I woke up to a dull ache spreading through my body. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling. The beeping of the machines, the sterile scent of antiseptic—it all felt too familiar now.
I took a slow, deep breath. I survived. But… what happened? I moved my hand to my stomach, fingers pressing against the fabric of my hospital gown. Pain.
I inhaled sharply, pulling the blanket down. There was a bandage. A fresh incision. My stomach twisted. Did they do it?
Did they really take away my uterus? A shaky breath left my lips. What about my brother? Had he abandoned me? Had my desperate whisper to the nurse gone unheard?
The door creaked open. I snapped my eyes shut, forcing my face into a calm, blank expression.
Footsteps. A familiar scent—Harold. I didn’t move as he came closer, his presence looming over me.
Then, in the softest, most affectionate tone, he murmured, “Charlotte, my love. You’re awake.”
I forced my eyes open, blinking as if groggy. “Harold…?”
His lips stretched into a smile. “You’re okay now. The surgery went well. You just need to rest, and after some therapy, you’ll be back on your feet.”
I swallowed, nodding. Pretend. Act like you know nothing. Then his expression shifted, adopting a look of deep sorrow.
“There’s… something I need to tell you,” he said, sighing as he sat beside me. He reached for my hand, squeezing it gently.
I let him.
“The accident…” he trailed off, his jaw tightening. “It was serious. The damage was… extensive.”
I stayed silent. Waiting.
Then, in a voice thick with regret, he said, “Your uterus had to be removed.”
I gasped, widening my eyes in pretend shock. “W-What?”
Harold nodded solemnly. “I know this is hard. I know we talked about starting a family, but—” He exhaled, eyes filled with what could almost be mistaken as genuine grief. “We’ll figure it out. Even if we can’t have children of our own, I’ll never leave you.”
He cupped my cheek, looking at me as if I was the most fragile thing in the world.
“We can adopt,” he continued. “I know a good orphanage. We’ll raise a child together. It doesn’t change my love for you.”
I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. He was a liar. A manipulator.
Harold played the role of the perfect fiancé all day. He adjusted my pillows, brought me food, held my hand, and whispered sweet reassurances.
I endured it. I smiled, I nodded, I pretended.
But inside? I was counting the seconds until he left. And when he finally did, when the door clicked shut behind him, I exhaled shakily.
The nurse entered moments later. I didn’t waste time.
“Did you call my brother?” I whispered urgently.
She nodded, quickly glancing at the door before sliding a phone into my hands.
It was already ringing.
Then—
“Charlotte?”
A familiar voice. A voice I hadn’t heard in years.
My throat tightened. “Brother…”
He exhaled sharply. “He hurt you, didn’t he?”
Tears welled in my eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I didn’t believe you.” My voice broke. “Please. Take me home.”
A heavy silence. Then—his voice, low and laced with anger.
“It’s also my fault. I should’ve done more. Harold’s hated me ever since that deal. He thought I stole it from him, so maybe… this is part of his revenge.” He paused. “But you don’t deserve this, Charlotte.”
I bit my lip, tears slipping down my cheeks.
He continued, voice firm. “I managed to stop the operation. They didn’t remove anything.”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
“You’ll recover,” he said. “Just do what Harold wants for now. Pretend. Once you’re strong enough, I’ll send a private plane to get you.”
I nodded, gripping the phone. “Okay.”
The call ended.
I wiped my tears quickly. “No one can know about this,” I whispered to the nurse.
She nodded. “Understood. Your brother already made sure I’m on your side.”
That evening, Harold returned, eyes narrowing slightly. “You seem… different.”
I forced a small smile. “I feel a little better.”
His gaze searched mine, then he chuckled. “That’s my girl. You always bounce back fast.”
I tilted my head. “I was just thinking… I kind of want pizza.”
He looked surprised. “Pizza?”
I nodded. “But never mind. It’s late.”
Harold smirked. “You should’ve told me earlier. I’ll get you one tomorrow.”
I smiled, playing along. Then, as if to seal the act, he brought food and fed me like a doting husband.
And I let him. Because I knew this wouldn’t last.
Later that night, when Harold thought I was asleep, I heard him talking on the phone. I stayed still.
“So, you already divorced him, Lily?” he said, voice smug. “Great. That means we can finally get married.”
My blood ran cold. Married? To Lily?
“Oh, about the wedding—Charlotte agreed to a stand-in,” he continued. “But she doesn’t know that the stand-in is you.”
My breath caught. That was it, why he had asked me earlier about continuing the wedding even though I was paralyzed instead of waiting for me to recover. He said it was important for the company, but I know better. This is for Lily. It has always been Lily.
Harold laughed quietly. “She’ll think she’s still marrying me… and by the time she realizes, it’ll be too late. I’ll destroy her. If her brother thought I was done with him, then he was wrong because I am going to use Charlotte.”
