Chapter 1

I’ve had severe claustrophobia since I was a child. Yet, Carter locked me inside a Ferris wheel cabin and left me there for an entire night.

The temperature plummeted between day and night. I almost went into shock from severe hypothermia.

It was only the next morning that Carter finally showed up, dragging Jasmine along to offer a half-hearted apology.

"I'm so sorry, Stella. Jasmine had a sudden car accident last night. I couldn't just leave her alone."

Jasmine stepped forward, grabbing my hand with a fake, childish pout.

"Please don't be mad at Carter, Stella. The sports car he bought me had a sudden brake failure. I accidentally hit someone and killed them. That's why we got delayed and couldn't make it back to get you down."

My phone vibrated. I unlocked it. The top text preview read:

*“Stella, my sweet girl... I don't think Mom will ever see you again.”*

My heart seized violently. A dark, terrifying realization washed over me.

I dialed her number back immediately, but no one answered.

In my sheer panic, my phone's battery died and the screen went black.

At that moment, I forgot all about my anger toward Carter. I grabbed his arm, begging to use his phone. "Carter, let me use your phone. I need to call my mom!"

To my disbelief, he yanked his arm back and refused.

"Your mom isn't glued to her phone 24/7 waiting for your call, Stella. Stop being so dramatic."

"Let's go home. We need to have a serious talk about us."

With that, Carter turned around and walked away, side-by-side with Jasmine.

It was as if I didn't even exist.

As they walked, Jasmine turned her head and flashed me a cold, mocking smirk. A shiver ran down my spine.

The dread in my chest grew heavier. Did something really happen to my mom?

What did that text message mean?

Jasmine claimed she was suffering from "post-traumatic stress" from the accident and was too terrified to go back to her own place.

Of course, Carter was the perfect gentleman. He brought Jasmine right into the apartment we shared and let her stay.

Over the years, Jasmine had always been a constant shadow in our relationship.

She was the heiress of a wealthy family, yet she insisted on chasing a middle-class guy like Carter.

And Carter did everything to please her. Even though he knew she was filthy rich, he drained his savings to buy her a sports car.

Meanwhile, I didn't even have a decent scooter.

Jasmine casually threw my belongings out of the guest room onto the floor.

"Stella, babe, I'm a total germaphobe. Do you mind moving your stuff somewhere else?"

My anxiety was already at its peak, and her attitude made me snap.

"If you're such a germaphobe, why are you still drooling over Carter? I've touched every single inch of his body."

"Don't you find him dirty?"

Jasmine’s face turned red with anger. She stomped her foot and ran straight into the study to cry to Carter.

I didn't care. I rushed to plug my phone into the charger.

The moment it powered on, I called my mom again and again. Just like this morning, it went straight to voicemail.

I couldn't stay here for another second. I had to go home.

I pulled out a suitcase and began packing the clothes Jasmine had thrown onto the floor.

Since she wanted Carter so badly, I was done. I was letting him go.

Carter walked out of the study just as I was zipping up my bag.

His face darkened, and he aggressively snatched the suitcase from my hands.

"Can you have some self-respect for once? Packing up and threatening to leave every time we have a fight—do you really think I'll keep begging you to stay?"

"Stop throwing tantrums, Stella."

"And I heard what you said to Jasmine. You know she’s sensitive. Why do you have to pick on a younger girl?"

He unzipped the suitcase and dumped my clothes back onto the floor.

I looked at him, completely lost. If he loved Jasmine so much, why wouldn't he just let me go?

"Carter, look at yourself. You care about Jasmine way more than you care about me."

"Let's just call it quits before we make the mistake of getting married."

"I need to go home and check on my mom. I don't have time for your games."

But I didn't manage to leave. Carter took my ID and my phone, lock, stock, and barrel.

Then, he began his usual routine—apologizing, begging for forgiveness. Every time he hurt me because of Jasmine, he would beg. And if I didn't forgive him, he would always find a way to make me pay.

Feeling completely defeated, I collapsed onto the couch.

Jasmine made two cups of coffee. She handed one to Carter, sipping the other.

The two of them sat on the balcony, chatting as if I weren't even in the room.

Jasmine chuckled.

"The person I ran over last night was so fragile. Just a tiny bump and bam—dead."

"Fortunately, my dad's lawyers found out she was some distant relative from the countryside. We paid off her family with some cash, and the police wrapped it up."

Carter took a sip of his coffee, looking at Jasmine with pure adoration.

"She was in her late fifties anyway. It was her time. It wasn't your fault, Jasmine. She probably wasn't looking where she was going."

My blood ran cold. A human life meant absolutely nothing to them.

Carter, have you forgotten who you used to be?

You used to cry over a stray dog on the street and bring it home.

While I was lost in my thoughts, Jasmine spoke again.

"But get this—isn't it crazy? The dead woman's heart was a perfect match for my dad's."

"So they did an emergency transplant. My dad got her heart."

"Honestly, though, it's kind of gross. She was so poor and dirty. I hope my dad's body doesn't reject her cheap heart."

I couldn't listen to another word. I got up and locked myself in the bedroom.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I used an iPad to send Carter a Snapchat message.

*"We're done. Whether you agree to it or not, there's nothing left between us."*

Carter didn't reply. He and Jasmine kept laughing on the balcony, talking about how "thrilling" their night had been.

A few minutes later, my iPad buzzed. I thought it was my mom, but it was a message from Jasmine.

*"You've been listening this whole time, Stella. Aren't you sad?"*

*"The woman who died... was your precious mom."*

*"You really are heartless."*