Billy was certain that Georgia wouldn’t be able to reach Kayden on the phone because Jason had canceled Kayden’s SIM card. Jason had dared to take this step because he had already tracked Kayden’s whereabouts. At this moment, Kayden should have already arrived at The Nightshade. He wouldn’t have a spare second to check his phone, not even for a moment.
After explaining this, Jason turned to the two men in black suits standing nearby and issued a command: “Inform the Ghostbusters team to ensure Mrs. Scott’s safety at all costs. If anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me.”
“Yes, sir!” the men responded before quickly walking away.
At that moment, Georgia’s world turned dark. Her heart felt frozen, locked in ice. She couldn’t sense the stares of those around her and was entirely lost in her own tears and pain.
She had poured everything into Kayden, given him her all. Never in her wildest dreams did she think he would do something like this.
For so long, people had said that Kayden wasn’t good enough for Georgia. But now, it seemed the tables had turned-suddenly, it felt as if Georgia wasn’t good enough for Kayden.
It was a cruel joke.
Three years. Georgia had spent three whole years devoted to him. She had staked everything-her time, her love, her future-on this one man. And in the end, he had chosen to repay her with this kind of cruelty.
Why? Why would he do this to her?
Did he even know what those three years had been like for her?
For three years, she had endured endless ridicule from the outside world and relentless criticism from her family. Out in public, she was mocked for marrying a “fool.” At home, she was looked down upon for tying herself to him. There had been moments when she thought of giving up on Kayden, but she never went through with it.
She hadn’t stayed because of her grandfather’s last words alone. What truly kept her there was the lingering attachment deep in her heart.
For three years, they had breathed the same air in the same house. Even if it had been a pet-a cat or a dog-she would have developed feelings for it. And Kayden wasn’t just anyone; he was her husband.
When people attacked Kayden, when they looked down on him, Georgia felt unbearable pain. She had longed for the day when he would stand up and fight back, when he would silence those mocking voices.
Finally, one day, Kayden did rise. He not only proved everyone wrong but also stunned her with his transformation, time and again. He made her fall in love with him all over again, repeatedly. She thought her springtime had finally arrived.
But who could have predicted that this brief happiness would come to such an abrupt and cruel end? Worse still, he hadn’t even told her himself.
The pain was excruciating, as if her heart had been pierced by a thousand arrows.
Why? Why had Kayden done this to her? Couldn’t he at least say goodbye himself?
Hadn’t he once promised her that no one in this world would ever hurt her again? Then why had he chosen to hurt her now?
Memories of the past flooded Georgia’s mind. Kayden had brought so many miracles into her life, making her shine like a star in the eyes of others.
She had once thought of him as her future, her entire world. But now, why had he done this? Did he even understand what it meant? Did he realize that her world had collapsed?
Three years of waiting, of dedication, all for nothing. For a woman, there was no greater cruelty.
Georgia’s heart sank deeper into despair.
Billy had made it clear-Kayden had chosen to return to his family’s business and was now engaged to someone more “suitable” for him.
Perhaps, after regaining his memories, everything Kayden had said and done for her had simply been his way of repaying her for those three years of devotion. The success of her company, which had grown step by step, might have been Kayden’s greatest gift to her.
But he didn’t know-he didn’t understand-that Georgia had built her entire world around him. He had become her everything, her source of strength.
Now, that world had crumbled. Georgia was drowning in despair.
Tears poured from her eyes like a torrential downpour. She felt unworthy of her three years of loyalty. For the first time, she blamed her grandfather.
Why? Why had he made her marry this man?
Grief. Pain.
The mingling of these emotions overwhelmed her as she silently endured everything alone. Her sobs grew hoarse, choked by the endless flow of tears.
For the first time, Georgia felt the unfairness of it all. She had given everything. Just when it was time to reap the rewards, why had life thrown her into such despair? Wasn’t it said that hard work always paid off?
Georgia refused to accept this. She couldn’t believe that Kayden, of all people, would be the one to hurt her this way.
She could bear cruelty from anyone else in the world-but not from Kayden.
He was the man who had given her hope and dreams. He was her sky. She couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t.
At that moment, a clap of thunder echoed through the air.
The sky opened up, and rain poured down in torrents.
The rain soaked Georgia, but she made no effort to avoid it. She stood motionless, letting the rain wash over her. She wished the downpour could cleanse her of her sorrow and despair.
Walking aimlessly through the storm, she was like a shell of a person, utterly devoid of awareness.
Passersby noticed her and murmured among themselves.
“Hey, what’s with that woman? It’s pouring, and she’s not even trying to find shelter.”
“Don’t you see the look on her face? That’s a woman in despair. She’s probably lost all hope in life.”
“Ah, life… What a cruel thing it can be.”
—
Meanwhile, at Dragonsleep.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Kayden packed his things and set out for The Nightshade, bringing Lucy with him.
The Nightshade was located in the northwestern region of Vernon, a place surrounded by towering mountains and dense forests. It was Vernon’s most famous primeval forest.
The area, known as the Ninefold Mountains, was comprised of nine sprawling peaks that stretched endlessly into the horizon. Trees rose straight into the sky, their trunks so tall they seemed to pierce the heavens. The sight alone was enough to make most people hesitate to venture further.
Yet, the forest was said to be full of rare treasures. Every year, it attracted countless adventurers hoping to strike gold. Even tomb raiders frequently ventured into the depths of the woods.
Their activities had turned Dragonsleep into a place filled with strange and eerie legends.
Years ago, Dragonsleep had even made headlines for its supernatural incidents, stirring up a frenzy. To this day, thrill-seekers continued to flock there, claiming they were on grand “adventures.”
Kayden, however, wasn’t foolish enough to trek through the forest on foot. He chose a helicopter instead. Walking would have taken an eternity to navigate through the dense wilderness to reach The Nightshade.
Joining him on this journey was a woman-Lucy.