The Words I Left Behind

William Graham and Jasmine Spencer had been at odds since they were kids. But that year, fate played a trick on them—out of all the eligible matches in their circle, only the two of them were left. William swore he would rather die than marry Jasmine. That piqued her interest. She said, "Great. Then I guess I'm definitely marrying you. Go ahead and drop dead." On their wedding day, William humiliated her by releasing dozens of chickens at the ceremony. With a flat look, Jasmine picked one up and called it "Darling". Just like that, William lost all interest in the joke. He looked at the woman who insisted on marrying him and sneered. "You'll regret this." Three years into the marriage, Jasmine caught William cheating for the ninety-ninth time. It was only then that she finally understood— So this was the kind of regret William had meant. Chapter 1 After a long overnight flight, Jasmine Spencer stood pale and exhausted, staring at the mess of clothes scattered across the floor. The strong, musky smell in the room made her stomach churn. William Graham was shirtless and lounging against the headboard. Meanwhile, the woman in his arms was wearing Jasmine's silk nightgown. His hand roamed over the woman's body, and the smirk at the corner of his lips deepened when he saw Jasmine. He raised an eyebrow, grinning like a jerk as he looked straight at her, who had just caught him in the act. "Well? Looks better on her than it ever did on you, right?" William chuckled. "If I'm not mistaken, this makes the ninety-ninth time. After all this, you still won't agree to the divorce?" Jasmine rubbed her stomach slowly, her movements dull and mechanical. For the first time, she didn't lash out at William for being so cruel. "Get dressed. We need to talk." William snorted at her retreating back. "Talk? What's there to talk about between us?" Jasmine paused, but didn't turn around. "About the divorce." William's mouth opened in surprise. The woman in his arms smiled brightly. "Finally! Mr. Graham, you're finally getting what you wanted!" Jasmine waited in the study. Barely five minutes had passed when William walked in, fully dressed. It was clear—he couldn't wait to end things. "You're not pulling my leg, right?" Jasmine saw the contempt in his eyes, plain as day. She didn't answer. Instead, she slid the divorce papers across the desk toward him. "Take a look. If everything looks fine, you can sign it." William picked up the divorce papers, his eyes filled with doubt. He didn't believe for a second that Jasmine would actually go through with it. The Spencer family wasn't what it used to be, so he figured Jasmine would cling to him until the end, draining him of every last drop—whether of money, energy, or dignity. But when he finished reading the agreement, he froze. Not only was Jasmine not asking for anything, she was even giving up the house they lived in. He frowned. "You're serious? You're not planning to show up at the Graham Mansion and cause a scene later, are you?" Jasmine stayed calm the entire time. "I'm serious. I won't cause any trouble. Don't worry." After hearing that, William didn't hesitate anymore. He quickly signed his name at the bottom. As his pen left the page, a smile tugged at his lips. The weight in his chest finally lifted. "Well, now that it's signed, let's go get it done at the courthouse. 30 days mandatory waiting period or not, I don't want to waste another minute with you." "Right now?" Jasmine frowned slightly. "Ha! I knew it—you're backing out already, aren't you?" A sharp pain twisted in Jasmine's stomach, but when she saw the smug look on William's face… "Let's go." She didn't hesitate anymore either. They went straight to the office and filed the paperwork. When the clerk handed them a form, she was still explaining, "If either of you changes your mind within the next 30 days—" "No way that's happening," William cut her off, tossing the pen on the desk. The grin on his face grew wider. Jasmine came out much later, only to see that William's car was still there. He was parked by the curb and honked at her. The window was half down. William took off his sunglasses, looking relaxed as he threw a sarcastic jab her way. "Jasmine, come on. We were once married, and that counts for something. No need to panic about your next meal ticket—this gentleman here seems perfectly suitable." As he spoke, he handed her a business card, clearly hoping to embarrass her. But to his surprise, Jasmine suddenly reached out and took it. "Alright. I'll think about it." Then, she calmly turned and walked away. Her actions left William stunned. He had no idea. 30 days. It wasn't just the countdown for the divorce waiting period. It was also Jasmine's countdown to death. Chapter 2 Jasmine wandered the streets, clutching the doctor's diagnosis—a death sentence. "So you're saying… I only have about 30 days left?" "I'm very sorry, Ms. Spencer." It had been a gut-punching feeling to hear those words—one that wasn't the first time Jasmine had felt it. The Spencer family was barely holding together now, and all the pressure had fallen on her shoulders. When she had felt completely alone in the past, she had called William. She thought that even if they just argued or bickered a little, it might still make her feel better. However, William rejected every single call. When she kept trying, he finally got annoyed and just turned off his phone. The next time she saw him, he was in their bed with a young model, both of them naked. William never saw how helpless she really was. All he saw was a face he was sick of. He deliberately kissed the model in front of her—deep and messy, the kind that left a string of spit at the corner of their mouths. It stung Jasmine's eyes. "So? Want a divorce?" Jasmine forced herself to stay calm and ran out of that room. In Jovelle City, pretty much everyone knew she and William had never gotten along. They fought every time they saw each other. And nearly everyone believed Jasmine hated William—just like William hated her. Jasmine touched the ring on her finger—the one William had reluctantly given her after they got married. When he handed it to her, he had thrown the box so hard it hit her in the face. At first, Jasmine hid her feelings well—until the night William forced her to act like a real wife. In the heat of the moment, his hand brushed against the ring on her finger. William suddenly burst out laughing. "Jasmine, don't tell me… you've been refusing to divorce me because you actually like me? "If that's the case, then you'd better forget those thoughts now. Not only will I never like you—I can't stand you!" There was never any baseless hatred—William disliked her for concrete reasons. He didn't like her because the Graham and Spencer families had arranged their marriage way too early. And because of that, his first love had been forced to leave the country. That night, Jasmine stared at the ceiling until the sun came up. Her mom had passed away early. No one ever taught her how to hold onto someone she loved. As a kid, all she knew was how to use sarcasm and sharp words to get William's attention. But after that? Jasmine blinked her dry eyes. Her phone kept buzzing, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen—William was flooding their group chat with smiley face emojis. [What's the occasion? You seem pretty thrilled, Mr. Graham.] William didn't reply. He just sent a photo of the signed divorce waiting period form. That one picture was like a bomb going off—it blew up the whole chat full of quiet lurkers who had just been watching the drama unfold. [You really split? Jasmine actually agreed?] [This is amazing news! William, you finally got rid of that burden!] [Time to celebrate! You said just last week that you couldn't even sleep after seeing her face every night. Now you're free—switch out ten or twenty women if you want, no one's stopping you!] [But isn't it weird? William's hooked up with so many models, and Jasmine put up with it all. Why's she suddenly not putting up with it now? You think she's messing with you? What if she ghosts you at the end and you can't even file the papers?] That comment made the whole group fall silent. Right after that, Jasmine's phone started ringing. "Jasmine, you're not playing me, right? After the 30-day waiting period, you're really going to show up and get our divorce finalized?" Jasmine's pale lips curled up into a faint smile, and she spoke softly into the phone. "Yeah. I'm playing you. What are you going to do about it?" Chapter 3 On the other end of the line, William was breathing heavily. Jasmine figured if she were standing in front of him right now, she wouldn't even make it through the month—he would probably strangle her on the spot. Before William could start yelling, she laughed again. "William, I'm not messing with you this time. But I have one condition." William didn't say a word. Jasmine didn't care and kept going. "I want you to do ten things with me. Once they're done, I'll go with you to sign the divorce papers. I promise—I'll disappear from your world for good." That promise was tempting. William frowned. "Ten is too much. Five." Jasmine chuckled. "Fine." The first thing? She wanted William to take her to a charity gala. She dressed to the nines. When William came to pick her up, his fingers were flying over his phone screen, eyes locked on it. He didn't even glance at her once. Jasmine didn't mind. She knew better than to expect anything sweet out of his mouth. But oddly enough, once she got into the car, William finally looked up at her—and frowned. "Did you lose weight? Your face looks pale. Honestly, you look awful." Jasmine curled her fingers slightly but stared straight ahead, saying nothing. When they got out of the car, William grabbed her hand. Jasmine flinched, and he sneered. "What? We've held hands before. We've done way more than that. Don't act all shy now." Her icy hand was wrapped in the heat of his palm. It wasn't the first time William had held her hand—but it was the first time he had ever done it on his own. People around them stared, wide-eyed at the strange, sudden harmony between them. After the auction started, Jasmine spotted something she really wanted. She instinctively raised her paddle—only to have the man beside her beat her to it. It was a painting by a late foreign artist, and many people in the room liked it. The bidding quickly heated up. But in the end, it was William who won it with the highest bid. A strange warmth passed through Jasmine's chest. "William—" "Ship the painting to the Farrell family's residence in Norwyn City." Jasmine's hand, halfway raised, froze in the air. So, the painting wasn't for her. A wave of bitterness rose in her throat, threatening to drown her whole. She abruptly stood and walked toward the exit. William frowned and followed, grabbing her arm in one quick stride. "It's not over yet—where do you think you're going?" Jasmine tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong. William was losing patience. "You're the one who asked me to come here, so why are you throwing a fit now? You're seriously sick!" That last line hit Jasmine hard. "Yeah. I'm seriously sick." She yanked her arm free and walked off without looking back. Jasmine didn't contact William for a week. She also moved out of the home they had lived in since they had gotten married. At first, William didn't care. However, the thought of the four things she still wanted him to do made him uneasy. It felt like if he didn't finish them quickly, Jasmine might suddenly cling to him again. Unable to hold back, he finally called her. Jasmine had just finished a round of chemotherapy when her phone rang. Her condition was getting worse. Her whole body ached down to the bone. "There are still four things left, Jasmine. Don't try anything stupid." Jasmine went quiet for a moment. "I want to go to the country of Zaryen." William frowned. "Right now?" "Yeah. Right now." William seriously thought Jasmine was out of her mind. But for the sake of the divorce—for the sake of getting rid of her—he really did book a flight to Zaryen right away. Jasmine was bundled up tight. By the time she arrived, William was already annoyed from waiting. "What's your deal? I offered to pick you up, but you wouldn't let me. Then, you show up late." He kept grumbling. Jasmine didn't say much. She just handed him her suitcase. "You talk too much." William sneered, but he took everything from her hands without complaint. Even he didn't realize how natural it felt. Just as the plane was about to board, William's phone suddenly rang. Jasmine stood at the gate, looking at him from across the way. William's hand clenched around the phone, and his whole body went stiff. "Sorry, Jasmine. I can't go to Zaryen with you." Chapter 4 Right after he said that, William turned and ran out of the airport. Jasmine numbly pulled out her phone. Just as she had guessed, the top post on her feed was from Jennifer Farrell. The latter didn't write anything—just shared a painting. And that was all it took for William to walk away from Jasmine and the promise he made. "Miss, we're about to close the gate." Snapping out of it, Jasmine stopped looking in his direction and turned to go the opposite way. When she landed in Zaryen, Jasmine got a text from William. [I'll be two days late. Go have fun first.] Jasmine was a little surprised. He was going to be late instead of just ditching her completely. Guess he really was desperate to break free from her. Jasmine didn't wait. She found a local guide and joined a tour group. However, she couldn't keep up. Most of the time, she was resting alone in her room. By the time William showed up, she had already packed her suitcase and was ready to leave. "Jasmine, I ditched so much work to come all the way out here and go along with your madness—you think this is funny?" He kicked over her suitcase in frustration. As her clothes scattered across the floor, Jasmine let out a bitter laugh. "Go along with me? Really? Isn't Jennifer right next door?" William froze, and his voice wavered a little when he next spoke. "Jennifer's just here to sketch. You don't need to pick a fight with her every time." Jasmine's fingers curled slightly, but she didn't say another word. She just bent down and started picking up her clothes. "Am I interrupting something?" Jennifer suddenly appeared in the doorway, and the anger on William's face vanished instantly. It was replaced by concern and urgency. "You said you weren't feeling well—why are you up?" "Oh, I can't just lie around forever. What were you and Ms. Spencer talking about? I heard loud voices, so I thought I'd come check." When William heard Jennifer's words, he glanced at Jasmine. "It's nothing. You hungry? I'll grab you something to eat." Jennifer gave a small, shy nod. William turned to leave, but then he suddenly stopped. He looked at Jasmine, clearly annoyed. "What about you? What do you want to eat?" Jasmine had just finished packing the last of her clothes, and even that small bit of effort had left her sweating. She could hear the shift in his tone, how he flipped back and forth. She replied quietly, "Nothing. I'm good." The second William heard her refusal, his face darkened. "Suit yourself. Starve for all I care. You look like a ghost already!" Then, the door slammed shut behind him, and only Jasmine and Jennifer were left in the room. It wasn't Jasmine's first time meeting her. The Farrell family had made their money fast—new money. Naturally, the Graham family looked down on them. And Jennifer, with her proud personality, had always thought the Graham family was arrogant and snobbish. Back then, she had stormed off in anger, hoping to make a name for herself overseas. Now she had come back with her tail between her legs. And the first thing she did? Rekindle things with her old flame. As someone watching from the outside, Jasmine found the whole thing pathetic. And now that William was gone, Jennifer didn't even bother pretending. "Long time no see, Ms. Spencer." As Jennifer spoke, she kicked over Jasmine's suitcase. All the things Jasmine had carefully sorted and folded were ruined in an instant, just like that. Seeing her effort so easily ruined lit a fire in Jasmine's chest. She knew Jennifer was doing it on purpose—trying to get under her skin. And it worked. Without hesitation, Jasmine slapped her across the face. William walked in just in time to see the red handprint blooming across Jennifer's cheek, and her watery eyes. He was holding a bowl of stew meant for Jasmine, but it crashed to the ground. Without asking a single question, he stormed over and struck Jasmine hard across the face. "Jasmine, know when to stop!" Jennifer let out a soft sob and looked up at William. "It was my fault. I knocked over her suitcase by accident. I know I'm not welcome here. I'll leave." After saying that, Jennifer rushed out the door. William didn't hesitate and turned to follow her, but Jasmine suddenly called out. "William!" He paused. "The third thing: Stay." Chapter 5 William clenched his fists and glared at Jasmine. Jasmine knew exactly what he was thinking. She let out a heavy breath, feeling all the strength leave her body as she sank to the floor. Rubbing her ear where he had struck her, she looked at the mess of clothes on the ground and slowly started folding them again. "You're just waiting for the divorce, right? Then you'll marry Jennifer? "Two more things to go after this. Don't tell me you're going to quit now. Honestly, I wasn't happy with how you handled the first two. You're not backing out on me, are you?" After she finished speaking, she looked up and met his eyes. His dark eyes were full of mockery. "Jasmine, knowing your place is important. Too bad you don't get that." "I agreed to this third thing, but remember this: the Spencer family can't protect you anymore. If you touch Jennifer again, I'll make sure you die a miserable death!" Jasmine lowered her head and laughed bitterly. Anyone could talk tough. Back when they fought the hardest, William had never been a match for her. Not to mention, he would soon get his wish, and he wouldn't have to lift a finger. William called Jennifer to calm her down, and then he arranged for her to return home early. Jasmine watched the way he carefully protected Jennifer, and it felt like swallowing bitter medicine. It hit her—William knew how to love. He just didn't love her. When William returned, Jasmine still hadn't finished packing. He couldn't stand it anymore. He grabbed her and started picking up her things, bending down to fold them himself. "Pathetic. It's just this little bit of stuff, and you can't even get it together. With how you're acting like you don't even have enough strength for this, anyone would think you're about to die." Jasmine suddenly felt a bit playful and decided to tease him. "Yep, I'm about to die. So what? Will you regret how you treated me when I'm gone?" William froze for a second. When he looked up again, his face was full of mockery. "Regret? You've got it all wrong. If you die, I'll throw a party, fireworks for three days straight, and feast with everyone in Jovelle." Jasmine laughed through her tears, clutching her stomach. "William, your words are as sharp as ever. Given that we've shared a bed before, you could at least spare me the venom." Jasmine didn't linger in Zaryen. She could feel her body reaching its limit. After returning to Jovelle City, she spent another week in bed. Each time she had chemotherapy, her hair fell out at a noticeable rate. When William called, pushing her about the last two things, she locked herself in the bathroom and cried the entire afternoon. Once she finished crying, she went to the mall to buy a wig, covered in sunglasses and a hat. "Did you cut your hair?" Jasmine didn't answer him. She simply walked straight to his car. "Let's go." William furrowed his brows, instinctively reaching for her wig, but she quickly pulled away. "Hurry up, are we going or not?" William got in the car and started the engine. "Just a heads-up, there's less than a week left until the waiting period ends. You better figure out the last two things quickly." Jasmine didn't respond. Her gaze was fixed on the window. She had been so busy before, busy fighting with William, trying to get his attention, that she had missed so much of the beauty of Jovelle City. She thought that if she stood on the same level as him, they could walk side by side and enjoy the view together. But the truth was, when a man didn't love a woman, even standing side by side wouldn't make him notice her. But for someone he loved, he would bend down and lower himself just to be with her. Jasmine's fourth request was simple—she wanted William to go with her to an amusement park. "That's childish!" William glanced at her, looking unimpressed. Chapter 6 Jasmine looked down at her hands in her lap. She had seen William take Jennifer to the amusement park before—saw him patiently pose for photos with her, again and again. This wasn't about comparing herself to Jennifer. It was just that going to the amusement park with William had been a childhood dream of hers. This fourth thing on her list was for the little Jasmine who never got to do it. William was there in body, but his mind was somewhere far away. His eyes stayed glued to his phone. Jasmine had to call his name four or five times before he finally looked at her. When night fell, William urged her to leave three separate times, but she ignored him. Then, the lights on the Ferris wheel lit up in the distance. Her eyes lit up too. She pointed toward it, full of hope. "Just ride this one with me. After that, we can go." William froze when he saw the faint glow in her eyes. After a moment, he pressed his lips together and said flatly, "Even if the Ferris wheel takes us to the very top, I still won't fall in love with you." The silence stretched, the seconds ticking by. Jasmine's eyes stung, and she turned her head quickly. "What are you talking about? I've just never ridden one before, that's all." Just then, William's phone rang, cutting through the moment. On the other end, Jennifer said something in a rush. After hanging up, William left again in a hurry. This time, he didn't even apologize. As the Ferris wheel rose to the very top, Jasmine looked down at the city glowing below her. Tears slid down her cheeks as she whispered, "Happy birthday, Jasmine." - After that day, Jasmine was rushed to the hospital with a high fever. Machines beeped steadily by her ear, but to her, it was as if the world had gone completely silent. In her fevered dreams, Jasmine thought she saw William standing by her bed. But even after seeing her in such a half-dead state, there wasn't a hint of pity in his eyes. Instead, he gave her a wide, cruel smile. "Serves you right. Karma always comes for the wicked. You might as well die now, then I won't have to waste my time finishing that stupid last task of yours." In the dream, Jasmine was so angry that her teeth clenched. But her heart? It ached painfully. She forced herself to wake up with a sharp breath. However, the person she wanted to see wasn't there. "Thank God, you're finally awake. Do you know how long you've been out?" Jasmine had always been strong-willed, and the world she lived in was full of people who only cared about power and reputation. The Spencer family had fallen, and William clearly didn't care about her. Everyone knew he would be the first to laugh at her downfall, so they had all picked sides long ago and cut ties with her. The only person left at her side was a close friend who was also the nurse who had been quietly caring for her, Tania Judd. When she heard Tania's words, she looked over in panic. "What day is it today?" Tania thought Jasmine was upset again about how little time she had left. She tried to hide her expression and spoke gently, trying to comfort her. "The 28th. Jasmine, you—" Jasmine cut her off. "My wig. Where is it?" Tania paused for a second, surprised. "It's right here. I kept it safe for you." Jasmine's fingers curled slightly as she took the wig from her hands. Her gaze was lowered, her thoughts unreadable. "While I was out, did anyone come to see me?" Her voice was cautious, and her fingers clutched the wig a little tighter when she spoke. Tania felt a dull ache in her chest at the sight of her like this, but she didn't want to lie to Jasmine. "Jasmine… William hasn't come." She quickly turned her head, blinking away the redness in her eyes. Not only did he not show up, but he wouldn't even listen to the calls and hints Tania had made. "Coma? What kind of joke is that? Jasmine would never be the one in a coma," he had said coldly. "I'm busy. I don't have time to play along with her nonsense. Aside from that last thing she wants, I'm not doing anything else for her. Tell her to stop wasting everyone's time!" Chapter 7 Jasmine called William. After he declined the call three times in a row, she ran out of patience. She sent him a text. Sure enough, he called back in less than two minutes. But his voice sounded tired—deeply tired. "Jennifer's sick. I need to stay with her," he said. "We'll deal with the last thing in a couple of days." He was about to hang up when Jasmine quickly shouted, "No!" Right after she said it, William let out a cold laugh. "It's just two days, not a breach of contract. Jasmine, don't push it!" Her nose stung, and she forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat. She laughed, trying to sound light, even though her whole body was aching. "William, there's just one thing left. After that, you're free. What—is it that you're having second thoughts? Want to stay married to me a little longer? Fine by me. I've got no problem with that." William had always been bad at holding his temper when she used that kind of talk. And just like always, it worked. After he hung up, Jasmine held her phone and laughed until she couldn't stop, until tears ran down her face and into her mouth. The bitterness of it all felt like a blade twisting in her heart. She was afraid he would notice something was off. Afraid he would mock her again, even when she was so close to the end. So, Jasmine asked Tania to help her put on makeup before he arrived. It usually only took five minutes to walk downstairs, but Jasmine took nearly 20 to finally reach William. "You're so slow. It's the last thing. Just spit it out." William said. He was clearly annoyed, but Jasmine wasn't in a rush at all. She got into the passenger seat and buckled herself in, and she only looked at him after she settled down. "It's simple," she said. "Make me lunch." William stared at her like he didn't believe it. "Just lunch?" Jasmine nodded. "Just lunch." He kept looking at her, unsure, like he was trying to figure out if she was messing with him. The first four things, Jasmine had made as difficult as possible. So for the last one, William had expected something outrageous—something as impossible as pulling the moon from the sky. But to his surprise, all Jasmine asked for was a home-cooked lunch. He glanced at the time, then picked up his phone and sent a few messages. After that, he drove them to the grocery store. This was the first time Jasmine had ever gone shopping with William. It was also the first time they felt like a regular married couple. William pushed the cart while Jasmine stood beside him, telling him what to get. At checkout, Jasmine stood quietly next to him. A child came running past, nearly crashing into her. William instinctively pulled her behind him, shielding her. His hand, in that moment, gripped hers tightly. Jasmine lowered her gaze to their hands that were tightly held together, and her eyes began to blur with tears again. This was only the second time William had ever held her hand on his own. But before she could even feel the warmth of his palm, he quickly let go. After that, she followed him back to their marital home. The house didn't hold many memories for them. William had been forced to marry her, and ever since, he had fought back in every way he could. Ninety-nine affairs, and that was just the tip of the iceberg. After changing his shoes, William went straight into the kitchen. Jasmine had been holding herself together all this time, and she finally let out a breath and slid down to the floor the second he turned away. By the time he came back out, she had already put her mask back on. She sat there calmly, watching him serve the food like nothing had happened. She didn't even know William could cook. A man who was proud and untouchable, had actually learned to cook for a woman. William must really love Jennifer. "Why is there so much food? It's just the two of us, and I don't think we can possibly finish this," Jasmine said, frowning as he kept bringing food out. With her body in this state, there was no way she could eat that much. She was scared that one bite too many would give her away. William placed down the last plate, looking calm. "Who said it's just the two of us?" Chapter 8 Jasmine stared at him, stunned. Before she could react, the doorbell rang. The next second, William smiled and walked over to open the door. "William, am I late? Blame today's students—they wouldn't stop asking me questions!" Jennifer stepped inside like she belonged there, pulling out a pair of women's slippers from the shoe cabinet. Jasmine remembered those slippers—she had bought them not long ago, but never even got to wear them before she moved out. Seeing how familiar Jennifer was with the house now made her whole body tremble. "Not late, perfect timing. Go wash your hands—food's ready," William said gently, his voice like a knife in Jasmine's ears. Jennifer smiled shyly and headed toward the table. "Ms. Spencer, sorry I'm late!" Jasmine didn't respond, not that Jennifer was waiting for a reply. The latter went straight to the chair and sat down. "William, you're so sweet—you even set out my plate and cutlery for me." "I know you're a clean freak. I washed them several times just so you could inspect them!" "Then what kind of reward do you want?" William reached out and pinched her cheek. "I want you to eat well. You've been working too hard at school, and then you got sick on top of that. Look how skinny you've gotten." Jasmine watched the two of them talking back and forth like no one else was there. That heart of hers, which was already long dead, felt like it was suddenly throbbing again. She couldn't help herself and cut in, "William, this is the last thing you agreed to do for me?" She felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice water over her. When William looked at her, he finally noticed something. When had Jasmine gotten so thin? His face showed a flicker of guilt, but his words still came out cold and firm. "I made all this food, and I know you wouldn't be able to finish it alone. Jennifer just got out of the hospital, remember? I've been taking care of her all this time. You're the one who insisted I do this final thing now. I couldn't just abandon her." Jennifer sat right across from her. The smug look in her eyes was like a slap, mocking Jasmine's foolishness. Suddenly, Jasmine just felt tired. All her strength, the last bit she had been holding onto, was punched right out of her. Her heart ached, and it wasn't just that. Every bone in her body felt like it hurt. Her head dropped, but only for a second. The next moment, she forced herself to stand. However, her eyes never left the floor. "I should've never expected anything from you, William." Her voice was soft—so soft, like the sound of a pin dropping to the floor, barely heard. As he saw her about to leave, William's feet twitched slightly. But before he could react, Jennifer stepped past him. She reached out and tried to grab Jasmine, but her sleeve caught on Jasmine's wig. In an instant, the wig was yanked right off. William gasped sharply. "Jasmine! Your hair—where is it?!" Jasmine had her back to him, and her hand began to shake violently. Her mind went blank. It felt like Jennifer had ripped away the last shred of her dignity. Just as Jasmine was about to give up and finally tell William the truth, Jennifer picked the wig up off the floor. Her expression turned serious as she looked at Jasmine, and she said in a sharp, accusing tone, "Ms. Spencer, I never thought you'd go this far. Shaving off your hair just to make William stay with you? "After those five things, don't tell me you're planning to say you’re going to become a nun just to guilt him into staying with you?!"