Three Years Later.
A chocolate-brown curly-haired, fair-skinned, fashionably dressed woman dragged her suitcase through the airport.
"Hey, Sawyer, I've landed. Where are you?"
Her mature, assertive voice rang out, and upon hearing "right in front of you" on the other end, she lifted her sunglasses.
Underneath the sunglasses, Amber's cold beauty, honed over three years, was revealed.
Three years! After recuperating abroad, she was finally back!
"Welcome home, Amber," Sawyer greeted with a warm embrace, his stern face softening into dimples.
Amber reciprocated with a friendly hug, chuckling, "Who would welcome me back?"
Penelope, Landon, those two scumbag—what kind of life were they living now?
During her three years overseas, Amber severed almost all contact with the outside world, unaware of Penelope's canceled engagement, legal troubles, and mysterious disappearance.
Of course, Sawyer wouldn't tell her how Landon regretted his actions and punished Penelope.
After recovering, Amber studied and transformed under Sawyer 's guidance, becoming the confident figure she is today.
Now, with everything in place, she wouldn't let those two live comfortably. Everyone who contributed to Sunny's death would face her justice!
Sawyer took her luggage and led her briskly.
"Everything is arranged. I returned early, giving Landon ample notice. It's time he pays for his actions three years ago."
Opening the car door for Amber, he continued, "Haven't eaten? The restaurant is booked. No need to feel honored to meet such a considerate man."
"No,I am not!" Amber teased, their banter casual, akin to old friends. Sawyer vaguely recalled her timid, fearful demeanor when they first met.
All because of Landon. To his relief, three years had seen her become sunny and confident, and he attributed this transformation to himself.
In the car, they chatted casually.
Yet, Amber nervously clutched the seatbelt, hesitating before asking,
"Sawyer, why did you help me three years ago when we were strangers?"
A question pondered for three years. A powerless, disinherited 'heiress', she and Sawyer were worlds apart. Why would he go to such lengths to help her?
For her looks?
But she had a three-year-old child then.
Sawyer paused.
Finally, he said, "Not every action needs a motive."
Initially, his intent was simple – using Amber to inflict harsher harm on the Rhodes family.
Arranging Amber's fake death, then revealing the truth to Landon, making him suffer for a few years, only to be delt the final blow by the one he loved most.
This will surely hurt Landon the most. Tired of conventional business battles, he sought a new thrill.
But he couldn't tell her he used her solely to hurt Landon, could he?
Over these three years, Amber evolved from a timid girl into a poised and capable woman, each transformation witnessed by Sawyer .
Three years of companionship even stirred emotions in someone like Sawyer .
Such was the power of time – fostering affection, no less.
