The moment Violet stepped into her home, her phone chimed. Violet unlocked the screen. It was a photo. In the image, Grayson stood shirtless, his back facing the camera. Ruby, in a strapless mermaid wedding gown, had the long hem of her dress hitched up to her waist. Her pale legs wrapped tightly around his strong torso. The pose left nothing to the imagination. Another notification followed. A video. On the screen, Ruby clung to Grayson's neck, her voice breathless, tinged with laughter. "Grayson, how could you tear my wedding dress... I just got it today." Grayson chuckled, his voice low as he leaned into her ear. "Didn't you want the dress just to show it to me?" His fingers traced the fabric. "I even got the same designer as Violet's to make one for you. Shouldn't you return the favor?"Ruby gasped. The video ended abruptly. But that wasn't enough. Another message followed. [Oh dear, I almost forgot you're deaf. Such a shame! Next time, I'll make sure to add su
Perhaps it was guilt gnawing at Grayson. For the next few days, he stayed by her side, handling work from home while also going over the final details of the wedding.Then came the business banquet he couldn't avoid attending.He insisted that Violet accompany him. Before she had a chance to refuse, he had already arranged for a stylist to come over.At the banquet, she realized Ruby was there too.Dressed in a tight V-neck gown that left little to the imagination, Ruby approached them with a practiced smile. "Mr. Warhol. Miss Hudson."Violet met her gaze. Calm and poised, there was no trace of the woman who had provoked her the night before. It was as if she had transformed into someone else entirely.Quite the actress, just like Grayson.A moment ago, she had clearly seen his expression shift the moment he laid eyes on Ruby. His gaze darkened, his Adam's apple moved slightly, but he still held her hand, maintaining his cold and distant facade as he gave Ruby a mere nod.The m
Instinctively, Violet wanted to turn around, but she remembered that her "hearing impairment" had yet to recover. She forced herself to stay still.Grayson rushed to her side, his eyes filled with panic."Violet, are you leaving me? We're about to get married—where would you go?"When she gave no response, he suddenly realized and hurriedly repeated his words in sign language.Violet's expression remained calm."A friend of mine is leaving."He studied her face carefully, searching for any sign of deception. Only when he was sure she wasn't lying did he let out a breath of relief."That's a relief. Violet, you don't know how terrified I just was. I can't even imagine how I'd live if you ever left me."He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, his face still etched with fear.Hearing his heartfelt words, Violet felt nothing.If he was so afraid of losing her, why had he betrayed her?Was it because he believed she couldn't hear, so he had nothing to fear?Too bad for h
On the way to the hospital, Grayson finally noticed the blood trickling down Violet's cheek. Until now, he had been too busy comforting Ruby after the earlier fight to pay attention.Once they arrived, he ignored his own bleeding shoulder and insisted the doctor treat her first."Our wedding is coming up," he said. "My Violet can't have a single scar on her face."Then, turning to her, guilt filling his eyes, he signed, "I'm sorry. This was all my fault. I only stepped in because Ruby is my subordinate. Please don't be mad at me, alright?"Violet said nothing. Instead, she told the doctor to ignore her wound and focus on treating Grayson's shoulder. It didn't matter. She wouldn't be at the wedding anyway. Whether or not she had a scar was meaningless.Grayson mistook her indifference for concern and looked at her, touched.The doctor cut away his blood-soaked shirt, exposing the deep gash beneath. Only then did Violet notice the wound overlapped perfectly with an old scar—a circu
Ruby wrapped her arms around Grayson's neck, her face flushed, and her breath coming in uneven gasps."Grayson, no… I can't…"He buried his face against her chest, his voice hoarse."That man touched you today. I need to mark every inch of you as mine. Until I say it's over, you won't be resting tonight."Ruby arched her head back, panting."What if Miss Hudson sees us—"Before she could finish, Grayson froze, his expression turning cold."She's deaf. She won't find out. You are not to mention this in front of her."Ruby pouted, trailing lazy circles over his chest with her fingertips."I know… It's just… thinking about how she's about to become your wife, while I'll always be hidden in the shadows… it hurts."His resolve wavered for a moment. Pinching her cheek, he sighed."You little jealous thing. I brought you into my home, isn't that enough? "Don't worry. I won't leave you even after the marriage. Whatever I buy for Violet, you will have, too."She finally smiled, he
When Violet woke up, Grayson and Ruby were already downstairs, eating breakfast.Seeing her come down, Grayson quickly pulled out a chair for her and handed her a bowl of porridge that had already cooled to room temperature. He watched as she ate in silence, her expression unreadable. A trace of guilt flickered across his face."Violet, something urgent came up at the company, and I need to go on a business trip," he signed. "For the next few days, you can discuss the wedding plans with the planner. I'll finish my work as soon as possible and come back quickly. After the wedding, I promise to spend a whole week with you. Anywhere you want to go for our honeymoon, I'll be right there with you."Violet had already learned last night that this trip had nothing to do with work. He was leaving to appease Ruby. But his whereabouts no longer concerned her. She merely nodded.Just before Grayson stepped out the door, she called out to him one last time."Grayson."He paused for a moment,
On the other side of town, at Ruby's apartment, a woman's breathless pleas filled the room. Only then did Grayson finally let her go.He grasped her wrist, his voice hoarse. "Pregnant, and still not behaving?"Ruby leaned into his embrace, her tone soft, almost teasing. "I was just afraid you'd hold it in too long and feel miserable."He let out a quiet laugh, pinching her cheek. "Sounds to me like a certain someone is jealous."She huffed and turned her face away, her words laced with jealousy. "You're leaving us tomorrow to marry another woman. Am I not allowed to feel a little bitter?"His expression darkened. He let go and looked down at the woman lying on the bed, resentment flickering in her eyes. His voice carried a warning. "Ruby, as long as you don't cause trouble in front of Violet, I'll spoil you however you want. But if you forget your place and drag our affairs in front of her…"Ruby's face stiffened.She hadn't expected him to issue such a cold warning, even with h
Two bodies intertwined on the sofa, breathless gasps breaking the silence. Their faces remained obscured, leaving the guests to murmur among themselves."Who are they? To think they would dare ruin Mr. Warhol's wedding—this won't end well for them.""Exactly. Everyone knows how much he loves his fiancée. Turning his wedding into this mess? He's going to explode."But Grayson recognized them instantly. The figures on the screen—himself and Ruby.Rage surged through him. He spun toward the emcee and roared, "Turn it off! Shut it down now!"The emcee had only been following Violet's instructions when he played the video. He had no idea what it contained. The moment the first frame appeared, his stomach dropped. He rushed backstage to stop the video, but panic made his hands fumble. The computer froze, refusing to respond.On the screen, the video reached its climax. The woman, who had been resting her head against the man's shoulder, lifted herself up and began to undress. The man,
There was a slight tremor in Grayson's voice."Violet, will you really never forgive me?"Aurora nodded without hesitation."No, never."She didn't wait for his reaction. Turning away, she stepped through the doorway and disappeared inside.The next day, she had plans to attend a concert with Nate.Ever since her hearing had recovered, she had developed a deep appreciation for sound. The rustling of leaves, the resonance of instruments, the murmur of human voices—each carried its own unique rhythm.Nate was a devoted classical music fan. Every time she attended a concert with him, she learned something new.That night, Grayson stood outside the estate until morning. The words Aurora had spoken echoed endlessly in his mind.The relief he had once felt after his first time with Ruby had now turned into a boomerang, striking him squarely in the chest.But he wasn't ready to give up yet. He refused to believe that five years of love could vanish just like that.Aurora, meanwhile
A few simple words, yet they struck Grayson like a knife to the chest.He couldn't understand. For five years, they had been in love, happy in a way that felt unshakable. Why would she regret it? And that word—regret—what did it mean? Did she no longer love him?The thought alone sent a sharp pain through his heart.No. Impossible.It had only been a month. How could she stop loving him so quickly?She was still angry. She hadn't forgiven him yet—that was all.He stepped forward, reaching for her hand, but she moved back immediately, putting distance between them.That hurt. More than he expected. But he swallowed it down and spoke, almost pleading."Aurora, I didn't mean anything else. I just want to explain. Believe me. From the very start, I've only ever loved you. Ruby meant nothing to me. Can you forgive me? Come back with me? I swear, there will never be another woman by my side. I'll prove it to you. We'll have another wedding, bigger than before. I want the whole world
After seeing that familiar figure on the news, Grayson pulled every string he had to find out exactly who it was.Because the Campbell family's roots were overseas while he remained in America, it took half a month before he finally uncovered a name—Aurora.When he saw the records from the recognition banquet, his eyes locked onto a single person. He recognized her immediately.It was her. His Violet.She had a different name now, but that didn't matter. He knew. He knew with absolute certainty that she was the one he had been searching for.He wasted no time tracking down the Campbell family's address. The moment he confirmed it, he booked the next available flight to the UK.On the way there, he pictured the moment they would meet. A thousand possibilities played out in his mind, but the most likely, he thought, was that she would still be angry and unwilling to see him.That was fine.As long as he could see her, that was enough.After brushing so close to death, he had com
Aurora let out a quiet sigh, her face filled with helplessness.Her mother, still holding her hand, continued to persuade her with a gentle but persistent tone."Aurora, I promise you, he's a good person. Just meet him once, and if you don't like him, I'll find a way to cancel it, okay?"Aurora hadn't expected that the first challenge she'd face after returning home would be an arranged childhood engagement.Years ago, her mother and a close friend had become pregnant around the same time. On a whim, they made a promise—if one had a boy and the other a girl, they would arrange a marriage between them. If both had children of the same gender, they would simply raise them as close siblings. When the time came, fate had played along. One boy, one girl. The two mothers had been ecstatic, imagining how their friendship would one day transform into a family bond.But then, Aurora was taken.The engagement, naturally, was left unsettled.Now, after confirming that she was single, her
Emily looked at Grayson. Her son's gaunt face was drained of life, and all she felt was pain."Grayson, get up and eat something, will you?"But he remained motionless, as if sealed inside a world where no sound could reach him.She had never been fond of Violet, the daughter-in-law who couldn't hear. But she couldn't change her son's mind, so she had no choice but to accept it. Still, she couldn't bear the thought of other wealthy wives mocking her for having a deaf daughter-in-law. That was why she and her husband had used a business trip as an excuse to skip the wedding.Yet, they had been gone for only two days, and the entire Warhol family had fallen into chaos.Violet had committed suicide, and even arranged for her coffin to be sent straight to the wedding venue. News of her son's affair had spread like wildfire. The company's stock price had plummeted. And now, her son was drowning in despair.She blamed it all on Violet.In high society, who didn't keep a mistress or tw
Meanwhile, in England.The morning light was soft, diffused, stretching across the sky like an afterthought.Aurora—no, she should call herself Aurora Campbell now—stood before the old castle estate, still feeling a little dazed. She had come to another country, and in the most unexpected way, had found her birth parents.It had all started on the plane. The woman sitting next to her, an elegant lady with an air of quiet sadness, had looked at her one too many times. Out of politeness, Aurora had greeted her.A conversation followed, casual at first.The woman was an American expatriate, who settled in England. She was returning from a trip to America, a trip made with a single purpose—searching for a lost daughter.Twenty-six years ago, she and her husband had been in America for business when their daughter was born. It had been New Year's, and they decided to stay an extra month, just until she was old enough to travel. But on the eve of their departure, the baby disappeared.
The bodyguards, having rushed over upon receiving the order, pushed open the door and stepped inside. Without hesitation, they seized Ruby, who trembled violently, and prepared to escort her to the hospital as instructed.She struggled with all her strength, but these men were professionally trained. There was no chance of her breaking free so easily. As they dragged her toward the door, she screamed, her voice raw and desperate."Grayson! You said you only love Violet! But we spent so many nights together—don't you feel anything for me at all? You told me you loved me!"But Grayson remained unmoved. His gaze never wavered, and he gestured for the bodyguards to proceed.Ruby fought against them the entire way to the hospital. Once inside, she cried out to the doctors and nurses for help. But this was a private hospital under the Warhol Group. Every employee knew who Grayson was. Whatever he said, they followed.Strapped to the operating table, she could do nothing as the anesthesi
Ruby's face turned pale. She hadn't expected Grayson to find out, but instinct took over, and she denied it without hesitation."Grayson, what are you talking about? I never said anything to Miss Hudson."He let out a cold laugh, his fingers tightening around her chin."Still trying to lie? If I hadn't seen the messages myself, I wouldn't have believed you could play such a double role. In front of me, you act like an obedient little rabbit. But with Violet, you're all arrogance and condescension."His voice was sharp. "I've warned you countless times—Violet is the only woman I have ever loved. You're just something I keep around to pass the time."His fingers dug into her skin. "You had a hand in Violet's death. And for that, you'll pay."Without another word, his grip moved to her throat. His fingers clenched tighter and tighter. The veins on his arm bulged, his expression terrifying in its fury.A primal survival instinct kicked in. Ruby clawed at his hand, nails digging into
On the other end, Ruby was momentarily stunned by how quickly Grayson agreed. Then, delight surged through her.She had assumed that today, being Grayson and Violet's wedding day, convincing him to leave his bride's side—even with the child as an excuse—would require effort. But he had agreed without hesitation, rendering all the words she had prepared useless.Her heart pounded wildly.Did this mean she now held a more significant place in Grayson's heart than Violet? If so, how far could the position of Mrs. Warhol be from her grasp?After all, the child she carried was his first and only.A glint of certainty flashed in her eyes.Even if Violet became Mrs. Warhol today, who was to say she could keep that title?Seizing the moment before Grayson arrived, Ruby slipped into a silk nightgown, spritzed on his favorite perfume, and lay elegantly on the sofa, waiting.When Grayson pushed open the door, the first thing he saw was Ruby lounging in a slip dress on the couch.His eyes