Rewriting Destiny - Leaving My Boyfriend to Save the Future

My painter boyfriend, Jared Brown, ran eight red lights to rush back and celebrate my birthday with me.

Everyone knew he loved me to the bone, that I was the one he would marry. But that didn’t stop him from pinning another woman in his car, creating art in an entwined embrace.

Suddenly, a shooting star streaked across the night sky.

Amid my friends' warm blessings, I closed my eyes and made a wish on my twentieth birthday.

This time, my wish wasn’t to marry him. Instead, it was to vanish completely from Jared’s world, so he could never find me again.

Dialing a familiar number, I said, “Professor Davis, I’ve made up my mind. I agree to participate in the time capsule experiment at the base.”

In seven days, every trace of me would be erased from this world, leaving Jared to hold onto a robotic replica of me, consumed by grief and regret for the rest of his life.

——

The whole Houston knew that Jared, the genius artist, adored me to no end.

A year ago, to gain his family’s approval for dating me, he knelt silently in the rain for a whole day and night.

Today, on my twentieth birthday, he personally lit up the entire city with fireworks for me.

As the fireworks illuminated the night, what I received wasn’t a romantic surprise but a message from an unknown number, containing an unspeakable video.

[A special gift for your twentieth birthday. Do you like it?]

The short sentence brimmed with provocation.

In the video, Jared’s breathing was heavy, and a woman was pinned in the passenger seat.

With the same hands he used to create his masterpieces, he tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear while wielding his most prized paintbrush.

“Relax, just one final stroke,” Jared said in his familiar magnetic voice, soothing the woman in the passenger seat.

She bit her lower lip, her dazed eyes following his brush’s fluid movements.

As he finished, she couldn’t help but coo softly, “Jared, I...”

Midsentence, she reached out, trying to touch something.

But Jared’s expression darkened instantly. He grabbed her chin with one hand, his tone sharp with warning. “This is not for you to touch. Remember your place.”

“Fine, I won’t touch it…” She feigned annoyance, her voice carrying a mix of coyness and flattery.

“I know that belongs to Lia. When can we move on to the next step?”

Jared let out a resigned chuckle, his expression helpless. With his slender fingers, he pressed against the back of her head and leaned down to kiss her lips.

“You’re so noisy,” he scolded, though there was an imperceptible trace of indulgence in his tone.

The video abruptly ended with her soft moans.

Clutching my phone tightly, I felt like I had plunged into an icy abyss.

As the clock struck midnight, a tear fell from my eye.

“Surprise!”

At that moment, my best friend, Annie, burst into the room with a group of friends.

I hastily wiped away my tears, hiding my phone behind me, and tremblingly turned off the screen, pretending nothing had happened.

“What are you doing out here alone on the balcony, birthday princess?”

Annie gleefully dragged me back into the living room from the seaside balcony.

In front of me was the birthday surprise Jared had meticulously prepared.

A pure, flawless white swan cake that now looked unbearably ironic.

“Hurry, make a wish and blow out the candles. Your boyfriend specifically instructed that wishes made at midnight are the most magical.”

Just then, Jared’s senior, Chester, interrupted her, “Wait, there are still fifty seconds left. That brat is timing it remotely.”

Chester narrowed his eyes mischievously, deliberately dragging out his words as he teased the group. "With such precise timing, I can’t help but wonder… do you guys, uh, check the time for everything you do together too?"

Annie immediately threw a punch his way, her face flushing red as she angrily scolded him. "Chester!! You’re getting more and more shameless!"

Amid their playful banter, I forced a smile, trying not to dampen the lively mood. But no matter how hard I tried, the smile wouldn’t reach my eyes.

Distracted, my gaze landed on the postcard in front of the cake. In Jared’s handwriting were the words [The One and Only in This Life.]

It felt like the cruelest joke.

Jared loved me so much—so much that he’d meticulously planned this birthday "surprise."

I’d once thought we would be blissfully happy forever, stepping into marriage and growing old together.

How laughable that I only now realized I was the biggest fool in the world.

Snapping back to reality, I held back my tears and, amidst my friends’ blessings, clasped my hands together and closed my eyes to make a wish.

Just as I opened my eyes, ready to blow out the candles, the door swung open, and Jared walked in.

The moment I saw him, my eyes stung with unbidden tears. A wave of sour pain spread through me, tightening my chest and making it ache. But I bit my lip and told myself I wouldn’t cry.

"Happy birthday, my darling!" he greeted.

Jared, his hair was still damp, thrusting a large bouquet of roses—symbols of love—eagerly in front of me.

Panting for breath, he grinned and said, "I made it just in time!"

With his usual tenderness, he ruffled my hair, leaned down, and kissed my forehead.

His friends began recounting his efforts, saying he had rushed back immediately after his art exhibition, running eight red lights just to be with me on time.

"Really?" I replied skeptically, my tone laced with disbelief as I pushed him away, a cold smile on my lips.

Jared seemed stunned, pursing his lips momentarily before gripping my shoulders and flashing his signature hopeful smile. "My darling, what birthday wish did you make?"

I smiled faintly. "I’ll tell you in seven days."

After the party ended, Jared went outside to see his friends off while I stayed behind to help clean up with the housekeeper.

"You should rest, miss," the housekeeper urged. "I can take care of everything. If Mr. Brown sees you doing this, he’ll feel bad."

I shook my head, saying it was fine. But as I moved a piece of hard packaging, it unexpectedly sliced my finger.

"Hiss…" I gasped softly as a line of red quickly surfaced.

"Are you okay, darling?"

Jared had returned just in time to witness it. In a few quick strides, he reached me, grabbing my hand with a look of pure concern. Without hesitation, he brought my finger to his lips to suck the blood.

"How could you be so careless? Does it hurt?" He frowned deeply, pulling me on the sofa and carefully tending to my wound.

"Why are you doing this? We have a housekeeper for a reason."

Watching him at that moment, so focused and full of care, I felt a fleeting sense of confusion.

If I hadn’t seen that video, I might still believe I was the happiest woman in the world.

But it was all a lie.

Jared claimed to love me so deeply, yet behind my back, he entangled himself with another woman.

While he went to get the first aid kit, he left his phone beside me.

His password was my birthday. It took just seconds for me to unlock it.

A blank chat window with no previous messages suddenly popped up with a new text, [I left my stockings in your car. Hurry up and bring them back to me.]

Seconds later, the message was deleted.

But I had already seen every single word.

Clutching the phone, I began to tremble uncontrollably.

"What’s wrong, darling? Are you still feeling unwell?"

Jared’s concern was focused entirely on me. He didn’t notice my shaking hands as I discreetly slid his phone face down onto the couch.

"I’m just a bit tired. I think I’ll take a shower." I brushed his hand away gently, standing up from the sofa.

Jared seemed to sense something was off. His gaze followed me with suspicion as I walked away, and then he suddenly turned back toward the corner of the couch where his phone lay.

By the time I entered the bathroom, he had already picked it up, his expression growing tense.

What he didn’t know was that just moments ago, I had implanted a chip into his phone that would sync all his chat logs to mine.

A new message appeared almost immediately. [Why did you delete it? Haven’t I told you not to text me when I'm at home?]

The reply came in an instant. [I was just trying to be thoughtful! If your precious darling finds my stockings in your car, how will you explain it?"]

[You know she’s my one and only, and you still dare to seduce me? Don’t text me again. Tonight, I belong to my darling.]

[Fine, fine, I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll go model for your nemesis instead—let him see your masterpiece from today.]

[Don’t you dare!]

Their backandforth made me physically nauseous.

I bit down hard on my arm to stifle my sobs, tears silently streaming down my face as I stood in the bathroom.

My blurred vision was no match for the endless flood of tears. I wiped at them furiously, but they wouldn’t stop.

I clenched my teeth and tried to comfort myself.

'It’s okay. I’m leaving soon anyway.

Whatever Jared does from now on, no matter how outrageous, it won’t have anything to do with me.

Don’t cry. It’s your birthday today. Grandma said birthday girls shouldn’t cry.

Don’t...'

But just then, a wave of nausea rose from my stomach, and I couldn’t hold it back.

"Ugh!"

Jared heard the noise and rushed to the bathroom door, knocking anxiously. "What’s wrong, darling? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

I turned on the faucet, trying to drown out the sound of my retching as my body convulsed in pain.

Swallowing my tears, I managed to force out a weak reply. "I’m fine."

At that moment, another message from that woman appeared.

[Having a nice birthday, Lia? Want to make a bet? I can have you sleeping alone tonight with just one word.]

I didn’t reply, and she grew bolder, sending one video after another.

The videos showed her and Jared, both unclothed, as he painted her in various intimate settings.

[I’m his exclusive model. These are his masterpieces. One day, I’ll stand beside him on the highest podium. Aren’t you jealous, Lia?]

I still didn’t respond. Unfazed, she continued her taunts.

[Did you know? He said the scar on your chest is disgusting, that you’ll never be fit to be his model.]

She was right—I had a scar on my chest, a memento from three years ago when I shielded Jared from a knife.

Every time he saw it, his brows would furrow instinctively. I had always thought it was out of love and concern.

But now I knew—he found it revolting.

It turned out I was an eyesore to him all along.

The pain in my chest spread throughout my body, numbing me entirely. Outside the door, Jared gripped the handle nervously.

"Open the door, darling. What’s going on?"

The housekeeper, hearing the commotion, hurried over with a bowl of sobering soup.

"Did she drink too much today? Maybe it upset her stomach?" she wondered.

Brimming with frustration, Jared immediately raised his foot to kick open the door.

I composed myself, smoothed out my expression, and stepped out.

Jared froze for a split second before pulling me into his arms. "You’re trying to scare me to death, aren’t you, Lia? Is your stomach acting up again? Let’s go to the hospital right now."

I shook my head. "No need. A bowl of the hangover soup Auntie made will do the trick."

Without hesitation, Jared took the bowl from Auntie, gently blew on it to cool it down, and fed it to me one spoonful at a time. "Come on, drink this. Tonight, I won’t go anywhere. I’ll stay home with you."

I swallowed the soup silently, lips pressed together. Suddenly, his phone buzzed repeatedly. I knew it was her.

Annoyed, Jared put down the bowl and reached for his phone, intending to turn it off. But whatever he saw on the screen made him hesitate. His expression shifted slightly, and he quickly turned to me with an apologetic look.

"Darling, there’s a bit of a mess with the night market’s art exhibition. I..."

Before he could finish, I suppressed my disgust and replied graciously, "Work comes first. You should go. Auntie’s here, so you don’t have to worry about me."

Jared’s furrowed brows smoothed out instantly. He kissed me lightly and hurriedly promised, "Take your medicine and rest early. I’ll be back as soon as I sort this out."

I nodded, and only then did he leave, seemingly relieved.

Once he was gone, a message from her popped up again.

[You lost, Lia. On such an important day, Jared still left you. Want to know what I told him?]

I didn’t respond, but instead sent her the screenshots of their synced chat history.

She went silent for a few minutes before replying,

[Since you’ve seen it all, there’s no point in hiding anymore. Yes, I’m pregnant, and the child is his.]

I tossed my phone aside and went to the bathroom, scrubbing every inch of skin that Jared had touched.

When I came out, she had sent me photos of Jared accompanying her to the hospital.

Almost simultaneously, Jared texted me as well, [Darling, the exhibition issue is a bit tricky. Be a good girl and sleep first. I miss you.]

I couldn’t help but laugh.

He had a child with another woman, yet he still had the audacity to tell me he missed me without feeling the slightest bit of shame.

Countdown: Day Six

Jared didn’t come home at all last night. It seemed becoming a father was an exciting milestone for him.

Early in the morning, I called Professor Davis to confirm the procedures and sign the agreement for the time capsule experiment.

"Lia, this is a serious decision," Professor Davis warned. "Once you enter the time capsule, you might not return to the real world for twenty years. Are you sure you don’t want to discuss this with your family?"

I shook my head. "Since my grandmother passed, I’ve been alone. There’s no one to discuss this with."

"And your boyfriend?" he asked.

"We’ve broken up," I said resolutely.

Professor Davis looked surprised but nodded with a hint of regret. After all, Jared’s grand romantic gestures to win me over back then—kneeling in the rain for a whole day and night against his family’s objections—were widely known.

"And this time...?"

Understanding his concern, I explained my reasoning. "My grandmother’s sudden passing left a scar in my heart. I want to use this opportunity, through the time capsule experiment, to see her again from afar."

Professor Davis nodded thoughtfully and gave me a final word of caution. "The time capsule’s world is still imperfect. Be extra cautious once you’re inside. Above all, you must avoid meeting your other self in that timeline. If their consciousness awakens, it could be fatal to you."

I nodded in understanding.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Jared and that woman emerging from a mall across the street, arms wrapped around each other. The two laughed and teased one another like a pair of lovers madly in love.

This time, I finally got a clear look at her face.

Clenching my coffee cup tightly, I let a cold smirk tug at the corners of my mouth.

So, it was her. She really knew how to put on a show.

Jared made a point to come home during lunch, bringing a Tiffany Victoria necklace to "make amends."

"I’m sorry, darling. The art exhibition kept me up until late last night, and I ended up crashing at the office," he said, his voice filled with regret. His eyes were slightly red, as if he’d been up all night agonizing over something.

"I didn’t balance work and life well," he continued, guiltridden, while carefully fastening the necklace around my neck. He then took my hand gently, brushing his thumb over the back of it in an apologetic, almost ingratiating manner—the way he always did when he tried to win me back after upsetting me.

Suppressing my disgust, I smiled and reassured him. "It’s okay. The exhibition is your labor of love for the past three years. It’s only right to give it your all."

Lowering my gaze, I cut a piece of steak and held it up to his lips. "Eat something. You must be starving after working through the night. Your lips are so dry, and your eyes are bloodshot."

Perhaps sensing the subtle undertone in my words, his expression froze for a moment. Flustered, he swallowed the steak, then leaned his head against my shoulder, feigning affection.

"My darling always worries about me. Just give me a little more time. Once I’ve proven myself, my family will have no choice but to agree to our marriage. And when that day comes, I’ll give you a wedding that you’ll remember for the rest of your life."

In the past, when he talked about our future wedding, my eyes would tear up, and I would dream about it with him.

Now, I realize how laughably naïve I was.

Jared had taught me the hard way. 'When a man lies, he doesn’t even blink.'

I pushed him away, revolted. No matter how expensive the cologne, it couldn’t mask the stench of betrayal.

Countdown: Day Five

I visited my family home for the first time in three years to retrieve some keepsakes my grandmother left behind.

My stepmother greeted me with her usual snide remarks, muttering to my father, "Look who finally remembered her roots. Did that painter boyfriend of hers dump her?"

My father shot her a warning glance and came over, forcing a smile as he tried to defuse the situation. "It’s been so long since we’ve seen her. Why bring up unpleasant things?"

Back then, Jared had slapped my stepmother across the face while standing up for me, a slight she’d never forgiven.

As I stood there, Molly, my halfsister, suddenly appeared and threw herself into my arms, nuzzling me like a kitten. "Sis, you’re finally back! I missed you so much!"

Molly always acted harmless in front of me, but behind my back, she schemed to take everything I had.

When I gently pushed her away, she made sure to tilt her neck just enough for me to notice the faint hickey on her skin.

No need to guess whose it was—Jared’s.

The photos, the chat logs, and now the pregnancy. She was in a hurry to push me out of the picture, desperate to marry Jared before her belly grew too obvious to hide.

After all, my father was obsessed with his reputation. If he found out she was pregnant out of wedlock, he wouldn’t hesitate to disown her.

For a moment, I actually pitied her.

Even without me in the picture, Jared would never marry her.

Who would accept the daughter of a bar dancer, especially someone from a family like Jared’s?

Molly's reckless behavior now was proof enough—her unborn child was destined for a bleak future.

I went upstairs to my grandmother's old room. Everything was still just as she had left it.

At least my father still had a shred of filial piety.

Years ago, when he cheated on my mother, it drove her into depression and turned our home into a battlefield. If not for my grandmother's constant mediation, our family would have crumbled long before.

When my mother passed away, it was my grandmother who took care of me. She was my pillar, the only light in those dark times.

Three years ago, a sudden and tragic accident took her away from me. Shortly afterward, Molly and her mother waltzed into our home with triumph written all over their faces.

It was then I discovered that the little girl who had clung to me for over a decade, calling me "Big Sis Lia," was actually my father’s illegitimate daughter.

Behind our backs, my father had bought them an apartment in a nearby neighborhood. It turned out the late nights he spent away from home was because he had a second family.

I still remember how pathetic it all seemed. Molly, who couldn’t pass her exams, cried her eyes out. I, the fool, volunteered to tutor her at her "home." Her mother praised me endlessly, and I naively called her "pretty auntie," one sweet word after another.

That day, when I returned from her house, I held the candy her mother had given me, excited to share it with my own mom.

But my mother’s reaction was nothing like I expected. She clutched her chest, sat silently on the sofa, and stared at me with anger in her eyes. Then, for the first time ever, she slapped me.

Through my tears, I couldn’t understand her reaction. I cried and accused her of being unfair, unable to grasp why she was so upset.

Now I understand the depth of her despair.

She endured years of betrayal for my sake, a silent sacrifice that left her battling breast cancer and depression until the very end.

Now, with Molly and her mother firmly entrenched in the home that wasn’t theirs, could I truly let them walk away unscathed?

With only a few days left before my departure, why not give them a parting gift?

Clutching my grandmother’s photograph and her treasured tin box, I descended the stairs.

I found Molly nestled in her mother’s arms, the pair of them murmuring sweet nothings.

When they noticed me, my stepmother’s smile vanished, replaced by a sneer.

"Rummaging around up there for so long—I was wondering what treasure you could be after. Turns out it’s just that old woman’s junk box," she taunted.

Her disdainful tone made me pause. Then she added, "Don’t tell me you’re planning to use that as your dowry?"

Hearing what she said, my father shot her a warning look.

"Lia, don’t pay attention to your aunt’s nonsense. You and Molly are both my precious daughters. When you get married, I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure the Brown family respects you."

I gave him a faint smile, still indifferent. "Don’t worry, Dad. Save what little you have left. You might need it to scrape together Molly’s dowry."

The moment the words left my mouth, both my stepmother and Molly’s faces darkened.

My stepmother, teeth clenched, was the first to lash out. Pointing at me, she barked indignantly, "What are you implying, Lia? Your father’s money has been carefully saved for you both! I’ve never spent a penny on myself! Are you accusing me of squandering the family’s wealth?"

Her selfrighteousness faltered as she tried to hide the bracelet glinting on her wrist. Her eyes darted nervously.

My father’s brows furrowed. Suspicion flickered in his gaze as he turned toward her.

Sensing the shift, Molly quickly stepped in. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she pitifully wiped them away.

"Sis, do you have some misunderstanding about my mom? She’s always been frugal, even refusing to buy herself new clothes."

Watching her sob like delicate as a flower in the rain, I couldn’t help but grab an orange from the table.

"Stop crying. I'm just joking, Molly. Come on, have an orange."

Molly glanced down at the orange I had abruptly stuffed into her hands, and her face immediately turned pale as a sheet.

Not even half a second later, she clutched her stomach and began to retch uncontrollably. Covering her mouth and nose, she fled in a panic.

My stepmother, realizing something was amiss, froze in place for a moment before rushing after her.

I smiled knowingly at my father. "Congratulations, Dad."

He looked utterly baffled, like a monk hearing riddles. Without explaining further, I picked up my packed belongings and walked out without looking back.

—

When Jared heard I’d gone to my family home, he immediately drove over to find me.

"Are you okay, sweetheart? Did that woman give you trouble?" He held my hand, genuine concern etched into his expression.

He was referring to my stepmother.

Three years ago, when she first moved into the Lewis household, she deliberately scalded me with hot coffee to assert her dominance.

When Jared found out, his eyes turned red with anger. He not only had her threatened in private but also showed up at my house the next day to deliver a stern warning in person.

From then on, my stepmother and Jared became mortal enemies. She’d often mutter under her breath that we wouldn’t last, cursing him to grow old alone, doomed to a life of solitude.

Thinking about it now, I found it all rather amusing.

If my stepmother ever discovered that her beloved daughter was tangled up with Jared—and pregnant with his child—what kind of expression would she wear?

"What’s on your mind, sweetheart? Did she bully you again?"

I shook my head, assuring him it was nothing. Only then did he relax, his tense face softening with relief.

On the way back, Jared’s phone buzzed incessantly with calls and messages.

I already knew it was Molly. She’d sent me a message earlier as well.

[I’ll give you three days to leave Jared. Otherwise, I’ll release my videos with him online and ruin his reputation!]

I laughed coldly and replied. [What you’re saying doesn’t affect me. If you want to marry him, talk to Jared yourself, dear sister.]

After sending that, I saw her typing a reply, but no message came through. She remained silent, undoubtedly panicked.

She must have realized that I had recognized her. Previously, she’d intentionally blurred her face in those videos she sent me. But what she hadn’t anticipated was that I’d catch them redhanded in public.

Jared kept stealing glances at his phone, but with me sitting next to him, he didn’t dare pick it up.

I graciously reminded him, "You should answer it. It could be something important."

Awkwardly, he chuckled before finally pressing the button on his headset.

"Hello? What is it?"

His tone was curt, tinged with annoyance.

From the other end, Molly’s pitiful and helpless voice came through, audible in my headset as well.

"Jared, my mom found out I’m pregnant. She’s forcing me to get married, or she’ll make me get rid of the baby! What should I do?"

Hearing this, Jared’s focus wavered, and he nearly rearended the car in front of us.

He slammed on the brakes, his arm instinctively reaching out to shield me. Clearly shaken, he quickly apologized.

"I’m so sorry, sweetheart. There’s an urgent issue at work that I need to take care of immediately."

He dropped me off halfway home, hailing a taxi and watching as I drove off before reluctantly turning back.

But I didn’t return home. Instead, I went to the cemetery to visit my grandmother.

I sat by her grave and spoke with her for a long time, pouring out everything that had been weighing on my heart.

As the sky darkened, I finally composed myself, tidied up the area, and quietly left.

On my way home, Annie videocalled me, her expression unusually serious.

“Are we still best friends? How long were you planning to keep this from me?”

Seeing her stern look, I was caught off guard. Had she somehow found out about my agreement to participate in Professor Davis’s time capsule experiment?

“I...” I stuttered.

Before I could figure out how to explain, Annie bombarded me with a flurry of words.

“I know your marriage was inevitable, but how could you not tell me about something as important as being pregnant? Lia, I’m your best friend!”

Pregnant? Me?

Annie’s face was full of grievances, while I was completely confused.

It turned out that one of her friends had seen Jared accompanying Molly to the hospital for a checkup that night and mistook her for me.

Ever since I started dating Jared, Molly had been copying my style of dressing and grooming. Given it was late at night and dimly lit, it wasn’t surprising they’d gotten it wrong.

I chuckled softly but didn’t bother to clarify.

—

Countdown: Day Four

At eight in the evening, a video of Jared accompanying his "girlfriend" to a prenatal checkup was suddenly released online by the paparazzi.

The news spread like wildfire, with headlines claiming that Jared and I were about to get married.

Looking visibly anxious, Jared rushed to explain himself to me.

“Sweetheart, it’s not what you think. She’s just an employee. She wasn’t feeling well that day, so I gave her a ride. That’s all.”

I ignored him, focusing instead on packing my things. Tomorrow was the first pretest for entering the capsule.

To prevent any external interference, Professor Davis had gone to great lengths to create a humanoid replica of me. On the day I officially entered the time capsule, the replica would be used in a staged "traffic accident" to fake my death.

Seeing me neither crying nor angry, Jared grew visibly flustered.

He shuffled closer to me but hesitated to get too near.

I couldn’t help but find it ironic. The evercomposed Jared, always so confident in matters of love, now looked uneasy and unsure.

“Sweetheart, please don’t stay silent. If you’re upset, hit me. Do whatever you want to punish me, as long as it makes you feel better.”

Expressionless, I walked onto the balcony and answered Annie’s call.

She said she needed to talk to me urgently and asked me to come downstairs.

I went down and looked around but couldn’t find her.

As I pulled out my phone to call her back, the night sky suddenly lit up with bursts of fireworks.

I turned to see Jared holding a bouquet of flowers, kneeling on one knee to propose.

At that moment, Annie and a group of friends appeared out of nowhere, surrounding us with cheerful laughter.

Everyone started chanting excitedly, “Say yes! Say yes!”

All around us were the paintings Jared had created for me over the years, arranged beautifully under twinkling lights, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

I had to admit, this was the proposal I’d dreamed of—romantic and heartfelt.

He held out a dazzling diamond ring, his hands trembling slightly as he offered it to me. His eyes, filled with deep affection and nervous anticipation, locked onto mine.

“Lia, I’ve made up my mind. Tonight, I’m officially proposing to you. Will you marry me?”

I froze, my throat tightening, and my nose stinging with emotion.

“...I will.”

As soon as I said those words, relief and pure joy spread across Jared’s face.

He carefully slipped the ring onto my finger, his eyes misting over as he kissed the back of my hand.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood and pulled me into a tight embrace.

At that moment, all our friends surrounded us, celebrating with cheers and laughter.

Reflecting on our three years together, it felt like a dream to finally reach this milestone. Marrying Jared and building a home of our own had always been my ultimate goal.

But there was something he still didn’t know.

That wedding... I wouldn’t be able to attend it after all.

Jared’s sudden proposal had completely derailed Molly’s carefully laid plans. That night, she dropped all pretense, screaming at me through voice messages, trying to provoke me with video clips of her and Jared.

I paid her no mind, replying with just one sentence. [Be careful not to stress the baby.]

Countdown: Day Three

Early in the morning, Jared was brimming with excitement as he dragged me to try on wedding dresses. While we were busy planning, Molly unexpectedly showed up, throwing herself into my arms and calling me “sister.”

Jared’s face darkened instantly. He yanked her away from me and pulled her aside, his voice low but furious, as if facing an imminent threat.

“I’ve warned you to stay away from Lia. What do you think you’re doing now?”

Molly wrenched her wrist free from his grip, feigning the look of a wounded deer. She quickly darted behind me, clutching my wrist with her delicate hands. Her voice was soft and pitiful.

“Sis, tell him. Tell him what we really are to each other.”

She looked at me, then at Jared, whose expression had grown even colder. A triumphant smirk flickered across her face.

I remained composed, brushing her hand off lightly. Turning to Jared, I said, “Oh, I forgot to mention—she’s my halfsister.”

My words stunned him. He had no idea about my connection to her.

I’d always kept my distance from my biological family. As for Jared, he’d only met my stepmother once, during their infamous altercation years ago. He had no reason to know about Molly until now.

Shock registered on his face, but it was quickly overshadowed by the rising storm of hatred in his gaze toward her—sharp and icy as a blade. Even so, he forced himself to suppress his rage in front of me, managing a strained, awkward smile.

“...You’ve never mentioned having a sister before.”

I replied nonchalantly, “According to the household registry, I’m an only child.”

Years ago, when I discovered the truth about my father’s relationship with Molly’s mother, I distanced myself from that cold, loveless house. If not for my grandmother, I would have changed my surname too.

As for Molly, despite her many attempts to feign closeness and curry favor with me, I’d never considered her family. I saw no reason to bring her up in front of Jared.

Just then, a shop assistant approached with a wedding dress for me to try on.

“Go on, try it,” Jared said, eager to dissolve the tension. He picked out his favorite dress and handed it to me.

Before I could take it, Molly snatched it from his hands.

“Sis, this dress is so beautiful! Can I try it on?” she asked.

Jared’s gaze turned icy, but I merely smiled indifferently.

“Suit yourself.”

Molly beamed triumphantly, clutching the dress as she skipped off to the fitting room.

As she disappeared, Jared clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles white. But when he turned back to me, he forced a guilty smile.

“That dress wasn’t all that nice anyway, sweetheart. How about you try this one instead?”

At that moment, my phone rang. Seeing it was Professor Davis, I seized the opportunity. Handing the wedding dress back to Jared, I smiled apologetically.

“Sorry, I need to take this.”

Jared froze, the dress still in his hands, as I stepped out without a backward glance.