Chapter 3

Vanessa could vaguely guess who was on the other end of the phone.

Her return was undoubtedly met with Julian's disgust and abhorrence, hence his need to confirm her condition with Adrian in the dead of night.

He was overthinking things.

Someone who had rolled in the mud, been utterly shattered, how could they still dare to covet the unattainable prodigy? To even glance at him was probably a luxury and a sacrilege.

Forcing a bitter smile, the fear of the nightmare receding, Vanessa turned back. A shadow fell into Adrian's peripheral vision, and he barked, "Stop right there!"

He strode over, taking in Vanessa's gaunt, emaciated figure. Evelyn had given her a nightgown, a beige one, covering half her calf. When she had arrived during the day, she was wrapped in a sweater and jeans, bulky and rough, so it wasn't so obvious.

Now, her ankles were exposed, and her legs and arms were like skin and bones, barely human.

"What are you doing here?" Adrian scrutinized her, unable to conceal his contempt. "Trying to cause trouble again?"

"...I, I was just taking a walk."

Adrian stepped forward, abruptly seizing Vanessa's collar, his voice as heavy as a reaper's. "Do you still think you're the Voss family's daughter who can wander around here?"

Three years ago, it had been discovered that she wasn't Voss' biological child. She had been switched at birth. Her father was a gambler, her mother had died young. She had enjoyed a life of luxury, squandering the serendipitous gift.

While the real Miss Voss had died of a high fever at the age of six.

Her chin trembling, lips ashen, Vanessa apologized, "...I won't, I won't do it again."

"Don't think bringing you back here is to let you live the good life. After all these years, you still haven't gotten rid of your delusions?"

Having delivered his warning, Adrian shoved Vanessa to the ground.

She didn't grab his arm and bite him like she used to as a child, nor did she wail and cry, summoning Evelyn to complain. She simply lowered her head in silence, her knees scraped raw, not crying, not making a fuss, her body so frail, her shadow on the ground a tiny clump.

It seemed that ever since they brought her back, her neck had been bent, never straightened.

Adrian raised his hand, wanting to straighten Vanessa's neck. As the shadow of his palm descended, she seemed to sense something. Out of physiological reflex and terror, she recoiled, covering her head and pressed against the wall, shaking like a sieve.

Taken aback, Adrian withdrew his hand, cursing, "I'm afraid I'll even dirty my hands if I hit you. Now get lost!"

It was like being granted a pardon.

Vanessa scrambled away, pathetically. Adrian couldn't bring himself to laugh.

The call with Julian hadn't been disconnected.

Adrian sat back down, downing half a glass of liquor in one gulp. "Can you believe how she is now? I just raised my hand, and she was scared out of her wits. It's no fun at all."

"Feeling sorry for her?" Julian's voice, slightly hoarse, filtered through the receiver.

"No, it's just that it's not fun like this anymore."

Julian knew Vanessa inside and out. "Just a sob story. After all these years, she's still so clumsy. No progress at all."

His long lashes lowered, and he continued the interrupted topic.

"You mentioned earlier that the family has arranged other plans for her?"

"Yeah, she'll be meeting them in a few days." Adrian couldn't help but gloat. "Once she marries into that family, she's guaranteed to lead a life of misery, be childless, and live to a ripe old age."

The morning roads were damp, tires splashing through a thin layer of rainwater.

M City had been raining for days, and the fog was finally beginning to dissipate this morning. Evelyn arranged for Vanessa to get into Adrian's car. She wrung her fingers, a soft voice escaping her throat, "...Where are we going?"

Adrian kept one hand on the steering wheel. "Don't ask. Mom arranged it for you anyway. Make a good impression."

That's right.

Wherever she was going, it couldn't be worse than before.

Vanessa lowered her head. "Okay."

The restaurant had a Chinese-style theme, bypassing the rockery and small bridge in the courtyard. The crisp breeze blew from the treetops, clean and refreshing. A waitress in a cheongsam greeted them and led them inside. Walking on the wooden stairs felt light and airy, as if they could fall at any moment.

Following behind Adrian, she entered the private room at the very end.

Vanessa recognized this place. It was a great place for dim sum. She used to be a regular here, not for the food, but just to catch a glimpse of that person.

Back then, Julian had just taken over the family business, and coming here for business engagements was commonplace. Vanessa would forgo her lazy mornings, arriving early to wait and watch. She would sit on the second floor, waiting for Julian to come upstairs, waving and wishing him good morning, day after day, never receiving a response.

Until that one time, Julian took the initiative to walk to her table, tapping twice with his finger. Vanessa looked up at him, her heart bursting with joy. But what greeted her wasn't Julian's good morning, but his furrowed brows, downturned lips, and the question: "Do you find this amusing?"