Julian Lawson looked at Eve Vaughn with eyes full of hope, tightening his grip on her hand. He kept reminding her of her past vow. "Evie, you agreed back then. You said you’d follow me wherever I went, as long as we were together!"

Eve Vaughn forcefully shook his hand off, her eyes turning a little red. In truth, all of this had happened just over a year ago.

But listening to it now, it felt like a lifetime ago.

She enunciated each word, "Julian Lawson, you know as well as I do that was ’back then’! Now that I’ve seen through your cowardice, selfishness, and coldness, do you really think I’d dare to be with you?"

Julian was on the verge of a breakdown. "That’s because I was deceived! Evie, I was deceived! If they hadn’t lied to me, I never would have become like this. Back then, I thought you had betrayed me, which is why I was so cruel to you. Evie, it won’t happen again. It’ll never, ever happen again!"

Eve Vaughn took a deep breath and said bitterly, "But some things, some feelings... when they’re in the past, they’re in the past. There’s no going back!"

With that, she turned and walked away resolutely, ignoring Julian Lawson’s pleading eyes.

Watching her retreat without a single hint of reluctance, Julian Lawson suddenly realized he had truly lost her.

...

Back in her dorm room, Eve Vaughn’s heart finally began to calm down.

After all, she had thought this would remain a secret forever.

But she never expected Julian Lawson to find out.

In the beginning, when she first discovered she had been deceived by Autumn Woods, she had wanted to prove her innocence.

But later, she fell in love with Mason Lawson, and her world no longer had any room for even a shadow of Julian Lawson.

At that point, Eve Vaughn hoped the matter would stay a secret forever, one she would never have to uncover.

She even wanted to forget that she had once recklessly donated part of her liver for another man.

Eve Vaughn was sitting dazedly in her chair when Regina Shaw suddenly tapped her, scaring her half to death.

"What was that for, Senior Shaw? You really scared me to death!"

Eve Vaughn clutched her chest and gave her a reproachful look.

Regina Shaw smiled and said, "What are you thinking about so intently? Tell me, are you thinking about Mason Lawson?"

Eve Vaughn’s expression fell, and only then did Regina Shaw remember they had already broken up.

’Way to hit a sore spot!’

Regina Shaw looked at her with concern. "Are you... okay, then? You don’t look so good."

Eve Vaughn replied, "It’s because you scared me!"

Regina Shaw felt like something was on her mind. After all, she had looked pale even before being startled.

However, everyone has their secrets. Since Eve Vaughn didn’t want to talk, she didn’t press the issue.

"Well, you should get washed up and go to bed early. In a little while, you’ll be able to go abroad. You’ll soon forget all the unhappiness here."

Regina Shaw patted her head comfortingly, then climbed into her own bed and started arranging her blanket.

Just then, Eve Vaughn’s phone rang. It was Mason Lawson.

Seeing his name, her heart leaped into her throat, pounding with anxiety.

She thought about how she had just been with Julian Lawson. Even though she hadn’t done anything to wrong Mason, seeing his call still made her panic for no reason.

In the end, Eve Vaughn didn’t answer the call and silenced her phone.

As she watched the screen stay lit, she told herself, ’What’s there to be afraid of? Why are you panicking?’

’We’ve already broken up. I don’t have to walk on eggshells all day like I’m cheating on him.’

Only after the phone screen went completely dark and he stopped calling did Eve Vaughn go to wash up.

...

「Meanwhile.」

Mason Lawson was in an extremely foul mood after several of his calls went unanswered.

He tossed his phone aside, slammed on the accelerator, and the car shot away from the entrance of Rivaster University like an arrow.

The memory of Julian Lawson’s damned paws holding Eve Vaughn’s hand made him want to chop them right off.

Coincidentally, Mason Lawson and Julian Lawson returned to the Lawson family’s old residence at almost the same time that evening.

Seeing Julian Lawson’s ashen, defeated expression, Mason Lawson said sarcastically, "What’s wrong? Didn’t have enough fun messing around outside?"

"Uncle!"

Julian Lawson suddenly stopped him. "I have something to ask you."

Mason Lawson turned around. Still annoyed by the scene at the entrance of Rivaster University earlier, he retorted, "You want to ask me? Why should I tell you anything?"

With that, he snorted coldly and started walking upstairs.

But Julian Lawson relentlessly blocked his path. "You knew all along that the person who donated their liver to me was Eve Vaughn, didn’t you?"

A flash of surprise crossed Mason Lawson’s cold, grim face. He likely hadn’t expected Julian Lawson to have found out about this.

He said noncommittally, "So what if I did?"

Julian Lawson was furious. He said angrily, "If you had just told me back then, I wouldn’t have kept making this mistake! I wouldn’t have married Charlotte Vaughn!"

Mason Lawson slid one hand into his pocket, his tone tinged with nonchalance. "Everyone has to pay the price for their own choices. I had no obligation to tell you the truth. You clearly had a choice, and you were the one who didn’t choose Eve Vaughn. You can’t blame anyone else."

"You’re lying! Everyone told me that Charlotte Vaughn was the one who donated her liver and that Eve Vaughn had abandoned me to go abroad when I was critically ill! You tell me, what choice did I have?"

Julian Lawson’s expression was one of pure agony as tears silently streamed down his face. He choked out, "You did it on purpose! Uncle, you’re too cruel. You just stood by and watched as I misunderstood Eve Vaughn, watched as I pushed her further and further away. That way, you’d have your chance to possess her! I finally understand now. Your intentions were so malicious!"

Only then did Mason Lawson realize that Julian Lawson must have gone to Rivaster University tonight to apologize to Eve Vaughn.

’I wonder if that soft-hearted girl fell for his act?’

The thought that Julian had dared to hold Eve Vaughn’s hand was more than Mason could tolerate.

He said, "Julian Lawson, even now, you refuse to consider your own faults and instead push all the blame onto others. You’re truly a lost cause! No wonder Eve Vaughn ended up with me."

Mason Lawson’s taunt was the last straw. All the hatred and resentment Julian had been harboring since last night erupted at this moment.

He lunged at Mason Lawson, swinging his fist, looking as if he was ready to fight him to the death.

"Mason Lawson, I’ll kill you!"

Julian Lawson glared at him, grinding his teeth. "This is all your fault! You only watched me make that mistake and deliberately tore us apart because Evie looks like Joanna Sullivan. You’ve ruined my life, and you’ve ruined hers! Do you think she wants to be with an old man like you? The one she fell for back then was me!"

In his fury, Julian Lawson was spewing whatever came to mind. He didn’t care about living anymore; he just wanted to take Mason Lawson down with him.

Unfortunately, before his fist could even touch Mason Lawson, the man had him restrained.

Soon, the servants heard the sounds of a fight and rushed over.

A moment later, a panicked voice echoed through the Lawson residence: "Help, help! Young Master Julian and Mr. Lawson are fighting!"