Chapter 4

Rachel's POV

I looked up to see Lily West standing on the garden path just outside the villa gates.

With her white dress and long flowing hair, she looked pristine and untouched by the world, like a white camellia that had just stepped out of a painting.

Meanwhile, I sat collapsed on the ground, covered in dust, with blood and dirt smeared all over my knees, looking utterly pathetic.

The contrast between us was like heaven and earth.

Tristan's attention instantly shifted to Lily, his expression softening visibly.

He bypassed me and quickly walked down the steps to greet her.

"The media is in a frenzy right now. Why are you running around instead of staying out of sight? What if someone sees you?"

Lily walked past me, the pristine hem of her dress brushing against the back of my hand.

She didn't spare me a glance, smiling brightly as she looked at Tristan.

"I missed you, Tristan. I came to see you."

Tristan reached out to support her shoulders, and they walked up the steps together.

The iron gate slammed shut with a heavy thud.

I was left sitting alone in the courtyard.

Blood continued to seep from my knees, but the ache in my chest was far more painful than the physical wounds.

Lily was the only person Tristan cared about.

She was the white moonlight he held closest to his heart.

She was the one he worried would be hurt by the media storm.

She was the one he would eagerly rush to protect with such delicate care.

And I, Rachel Vance, was nothing more than a shield to be summoned and dismissed at his whim, a pawn that could be discarded or abandoned at any moment.

Someone who had been humbled to the very dust.

I suddenly realized something.

The reason Tristan had allowed Victoria Sterling to publicize my identity was likely not to preserve the Sterling family's reputation at all.

He had done it on purpose.

He wanted Lily to see it.

He wanted to make Lily jealous.

And sure enough, Lily had come to find him of her own accord.

Company interests, personal reputation—he didn't care about any of it.

He only cared about whether Lily would return to his side because of this.

Now that he had achieved his goal, I was of no use to him anymore.

I let out a bitter laugh, slowly pushing myself up while supporting my bleeding knees. I brushed the dust off my skirt and turned to leave.

The gates behind me suddenly opened again.

Lily walked out with graceful steps, offering me a slight, polite nod and smile.

"Ms. Vance, I'm entrusting Tristan to you from now on."

With that, she walked away with a light, airy step.

She seemed entirely unburdened, as if she had just laid down some heavy weight.

I stood frozen in place, utterly baffled, unable to comprehend the meaning behind her words.

Entrusting him to me?

Wasn't Lily supposed to have been provoked by Tristan into coming back to claim her territory?

Why did it feel like she was bidding farewell instead?

I was already about to make my exit, so what was Lily entrusting to me?

I looked up toward the doorway.

Tristan was standing on the steps, his expression even darker than before, a trace of melancholy lingering between his brows.

I figured their conversation must have gone terribly.

Lily had likely rejected him.

As expected, his every joy and sorrow was forever tied to Lily.

I suppressed the rising bitterness in my heart, forcing my expression to calm.

"No matter how things went between you two, I will not be continuing this with you."

Tristan withdrew his gaze from the distance and locked onto my face, his expression displeased.

"Not continuing?"

"Yes. I told you last time that our contract agreement will terminate next month, and I meant it."

Tristan stared at me for a long time.

His gaze sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't tell what was running through his mind.

Suddenly, he smiled.

"Rachel, do you honestly think you can just end it whenever you want?"

My chest tightened.

"What do you mean? Things have already escalated to this point, and there's no longer any need for me to act as Lily's shield. Shouldn't you want to get rid of me even more than before?"

Tristan sneered.

"You don't need to worry about what I want."

He looked down at me from above.

"You'd better worry about yourself instead. Do you really think that just because you found an alternative medication for Nina, you can rid yourself of me? If you truly care about whether Nina lives or dies, you'd better wait until you actually have that alternative drug in your hands."

My heart skipped a beat.

The partnership with that international pharmaceutical company indeed hadn't been finalized yet; the formal signing was scheduled for next week.

Even though the negotiations were mostly complete, nothing was set in stone yet.

I didn't argue. I simply asked,

"Then what exactly do you want?"

"Tomorrow morning, the Sterling Group will hold a press conference. You will attend it with me."

"What press conference? What are you going to do?"

"You don't need to know, nor do you have the right to negotiate."

Tristan's tone was cold and unyielding, leaving no room for discussion.

"If you don't show up, you won't get the final batch of medication for this month."

He turned and began to walk back inside.

"Take her back."

The driver, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward.

"Ms. Vance, there are many reporters outside right now. Mr. Sterling was worried you'd be spotted on your way back, so he specifically asked me to drive you. Shall we?"

My heart trembled slightly.

I glanced at Tristan's retreating back. He had already walked into the villa without once looking back.

I didn't refuse and got into the car with the driver.

The next morning, inside the press conference hall at the Sterling Group headquarters.

I sat beside Tristan, my back straight, showing no outward sign of distress on my face.

The room below was packed with reporters, and camera flashes went off in a blinding, dense flurry.

The moment the Q&A session began, questions started raining down in rapid succession.

"Rumors have it that Ms. Vance signed a secret contract agreement with the Sterling family regarding your relationship. Is this true?"

"Are the two of you a real couple?"

"It's rumored that this marriage was arranged by the Sterling family elders and that Mr. Sterling himself was unwilling. Is that correct?"

"Did Mr. Sterling's breakup with Ms. Lily West have anything to do with Ms. Vance?"

Every single question was sharp, blunt, and utterly relentless.

I clenched the fabric of my skirt.

Instinctively, I wanted to deny my relationship with Tristan, to deny everything and take this opportunity to clear my name in front of all the media.

But before I could even open my mouth, Tristan beat me to it, picking up the microphone.

"Rachel Vance is currently my only girlfriend."

His voice was calm and left no room for doubt.

"Regardless of the past or the future, right now, she is my girlfriend."

With that, he reached out, pulled me by the shoulder, and turned his head to look at me.

His gaze was so tender it could have easily passed for genuine.

Yet, I was so close to him—close enough to clearly see the deep-seated disgust hiding in the depths of his eyes.

His affection and gentleness were all an act.

My head buzzed.

I couldn't understand why he was doing this.

Lily had already rejected him, so why was he still taking the initiative to claim me?

"I'm not his girlfriend at all right now, we've already—"

Before I could finish, Tristan suddenly turned, his hand firmly cupping the back of my head, and leaned down to kiss me.

The press room instantly erupted.

The sound of camera shutters clicked frantically in unison.

This was the first time Tristan had kissed me while fully sober.

Domineering and passionate, it felt as though he wanted to crush me and swallow me whole, acting as if he truly, deeply loved me.

It was entirely different from the kiss at the hotel that night.

My mind went completely blank, and my body froze, forgetting to push him away.

After what felt like an eternity, Tristan finally released me.

He turned back to the reporters below, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"Rachel is right. We won't be boyfriend and girlfriend for much longer."

Before I could even breathe a sigh of relief, I heard his next words.

"She is my fiancée, and we are getting married soon."

"When the time comes, everyone is welcome to attend our wedding."