Eternal Dawn, Fleeting Dusk

Camellia collapsed at the doorway of the studio, tears streaming down her face.

She thought she was strong enough to endure anything, but witnessing this scene shattered her heart.

She did not know how much time passed before she heard the rustling sound of clothes being put on from inside the room.

Andres came to the bathroom looking for her and froze when he saw her red, swollen eyes.

"Baby, why are you crying?" he asked.

Camellia shook her head. "It's nothing. I accidentally got soap in my eyes."

He let out a sigh of relief and playfully pinched her cheek. "You're still such a little troublemaker," he teased.

When the painting was nearly finished, Andres was called away by his agent. With him gone, Valentina dropped the act entirely.

"I know you saw it, Cam. Well, what can you do about it? Andres seems to love me more than you."

She unbuttoned her shirt, revealing bruises on her skin.

"When's the last time you were with him? Was it as passionate as just now? Can you even satisfy him?"

Valentina stepped closer, her gaze condescending.

She seemed to relish the idea of seeing Camellia break down, and she looked was expecting pain or hysteria. However, Camellia's expression remained calm and even unreadable.

Underneath, her heart was shattered into countless pieces, leaving her barely able to breathe.

After Valentina left, Camellia wandered aimlessly back to the studio. She suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to look at the paintings.

Without turning on the light, she stumbled up to the third floor. She ended up twisting her ankle in the dark.

Even so, the sharp pain from her ankle was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.

Every painting that was celebrated by the public as symbols of her and Andre’s ‘perfect love’ now stared back at her. Each prominently featured the beauty mark that now felt like a mocking lie.

Camellia pulled a craft knife from the penholder and slashed through the beauty marks in each painting one by one.

With every cut, she severed another piece of the beautiful memories she once shared with Andres.

When Andres returned home, Camellia had already freshened up and was lying in bed, ready to sleep.

He barged into the bedroom, carrying a keyboard from his study in one hand and takeout from her favorite restaurant in the other.

Without hesitation, he dropped the keyboard onto the floor, knelt on it, and faced her.

"Honey, I know what happened today upset you. I've already reprimanded Val," he said earnestly.

"I only think of her as a younger sister. She's still immature and doesn't know any better. As for her sister… That ended a long time ago. Besides, she's not even here anymore.

"If you don't like it, I swear I won't see her again. But no matter how angry you are, please don't ruin your health by skipping meals…"

The man who had been utterly consumed with Valentina earlier that day was now kneeling humbly before her, his tone desperate and full of affection. It was as if he could not live without her.

For a moment, Camellia could not tell which version of Andres was real.

If he loved her so much, how could he forget the vows he once made?

If he loved her so much, why did he betray her?

As Andres passed a dish toward her, he accidentally creased a page in the book lying on the bedside table.

Camellia glanced over, and he casually smoothed it out and closed the book.

"I fixed it. Now, eat," he said with a smile.

The familiar aroma of the dish wafted from the bowl. Camellia took a few bites before saying, "But once a page is creased, it can never be perfectly smooth again."

Andres, who was already sensitive about the day, tensed at her words. He knew it carried a deeper meaning.

"Then I'll buy a new book. It'll be as good as new," he said, his bright eyes fixed on her. It was like his entire world revolved around her.

"I'd pluck the stars from the sky for you if you asked."

Camellia stayed silent, swallowing the words she wanted to say.

Even if he had bought a new one, it would only be a replacement—it would no longer be the same book.

She understood this truth, and he should have understood it even more.

The two spent the night in silence.

Over the next few days, perhaps out of guilt, Andres canceled all his work and stayed glued to Camellia's side.

One day, he accompanied her to restore artifacts, buying a few antique treasures worth millions.

The next day, he took her shopping and bought her an entire collection of the season's limited-edition items.

The day after, he somehow got his hands on a pink Rolls-Royce Cullinan, parking it dramatically at the entrance of Eterna Haven in the city center as a grand gesture of love.

This display led to a wave of online ridicule, with netizens mocking Andres' for being wrapped around his wife’s finger.

Andres posted a self-deprecating tweet with a picture of himself kneeling on a keyboard.

[I made my wife mad. How do I fix this if nothing works?]

Only then did people realize Andres' predicament, with many pleading for Camellia to forgive him.

With two days left until Camellia's birthday, she still had things to take care of. Seeing Andres' desperate efforts, she decided to go along with it and let the matter drop.

Andres was overjoyed, lifting her in his arms and spinning her around several times.

"Baby, I love you more than anything in this life! You’re my only love!"

On the way to dinner, Andres received several phone calls. The number flashing on the screen was one Camellia knew well—Valentina's.

He declined the calls four times before finally receiving a message. When he opened it, a single glance made his expression falter.

"Baby, my agent says there's an issue with the new painting contract. I need to handle it right away," Andres said apologetically.

Camellia did not call out his lie and let him leave. She then bought a baseball cap and mask from a roadside shop and hailed a car to follow him.

She trailed him into a mall and all the way to her once-favorite bridal boutique.

The dressing room curtain opened, and there stood Valentina, radiant in the wedding dress Camellia had loved most.

"Do I look beautiful, Andres?" Valentina asked.

She reached out, her hand sliding from Andres' shoulder, tracing his Adam's apple, and stopping just shy of his lips in a teasing caress.

Andres' eyes darkened. He cupped her face and kissed her deeply. Both of them were breathless by the time they pulled apart.

Valentina curled into Andres' chest, tracing lazy circles on it with her finger.

"Andres, if Cam finds out I wore this dress first, she'll probably lose it," she murmured.

Andres' breathing grew heavier as he pulled her into the dressing room and drew the curtain shut.

"She won't know. I owe you a wedding, and it's my fault you've been wronged," he replied. "Today, you're my most beautiful bride."

With those words, the sound of running water filled the dressing room, accompanied by intimate whispers.