Even the blank wish card. That card, from me, is valid forever. No matter what you want, I’ll make it happen.

He pulled the card from his pocket and tried to hand it to me. "Frida, I'll divorce Rachel and marry you immediately if you leave Andre. I know you still have feelings for me. We've been through so much together."

"Andre isn't the right match for you. He's violent, and you'll only suffer."

I couldn't help but laugh angrily. "Clint, where did you get the idea that I married Andre to spite you?"

"You'd never willingly marry someone like him. He's disabled—"

"Clint!" I interrupted, my expression turning icy. "Say one more word, and you'll regret it."

Andre might have a disability, but he was far better than Clint in every way that mattered. "Get him out of here. I don't want to see him in Washington again," I instructed the bodyguards, then grabbed my friend and left without looking back.

Clint seemed stunned by my resolute attitude, standing there in disbelief. "Frida, are you still mad at me?"

I didn't respond and walked away without hesitation. Someone as arrogant and self-absorbed as Clint had probably never faced rejection from a woman before. His persistence was just an unwillingness to accept losing something he thought he owned. I wasn't going to waste another second on him.

I didn't expect Clint to show up at the Koch Family estate less than two weeks later, asking to see me. At the time, Andre and I were in the greenhouse trimming roses. When the butler informed me, I almost thought I'd misheard. "You're saying Clint came here alone, to see me?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Madam. Mr. Clint is waiting outside," the butler confirmed. "He also brought some gifts he said are for you."

I frowned, irritation bubbling up inside me. The Koch Family was highly influential—even the Mars Family treated Andre with the utmost respect. Where did Clint get the audacity to come to the Koch Family estate and demand to see me, now Andre's wife? It was nothing short of a provocation against Andre. Clint's so-called devotion was nothing but a disruption to my peaceful and happy life. It only brought me unnecessary trouble.

Feeling both guilt and embarrassment, I glanced at Andre beside me. Clint wasn't just an ex; he was a stain on my past.

Andre was holding a budding rose, carefully snipping away its thorns before placing it slowly into a white vase. Once done, he looked up at me. "Frida, how do you want to handle this?"

"I don't want to see him." My life was going so well—I didn't want Clint to ruin it. If I saw him, he might think I was still conflicted. I had no desire to see his face again.

"Alright." Andre gently held my hand. "Then you won't."

The butler conveyed my decision to Clint. Still, Clint stubbornly waited outside the gates, insisting on seeing me. He stayed there all night. Even then, I didn't change my mind. Finally, he gave up and left his gifts with the butler. I refused to accept them. In the end, Clint left a new treasure chest at the gates. I didn't even look at it and instructed the butler to deal with it. The jewelry inside was donated to a charity foundation in Washington. At least Clint ended up doing one good deed.

For the next two months, I heard nothing about Clint. Then my friend brought him up again. Apparently, Clint's parents had forcibly taken him back from Washington. Once home, the Mars Family locked him up for half a month, only letting him out last week. Even now, his movements were monitored to ensure he wouldn't sneak back to Washington. A few days ago, Clint got into a fight after hearing someone slander me. Not only that, but he also used the opportunity to clear up the marriage rumors about me. Since I left, my reputation in New York had gradually started to improve.

Hearing this, I felt a faint sadness in my heart. So Clint knew how much those rumors had hurt me. He just chose not to address them before. Worse, when his so-called friends gossiped about me, he would even add fuel to the fire. Half of my bad reputation was because of Clint's inaction. But it was all in the past now.

Right now, my heart was full of anticipation for tomorrow. Tonight, my younger siblings were flying in from overseas to see me. In the fourth month of my marriage to Andre, I finally reunited with them after a long time apart. They had both grown taller and looked healthy and well. As soon as they saw me, they rushed over and hugged me, crying uncontrollably. My brother, his eyes red with tears, looked at me. "Sister, don't worry. When I grow up, I'll protect you. You won't have to be afraid of anything." This seventeen-year-old boy was already trying to use his still-thin shoulders to shield me from the world. My sister, too, leaned close to me and said sweetly, "Me too, sis. I'll protect you as well."

Draven had always used my siblings to manipulate and control my life. But now, thanks to Andre, they were free from his grasp. I no longer had to worry about their well-being or fear losing contact with them. And I no longer had to worry about Draven punishing them for my defiance.

After catching up, I brought them to meet Andre. The two of them were clearly nervous around him, lowering their heads as they shyly greeted him, "Brother-in-law." Andre noticed their unease and excused himself, saying he had work to do at the office, leaving the three of us alone.

Over the next few days, Andre stayed home less often while I spent time with my siblings, taking them around and buying plenty of things. My sister loved crafts, so I learned a few new techniques alongside her. Together, we made two ceramic dolls. The boy doll wore a suit, and the girl doll had on a white dress. I placed them in the most prominent spot by the bedroom entrance. The thought of Andre seeing them as soon as he walked in filled me with quiet joy.