Perhaps even he hadn’t expected me to do such a thing.
When I slipped and fell, Easton’s expression froze into shock.
“Debbie!”
He couldn’t help but cry out my name.
In the final second before I lost consciousness, I saw all four of them rushing toward me in
panic.
When I woke up again, I was already lying in a hospital bed.
Three of them–Connor, Kenji, and Hayden–stood guard at my side. The moment my eyes opened, their faces lit up with relief.
‘Debbie!”
Connor reached toward me instinctively.
flinched away.
His hand froze midair, his eyes clouded with confusion.
1
Debbie, what’s wrong? I just wanted to check your injuries.”
As if realizing something, he rushed to explain, “Today… we lost our heads, that’s all.”
Hayden quickly chimed in, “Yes, none of us thought you’d actually let go.”
Kenji offered me a bowl of porridge.
Frowning, I took it, and noticed at once–it had long since gone cold.
Easton was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t need to ask. Of course, he was with Charlie.
Deep, I would have thrown a tantrum over that.
But now, I no longer care.
Lowering my gaze, I quietly drank the cold porridge.
Debbie, I know you haven’t forgiven us yet,” Connor said anxiously. “Maybe right now you don‘ even want to see us–but we’ll apologize.”
Cenji quickly added, “Yes! We’ll find a proper gift as an apology. You should just rest.”
Hayden lingered at my bedside, lips parting as if to say something, but held back.
only nodded lightly, signaling they could leave.
Connor and Kenji left with smiles of relief.
dayden called my name softly, but when I didn’t answer, he hesitated, then turned and walked out, glancing back again and again until the door closed.
Minutes later, my phone buzzed.
It was a message from Charlie.
I didn’t know when she had added my contact, but from the moment she began sending me photos, I understood the four of them were already drifting toward her.
In the photos, Connor, Kenji, and Hayden surrounded Charlie. Their expressions were gentle and
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doting.
Connor offered her a towel with care.
Kenji animatedly told her a story, making her laugh.
Hayden, unable to join in, simply gazed at her with infatuated eyes.
And Easton–he never left her side, guarding her like a knight sworn to his lady.
All of it… all of it had once been mine.
turned off my phone and began practicing how to get out of bed.
Every throb from my fractured leg reminded me: That life was over.
Those promises to protect me, never let me be hurt–were already broken, and nothing but dust.
Now, Easton and the others wouldn’t hesitate to strike against me.
Two more days had passed. Easton never once came to my room.
Slowly, my heart began to calm down.
booked a ticket to France, five days later, and started reviewing Sinclair Corporation’s oversea:
projects.
t was then that the four of them suddenly appeared in my hospital room.
quickly locked my phone, but not before Easton’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the screen.
He frowned. “You haven’t even recovered yet, and you’re already planning to run around? Don‘ you care about your health?”
At once, the other three rushed to defend me.
‘Debbie knows her limits,” Connor coaxed. “If she wants to go out, then let her. We’ll take care of
her.”
‘Exactly,” Kenji nodded, looking at me with the same doting gaze I once knew so well.
Hayden even reached out, trying to take my hand.
They acted as though nothing had ever happened.
For a brief moment, watching their familiar expressions, I almost felt like I had fallen back into the past.
For over ten years, that had been our rhythm: I’d make some unreasonable demand or wild plan, Easton would scold me, the others would side with me, and in the end, Easton would give in, helpless but indulgent.
And I would laugh in triumph.
I once thought those days would last forever.
But then I thought of Charlie.
And the calmness returned to my eyes.
Easton noticed the change. His frown deepened, unease gnawing at him, as though something precious was slipping away.
Instinctively, he reached toward me–and just then his phone rang
Without needing to ask, I knew it was Charlie.
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He froze for just a heartbeat, then left without hesitation.
The other three rushed to cover for him, presenting me with “carefully chosen gifts of apology.”
I said nothing, and simply accepted them with a calm face.
The next day, I signed my own discharge papers.
The Sinclair family’s auction was to be held that evening. As the host, I couldn’t run away. Thankfully, when I had fallen, I’d angled my body well enough to avoid life–threatening injuries. That night, I dressed to kill–a crimson custom gown that clung to every curve, making me striking and untouchable.
From afar, I saw Easton carefully escorting Charlie toward our seats.
Years ago, I built the Sinclair Auction House with my own hands. Back then, Easton and the >thers stood firmly by my side. At every auction, they were always there.
Because of that, I had set aside a special private area–our place. Filled with our favorite things, t was where we retreated whenever we needed to breathe.
knew Easton had changed, but watching him so casually take Charlie into a space that had ince belonged only to me–pain still lanced through my chest.
He noticed me stiffening, but showed no sign of caring.
The others gathered around, smiling obsequiously.
Charlie wanted to take a look. We knew Debbie was the most generous, so we let her sit there.”
Their ingratiating smiles, Hayden’s hand reaching toward me–I subtly avoided him and simply odded.
didn’t want the four of them anymore.
Why would I care about that seat?
Vith that thought, I turned and walked away.
The three of them froze, stunned by my reaction, then exchanged uneasy glances before trailing
fter me.
Chapter ?
