The "Winters Star" was a rough stone Sebastian had specifically bid for from South Africa when he proposed, designing the cut himself. It had once been the symbol of their indestructible love. Elena pushed the suitcase to the corner with a composed expression and turned to face him. "I want to live in Florence for a while, to look for inspiration for my painting." She was already well-practiced at lying. "As for the ring, I felt the style was outdated, so I wanted to change it for a new one. Since I'm restarting my creative work, I want to clear out those heavy things from the past." Sebastian's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, but the suspicion in his eyes didn't completely dissipate. "Going to Florence? Why the sudden decision? I can go with you, once I'm done with this busy period..." "No need," Elena interrupted him. "You need to busy yourself with your tower, and... take care of your 'urgent project.' I just want some peace and quiet alone." Hearing the words "urgent project," Sebastian's pupils constricted for a split second. He stepped forward, attempting to take Elena's hand, but she avoided him under the guise of tucking her hair behind her ear. "Elena, that ring... if you don't like it, I can design a better one for you. But don't sell it. That is our memory." He pulled a velvet box from his pocket and opened it. The massive diamond ring lay quietly inside. He had bought it back so quickly. "I redeemed it," Sebastian said deeply. "Promise me, don't take it off again. Wherever you go, wear it, just like I am by your side." He forcibly took Elena's hand and slid the ring back onto her ring finger. The cold metal encircled her finger like a shackle. "Alright." Elena lowered her eyelids to hide the disgust in her eyes. "I will wear it." Until... the moment I completely disappear. That night, seemingly to make up for his absence during the day, Sebastian deliberately cancelled his evening engagements to stay home with her. Just as the two were preparing to rest, Sebastian's phone rang again. He glanced at the screen, frowned, and hung up directly. But the phone rang again, persistently. Elena leaned against the headboard, flipping through a book, and said without lifting her head, "Answer it. Maybe it really is something urgent." Sebastian hesitated for a moment but eventually answered. From the other end came the sound of loud music and men jeering. "Hey! Sebastian! What are you doing? Tonight is Mia's birthday party, the guest of honor is here, how can you, the 'Boss,' be missing?" "Exactly! Mia is crying saying she won't cut the cake if you don't come! Hurry up, everyone is waiting for you!" Sebastian covered the receiver and whispered angrily, "Shut up! I'm at home with Elena. I'm not going." "Don't be like that, bro! Elena isn't that unreasonable kind of woman. Besides, this is for company team building. If you don't show your face as the boss, it'll be a buzzkill for everyone!" The voice on the other end was loud, sounding exceptionally piercing in the quiet bedroom. Sebastian looked at Elena awkwardly, about to explain. Elena closed her book and said calmly, "Go. Since it's an employee's birthday, it really isn't good for the boss not to go." "But..." Sebastian was still hesitating. "It's fine. I'm tired anyway and want to sleep early." Elena turned off the bedside lamp and lay down with her back to him. "Don't drink too much." Sebastian looked at her back, feeling a wave of inexplicable guilt, but mostly a sense of lucky relief. "Thank you for understanding, Elena. I'll just show my face and come back." He placed a kiss on her hair, then hurriedly changed his clothes and left. As the roar of the luxury car faded into the distance, Elena opened her eyes in the darkness. She got up, walked to the window, and watched the car vanish into the night. Then, she picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Follow him." Half an hour later, the private investigator sent a set of photos. The location was Manhattan's most exclusive private club, "Eden." Inside the VIP booth, amidst the debauchery of red wine and green lights. Mia was wearing a red, low-cut mini dress, winding herself around Sebastian like a beautiful snake. She held a piece of cake and was feeding it into Sebastian's mouth. The people around them were chanting, "Kiss! Kiss!" Although Sebastian voiced a refusal, his body honestly didn't push her away. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, he lowered his head to take the cake, conveniently kissing Mia's cream-stained lips. Elena looked at the photo, her heart strangely calm. She continued to the next image. It was a screenshot of Mia's WeChat Moments, visible only to a select group. In the photo, Mia was wearing the "Winters Star" diamond ring, flashing a V-sign at the camera. The caption read: "He said this ring looks ten thousand times better on my hand than on that old hag's. This is proof that true love conquers all!" So, he hadn't bought the ring back to salvage their marriage, but to take it to please his mistress. The scene where he put the ring on her at home earlier was just to appease her. After she fell asleep, he would have taken it off and brought it to Mia. Elena touched her own bare ring finger. Earlier, before he left, he had used the excuse that the ring size was a bit loose and he needed to take it for adjustment, swiping it off her hand. So that was it. Elena let out a cold laugh and backed up all the photos on her phone to the cloud. These would be part of the final "grand gift" she would send him upon her departure. She opened her computer and started booking a flight ticket. Not to Florence, but to Zurich. There lay the strictest privacy protections, and the starting point of her new identity. Just then, the private investigator sent another video. In the video, the people in the booth were playing "Truth or Dare." The bottle spun to point at Sebastian. "Sebastian, everyone knows you have a virtuous wife at home." A man asked with a wicked grin, "If you had to choose between Elena and Mia to spend the rest of your life with, who would you pick?" The booth instantly fell silent. Mia nervously grabbed Sebastian's sleeve, her face full of anticipation. Sebastian swirled the wine in his glass, his eyes slightly glazed. He was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "Elena... she is my responsibility, my past. Without her, there would be no me today." Mia's face instantly turned ugly. But then, Sebastian's tone shifted, the corner of his mouth hooking into a devilish smile. "But Mia... she is my passion, my present and future. Being with Elena is like drinking plain water—healthy but tasteless. Being with Mia is like drinking strong liquor—it's addictive." "Whoa—" The crowd erupted in cheers. Mia excitedly threw herself into his arms, kissing him frantically. "So, I choose the liquor," Sebastian laughed, returning her kiss. Before the screen, Elena gently closed her laptop. Plain water, is it? Sebastian, when you are dying of thirst, you will find that what you miss most is precisely that glass of plain water. Only, you will never get to drink from that glass again.