On the day of my nineteenth wedding ceremony, my grandmother collapsed from a sudden heart attack.
My husband's childhood sweetheartdriven by her ambition to become the youngest chief cardiac surgeonsnuck into the operating room without telling anyone.
However, the surgery failed.
My grandmother never woke up again.
When my father knelt at the hospital entrance, begging for justice, someone shoved a sack over his head and beat him until his legs broke.
I was furious, desperate to sue Maxine, but on my way to the police station, my husband's car struck me. With multiple fractures, and shattered ribs, I was rushed straight into the ICU.
Half-conscious as they wheeled me into a room, I heard one of Drake's friends say casually, "First, the wedding house caught fire. Now her grandmother's 'accident.' Drake, what excuse are you using this time to delay the wedding again?"
A tremor ran through me. My blood froze.
And then I heard Drake's calm voicethe same man who once claimed he'd love me forever.
"Next time, there won't be any delay."
"Wait," his friend said, lowering his voice. "You really plan to marry that woman? What about your little childhood sweetheart?"
Drake's tone softened, but every word cut like glass. During the darkest three years of my life, Louise was the one who stayed by my side, and I promised Id repay her kindness.
But now that Ive come back and met Maxine againshes the woman I always thought would be my wife. That kind of love isnt something I can just forget.
Delaying the wedding nineteen times was already my selfishness. If Louise just behaves and agrees not to press charges against Maxine, Ill fulfill my promise to her.
I couldn't breathe.
So this was the truth behind all those delays.
I used to believe each cancellation was an accident, that fate was simply unkind to us.
Back then, the first wedding was canceled after Maxine's dog bit me, leaving me hospitalized. The second, after Drake insisted on teaching me to swim and I nearly drowned. The third, after I was stabbed in a supposed "revenge attack" from one of his enemies.
But now I knewevery single one was orchestrated by him.
All because he never wanted to marry me.
And this time, to escape marriage, he even let my grandmother's surgery failturning her into a vegetable.
Tears blurred my eyes. My heart felt like it was being cut open, but I knew one thing for sureI would never stay in this fake engagement again!
With trembling hands, I called Drake's mother.
My voice shook, but my tone was resolute. "I accept your offer. One hundred million. I'll leave Drake and disappear from his life forever."
...
There was a pause, then her cold, elegant voice came through the receiver.
"Seven days. You have seven days to pack up and disappear from Drake's life."
"Ill transfer one million now. Once you leave, the remaining ninety-nine million will be in your account immediately."
After saying that, she hung up.
I sat frozen on the hospital bed. My tears wouldn't fall, but the weight in my chest made it hard to breathe.
Just then, the door opened.
Drake stepped in. He took my hand gently, as if the car crash he caused had been a bad dream.
"Don't blame Maxine," he said softly. "She just got a little ahead of herself. The failed surgery wasnt all her fault."
"She..." My voice cracked. "She turned my grandmother into a vegetable!"
"She already knows she was wrong, he interrupted gently, Shes been blaming herself for days, and cant even eat. She told me shell apologize to you properly."
Then, he added in that same calm, coaxing tone, "I'll do everything I can to help your father and grandmother. Just listen to me, Louise. Don't be stubborn. We'll finish our wedding soon."
Wedding...
When he said that word, his eyes flickered with something I couldn't name.
I thought of the conversation I'd overheardand suddenly, I understood.
"I don't want her apology!" I snapped. "She hurt someoneshe should pay for it!"
Instantly, his expression turned dark. "Louise, you're disappointing me."
He slowly raised his phone. The cold light from the screen reflected in his eyes.
"Drop the charges against Maxine... or watch your father lose his chance to walk again. You have thirty seconds."
My lungs seized. I could barely breathe.
Why?
Why had everything turned into this?
Where was the boy my father and I once protected from bullies, the boy I defended even when the world mocked him for being a "fake heir"?
Where was the young man who blushed when my grandmother gave him extra food and whispered, 'It's the first time anyone's done this for me'?
Where was the man who once swore, 'I'll love you forever, Louise'?
Staring at him, countless memories flashed in my mind.
Seven years ago, Drake had been revealed as the wrong sonswitched at birth. When the truth came out, he was sent back to his biological family in the countryside.
He stood outside the shabby house next door, wearing dirty old clothes, eyes lost and empty.
I was the one who reached out to him, shared my food, defended him from the mockery, and told him he was still worth something.
We grew up together. Those high school years were the happiest of my life.
After the college entrance exams, we both got into top universities. Before I could even celebrate, the Becker family suddenly wanted him back.
But he held my hand and said, "Come with me, Louise. I'll take care of you. I'll marry you one day."
I believed him.
Then, in college, Maxine appearedhis elegant, well-bred childhood fiance.
At banquets, they stood together beneath glittering chandeliers, perfectly matched.
And Iawkward and out of placestood in the corner, clutching my glass like a fool.
But back then, Drake would still take my hand in front of everyone and say, "This is my fiance."
He helped me build my career, protected me when others tried to undermine me, and crossed oceans just to care for me when I was sick.
I had never once doubted his love.
Until now.
Looking at his cold, unyielding face, hearing his threats, I realizedall that tenderness was guilt.
Not love.
His heart had always belonged to Maxine.
And I... I had only been a debt he wanted to repay. I was just a wildflower by the roadsomeone who had helped him once, someone he pitied.
My love, it turned out, was nothing more than a cruel joke.
"Three... two"
"Fine," I whispered. My voice trembled. "I'll do it."
Drake paused, then smiled faintly. He pulled me into his arms, resting his chin atop my head.
"Good girl. Just bear with it one more time. I'll make it up to you, I promise."
But as his arms tightened around me, my gaze drifted to his phone.
On the back of his case was a photo of him and Maxine, both young, smiling, their faces pressed together.
My heart stopped.
He had never liked using phone cases before. I'd begged him countless times, and he'd always refused, saying they were childish.