Chapter 3

Sienna suddenly choked on her drink.

"Tristan... I... I was just so happy. I forgot to hide my Instagram post from Chloe."

"It's fine. She was going to find out sooner or later anyway," Tristan said, rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.

"Chloe, since you already know, I won't lie to you."

He lifted Sienna's left hand, showing off their matching platinum wedding bands.

"Sienna and I are legally married. For her remaining days, I will stand by her as her husband."

"Okay," I said.

My voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.

Tristan blinked, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.

"But I also have something to tell you," I continued, looking him dead in the eye.

"I'm getting married too."

The living room fell into a dead silence.

"You? Married?" Tristan's lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Do you even know which man you're marrying?"

"It doesn't matter. He recognizes me. And he doesn't play sick games to test me."

Hearing this, Tristan burst into a harsh laugh.

"Stop playing around, Chloe. You've been obsessed with me for ten years. Is there even another man in your life?"

"You don't even have the social skills to meet anyone else. How are you going to get married? By spraying them with perfume so you can sniff your way to the altar?"

Sienna piped up in a soft, patronizing voice. "Chloe, I know you're hurting, but you shouldn't lie about something like this..."

Tristan waved his hand dismissively, picking Sienna up in his arms.

"Chloe, I am Sienna's husband now. So, you'll be sleeping in the guest room tonight."

"No, Tristan, please," Sienna protested weakly, clinging to his neck. "I'm dying anyway. I don't want to ruin your relationship. I'll just sleep on the couch."

Tristan only held her tighter. "Sienna, you are my legal wife. This penthouse is your home. The mistress of the house does not sleep on the couch."

With that, he walked straight into the master bedroom, closing the door without giving me a single backward glance.

My knees buckled, and I sank onto the floor.

I looked around the living room. Every single piece of furniture, every painting, every curtain had been carefully chosen by me for our future home.

But in the end, there was no room for me in this house.

I stumbled to my feet, heading to the kitchen cabinet to find some fever medicine.

From the master bedroom, Tristan's soft, gentle murmurs drifted out.

The bitter taste of the pill dissolved on my tongue.

He had never once spoken to me in that tone.

After a quick shower, I crawled into the small guest bed, wrapping the duvet tightly around myself.

Just sleep, I told myself. In a few days, you'll leave this place forever.

The next morning, I woke up just as the sun was rising.

My head felt heavy and hot, but sleep was impossible.

I walked out to the living room. The bathroom door was slightly ajar, and I could hear Sienna's muffled voice from inside.

"Richard, I have a follow-up appointment in a few days. Make sure you forge the medical records perfectly. Swap my meds for vitamins. Tristan doesn't know anything about medicine; he believes whatever I say."

Sienna's voice was low, but in the quiet morning, every word cut through the air like a knife.

"Once Tristan helps pay off my family's debts, you'll get a huge cut of the money."

My hands began to shake uncontrollably. I pushed the bathroom door wide open.

Sienna gasped, her eyes widening in temporary panic.

But she quickly recovered, hanging up the phone and casually dabbing pale foundation onto her face to make herself look sicker.

"Why... why are you lying to him?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice from cracking.

"Because... I need the money," Sienna said, putting down her makeup brush and looking at her deathly pale reflection in the mirror with satisfaction.

"Honestly, I was surprised too. You chased him for ten years, but all it took was one phone call from me for him to pay my debts and abandon you. I guess he never really loved you, did he?"

A metallic taste rose in my throat. "Stop lying to him. I... I can help you pay your debts. Just stop this."

Sienna stared at me, then burst into a mocking laugh.

"You? Help me? Chloe, did you forget? Before my family went bankrupt, we were worth ten times what your family is!"

She stepped closer, looking down at me with pure disdain. "Even if I have to live like a dog now, I don't need your pity!"

Suddenly, Tristan's voice echoed from the hallway.

"Sienna? Are you in there? Are you feeling okay?"

Sienna's eyes narrowed instantly.

With a sudden, violent sweep of her arm, she knocked all her cosmetics off the counter. Bottles shattered on the tile floor as she threw herself down, screaming.

"I'm sorry, Chloe! I know I don't have much time left! Once Tristan and I have our wedding, I'll go away and die in peace! I won't get in your way anymore!"

The bathroom door was kicked open with a loud bang.

Tristan lunged inside, shoving me hard against the wall as he scooped a sobbing Sienna into his arms.

"Chloe! Sienna is supposed to be your best friend! How could you be so cruel—"

Tristan's voice suddenly cut off.