Chapter 8
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After that day, Jennifer stayed almost entirely in her room.
Until dinner that evening, when Emily suddenly clutched her stomach, crying out in pain before collapsing pale-faced into Kevin’s arms.
“What happened?” Kevin panicked, immediately summoning their private doctor.
After the examination, the doctor looked grave: “It’s poisoning.”
The entire villa was instantly thrown into chaos.
The maids stood trembling to the side as the butler began interrogating the dinner preparations.
“I… I saw…” a young maid stammered timidly, “saw Jennifer adding something to the soup…”
Kevin’s eyes instantly turned to ice.
He strode to Jennifer, seizing her wrist with a force that threatened to crush her bones: “Because of that crest locket, you’d kill Emily? Jennifer, what’s become of you?”
Jennifer lifted her gaze, voice barely audible: “I didn’t.”
“Still lying?” Kevin’s glare sharpened as he snapped at the maids, “Bring the remaining soup.”
Her pupils contracted: “What are you doing?”
“To help you remember.” Kevin gripped her chin, his tone arctic. “So you’ll know what to do… and what not to.”
The maids brought the remaining soup and, at Kevin’s signal, forced it down Jennifer’s throat.
Jennifer struggled desperately but was pinned down by two bodyguards.
The warm liquid was forced into her throat, making her choke and cough violently.
The effects came fast.
Jennifer collapsed to her knees in agony, cold sweat instantly drenching her back. She curled into a ball, nails digging deep into her palms, yet stubbornly repeated: “I didn’t poison…”
Kevin never glanced her way. He remained by Emily’s bedside, tenderly offering her sips of water, gently wiping sweat from her forehead with a damp towel-his eyes soft as melting snow.
“Kevin…” Emily weakly grasped his hand, “Jennifer, she-”
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Chapter 8
“Don’t speak for her now,” Kevin murmured soothingly. “Just rest.”
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Jennifer’s consciousness began to blur. Intense pain darkened her vision, and her last memory was being roughly loaded into an ambulance.
She lay in the hospital all night without a single visitor.
Returning to the villa the next day, the whole house was empty.
Her phone vibrated-a photo from Emily:
Under azure skies, Kevin held Emily’s waist as they beamed at the camera.
Caption: [Someone brought me to the seaside to unwind~ Said I needed relaxation after the scare!]
Jennifer quietly locked her screen and started packing.
As she zipped up the suitcase, she suddenly realized how little in this three-year home truly belonged to her.
A single 24-inch suitcase held every trace of her existence.
Turns out she never truly belonged here.
Just like she’d never truly entered his heart.
“Have you learned your lesson?”
Kevin’s voice cut through the silence behind her. Jennifer turned to find him framed in the doorway, sharp suit im- maculate. His brow furrowed slightly as his gaze swept over her.
“Learned my lesson.” Her whisper hung in the air.
My mistake was loving you.
My mistake was stubbornly waiting all these years.
Kevin’s expression softened. “Good. Change clothes. We’re going to the party.”
“Party?” Jennifer blinked.
A
“You forgot my birthday?” His frown deepened, voice laced with disbelief—as if her amnesia was utterly unthinkable.
Jennifer only vaguely remembered then-yes, today was his birthday.
In previous years, she would have already prepared the cake, carefully selected gifts, and even personally arranged everything by this time.
She remembered his favorite flavors, remembered decorations he disliked, remembered every birthday wish he’d made over the years.
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Chapter 8
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But now, she had actually forgotten.
“You go ahead first,” she said softly, her voice barely audible. “I’ll change clothes and prepare a gift before coming
over.”
“Kevin!” Emily’s voice floated upstairs with a pleading tone. “Everyone’s waiting for you, darling!”
Kevin nodded, casting one last glance at Jennifer. “Hurry up.”
With that, he turned and left, his footsteps fading into the distance.
Jennifer stood in place, watching his back disappear down the corridor, her lips twisting into a self-mocking curve.
Kevin, this time,
My birthday gift to you is vanishing from your world forever.
Letting you have Emily, and freeing myself.
She lifted her packed suitcase, took one last look around the home she’d known for three years, then walked away without glancing back.
The airport bustled with people as Jennifer stood before the boarding gate. She pulled out her phone and sent Kevin one final message:
[Kevin, I’m leaving. May you and Emily share lasting love and lifelong devotion.]
Then she switched off her phone and stepped toward the gate.
Three years of devotion, woke from a dream.
From now on, mountains high and rivers long, we’ll never meet again.
