Chapter 10

I sent an email to my mentor saying that the admission notice was lost.
He said it didn't matter as long as I reported in person.
Iris helped me change my name, obtained a new ID card, and then sent me to the hospital.
There were fine wounds on my wrist from when I cut the rope with a small knife, as well as a broken arm from the impact when I fell off the cliff. My face was heavily scraped by the rocks, almost grinding my bones.
Later, I underwent several surgeries to complete the repairs.
The healing process for each surgery was long and painful.
When I first returned to campus, I could no longer adapt to that kind of life.
During the three years I stayed with Simon, he and his friends trampled on my self-esteem and ideals, mocked and ridiculed me.
They didn't even treat me as an equal person.
I always had nightmares, dreaming that when Simon saw the tabloid news about Cecilia, he would angrily throw things at my face.
He would hold me down in the midst of the mess, venting his anger without mercy.
Dreaming that his friends would force me to drink, and I would vomit on the floor, with blood streaks mixed in my stomach acid.
He would simply look at me and say, "You're useless."
That was not the life I had envisioned.
And it never would be.
I devoted all my energy to academic research, spending my holidays and weekends in the laboratory and library.
So much so that my mentor often marveled during group meetings, saying they had never seen a student more diligent than me.
But in such busyness and exhaustion, my long-floating heart finally found its place.
Two years ago, I knew that Simon was looking for me.
Many times, the clues he followed were cut off by Iris.
She told me, "Study hard and pursue your ideals and career. I will handle the rest."
I once asked her why.
Iris remained silent for a long time, then asked me, "Do you know how my legs were broken?"
She is ten years older than me.
When she was young, she also had her own pursuits and ideals.
Her parents entrusted the family fortune to her brother, but when the company faced a crisis, they forced her into a marriage alliance.
…
In the end, she casually said, "Since it's a group of useless people who need me to sacrifice myself to maintain the company, why not let me take charge of the family business."
Her legs were broken when her furious brother pushed her off the stairs.
That night, I sat face to face with her on the balcony.
She covered the back of my hand and sighed softly, "If only I had met you earlier."
"It wouldn't have been necessary for you to waste three precious years of your life on him for just three-hundred-thousand dollars."
This time when I returned to my home country, I brought the patented project with me.
The research institute offered me a salary of nine-hundred-thousand dollars a year and hired me.
That was a sum that the young and desperate Diana back then wouldn't have dared to imagine.
After five years, I calmly accepted the offer, signed the contract, and then bought wine to celebrate with Iris.
Iris drank alcohol, and I drank milk.
The recurring stomach illness made me quit drinking altogether.
I held the milk cup and thanked her.
She said, "There's no need to thank me. I just saw a younger version of myself in you."