Dawn Shall Not Break

Elliot Graves is told to drink, then witnesses a confrontation between Vivian Sherman and her daughter. The daughter complains to her mother that someone has angered her, and Vivian emotionally declares she can no longer go on living like this.

Elliot Graves briefly hallucinates that Vivian Sherman has returned to him, only to realize it was not real. The daughter announces that Xiao Jin is moving in, orders Elliot to move into the maid's quarters, and demands he prepare two elaborate dishes within ten minutes or lose even that room.

The daughter berates Elliot Graves, declaring he will never measure up to her father, while Xiao Jin steps in. Before leaving on a business trip, Vivian Sherman orders Elliot to change and join them, only to task him with looking after the family and warns him against further mistakes. The daughter then throws his belongings in the trash, calling him as superfluous as garbage.

Elliot Graves takes Vivian Sherman's daughter to the pool, where she enters the water without a float and nearly drowns. Xiao Jin watches coldly, mocking Elliot for being unable to swim and turning the daughter further against him. After Elliot pulls her out, Xiao Jin receives a call and learns that the daughter is in trouble.

Vivian Sherman presses her daughter to say who pushed her into the pool. The daughter points to Elliot Graves, claiming he told her that if she got hurt, her father would leave and he could remain master of the house. Elliot denies it, Xiao Jin accuses him of twisting the truth, and Vivian demands to know why he would harm a six-year-old.

Vivian Sherman throws Elliot Graves out of the house and forbids anyone from giving him food or water. Elliot insists he is innocent and demands they check the surveillance footage. Later, Vivian admits the footage cleared him, but still orders him to forgive her daughter and immediately make a cake.

Elliot Graves makes a cake for Vivian Sherman's daughter, who humiliates him by demanding he feed her like a circus clown before ordering him to leave. Xiao Jin arrives to soothe her and instructs Elliot to pick him up at a hotel late that night.

Elliot Graves is summoned by Vivian Sherman for a birthday gathering. Xiao Jin flaunts the French pastries Vivian prepared for him and hints that Elliot will be thrown out if he refuses to play along. Vivian's daughter then discovers the pet dog Bai Bai has died and immediately blames Elliot.

Vivian Sherman's daughter accuses Elliot Graves of poisoning the pet dog Bai Bai. Xiao Jin stirs the crowd to demand punishment. Vivian orders Elliot to crawl down the stairs step by step as an admission of guilt, forcing him to endure the humiliation before everyone.

A group of men in black suddenly appear to take Elliot Graves home. Vivian Sherman tries to stop him, but Elliot publicly demands the truth about the poisoned pastry and declares he owes her nothing. Vivian threatens to ban him from the house, but Elliot calmly accepts and leaves.

Elliot Graves meets with an elderly man, thanks him for fulfilling their agreement, and asks him to gather evidence of Vivian Sherman framing and harming him. He intends to give it to Vivian and her daughter as a parting gift. At home, Vivian blames herself for ruining everything but says she will still forgive Elliot.

Vivian Sherman notices Elliot Graves has disappeared and suspects he may have gone home first. She guesses he has come around and will return to apologize to her and her daughter, unaware that he has other plans.

Vivian stops her daughter from opening a strange package and finds a projector left by Elliot. Elliot appears at the hospital where Xixi has recovered, and everyone thanks him for bringing in Academician Shen. Xixi asks Elliot to be her uncle-in-law, and he becomes her godfather instead.

Xixi wakes up calling for her dad. Elliot admits he cannot cook but agrees to prepare breakfast using the recipe notes Vivian left on the fridge. Vivian receives a call from Xiao Jin, who suspects Elliot has a new relationship and insists he must apologize first.

Vivian learns of Jessica Holland's recovery banquet and instructs her assistant to prepare a gift. At the event, guests gossip about the man accompanying Vivian. Jessica makes her entrance alongside her childhood friend, Mr. Xu, to applause.

At her recovery banquet, Jessica Holland holds roses and publicly thanks her childhood friend Mr. Xu, hinting at a proposal. Vivian Sherman's daughter recognizes him as Elliot Graves, unsettling Vivian. Jessica then calls Elliot to the stage.

Vivian Sherman's daughter throws a tantrum, refusing to eat and demanding Elliot Graves be her father. Vivian confronts Elliot, questioning why he reappeared as Jessica Holland's childhood friend and suspecting his years with her were merely a compromise while he sought someone else.

At the banquet, Vivian Sherman accuses Elliot Graves of staging a charade with Jessica Holland to make her jealous. Elliot coldly declares the past is over and he owes her nothing. Vivian's daughter begs him not to leave, but Vivian storms off, vowing to make him suffer.

Jessica Holland wakes in a hospital room as Vivian Sherman storms in, demanding to know why Elliot Graves is with someone so frail. Elliot asks Jessica to leave, then faces Vivian's insults alone. He coldly tells her his choices are none of her business.

Qingqing rushes in to defend Elliot Graves, calling him Dad. Vivian Sherman demands to know when he fathered such a grown daughter and accuses him of getting involved with Jessica Holland while he was away. Elliot sends Qingqing out, then coldly tells Vivian the old Elliot is dead.

Vivian Sherman demands to know what their seven years together meant, accusing Elliot Graves of lying. Elliot coldly replies that without marriage or a relationship, he owes her nothing. When Vivian belittles Jessica Holland, Elliot sharply cuts her off.

Jessica Holland slaps Vivian Sherman twice—once for repeatedly slandering her, and once on Elliot Graves's behalf. Vivian is furious as Xiao Jin confronts Jessica. Elliot blocks Xiao Jin. When Vivian insults their relationship, Elliot warns her to stay away from Jessica.