I lay in bed, tears streaming down my face.
Evren's words from last night echoed in my ears—so calm, so detached.
It was then I understood: our marriage meant nothing to him.
For Rosette, he could do anything.
...
The next morning, Rosette barged into my room holding the divorce papers. She threw them on the bed with a sneer.
"My brother has already signed. You'd better handle the rest and file the divorce yourself. Don't you dare play any tricks, or you'll regret ever staying in this house."
I lowered my head slightly, giving her a cold, humorless laugh.
"Don't worry. I want this divorce finalized faster than you do. I'll file it as an urgent case—it'll be done in seven days."
Her lips curled. "Good. You said it yourself. I expect to see that divorce certificate when it's done."
A week later, my father's company would officially withdraw its investment from the Johnson family. When that happened, I'd finally be free of Evren—completely.
That day, I planned to bring the brooch to my mother's grave. But Rosette insisted on tagging along, clinging to me the entire way until I gave in.
At the cemetery, she stood behind me, sunglasses hiding her eyes but not the smirk on her lips.
"It's just a stupid little brooch. You treat it like a treasure. That kind of petty sentiment really doesn't suit someone who married my brother."
Before I could respond, a sudden chill grazed her neck.
A knife—gleaming cold in the sunlight—was pressed against her skin.
"Hand over your money!" the man barked. "And anything valuable you've got!"
Both of us froze.
Rosette burst into tears, trembling.
"Please don't hurt me! I'm Evren's sister from the Johnson Corporation—I'm pregnant with his child! If anything happens to me, my brother will make sure you pay!"
The man, clearly a fugitive hiding from the law, gave a mocking laugh.
"Funny, I've heard Evren's supposed to be single. I didn't know he had a wife let alone a sister carrying his baby! What kind of twisted family is this?"
"Well, fine then, I'll let your precious brother buy you back!"
He tied us both up and forced me to call Evren.
Less than half an hour later, Evren arrived, clutching a black duffel bag. He was alone. His face was tense, his eyes darting straight to Rosette before glancing briefly at me.
"The money is here. Let them go!"
The man sneered. "I'll release one. You choose. Who knows if you've already called the cops?"
Then he pressed the knife deeper against Rosette's neck. A thin line of blood bloomed across her pale skin, staining her collar crimson.
"Brother! I'm scared!" she cried, clutching her stomach. "My belly—it hurts! What if something happens to our baby?"
Evren froze, feeling torn. His gaze flickering toward me. For a second, guilt softened his features.
"I'm sorry, Analeia," he said quietly. "Rosette is terrified, and she's carrying the Johnson family's child. I can't risk her life."
Then he turned to the kidnapper and pointed.
"I choose her."
"Evren!" I cried, my eyes burning. "I'm carrying your child too! Can't you see?"
My voice trembled. My hands instinctively cradled my swollen belly, feeling the faint flutter of life within. But Evren only frowned, his eyes cold and distant.
"You won't be harmed. I've paid him, and once I get Rosette to the hospital, you'll be safe."
That was the moment something inside me shattered completely.
I closed my eyes, tears spilling freely, the last trace of warmth in my heart extinguished.
Evren took Rosette from the man's grasp, wrapped her trembling body in his arms, and left without looking back.
Leaving me behind to face death alone.
When the sound of sirens finally echoed through the cemetery, the kidnapper panicked.
He slashed his knife toward me. Pain seared across my neck as blood gushed out.
The doctors later said that if the blade had gone a little deeper, it would've severed my artery.
I survived—but barely.
Lying in the hospital bed, my body trembled uncontrollably.
Evren never called. He didn't even send a single message. Instead, I overheard the nurses chatting outside.
"Did you see the news? Evren's sister was kidnapped! Poor thing, she got her neck cut. He's been searching the entire city for a pink gemstone to cheer her up!"
"God, what a perfect brother! She gets hurt, and he turns the whole city upside down to make her smile. That's devotion."
I let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
So that was it. While I was lying here, barely alive, Evren was too busy comforting Rosette.
Whether I lived or died didn't matter to him at all.
