8
After hanging up the phone, Drake was so excited that he quickly tried to get out of bed to find Narissa. But as soon as his feet hit the ground, he immediately collapsed.
Years of neglecting food and relying solely on nutrients had left him in a fragile state. Drake’s mother rushed over to help him, her expression full of sorrow as she assisted him back into bed. “Son, now that she’s finally been found, she won’t be able to escape. But right now, the most important thing is to recover your strength. If Narissa sees you like she’ll be disappointed in you.”
this
The mention of Narissa’s potential disappointment filled Drake with panic. He shot a furious glance at the man in the photo, whose appearance was nearly perfect and gritted his teeth. He said with determination. “I won’t be worse than this man. I’ll prove it.”
He started eating, obsessively working out and before long, Evan called with a slightly heavy tone. “Drake, the man in the photo is from the Ashford Family.”
A cold glint flashed in Drake’s eyes. “Could it be Dion, the only son of the Ashford Family?” Evan’s voice turned icy. “He’s been living abroad for years. No wonder our people couldn’t find Narissa. She must have been hidden by him.”
Drake’s expression turned dark, his smile cold. “So what if he’s from the Ashford Family? If he dares to hide my fiancée, I’ll make him pay.”
Meanwhile, Narissa and Dion, upon returning to the country, boarded a car heading to the Ashford Family house. As she gazed at the familiar streets, a wave of nostalgia hit her, causing her to momentarily drift in thought.
Two years ago, she had bought a plane ticket and moved abroad, not just to escape the people she once knew, but also to make a fresh start in a new place.
Until she met her boss, Dion, who immediately recognized her identity when he saw her. At that time, the internet was full of news about people searching for her.
She was afraid that Dion might reveal her whereabouts and she pleaded with him. He
smiled gently and assured her, “Don’t worry, I will never expose your identity.”
What Narissa didn’t expect was that Drake and Evan had even offered a reward of billions
to find her. That period became the hardest time of her life, as her privacy was severely violated
and she could barely work.
She had to wear a mask every time she went outside, but she was still recognized. People even camped outside her house, hoping to catch a glimpse of her through video, or worse, try to kidnap her.
During that time, it was Dion who suppressed everything. When she was forced to stay indoors, too scared to go outside, he helped her stay hidden and constantly worried about her
safety.
Then Regard for t
Later, due to the harassment affecting other tenants, the landlord asked her to move out. She was forced to hide and even had to sleep on the streets. It was Dion who found out about
her situation and took her in.
Looking back now, Narissa’s eyes filled with tears. She couldn’t understand why, even after she had left, they still wouldn’t leave her alone and pushed her to such an extent.
If it weren’t for Dion, she might not have made it this far.
Thinking of this, she looked at the man beside her, feeling warmth in her heart. After Drake’s betrayal, she had no intention of marrying anyone. It was Dion who helped her again and again.
He was attentive and gentle, confessing his love to her countless times. Every time he was rejected, he would confess again the next day. She liked him, but deep down, there was more
fear than love.
Because of Drake, Narissa had become afraid of being with anyone. After rejecting Dion, guilt gnawed at her, but Dion remained calm, even smiling gently.
“It’s alright,” he said. “You have the right to refuse me. But, I feel like you like me. So, why don’t you want to be with me?”
At that moment, Narissa couldn’t find the words to respond. Later, when Dion was drunk and hugged her, his voice was filled with an uncharacteristic vulnerability. “Narissa, can you trust me? I know you’ve been let down before, but you can’t make me pay for your past. It’s not fair to
me.”
Her heart shook and she couldn’t find the words. Because of Drake, she had become afraid of emotions and every time Dion confessed, she only felt more fear and retreated further.
After much contemplation, Narissa decided to be with Dion. Even though every day together meant Dion telling her, “I love you,” he never belittled her. Instead, he always encouraged her, saying, “Narissa, don’t let the people who hurt you in the past hold you back. You are amazing, you deserve to be loved and we will be happy together for the rest of our lives.”
In the two years that followed, their relationship grew from colleagues to friends and then to lovers. A few months ago, they married overseas.
Now, with Dion’s child growing inside her, Narissa had completely let go of the past. She had no fear of encountering familiar faces anymore. Whether it was Drake or Evan, neither could affect her any longer.
