"Professor Sterling, please, for the sake of our past relationship, forgive me this once. You know how hard I worked to get to where I am today. Please be generous and give me another chance! I beg you!"

Seeing his former star student crying and pleading, Mr. Sterling remained unmoved, telling her only one thing:

"You have disappointed me deeply!"

Chapter 18

Since the investigation would take some time, the Sterlings stayed in Shanghai.

During this period, the Nina's family sought out various connections to plead for mercy every day, but they were all rejected.

The Thornes soon learned the news and rushed back as well.

As soon as Selina stepped out of the police station, she saw Julian waiting outside.

Having not seen him for a few days, he looked quite haggard, his eyes bloodshot.

Seeing her, a flash of guilt crossed his face, and his voice was low.

"Selina."

Selina didn't bother to acknowledge him, acting as if she hadn't seen him as she moved to leave.

Before she could descend the stairs, she was blocked by a hurrying Julian.

"Can we talk, please?"

Selina knew that seeing him here meant he had likely been called in for questioning regarding the same case.

He was probably here to plead for Nina. She had heard enough of that lately to last a lifetime, so she didn't want to give him a chance to speak. She told him bluntly:

"There’s nothing to talk about. Nina’s incitement of a crime has been confirmed. My parents and I will pursue this to the end, and it won't matter who asks. Instead of wasting time begging me for mercy, you should find some good lawyers for your 'White Moonlight.' Maybe she’ll get a few years less in prison."

Julian froze on the spot.

The police had already shown him the surveillance clips.

He never imagined that Selina hadn't been lying that day; it really was Nina who had staged the frame-up.

Recalling his actions that night, he wanted to slap himself hard.

Why had he vented his anger on a victim?

Why had he been so impulsive and said such hurtful things?

Why couldn't he have been a bit more patient, a bit calmer, and investigated the truth?

A wave of self-loathing washed over Julian, leaving his mind in turmoil.

Seeing that Selina had misunderstood him again, he panicked and explained quickly.

"It’s not for Nina..."

"Then there’s even less reason to talk."

With that, Selina pulled her hand away and strode toward her car.

But after she buckled her seatbelt, she saw Julian standing in front of the car, stubbornly refusing to move.

His usually roguish eyes were filled with plea.

"Selina, fifteen minutes. Just give me fifteen minutes."

Selina stared at him, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel.

She knew Julian’s temperament; if she didn't agree today, he would stay there all day.

She didn't want to waste time with him, so she nodded.

"Ten minutes."

Seeing her relent, Julian breathed a slight sigh of relief, as if grasping a shred of hope.

He walked to the driver's side and spoke softly.

"I'm sorry for everything in the past, Selina. I shouldn't have trampled on your heart or said those hurtful things. I apologize to you. I’ll take whatever hitting or cursing you want to give me, just please don't ignore me, okay?"

"Before, I always thought the one I loved was Nina. But on the day of the wedding, when I heard you had immigrated, I realized the most important person in my heart was you. I can't lose you, which is why I called off the wedding."

Selina could no longer tell if his words were true or false.

Over the years, she had heard countless tender words from him and thought that was love.

But in the end, it all turned out to be her own unrequited, delusional wishful thinking.

If he truly cared, truly loved her, would he have abandoned her at a life-and-death moment? Would he have denied her even a chance to explain? Would he have pushed her away time and time again?

She had been fooled once.

So this time, no matter what he said, she didn't take it to heart, treating it as if she were listening to a joke.

"And so?"

Chapter 19

The expected expression of forgiveness or surprise did not appear on Selina’s face.

Instead, those three simple, detached words caused the expression on Julian’s face to freeze instantly.

He couldn't understand—he had bared his soul to her, so why did she still not care?

Looking at that indifferent face through the car window, he felt his breathing become heavy and labored.

But time was of the essence, and he could only continue to pour out his heart without reservation.

"Selina, the only person I love now is you. Please, just give me one more chance, okay? I swear to you, this time, I will never do anything so foolish again. I'll go public with our relationship to everyone, and I'll treat you as well as I did before. If you're willing, we can get engaged right away. I promise I’ll give you a clear and bright future."

Julian spoke every word with absolute conviction and certainty.

Looking at his face full of sincerity, Selina lowered her head, the clarity returning to her eyes.

If these words had been spoken two months ago, she would have believed them.

Unfortunately, there are no "ifs" in this world.

And she no longer wanted a future with him.

"I don't believe the person you love is me, nor do I believe we have a future. If this is all you wanted to say, then let me make it perfectly clear: there is no possibility for us. None."

The last shred of hope in Julian’s heart was severed.

His face grew dark, his body began to tremble uncontrollably, and the veins on the back of his clenched fists bulged.

He looked at her with eyes full of sorrow, his voice thick with sobs.

"Why? Selina, I... I already know I was wrong. Why can't you just forgive me? Have you forgotten that you once said you only wanted to be with me? Have you forgotten you promised we’d never be apart?"

Selina remembered those words, of course.

After all, she had truly regarded Julian and their relationship as the most important and cherished thing in her life.

Regrettably, all promises have an expiration date—framed within the time when she still loved him.

And now, she and Julian were practically strangers.

What was the point of discussing promises or past sentiments?

She didn't give him another chance to continue his performance of repentance.

"Then have you forgotten that you said you only saw me as a sister? That being with me felt like a life without hope? Have you forgotten saying you’d love anyone but me? Have you forgotten saying you never wanted to see my face again? You remember everything else, yet you conveniently forgot those words, didn't you?"

Under the weight of her powerful voice, Julian’s expression slowly crumbled into gray despair.

The thoughtless jests and angry words he had spat out back then now returned like a boomerang, striking him directly in the heart.

He kept shaking his head, trying to deny it all.

"No, Selina... I didn't realize I loved you back then, that’s why I said those things..."

"Then when you used our private relationship as a conversation piece to brag to your friends at the bar, did you ever think this day would come?"

That single question answered the confusion in Julian’s heart.

He finally understood why she had clashed with Nina at the bar, and why they could never go back to how they were after that night.

So, she had overheard their conversation outside the private room!

Realizing this, Julian felt his head buzzing, his blood flowing in reverse.

His mind raced to find an excuse, any explanation.

Subconsciously, he reached his hand through the car window, trying to grab her and keep her there just to buy a little more time.

But Selina saw that the time was up and didn't hesitate for a second to close the window.

His hand was clamped so hard it turned bruised and purple, yet he refused to pull it back.

Threads of fresh blood seeped down the glass, and the smell of copper filled the air.

Selina frowned, glanced at him, and lowered the window just enough to push his limp hand out.

After closing the window again, she started the car. She left him with one final, chilling sentence.

"You should save that hypocritical, selfish love of yours for Nina. I, Selina Sterling, have no need for it."

Chapter 20

After receiving news from the Prosecutor's Office confirming the indictment, the Sterlings finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They entrusted the remaining matters entirely to their lawyers and returned to Madrid.

Though they were far from their homeland, the social obligations and anxieties had vanished along with it. Selina let out a long, deep breath.