Part One After I thought I had breast cancer, I conspired with Sophie Williams, my fiancé Ethan Parker’s admirer, to stage a drunken one-night stand. Ethan was heartbroken but still tried to care for me through various means, hoping to salvage our relationship. My condition was brought under control, requiring lifelong medication, with only some difficulty in getting pregnant. Ethan and I reconciled. After Ethan proposed again, I honestly told him about my condition. Then Ethan disappeared… Today was the day Ethan and I were supposed to pick up our wedding photos from the studio. We had taken traditional-style photos – I was dressed in an elegant red gown with an ornate headdress, looking more graceful and charming than usual. Ethan looked dashing in his formal suit, like a prince from a fairytale. “My dear, we truly are a match made in heaven,” Ethan whispered intimately in my ear. I felt my ears grow hot. “Oh stop it, who compliments themselves like that? Besides, we’re not officially married yet, so don’t get ahead of yourself,” I laughed, playfully swatting his arm. “But you know, Ethan, even though you didn’t become valedictorian in school, at least you got to feel like one during this photoshoot.” Ethan took my hand and kissed it gently. “Lily, I may not have excelled academically, but I have the best eye for choosing a life partner. Look at you – the most perfect woman to be my wife. I knew it from the moment I met you in preschool.” His words made me blush, and I turned away shyly to look at the photos instead. Ethan moved closer to me. “Lily, once we get the medical check results, let’s pick a good day to quietly get our marriage license. I can’t wait to be your lawfully wedded husband. You’re so old-fashioned, insisting on waiting until after we’re legally married to move in together. I don’t know where you get that from – even our parents are more relaxed. The earliest auspicious wedding date the fortune teller gave us is still five months away. It feels so far off. Lily, I don’t want to wait another moment.” Ethan wrapped his arms around me and gently pinched my cheek. His tall frame bent down slightly to meet my eyes, gazing at me with those beautiful, loving eyes of his. His tone was pleading. My face flushed again at his words. I lowered my head and mumbled a soft “Okay,” before hurriedly pulling the photographer away to look at some more dress options for the ceremony. “Haha, Lily, be careful walking in those heels! I’ll come find you in a bit,” Ethan called after me with a hearty laugh. I felt a bit embarrassed. The photographer beside me smiled and cautioned, “Miss Anderson, please watch your step. The floor can be slippery here.” I didn’t look back at Ethan, but I could feel his tender gaze following me. After choosing the dresses for the wedding ceremony, Ethan and I planned to grab lunch before heading to the hospital together in the afternoon to pick up our pre-marital health check results. At the restaurant, we had just started looking at the menu when Ethan’s phone rang. He glanced at it, frowned slightly, and declined the call. I looked at him but didn’t say anything, just pointed out the soup of the day on the menu – it was the duck soup he liked. “Lily, just order whatever you like. You’ve gotten thinner lately with how busy work has been…” Ethan reached out to stroke my hair gently and was about to continue when his phone rang again. He declined it once more. I lost my appetite and said, “If you’re busy, go take care of work first. I can pick up the results myself later.” I knew the calls were from Sophie Williams. She was Ethan’s junior in college, one year below him. Ever since seeing Ethan at the freshman welcome party, she had been chasing after him relentlessly. Now she even worked at the same company as him. Maybe her feelings for Ethan were no less than mine. But love is selfish, possessive and exclusive. There’s only so much of it to go around – once given to one person, there’s none left for another. Fortunately, Ethan had always chosen me. “It’s nothing, just an unknown number,” Ethan said casually. “I don’t have anything scheduled today. We planned this day to pick up the photos, choose dresses, get the health check results, and then start decorating our new place.” He didn’t realize that when he lied, his eyes would shift away slightly, his lips would purse unconsciously, and the tips of his ears would turn red. I knew him too well – we’d known each other for over a decade, maybe even better than he knew himself. I just smiled without saying anything. The meal ended up being rather tasteless for both of us. After lunch, it was time to go to the hospital for our test results. Ethan’s phone rang again. He glanced at it and answered, “I’m out right now. Yes, now? Okay, I’ll be right there.” He hung up and turned to me with an apologetic and frustrated expression. “Lily, something urgent came up at work that I need to handle personally. I can’t go with you to get the results…” Before he could finish, I stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. “Ethan, it’s okay. I can go by myself. I drove here today anyway, so don’t worry. Just give me your ID and go take care of work. I’ll call you after I pick up the results.” Without waiting for his response, I got in my car and slowly merged into traffic. In the rearview mirror, Ethan’s figure grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared. I believed in Ethan and in the unshakeable love between us. Our relationship had always been smooth sailing, with both our families’ full support and blessings. Thinking of how happy we looked in the wedding photos earlier, my disappointment at Ethan not being able to accompany me gradually faded. He held an important position and the company relied on him. Part Two At the hospital, I scanned both our IDs at the self-service kiosk and printed out a stack of reports. We had opted for the full comprehensive health check. After collecting the papers, I didn’t rush home but went to sit in the small garden near the hospital. This was Ethan and my secret spot – I always tried to stop by whenever I had errands in the area. The garden was lush and green, with a canopy of trees providing cool shade. Delicate pink roses bloomed shyly. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dancing on the flower petals and painting them in vibrant hues. Birds chirped melodiously. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, caressing my hair and kissing my lips before rustling through my white sundress. I sat on a bench and slowly looked through the test results. I checked Ethan’s papers first. Page after page showed everything was normal. I smiled to myself, then started on my own results. But then one page caught my eye – it recommended a biopsy. I rubbed my eyes and looked closer. It was the breast exam report, describing an irregular mass in the left breast, measuring 4×3.5×2.5 cm. The report mentioned enlarged lymph nodes and other concerning details I didn’t fully understand. But I had a sinking feeling it wasn’t good news. I wondered if I had grabbed the wrong papers by mistake. I double-checked the name – Lily Anderson. It was definitely mine. But how could I be sick? I had no symptoms at all. There must be some mistake. I rarely even caught colds growing up. I grabbed the papers and ran back into the hospital, finding the nurse who had assisted us earlier. Seeing my pale, anxious face, she quickly came over and took my hand. “Miss Anderson, what’s wrong?” “I think there’s a problem with the report. I may have taken the wrong one.” She took the papers I was clutching tightly and looked them over. “Miss Anderson, please try to stay calm. Let me take you to see the head doctor, okay?” I let her lead me to the doctor’s office… The doctor asked if I had any family with me. I shook my head and said to just tell me the results directly. The doctor sighed and slowly explained that they recommended a biopsy, as the report findings were concerning and cancer was a strong possibility. We would need to wait for the biopsy results to determine next steps for treatment… I stared blankly as the doctor’s mouth moved, but all I registered was the word “cancer”. I walked out of the office in a daze. “Miss Anderson, would you like me to contact your family?” The nurse carefully helped me sit on a couch in the VIP waiting room and brought me a cup of warm milk. “Can you keep the contents of the report confidential?” She nodded. “Miss Anderson, I still recommend discussing this with your family and scheduling further tests as soon as possible. The earlier we intervene, the better the treatment outcomes.” I waved her off and gazed out the window. It was early fall, but the afternoon sun was still bright and intense. The warmth on my skin contrasted sharply with the coldness spreading through my heart. I felt frozen to my core, as if my blood was turning to ice. Just this morning I had been discussing wedding plans with Ethan, dreaming of our happy future together. Now in the afternoon I was facing a potentially life-ending diagnosis. Life had a way of delivering its cruelest plot twists when you least expected them. My phone rang in my purse. I took it out and saw Ethan’s name. I didn’t answer, just sat there staring blankly until the sunlight faded from my body and the city lights began twinkling outside. A text message alert dinged. I sighed and opened it. It was from Ethan: “Lily, are you busy? I’m done with work. My parents want me to stop by to discuss some wedding details. Call me when you’re free.” I could imagine Ethan patiently and lovingly typing out that message. We were about to start a whole new chapter of our lives together. Why did this have to happen to me, of all people? I had no doubt about Ethan’s love for me. But if I’m being honest with myself – if my condition was truly life-threatening, what would happen to Ethan? Could he bear losing me? Would he be able to move on and live a good life? Was I willing to leave him alone to face a world without me? If my illness could be cured but I lost a breast in the process, was I willing to spend the rest of my life with Ethan as an imperfect version of myself? The answer to all of these was no. I loved Ethan too much. He deserved the very best this world had to offer. I texted Ethan back: “Ethan, something urgent came up at work this afternoon. I dropped the wedding photos off at our new place. I need to go on a business trip for about 10 days. I’ll be in touch when I’m back.” Ethan replied quickly: “Lily, stay safe. Talk to you when you’re back.” My job often required last-minute travel, so Ethan didn’t suspect anything unusual. I put my phone away and left the hospital. The streets were bustling with the evening rush hour crowd. The whole city felt like it was putting on an elaborate stage production. What was my role in all of this? On the drive home, I kept the windows down. The sweet scent of osmanthus flowers drifted through the air – it reminded me of Ethan’s cologne. In that moment, I missed him terribly. I wanted to tell him everything that had happened. But as I reached for my phone, I hesitated. [This marks the end of the preview section] Part Three Ethan and I had been childhood sweethearts. Our parents used to work together, and even after Ethan’s dad retired early to start his own business, Ethan and I still went to school together. As he liked to say, being my classmate helped him improve his grades and kept his parents happy, saving him from their scolding. We were in the same class from preschool all the way through high school. As a child, Ethan had an outgoing personality – he loved excitement, standing up for others, and making friends. He had many great qualities, but studying wasn’t one of them. In an era when academic performance was everything, his poor grades often earned him beatings from his father, who believed in strict discipline. Ethan learned early on to either run away or stoically endure a few hits when escape wasn’t possible. My childhood personality was the complete opposite of Ethan’s. I was quiet and preferred being alone, with reading as my only real hobby. I had very few friends. Adults saw me as obedient and well-behaved. Both sets of parents thought the other’s child had a better personality and hoped we would balance each other out. So they kept putting us in the same class. We went to and from school together and did homework together. Ethan always protected me. He said I was his little sweetheart that he’d chosen since preschool, and it was his duty to look after me. In elementary school when classmates bullied me by damaging my things or messing with my homework, I was too afraid to tell the teachers or my parents. But Ethan stood up for me. He confronted the bully privately – they both came out of the storage room with bruises and got disciplined by the school, but I was never bullied again after that. In middle school, Ethan would walk me home after evening study sessions, keeping me safe…I thought we’d always be in school together, until college admissions separated us. We ended up at universities hundreds of miles apart. The day before I left for college, Ethan came to see me. He waited for me under the osmanthus tree in front of my building. He demanded that I not date any boys in college. Then he hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear that from now on, he would be my boyfriend, and later my husband, the father of my children, the grandfather of my grandchildren… I can still vividly recall that scene – Ethan embracing me, flower petals falling on our heads, the sweet osmanthus scent enveloping us. It felt like we were the only two people in the world. Now every autumn when the osmanthus blooms, I love taking walks with Ethan to enjoy the fragrance. Though in the two years since graduating college, we’ve both been so busy with work that we haven’t gone on many walks together…Even though so much time has passed, I can still clearly remember every detail of my story with Ethan. I wonder if there will be more chapters to write. I arrived home to find my parents had already eaten dinner. “Lily, you didn’t have dinner with Ethan tonight?” my mom asked, seeing me back so early. “He went to his parents’ place,” I replied. I went straight to my room instead of chatting with them in the living room like usual. My expression must have seemed off, because soon after, Mom knocked and came in to sit on my bed. “Did you have a fight with Ethan? You look upset.” Mom took my hand and spoke gently. Tears started streaming down my face. I hadn’t cried when I first saw the test results, but faced with Mom’s tender concern, my armor cracked. I suddenly felt incredibly wronged. I was only 23 years old. I threw myself into Mom’s arms, hugging her tightly. Mom was startled by my reaction. She frantically tried to wipe my tears while saying, “Lily, what happened? Don’t cry, sweetie. Don’t be afraid. Mom’s here. Dad’s here too. We’ll protect you no matter what. Please don’t cry – you’re making me want to cry too.” Mom’s voice grew choked up as she saw how distraught I was. Dad heard us from the living room and came in. Seeing both Mom and me in tears, he looked helpless. “Lily, why are you crying? Did Ethan upset you? I’ll go teach that boy a lesson right now.” I took the tissue Dad handed me and wiped my eyes. Seeing how worried and anxious my parents were on my behalf, the pressure I’d felt since getting the test results melted away in the face of their comfort. My heart suddenly felt at ease. I got up and took the medical reports out of my bag, placing them in front of my parents. “This…Lily, is this real?” Mom’s hand trembled as she held mine. “Lily, don’t be scared. We’ll take you to a different hospital tomorrow for another check-up. Try not to worry, okay?” Dad patted my shoulder, feigning calmness. “Your mom will sleep with you tonight. I’ll go make arrangements for the hospital visit tomorrow.” Dad turned to grab his phone, but I quickly grabbed his sleeve. “Dad, please don’t contact Ethan’s parents yet. I haven’t told Ethan about this. Can we keep it from him for now?” “Lily, are you two having problems? Why do you want to hide this from him?” Mom asked, confused. “Let’s just keep it from Ethan for now. I don’t want him to worry. He can’t really help with the medical stuff anyway,” I said softly, looking down. “Alright, we’ll do as you say,” Dad agreed, seeing I was insistent. Then he left my room. Mom hummed a lullaby and patted me gently like when I was little. I quickly fell asleep to the familiar tune. Part Four For the next few days, my parents took me to various hospitals. All the doctors who saw my test results and medical records urged me to be admitted for treatment as soon as possible. I didn’t want to be hospitalized. I was terrified of surgery and the idea of parts of my body being cut away. Even if I recovered, I’d be a woman with physical defects – incomplete. Just thinking about it made me feel like dying would be better. At my parents’ urging, I had taken extended leave from work and handed my projects over to colleagues. I was starting to feel some pain and fatigue. I looked at my phone, at the message I had sent Ethan about extending my work trip. He had replied with updates about his work, little details about his daily life, and some scenic photos…The cool, dignified image he presented to others contrasted with the warm, affectionate side he showed only to me. I turned off my phone and curled up on the couch, listening to the mundane chatter of a TV drama – the kind of ordinary life I used to scoff at, but now desperately longed for yet felt out of reach. “Lily, Dad knows you don’t want to go to the hospital because you’re scared of surgery. Dr. Huang said they can start with a conservative treatment plan. Trust Mom and Dad – we won’t let them do any procedures you don’t want,” Dad said gently in a calm voice. Mom came over and hugged me. Since seeing the test results, my parents had put their work on hold to be with me. In just a few days, I could see more grey in their hair. They looked less composed and steady than usual. My illness was causing them just as much pain and distress. Only parents can truly empathize with their child’s suffering. I agreed to be admitted to the hospital. The conservative treatment plan involved controlling the disease with medication. Both my hands were bruised from IVs. I couldn’t keep food down and the drug side effects were severe. I lost a lot of weight quickly. “The disease is progressing rapidly. You really should try to convince her to have the surgery. She’s so young – if we operate now and follow up with chemotherapy, there’s still hope for a cure. If we wait much longer, it’s hard to say…” I overheard Dr. Huang talking to my parents outside my room. The leaves on the plane tree outside had finally started to fall. “Mom, Dad, I heard what Dr. Huang said. I’ll agree to the surgery,” I told my parents calmly. “But before the operation, I want to break up with Ethan.” I continued in a steady voice, “If the surgery is successful, my body will be disfigured. I can’t let him see me like that. He’s such a wonderful person – he deserves a perfect wife. If the surgery fails and I lose my life, his life will go on. I don’t want to burden him with mourning me.” Tears streamed down my face as my voice grew hoarse. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry for causing you so much worry. Please let me be selfish just this once.” “Okay, as long as you’re willing to get treatment, we’ll support whatever you decide,” Dad said, coming to the bedside and embracing Mom and me. “You’re a good girl. You have nothing to apologize for.” After we had all calmed down a bit, I asked my parents to go home first and pack some things for me. Once the room was quiet again, I took out my phone and called Sophie Williams. “Lily, are you sick? Is it serious? I’m so sorry I lied to Ethan that day. He’s always been cold towards me. I won’t bother you two anymore. Ethan told me about your relationship – I was really touched. Don’t worry, Lily. I’ll wish you both the best…” Sophie babbled nervously as soon as she entered my hospital room. She was just as I had imagined – tall and pretty, with a bubbly personality. Her sunny presence brightened up my gloomy hospital room. She seemed frightened by the floor I was on – the 8th floor of Sky Hospital was for critically ill patients. From her explanation, I learned that the day Ethan and I were picking up our wedding photos, she had faked being in a serious car accident. When Ethan didn’t answer her calls, she had others keep calling him. Since it involved a company car, Ethan had to go deal with it. That explained the scene I had witnessed. Such a lovely girl – surely she could help Ethan get through the brief pain of our breakup. “Can I call you Sophie? I have a favor to ask. Would that be okay?” … Part Five In a private room at an upscale bar, I wore a form-fitting dress and heavy makeup. My lips looked especially alluring with bright red lipstick. But a close look would reveal my unnaturally pale skin. The table was covered in open wine bottles. I had splashed some wine on my hair and dress, then lounged on the sofa. In the dim lighting, the scene looked intimate and suggestive. Sitting next to me was my cousin Jack, a sophomore in college. In his white dress shirt, he bore a striking resemblance to a younger Ethan. “Lily, do we really have to do this? Why don’t you just tell him the truth? Why deceive him like this? No man can accept this kind of thing. He’ll hate you for it,” Jack pleaded, still trying to talk me out of my plan. He had been against this “drunken one-night stand” scheme from the start. But I couldn’t think of any other way to make Ethan willingly leave me. “Better he hates me than spends a lifetime heartbroken,” I said flatly. “Lily, if you’re so sure he loves you, why are you afraid to tell him the truth?” I didn’t know how to answer. Maybe I was afraid of losing. So I could only resort to this clumsy plan to deceive Ethan and push him out of my life.
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