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Chapter 18
After hanging up the phone, Drake was so excited that he tried to get out of bed to find Narissa. But the moment his feet hit the floor, he collapsed. Years of neglecting proper food and relying on supplements had left him in a fragile state. His mother rushed over, her face full of concern, and helped him back into bed. "Son, now that we've finally found her, there's no way she's getting away. But right now, the most important thing is for you to get your strength back. If Narissa sees you like this, she'll be disappointed."
The thought of disappointing Narissa struck panic into Drake's heart. He shot an angry look at the man in the photo, whose appearance was nearly perfect. Gritting his teeth, he muttered to himself, "I won't let that man be better than me. I'll prove it."
He threw himself into eating, working out obsessively, and before long, Evan called, his voice heavy. "Drake, the man in the photo is from the Ashford Family."
A cold gleam flashed in Drake's eyes. "Could it be Dion, the Ashford heir?"
Evan's voice turned ice-cold. "He's been living abroad for years. No wonder we couldn't find Narissa. She must have been hidden by him."
Drake's face darkened, his smile turning cold. "So what if he's from the Ashford Family? If he's hiding my fiancée, I'll make him regret it."
Meanwhile, Narissa and Dion were heading to the Ashford Family house after returning to the country. As they passed the familiar streets, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. She had left two years ago, bought a one-way ticket, and started fresh abroad, not just to escape those she once knew but to rebuild her life.
When she met Dion, her boss, he immediately recognized her. At that time, the internet was buzzing with searches for her. She feared that Dion might reveal her identity, but he reassured her with a gentle smile, "Don't worry, I won't expose you."
What Narissa hadn't anticipated was that Drake and Evan had placed a billion-dollar reward for her whereabouts. That period became the most difficult time of her life. Her privacy was relentlessly invaded. She had to wear a mask whenever she went out, but people still recognized her. Some even camped outside her house, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, or worse, trying to kidnap her.
It was Dion who protected her during that time, suppressing the chaos and constantly worrying about her safety. When her living situation grew unbearable and the landlord asked her to move out because of the harassment, Dion stepped in, offering her a place to stay. She'd even been forced to sleep on the streets, but Dion always had her back.
Looking back, Narissa's heart swelled with gratitude. If it weren't for Dion, she wouldn't have made it through.
The thought of everything she had been through—the constant pressure, the invasion of her privacy, the betrayal from Drake—left Narissa confused and heartbroken. Even after she left, they wouldn't leave her alone, pushing her to the edge.
Dion had been her constant, helping her time and again. He was attentive, gentle, and despite her rejection, he never stopped confessing his love. She liked him, but a deeper fear than love held her back. Because of Drake, Narissa had become afraid of giving herself to anyone. After rejecting Dion, guilt weighed heavily on her, but he was always understanding, even smiling gently as he said, "It's alright. You don't have to be with me. But I know you like me. So, what's stopping you?"
At that moment, Narissa couldn't bring herself to answer. Later, when Dion was drunk and hugged her, his voice filled with an unexpected vulnerability. "Narissa, can you trust me? I know you've been hurt before, but don't let your past pain affect what we could have. It's not fair to me."
Her heart ached. She couldn't speak. Every time Dion confessed, she recoiled, more afraid than ever.
After much inner turmoil, Narissa made the decision to be with Dion. Even though each day with him was filled with declarations of love, he never belittled her. Instead, he encouraged her, saying, "Narissa, don't let the people who hurt you hold you back. You deserve to be loved, and we will be happy together."
In the two years that followed, their relationship blossomed from colleagues to friends and then to lovers. A few months ago, they married overseas, and now, with Dion's child growing inside her, Narissa had completely let go of the past. She no longer feared encountering familiar faces—whether it was Drake or Evan, neither of them could affect her anymore.