Blurb：
Seven years after being publicly shamed and forced abroad, Claire Webb returns to her alma mater’s centennial celebration only to face Victor Whitmore – the man who destroyed her career. As the alumni representative, Victor delivers a shocking public proposal with a diamond ring, reminding everyone of Claire’s passionate pursuit of him during their college days.
But Claire remembers the truth Victor concealed: how he falsely accused her of plagiarizing Emma Palmer’s work, ruining her reputation during their graduation. Now, Victor’s friend Sam Hayes pressures Claire to accept the proposal, revealing Victor’s efforts to retrieve her graduation certificate.
Flashbacks reveal Claire’s devotion – creating meteorite necklaces, risking curfew violations, and even fracturing her hand for Victor. Yet the man who once gave her a moon bracelet calling them “meant to be” became the reason she fled the country.
Will Claire forgive the betrayal? Can Victor’s “Wild Roses” proposal heal their past? Discover the emotional reunion where secrets resurface and old wounds reopen in this gripping second-chance romance.
Content：
On the day I attend the centennial celebration of my alma mater, I encounter my first love, Victor Whitmore. After he delivers a speech as an alumni representative, he publicly presents me with a diamond ring.
Back then, you said you wanted to use your ‘Wild Roses’ design to make me a wedding ring. Now it’s my turn to propose. Claire Webb, will you marry me?
The auditorium erupts in excitement. Everyone waits for me to nod tearfully in agreement. After all, I once pursued Victor with such passion that it shocked the entire school.
However, everyone has forgotten something. Back then, I was accused of plagiarizing Emma Palmer’s work for my graduation project.
Victor knew the truth, yet he slandered me as the plagiarizer. At the press conference, as the brand representative, he announced that they would cease collaboration with me and called for me to be blacklisted across the industry.
On the very day my reputation was ruined, I moved abroad.
Now that I’m back, his close friend keeps advising me. “He’s been waiting for you all these years. Even though you embarrassed him back then, you’re still the one in his heart.
“He even made a scene at the principal’s office just to get your graduation certificate. Claire, he truly loves you.”
Chapter 1
“Stop looking at your phone. Can you at least give me a response?”
Seeing that I had completely dismissed his words, my ex’s friend, Sam Hayes, was somewhat displeased. I leisurely put my phone down and looked at him calmly.
“Victor may come from a wealthy family, but he hates it when people flatter him because of his background.
“Even though his father serves on the board of trustees, he’s never used that for his personal gain. Yet, he actually made a scene in the principal’s office just to get your graduation certificate and nearly faced major disciplinary action!
“Claire Webb, do you even have a heart? Don’t you feel anything at all?” Sam spoke passionately about past events, as if my lack of emotion was an unforgivable sin.
I frowned slightly and scanned the room. The alumni who were watching our confrontation quickly averted their eyes when they noticed me looking, feigning disinterest while straining to catch every word.
When my plagiarism scandal broke in the past, it caused quite a stir. Even after seven years, I could still see disdain and mockery on these onlookers’ faces.
Today was no different. I simply wanted to go backstage in the auditorium to prepare for the upcoming celebration, but Sam stopped me with all this nonsense.
I couldn’t tell if he was doing this out of loyalty to his friend or resentment over my sudden departure seven years ago. Or perhaps, someone else might have put him up to it.
But none of it mattered to me anymore.
I sighed softly. “What am I supposed to feel? It’s all in the past.”
My answer clearly wasn’t what Sam expected to hear. He frowned deeply, staring at me in confusion.
I understood why he was making that expression. After all, I pursued Victor Whitmore passionately for three months in my freshman year, shocking the entire school.
After learning that Victor liked to stargaze at the observatory, I went through great trouble to find meteorite fragments and personally made a star necklace for him.
I risked disciplinary action for missing curfew to spend more time with him. I spent three consecutive months camping out at the law school library, pretending like I was just passing by so I could accompany him during his late-night studies.
On a stormy night when I heard he had a fever, I climbed over the dormitory wall to buy him medicine and ended up fracturing my right hand. When he asked about it, I just smiled and said I wanted to test the human body’s resistance to pressure.
Victor knew exactly how I fractured my hand, but he quietly listened to my lies. That was also the day he agreed to be my boyfriend.
After we got together, he gave me a moon bracelet in return, saying we were made for each other. He also gave up his habit of late-night studying to stop me from staging encounters.
He even endured the crowded, noisy cafeteria, something this privileged young man had never done before. He stood in long lines just to get me my favorite barbecue chicken while my hand was fractured.
Each small gesture took root in my heart like seeds, growing into towering trees. I thought this tree of love would bloom and bear fruit, but Emma Palmer’s appearance made it wither rapidly instead.
Initially, Victor clearly told me that Emma was just someone his father had forced on him for an arranged marriage. He said I was the only one in his heart.
Chapter 2
As the only son of the Whitmore family, Victor was able to refuse anything he didn’t like, and he told me not to hold back. I believed him, so I never saw Emma as a threat.
But later, I noticed that he was always late to our dates and forgot our anniversaries. After he began taking over Whitmore Corp, he frequently attended galas with Emma, completely unconcerned about how suggestive the news reports looked.
When I protested, he toned it down a little. But then I saw news break about him adjusting Emma’s pearl earrings backstage at a jewelry exhibition.
On Valentine’s Day, he promised to make it up to me but stood me up again because of a last-minute meeting. I waited at the revolving restaurant until closing time, only to discover Emma had posted a photo of them at an expensive lounge on her social media.
She and Victor sat close together, smiling at the camera. Looking at the flood of congratulatory messages in the comments section, I lost all courage to confront him.
The next day, Victor came to the design department with my favorite strawberry milkshake. Seeing my swollen eyes, he didn’t show any concern. Instead, he impatiently threw down the cup of milkshake.
“Claire, I’ve promised you countless times that you’re the only one in my heart. Emma and I are just business partners. Do you really need to cry endlessly about this? Don’t you know that this version of you is suffocating me?”
Tears burst forth as I looked down and asked him, “I never even told you why I was crying. Are you admitting that you’ve gotten too close to Emma?”
Victor froze, frowning at me. “You’re being completely unreasonable!”
That day we had a terrible fight, and all the classmates who disapproved of our relationship seized the opportunity to kick me while I was down. They called me a gold digger, money-hungry, manipulative, and every other nasty name they could think of.
I was completely worthless in their eyes. I didn’t reach out to Victor for the next week. Finally, Sam played peacemaker and tricked us both into meeting.
My first instinct was to leave when I saw him. He must have sorted out his feelings during that week because he was all smiles as he blocked my path. Whether I wanted it or not, he pulled me into his arms in front of all his friends.
“Stop being angry. I know I screwed up.”
I tried to dodge him, but the next second he placed a cold necklace around my neck.
“A belated Valentine’s Day gift. I made it myself. It matches the star necklace you gave me.”
Hearing his gentle tone and seeing the exquisite gift, I felt myself softening. After my anger mostly subsided, I was willing to talk to him more. Then I pulled up the news reports and Emma’s social media posts to question him.
“You said you’re just business partners. Do business partners need such intimate physical contact?”
Victor hugged me from behind and took my phone to look.
“It’s a huge misunderstanding. She said her pearl earrings seemed to be different sizes and asked me to check so she wouldn’t embarrass herself in front of reporters.
“I didn’t even touch her! Babe, you know I’m nearsighted. I just leaned in slightly to take a look.”
I already had a smile on my face, but I continued asking, “What about the social media post? You lied about having a last-minute meeting but went to dinner with her instead. How do you explain that?”
Victor turned me around, cupped my face, and gave me a devoted kiss.
“Babe, I swear the client suddenly changed the meeting time that day. Then Emma said she hadn’t eaten all day and her stomach hurt, so she insisted on dragging me to dinner.”
I batted his hands away, though I could barely suppress my laughter. Just as I was about to warn him, Emma pushed through the door. She walked straight toward me with red-rimmed eyes.
“Sam told me you two fought because of me, so I rushed over. Claire, even though Victor and I are engaged, we’re just friends.
“If you really mind, I can ask my father to tell Victor’s dad that we should break off the engagement. I’ll also leave the country so I won’t get in your way anymore.”
She was soaking wet, probably from the heavy rain outside. After saying this, she sobbed a few times and was about to leave.
I clearly saw reluctance flash in Victor’s eyes.
Chapter 3
Victor let go of me and hurried after Emma. He unabashedly wiped the water droplets from her face with his hand right in front of me.
His friends saw me still standing there with an ugly expression on my face and began whispering disapprovingly among themselves. Every word was a criticism of me, accusing me of bullying her. Emma also looked at me timidly.
At that moment, I truly felt like I was the one who should leave. I barely touched my food that evening before claiming I felt unwell and leaving early.
I thought Victor would stay behind to take care of the fragile Emma, but instead he rushed into the rain and grabbed me.
He took me to the nearest coffee shop, ordered a hot drink and placed it in my hands, then rushed back into the rain to buy a towel to wrap around me.
“Claire, don’t be angry with me. Emma comes from a very strict family. If I really let her go home and tell her father about breaking off the engagement, she’d face severe punishment.
“I only think of her as a sister, and that’s why I look out for her a little more. Don’t overthink it. You’re the only one I have eyes for, the only one in my heart.”
Seeing me shivering, he sat closer and held me tightly, constantly rubbing my hands to warm them up. Although I struggled internally, I decided to let go of my concerns given his attentive care and how much I trusted him.
However, he ultimately betrayed my trust.
After that day, Emma openly clung to Victor’s side. They discussed company development and jewelry exhibitions, looking so perfectly matched that they seemed like a golden couple.
It wasn’t just the other students anymoreeven I thought they were dating.
Emma even approached me with the attitude of someone who’d won, saying arrogantly, “Claire, if Victor can treat me like a sister now, he can treat me like a lover later. We’ll see.”
I couldn’t find the words to refute her and watched as she left with a victor’s smile.
That day was a weekend. Victor had told me he was going to play basketball with some friends to relax. I called him at the last minute, asking him to come see me instead.
He was extremely annoyed by that. “Didn’t we agree I could go play basketball? How am I supposed to face my friends after standing them up like this?”
I was also angry and told him everything Emma had said in an unfriendly tone. His attitude became even worse after hearing me out.
“You made me come over just because of this trivial matter? How many times do I need to promise you that Emma and I are just friends?
“Claire, do you know how exhausting it is to date you when you’re like this? Maybe I should report my every breath to you from now on. Would that satisfy you?”
His words deeply hurt me. I looked at him with tears in my eyes and pressed my lips together as I asked, “So you don’t believe me?”
Victor stared back at me, then sighed after a long moment. “Fine, I understand that insecurity is a common problem among you ladies. Since you don’t like Emma, I’ll find an opportunity to make things clear with her.
“But Claire, I’m begging you, please stop tormenting me over these little things, okay? I’m already overwhelmed by the pressure my dad’s putting on me. When I finally get some time to relax, can’t you just give me a break?”
We were approaching graduation then, and his father, Peter Whitmore, was forcing him to give up his beloved law studies to take over the family jewelry business. The father and son were locked in a cold war because of this.
Peter already disliked me, so I couldn’t really advise Victor about anything. I could only give him space to relax.
“I’ve been very busy with graduation season lately, so let’s not contact each other for now.”
He simply turned and left after saying that. A chill ran through me as I watched his retreating figure. For the first time, I wondered if he was worth it.
For a long time after that, he didn’t contact me again. But I kept seeing him and Emma going to the library for late-night study sessions. Even when he finally gave up law and chose to go abroad to study jewelry design, I had to hear the news from Sam.
When Ethereal Jewelry noticed the design I made for my graduation project and wanted to sign a contract for mass production, a group of reporters suddenly surrounded me. They shoved cameras in my face.
“Claire, we received a tip that you plagiarized Emma Palmer’s work for your graduation project. Is this true?”
I was stunned and stepped back, protesting, “I didn’t. You’re slandering me!”
Chapter 4
Emma also appeared at that moment, her eyes red as she accused me, “Claire, I could overlook it when you plagiarized my designs for your previous assignments
“But this graduation project, the ‘Wild Roses’ series, is something I created specifically for Victor’s birthday. He even helped me with the revisions. How can you still claim you didn’t plagiarize it?”
All the cameras turned toward Victor in an instant as the reporters waited for his response. I looked at him too.
Victor avoided my gaze and said to the reporters, “The ‘Wild Roses’ design is indeed Emma’s creation. When we studied together late at night, I watched her draw the blueprints with my own eyes.”
I completely froze in place. Walking toward him under the flashing lights, I stared into his eyes and asked, “Are you certain that I plagiarized her work?”
My eyes were filled with tears, and my voice was choked up. Victor’s eyes showed his reluctance and internal conflict, but in the end he still insisted the design was Emma’s original work.
Emma also condemned me right then. “Claire, I know you’re Victor’s girlfriend, but you can’t force him to lie and cover for you because of that!”
I was already too choked up to say anything. I blinked as I watched the two of them work together, my heart aching.
Victor seemed somewhat reluctant and had just reached out toward me when Emma’s words made him falter.
“You even hired people to threaten me, trying to make me admit that I was the plagiarizer. If Victor hadn’t testified for me today, you would have ruined my entire life…”
As she raised her hand to wipe her tears, her chiffon sleeve slid to her elbow, revealing several ugly knife wounds on her arm. Victor’s pupils contracted sharply as he grabbed her hand.
“What are these knife wounds? Did someone harass you?”
As he spoke, he looked at me with eyes so cold that they pierced my heart. I swallowed my heartache and lifted my face slightly.
“I didn’t do it. If you want to play the hero, I won’t stop you, but please don’t use me as part of your little performance!”
“Claire Webb! You’re still making excuses!”
Victor’s eyes were filled with utter disgust. “Emma has a gentle personality, but you’re sharp-tongued and always badmouthing her behind her back! She’s been tolerant time and time again, but instead of apologizing and changing, you’ve become even more vicious!”
His words left me stunned again, and I felt my blood run cold. “Victor, is this really what you think of me? You’d rather believe her lies than trust me?”
“I trusted you before, and instead of repenting, you bullied her even worse!”
As soon as he finished speaking, reporters swarmed toward me like bees, their sharp questions stabbing at my heart.
I stared at him blankly. I was nearly pushed down several times, but he just watched coldly.
Harsh laughter and contempt filled my ears. Victor even stepped onto the stage and picked up the microphone.
“As the brand representative of Ethereal Jewelry, I announce the termination of our collaboration with Claire Webb. I hope every designer follows professional ethics. Plagiarism is just shameful!”
The spotlight created a halo around him, making him look like some divine figure. Emma gazed at him adoringly.
All I could hear was him announcing that I was to be blacklisted across the industry. I couldn’t take in anything else.
Someone threw a cup of water at me first, and then more things were thrown at me. I kept stepping back until I stumbled and fell at the feet of that crowd.
Looking up, I saw Victor protecting Emma as they retreated backstage. I curled my lips in a bitter smile and gave up struggling.
After everything ended, I received a call from the dean. He informed me that my graduation certificate had been revoked and my graduation postponed.
On the day my reputation was ruined, I bought a plane ticket abroad. From then on, I disappeared without a trace.
When I came back to my senses, Sam was still staring at me.
“Claire, what do you say? Why don’t you have a good talk with Victor? You two are so perfect for each other, it’s criminal that you aren’t together.”
I looked at him in amusement. “No need. I should go.”
“Don’t leave yet! Just wait a bit longer. Victor’s already at the parking lot!” He blocked my path, his tone urgent.
I felt somewhat impatient. “Victor and I have nothing to talk about. Besides, I’m already married.”
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