Looking at Vanessa Sterling’s indifferent expression, Miles Sterling couldn’t quite understand. He hesitated before speaking, "... every image I recall involves you."

Vanessa couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, gently stroking Blackie in her arms, and said blandly, "That means your memories aren’t complete enough." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Miles was a bit confused and softly pleaded, "... can you tell me about the past?"

Vanessa didn’t want to revisit those events, but those memories were nightmares she could never forget deep in her heart.

She extended her left hand in front of Miles, softly asking, "Do you remember now?"

Miles looked baffled at Vanessa’s hand, noticing that the nail on her ring finger was visibly different from the smooth, full nails beside it.

Yet he was still completely at a loss as to what Vanessa meant.

Immediately following this, Vanessa’s words unraveled his inner confusion: "This nail was the one you forcibly ripped from my hand with pliers."

Vanessa tried her best to control her emotions, making her tone calm, but she couldn’t help her voice from trembling.

The pain from that time was still vivid in her memory.

Miles furrowed his brows slightly, feeling as though something was stuck in his throat, like he had a lot to say but couldn’t find the words.

He didn’t remember this memory Vanessa recounted, yet he inexplicably trusted that every word she said was true.

He just found it somewhat unbelievable. Could he really have done something so cruel that was just horrifying to hear about?

Is that why everyone advised him to let go of his past memories?

Was it also because of this that Vanessa showed fear in her eyes and pretended not to recognize him when she saw him that day?

"... I’m sorry."

Upon hearing those three words, Vanessa just took a deep breath and then said, "There’s no need for you to apologize because I won’t forgive you. If you truly feel sorry, don’t disturb me anymore. Even if you recover your memories, please pretend you’ve never known me."

Miles opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn’t say a word.

He felt that no matter how much he said, he couldn’t make amends.

Holding Blackie, Vanessa stood up and asked Miles, "Can you get back on your own?"

Miles hesitated, and as he rose from the sofa, he felt his vision darken for a moment. He steadied himself by holding onto the sofa, and only when colors reappeared in his sight did he pick up the crutch beside him and silently walked toward the door.

Watching Miles in this state, Vanessa hesitated about whether to call Quentin Sterling, fearing something might happen to Miles on his way back.

When she put Blackie down and was about to go to the room to fetch her phone, she suddenly heard a heavy crash by the door.

She immediately looked toward the sound, only to see Miles had fallen at the entrance, seemingly passed out and motionless.

Vanessa was momentarily stunned, but she quickly went over to check, and as she pulled his arm, through his rain-soaked shirt, she could feel the burning heat of his skin.

She swiftly extended a hand to touch his forehead, finding it dangerously hot.

Seeing Miles unconscious, Vanessa stood there at a loss for two seconds before hurriedly turning around to get her phone and called Quentin Sterling.

The phone rang repeatedly but went unanswered until it was automatically disconnected.

Unable to reach Quentin, Vanessa couldn’t think of any other solution, so she called for emergency help.