After a car accident, Charlotte Whitaker lost her memory.

She remembered everyone—except Marcus Seymour.

For several days, her best friend Brenda Seymour stayed by her side, and when she finally realized Charlotte truly didn't recall the name, her expression changed dramatically.

"Lottie, it's just us here. Be honest—did you come up with some new trick to play hard to get? Are you trying to get Marc's attention?"

Charlotte blinked, bewildered. "No, I swear, I really don't remember. Who is he?"

"You're not messing with me? Swear it!"

Faced with suspicion, Charlotte didn't hesitate. She swore—an oath no one would make lightly.

Brenda looked as if she'd been struck by lightning. She grabbed Charlotte's shoulders, shaking her. "You actually lost your memory—and only forgot Marc?!"

Charlotte didn't understand why Brenda was so shocked. She couldn't help but ask, "Who exactly is this Marc?"

Brenda's face twisted with a mix of frustration and concern. She sighed and started to explain, piece by piece. "Marcus Seymour, my brother! Back in the day, you came over to our house and fell for him at first sight. You chased him for seven years straight..."

Listening to Brenda's rambling, Charlotte felt her mind go blank.

"So, is he my boyfriend now?"

Brenda's expression turned awkward. "No. Marc's always been distant with you. He's got someone else he likes, so he rejected you—and every other girl who tried. He's never gotten over his first love, Jenna Clarke.

"When they broke up, he was so devastated that he drank himself half to death and ended up in the hospital. He's never really moved on. This time, he left you alone on the highway in the pouring rain because he was picking up Jenna, who had just flown back into the country. That's how you ended up in the accident and lost your memory."

A few sentences left Charlotte speechless, her feelings tangled and complicated.

"So you're saying Marcus has always been cold to me, loves someone else, and even hurt me for her. Why did I ever like him? Are you sure you're not lying to me?"

"How could I lie? Everybody knows you were crazy about Marc."

Brenda shook her head and hurriedly handed Charlotte her phone, gesturing for her to unlock it.

Charlotte took it, half-skeptical, and punched in a string of numbers—but the password didn't work.

"Your password isn't your favorite celebrity's birthday anymore; it's Marc's, 0715!"

Following Brenda's instructions, Charlotte unlocked the phone.

She opened her photo gallery, and thousands of pictures of an unfamiliar man filled the screen.

Charlotte stared at the strikingly handsome face for a long time before realizing Brenda must be telling the truth.

Because Marcus looked exactly like her type.

But in every candid photo, no matter the angle, his eyes were always cold, devoid of warmth.

The more she looked, the more suffocated she felt. Charlotte then switched to the notes app.

It was packed with details about Marcus—his tastes, his dislikes, everything he loved and loathed.

There were also daily diary entries, each one dripping with the pain of unrequited love.

"Seventh Valentine's Day. Spent half a month rehearsing my confession, and, as expected, got rejected again. Marcus, you say we'll never work out, but I still can't let you go."

"You got drunk again today, mistook me for her, called her name hundreds of times. You said you can't forget her, that even knowing she'll never answer, you still want to wait for her like a moth to a flame. At that moment, I realized we're the same—pitiful and tragic in love..."

Even without her memories, the heartbreak and disappointment soaked into every word made Charlotte ache.

Her chest tightened, a sharp pain radiating through her.

Her nose stung, tears threatening to spill.

She sat there, dazed, unable to calm herself.

The hospital room was silent for a long time before Brenda finally spoke, "So... what are you going to do now?

"Keep getting treatment? My uncle's a top psychiatrist, but he's overseas right now. If you want—"

"It's fine. Even though I don't remember, I can tell I must have been miserable loving Marcus. Maybe forgetting is a blessing."

Charlotte took a deep breath, lowered her head, and deleted every photo, every note.

Brenda stared at Charlotte in shock, about to say something when her phone suddenly rang.

After the call ended, Brenda grabbed her bag, tossed out a quick goodbye, and hurried out.

"I've got to head home for something, Lottie. Take care and rest up—I'll be back after I'm done."

The door slammed shut.

Charlotte was about to lie down when her mother called.

"Lottie, remember how I told you about that childhood engagement? It's been delayed for years. Have you thought about it?"

Dorothy Latham had expected her daughter to refuse. The call was just a last-ditch effort.

But Charlotte paused for a few seconds and, to Dorothy's surprise, agreed.

"Sure, Mom. Once I finish things here, I'll come home and go through with it."

On the other end, Dorothy was stunned, her voice full of disbelief.

"You... what did you say? You don't like your best friend's brother anymore? You insisted on staying in New York for him, chased him for so many years—why the sudden change?"

Charlotte didn't know how to explain her amnesia, nor did she want her family worrying about the accident.

After a moment's thought, she gave a vague answer.

"I don't like him anymore. And I never will again."

After the call ended, Charlotte quickly estimated how long it would take to wrap things up here and bought a plane ticket to Boston for two weeks later.

Just as she finished booking, a nurse came in to let her know it was time for her follow-up.

She settled into her wheelchair and headed out. The moment she rolled through the doorway and looked up, she saw a face she knew all too well.

She'd just seen it in her photo gallery.

Marcus!

As soon as he spotted her, the chill in his eyes deepened, turning icy in an instant.

"How did you know I was here? Are you following me all the way to the hospital now?"

Charlotte hadn't expected her first encounter with Marcus after losing her memory to be like this.

And he clearly couldn't stand her.

She blinked, trying to process, then replied, "You've got it wrong. I'm not stalking you. I was in a car accident on the highway, so I'm here recovering."

Marcus frowned, giving her a quick once-over, about to say something when someone stepped out of the room behind him.

He turned away and went to greet her. "Jen, your fever just broke. I told you to rest—why are you out here?"

Charlotte instinctively turned at the name and saw Jenna, dressed in a flowing white sundress, her long hair cascading down her back.

Their eyes met for a brief moment. Jenna offered a gentle smile, looking at Marcus with a hint of surprise.

"It was stuffy in the room, so I came out for some air. Marc, who's this?"

Marcus's gaze hardened slightly. "She's my sister's best friend, Charlotte Whitaker. She works in our company's design department. We're not that close."

Jenna's lips curled into a soft, polite smile. "Ms. Whitaker, nice to meet you. I'm Jenna Clarke. Did something happen? Your head's all bandaged up."

Charlotte nodded. "Yeah, I was in a car accident. Minor concussion, some mem—"

Before she could finish, a nurse called out from behind.

"Patient in room 1124, Charlotte Whitaker, it's time for your tests."

With that, Charlotte had no interest in chatting with people she didn't remember. She quickly said goodbye and pushed herself toward the exam room.

Behind her, Marcus watched, surprised by her uncharacteristically distant attitude. He frowned, lingering on her retreating figure.

"She used to hang on my every word," he thought. "Now she just leaves without a fuss?"

After a round of routine tests, Charlotte went to the pharmacy to pick up her medication.

Passing by the garden downstairs, she noticed the sunshine and decided to take a stroll on her own.

She was just approaching the pond when Jenna appeared, walking straight toward her.

"Ms. Whitaker? Out for some fresh air, too? What a coincidence."

Charlotte was surprised to run into her again but greeted her politely.

Jenna, friendly and outgoing, soon took the initiative to help push Charlotte's wheelchair, chatting with a bright smile.

"Marc just got a call and had to run off. I'm a little bored by myself—mind if we talk for a bit? Since you're Bree's friend and you've worked with Marc for years, I have to ask—when I was overseas, I heard there was a girl who chased Marc for seven years, never gave up. Do you know who she is? How does Marc feel about her?"

Charlotte froze for a moment, but quickly regained her composure, her voice steady.

"I wouldn't know. But if someone chased him for seven years and he still only has eyes for you, it's clear you're the one who matters most to him. No one else is important."

Hearing Charlotte speak with such certainty, Jenna looked genuinely surprised, her voice tinged with shyness.

"So you know about me and Marc? Does he talk about me often?"

Charlotte recalled what Brenda had said about how deeply Marcus loved Jenna, and she nodded slightly. "Yes, he does."

Jenna's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, her eyes lighting up with joy.

"Marc was a year ahead of me in school—a campus legend, brilliant and popular, with more admirers than anyone could count. But he only had eyes for me. He chased after me for ages before I finally agreed to give us a chance. Once we were together, he spoiled me in every way—he'd sit through classes with me, take me to the library, cover the campus with roses for our anniversary, and get jealous for days if anyone else tried to confess their feelings to me...

"We dated for four years. Everyone said I was the love of his life, and he told me over and over that he'd marry me after graduation. But I never wanted to be the perfect wife—I had my own dreams to pursue. So I turned down his proposal, left him, and went overseas for grad school. All these years, I knew he never really let me go. That's why I decided to come back.

"When my plane landed in New York, I was nervous. But the moment I saw him braving the pouring rain at the airport to pick me up and carry my luggage, I realized nothing had changed. I caught a cold these past few days, and he's been taking care of me. I can tell he wants to talk about getting back together, but for some reason, he's holding back. I thought maybe he'd fallen for someone else, so I wanted to ask you."

Charlotte listened quietly as Jenna reminisced, but felt nothing at all inside. She simply smiled.

"I think he cares about you too much to rush into anything. Maybe he's planning some kind of surprise."

Jenna seemed reassured, waved goodbye, but in her hurry, accidentally dropped her phone into the pond.

She instinctively bent down to fish it out, lost her balance, and tumbled headfirst into the water.

For a moment, Charlotte was frozen in shock, then quickly tried to wheel herself away to get help.

She had just turned when Marcus came sprinting over, not hesitating for a second before diving in to pull Jenna out.

Jenna coughed up water, her breathing slowly returning to normal. Only then did the frantic worry on Marcus's face begin to ease.

Charlotte took in every detail of his reaction, about to call for a doctor, when Marcus's voice cut through the air, harsh and accusing.

"You pushed Jen into the water on purpose! Instead of helping, you tried to slip away like nothing happened!"

Charlotte was stunned by his accusation. "She fell in trying to grab her phone—I didn't push her, and I wasn't going to leave her there..."

Marcus glared at her, cutting her off coldly.

"Her phone? I was gone for just a minute, and Jen somehow ended up at the pond and fell in? If it wasn't you, then who was it?"

Without another word, he shoved Charlotte—wheelchair and all—into the pool, his voice icy.

"Charlotte, I've tolerated your constant pursuit because of Bree, but Jen is where I draw the line. If you can't respect that, then you'll pay for what you've done!"

He called for his bodyguards, ordering them to keep everyone away.

The frigid water rushed into Charlotte's nose and mouth, choking her.

She struggled alone, the wound on her leg splitting open, blood swirling through the water.

Her strength faded, pain wracking her body as she trembled uncontrollably, sinking deeper.

The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was Marcus carrying Jenna away.

She had no idea how much time had passed before she opened her eyes again to find Brenda's worried face hovering over her.

"I was only gone for a few hours. How did you end up in the pool? The doctor said if you'd been pulled out a minute later, you might not have woken up at all. You scared me half to death."

Thinking back to what had happened before she passed out, Charlotte fell silent.

She wanted to tell Brenda everything, but remembering that Marcus was Brenda's brother, she forced herself to hold back.

She shook her head gently, her voice weak and tired.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

Brenda's eyes instantly filled with tears. She didn't say much, but for the next several days, she barely left Charlotte's side in the hospital.

During that time, she brought up Marcus in conversation more than once, as if trying to gauge Charlotte's feelings.

"Lottie, knowing Marc as well as I do, if anyone else had confessed to him as many times as you have, he would've found a way to get rid of them ages ago. But he put up with you for years, which means there must be some feelings there—even if he doesn't realize it himself. Are you really not going to try to remember him?"

If Charlotte had heard this right after waking up, she might have believed it.

But after what happened at the pool, she couldn't help but see it as wishful thinking.

She handed Brenda her phone, showing her the photos coworkers had sent over the past couple of days—pictures of Marcus out shopping, eating, and going to the movies with Jenna, all spotted by chance. Charlotte's voice was as calm and still as a lake.

"The only reason he tolerated me was because of you, Bree. If fate made me forget everything about him, maybe it means there was never anything between us to begin with. Now that the woman he's been waiting for has come back, it's time I let go of a love that was never meant to work out."

Seeing that Charlotte truly meant it, Brenda didn't push any further. She just let out a deep sigh.

"I wanted more than anyone for my brother to figure things out and be with you. Then you'd be my sister-in-law, and we'd never have to be apart. But since you've decided to move on, I won't force it. From now on, I won't get involved in Marc and his first love's drama. We'll always be best friends."

Charlotte nodded firmly and pulled Brenda into a gentle hug.

They chatted quietly for a while, then Brenda went to handle Charlotte's discharge paperwork and helped her into the car.

"You've been cooped up in the hospital so long, you must be sick of it. I'm throwing a little get-together—just some friends to celebrate you getting out."

Thinking it might be her last time seeing some of these friends, Charlotte didn't refuse and followed Brenda to the club.

But when they reached their private room and opened the door, both of them froze.

Sitting in the center were Marcus and Jenna. Brenda's face was full of surprise.

"Marc? What are you doing here?"

A couple of friends who'd helped organize the party pulled them inside, explaining as they went.

"Didn't you say the more, the merrier? So I invited Marc—and he brought Jen. Pretty lively, right?"

Brenda stared at the speaker, eyes wide.

Charlotte saw her hesitation and quickly pulled her aside.

"It's fine. They're here, so what? I don't remember anything from before, so it doesn't bother me."

Only then did Brenda relax, leading Charlotte to a seat.

The night was noisy, but the atmosphere stayed tense.

Marcus draped his jacket over Jenna's shoulders, shielding her from every toast, peeling fruit and feeding it to her as if no one else was there...

Every gesture was intimate, indulgent—he didn't bother to hide his affection.

Charlotte watched quietly. Her chest felt tight, but there was no pain.

Maybe forgetting those memories was a blessing in disguise.

Brenda, thinking Charlotte was upset, quickly organized a party game to distract her.

Charlotte's luck held—she won round after round, only losing once, and everyone clamored for her to take a penalty.

She didn't want to play another silly game, so she chose "truth."

All eyes turned to her and Marcus, excitement buzzing in the air.

"Okay, then tell us about the love that left the deepest mark on your life!"

Before Charlotte could answer, Marcus's expression changed.

He glanced at her instinctively, his eyes cold as ice.

Charlotte understood—he was warning her not to say anything reckless in front of Jenna.

But now, with no memories, even if she wanted to take the penalty, all she could do was force out a few vague lines to satisfy everyone.

"The most unforgettable love I've had? It was probably my first crush. He was my best friend's brother—I fell for him at first sight. I wrote stacks of love letters, printed out albums full of candid photos. Everyone knew how crazy I was about him, but he never felt the same..."

She spoke openly, even smiling, but the room fell into a heavy silence.

Jenna, who'd been watching quietly, sensed something and grabbed Marcus's hand, her face darkening.

"Marc, you and Ms. Whitaker..."

Marcus's heart lurched. He gripped Jenna's hand tightly and denied it flatly.

"There's nothing between me and her. From the beginning, it was all one-sided—just her wishful thinking."

Every word he spoke was absolute, cutting off all possibility.

He didn't linger a moment longer. With Jenna's hand in his, Marcus turned and walked out in front of everyone, leaving no room for doubt.

The eyes of the crowd followed them, filled with sympathy and pity.

Brenda, who had remained silent through it all, finally couldn't hold back—she rushed out of the room.

Charlotte realized what Brenda was about to do and hurried after her, catching up just in time to witness the siblings arguing in the parking garage.

"Lottie is my best friend! Why did you have to humiliate her in front of everyone? She's loved you for so many years. Couldn't you show her a little kindness, just for the sake of her feelings?"

"I put up with her for seven years, Bree. The only reason I turned her down gently so many times was because of you. Isn't that kindness enough? Her feelings have been nothing but a burden to me!"

Brenda was so angry she could barely think straight, her voice raw and trembling.

"Well, you can rest assured—she'll never love you again. Ever since you left her stranded that night and she got in a car accident and suffered a concussion..."

"I only drove her home because of you. Why shouldn't I leave her by the side of the road? Even if she got hurt, even if I could go back and do it all over again a hundred times, I'd still choose Jen over her every single time. If she's still holding a grudge, you tell her to stay away from me from now on!"

From somewhere nearby, the sound of a car door slamming echoed through the garage. Not wanting the siblings to realize she'd overheard their fight and make things even more awkward, Charlotte quickly turned and left.

Back home, she looked around her apartment, gathering up everything she'd ever saved that was connected to Marcus.

Then, she threw it all into the trash.

For the rest of the weekend, she stayed in, packing up her things, getting ready to move.

On Monday, Charlotte went to the office and handed her resignation letter to HR.

The HR manager was stunned. "Weren't you just in a car accident? You're still on medical leave. I heard the Director of Design position just opened up—Mr. Seymour wants to promote you. Why are you suddenly quitting?"

Brenda had told her that after graduation, Charlotte had applied to the Seymour Group's design department just to see Marcus every day.

For three years, she'd worked tirelessly, just to be closer to him, to stand by his side in broad daylight.

But now, she didn't remember him, and she'd forgotten what it felt like to love him.

So, faced with HR's reluctance, Charlotte simply smiled.

"I want to go home. I'm moving back for good."

The manager didn't press her further, handing over the stamped resignation form.

"Alright. I'll submit this to Mr. Seymour for his signature. Once that's done, your resignation will be finalized."

After leaving the HR office, Charlotte was stopped halfway down the hall by a colleague from her department.

"Mr. Seymour just called a meeting for the design team. Looks like he's about to announce the new director. The meeting's about to start—come with us."

Charlotte nodded and followed them to the conference room.

On the way, several coworkers greeted her with bright smiles and congratulations.

"Lottie, you've been with our team for three years, contributed to so many major projects, and even won a bunch of international gold awards for your designs. Honestly, you're the obvious choice for director."

"Exactly! With all you've accomplished, and Mr. Seymour's trust in you, we'd be thrilled to have you as our new director. When the good news is announced, you owe us dinner tonight!"

After working together for so long, Charlotte knew their words were genuine.

She wanted to tell them she was about to resign, but since Marcus hadn't signed the paperwork yet, she decided to wait and share the news at dinner.

"Whether or not I'm the new director doesn't really matter to me, but I do want to treat everyone to dinner tonight. I have something I want to tell you all."

They chatted as they walked, reaching the conference room in no time. Charlotte picked a seat in the corner.

Once everyone had arrived, Marcus walked in right on time, glanced around, and got straight to the point.

"I'm sure you've all heard the rumors. The reason I called this meeting is to officially announce the new director of the design department. If anyone has anything to say, speak freely."

All eyes turned to Charlotte. Wanting to stop the announcement before it was finalized, she took a moment to gather her thoughts, looked up to meet Marcus's calm gaze, and stood.

"Mr. Seymour, I'm grateful for the trust you've shown me over the years, entrusting me with so many projects. I've worked hard alongside my colleagues to see them through. Although I don't know who you've chosen for the director position, before you make it official, I'd like to request—"

She didn't get to finish her sentence—Marcus cut her off before she could say she wanted to withdraw from consideration.

"For the director position, among our ten designers, none has the breadth of work you do, Charlotte. But your experience isn't deep enough yet. So I've decided to bring in a new director with extensive expertise and a strong background for this important role."

The entire design team was stunned.

Charlotte froze in place.

A moment later, Marcus's voice rang out across the conference room.

"Let me introduce our new director of design—Jenna Clarke."

The door flew open with a bang as Jenna walked in, smiling, and began her introduction.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Jenna Clarke, a doctoral student from the Milan Institute of Design. I've won the European Young Designers Award..."

The room fell into a heavy silence. People exchanged glances, their expressions growing complicated.

The truth was, several designers present had also won the awards Jenna mentioned.

And she had no work experience at all—fresh out of school and parachuted into the top spot. It was hard for everyone to accept, especially the senior designers who'd been with the company for nearly five years. One of them couldn't help but speak up.

"Mr. Seymour, we all agree that Ms. Clarke lacks the necessary experience. She needs at least a couple more years before she's ready to lead the department. Compared to her, Charlotte is far more qualified for the job."

Once someone spoke up, others quickly nodded in agreement.

Jenna's eyes instantly filled with tears as she looked helplessly at Marcus.

Seeing her cry, Marcus's expression softened briefly before his gaze turned sharp and cold as he looked at Charlotte.

"Jen is a top graduate from a prestigious school, with countless international awards to her name. Her vision and ability are in a league of their own. Charlotte's achievements are impressive, but they were built on the solid foundation of the entire design team. If I handed everything over to Jen, she'd deliver perfect results—maybe even surpass what's been done before. So the position of director belongs to Jen. There's nothing more to discuss."

Even though Charlotte no longer harbored any feelings for him, being publicly ridiculed like that still left her pale with humiliation.

As soon as Marcus finished his announcement, he declared the meeting over and quickly left with Jenna in tow.

The HR manager, who had been waiting outside, immediately stepped forward and handed Marcus her resignation letter.

"Mr. Seymour, there's a resignation notice here that needs your review and signature..."

Marcus's eyes were cold and sharp. Without even glancing at it, he signed his name.

After watching him lead Jenna away, Charlotte's coworkers crowded around her, offering words of comfort and support.

But Charlotte remained calm.

She managed a small smile and gripped the signed resignation agreement tightly in her hand.

"It doesn't really matter whether I became director or not, because I'd already decided to resign. Mr. Seymour just signed off on my application, so today is my last day here. From now on, wherever life takes us, I wish you all the best. If fate allows, we'll meet again."

The news of her departure left everyone stunned and reluctant to let her go.

Some even insisted on going to Marcus to fight for her to be reinstated as director.

Charlotte just shook her head with a gentle smile, thanked them each in turn, and returned to her office to pack up her things.

After work, she treated her colleagues to dinner and, amid a bittersweet atmosphere, said her goodbyes.

When she got home, she contacted a realtor and put her apartment on the market at the lowest price. By the next day, it had already sold.

She completed the paperwork and arranged with the buyer to move out in two days.

Once everything was settled, she received a call from Brenda.

"Lottie, tomorrow's my birthday—you didn't forget, did you? I've been waiting for your present!"

"How could I forget your birthday? I've had your gift ready for ages. I'll make sure you get it tomorrow."

Charlotte had not only prepared a gift, but also planned to tell Brenda she was leaving.

In previous years, just to spend a little more time with Marcus, she would always arrive early to Brenda's birthday party.

But this time, she waited until the party was already halfway over before hailing a cab and heading over.

As usual, the birthday celebration was being held at the Seymour's estate.

Charlotte had visited the estate countless times and knew every corner by heart, so she slipped in through the back entrance.

Inside the grand hall, Brenda was surrounded by friends and family, beaming with happiness as she blew out her candles.

Her parents stood to her left, smiling fondly, while Marcus and Jenna stood to her right, looking every bit the picture of a happy family.

They really did look like one big, harmonious family.

From a distance, Charlotte overheard the Seymour family's maids whispering among themselves.

"Mr. Seymour and Ms. Clarke broke up years ago—I thought they were done for good. Who would've guessed they'd find their way back to each other? He must really love her."

"No kidding. Ms. Seymour's best friend chased after Mr. Seymour for years and never got through to him. It's obvious—his feelings for Ms. Clarke run deep."

"All these years, Sir and Madam Seymour have been urging him to settle down, but he always dodged the topic. Now that he's brought her home himself, it looks like he's finally made up his mind. Maybe there's a wedding in the near future!"

Charlotte had already let go of the past with Marcus, determined to move on for good.

Whoever he loved, whoever he planned to marry—it no longer had anything to do with her.

So when she overheard the whispers about him, she felt nothing at all.

She quietly joined in singing "Happy Birthday," and when she looked up, she met Marcus's gaze across the room.

He frowned at the sight of her, leaned over to say something to Brenda, and soon Brenda turned, broke away from the crowd, and came over.

Charlotte hugged her gently, handed over the birthday gift, and wished her a happy birthday with a warm smile.

Brenda had been waiting all evening for her and immediately tried to pull her over to eat cake. But Charlotte shook her head.

"It's a little too noisy with so many people. I'll skip it. You go enjoy yourself—I'll wait for you in your room. There's something I want to talk to you about later."

Brenda, worried Charlotte might get upset seeing Marcus, readily agreed.

Charlotte slipped away from the crowd and made her way to Brenda's third-floor bedroom, knowing the house so well she didn't miss a step.

She settled onto the couch, feeling a bit tired, and closed her eyes for a brief nap.

Half-asleep, she heard the door open and thought Brenda had returned.

But when she opened her eyes, it was Jenna standing there.

Jenna's expression was cold, her stare intense, and her voice anything but friendly.

"I thought you said you'd given up. So why do you keep showing up in Marc's life? Let me tell you, he only has room for me. No matter how much you try to get attention, he'll never love you. You'll never win against me!"

Charlotte hadn't expected Jenna to confront her like this. It took her a few seconds to recover before she replied.

"I'm just here to give Bree her birthday present. I'll be leaving soon."

Jenna's hostility only deepened, her eyes now flashing with contempt.

"All these years, you've shamelessly clung to Marc, using Brenda as your excuse—you have no dignity at all. Isn't it just because you act sweet around her? Marc's got the worst luck, with a sister who doesn't know right from wrong and always sides with outsiders."

Charlotte could ignore all the insults Jenna threw her way, but when she started dragging Brenda into it, Charlotte's eyes turned icy.

"Does Marcus know you talk about his own sister like this behind his back?"

Jenna sneered, "Marc will always spoil me, no matter what I say. And honestly, you and Brenda are both pathetic, shameless—am I wrong? You're only angry because I hit a nerve, aren't you?"

"Seven years ago, you dumped Marcus and left for Europe, nearly destroying him. Bree, as his sister, was heartbroken for her brother, but she never once said a bad word about you. Now you want to come crawling back and marry Marcus, yet you insult Bree behind his back. Tell me, who's really the shameless one here?"

Jenna hadn't expected Charlotte to fire back. Furious, she slapped Charlotte hard across the face.

Charlotte didn't hesitate—she slapped Jenna right back.

Jenna clutched her stinging cheek, tears of rage welling up, and lunged at Charlotte.

They grappled, Charlotte grabbing Jenna's hair, both struggling desperately.

In the chaos, they knocked over a scented candle on the table.

The flame caught the bed sheets, then the carpet, and within moments, the room was ablaze.

Smoke billowed, and by the time they realized what was happening, the entire bedroom was engulfed in flames.

Charlotte fought to reach the door, only for Jenna to shove her straight into the fire.

The scorching heat licked at her skin, searing pain making her tremble uncontrollably.

She tried to smother the flames on her body, just as the bedroom door was violently kicked open.

Marcus burst in, just half a meter away—but his eyes barely lingered on Charlotte.

Instead, he rushed straight to Jenna, scooping her up in his arms.

Smoke choked Charlotte's lungs, her breathing growing weaker.

She reached out with her burned, reddened hands and grabbed Marcus's leg.

But he only glanced down, pried her hand off, and strode away.

As his figure disappeared into the smoke, Charlotte's consciousness faded, and she slipped into oblivion...

Charlotte never imagined she would survive.

When she opened her eyes again, the first thing she saw was Brenda, her eyes swollen and red from crying.

"Lottie, thank God you're alright. If anything had happened to you, I'd have felt guilty for the rest of my life. Does your wound hurt? Don't worry, I've already found the best doctors to treat you. I promise you won't be left with any scars."

"It's just a minor injury, really. I'm fine, Bree. You don't need to feel guilty or worry about me."

Despite the searing pain in her hands, Charlotte gritted her teeth and wrapped her arms around Brenda.

"There's something I wanted to tell you yesterday, but now it's probably a bit late. Promise me you won't be mad once you hear it. I've decided to head back to Boston this afternoon. My family has arranged a marriage, and they're urging me to go through with it. I've already bought my ticket. Will you come see me off one last time?"

Brenda was stunned by her sudden decision to leave. The tears she'd just managed to stop started flowing again.

"What?! Why are you leaving all of a sudden? And you're getting married? Are you never coming back? What am I supposed to do if I miss you? Oh, Lottie..."

Charlotte sighed and spent a long time gently comforting her until Brenda finally calmed down.

They shared a heartfelt conversation, reluctant to part, before Brenda reluctantly went to handle Charlotte's discharge paperwork.

Charlotte endured the pain as she changed into her clothes, but just as she finished, Marcus stormed into the room, his face dark and eyes cold.

"You hit Jen and tried to set her on fire, didn't you?"

Seeing him again, Charlotte felt nothing. Her voice was chilly.

"She told you that and you just believe it? Didn't even bother to look at the evidence?"

"Yes. No matter what Jen says, I'll believe her unconditionally. I don't need any proof!"

Marcus didn't even give her a chance to explain, refusing to listen to anything she said.

Staring into his icy eyes, Charlotte knew there was no point in arguing. He would never believe her.

She didn't waste her breath, just smiled faintly.

"So, why are you here now?"

"Obviously, I'm here to make you apologize to Jen!"

Without warning, Marcus grabbed her injured hand, trying to drag her out to apologize.

The wound reopened, blood seeping through her bandages, and the pain brought tears to Charlotte's eyes.

But she fought to hold them back, struggling to break free.

Just then, Brenda returned and immediately stepped in front of Charlotte, shielding her.

Marcus glared at them, his tone brooking no argument.

"Move. She's apologizing to Jen today, whether you like it or not!"

"I won't move! I'm certain Lottie did nothing wrong! You always take Jenna's side, but my room has a camera—everything that happened yesterday is recorded. If you want Lottie to apologize, you'll have to wait until we review the footage!"

Brenda stood her ground, her voice hoarse but unwavering.

Marcus's jaw clenched with rage, veins bulging at his temples. He was about to retort when a message from Jenna popped up on his phone.

He glanced at the screen, swallowed his anger, and spat out a final threat before storming off.

"Fine. Tonight we'll check the footage. If the evidence is clear, let's see what you have to say for yourself!"

He slammed the door behind him, leaving the room in silence.

Brenda gently tended to Charlotte's wound, apologizing as she worked.

Charlotte shook her head and wiped the tears from Brenda's cheeks.

"Bree, you have nothing to apologize for. We've never been the ones in the wrong. I'm leaving soon, so promise me you'll take good care of yourself."

Brenda nodded hard, then accompanied Charlotte home to pack and drove her straight to the airport.

The flight to Boston was already boarding. Charlotte gave Brenda one last hug before turning and walking resolutely toward the gate.

Once she boarded, she deleted every way Marcus could contact her.

Brenda's final message arrived just as she settled into her seat.

"Lottie, I hope you're happy every day after you get home. Don't worry—I'll get to the bottom of the truth tonight and make sure you get justice."

Charlotte smiled at the darkening screen and turned her gaze to the clouds outside the window.

For her, the truth and justice didn't matter anymore.

After all, Marcus—and all the pain he brought her—had already faded from her memory.

She would say goodbye to it all.

Forever and completely.