Seagulls flew low in the distance, gliding over the sea in flocks.

Hannah, whose hands had just been freed not long ago, was bound again, and could only let Louis lead her into this dilapidated church.

She had thought that Jimmy would be the craziest one.

But obviously, she had underestimated the dark transformations of Little White.

"Louis, there’s no way I could marry you."

She lowered her head, looking at the wounds on her wrists that had already been chafed raw.

A burning pain.

Louis didn’t notice, his gaze fixed only on the white dress on Hannah.

Pressed for time, he couldn’t have a wedding dress custom-made, so he just found an old church and kept everything simple.

The marriage certificate could be processed later; right now, he only wanted a sense of ceremony, a scene he’d dared to imagine only in his dreams.

Hannah had to marry him.

So he didn’t care about the reluctance Hannah had just expressed, but stubbornly said, "Sister, I really like you."

Louis took out a dark blue velvet box from his pocket, which contained a necklace with diamonds that shimmered like the night sky.

Below dangled a beautiful sapphire.

It was Hannah Winter’s favorite color.

He took the necklace out, walked behind Hannah again, and placed it around her neck.

The deep blue sapphire set off her skin as pale as snow, the faint warmth of his fingertips causing Louis’s heart to flutter; when he withdrew his hand, his fingertips trembled.

"I prepared this necklace two years ago; although it’s a bit late, I’m glad it’s finally given," he said.

He walked in front of Hannah, knelt down halfway, and looked up at her, seriously saying word by word, "Sister, I know you can’t forgive me. I won’t deny what happened in the past. Give me time, let’s be together. However you want to torment me, or get back at me, I won’t complain."

As he spoke, his voice was saturated with stubbornness.

Hannah didn’t look at him, just raised her head to watch the distant waves blown by the wind, a vast blue expanse.

After a moment, she spoke.

"Louis," her voice was extremely faint, "what were you doing five years ago?"

For his supposed true love, he could recklessly harm and use another girl.

And that girl couldn’t even receive an apology.

It was as if... being sincerely manipulated by someone was her mistake.

Louis stiffened, mouth agape, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Hannah lowered her gaze at him, her lips curved in a very slight arc, not like a frail daffodil, but more like a sharp-spiked pale flower blooming in the cold pond, "You say you like me, but where were you five years ago, when I was being hurt, being used?"

"I..."

He opened his mouth hesitantly but couldn’t articulate a single word to defend himself.

The eyelashes drooped, trembling lightly, and his dark pupils were filled with panic and irrepressible pain.

Hannah spoke for him, "Back then you were not just a bystander, nor were you indifferent, because you were one of the participants, isn’t that right?"

Louis’s lips were tightly closed, his tone still stubborn, "I know you don’t like me, it’s okay, I can wait for you."

Hannah shook her head, closed her eyes, and no longer looked at him, "I’ve already said, I don’t want you to wait for me."

Louis clenched his palm, looked up, and with a smile tugging at his lips, stiffly changed the topic, "Today’s wedding might be a bit simple, but when we go back, I will definitely prepare it properly for you."

Hannah remained silent.

Louis paused, stood up, and stubbornly continued.