Outside the hotel, the night had deepened.
Neon lights flickered across the wet pavement, and the wind carried the scent of rain.
As they walked side by side, Vivian Wen finally stopped a little ways down the quiet street.
From her bag, she pulled out a small parcel wrapped in printed oil paper.
Her eyes, misted with light, flickered with hesitation.
“Mr. Min… it’s over now.”
She held out the bundle with both hands.
“This is your payment. I was going to transfer it to you, but I thought giving it in person would feel more sincere.”
She gave a small, awkward smile.
“I don’t have much cash on me, but if it’s not enough, I’ll send the rest in a few days.”
Her tone was gentle, but beneath it lay exhaustion.
The recent days had drained her—emotionally, financially, completely.
Simon looked at her, expression unreadable.
“It’s over?” he asked quietly.
“Because as I recall… we just got engaged.”
Vivian froze.
Then forced a laugh, trying to sound casual.
“That was just for show. After tonight, we have nothing to do with each other.”
She looked up at him, the faint smile on her lips brave but brittle.
“I can handle the rest.”
Simon’s gaze was deep—darker than the night sky above them.
It was too much; she couldn’t hold it.
“I should go,” she whispered.
She slipped off the Cartier bracelet and placed it, along with the money, into his hand.
Her head lowered, her voice barely audible.
“Thank you… goodbye.”
Then she turned and ran into the dark.
When she finally stopped, gasping for breath, she looked back.
He was gone.
A hollow ache settled in her chest.
She walked aimlessly through the empty streets.
Her father’s accusing stare replayed over and over in her mind—sharp as a blade.
Everything she’d planned, everything she’d endured, had ended in ashes.
Her purity stolen. Her efforts wasted.
Even her triumph turned to dust.
She pressed a hand to her chest. The pain was physical now—tight, suffocating.
For a moment, she wished she could see Simon again.
He was the only one who had made her feel safe, even briefly.
But he was gone too.
It was all over.
Vivian lifted her gaze to the sky.
Dark clouds hung heavy, swallowing the stars.
She walked without thinking, until the sound of music and laughter drew her gaze to a neon-lit bar.
A drink, she thought. Just one.
Inside, colored lights flashed across twisting bodies.
Vivian sat at the counter and ordered a beer.
She drank it in one long swallow.
Then another.
And another.
Her tolerance was low—after just a few, her head was spinning.
But the haze felt… freeing.
Not far away, a group of men noticed her.
One of them—a blond with a silver earring—grabbed his drink and swaggered over.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he said, eyes roving greedily over her. “All alone tonight?”
Vivian didn’t even look at him.
“Come on, have a drink with me.”
He reached out, his fingers brushing her shoulder.
She slapped his hand away—hard.
The man grinned. “Feisty. I like that.”
His hand snaked around her shoulders again, squeezing, his breath thick with alcohol.
Vivian shoved him with surprising force—stronger than even she expected.
He stumbled back and crashed to the floor, cursing in pain.
The man’s friends stood up, fury flashing in their eyes.
“You just hit my brother!”
“Apologize—or you’re not walking out of here!”
“Don’t think being a woman will save you!”
No one in the bar intervened.
Some even laughed, waiting for a fight.
Vivian picked up the empty beer bottle from the counter, gripping it tightly.
The faces before her blurred together—Ryan, Helen, her father—every betrayal, every humiliation flashing behind her eyes.
She raised the bottle, voice shaking with rage.
“Come on, then! I’m not afraid of you!”
The men exchanged glances—hesitant—but pride pushed them forward.
They grabbed bottles and lunged.
And just as they did—
A tall shadow moved between them.
A strong arm wrapped around Vivian, pulling her close, shielding her completely.
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the bar.