To save Liam Sterling’s life, I had to be the one to utterly crush him. Liam hated me for my betrayal. Later, when he made his stunning comeback, the first thing he did was seek revenge. He kept me captive, then brought different women home every day, forcing me to clean up after them and buy their morning-after pills. Even my own sister! He shattered my dignity into a million pieces. But Liam had no idea I had terminal liver cancer, and my days were horribly numbered. I’d already bought my burial plot, arranged my affairs, and prepared myself for death… “Anya, are you sure you want to be reassigned as a war correspondent in Congo-Kinshasa?” “This mission is different. The situation there is highly volatile. Seven war correspondents were sent previously – six died, one was critically injured. The chances of survival are almost zero…” Mr. Peterson laid out all the risks clearly, but I still nodded firmly. Returning to war reporting, I was prepared to die on that land. At least, it wouldn’t be from illness. I could still make some final contributions. The moment I stepped out of the station, I received a SnapChat message from Liam. “The Velvet Club. Pick up two packs.” I immediately hailed a cab and rushed to the club, suppressing a sharp pain in my abdomen. From inside, I could hear a woman’s moans and a man’s teasing voice. “Mmm… ah… you’re so bad~” “You look so damn hot tonight. I’m gonna make sure you’re well-satisfied.” I was used to it. Liam played out this scene almost every day in front of me. A different woman every single day, never the same face twice, and I always had to watch. Liam had an arm wrapped around a woman’s slender body, his hand casually roaming over her, but there was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. That is, until he saw me push open the door. I’d braced myself mentally. As I walked in, I saw Liam on the sofa with a woman straddling him. A pink camisole, a white lace bra, fishnet stockings, and a bunny tail peeking out from under her mini-skirt. The woman had her back to me, so I couldn’t see her face. But she was probably another young college student. In the year since we’d reconnected, I’d learned his preferences. He liked college girls, innocent yet seductive, just like I was back then. Seeing me, he looked displeased. “What took you so long?” “It’s far. Traffic was bad.” “Then it’s time for a penalty. Three bottles.” He casually pointed to three bottles of Ace of Spades champagne on the table. The pink lighting in the club’s private room couldn’t hide my pale face. I pulled out the two packs, and as I walked over to hand them to him, I finally saw the face of the woman straddling Liam. My eyes widened involuntarily. “You’re not short on women. Why did you choose *her*?” “Why couldn’t I?” Liam sneered. He knew perfectly well that the person I hated most in this life was my half-sister, Chloe Hayes. On the surface, she was pure and sweet, but ever since we were kids, she loved to steal my things, once even stuffing rocks in my backpack, secretly messing with my college applications. She’d tormented me my whole life. The closer someone is, the more they know exactly where to hit to cause the most pain. Liam swirled his glass, lifting his eyes slightly, his cold gaze sweeping over me. His voice was low, hoarse, and laced with boundless hatred. “When I went bankrupt, you got involved with my dear brother, and when I begged you not to leave, you even personally broke my leg!” “You said it yourself, you couldn’t stand useless people. So why couldn’t I be with your sister?” I froze. Those memories flooded back, and my body trembled uncontrollably.
Liam and I were desk partners in middle school. I was the unwelcome extra in my father’s remarried family, and he was the illegitimate son cast out by his family. Two people with dark, troubled lives, we agreed to go to the same high school, the same college, escaping our broken homes to become the only light in each other’s darkness. We thought we’d never be separated, but then Liam was diagnosed with leukemia, and I decisively walked away. Even when he knelt on the ground, begging helplessly for me not to leave, to stay with him through his final days. I didn’t look back. Instead, I linked arms with the man beside me and said coldly: “Liam Sterling, I don’t waste my time with losers. I belong to him now.” Then, as if it were a joke, I had someone break his leg. “Consider that leg a blessing for our relationship.” Every word was a dagger to his soul, driving Liam to the brink of spitting blood. That night, Liam didn’t utter a sound when his leg was broken. The night rain was cool, and I could see the bone-deep hatred in his eyes. When Liam found a successful bone marrow match and was cured of leukemia, he returned to the place he least wanted to be – the powerful, old money Sterling family. He bided his time for three years, consolidating absolute power within the Sterling empire. Even his half-brother, Noah Sterling, was driven out of the country with ruthless efficiency. In three years, the Sterling family saw a complete change of guard. Once in power, Liam immediately found me, now a journalist, and made me pay for what I’d done. Thinking of this, I let out a bitter laugh. It wasn’t that I couldn’t endure hardship, or that I wanted to curry favor with the powerful. It was that when Liam had leukemia, the only match for his bone marrow transplant was his half-brother, Noah Sterling. But Noah hated Liam, the illegitimate son, for shattering his family and claiming a piece of his inheritance. Why would he ever agree to donate bone marrow to save him? To beg Noah to donate bone marrow, I once knelt through a brutal autumn storm all night. The cold seeped into my bones, leaving me with chronic ailments even now. But all that earned me was a single meeting with him. “Liam and his damn mother ruined my family. He’s the original sin! He deserves to die!” However, Noah, looking at me, a stubborn young woman fresh out of college, seemed to find a cruel game in mind. “I can save him, but on one condition.” “He’s starting a company, right? Steal his bid proposals and project plans for me. I want to see him go bankrupt! Leave him with nothing, like a stray dog!” I was strongly against that condition at the time. But Noah’s next words forced me to compromise. “Listen, sweetheart, or should I say, ‘sister-in-law’? Company bankrupt or death for him—you choose!” In utter desperation, I made the deal. Liam, despite his poor health, had an excellent career. His company was thriving in the city. Unfortunately, at the peak of his ambition, he was personally brought to his knees by the person he loved most. Liam’s hand roamed over Chloe Hayes’s chest, but his gaze remained fixed on me. Seeing the tears in my eyes, he scoffed, “Don’t act like you’re some big victim. Getting involved with Noah and helping him get rid of me must have brought you plenty of benefits, didn’t it?” The loud music in the private room drowned out an almost imperceptible tremor in his voice, betraying the intense, suppressed emotion beneath his cold exterior. I opened my mouth, but in the end, said nothing. What good would telling him do? I stole the bid proposals and project plans. I was indeed the culprit who caused his bankruptcy. “No victim here. I did it willingly. Your judgment was just terrible, you picked the wrong guy.” “My judgment was terrible? Yours wasn’t much better, falling for Noah Sterling!” He stared at me, unblinking, then pushed Chloe Hayes aside and lunged, grabbing my neck. “Now the Sterling family is firmly in the hands of the man you personally destroyed, and you, Anya, will pay for your choices!” “This is what you owe me!”
He choked me, and my face flushed crimson. Intense suffocation washed over me, but I didn’t resist. Instead, I closed my eyes, waiting for my fate to be sealed. Seeing me like this, Liam violently shoved me onto the table. Gasping for air, I leaned against the table, coughing. Then, Liam opened the three bottles of champagne and set them before me. “Drink.” Just as I picked up a bottle, preparing to chug it, a dull ache in my abdomen made my hand freeze in mid-air. The smell of alcohol brought a fine sweat to my forehead. In my current condition, I couldn’t drink alcohol at all. “Anya, what are you playing at? Drink it, now!” Chloe Hayes also got up, wrapping her arms around Liam’s waist, constantly whining. “Liam, darling, don’t get angry over someone not worth it.” She rubbed her soft chest against Liam, then stood on tiptoes and kissed him passionately in front of me. After a long moment, Liam held Chloe Hayes and tossed his car keys to me. “Forget it, don’t drink. Drive us home.” I could only obey. In the car, they made no effort to be discreet. Even with the partition raised, I could still clearly hear the sounds from the back. “Baby, you’re so beautiful tonight.” “I love you so much.” “Will you marry me?” I felt a little distant. Liam used to whisper those exact same sweet nothings to me. When I was nineteen, Liam and I took our first taste of forbidden fruit. He promised me then that he would marry me, love me forever. Now, Liam repeated those words to countless pure, lovely women. He wouldn’t even let me keep those once-beautiful memories. In the rearview mirror, their entangled bodies reflected back. “I forgot to grab the condoms earlier. Go find a drugstore and buy me some morning-after pills.” Hearing this, Chloe Hayes pouted, “Liam, darling, don’t you want to have a baby with me?” “Baby, I want to take things step-by-step with you – dating, engagement, marriage, then kids.” As he spoke, Liam tried to catch my expression in the rearview mirror, but I had already opened the car door and was heading towards the drugstore. Inside the drugstore, my body trembled, and I frantically searched for painkillers. Everything in front of me blurred, large beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and the excruciating abdominal pain made me collapse to the floor. The pharmacist, seeing my distress, quickly came over to help me up. “Pain… painkillers, fast-acting, anything…” The pharmacist quickly found some fast-acting painkillers. I snatched them, swallowed them dry, and gasped for breath. A few minutes later, I, clutching the morning-after pills, paid and thanked the pharmacist, then hurried back. My steps halted as I reached the car. The car was rocking. Clearly, the two inside were at it again, seemingly tireless. When I had gotten out earlier, I’d heard their words clearly. Every single word was like a sharp knife, piercing my chest, slicing through my heart, an icy, bone-chilling pain spreading through my entire body. Even the abdominal pain felt insignificant now. In the past, he’d found women, but he’d never offered a marriage promise. Now, he did. And it was to my own sister. The evening breeze was cool. I stood outside the car, not getting in until the rocking stopped. Only then did I open the door and hand the pills to Liam. As I got out, I accidentally dropped the painkillers I’d just bought. I quickly picked them up, clutching them tightly, terrified Liam would notice. “What medicine are you taking?” Liam noticed the bottle was completely different from the morning-after pills and frowned, asking. “Cold medicine.” I tucked the bottle into my pocket. Liam’s gaze lingered on my pocket. Just then, Chloe Hayes let out an ill-timed sneeze, drawing Liam’s attention. “Right, bad weeds never die. What kind of illness could *you* possibly have…” Outside the mansion, Liam took off his jacket, draped it over Chloe Hayes, and said softly, “Be careful, don’t catch a cold.” Chloe Hayes linked her arm through Liam’s, her voice sweet and soft. “Let’s go inside, quickly.” Liam turned to me. “Remember, you still owe me. It’s not over yet.”
The next morning, I went to the hospital for my follow-up appointment and medication. Before I left, Dr. Miller stopped me. “Your current condition isn’t good. The cancer cells are spreading very rapidly. If you don’t undergo chemotherapy promptly, it might…” I understood the doctor’s unspoken words, simply smiling faintly. “Dr. Miller, how much longer do I have?” “Three months. But with timely surgery and treatment, there’s a chance to live a few more years.” I shook my head. It was pointless. No one in this world cared about me, and I cared about no one. After that, I went to the outskirts of the city. “Hello, I need to select a burial plot.” The attendant efficiently took out a pen and notepad. “Miss, are you choosing for an elderly family member? Any specific requirements?” “It’s for myself. A sunny spot, if possible. As for when it’ll be used…” I paused. “Three months from now.” Hearing the date, the attendant stopped writing, looking up, somewhat incredulous. Such a young and beautiful woman, choosing her own burial plot. “Understood, Miss. We’ll do our best to meet your requests.” Truth be told, if I died in Congo-Kinshasa, no one would retrieve my body or bring it back home. So, setting up a headstone for myself in advance, even if my ashes never make it back, at least I’d have a place. That evening, I returned home. Under the dim light, a person stood at my front door. It was Liam. He seemed drunk, his sharp, alluring eyes wet and fixed on me, unblinking. I tried not to look at him. The moment I opened the door, he pulled me inside. My head spun, and then he bit hard into my shoulder. “Anya, I hate you so much!” He tore at me. I tried to pull away, but Liam was crying. I’d seen Liam smile, triumphant and arrogant. I’d seen his bitter, bone-deep laugh. But I’d never seen him cry so heartbrokenly, as if he’d lost something incredibly important. “Anya, this is what you owe me!” It hurt, but I didn’t struggle. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. When I woke up the next day, I only saw Liam’s cold, distant profile. He nonchalantly buttoned his shirt, then tossed the morning-after pills Chloe Hayes had left on the bed. “Remember to take your pills. I was drunk yesterday. You don’t deserve to have my child.” I closed my eyes, letting the tears stream down. Liam seemed to feel that wasn’t enough, smiling as he said, “There’s an auction tonight. I’m officially announcing Chloe Hayes. You should come too.” I instinctively refused. “No, I need to go…” Before I could finish, Liam grabbed my wrist fiercely. His eyes were filled with resentment and furious anger. “Are you really that busy? You still owe me, it’s not repaid!” A faint ache spread through my entire body, and my hand trembled a few times uncontrollably. I swallowed the words, *I don’t have much time left*, and only asked Liam one question: “Do you really like Chloe Hayes that much?” Liam sneered, “After all, *I* was the one by my side when I hit rock bottom.” In a haze, I heard my own voice, bitter and difficult to articulate. “Fine.”
That auction was specifically arranged by Liam for Chloe Hayes. He kept me by his side, introducing Chloe to every acquaintance as his fiancée. I noticed that Liam actually seemed to be treating Chloe Hayes differently. Before, it was always just a game, never serious. This time, he seemed to be truly considering marriage. And Liam liked to let me witness his endless glory, attempting to make me regret the decision I had made to abandon him. So, he gave Chloe Hayes all the spotlight, bidding on countless precious jewelry pieces for her, making her the envy of every woman present. Meanwhile, Liam required me to wear a janitor’s uniform and clean the banquet hall. At the entrance of the banquet hall, Chloe Hayes found me, flaunting her victory. “You’re so jealous of me, aren’t you?” “After all, you were with him for so many years, you spent the darkest days of his life with him, but now he still wants to marry me, right?” “Anya, don’t you want to know why?” I continued sweeping the peanut shells off the floor, remaining silent. “You’ve always been like this, from childhood. At home, no matter what mean things I did to you, you’d act like you didn’t care, but deep down you must have hated me, right?” I fell silent, memories resurfacing. “You’ve always been this way, from childhood. Anything I liked, you had to steal.” Chloe Hayes scoffed. “You’re just an extra. Everything should rightfully be mine. Why should it be shared with you?” “Actually, he only planned to treat me like those other women, give me some money and send me away. But I told Liam that from the first time I saw him in middle school, I had a secret crush on him. I told him the money for his bone marrow transplant surgery was earned by me working multiple jobs, and the matching bone marrow was begged from Noah Sterling!” “I did so much for him silently, while you betrayed him at his peak and abandoned him in his toughest time, leaving him homeless. He hates you even more now!” My eyes widened. Not just because Chloe Hayes had taken credit for my efforts, but more importantly, she knew all the details of what I had done back then! “How do you know…” After I turned adult, my father kicked me out of the house, and I cut off all ties with my family. I certainly wouldn’t have told Chloe Hayes those things. Chloe Hayes leaned close to me, whispering in my ear. “Because, I secretly snuck into your house and took your diary and all the payment receipts from Liam’s hospitalization back then.” “Now all the evidence is with me. Even if you run off and tell him the truth, he won’t believe you. He’ll just think you’re making it up to get his attention.” I quickly regained my composure. The past didn’t matter. Anyway, I wasn’t planning to tell him. It didn’t matter who Liam thought did it. I didn’t want to get involved with her anymore and tried to leave, but Chloe Hayes wasn’t done yet. My eyes darted. Suddenly, she grabbed my hand and placed it on her waist. Then, her body fell backward, crashing into a champagne tower nearby.
The shattering glass of the champagne tower attracted everyone’s attention in the hall. The wine stains on Chloe Hayes’s white dress were strikingly obvious. Not far away, Liam noticed the commotion and rushed over. He knelt down to check if Chloe Hayes was hurt, his face filled with tenderness and concern. He practically checked every inch of her, and only when he found only a slight bruise on her from hitting the table did he finally breathe a sigh of relief. The next moment, Liam stood up and angrily reprimanded me. “Anya, are you sick? How could you lay your hands on her? Apologize to Chloe, right now!” Hearing this, I actually laughed out of anger. I *was* sick. So sick I was almost dead! “Liam Sterling, are you blind?” My words instantly enraged Liam. He raised his hand and slapped my face. The sharp slap echoed through the banquet hall. Chloe Hayes, with red eyes, tugged on Liam’s arm, looking utterly pitiful. “It’s alright, Liam darling, I’m fine. Don’t blame my sister. I didn’t mean it.” But her eyes met mine, full of blatant provocation. The more she acted this way, the angrier Liam became. He embraced Chloe Hayes and said gently, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of this. I’ll make sure the person who bullied you pays!” I frowned, then spoke up in my own defense. “I really didn’t do it.” Liam saw that I refused to apologize and ordered his bodyguards to sweep all the glass shards into one spot. “Kneel on it. Kneel until Chloe is satisfied.” My eyes reddened. My hands instinctively clenched the hem of my dress, desperately trying to hide the tremor in my voice. “You… you truly want me to do this?” I tried to find a flicker of trust in Liam’s eyes. Liam spoke coldly. “You will pay for your mistakes. It was true then, and it’s true now.” My eyes were bloodshot. Liam’s distrust chilled me to the bone. Finally, as if resigned to my fate, I took off my shoes and, barefoot, in front of everyone, knelt on the shattered glass. The tiny shards instantly pierced my skin, blood flowing onto the floor, the red glistening eerily in the reflection of the glass. I don’t know how long I knelt, until my legs were numb and I couldn’t feel the pain, until my blood congealed on the cold floor. This banquet was attended by prominent figures, and their expressions varied as they watched the scene unfold. “Please excuse the scene tonight. Next week will be my engagement party. I hope you all will join us.” Liam scanned the room, then spoke slowly. The banquet hall buzzed with activity again, filled with congratulations from all sides. My numb gaze suddenly flickered. Liam had once promised he would only marry me. But now, he was going to marry someone else. Stubborn Anya finally spoke. “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” A flicker of emotion crossed Liam’s eyes, but it was only for a moment. Chloe Hayes, nestled in Liam’s arms, looked at me with triumph, though her words were, “It’s alright, Liam darling, my sister has already apologized. Don’t blame her. Please get a doctor to clean her wounds. They might get infected.” My seemingly understanding demeanor touched Liam. “No need. I can take care of myself. We don’t need to worry about her.” “Since Chloe has forgiven you, let’s put tonight’s incident behind us.” With Liam’s permission, I finally stood up. But because I had knelt for so long, my legs were numb. The moment I stood, my body swayed uncontrollably, and I fell heavily onto the pile of shattered glass again. The congealed wounds started to bleed afresh, adding many new cuts. Even the bodyguards nearby couldn’t bear to watch and wanted to help me, but Liam stopped them with a stern look. I staggered, forced to grab a table leg to get up, then limped out of the banquet hall, leaning against the wall. All along the way, I left a trail of my blood. Stepping out of the hotel, my phone rang. It was Mr. Peterson. A heavy sigh filled the line. “Anya, your war correspondent application has been approved. It’s scheduled for next week. Use this week to pack up your things and spend some time with your family…” “Everyone acknowledges your capabilities. I hope… you return safely.” “Anya, take care of yourself.”
For me, this was undoubtedly good news. “Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Thank you for your guidance all these years.” I might not come back, but I’d still accept Mr. Peterson’s blessing. The news came so timely that I was so happy, most of the pain in my body disappeared. After a few days of rest, though not fully recovered, I could walk normally. Liam’s phone call soon summoned me back to the mansion. “What? Did you forget what you did? Did you think an apology would fix everything?” Knowing I was about to leave, my mood had improved considerably. Facing Liam’s deliberate provocation, I greeted him with a smile. “Mr. Sterling, what can I do for you?” “Take care of Chloe until we get married.” Hearing the words “get married,” I opened my mouth, but finally only managed one word: “Okay.” After Liam left, I clutched my chest, gasping for breath. I thought I was leaving soon, and whatever Liam and Chloe Hayes did, I could accept it calmly. But hearing “marriage” still made my heart ache terribly. I kept reassuring myself that I didn’t have much time left. Even if the truth came out, and Liam forgave me, it would only cause him more trouble. It was better this way. If I died, Liam wouldn’t be heartbroken. In his earlier life, Liam had suffered enough. Now, he could at least marry, have children, and live a peaceful, stable life. And I could use my remaining time to live life more fully, making some final contributions to the world. “Anya, I want some rich, homemade chicken noodle soup. Go make it.” Chloe Hayes stood on the second floor, ordering me around imperiously. Liam didn’t intervene, which only made Chloe Hayes worse. At dinner, Chloe Hayes deliberately complained the food was too salty, making me cook it again. Every morning, I was responsible for cleaning up the used tissues and wrappers scattered after their passion. Before, I would argue a few times. Now, I accepted everything without a word. Liam watched my submissive behavior, frustrated by my passiveness.
I spent three hazy days at the mansion, dragged by Liam to help Chloe Hayes choose a wedding dress. I didn’t know if Liam was doing it on purpose, but he specifically chose the boutique where we used to custom-order dresses three years ago. The manager, Ms. Evelyn, greeted them warmly. “Mr. Sterling, Ms. Hayes, you two haven’t been here in ages! Come right in.” I politely replied, “This young lady is getting engaged in a few days. We’re here to look at dresses.” Ms. Evelyn winked, and a staff member, Mark, immediately pulled Chloe Hayes inside to look at dresses. Ms. Evelyn invited Liam and me to wait in the tea room outside the changing rooms. While walking, she spoke to me, “Ms. Hayes, the dress Mr. Sterling ordered for you three years ago was never picked up. I thought you’d never come back.” “But we’ve kept it safe for you. I’ll get it out for you to see now.” Before I could say anything, another staff member wheeled out the dress, displaying it before us. The most outstanding feature of the entire dress was its design. A three-year-old design that still looked timeless today. I seemed to recall the days when we attended various formal events together. Back then, Liam would often have custom dresses made for me. My first formal dress was designed by Liam. On the day of the school’s formal dance, the Hayes family had a special dress custom-made for Chloe Hayes. I was completely forgotten, left to watch enviously from the side. Liam, somehow, found out. He drew the sketches himself, searched all over the city for a tailor, who worked overtime for three nights to rush the dress into completion. From then on, every formal dress I wore had Liam’s input. Liam’s eyes were full of love when he looked at me then. “My dear Ms. Anya, it’s truly an honor to invite you as my date.” I would tease him back, smiling, “I think it’s *your* honor.” I looked at the dress, my eyes welling up. “Yes, it’s beautiful.” Ms. Evelyn smiled. “Of course. Mr. Sterling personally drew the design, and we rushed to make it.” I looked at Liam, my heart filled with mixed emotions. Just then, Chloe Hayes, wearing a dress, broke the silence. “Liam darling, let’s try another store. I think the dresses here are just so-so.” Suddenly, Chloe Hayes spotted the dress in Ms. Evelyn’s hand, her eyes lighting up. “Wow! Liam darling, this dress is so gorgeous!” Liam asked, “You like it?” Chloe Hayes nodded. “Yes! I love it! Liam darling, let’s wear this one for our engagement party, okay?” My face was complicated as I looked at Liam. Liam merely glanced at the dress, then dotingly nodded. “Mhm, if you like it.” I couldn’t help but mock myself in my heart. “He’s about to get engaged. Why would he cling to old affections? Anya, don’t be delusional anymore.” Ms. Evelyn’s gaze flitted between Liam and Chloe Hayes, a little confused. I explained, “This young lady will be Mr. Sterling’s fiancée in a few days.” After speaking, I glanced at the calendar on my phone. Four more days. Liam had a major business deal at his company these past two days, so the engagement preparations were left to Chloe Hayes. Aside from the occasional affectionate photos Chloe Hayes sent me, generally, no one bothered me. On the fifth day, Chloe Hayes found me again. “For the engagement, I need a ring. I want that one you’ve kept treasured.”
I was silent for a moment, then shook my head. “I don’t know what ring I have that would be to your liking.” Chloe Hayes knew I was playing dumb and scoffed, “Don’t act foolish, my dear sister. I could guess your ancient password with my eyes closed. I saw it last time I went to your place. It’s the ring Liam darling gave you, right?” “I want that one!” I knew she was talking about that gold ring. Liam had bought that ring for me in college, saving every penny. It was only a little over two grams. It wasn’t worth much, but it had been my only keepsake all these years. “Your engagement ceremony, using my ring for him to propose with—doesn’t that make you sick?” Chloe Hayes curled her lips into a triumphant smile. “It doesn’t make *me* sick. Someone else will be sickened. Anyway, Liam darling said whatever I want, you have to provide. Besides, he’s marrying me now, why would you keep that ring? To pine over your sister’s husband?” I could only compromise. She was right. Since I had decided to leave, I should sever ties completely with the past. “Fine. You can use that ring for the fiancée.” As the engagement date drew closer, I accelerated the process of arranging my final affairs. I placed some of my favorite books and a camera inside my cremation urn. I had already arranged with the cemetery staff to bury these items. Finally, I made one last trip to the hospital to pick up my medication, mostly painkillers, to ensure they wouldn’t interfere with my work. For me, the late-stage cancer cells would spread increasingly fast, so other medications were largely irrelevant. Dr. Miller handed me the medicine. He was my primary physician and knew my condition best. “If you continued treatment, there might still be hope. Going abroad is effectively giving up on life.” I knew his kind intentions. “Thank you.” Watching me leave, seeing my thin figure, Dr. Miller admired my courage. Even with life ticking down, I didn’t immerse myself in sorrow and despair, choosing instead to live life more fully within my limited time. On the day of the engagement ceremony, I was busy for half the day. When the ceremony officially began, I was already at the airport. The grand ceremony was being live-streamed online. At the airport, I watched Liam, holding the jewelry box containing the wedding ring, his loving eyes gazing at Chloe Hayes. “Will you marry me?” Before Chloe Hayes’s answer came, I looked at Liam on the screen and whispered softly: “I do…” After a moment of surrender, I immediately regained my composure and quickly turned off my phone. The airport announcement boomed that my flight was about to depart. I dragged my luggage towards the boarding gate. This time, I would bid farewell to all past happiness and sorrow, heading towards an inevitable end. At the engagement site, Liam casually produced the ring. For him, this engagement was merely a means of revenge against me.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298795”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic
Leave a Reply