A Love That Transcends Mere Romance

Nina loved this theme park more than anywhere else because her childhood had been so unhappy. This theme park was a world of fairy tales and cotton candy, while her childhood had been nothing but violence and tears.

Old newspaper clippings still documented what had happened back then: "Wife, unable to endure husband's domestic violence, turned on the gas stove intending to die with husband. Two daughters couldn't escape in time - one died, one injured."

She was the injured one. Her sister, two years older, was the one who died.

The reason she loved the princess was because that was her sister's favorite cartoon character.

Also, the princess had a younger sister whom she deeply loved, just like Nina's own sister who had silently loved and protected her.

So the character held a special meaning for Nina. She represented her deceased sister.

But now, Lucas had his mistress dress up as the princess to sing for Nina, wishing her a happy birthday!

"You once told me your childhood wasn't happy, so you love here because it's like a fairy tale world that can heal all wounds," Lucas said, not noticing anything wrong with Nina. He took her hand, bent down to kiss the back of it, then declared passionately, "I can't travel back in time to change your childhood, but I promise you this: every day we're together, I'll spoil you like a child and make sure you live in a fairy tale."

Nina couldn't take it anymore. She pulled her hand back and slapped Lucas hard across the face, then turned and ran away, covering her face.

Lucas was stunned by the slap. After a moment, he quickly chased after her. "Nina!"

They ran for a while, but eventually, Lucas caught up to her with his longer legs.

"Nina, what's wrong?" He grabbed her arm and forcefully pulled her into his embrace. "What happened? Everything was fine. Why are you crying?"

You see, he always put on a good act. Even when slapped during his loving declaration, he didn't get angry. Instead, his first concern was her emotions, asking why she was crying.

But Nina didn't want to pretend anymore. "What happened? Lucas, don't you know? Do I really have to spell it out?"

"Nina, what are you talking about? I don't understand a word," Lucas asked with a frown.

"Enough! Stop pretending!" Nina cried out, on the verge of breaking down. "I know about you and Melody. She's even wearing the sapphire ring you gave her yesterday... Lucas, do you have to disgust me like this?"

Enough, really enough. Let everything end.

She no longer wanted to live in endless lies and pathetic self-deception.

Lucas calmly waited for Nina to finish venting, then pulled a small blue velvet box from his pocket. "Darling, is this the sapphire ring you're talking about?"

He opened the box to reveal the celestial sapphire ring lying inside.

"I actually bought the entire collection, but since I missed your birthday yesterday, giving everything at once felt like it lacked ceremony," Lucas explained with a wry smile. "So I only gave you the earrings. I was planning to give you the necklace, bracelet, and ring tonight during the fireworks show."

"And now before the fireworks even start, I've been accused of being a cheating scumbag?"