Chapter 3

Four years ago, Hudson Riley was still a junior in college.

The entire profession was in a state of high tension: people were either preparing for postgraduate exams or busy looking for jobs. Romantic holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas had long been forgotten by everyone. But Hudson Riley was different. She booked her flight to the United States a month in advance. Every day, she secretly packed her bags, imagining over and over again the moment she would meet Leana Frost. Her lips would involuntarily curl into a smile.

At the very bottom of her suitcase, she secretly tucked in a pair of sensual underwear. The moment her fingertips touched the fabric, her face turned red with embarrassment. After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered the courage to put it in there. It was a surprise she had prepared for Leana Frost, with all the courage she could muster.

Brody Payne sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, sipping his afternoon tea. He noticed her movement and immediately leaned over, teasing in a lecherous manner, “Oh, so this is the ‘weapon’ that’s said to make men unable to resist?”

Hudson Riley’s face turned even redder. He fiddled with the hem of his shirt nervously and asked in a soft voice, “Is it… not good?”

Brody Payne put aside his joking tone and spoke earnestly, as someone who had been through it before: “Hudson, I’m not trying to dampen your spirits. But you need to understand that if a man really wants to leave you, nothing will stop him—even if you lie naked in front of him.”

Hudson Riley’s gaze darkened as he said in a low voice, “I know, but I trust Leana. He’s not that kind of person.”

Brody Payne patted her shoulder gently. “I know you trust him, but you need to take care of yourself too. Over the past year, he’s contacted you less and less. Aren’t you worried at all?”

Hudson Riley lowered her head, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her clothes. A trace of unease flashed in her eyes. It wasn’t that she wasn’t worried, but she simply didn’t dare to think about it. A year earlier, she and Brody Payne had moved out to live together due to conflicts in their dormitory. Liana Frost, too, had taken advantage of the White family’s generosity and gone to study in the United States around that time. Over the past year, their communication had become increasingly sparse. Their phone conversations grew shorter and more perfunctory. Sometimes, it would take her several days to get a mere reply from him.

But she refused to believe that the man who had grown up with her since childhood and promised to marry her could change his heart. She preferred to think that he was simply too busy, or that he wasn’t used to life abroad.

“I’ll take care of myself.” Hudson Riley raised his head, forcing a smile on his face, as if trying to convince Brody Payne, or perhaps himself. “I just wanted to surprise him and let him know that I miss him.”

Brody Payne watched her stubborn expression and sighed helplessly. He said nothing more, but quietly slipped a note with Leana Frost’s address into her bag. He added, “I don’t want you, you clueless person, to end up unable to find your way in the US and waste your plane ticket.”

Hudson Riley’s parents were even more excited than she was to learn that she was going to the United States to spend Christmas with Leana Frost. Mrs. Riley spent the night preparing various dishes that Leana Frost liked, packed them in sealed containers, and put them in her suitcase. She repeatedly reminded her daughter, “When you get there, make sure Leana eats on time. Don’t focus too much on studying and ruin your health.”

Mr. Riley also added, “Don’t act on impulse when things happen. Listen to Lianna more. If you feel wronged, just call us, and we’ll come and get you.”

Hudson Riley pouted, looking aggrieved. “Who on earth are you people’s parents? You treat him better than me! I’m old enough to take care of myself.”

Mrs. Riley slapped her on the buttocks and scolded, “Liana Frost is now like my own son. Once you two get married, she’ll be my son outright! How dare you say such things? Last time, you even went into the wrong men’s restroom by mistake. Once you stop being so careless, your father and I won’t nag you anymore.”

Hudson Riley was left speechless. All she could do was pout slightly, though her heart felt warm inside. She knew that her parents had already accepted Leana Frost as part of the family. And she, too, looked forward to the future she would share with Leana Frost.

When the plane landed in New York, the entire city was covered in snow. The breath people exhaled turned into milky-white mist. The sky was gray, but nothing could dampen the festive atmosphere. Colorful lights adorned the streets, and Christmas trees stood in front of every house. Joyful Christmas songs filled the air. Santa Claus, dressed in red, distributed gifts to passersby.

Hudson Riley rubbed her frozen, red hands, picked up her luggage, and awkwardly made her way outside the airport. She hailed a taxi. The driver was a talkative white man with a beard. Seeing that she was an Asian girl traveling alone to the United States, he asked curiously in English, “Miss, are you here for tourism?”

Hudson Riley was a little nervous and stammered in English, “I’m here to see someone… my boyfriend.”

The driver’s eyes lit up. He gave a thumbs-up and said with a smile, “You’re a brave girl. Good luck to you. I hope you can see your boyfriend and have a happy Christmas.”

Hudson Riley smiled, her face turning red. Instinctively, she touched the amethyst bracelet on her wrist—that was a birthday gift from Leana Frost on her eighteenth birthday. She had worn it for three years, never taking it off. She had wanted to surprise Leana Frost by coming without telling her in advance. But it wasn’t until the driver asked her where to go that she panicked. She only remembered the general area of Leana Frost’s address; the exact door number had long since slipped her mind.

She was so anxious that she was sweating profusely. She searched through her bag thoroughly. Just when she was about to give up, she found a note in a hidden compartment of the bag. It was written by Brody Payne. The note contained Liana Frost’s address in detail, along with a teasing note written in smaller letters.

Hudson Riley sighed in relief. She quickly handed the note to the driver, feeling grateful. Thank goodness for Brody Payne. Otherwise, she, a complete klutz, would have surely gotten lost on New York’s streets.

The taxi moved slowly along the snowy streets. Hudson Riley looked out the window at the Christmas decorations, feeling increasingly excited. She imagined how surprised Leana Frost would be when she saw her, and pictured them hugging each other. A smile couldn’t be hidden from her face.

More than half an hour later, the taxi stopped in front of an apartment building. The driver smiled and said to her, “Miss, we’re here. Have a Merry Christmas.”

Hudson Riley quickly thanked them, then dragged her heavy suitcase to the apartment door. She took a deep breath, adjusted her clothes, and checked her makeup in the mirror to ensure everything was in order. Finally, she raised her hand, ready to ring the doorbell.

Just then, the door next door opened. An elderly woman with gray hair stepped out. Upon seeing Hudson Riley, she showed a surprised expression and asked in English, “Excuse me, who are you? Who are you here to see?”

Hudson Riley wore a sweet smile on his face as he replied in somewhat broken English, “Hello, I’m Lianna Frost’s fiancée. My name is Hudson Riley. I’m here to see him.”

Upon hearing the name “Leana Frost,” the old woman’s expression became strange. She sized Hudson Riley up from head to toe, remained silent for a while, and then said slowly, “Good luck to you, miss.”

Hudson Riley felt a sudden chill in his heart, accompanied by an inexplicable sense of unease. There was not a trace of enthusiasm in the old woman’s tone; instead, it carried a hint of sympathy and regret. This made the excitement in Hudson’s heart fade away almost completely.

She suppressed the doubts in her heart, slowly raised her hand, and pressed the doorbell. The doorbell rang twice. A familiar male voice came from inside the door. It was much deeper and more magnetic than it had been a year ago. But there wasn’t any trace of joy in his tone, only impatience: “I’m coming. Just a moment.”

Hudson Riley’s heartbeat quickened instantly. She clutched the hem of her dress tightly, filled with anticipation for the moment the door would open. But what awaited her wasn’t a surprise, but rather a betrayal that would destroy all her hopes.