Chapter 4

Over the next day, I began systematically erasing every trace of Lucian's existence.

First was the downtown villa.

I wore a mask and hat, pushing open the villa door. The place was covered in dust, the jasmine plants I'd carefully tended on the windowsill long since withered.

I used to think this was our secret hideaway, a space belonging only to the two of us. Now it seemed it was just his spot for satisfying physical needs.

I called a moving company and had them take away everything that belonged to me—clothes, toiletries, all those trinkets I thought were meaningful.

Couple mugs, couple pillows, couple towels. Watching them get packed into boxes, I suddenly wanted to laugh. All those couple items had been one-sided wishful thinking from the start.

"Miss, should we take these potted plants?" The mover pointed at the windowsill.

"Take them." I looked at the withered jasmine. "Throw them all out."

After clearing the villa, I returned to my apartment and began removing traces Lucian had left there.

His toothbrush, his change of clothes, the ties and cufflinks he'd occasionally left behind. And the gifts he'd given me—luxury bags, jewelry, perfume.

Each item was expensive, but now they all seemed like bargaining chips in some transaction. I packed them all up, contacted a charity, and donated everything.

In my phone, I deleted our chat history message by message. Watching those conversation windows disappear from the list, I actually felt lighter. Five years of records took only ten minutes to delete.

Turns out those things I thought were precious weren't even worth the data space.

Finally, I took out a small envelope with the villa key and mailed it to Lucian. I didn't leave any note.

Everything that needed to be said, everything that needed to be done, was finished.

...

On the weekend morning, I arrived punctually at Dr. Wells's clinic.

"Miss Stone, are you ready?" Dr. Wells was a wolf male in his fifties, his eyes carrying the gentleness settled by years.

I nodded, lying down in the treatment chair.

"Remember, this process is irreversible." Dr. Wells confirmed again. "You will forget all emotional memories related to Mr. Blackwood."

"I understand."

Dr. Wells began placing silver conductors on my forehead. "Relax, follow my guidance..."

I closed my eyes, feeling my consciousness gradually sinking. Memories of Lucian in my mind began to blur—his smile, his embrace, his coldness, his cruelty.

The colors of those memories began to fade, turning into gray silhouettes, finally disappearing into a fog.

I don't know how long passed before I opened my eyes.

"How do you feel?" Dr. Wells asked.

"A bit empty, but very light." I sat up.

"What's your impression of Lucian Blackwood now?"

I thought about it. "Heir to the Blackwood family, pureblood wolf, lives next door to me... That's all."

Dr. Wells nodded. "The seal was successful."

When I left the clinic, my phone rang. It was my mom.

"Rhea, Mom set up a blind date for you, he's got great credentials! This afternoon at 3, at that French restaurant downtown, don't be late!"

I checked the time—it was already 1 PM.

"Mom, this is so sudden..."

"Oh come on, it's just meeting for a chat! He's a doctor, very gentle!"

I sighed but eventually agreed. Now that all the messy stuff in my heart had been cleared out anyway, meeting someone wouldn't hurt.

...

At 3 PM, I arrived at the restaurant on time.

My blind date was already there, sitting by the window. Seeing me, he stood up smiling and waved.

It was Evan.

I froze for a moment, then smiled too. "Didn't expect it to be you."

"Neither did I." Evan laughed somewhat sheepishly. "My mom said she arranged a blind date, I was going to refuse, but she said the other person was her friend's daughter..."

"So our moms are friends?"

"Seems that way."

"I'm Evan Cole, just came back from abroad, studied medicine, only son." He introduced himself seriously. "Haven't dated before, this is my first blind date. No childhood sweetheart, parents are very open-minded, won't interfere with my relationships. Won't live with them after marriage either."

He spoke very honestly, without any concealment.

"As for my expectations for a partner..." He looked at me, his eyes sincere. "I hope for an equal, mutually respectful relationship. Not possession, not dependency, but two independent individuals choosing to walk together."

Listening to him, a strange feeling surged in my heart. This is what a healthy relationship should look like. No secrets, no humiliation, no condescending attitudes.

We started chatting, from work to hobbies, from wolf society to the survival situation of half-bloods.

Evan was very gentle and good at listening. He wouldn't interrupt me, wouldn't look at me with that superior gaze, and had absolutely no prejudice because I was a half-blood.

Sunlight streamed through the window onto the table, falling on Evan's gentle face. He picked up his water glass but noticed mine was empty.

"Sorry." He pushed his glass toward me. "I haven't touched mine, you have it."

His fingers accidentally touched the back of my hand, warm and restrained. I felt my cheeks heating slightly.

"Rhea." Evan suddenly called my name, his voice very serious. "That night, when I saw you, do you know what I was thinking?"

I shook my head.

"I was thinking, this girl must have been through a lot of pain, but she still chose to stand up, chose to protect herself." His gray-blue eyes looked at me. "That kind of courage really moved me."

"Evan..."

"I know you just ended a bad relationship, I won't rush you." He smiled. "But Rhea, if you're willing to give me a chance, I'll become that kind of person."

His voice was soft but firm. "I'll see you, respect you, protect you. I won't make you wait, won't make you guess, and especially won't disappoint you when you need me."

I looked up, meeting those gray-blue eyes. They held no desire, no calculation, only sincerity and gentleness.

"I'd like to get to know you too, Evan." I said.

He smiled, that smile warm as spring sunshine.

Just then, the restaurant door opened and a familiar figure walked in.

Lucian Blackwood, wearing a sharp black suit, brow furrowed, as if searching for someone.

When his gaze landed on Evan and me, he froze completely.