Their encounter lasted through the night, until Amber's strength finally gave out and exhaustion claimed her. Her body felt unbearably heavy, her senses dulled as sleep dragged her under.
Before resting, the man carefully straightened her clothes and made sure she was clean. He then headed to the bathroom, the sound of running water echoing softly in the quiet room.
When he returned, Amber was already fast asleep.
After a brief pause, he lay down on the other side of the bed, maintaining a deliberate distance. Fatigue soon overtook him as well.
Moments later, Amber's eyes fluttered open.
She remained still, listening carefully to his steady breathing. Only after confirming he was truly asleep did she quietly rise from the bed. She retrieved the dress hanging inside the bathroom, changed swiftly, and slipped out without making a sound.
The hotel's underground parking was eerily silent at past three in the morning.
Amber unlocked her car, slid into the driver's seat, and started the engine. Without looking back, she drove away straight toward her Sky City apartment, her mind racing with unanswered questions.
The moment she entered her apartment, she rushed to the calendar hanging on the wall.
June 11, 2045.
Her breath caught.
Two years.
Two full years before the tsunami destroyed the world.
Her hands trembled as realization crashed over her—it seemed she had truly been reborn.
This date… she would never forget it.
It was the eighth anniversary of her relationship with Jin Yang. Back then, she had agreed to consummate their bond. The room, the wine,it had all been prepared by Lin Yao.
Only now did Amber understand.
In her previous life, she had woken up in the same hotel, in the same room, her head pounding, her memories shattered by alcohol. She had believed,without a shred of doubt,that the man beside her that night had been Jin Yang.
But the truth was far crueler.
The man had already left before she woke. He never contacted her again. There was no protection that night, yet no one ever came forward to take responsibility.
And so, Amber had assumed it must have been Jin Yang.
Soon after, she discovered she was pregnant.
She insisted on marriage.
Their marriage license was registered on September 4th.
It was Lin Yao who had urged them to hurry, to marry before her baby bump became noticeable. Her in-laws never hid their disdain, condemning her for crossing the line before marriage. There was no grand wedding, no celebration she had once dreamed of.
Only whispers, cold looks, and quiet humiliation.
Standing alone in her apartment, Amber's lips curled into a bitter smile.
So this was how it had begun.
From the very beginning, their relationship had been improper.
So why had Lin Yao been so eager to push them into marriage?
What agenda had she been hiding?
Only now did Amber begin to understand.
On the day of the wedding, her in-laws had demanded an outrageous dowry. Even though she was already pregnant and repeatedly told them the child was their son's, they showed no trust, only greed.
They demanded twenty percent of the Lin Corporation's shares, several luxury apartments in Eastville and C City, expensive cars and jewelry, and one hundred million yuan in cash.
Amber had given them everything.
Yet even after draining her dry, they still accused her of being stingy.
All of it had come from the inheritance her grandfather left behind. Before marriage, Amber had lead the Lin Corporation single handedly and managed it well. Under her leadership, the company had been stable and thriving.
After the marriage, however, Jin Yang and his parents persuaded her to step down, insisting she focus on her pregnancy instead. They spoke gently, acted considerate, and wrapped their greed in concern.
She had misunderstood.
Believing they genuinely cared for her, she was deeply moved. She handed her position and her trust to Jin Yang.
That single decision ruined everything.
Jin Yang soon accumulated massive debt for an ambitious project that failed miserably. To conceal his incompetence , he secretly sold the Lin Corporation to the Song Corporation, claiming the company was already suffering heavy losses.
By the time Amber discovered the truth, it was far too late.
She remembered how she had swallowed her anger again and again, forcing herself to endure for the sake of peace until her body finally collapsed under the strain.
Her water broke before the due date.Her baby was born prematurely ; frail, weak, barely clinging to life.He spent months in the ICU before his condition finally stabilized.
The pain of that memory burned through Amber's chest.
Amber steadied her emotions and forced herself to calm down. She headed to the bathroom, letting the warm water wash away the lingering exhaustion and turmoil.When she stepped out, her mind was already working.Revenge would come—but not in haste.Curling up on the bed, Amber closed her eyes. For now, rest was essential.