He Remembered, But No One Else Did

That year, after Eveline Barlow had been missing for years and was finally found and brought back by the Gomez family, a group of spoiled rich kids tossed her into the ocean. Her dress was soaked through, revealing the old-fashioned undergarments beneath. They laughed as if it were the funniest thing in the world, mocking her like some wild hillbilly. One of them even tore her undergarment off in front of everyone just to "study how it was made." At the lowest, most humiliating moment of her life, it was Brenton Flynn who stepped up, shielding her from the assault. He was poor, brooding, and born mute, yet ready to take on the world for her. Eveline had once believed she was the happiest girl alive—until that day, when she overheard her so-called mute boyfriend chatting with his friend in a low, teasing voice: "Back then, I purposely let you guys tear off her undergarment so she'd be too ashamed to stick around Gomez Manor. The whole plan was to stop her from competing with Clare for attention. I didn't expect to go overboard and take it so far." He shrugged, voice dripping with scorn. "Now she literally can't live without me, so I'll just suck it up and keep pretending a little longer. Don't want her throwing a massive tantrum. If she gets so mad she actually gets sick, that heart of hers might not be any use anymore." Eveline had never imagined running into Brenton on the VIP ski run at Kestrel Peak. And she certainly hadn't expected that her deaf-mute boyfriend could not only hear perfectly but also had a voice ridiculously charming. Right then, he tilted his head slightly, adjusting the snow goggles for the girl beside him, Clare Gomez. "Clare, remember to block Eveline when you post on i********:. She's spending Christmas alone in Soren City. Who knows, she might get so bored she starts stalking our feeds." Clare stuck her tongue out playfully. "I blocked her ages ago! Dad, Mom, and even my brother haven't given her access either." One of their friends burst out laughing. "Frederick's a straight-up Oscar-level actor! Pretending to be a face-blind mute for this long? Absolute legend." "Every time I watch Frederick act like he doesn't recognize Eveline, I have to bite my tongue to keep from cracking up." "Frederick, when are you dropping the act? I'm dying to see her reaction." Clare planted her hands on her hips and pouted. "Hey, you guys, don't be too mean! Sure, Frederick says she's petty and vicious, but in the end, she's still the real Gomez family heiress." The laughter didn't die down. "What kind of Gomez family heiress is she? Haven't you heard the saying? The one who isn't loved is the real fake. Plus, she was raised in some backwater mountain village by a female psychic. Your parents must be so embarrassed." "Yeah, why don't you ask Frederick—he's the one engaged to the Gomez family. See if he'd actually marry Eveline." Clare hooked her arm through Brenton's. "Frederick, what do you think?" Brenton let out a low chuckle and gently tightened the scarf around Clare. "The only reason I stayed by Eveline's side was to keep her from competing with you. Otherwise, with that vindictive streak of hers, I'd worry she'd come after you. Baby, my heart has always belonged to you—and it always will, past or future." The group erupted into cheers, calling him a hopeless romantic. In the snow, the girl in the pink fleece nestled against the handsome guy's chest like a scene from a fairy tale—picture-perfect. But Eveline couldn't bring herself to appreciate any of it. All she felt was the icy wind and snow of Kestrel Peak slicing straight into her heart. The poor, mute guy she'd thought she knew was actually the young heir to the Murphy family, the richest in Winsdale City. In his eyes, she had always been nothing but "vicious," "petty," and "vindictive." Eveline pressed a hand to her chest. Something in the inner pocket of her down jacket dug painfully into her ribs. She pulled out the silver ring that had been worn smooth and shiny. The cold metal pressed a crescent-shaped red mark into her palm. This was the very first gift Brenton had ever given her. Back then, crammed together in their tiny 110-square-foot rental apartment, his eyes red, he had signed to her: "When I make money, I'll buy you a diamond ring." Now it was obvious: every single vow had been fake—the poverty, the muteness, the face-blindness, the depression... all of it. Even his name, Brenton, had been a lie. Eveline stared at the swirling snowflakes. Tiny ice crystals formed on her lashes. She turned and headed back to the changing room, locking the door behind her. Inside her assigned locker sat a small embroidered cloth bag. Eveline pulled out a handful of sage leaves and lit them. The blue smoke rose straight up, then froze midair at the snap of her fingers. A kindly voice floated through the air: "Eveline, didn't you swear you'd never use divination again? Why break your vow now?" Eveline gave a bitter smile. "Aunt Maeve, I was too naive." To be with Brenton, she had knelt in the ancestral hall for seven full days and nights until Maeve Barlow finally agreed to seal off her spiritual pathways. After that, she became a sickly girl plagued by endless illnesses, coming down with fevers and coughs every other day. If she could hold on for three years, she could return to being an ordinary person. Now, she was just one day away from that exact three-year mark. Eveline's nose tingled and her eyes burned. "Aunt Maeve, I've made up my mind. I want to come back and inherit the House of Barlow. Please erase all traces of me from this world. From now on, I'll cut off all love and attachment. I won't step into the mortal world again." Maeve stayed silent for a long time. When she finally spoke, her voice carried the weight of countless unsaid words, softening into a gentle sigh. "The erasure spell will need time to fully work. If there is still anything you cannot let go of, go say your goodbyes properly while you still can."