Aoife’s dream was particularly modest. All she ever wanted was to finish university, find a stable job, and live a worry-free life.
She was never greedy, content with just a little better life than before.
But fate played a huge joke on her when she met Finn, and from that moment on, she had no future ahead of her.
Ethan told her, “Aoife, I suddenly fear accidents. If one day I’m not by your side, who will protect you? You need to learn to take care of yourself.”
Hattie also said, “Aoife, we have to strive harder than anyone to make it. The future is long, the world is big, and all the things we’ve been through are nothing compared to the vast universe.”
Everyone advised her to live well, to be happy every day, but she had forgotten how to smile. Now, she was like a walking corpse.
Finn held Aoife in his arms and said, “Aoife, let me take you to school.”
Keeping Aoife locked up at home for too long would drive her crazy. Finn liked the healthy and vibrant Aoife, not the current shell of a person.
He didn’t want Aoife to lose her mind.
As the sky started to brighten, Aoife gradually calmed down and closed her eyes in Finn’s embrace.
When she woke up again, it was as if nothing had happened, as if last night had just been a dream, quickly forgotten upon waking.
Aoife didn’t mention it, and Finn didn’t bring it up either. He just took away the knitting needles and threw them away.
Unable to find the knitting needles, Aoife stared blankly at the unfinished sweater in her hands.
Finn’s ear had a small cut, not too serious but painful. With the hot weather, there was a risk of infection if not careful.
The doctor who tended to Finn’s wound was curious about how he got a cut on his ear but didn’t ask. After prescribing medication and reminding him to keep the wound dry, the doctor left.
During the day, Finn made arrangements with the school to complete any pending paperwork and arranged a time to take Aoife to school.
Aoife had no objections to going to school. With nothing left to lose, she saw education as a way to potentially find a job after graduating from university.
Money was what she lacked, and a decent life required it. Hattie had helped her before, and now it was her turn to help Hattie.
With her limited abilities, all she could do was to save money and wait for Hattie’s release from prison, when the money would undoubtedly come in handy.
Finn allowed Aoife to return to school but asked about her daily activities, with the condition that she must return home on time after class every day.
Aoife was somewhat famous at school for her looks and had even starred in a low-budget TV show.
Her personality was quiet and reserved, and she had few friends at school. Some praised her good demeanor, while others accused her of being a fake “white lotus.”
Seeing her in designer clothes every day made some think she was being financially supported by someone, even for her acting roles.
This assumption was not entirely untrue-Aoife was indeed supported by Finn. Otherwise, with her background, she wouldn’t be able to attend this school.
Aoife had no concept of designer brands. Finn gave her what she wore, and she didn’t even realize the value of the shoes on her feet.
The news of Aoife’s return to school spread quickly, considering she had taken a year off.
People were eager to see how she had changed, with many waiting at the school gates or in the classroom to catch a glimpse of her transformation.
Even those who had only heard of Aoife or seen her photos wanted to see this rumored “beauty” in person.
When they finally caught sight of her, everyone was stunned.
This couldn’t be the beauty they had heard of-it must be a joke.
Look at the scar on her face; it’s so ugly.
“Not only her face but her figure seems different too-so thin now.”
“She took more than a year off; did she undergo plastic surgery?”
“In the entertainment industry, appearance is crucial. If Aoife has ruined her face, her career’s over. People envied how she got into acting so early, only to end it before it began.”
“What a shame.”
“What’s there to regret? Maybe she was happy being kept by her sponsor, judging by her attire, some people can’t earn in a year what she spends on clothes.”
“I bet that face of hers was ruined by her sponsor. Without their support, she’s back to school.”
There was a mix of pity and sarcasm among the onlookers.
Ignoring their comments, Aoife focused on her studies, trying to fill her mind and avoid unnecessary thoughts.
If the old Aoife was a clean white flower, then the current version was a cactus, full of spikes, sitting quietly in a corner, isolated from everyone.
Aoife just wanted to quietly finish her time at university; other people’s opinions didn’t matter. She would rather face public ridicule than be with Finn at home.
But while she wanted peace, others wanted anything but that.
The Dankworth family had ended their engagement with the Burns family long ago, but Lily’s heart still longed for Finn. She even hired a private detective to investigate Finn secretly.
Old Burns tried to calm her down by saying that Finn would definitely marry her in the future, and he handed her a USB drive to pacify her.
After watching the contents of the USB drive, Lily became even angrier. After the initial anger subsided, she saw it as an opportunity to use against Aoife.
If Aoife had disappeared and dealt with her own consequences, it would have been fine. But her return and her pregnancy with Finn’s child were unforgivable to Lily.
The loss of the child was a relief, but what surprised Lily was Finn’s willingness to give up his position as the heir to the Burns family, leading to a complete fallout with Old Burns.
If Finn didn’t want the Burns family, how could he still care about his former fiancée?
Lily felt a surge of bitterness and resentment towards Finn for attracting her and then abandoning her, as well as towards Aoife. She couldn’t understand what she lacked compared to Aoife.
Despite the time that had passed, people still made fun of her for the events of their engagement party, mocking her as a home-wrecker.
The USB drive that Old Burns had given her, promising it was hers to manage, had remained untouched. But now, Lily contemplated using it against Aoife and Finn, the nauseating couple who didn’t deserve some kind of mercy.
Aoife, this was all your own doing! If you chose to return, you have to pay the price. I warned you that I wouldn’t let you off lightly!