Chapter 1The Girl Who Came Back

On my twenty-second birthday, my uncle discovered my journal.

When he found out I had a secret crush on him, he shipped me out of the country and spent millions on a wedding for his "one true love."

At the airport, he warned me with a cold, indifferent face, "Don't ever have thoughts you shouldn't have."

Years later, I returned to the States holding a child. He looked stunned. "Yours?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Just finished my postpartum recovery."

1

Sitting on the plane, I still felt a bit dazed.

I never thought that after five years abroad, I would ever have the chance to come back.

After all, Lucas Sterling had said that it would be best if I never appeared in front of him again in this lifetime.

But he was also the one who personally bought my plane ticket back, inviting me to attend his and Chloe's fifth wedding anniversary gala.

After two layovers, I finally landed.

My daughter, Lily, had slept peacefully on the flight, but the moment we got off, she started to cry.

"Mommy, my feet hurt."

Hearing Lily's soft sobs, I quickly picked her up and walked toward the exit.

At the arrivals gate, I pulled out my phone to call a rideshare.

Just then, my phone rang.

Looking at the familiar number on the screen, I fell silent, debating whether to answer.

In the end, I didn't pick up.

But a second call came through almost immediately.

I sighed and pressed answer.

Lucas's voice came through instantly.

It hadn't changed in years.

"Are you out of the airport? I sent an assistant to pick you up."

Lucas spoke in a business-like tone, as if we were strangers.

I gave a bitter laugh. "I can call an Uber."

There was a second of silence on the other end. Lucas probably didn't expect me to say that.

Back then, I was spoiled by him. Living under his roof for years, I had staff taking care of my every need. I never had to call a cab myself.

After a moment of silence, Lucas spoke lightly, "Just let the assistant take you. I bought a gift for your aunt on your behalf and put it in the trunk. You can bring it in when you come to dinner."

Lucas was still so thoughtful, handling even the gift perfectly.

It made sense. He had spent millions on the wedding venue and bid on a limited-edition diamond to craft a unique ring for Chloe. It was obvious he loved her.

"Understood."

I rubbed my temples and answered in a low voice.

Lucas didn't speak, but he didn't hang up either.

After a long pause, he finally said, "Jane, after five years abroad, I hope you've truly reflected on yourself. If you do anything to Chloe, I won't let you off easy."

Hearing this, I froze.

The noise around me seemed to fade away.

Lucas said he wouldn't let me off easy.

Before I could reply, he hung up.

Actually, he didn't need to worry. I wouldn't do anything to them.

I just wanted to take care of Lily and find a job.

Leaving the airport, I lowered my head.

The proud twenty-two-year-old me would never have imagined my life would become this desolate.

2

I was kicked out of the country by Lucas on my twenty-second birthday.

That day, he found my journal.

When I was a kid, my parents died in a cruise ship accident. They never came back, and Lucas, being my father's best friend and honorary "uncle," naturally took me in.

We always had a harmonious relationship.

Until I turned eighteen, and I realized I didn't just see Lucas as an uncle.

I loved him.

But I knew very well there was no future for us.

So, I wrote all my feelings into a journal.

If Lucas hadn't seen it, I could have pretended my feelings were just familial love.

But he saw it.

He tore my journal to shreds and asked how I could have such disgusting thoughts.

"Do you have any idea who I am? I'm your guardian! Even without blood relation, we can only be family!"

The usually gentle and gentlemanly Lucas was gone. He screamed at me, his eyes full of disgust.

I wanted to explain, but I couldn't find the words. I could only bow my head and apologize over and over, saying I was wrong, saying I shouldn't have fallen for him.

But Lucas didn't calm down.

The next day, he made me quit the job I had lined up and sent me to a remote university in Europe under the guise of "further studies."

To prevent me from contacting anyone, he even hired bodyguards to watch me.

At first, I didn't understand why he treated me this way.

Until the first month I was abroad, news of Lucas's wedding trended online.

Only then did I learn that for all these years, he had a "one true love" in his heart.

I watched the video of his wedding over and over.

In the video, the way Lucas looked at Chloe was tender and full of longing.

He had never looked at me like that.

From that moment on, I knew that Lucas taking care of me all those years was just out of pity and responsibility.

The only person he loved was Chloe.

"Miss Foster, please get in."

The assistant's voice brought me back to reality.