Chapter 21 Even now, Lena could still remember that day five years ago-Julian gripping her jaw, his eyes filled with unmasked loathing. "Lena, I thought you were different. I was wrong. Your soul and your heart are filthy and ugly." After that, she had been thrown out of the Shaw Estate. Without work, her tastes, spoiled during her time with the Shaws, could no longer tolerate a life of instant noodles and canned soup. She had only one path left: selling her body for money. At first, she couldn't understand why Julian's attitude had turned so sharply against her. Only later, when she heard about Sloane Quinn's divorce and disappearance, did it finally make sense. It had to be Sloane. Sloane must have been unable to hold on to Julian. Too ashamed to stay after twenty years of history, yet unwilling to watch him with another woman, she must have poisoned his mind, using their long companionship to turn him against Lena. Back then, Lena hadn't been entirely sure. But seeing Sloane inside Julian's villa now confirmed it in her mind. Otherwise, why would Sloane, who had left five years ago, suddenly appear here? "It was you, wasn't it? I knew it, you bitch! You turned him against me! That's why he hates me now, isn't it?" Her eyes turned bloodshot, hatred so raw it nearly took physical form. She looked like she might tear Sloane apart right then and there. "I have no idea what you're talking about," Sloane said flatly, wanting no part of this drama. She turned to leave, but Lena wasn't done. But wanting peace didn't mean others would give it to her. The moment she turned, a sharp chill crept up her spine. She spun around just in time to see the flash of steel. A knife gleamed inches from her chest. Her mind went blank. She wanted to run, but her limbs felt weighted, as if bound by iron chains. She couldn't move. Sloane shut her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable. The next second, the wet sound of steel piercing flesh filled the room. Warm liquid sprayed outward-but there was no pain. Chapter 21 13.82% Her eyes flew open in horror. Julian stood in front of her, his face drained of color. Blood welled from his wound. Even as pain wracked his body, he pressed a hand over her eyes, his voice rough with effort. "Sloane, don't look." No one had expected him to appear like that. Lena's rage drained in an instant, replaced with the crushing weight of what she had just done. The knife slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor. Panic seized her. She turned to flee, but the front doors were already blocked by Julian's security team. In that moment, one thought consumed her mind-It's over. Everything is over. The ambulance arrived quickly. Sloane rode with Julian to the hospital, just as Harold Shaw rushed in after hearing the news. Watching his grandson unconscious on the bed, Harold's emotions were tangled and heavy. He had known Julian had brought Sloane back. He had thought, foolishly, that as long as Julian was happy, nothing else mattered. He had known Julian brought Sloane back. At the time, he thought if it made Julian happy, nothing else mattered. He never imagined it would lead to this. Now, he wondered if his lifelong indulgence of Julian had been a terrible mistake. "A cursed fate," he murmured, shaking his head as he walked away. "A truly cursed fate." Perhaps forcing their lives together from the start had been his original sin. But it was too late for regrets. On the third day of Julian's hospitalization, Elias Wynn arrived. The news of the Shaw heir's injury had spread everywhere, and reporters had snapped photos of Julian being wheeled into the hospital-with Sloane Quinn at his side. That was how Elias, who had been searching for her desperately for half a month, finally found her. He rushed to the hospital, and just as Sloane returned from buying food and reached for the door, a familiar voice called from behind her. Chapter 21 13.82% Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!