Kyle Grant's knuckles turned white.

His grip on the phone was so tight his fingertips turned pale.

Willow Grant's hoarse voice came through the receiver. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Kyle's Adam's apple bobbed.

Dark currents churned in his eyes.

Fragments of deliberately forgotten memories now tore violently at his nerves.

Willow's voice trembled with tears. "After that fire, Victor Sullivan bribed the entire village. Everyone claimed they'd never seen a child named Lu Yao."

A vein throbbed at Kyle's temple.

"To them, your life was worth less than an ant's." Willow's voice suddenly turned shrill. "That venomous witch Audrey Sullivan—how could she do it?"

Kyle's eyes snapped shut.

He heard the grinding of his own bones.

"And you still treat their son so well..." Willow burst into hysterical laughter. "How did I give birth to such a merciful son?"

Kyle's voice was terrifyingly rough. "I'm kind to Ethan because of Sophia."

"If you truly love that girl, take her away!" Willow shrieked. "In California, no one would dare lay a finger on you!"

Kyle's breathing grew labored. "Evidence?"

"Audrey went to Su Village!" Willow spat through clenched teeth. "She asked about you! Two weeks later, that fire—"

"Enough." Kyle abruptly ended the call.

The phone thudded against the mattress.

His pupils contracted violently as he stared at the neon lights outside.

The deliberately forgotten searing pain now crawled up his spine.

Kyle grabbed his car keys and stormed out.

The black sports car shot into the night like an arrow, engine roaring.

The bridal boutique's glass display glittered under dazzling lights.

From his car, Kyle watched every entering figure with hawk-like intensity.

The rolling shutter descended at closing time. She never appeared.

Moonlight was especially cold the next night.

Kyle raised binoculars as Audrey stepped through the revolving door.

Her tailored suit accentuated swan-like necklines.

Those eyes—

Kyle's fingers trembled slightly.

Mirror images of his mother's.

The black sedan pulled away smoothly.

Kyle maintained perfect distance, foot steady on the accelerator.

On the fourth day, opportunity arrived.

The abandoned factory loomed like a slumbering beast.

Moonlight glinted off metal components as Kyle opened the silver case.

The sniper rifle assembled with crisp, melodic clicks.

He squinted left-eyed. The crosshairs steadied on Audrey's right shoulder.

As his index finger tensed—

A phone rang jarringly.

"Mr. Grant?" Sophia's clear voice chimed. "Free this weekend? I'd like to treat you to dinner."

Kyle's finger hovered over the trigger.

"Ethan's mother is wonderful." Sophia's voice warmed with laughter. "She seems icy, but actually radiates gentleness."

The crosshairs wavered.

"Sophia." Kyle spoke suddenly.

Silence filled the line for a beat.

"I am Lu Yao."

The words struck like muffled thunder, leaving Sophia's ears ringing.