Chapter 1

"Blair, have you made up your mind? I'll submit your name once you decide." Blair Montez tightened her grip on the phone and said softly, "I've decided, sir." She had participated in an architecture competition and won first place. This award carried significant prestige and offered a direct opportunity to study abroad. After hanging up, Blair retrieved a box from the deepest corner of her closet. Inside was a photo album of her and Gregory Croft. The first photo showed 17-year-old Gregory with seven-year-old Blair. Under the blazing sun, the teenager leaped high into the air, just beneath the basketball hoop. His shirt rode up, revealing a slender yet powerful strip of lean waist, with clearly defined abs. Blair had pestered him for the ball, and he deliberately held it high, teasing her as she stood on her tiptoes trying to grab it. Just as she was about to reach it, he spun around and dunked the ball with one hand. Blair stared in amazement at his moves. He grinned with carefree confidence and handed her the ball. "Come on, I'll teach you!" Under the warm sun, he taught her again and again, never showing the slightest hint of impatience. Those were the happiest times of Blair's childhood. She thought things would always continue like that, but the memories were soon buried under pain and came to an abrupt end. In her memories, Gregory had been her father's friend. Jake Montez admired the teenager greatly, and Gregory often visited their home. Then came the accident. The Montez family went bankrupt, her parents died in a car crash, and the family assets were divided up. No one wanted to take on the burden of caring for her, so she was sent to an orphanage. It was Gregory who brought her back to the Croft family, showering her with his affection and favoritism. No matter how busy he was, he could always sense her moods and stay by her side to cheer her up. Knowing that the other Crofts didn't like Blair, Gregory became the head of the Croft family. With him there, no one in the family dared to bully her or even speak harshly to her. He was there through every worry and struggle of growing up. Under his protection, she never experienced a moment of hardship. Gradually, Blair became increasingly dependent on him. She soon realized she had fallen in love with him. The day her SAT results were released, he deliberately cleared his schedule and took her to many places. That evening, Blair intentionally got drunk. Emboldened by the alcohol, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned into his embrace to confess her feelings. However, Gregory pushed Blair away and spoke harshly to her for the first time. "Blair, get a grip. I'm basically an uncle to you!" Blair grabbed a glass of water and splashed it on her own face to prove she was sober. "I like you exactly as you are, Greg. You've been so good to me. I don't believe you feel nothing for me at all!" He exhaled heavily and rubbed his temples. "This isn't love. You're still young, so you'll understand later. I'm going to pretend you never said this." Blair stubbornly shook her head, her eyes burning with intensity. She was determined to express her feelings. "No, I understand my own feelings perfectly. Greg, I just want to be with you!" Gregory's patience snapped, and he said many hurtful things to her. The night ended with both of them upset. After that day, Gregory's attitude toward her changed completely. He withdrew all his favoritism and affection, becoming distant and cold. Eventually, he lost his patience altogether, treating her like a stranger. He showed nothing but irritation even when she tried to approach him. Blair's heart was shattered. The pain was unbearable, but she refused to give up, stubbornly believing that Gregory had feelings for her. She held onto this hope for four years until she graduated from university. At 22 years old, she was convinced that her persistence would melt even the most stubborn heart. Blair came to confess once more, only to walk in on him kissing another woman. He noticed her immediately but showed no embarrassment, gently cleaning the woman's lips before guiding her over to Blair. "This is Beatrice Pierson, my girlfriend. You can call her Beatrice," he said. He gently pulled Beatrice into his embrace and continued the introduction. "This is Blair." He offered no further explanation about Blair, as if he truly considered her a complete stranger now. It was also his way of telling Blair to keep her distance. Since he didn't explain Blair's relationship to him, Beatrice misunderstood the situation. She began targeting Blair at every opportunity for a long time afterward. Blair's suppressed emotions finally exploded one day. She had so many questions for Gregory. Had he gotten a girlfriend just to avoid her? Did he find her annoying and want an excuse to make her leave? Did he really not want her anymore? After asking all these questions, her heart plummeted into hell the moment he answered. She would never forget Gregory's cold, piercing gaze or ruthless words that day. "The person I love is Bea, now and always! As for you, you're just a little pet I took in out of kindness. I can kick you out of the Croft residence anytime I want." During that period, Blair's entire world turned dark. She locked herself in her room, looking through the photo album over and over again. It was also during this time that Blair learned she'd won the competition. Her professor urged her not to pass up this opportunity. Even so, Blair said she needed to think about it. She wanted to tell Gregory about this news, still holding onto a sliver of hope in her heart. Even after witnessing their public displays of affection, Blair continued to console herself and look for an opportunity to talk to Gregory about it. But he never gave her that opportunity. Then came that night when Blair went to his office and witnessed him with Beatrice in an intimate embrace. Blair knew it was over then. She could no longer lie to herself. In that moment, her heart died completely, and there would be no healing from this. That was when she finally understood that Gregory could no longer be her everything. She had to let him go and set herself free.