The night before my wedding, I was falsely accused of pulling out Justin’s grandmother’s oxygen tube.
He knew I was innocent, yet not a single word of defense came from his lips.
Instead, he threatened me with prison if I didn’t sign a contract agreeing to work as a servant in the Harlow Family for one hundred days.
When the hopelessness became unbearable and I was ready to end it all with a bottle of sleeping pills in my hand, he finally told me that his childhood sweetheart had been diagnosed with a terminal illness overseas. Less than three months to live.
I stood there silently as he ended his call with the doctor.
He wanted to stage a performance and I decided to play along.
The wedding went on as planned. The two of them embraced and kissed deeply under the cheers of the guests.
Three months later, I vanished, leaving behind a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
He wept bitterly.
"Tell me you were lying to me…"
——
In the hospital, Justin Harlow clutched his grandmother’s death certificate, his eyes bloodshot.
"Don’t give me excuses. Grandma was under your care, so when something happened, you’re the one responsible."
"Starlene, cancel our wedding and tell all your relatives immediately."
"Replace the bride with Rhea. And sign this contract as an apology."
Just three sentences. That was all it took to shatter me.
I leaned against the cold wall, my vision blurring with unshed tears.
"What if I refuse?"
"The hospital corridors have surveillance cameras. You know I didn’t do it."
I couldn’t hold it in. I screamed at him, but his anger only burned hotter.
"Who would believe you? The surveillance footage has already been deleted. What you say now means nothing."
"Sign the contract or go to jail. Your choice."
I glanced past him toward the surveillance room he had just exited.
"Fine. I’ll sign."
My pride was stubborn and my dignity refused to kneel.
To be forced to serve him and his childhood sweetheart like a slave? To suffer false imprisonment? I would rather die.
Before leaving the hospital, I bought a bottle of sleeping pills.
On his third attempt to reach me, Justin kicked open my door and stormed in.
"What the hell are you trying to do?"
"I just asked you to take care of Rhea for three months. Must you make this so difficult?"
The bottle of sleeping pills shattered on the floor, its contents scattered everywhere.
Behind me, Rhea Winslet ran out crying in a nightgown.
Justin held back his fury and then threw a diagnosis report at me.
"Rhea was diagnosed with a terminal illness abroad. She has less than three months left. I don’t trust anyone else to care for her except you."
"I promise, just three months. After one hundred days, you’ll still be the only lady of the Harlow Family."
"My only wife, in this lifetime."
He thought I was clueless about Rhea faking her illness.
Well, I didn’t bother to expose her either.
If he wanted a stage to perform, then I would play along until the very end.
Wiping away my unshed tears, I curved my lips into a faint smile.
"All right. I'll do that."
After a sleepless night, dawn broke. Justin finally coaxed Rhea into leaving the hospital and brought her home.
He smiled tenderly at her, speaking with gentle patience.
"This is the maid I personally arranged for you. You’re not used to being back in the country yet, so feel free to ask her for anything you need."
Her eyes lit up with a shy smile.
"Last night… I thought you two…"
"No. I didn’t do anything with Starlene. There’s only you."
"During the six years you were abroad, I remained single. Besides Starlene as a maid, there was no other woman around me. If you don’t believe me, feel free to check my phone anytime."
Then, he handed her his phone.
"The password is still the same as when we were together."
The two of them grew closer, their shoulders brushing, their gazes locking. Rhea’s cheeks flushed pink.
She quickly pressed a gentle kiss to Justin’s lips.
"I didn’t mean it like that. How could I ever not trust you?"
