in the living room
31:50watching him search
31:51like he had gone mad
31:52and finally spoke impatiently.
31:55Stop looking.
31:56She moved out a long time ago.
32:02Moved out?
32:04I'm the new tenant.
32:06Miss Ella subset this place
32:07to me last week.
32:08The air suddenly went still.
32:10Lucien froze where he stood.
32:12It was as if it took him
32:13several seconds
32:14to truly understand
32:15the words moved out.
32:16That sour,
32:17swelling feeling
32:18in his chest
32:19nodded there,
32:20pressing so hard
32:20that he could barely breathe.
32:22After a long time,
32:23he finally asked
32:24in a horny voice,
32:25Did she say where she went?
32:26The man shook his head.
32:27No.
32:28By the time I moved in,
32:30this place was already
32:30almost empty.
32:31Lucien said nothing more.
32:33Lillian tugged at his sleeve.
32:35Lucien,
32:35sis,
32:36she-
32:36Lucien violently shook off her hand
32:38and turned to stride out the door.
32:40The corridor was empty.
32:41He stood there,
32:43took out his phone,
32:43and dialed my number
32:44once again.
32:46It was still powered off.
32:47Before,
32:48when he couldn't reach me,
32:49he could still deceive himself
32:50into believing
32:51it was just the custom
32:52that the couple
32:52must not see each other
32:53before the wedding.
32:54But now,
32:55he can no longer deceive himself.
33:00He stared at my name
33:02on the screen,
33:02and suddenly,
33:03a strange sense
33:05of unfamiliarity arose.
33:07Ella,
33:08his fiancée,
33:09the bride
33:10who disappeared
33:12on the wedding day.
33:14And yet,
33:15he did not know
33:15when she had moved out,
33:16did not know
33:17whether she had resigned
33:17from her job,
33:18did not know
33:19why she had subset
33:19the apartment
33:20to someone else.
33:21He knew nothing.
33:22That woman,
33:22who had always been obedient,
33:23quiet,
33:24and never made him lose face,
33:25for the first time
33:26used the most decisive,
33:27quietest way
33:27to completely remove herself
33:29from his life.
33:29The moment he walked out
33:30of the apartment building,
33:31Lucien called his assistant.
33:33Has Ella come to the company recently?
33:36There was a pause
33:36on the other end.
33:38She did.
33:39Last Thursday,
33:40after Miss Ella
33:41came to the front desk
33:42and left a bag of things
33:43saying they were
33:44to be passed on to you.
33:45I had meant to report it,
33:46but you were busy
33:47those few days
33:48with the wedding
33:48and the council matters.
33:50Lucien didn't listen
33:51to the rest.
33:52He hung up directly,
33:54pulled open the car door,
33:55got in,
33:56and started the engine.
34:02Lillian had just
34:03pulled open the rear door
34:04when the car
34:05had already shot off.
34:06All the way to the company,
34:08Lucien practically
34:09ran into headquarters,
34:12when the assistant
34:13handed him that paper bag.
34:15His expression
34:15was a little uneasy too.
34:17Lucien opened it immediately.
34:19And inside
34:20were the Blackwood Group
34:21headquarters access card,
34:22the office key,
34:23and that set
34:24of client materials.
34:25Pressed on top
34:26was a sticky note.
34:27There was only
34:27one line on note.
34:29Returning these to you.
34:32Holding that slip of paper,
34:34Lucien only felt
34:35those two words
34:35sting his eyes
34:36until they turned sore.
34:37Could it be that by then,
34:38she had already decided
34:40she didn't want
34:40this wedding anymore?
34:41His phone kept
34:42raiding non-stop
34:43in his palm.
34:44Lillian called
34:45three times in a row,
34:46and he didn't answer
34:47a single one.
34:48Let's go to the town
34:49to look for her now.
34:50Maybe it's not too late.
34:52Lucien stared
34:53at that sentence
34:53and didn't move
34:54for a long time.
34:55Too late.
34:57That thought was
34:57like a blunt knife
34:58slowly cutting
34:59across his chest.
35:03He closed his eyes.
35:05His mind began
35:06uncontrollably going back.
35:07In this past month
35:08of wedding preparations,
35:09how many times
35:10had Ella mentioned
35:11her own ideas?
35:12How many times
35:13had she said,
35:14I want?
35:15How many times
35:16had she wanted to speak,
35:17only for someone else
35:19to conveniently
35:19make the decision
35:20for her?
35:21Later on,
35:22it seemed every single matter
35:24had been decided
35:24by Lillian.
35:25Even on the day
35:26of the dress fitting,
35:27Ella had only
35:27her measurements taken
35:28and tried on the dress.
35:30Then the gown
35:31had been taken away
35:32by Lillian,
35:33and he had actually
35:34never felt anything
35:35was wrong,
35:36because Ella
35:37had always been gentle,
35:38always not fighting,
35:40always not making a scene
35:41over this kind of thing,
35:42but why?
35:43Why did her not fighting
35:44mean she didn't need
35:45to be asked?
35:46Why did her always
35:47stepping back
35:48mean it was taken
35:48for granted
35:49that she could
35:49yield everything?
35:53Lucian suddenly remembered
35:55that old song
35:55that had been replaced.
35:57He opened the music app,
35:59found the song
35:59Ella had personally chosen
36:01and that had later
36:02been so easily replaced,
36:03put on his earbuds,
36:05and pressed play.
36:07The intro was very light,
36:09washing over him
36:09like water.
36:11He had actually
36:12never listened
36:13to it seriously.
36:14He couldn't even
36:15clearly remember
36:16the song title.
36:17But at that moment,
36:18the instant
36:19the melody sounded,
36:21his chest tightened.
36:22Ella had chosen it
36:23over the course
36:23of a month.
36:25Lillian had only
36:25said one sentence,
36:26that it was too dull
36:28and it had been replaced.
36:30Wasn't she right
36:31to be angry?
36:33Lucian took off
36:34the earphones
36:34and immediately
36:35called Aunt Margaret again.
36:37Auntie,
36:38did Ella actually
36:38go back to the town
36:39or not?
36:40No.
36:40Aunt Margaret's voice
36:41was obviously anxious too.
36:43I just called her too
36:44and her phone is off.
36:45What exactly
36:45is going on over there?
36:46The bride disappeared
36:48on the wedding day?
36:49I'll find her.
36:50After saying that,
36:50Lucian hung up.
36:55Downstairs,
36:56Lillian and Ethan
36:56had also rushed over.
36:58Lillian's eyes
36:59were red
36:59as if she had cried.
37:01Ethan stood there
37:02holding his camera
37:03but his expression
37:03looked even worse
37:04than crying.
37:07Lucian,
37:07I just looked through
37:08the photos
37:08from that dress fitting day.
37:10Lucian lifted his eyes
37:11to look at him.
37:12Ethan lowered his head
37:13and pressed through
37:14the camera,
37:14flipping back one photo
37:16after another.
37:16I took a lot of pictures
37:17of you and Lillian together,
37:19videos of her twilling around,
37:20close-ups of you
37:21fixing her bow for her.
37:22But there are almost
37:23no shots of Ella.
37:25His voice was hurry.
37:27Could she
37:28be angry with me?
37:30It feels like
37:31I was always
37:31photographing you two.
37:33Lucian said nothing
37:34because he realized
37:36that he didn't even
37:36have the right
37:37to blame Ethan.
37:38At least Ethan
37:39had only pointed
37:39the camera
37:40toward someone else.
37:41As for him,
37:42he had given away
37:43bit by bit
37:43his whole heart,
37:44the center
37:44of the entire wedding
37:45and the place
37:46in the relationship
37:47that should most
37:47have belonged to Ella,
37:49all to someone else.
37:50The lobby was silent
37:51for a long time.
37:53Suddenly,
37:53as if she had thought
37:54of something,
37:55Lillian spoke softly.
37:57How about
37:59we try another way?
38:03Lucian turned
38:04to look at her.
38:06Lillian pressed
38:07her lips together
38:08as if testing
38:09the waters.
38:10Sis is missing
38:11right now,
38:11but the wedding
38:12can't be completely
38:13empty, right?
38:14How about
38:15we fill in
38:16for the ceremony first?
38:17If she knows
38:18you and I
38:18are standing up there,
38:19she'll definitely
38:19get angry.
38:20And once gets angry,
38:22maybe she come out
38:22on her scene to take.
38:24Then we know
38:24where she does.
38:25Ethan froze,
38:26then quietly added.
38:31And I took
38:32quite a few
38:33pre-shoot photos
38:33of the two of you.
38:35If we replace
38:35things on site
38:36for the moment,
38:37it's not completely
38:37too late.
38:38Lucian did not
38:39keep listening.
38:39He looked at Lydia
38:40and suddenly felt
38:41that the expression
38:42on her face
38:42was frighteningly
38:43unfamiliar.
38:44From the wedding
38:45preparations until now,
38:46I had disappeared.
38:47She had no real panic,
38:48no real worry.
38:49There even seemed
38:50to be a faint trace
38:51of some unclear
38:52expectation.
38:53Lucian suddenly
38:54thought of every detail
38:55over the past month
38:56that had been changed
38:56in passing.
38:57The invitations,
38:59the background music,
39:00the gown,
39:00the makeup and styling,
39:01the room after marriage.
39:02Every single matter
39:03had ended with
39:04Ella doesn't mind
39:05and then slowly
39:06turned into what
39:07Lillia truly wanted.
39:11As long as she
39:12was considerate enough
39:13in front of him,
39:14sensible enough
39:15and good enough
39:15at enlivening
39:16the atmosphere,
39:17as long as she
39:18made him feel
39:19that she handles
39:19these things
39:20better than Ella,
39:21the whole wedding
39:22would unknowingly
39:23drift in the direction
39:24she wanted
39:24and he had actually
39:26never realized it.
39:27No, find her first.
39:29Every place we can
39:30possibly search,
39:30search all of them.
39:32They split up
39:33and made countless
39:33phone calls.
39:34My co-work said
39:35I had already completed
39:36the resignation procedures
39:37just last week.
39:38The landlord said
39:39I had terminated the lease
39:41and even the dand
39:42had been settled.
39:43From on,
39:43that apartment
39:44had nothing to do
39:45with me anymore.
39:46Aunt Margaret
39:46was so anxious
39:47in the small town
39:48that she was going
39:49in circles,
39:50asking every relative
39:51she could,
39:52but no one knew
39:52where I had gone.
39:54It was as if I had
39:54completely evaporated
39:56from this world.
39:56I had left no clues
39:58for anyone.
39:59I had told no one.
40:00I hadn't even left
40:01behind a single
40:02I'm leaving.
40:05Lucian sat in the car,
40:07the phone screen
40:08in his hand
40:08lighting up
40:09and going dark,
40:10darkening and
40:10lighting up again.
40:11He went through
40:12his contacts
40:12over and over again.
40:14He had asked
40:14every person
40:15who might possibly
40:16be able to reach me.
40:17He had thought
40:17of every place
40:18I might possibly go.
40:20In the end,
40:21he had to admit
40:22one thing.
40:22I hadn't gotten lost.
40:24I just didn't
40:24want to be found.
40:25That thought
40:26was like a basin
40:27of ice water
40:27poured from head to toe.
40:29More terrifying
40:30than an argument.
40:31More terrifying
40:31than a cold war.
40:33An argument
40:33would at least mean
40:34I still cared.
40:35A cold war
40:36would at least mean
40:36I was still angry.
40:37But now,
40:38I have left
40:39nothing behind.
40:40I had given up
40:41the apartment,
40:41returned the things,
40:42resigned from my job
40:43and little by little
40:44cleaned away
40:44every trace
40:45connected to him.
40:46I hadn't said
40:47we were breaking up.
40:48I hadn't even said
40:49I hated him.
40:50I had only quietly
40:51erased myself
40:51from his world.
40:52As if I at last,
40:54I didn't want him anymore.
40:58Ella came back
40:59on a late summer evening.
41:00Dragging a suitcase,
41:02she walked out
41:02of the airport
41:03arrival's hall
41:04and looked up
41:04at the sky.
41:06The sky of her hometown
41:07was still that grayish blue.
41:09The clouds drifted
41:10very slowly.
41:11The wind was slow, too.
41:13She watched for a while,
41:14then suddenly smiled softly.
41:17In these eight years,
41:18she had gone to many places.
41:20The aurora in Iceland,
41:22the starry skies of New Zealand,
41:24the hot air balloons of Turkey,
41:25the sunset over the African grasslands.
41:28She learned to dive
41:30and got certified, too.
41:32She learned to ski
41:33and learned to surf.
41:35She had lived in Chiang Mai
41:37for three months,
41:38buying coffee every morning
41:39from a little shop
41:39on the corner,
41:40then taking a detour
41:41to feed the stray cats.
41:42She had also lived
41:43for half a year
41:44in a seaside city
41:45where she kept two dogs,
41:47three cats,
41:47and a tank full of goldfish
41:49swimming back and forth
41:50in the yard.
41:51All those things
41:52she had once wanted
41:53to do with Lucien,
41:54but had never managed to do,
41:55she later completed alone.
42:03Watching the sun rise alone,
42:07riding a Ferris wheel alone,
42:09going to the mountaintop alone
42:11to wait for the snow to fall,
42:13going to the seaside alone
42:14to watch the evening
42:15glow and fade away.
42:16She had originally thought
42:17that if nobody was there
42:18to accompany her,
42:20then in this life
42:21she would never do
42:22those things again.
42:23Only later did she understand
42:26that whether something
42:27could be done or not
42:28actually had little to do
42:30with whether anyone
42:31was there with her.
42:32What mattered most
42:34had never been
42:34whether that person was there.
42:36It was that she had
42:37finally learned
42:38not to place
42:39all of her expectations
42:40on whether someone else
42:42would give.
42:43In these eight years,
42:45Lucien never married.
42:47He simply kept working
42:49as usual,
42:50attending meetings
42:51as usual,
42:52appearing at council
42:53occasions as usual.
42:54Back then,
42:56news of the wedding's
42:57cancellation spread quickly
42:58through the town
42:59and the pack circles.
43:00At first,
43:01many people still
43:01talked about it,
43:02but as time passed,
43:04no one brought it up anymore.
43:06Lucien never publicly
43:07explained why his future
43:08bride had disappeared
43:09on the wedding day.
43:13The Blackwood group
43:14grew bigger and bigger.
43:16The headquarters
43:16moved three times,
43:18and the offices
43:19became more and more
43:20spacious
43:20and more and more
43:21empty.
43:22He never let Lillian
43:23sit in his front passenger
43:24seat again.
43:26Nor did he ever
43:27meet her alone again.
43:29As for matters
43:30within the group,
43:31he had his assistant
43:32really everything.
43:33As for contact
43:34between relatives,
43:35he avoided it
43:36whenever he could.
43:37It wasn't as if
43:38Lillian had never
43:39tried to find him.
43:40When she went
43:41to the company,
43:42the front desk
43:42would politely stop her,
43:44saying that President Lucien
43:45was in a meeting.
43:46When she called him,
43:49eight times out of ten,
43:51it was the assistant
43:51who answered,
43:52saying that the President
43:53was unavailable
43:54at the moment.
43:55One time,
43:55she finally cried
43:56into the phone
43:57and demanded,
43:58Lucien,
43:58what do you mean by this?
43:59Avoiding suspicion.
44:00He replied with only
44:02two words.
44:02Avoiding what suspicion?
44:03I'm your fiancé's
44:04younger sister.
44:05I used to be.
44:06Lucien's voice was calm,
44:08without the slightest ripple.
44:09After Ella left,
44:10there was no relationship
44:11between you and me.
44:17Lillian froze on the spot.
44:18She had probably
44:19never truly understood
44:21that all of Lucien's
44:23favoritism,
44:24care,
44:24and indulgence
44:25had never been for her
44:26from beginning to end.
44:27Not because she knew
44:28how to act spoiled,
44:29not because she was
44:30more lively,
44:31and not because she was
44:32better at socializing.
44:34Only because she was
44:35Ella's younger sister.
44:36So he had shown
44:36an affection for one thing
44:38because of another.
44:38Now the house was gone,
44:40and she,
44:41this crow,
44:41no longer had
44:42anything special about her.
44:44That's impossible.
44:46She refuted him tearfully,
44:48but Lucien directly hung up.
44:51After losing Lucien's
44:53special protection,
44:54Lillian's days at the company
44:55became harder and harder.
44:57Her original position
44:59had been personally
45:00arranged by Lucien
45:01with a word of instruction.
45:03Her salary had been
45:04higher than others
45:05at the same level,
45:06while the work had been
45:07light and respectable.
45:08After Lucien stopped
45:09involving himself,
45:10the department director
45:11quickly reassigned
45:13her position.
45:13Her salary was cut in half,
45:15and her workload doubled.
45:17She made scenes
45:18several times,
45:19but no one humored
45:20her anymore.
45:21Later,
45:21under the group's
45:22brutal evaluation mechanism,
45:24she was directly eliminated.
45:29She had always thought that job,
45:31that position,
45:32and those benefits
45:33had all been won by herself.
45:35Only after losing everything
45:37did she realize
45:37that those things
45:38had never been her own ability.
45:40They had been because
45:41Ella had spoken up for her
45:42again and again
45:43in front of Lucien.
45:44She's very good,
45:46professionally.
45:46She just lacks
45:47an opportunity.
45:49Please help her.
45:50It's not easy for her
45:51to be alone in a big city.
45:53If she can get into Blackwood,
45:55I'll feel more at ease too.
45:57Back then,
45:58that road had been paved
45:59for her by Ella,
46:00but after walking on it
46:01for so long,
46:02she had really started
46:03to believe it was
46:04her own ability.
46:06Things became even uglier
46:07on the relative side.
46:09After the wedding
46:09was canceled,
46:10the first person
46:11to go find Lillian
46:12was Aunt Margaret.
46:13With red eyes,
46:15she asked,
46:16What exactly did you do?
46:18Why would your sister leave?
46:20Lillian only knew
46:21how to shake her head
46:22and say she didn't know,
46:23but no one believed
46:24her anymore.
46:25In the end,
46:25someone finally couldn't
46:26bear it any longer
46:27and revealed the secret
46:28that had been hidden
46:29for many years.
46:30Your sister has been
46:31begging us all these years
46:32not to say anything
46:33because she was afraid
46:33you'd feel bad
46:34if you found out.
46:35She thought of everything
46:36for you!
46:37And you?
46:38How did you treat her?
46:44You're not the
46:45Winston family's
46:46biological at all.
46:52Your biological father
46:54got involved
46:54in an old case
46:55back then
46:56and caused
46:57Ella's grandfather's death.
47:00The Winston family
47:01reported it to the police
47:02and he was heavily
47:04sentenced and imprisoned.
47:06Your mother also
47:07didn't survive
47:08when she gave birth to you.
47:10Not long after
47:12you were born,
47:13no one was willing
47:14to raise you.
47:15So Ella's parents
47:16brought you home
47:17and raised you
47:19as if you were
47:20their own daughter.
47:21For all these years,
47:23Ella gave everything
47:24up for you
47:25and shielded you
47:26from everything.
47:27Did she owe you that?
47:33Lillian's face
47:33went white
47:34on the spot.
47:36Her mouth was open,
47:37yet she could not
47:39say a single word.
47:40It was as if
47:41all her understanding
47:42had collapsed
47:43in an instant.
47:45The daughter
47:45of a murderer.
47:47The daughter
47:48of the person
47:48who had caused
47:49Ella's grandfather's death.
47:50Her lips trembled
47:51and tears fell
47:53one by one.
47:54She suddenly remembered
47:56every piece of candy
47:57Elsa had yielded
47:58to her since childhood.
47:59Every dress.
48:01Every chance
48:02to choose first.
48:03She remembered
48:04Aunt Margaret's looks
48:05of wanting to speak
48:06but stopping herself.
48:09She remembered
48:10the tidal silence
48:11of all the relatives.
48:13So they had all known.
48:15Only she had not known.
48:21So Ella's concessions
48:22had not been
48:23because she deserved them.
48:24It was because
48:24Ella had always
48:25been soft-hearted.
48:27Always protecting her.
48:29After this matter spread,
48:30no one sympathized
48:31with Lillian anymore.
48:32The way everyone
48:33looked at her changed.
48:34The Winston family
48:35raised her
48:36for more than 20 years.
48:38And look at what she did.
48:40She practically stole
48:41her own sister's groom
48:43and even drove her so far
48:44that she disappeared
48:45on her wedding day.
48:48Lillian said
48:49she had not stolen it.
48:50Said she had not
48:51forced anyone.
48:52But no one
48:53believed her.
48:54All the politeness,
48:56closeness,
48:56greetings,
48:57and invasions
48:58from before
48:58slowly disappeared.
48:59During holidays
49:00and festivals,
49:01no one called
49:02for her anymore.
49:03And no one informed
49:04her of family gatherings
49:06either.
49:06She had completely
49:07lost that home
49:08she had once
49:09taken for granted.
49:11Ethan had also
49:12always deeply
49:13regretted it.
49:14Back then,
49:15I had gone to him
49:16happily and said
49:17I wanted him
49:18to do the wedding
49:19photography.
49:20I gave him
49:20very generous pay
49:22and I truly entrusted
49:23the most important
49:24day to him.
49:25But in the end,
49:26there were fewer
49:27than 10 shots
49:27of me in the footage.
49:29There wasn't even
49:29a single clear
49:30front-facing photo.
49:31Later,
49:32he was so angry
49:33that he smashed
49:33the camera
49:34that had been
49:34with him
49:35for many years.
49:36After that,
49:36he tried sending
49:37me a message,
49:38only three words.
49:39I'm sorry.
49:43I left for eight years
49:45and Lucien waited
49:45for eight years.
49:47He didn't know
49:48whether I would
49:48ever come back.
49:49He also didn't know
49:50even if I did
49:51come back,
49:52whether I would
49:53still be willing
49:54to look at him,
49:54but he still waited.
49:55The top-floor apartment
49:57at Blackwood
49:57had always been kept.
49:58The study prepared
50:00back then for the bride
50:01was never touched again.
50:02That old song
50:03I had chosen
50:04was later also put back
50:05into his car playlist
50:06and all his private playlists.
50:09He never set up
50:09another bride.
50:10People in the council
50:11had tried sounding him out
50:12and persuading him,
50:14saying that an alpha
50:14had to have a partner
50:15eventually
50:16and had to consider
50:17the pack's succession issue.
50:19But he never
50:19loosened his stance.
50:22Until this day,
50:23the assistant
50:23finally called.
50:26President Lucian,
50:27there's news
50:28from the airport side.
50:29It seems they have
50:30seen Miss Ella.
50:33Lucian
50:34tuddenly stood up
50:35from his chair.
50:38The elevator
50:39was too slow.
50:40He rushed straight
50:41to the emergency stairwell
50:43and ran all the way
50:44down the stairs,
50:4515 floors.
50:46By the last two floors,
50:48even his legs
50:48had begun to tremble.
50:50He was afraid
50:51that if he went
50:51a second too late,
50:52I would leave again.
50:53After getting into the car,
50:55the navigation
50:56showed 40 more minutes.
50:57He only felt
50:58it was too slow.
51:00So slow
51:00it was about
51:01to drive him mad.
51:03In these eight years,
51:04he had stored up
51:05too many things to say.
51:06But the closer he groat,
51:08the more panned he didn't.
51:10He was afraid
51:11I wouldn't even
51:11be willing to listen.
51:13Afraid I would just
51:13look at him lightly
51:14and then say,
51:15I already don't care anymore.
51:17Even more afraid
51:18that I simply
51:18would not want to see him.
51:21He began thinking
51:22over and over
51:22what the first
51:23sentence should be
51:24after seeing me.
51:25But every sentence
51:26was too light,
51:27far too insufficient.
51:30What he owed me
51:31had never been something
51:32that could be repaid
51:33with a single sentence.
51:34and he could beushin'
51:34the same as
51:34many stats.
51:34be honest. Look,
51:35that's a
51:35topic and
51:35stay around and see
51:35you in the
51:35I want to know
51:36how great
51:36like in this I believe
51:36it's a level and
51:37it's
51:37a level So everything