His grip was so tight it felt as if he were trying to crush her into his own bones and blood.

His hoarse voice sounded in her ear: "Elena, are you trying to be the death of me?"

Elena’s heart suddenly calmed down. She hugged Arthur back, just as tightly, just as hard.

After a long while, Arthur scooped her up into his arms: "Come on, let’s go home."

When they entered, Cassie was standing on the spiral staircase.

Slap!

Elena’s diary was tossed right at Arthur’s feet.

A chill froze her blood instantly.

Chapter 4

Arthur held Elena, a look of confusion flashing across his face: "Cassie, what is this?"

Cassie pointed a finger at her, her voice cold and mocking, her eyes like poison needles.

"Ask her yourself! Ask her what filthy things she’s been thinking about in private!"

"Do you think she looks at you as an uncle? She has a twisted, disgusting obsession with you!"

Cassie’s sharp voice was like a blade, tearing away all of Elena’s hidden thoughts, leaving them nowhere to hide.

"She’s actually coveting you! This is the person you’ve protected for over a decade—a lunatic who has filthy fantasies about her own uncle!"

Arthur’s hand on her waist tightened violently.

It hurt, but Elena dared not make a sound.

She could only be set down by Arthur like a wooden puppet, and then watch as he picked up the diary.

The sound of him flipping through the pages was like a guillotine hanging over her head.

She had become a helpless prisoner.

Finally, Arthur closed the book, his voice steady but hard: "Cassie, you should go back."

Cassie was full of shock: "Arthur? Did you see it? That, on the pages..."

Arthur interrupted her: "Yes, I will discipline her properly."

Cassie was nearly going insane: "Arthur, she is not a child anymore!"

Arthur looked at her, his eyes sharp: "Yes, her body is twenty-four, but her mental age is only eight. She is afraid of being abandoned again. Is that so strange?"

"If you want to blame someone, blame me. These past years I’ve only thought to keep her under my wing, but I forgot to teach her those complex lessons. That is my fault, but you should not judge her using dirty, vicious words like 'filth' and 'lunatic'."

By the time he finished, Arthur’s tone was completely cold: "Cassie, go."

Cassie gritted her teeth, glared fiercely at Elena, and slammed the door as she left.

After the loud bang, there was a deathly silence.

Arthur stood with his back to Elena, like a silent statue.

She looked up just once, and her tears tumbled onto the floor.

She had never seen Arthur looking so powerless before.

Elena choked out: "Arthur, I’m sorry..."

After a long while, Arthur turned around, placed the diary into her trembling hands, his voice hoarse.

"Don't cry. Keep it safe."

Elena froze, watching as Arthur knelt before her, his eyes carrying a certain indescribable resolve.

"Elena, you’re still young. There are many things you don't understand. There are some roads your uncle can only walk with you up to this point."

Up to this point... where is that?

Is it before the wedding altar of Arthur and Cassie, or is it at the boarding gate for the plane to an overseas sanitarium?

A massive panic gripped her, more fierce than before.

Elena instinctively grabbed his arm: "Arthur, no..."

Arthur didn't push her away; his voice only grew more firm: "Behave."

No, she didn't want to leave Arthur like this.

At this moment, Arthur’s promise to help her fulfill her "wishes" became the only piece of driftwood Elena could cling to.

She gathered all her strength and forced the words out: "Arthur, I have a wish. I want to go to the amusement park and ride the carousel."

Elena wasn't lying to Arthur; this really was her wish.

Because of her illness, Arthur never took her to crowded places.

She had only ever seen the carousel from a distance while driving past the park.

The carousel lit up with colorful lights, and there was music; it was the happiest thing in the world.

She wanted to share all happy things with Arthur.

Arthur was clearly stunned for a moment, then he nodded, his voice very soft, yet solemn.

"Okay. I’ll take you tomorrow."

The next day, the weather was beautiful, and Arthur took Elena out.

The amusement park was lively, and Arthur, dressed in a sharp suit, looked out of place, yet he waited in line with her patiently.

Soon, he helped Elena onto the carousel, while he stood beside a black wooden horse, watching her quietly.

She gripped the cold pole tightly and stole glances at him when the horse turned toward him.

His posture was tall and straight, light and shadow flowed over him, and his face appeared in and out of the light, but his gaze remained fixed on Elena the entire time.

After one round, he helped her down; his palms were dry and warm.

He asked: "What else do you want to play?"

Elena shook her head and pointed to a bench not far away: "I’m tired."

Arthur’s expression tightened. He took her hand and led her to the bench, even buying her a bottle of fresh-squeezed orange juice along the way.

The sweetness spread from the tip of her tongue, but it couldn't suppress the boundless bitterness rising from the bottom of her heart.

After Arthur sat down, he kept checking his phone.

Elena glanced at it inadvertently and saw words like "Sanitarium Confirmation."

Then he answered a call from his assistant: "Push all work back. Wait until I’ve handled Elena’s affairs first."

When he hung up, the deep-seated weariness in his eyes was almost impossible to hide.

She suddenly remembered Cassie’s words: "He’s exhausted after all these years. He can’t carry this burden anymore!"

Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by something, and the pain made Elena’s breathing ragged.

Arthur was truly being dragged down by the "necessity of taking care of her" until he could barely move.

And Elena, in order to stay by his side, was still putting pressure on him with these "wishes."

A massive wave of bitterness roared like a tsunami, smashing her to pieces.

Elena fought back her tears with all her might, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Arthur, I don't want many wishes anymore."

Arthur turned his head, looking stunned: "What?"

She gripped her hands tightly, struggling to make her voice clear.

"Just three is enough. After finishing three, you... you won't have to be so tired anymore."

Arthur finally heard clearly what she was saying, and his pupils contracted sharply.

His thin lips were pressed into a tight line, and then, very slowly, he nodded.

He didn't say, "I’m not tired," nor did he say, "I am willing."

He simply used the deafening silence of this moment to tell her:

—Elena, this is as far as we go. I don't want you anymore.

Chapter 5

Elena looked at Arthur’s profile for a long time, then pulled her lips into a wide smile that stretched almost to her ears.

"Then it’s a deal, Arthur."

Arthur didn’t look at her; his gaze rested in the distance. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he uttered a single, low word: "Mm."

She stood up and tossed the half-empty bottle of orange juice into the trash can.

"The carousel ride is over. Let’s go home."

Arthur agreed and habitually reached out to take her hand as he used to.

But before Elena could react, he pulled his hand back.

"Elena, let’s go."

Elena watched his back, wiping the corners of her eyes hard before following him.

They remained silent all the way home. Arthur turned off the engine but didn’t get out of the car immediately.

His voice was flat and waveless, as if he were discussing the most routine business matter.

"Starting tomorrow, Cassie will be moving in, and she’ll help you pack for your time abroad."

Elena dug her nails into her palms and said nothing.

"The wedding," he paused, "preparations will also begin. Elena, you need to adapt to your new life as soon as possible."

With that, Arthur pushed the door open and got out, never looking back at her again.

She sat in the car as it gradually grew cold, and it was a long time before she uttered a hoarse syllable.

"I will, Arthur."

When she emerged from her room the next day, Cassie had already packed her things.

Seeing Elena, she wore a triumphant smile and waved a bridal magazine.

"Arthur and I are going to try on wedding dresses. You should come along and give us your opinion; after all, you’re practically the only family he has left."

Elena looked instinctively at Arthur. He sat there, not looking at her.

She bit her lip hard, using the pain to suppress the unstoppable manic-depressive episode rising from within.

Elena said, "Okay."