Chapter 4 Kneeling in Public
The phone screen had barely gone dark when it lit up again with an incoming call.
It was Lancelot.
Adeline stared at the name for two seconds, then rejected the call.
In her past life, he had been woven through nearly every chapter of her story. They'd grown up together in an orphanage and later become lovers. He'd bring her hot coffee during late-night sketching sessions. He'd defend her when people sneered at her background. He'd be prouder than anyone when she won an award.
She'd been foolish enough to believe it was real love, which was why she said yes without hesitation when he confessed.
Right up until the moment she fell, when she saw the words on Vivian's phone—words that cut through her like a blade: [It's done.]
Done with what?
That night, Lancelot had asked her to meet him on the balcony, saying he had something important to discuss and asking her to wait alone. But he never showed. Instead, Vivian arrived in her stilettos, ground her fingers under her heel, and shoved her off the twenty-second floor into the freezing wind.
Adeline leaned back, tracing the cold edge of her phone with her fingertips. She saw it all clearly now. He had never been genuine. From the very beginning, he'd been in league with someone else to set her up.
Her phone buzzed softly. A text slipped through from the blocked list: Adeline, did you move? Send me your address—I want to talk in person. I'm worried about you out there on your own.
Adeline opened it, thumb hovering over delete, her eyes cold. Worried? More like worried she hadn't died thoroughly enough. She took a screenshot, saved it to her evidence folder, blocked the number, and deleted the thread.
Then she got up and walked to her worktable. Fresh sketches were spread across the surface—early concepts for her competition entry. She picked up her pencil, but her fingertip paused. That finger—in her past life, Vivian had ground it under her heel until the bone shattered. The memory was carved into her soul, even though her hand was perfectly fine now. Adeline took a slow breath, pushed the chill down, and kept drawing.
Arguing drifted up from downstairs. She ignored it. Her pencil swept a clean arc across the paper. This time, she would never give anyone the chance to step onto her balcony—or hurt her again.
Two afternoons later, Adeline went to an independent gem gallery in the old quarter to look at a new batch of rough stones. She was a regular. The owner had set aside a fine piece for her—a bicolor tourmaline, excellent quality at a fair price. She bought it quickly and headed home.
The neighborhood was quiet that afternoon. Elderly residents shuffled along the paths. It wasn't fancy—nothing like the Stuart mansion—but it made her feel at ease in a way that house never had. Plane trees lined the road, their branches full and leafy. Sunlight dappled the ground through the gaps. Adeline squinted, letting herself enjoy the rare stillness.
Then a familiar voice came from behind.
"Adeline."
That sweet, syrupy tone hit her like ice water, shattering her calm in an instant. Adeline turned. Vivian stood a short distance away, with her fourth brother, Gideon, beside her.
Gideon was the quietest of the brothers. In her past life, he'd never directly taken part in what was done to her, but he'd never helped, either. Most of the time he just sat in a corner like a cold, unfeeling statue. But now he stood behind Vivian, one hand in his pocket, his gaze fixed on Adeline with no warmth at all.
"Adeline, I've been looking everywhere for you." Vivian hurried forward, her eyes welling up. "I heard you moved here. It took Gideon days to track down your address. Why won't you answer my calls? Why did you delete my contact?"
Adeline gave her a brief, flat look. "You and I have nothing to do with each other anymore."
"Adeline, don't be like this." Vivian's voice trembled as she reached out to grab her sleeve. "I know you're angry, but those were decisions the family made—it had nothing to do with me. I never wanted to take your competition spot. That was the brothers acting on their own..."
"Because they thought you deserved it more than I did. Right?" Adeline stepped aside and easily avoided her hand.
Passersby noticed the tension and slowed to watch. Vivian's eyes reddened. Her lips quivered. She stepped back half a pace and raised her voice just enough for the onlookers to hear. "Adeline, if you really hate me that much, I'll apologize to you right here, in front of everyone."
Adeline's brow furrowed. Something felt off. Vivian never backed down in public. Every tear, every show of weakness, was calculated to get something.
"I don't need your apology." Adeline turned to leave.
"Adeline!" Vivian shot out her hand and grabbed Adeline's wrist, gripping tight.
Adeline looked down at that hand. A chill ran up her spine. This was the same hand that had smiled and pushed her off the balcony in her past life.
"Let go." Adeline pulled hard.
Gideon stepped forward at once, blocking her path. He was tall and broad, a wall with no way around.
"You can't even let someone finish talking?" His voice was low and heavy. "Vivian came all this way to find you, and this is how you act?"
"How I act is none of your business." Adeline looked straight at him without flinching. "Everything to do with the Stuart family has nothing to do with me. Not anymore."
A muscle twitched in Gideon's jaw. His expression darkened. Then Vivian suddenly let go. She lowered her head, shoulders shaking, tears splashing onto the pavement. More onlookers gathered, craning their necks.
No one noticed Vivian, head bowed and crying, quietly scanning the crowd. No one saw her glance at the tiny camera hidden in Gideon's lapel pin, or the small, secret smile that crossed her lips.
Good. Plenty of witnesses. Adeline was holding firm and refusing to give an inch. If this got out, the reaction would be explosive.
A second later, Vivian snapped her head up. Her eyes were wet and glassy, her voice raw and breaking, every word drenched in grievance.
"Adeline, please come home with me. Mom cries every night. Dad's blood pressure keeps spiking. The brothers all regret it. We're still family..."
She finished, took one step forward—and her knees buckled. Right there, in front of everyone, she collapsed to the ground.
