My mission was completed five years ago. But for him, I chose to stay in this world.
It turns out that all of it was a lie. The love he claimed to have for me? Fake. Even deep love can be nothing more than an act.
In the study, the two of them were entangled, oblivious to everything around them.
My heart felt like it was being shredded into pieces. The pain was unbearable, so intense that I could hardly breathe.
I don’t even know how I made it back to the bedroom.
It was almost over.
Just a little longer.
I would leave him soon.
And from that moment on, everything about him would cease to matter to me.
The next morning, the smell of breakfast wafted through the house.
Marcus had gotten up early to make breakfast.
"Baby caught a cold last night..." Vivian’s voice was raspy, like she had been crying for hours.
I stopped at the corner of the stairs. "Baby? Who’s Baby?"
Both of them turned to look at me.
Marcus was quick to recover, his voice steady. "No, it’s just a nickname for children. Vivian was talking about her best friend."
He hurried over, pulling out a stool for me with a forced cheerfulness. "Good girl, I made your favorite steamed buns today. Try it."
He took my hand and sat me down, serving me soup. His movements were careful, as though he feared the soup might burn me. He picked up a small spoon, feeding me bite by bite.
"Good girl," he said softly. "I know you’re on your period. I made this hot soup just for you. After breakfast, we’ll go try on wedding dresses."
He wore an apron, his sharp jawline and defined features adding to his charm. He looked at me with so much tenderness, it almost hurt.
Good man. Good husband. That’s what everyone thought of him.
---
Later, at the bridal shop, as the Maybach rolled to a stop, the clerks rushed to greet us.
"Miss Lila, you look stunning in this dress, like a fairy descending from the heavens. Mr. Rivers truly adores you—he spent one million to have our chief designer make this just for you."
"Yes, Mr. Rivers is handsome and wealthy. You two will be so happy together after the wedding."
They helped me into the wedding dress, their voices dripping with admiration.
I stared at myself in the mirror, the delicate fabric, the sparkling beads. But all I could feel was emptiness.
Ha.
Marcus Rivers—admired by everyone, loved by all—will soon become nothing more than a joke.
I pulled two invitations from my bag, handing them over with a calm smile.
"Eight days from now, I’ll be marrying Marcus. Please come and have a drink with us."
The two clerks gasped, their excitement palpable. They hugged each other, repeatedly thanking me and wishing me a lifetime of happiness with Marcus.
I stepped out of the fitting room, my heart pounding in my chest.
As I emerged, Marcus, who had been seated on the sofa, froze, his eyes wide as he took in the sight of me.
At that moment, the door to another fitting room opened, and Vivian stepped out, wearing a wedding dress of her own.
Her dress was dangerously low-cut, the kind of design that left nothing to the imagination. As she took a step, her eyes darted toward Marcus, and suddenly, the hem of her gown caught on her foot. She stumbled and fell straight into his arms.
The room went silent. Everyone stared, horrified by the scene unfolding before them.
"Is she crazy? How dare she throw herself into Mr. Rivers' arms?"
"I heard the last woman who did that had her arm removed."
"Mr. Rivers and Miss Lila are so deeply in love. When Mr. Rivers was still struggling, Miss Lila stayed by his side. They’ve been together for eight years. There hasn’t even been a rumor about another woman near him."
Marcus' body stiffened, and he instinctively pushed Vivian away. But she held onto his hand, her grip tight, her face contorted in fake distress.
"My foot... it’s twisted... it hurts so much." Her eyes brimmed with tears, making her look like a helpless little bunny.
Marcus paused, his expression unreadable as everyone in the room watched intently.
He quickly regained his composure, his voice smooth as he explained, "This is my relative."
The whispers started immediately.
"So, she’s Mr. Rivers' relative? No wonder she dares to get so close to him. Other women wouldn’t have the courage."
The two clerks exchanged knowing glances, their voices dropping to a hush.
Marcus looked back at me briefly before speaking again, his tone now soft but authoritative. "Be good, wait here for a moment. I’ll help Vivian to the car and have the driver take her to the hospital."
