Chapter 3

The driver apologized profusely for the icy roads. Liam just swore at him to get lost, then grabbed my arm and threw me into the snow.

Avery finally got out of the car, crying as she checked Liam for injuries.

Only after realizing Liam was unhurt did she wipe her eyes and lash out, "You’re so stupid! Liam, she dumped you years ago and wanted nothing to do with you! Why would you risk your life for her?"

The freezing snow on the ground made me realize this wasn't a dream.

I stared blankly at Liam, waiting for an answer.

"Avery, you misunderstood."

He had already regained his composure, hugging Avery and soothing her. "I don't care about her. I just didn't want her to die. I still need her to watch me marry you. I want her to rot in that hospital bed, filled with despair and regret. The longer she suffers, the happier I’ll be."

Avery calmed down, and Liam looked coldly back at me.

"Did you hear that? The only chance you have to survive is to make me happy."

"I’ve already looked into you. Your bank account probably doesn't even have enough for a cab ride home. All those wealthy families you were desperate to marry now treat you like garbage."

"Chloe, who else can you rely on besides me?"

"Yeah. Who else could I rely on?"

When they found out I was terminally ill, the man my parents set me up with immediately backed out.

Then my parents decided I was useless and kicked me out. Not to mention they were bankrupt, but even if they had money, they wouldn't spend a dime on me.

These three years, I didn't even know how I’d made it through.

I’d thought that if Liam was rid of a burden like me, without the threat of my parents, he’d be better off—and every time I thought of that, I’d smile.

But now, even though I’d hidden the truth from Liam, and even though I understood his hatred, the heartbreak was destroying my obsession with him.

I suddenly felt… nothing.

I didn't care what Liam said or did to me anymore.

I just climbed up and started walking back the way I came.

The whistling wind carried Avery and Liam's conversation.

"How can you let her walk back like that? She might freeze to death on the way."

Liam’s laugh was dismissive. "Don't worry about her. She’s faking it."

"The only reason she showed up in front of us today is because she’s out of options and wants my pity. She probably thinks I still care about her like I used to and that I’ll take pity on her and see her through her final days. She’s so good at acting. She fooled me for seven years, made me think she was a good woman..."

I couldn't help but smile bitterly. Liam’s memory of me was completely twisted.

Otherwise, I couldn't understand how he could say I fooled him.

Those seven years we were together were a struggle.

My parents only cared about profit. When I was a kid, they were so busy with business they completely ignored me, leading to a high fever that left me with a chronic illness. I’ve been on meds ever since.

Later, to force me to leave Liam, they cut off my cards right after I graduated and kicked me out of the house.

My salary was barely enough to survive, let alone buy medication. I was often in so much pain I couldn't sleep.

I’d mend Liam’s clothes to distract myself from the pain. I still remember when he saw the little cartoon bear patch I’d sewn on the hem of his first real suit. He was so moved, he said he’d wear that suit for the rest of his life.

Later, I got this terminal illness, which probably had something to do with those hard years.

Then, when Liam’s company started to show promise, and we were past the hard times, I decided I’d marry him regardless of what my parents thought. But then they made a bad business decision, and their company was in a massive crisis.

Someone leaked the secret. My parents, desperate to turn things around, turned on me completely. They threatened me: leave Liam, marry into wealth to pay their debts, or they’d kill Liam.

Now, I didn't have the heart to blame anyone.

Just staying alive took every ounce of my energy. It was a miracle my body had even made it home.

I opened the door to my cramped, narrow rental, and the lights were on.

My parents were there, after all this time.

Their first words made it hard to breathe: "Chloe, we’ve decided to agree to your marriage to Liam."