Our Encounter Was Destiny—The Wrong One

The day my cancer is diagnosed, my husband slaps me across the face. "You're vicious! You're even pretending to have cancer just to look more pitiful than your sister!" My son shouts, "Mom is horrible! I hate Mom!" I don't cry or make a scene. I quietly put the test results away and choose a grave for myself. In 15 days, I'll leave this city to die somewhere else in peace. I won't even give them the chance to regret it. Chapter 1 "Ms. Wynn, are you sure you want to buy an uninhabited island? It's in the middle of nowhere. There's no running water, no electricity, no cell service. Once you go out there, you'll basically be completely cut off from the world." "I know," Evelyn Wynn replied softly, her gaze dropping to the medical report in her hand—the one confirming her cancer. A strange calm loosened her shoulders. "Don't worry. I won't be living there for long. How soon can we finalize the paperwork?" she asked. "Give me a moment. I'll check." Papers rustled faintly through the phone's speaker as Evelyn's thoughts drifted. No one would have believed she was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer a month ago. The cancer had probably started seven years earlier, when she was juggling sales calls by day and taking care of Daniel Hayes after his car accident at night. Back then, Daniel had been right in the middle of his career breakthrough. To help him establish himself in Riverton, she drank with every client until she was throwing up in the restroom. She slept less than three hours a night before dragging herself back to work. She worked all day, then rushed home to take care of Daniel. Daniel had been so moved he could hardly put it into words. The day he was discharged, they went straight to the courthouse and got married. To prove how much he loved her, he set his social media profile photo to a picture of her. Every day after work, he brought home lilies—her favorite flowers. Whenever he came back from a business trip, his suitcase barely had room for his clothes because it was stuffed with gifts for her. Later, when their son, Noah Hayes, was born, their relationship seemed to grow even stronger. Until the day her long-lost younger sister, Zoe Wynn, was suddenly found and brought back into the family. Little by little, Evelyn realized the man she loved and the son she was so proud of had started to lean toward Zoe. The funniest part was that on the very day Evelyn was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, Zoe got ahead of her and whipped out an oncology report first. The look in Zoe's eyes when she held it out had been openly taunting. At that moment, Evelyn realized Zoe was faking it. Evelyn had rushed to expose the lie, but all she received in return was a vicious slap across the face from Daniel. It was so hard that it split her lip. "Evelyn, you've gone too far! Zoe actually has cancer! How could you pretend to have it? Do you really need to fight with her over something like this?" Noah shouted, "Mom, you're horrible! I hate you!" Her parents looked at her with disgust. "We let it slide every time you fought with Zoe for attention, but this crosses the line. How could you say something like that?" "You're always fighting with Zoe for everything. How is she the one who got cancer and not you?" In that instant, Evelyn went cold from head to toe. It was as if she'd been pushed into a frozen cavern, with no hope of ever reaching the surface again. Nothing hurt more than being stabbed by the people she loved most. Especially when the first ones to hurl accusations at her were her husband and the son she had carried for nine long months. Something in Evelyn broke. She didn't have much time left anyway. If all they cared about was Zoe, then she would give them what they wanted. "Ms. Wynn." The voice on the phone pulled her back. "I've checked everything. The transfer can be completed in 15 days." "Alright. Pick me up in 15 days." The words had barely left her mouth when a cold voice cut across the entryway. "Pick you up for what? Where are you going?" Evelyn looked up and saw Daniel standing in the doorway in a perfectly pressed suit, his brows drawn tight. Behind him stood Zoe and Noah, their hands clasped together like the picture-perfect mother and son. So, they'd gone to the hospital with Zoe today too. Evelyn's gaze dropped. She was about to say it was nothing when Daniel strode forward and yanked the papers from her hand. "Late-stage stomach cancer?" he read off the report. Panic flickered through Evelyn. She didn't want him ruining her plans. She opened her mouth to explain, but Daniel's eyes were already filled with scorn. "Where did you buy this? It looks convincing, I'll give you that." Evelyn's entire body went rigid. Noah stuck his tongue out. "Mom's lying again. She's using cancer to make everyone feel sorry for her!" "Noah, you can't talk about your mother like that," Zoe said in a soft, chiding tone. Noah snorted. "But it's true. Mom's jealous of you, so she's pretending she's sick too. Grandma was right. Staying home as a housewife has fried her brain!" The words hit like an open flame to Evelyn's heart. Seven years ago, she destroyed her health by entertaining clients and caring for Daniel in the hospital. After Noah was born, the pain in her back and stomach never fully went away. Some days, she could hardly move. At the time, both Daniel and Noah had been devastated for her, begging her to give up her job and stay home so she could focus on her health and the family. Now, all of that had turned into a cheap insult, like she was rotting away on the couch until it made her stupid. Evelyn drew a long breath. It was a good thing she no longer expected anything from the two of them. Her heart still hurt, but it no longer felt like she couldn't breathe. Chapter 2 "Think whatever you want." Evelyn didn't argue. She just stood up and walked away. Daniel froze for a second. He had expected her to at least scold Noah. He really had gone too far with what he said. Evelyn was halfway up the stairs when Zoe suddenly followed. "Evelyn, it's been so long since we had some sister time. Let me keep you company," Zoe said sweetly. As soon as she drew close, the smile on her face twisted, and her voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "You really are pathetic, Evelyn! You brought that report on purpose, didn't you? You thought you could steal Daniel and Noah away from me? Dream on! I'm not letting that happen!" The next second, Zoe grabbed Evelyn's hand and raised her voice. "Evelyn, don't! I'm sorry! It's my fault!" A heartbeat later, Zoe lurched backward, dragging Evelyn with her. The two of them tumbled down the stairs. Evelyn's head cracked hard against one of the steps before her body hit the floor. Her skull rang, everything buzzing and spinning. Before she could even understand what had happened, she heard Daniel and Noah shouting in a panic. "Zoe!" "Aunt Zoe!" Zoe curled up on the floor in tears. "Evelyn! I never meant to take Daniel and Noah from you! They just feel bad for me and want to take care of me while I still have time! Why did you push me down the stairs?" "Evelyn! Have you lost your mind? Zoe is sick!" Daniel roared. Noah saw the blood on Zoe's forehead and glared at Evelyn with pure hatred. "I don't have a murderer for a mom! I hate you! I hate you!" Neither of them even glanced at the blood trickling down Evelyn's hairline. Daniel rushed to scoop Zoe up, completely focused on her. Just before he left, Daniel seemed to remember something. "Noah, stay here and look after your mother." "I don't want to!" Noah jumped back as if he'd been asked to touch something filthy. "She hurt Aunt Zoe! If she dies, she deserves it! Aunt Zoe is the only one who matters!" Daniel and Noah didn't hesitate again. They rushed out with Zoe and disappeared. Staring at the empty doorway, Evelyn's vision went from black to white and black again before finally cutting out. When she opened her eyes again, she was still on the floor. Six full hours had passed. The smear of blood on the hardwood beside her had dried to a dark brown. Neither Daniel nor Noah had come back once. A small, humorless laugh slipped out of her. So, this was her good husband and son. They abandoned her without a second thought to hover over Zoe and her dramatized condition, not even bothering to check whether she was dead or alive. Evelyn forced herself upright, every movement stiff and slow. On her way back up the stairs, her gaze caught on the wall calendar. She picked up a pen and drew a circle around the date 15 days away. Just 15 more days, and she could finally be gone. She would leave Daniel and Noah for good. ... When Daniel and Noah finally returned, three more days had passed. They had stayed at the hospital with Zoe, guarding her by her bedside over a minor injury as if she were made of glass. Meanwhile, Evelyn, who had smashed her head on the stairs, was apparently not worth a second thought. The first thing Noah did when he stepped back into the house was march up to Evelyn and accuse her, "Mom, why didn't you go see Aunt Zoe? She almost got a concussion because of you. You should go apologize." Looking at Noah's tyrannical posture, Evelyn almost laughed. "She got hurt, and I didn't?" she asked. Noah faltered, as if it had only just occurred to him that Evelyn had fallen too. His hesitation lasted only a couple of seconds, though. Then, he lifted his chin, full of defiance and indignation. "That's your own fault! If you weren't so jealous of Aunt Zoe, nothing would've happened." Evelyn had known he would say something like that, but the words still stabbed into her chest like a knife. She held his gaze in silence. Noah started to fidget and edged behind Daniel, suddenly unsure of himself. Daniel frowned. "Why are you picking on a child?" He stepped forward and reached toward Evelyn. "Let me see. Is it bad?" Evelyn turned her head away, refusing his touch. She didn't need any of his fake concern. Daniel's hand grasped at nothing. He froze, thrown off balance in more ways than one. Her rejection made something twist uncomfortably in his chest, and his brows knitted together as he spoke. "Zoe is your sister. She has stomach cancer. She might not even have two months left. Why do you have to fight with her over everything? Do you really think someone who's about to die can still take anything from you? Evelyn, stop being so selfish!" Selfish? Evelyn almost laughed. Wrong. They were all wrong. She was the one with cancer. She was the one who was dying. Chapter 3 Daniel left with Noah, clearly determined to teach Evelyn a lesson. In the past, whenever Daniel and Noah froze her out, Evelyn would be terrified. The moment they went cold, she would panic and apologize over and over again until they finally forgave her. Only then could she breathe again. This time, she did nothing. For days, she quietly packed up the things in the house. The team handling the private island needed her documents, so Evelyn picked a time and handed everything in. She had just finished the paperwork when her phone rang. "Ms. Wynn, your wedding gown is here," the consultant from the bridal boutique said. "When would you like to come in for your fitting?" Only then did Evelyn remember that Daniel was planning a wedding for their anniversary. When they got married, Daniel was still in a wheelchair. There was no ceremony or wedding photos, just a marriage certificate and a rushed signature at the courthouse. He promised that on December 26th this year, he would make it up to her with a proper wedding. He even ordered her wedding gown six months in advance. But now, Evelyn wasn't going to go through it anymore. "There's no need anymore. Please cancel the order," Evelyn said. "What?" The consultant sounded stunned. "But Mr. Hayes is already here at the store." Evelyn went straight to the bridal boutique. Daniel and Noah were sitting in the lounge area. When Noah saw Evelyn, his small face twisted up. It had been three full days. Evelyn hadn't called or texted once. That had never happened before. Noah was angry and hurt in a way he didn't know how to name. Had his mother really decided she didn't want him anymore? When the consultant called to say the wedding gown had arrived, Noah had insisted on coming along. Now that Evelyn looked perfectly fine, his anger only burned hotter. "Grandma was right," he thought. "Mom really is heartless! She's nothing like Aunt Zoe, who's always so gentle!" Daniel's expression didn't look good either, but he held his temper in check. "Have you made enough of a scene? You were the one who was wrong the other day, yet you're the one sulking. Now, you don't even want to try on your gown." Evelyn almost laughed. They were the ones giving her the silent treatment, icing her out like she didn't exist. Somehow, it had turned into her throwing a tantrum. "I'm not sulking," she said calmly. "There's just no point trying it on." The 26th was the day she was leaving. There would be no wedding. Daniel's expression darkened. "Bad mom!" Noah stomped his foot, his voice rising. "You're so petty! You don't deserve to be my mom at all!" Noah was spoiled and used to getting away with talk like that. He knew how to jab where it hurt, and every other time in the past, his words had left Evelyn so upset that she could barely hold back tears. But this time, she only answered in a level tone, "You're right. I don't. Let Zoe be your mother instead." Noah froze. Daniel's expression went instantly cold. "Enough, Evelyn. There's nothing going on between Zoe and me. Don't twist it into something dirty! I just feel bad for her! She's barely in her 20s, and she has cancer! The doctor said she might not even have two months left. She's your sister! How can you be so cruel, so vicious?" Evelyn let him say whatever he wanted. Her heart barely even twinged anymore. If anything, a distant, bitter curiosity flickered up. If the day ever came when Daniel found out Zoe did not have cancer at all, what kind of face would he make? "Anything else? If not, I'm leaving," she said. With that, Evelyn turned to go. Panic flashed across Daniel's face. "Evelyn!" "Mom!" Noah shouted too. Before Evelyn could react, Daniel's phone rang. He answered it, and the blood drained from his face even as his voice softened to a tone Evelyn barely recognized. "Zoe, don't be scared! I'm on my way!" Before Evelyn could process that, Daniel grabbed her wrist. "You're coming too!" he said. He didn't give her a chance to pull away and shoved her straight into the car. Daniel slammed down on the gas, sending the car shooting forward. For the first time, Evelyn saw Daniel in such a panic. When they reached the club and pushed open the door to a private room, Zoe was already crying as she threw herself at him. "Daniel, help me! They're trying to force me to drink!" she sobbed. Daniel immediately pulled her into his arms and shielded her with his body. Noah stepped in front of her too, his little face drawn tight and serious. "Don't you dare bully Aunt Zoe!" The room was full of men in suits. A contract lay open on the table. It seemed like they were in the middle of a business deal. Seeing Daniel and Noah like that, one of the men casually dug a finger into his ear, looking completely unimpressed. "Ms. Wynn, that's not fair. Who's forcing anything? All we ask is that you finish this drink. Once you do, the deal is done." Daniel's expression darkened. "Zoe has stomach cancer. She can't drink. I'll drink it for her!" The man chuckled. "Are you from Wynn Group? If you drink it, what does that count for? I want someone from the Wynn family to drink!" The next second, Daniel and Noah both turned to look at Evelyn. Evelyn's face went white. Now, she understood why Daniel had dragged her here. She was here to clean up Zoe's mess. "No!" Evelyn said, her hands curling into fists. "I'm not drinking!" Zoe broke down again, tears streaming down her face. She begged, "Evelyn, please. Wynn Group is the Wynn family's company! It's practically yours too! Are you really going to just stand there and watch the family go under?" Daniel snapped, "Evelyn, do you have to be this heartless? Do you have any idea how many nights Zoe stayed up working on this project? It's just one drink!" Noah chimed in, "Mom, hurry up and drink it! If you do, I won't be mad at you anymore for pushing Aunt Zoe down the stairs!" Evelyn's hand tightened around the edge of the wall. A cold numbness spread through her whole body. Every word from them pushed her closer to the edge. She had late-stage stomach cancer, and they wanted her to knock back hard liquor. That wasn't just a drink. That was a death sentence. And Wynn Group? What did that have to do with her? She might be the eldest daughter, but she didn't own even 1% of the company. Her eyes burned red. "Don't even think about it!" Daniel's jaw clenched, and his face went rigid. Zoe's sobs filled the room as Daniel made up his mind. He grabbed the glass and lifted it. Then, without warning, his other hand shot out and clamped hard around Evelyn's lower jaw. Chapter 4 "No! Don't!" Evelyn's whole body shook with panic. She tried to shove Daniel's hand away, but Noah lunged forward and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Dad, now!" Noah yelled. Noah was only six years old, yet his grip was so tight that Evelyn couldn't break free. The liquor hit her throat in one burning rush. It tore its way down. The moment it hit her stomach, it felt like someone had poured fire straight into an open wound. Evelyn dropped to her knees and gagged over and over, her body convulsing with dry heaves. Noah froze, stunned. Zoe, however, lowered her eyes, burying the flash of triumph. When she lifted her gaze again, it was all trembling innocence. "Daniel, what's wrong with Evelyn? Anyone who doesn't know better would think she's the one with cancer..." Her words wiped the worry clean from Daniel's eyes. "Evelyn, you really should've gone into acting. Your performance is unbelievable," he sneered. Noah snapped out of his shock and quickly found his voice. "Yeah, Mom, you're faking it again! Grandma said you used to love drinking!" Daniel's voice turned sharp and mocking. "You used to go out for business dinners every night and drink until you were throwing up in the bathroom. Now, you take one glass and act like it's killing you?" Tears streamed from Evelyn's eyes, but this was just her body's reaction. Her throat burned with the metallic taste of blood. She couldn't say a single word. Right then, Zoe pressed a hand to her stomach and winced. "Daniel, it hurts. My stomach hurts..." Daniel and Noah panicked instantly and completely forgot Evelyn was there. "Zoe, hold on! I'll get you to the hospital!" Daniel said urgently. "Aunt Zoe, you can't get sick! I need you!" Noah cried. Their voices faded, drifting farther and farther away. Evelyn's pain was like a wave crashing over her. Just before she blacked out, she doubled over and vomited a mouthful of bright red blood onto the carpet, sending a shock through the men still in the private room. "What the hell!" one of them choked out. Another man's voice shook as he said, "Damn! Zoe said this was just for fun! Is she trying to get her killed?" "This has nothing to do with me! I didn't do anything!" another quickly yelled. "Let's go now!" They bolted instantly, clearing out the room as if a fire alarm had gone off. Evelyn, left alone on the floor, trembled. A laugh broke from her, wet with tears. So, this was the woman Daniel and Noah loved. This was the woman they'd chosen. Evelyn only hoped that when the truth finally came out, they wouldn't choke on regret. ... The next time Evelyn opened her eyes, she was in a hospital bed. The ward was quiet. No one was sitting beside her. She asked a nurse what had happened and was told that someone had dropped her off at the emergency room after she passed out in pain, then left. The doctor came in a few minutes later. His face hardened as he questioned, "Your body is already in this state, and you're still drinking? Are you out of your mind, or do you not want to live?" Evelyn gave a bitter smile. She hadn't wanted to drink. Her husband and son had forced that glass down her throat with their own hands. She wanted to live a little longer. They were the ones who had pushed her toward death. The doctor sighed. "Listen. You need to get this through your head. If you want to suffer less, you can't touch alcohol again." Once the doctor left, Evelyn asked to be discharged. Whatever time she had left, she didn't want to spend it staring at hospital ceilings. On her way out, she walked past a cluster of patients and visitors chatting just outside one of the wards. "That woman in Ward 6 is lucky. Her husband and son hover around her day and night. They treat her like she's made of glass." Another replied, "She really hit the jackpot with that man. Did you see what happened earlier? She said she felt like eating cake, and they ordered one of everything from every bakery in town. If she wanted the stars in the sky, I swear those two would try to find a way to get them down for her." "Stop talking. They're coming out." The group shuffled aside. Evelyn lifted her head and saw Daniel and Noah walking out of Ward 6. Both of them froze when they spotted her. "Mom?" "Evelyn?" Daniel's eyes dropped to her hospital gown, and his face went slack with shock. "What are you doing in the oncology wing?" Noah panicked, his whole body going rigid. People didn't end up on this floor because of a mild cold. Before Evelyn could answer, Zoe stepped out of the ward. "Daniel? Noah? Why are you just standing here?" She slipped her hand through Daniel's arm as naturally as breathing. Then, she saw Evelyn, and her fingers went stiff around his sleeve. Daniel immediately shook Zoe's hand off, his whole body going tense. He strode toward Evelyn in a few quick steps, staring straight into her face. "Tell me, why are you here?" Noah rushed to her side as well. "Yeah, Mom. Are you sick?" Zoe bit down on her lower lip, unable to hide the flicker of panic in her eyes. Evelyn smiled. So, Zoe could be afraid, after all. Chapter 5 Zoe really didn't need to worry. Evelyn had no intention of telling the truth. She would wait until after she was gone. Then, Daniel and Noah could finally find out what had really happened. That kind of grief and regret, when there was no way to make things right, would follow them for the rest of their lives. "I heard you were here, so I came to see you," Evelyn said calmly. Her expression was so mild that both Daniel and Noah visibly relaxed. "So, you came over from another department?" Daniel asked. "Yeah," Evelyn replied. Daniel let out a breath, but his brows stayed furrowed. "What are you in for? You're in a hospital gown." Evelyn's mouth curved in a mocking smile. "Stomach issues." The words landed, and both Daniel and Noah exchanged an uneasy look. Daniel knew she'd had stomach problems for years. He just hadn't thought they had gotten bad enough for her to be hospitalized. Before he could say another word, Zoe walked up, her eyes misty and her voice shaking. "Evelyn, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn't made you drink that glass of liquor, you wouldn't be in the hospital." The moment she started crying, Daniel and Noah softened instantly. Daniel hurried to steady Zoe. "This isn't your fault at all! There's no way one drink landed her here! That would be a little too dramatic!" "Yeah, Aunt Zoe! Don't be sad," Noah chimed in. "Mom definitely did this to herself! She probably skipped her meals on purpose and made herself sick just to get me and Dad to pay attention to her!" To make Zoe feel better, Noah could say such cruel things. Evelyn couldn't help wondering when he had become this way. She remembered raising him to be better than this. Zoe's expression finally softened. She pressed a hand to her chest and whispered that she felt a little unwell. Daniel and Noah immediately fussed over her, guiding her back into the ward. By the time they came out again, Evelyn was gone. Daniel didn't think much of it. If there really was something wrong with Evelyn, she would say so. Evelyn was the type to cry over a minor scratch. There was no way she could face a serious illness without saying a word. If she wasn't talking, that meant she was fine. Besides, Zoe didn't have much time left. He needed to be there for her while he still could. Once she was gone, he would make it up to Evelyn. ... Evelyn picked up her prescription painkillers and went home. They were the only thing that could ease the pain. There were eight days left before she left for the island. She didn't want anything to go wrong before then. To keep her health from collapsing, she allowed herself to rest for the first time in years. She slept until noon every day. She didn't have to prepare Noah's meals, worry about his school schedule, or lie awake at night wondering if Daniel would come home drunk from another business dinner. It turned out living alone could be so comfortable. A few days later, her parents called. "If you're free today, come over. We should all get together," her mother, Tiana Dunn, said. For the first time since Zoe's so-called cancer diagnosis, they were finally reaching out to Evelyn. Ever since they decided she was lying, they even blocked her on messaging apps. Evelyn glanced at the calendar on the wall. It was the 21st, her birthday. She agreed to go, just for one last birthday with her parents. After that, they could all consider things settled. When she walked into the Wynn residence, there was no cake nor presents—just her parents' strange expressions and a heavy, suffocating silence. Seeing her at the door, they exchanged a look. "Since you're here, sit down," her father, Owen Wynn, said. Evelyn sat on the couch. Tiana watched Evelyn for a moment, then said in a low, conflicted tone, "On the 26th, Daniel's supposed to hold a wedding for you, right?" Evelyn frowned, not sure where this was going yet. Before she could answer, Tiana continued, "Let Zoe have the wedding instead." Evelyn's whole body went still. Tiana went on bluntly, "You know Zoe likes Daniel. Daniel and Noah like her too. Their bond is already stronger than what you have with them! If this were any other time, I'd never step in. But Zoe has cancer. She doesn't have much time. I want to help her fulfill her wish and let her marry Daniel, even if it's just in name." For a second, it felt like Evelyn's blood was boiling in her veins. Help Zoe fulfill her wish? What about her? That was her husband and her wedding. But her parents were asking her to hand them over like it was nothing. It was ridiculous. "Have you thought about me at all?" Evelyn asked quietly. Owen's expression darkened. "What's wrong with you? Are you the one dying?" Evelyn's lips lifted into a thin smile. "Yeah. I'm the one who's dying." The next second, a loud slap smacked across Evelyn's face. She raised a hand to her cheek and felt blood at the corner of her mouth. "You're so stubborn!" Owen shouted. "How did I end up with such a cold-blooded daughter?" Tiana's face was full of disappointment and disgust. "As her sister, how can you be this heartless? You won't even agree to Zoe's last wish. If I'd known you'd turn out like this, I never would've had you! If we hadn't been so busy looking after you, Zoe wouldn't have gone missing back then. You're nothing but a curse on my life! "If you refuse, I might as well move out and live with Zoe. Then, I won't have to see you and feel sick!" Evelyn ran her tongue along the blood on her lip. "You don't have to go with Zoe. I'll leave," she said. She would go somewhere none of them could ever find her. If they all ended up in heaven someday, she'd gladly go to hell instead. Chapter 6 Evelyn left the living room with her cheek still stinging, her palm pressed over the swollen skin. She almost walked straight into three people coming up the steps. She instinctively shrank back into the shadow of the entryway and watched as Daniel and Zoe climbed out of the car. Noah stood between them, happily holding each of their hands. The three of them looked exactly like a family. "Aunt Zoe, are you feeling better?" Noah asked. Zoe smiled and ruffled his hair. "Much better." "Great! Now, you can finally play with me again!" Noah kicked a pebble out of his way, grinning from ear to ear. "Mom is boring and annoying. You're the only one who gets me. Good thing she didn't show up today. She would've ruined everything." Zoe's smile deepened. She put on a gentle, helpless tone. "Noah, you can't talk about your mom like that." "Why not?" He puffed out his cheeks. "She's awful! She's mean and always pretending to be pitiful! She wouldn't even drink one glass of liquor for you! If anyone should get cancer, it should be her!" The words hit Evelyn like a bolt of lightning, and her body went rigid. The rest of their conversation blurred into a distant drone. She stayed where she was, hidden in the corner like a ghost. She waited until she heard their laughter drift from inside the house. Only then did she turn and walk away. She felt her life had become painfully pathetic, miserable beyond words. She had carried Noah for nine months, yet he wished her dead without a flicker of hesitation. Tears spilled over as she walked away. As they wished, she was the one with cancer. Once she was gone, Zoe would take over her place without a hitch. Noah would get what he wanted. ... Back at the villa, Evelyn went through every room and cleared out anything that belonged to her. Then, she threw it all into a brazier and lit it in the backyard. She burned their wedding photo, their family photo, and every gift she had chosen for Daniel and Noah over the years. When Daniel came home and saw the fire, his eyes widened in panic. He ignored the heat and pain, reaching straight into the blaze to grab for their photo. He managed to pull out half of a photo. The rest had already turned to ash. His eyes went bloodshot as he shouted, "Evelyn! Are you insane? These are our family's memories. Why would you burn them?" Noah stomped his feet in a fit of fury. "Those stuffed toys were my favorites! Why did you burn them?" Evelyn said expressionlessly, "Doesn't Zoe buy you new toys now? You tossed those stuffed toys into the storage room yourself. What else would they have been good for?" Noah's cheeks flushed bright red. He did love the toys Zoe bought. Who wanted old when they could have new? But those stuffed toys were all handmade by Evelyn. Noah's hands balled into fists. His anger surged up uncontrollably, and he shoved Evelyn hard. "Bad mom! I hate you!" He grabbed the only half-burned toy that hadn't fallen into the flames, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and ran back into the house. Evelyn hit the ground hard. The brazier toppled, embers and burning wood rolling toward her. A piece of hot coal landed against her bare forearm. The sear of it made her gasp as the skin blistered and burned. Daniel didn't notice at all. He was still staring after Noah. When he finally looked back at her, his voice was cuttingly cold. "Noah shouldn't have pushed you, but you've gone too far! This isn't how you throw a tantrum. Get those photos restored from the negatives today. If you don't, then don't show up at the wedding!" With that, he stormed off. A cold, mocking smile tugged at Evelyn's lips. This was the excuse Daniel had been waiting for. If she didn't show up to the wedding, it would make things a whole lot easier for him to stand at the altar with Zoe instead. It was fine. She hadn't planned on going anyway. By the time Daniel put a ring on Zoe's finger, Evelyn would already be on a ferry to her own private island. ... Over the next few days, Daniel and Noah froze her out on purpose. They didn't even greet her when they saw her. Evelyn didn't care at all. She packed the few clothes she planned to take and was ready to leave at any time. Tomorrow, she could finally leave this place. Just then, her phone buzzed. Zoe had sent her a photo. Evelyn opened it, and her eyes widened in shock. It was a photo of the one keepsake her grandmother had left for her. She was the only person who had ever truly loved her. Right next to the keepsake was a brazier. Evelyn called Zoe immediately. "Zoe, what are you doing?" "Come find me. I want to make a deal," Zoe said. Evelyn grabbed her keys and rushed out the door. She had barely stepped outside when a hard blow slammed into the back of her neck. She collapsed instantly, her vision fading into darkness. Right before she passed out, she heard Zoe's voice. "Tie her tight. Don't let her run away." Chapter 7 When Evelyn opened her eyes again, she was in an old, rundown warehouse. The rope dug into her wrists and ankles, tight enough to make them ache. Across from her, Zoe sat with her legs crossed, casually fussing with her manicure. When she noticed Evelyn was awake, Zoe smiled and said, "You're finally awake, Evelyn." Evelyn's nerves tightened. Confusion and disbelief swirled through her. "Zoe, what are you doing?" She didn't have much time left. Her life was already measured in weeks. She wasn't a threat to Zoe at all. Daniel and Noah had turned away from her long ago. She just needed to endure one more day. Tomorrow, she would disappear to a place no one could reach. Why would Zoe bother kidnapping her now? Zoe smiled brighter. "Aren't you curious? If both of us are in danger, who would Daniel and Noah choose to save? Want to bet on it?" Before Evelyn could answer, one of the men stepped over and tapped a number on his phone. As soon as the call connected, Zoe let out a fake sob. "Daniel, help me! Evelyn asked me to meet her, but we got kidnapped on the way! They want money! If they don't get it, they're going to hurt me! I'm scared!" "Zoe?" Daniel froze for a second, then panic broke through his voice. "Where are you? Are you okay?" The man holding the phone said, "Mr. Hayes, your wife and your lover are both in my hands. I only want five million in cash. Bring it today, and I'll send you the address. We trade in person. No cash, no deal." "Fine! I'll bring the cash!" Daniel's voice shook. "I'll pay whatever you want! Just make sure Zoe is safe!" The man laughed. "Relax. We keep our word. Give us the money, and no one gets hurt." "Good." Daniel finally let out a breath. "What about Evelyn? Is she okay?" Evelyn almost laughed. Only now did he remember she existed. If she had been the only one kidnapped, he probably wouldn't even have believed the call. "She's fine. Just have the money ready, Mr. Hayes." After hanging up, the two kidnappers grabbed another rope and tied Zoe up as well. It didn't take long for Daniel to call back. The men each grabbed one of them, dragging them outside. Only then did Evelyn realize they were in the mountains. They walked down a rocky path until they reached a spot halfway up the slope. Daniel and Noah stood there, both tense and nervous. The moment Zoe saw them, her eyes filled with tears. "Daniel! Noah! Help me!" Daniel and Noah lost their composure in an instant. "Aunt Zoe!" Noah shouted. "Zoe, don't be scared! I've come to save you!" Daniel said quickly. Evelyn stood right beside Zoe, tied just as tightly. She was even worse off than Zoe. Her face was chalk white, her legs barely holding her upright. But neither of them spared her a look. Evelyn slowly closed her eyes. It wasn't that crying worked. It was that they had already decided who they cared about. Daniel tossed a suitcase at the kidnappers' feet. "Five million! Not a penny less! Let Zoe and Evelyn go!" One of the men crouched down, flipped open the case, and let out a laugh at the rows of neatly stacked cash. "Five million? Five million only buys you one person, Mr. Hayes!" Daniel's expression shifted. "You told me five million! Now, you're changing the terms?" "You misunderstood. I never said five million would cover both. It's five million each! Of course, if you bring another five million tomorrow, you can take them both. But right now, you get to choose one." Silence dropped like a stone. Daniel's jaw clenched, and his gaze flicked to Evelyn instinctively. Noah gripped Daniel's sleeve, equally stunned. Then, Zoe suddenly screamed and dropped to her knees. "It hurts!" She gasped for air, tears spilling over. She clutched her stomach like she'd been gutted. A moment later, she shook her head, sobbing. "Take Evelyn! Just take her! I already have cancer! I'm a burden! I could die any time! Just let me die!" "No way!" Daniel snapped. "Don't say that, Aunt Zoe! You're not a burden! The burden is... someone else!" Noah shouted. As the last words left his mouth, Evelyn felt her heart split apart. Chapter 8 Daniel looked away from Evelyn. "That's right. If Evelyn hadn't asked you out, you never would've been kidnapped. When you get down to it, this is all her fault! Since it's Evelyn's fault, she should be the one to pay for it! She's perfectly healthy. Leaving her here for one night won't kill her..." Even though Evelyn had been bracing herself, his words still made her heart seize so hard she could barely breathe. She hadn't taken any painkillers all day. Her lips trembled nonstop, and she couldn't even get a protest out. So, in his eyes, this was what a healthy body looked like? Evelyn almost laughed, but her stomach lurched so violently, it felt like it was flipping over. A sharp wave of pain ripped through her, and then a mouthful of blood surged into her throat. She doubled over and vomited a thick splash of dark red onto the ground. Daniel and Noah froze, their eyes snapping wide in shock. "Evelyn!" "Mom!" Zoe went pale, then burst into tears a second later. "Evelyn, I never thought you'd go this far just to make Daniel and Noah feel sorry for you! You'd rather bite your lip bloody? If you want to leave, you can just tell them. Why do you have to hurt yourself?" Daniel's expression darkened in an instant, his expression twisting into open disgust. "Evelyn, how many times are you going to pull the same stunt?" Noah scoffed. "Mom, you're really shameless!" She'd even fake spitting blood just to be rescued first. If that wasn't shameless, then what was? Any trace of pity they'd had for her vanished on the spot. "Let Zoe go," Daniel said firmly. "As for Evelyn... Do whatever you want with her!" His gaze hardened, his face set like stone. It was time to teach Evelyn a lesson and put her back in her place. Only if she dropped all this nonsense could they return to being a happy family. Noah nodded in agreement. As soon as the kidnappers shoved Zoe toward them, Daniel and Noah rushed to untie her. Evelyn was shaking on her feet from the pain in her stomach, but neither of them spared her a single glance. After they checked on Zoe, they saw that she only had a few shallow rope marks and not even a bruise. Daniel and Noah both exhaled in relief. They assumed Evelyn would be just like Zoe—barely hurt at all. They believed the kidnappers were only after money and that their hostages wouldn't get hurt. "Evelyn, tomorrow is our wedding. I'll bring another five million in the morning to save you," Daniel said. With that, he turned to leave. Evelyn held on to the last thin edge of consciousness. "Daniel!" As the pain reached its limit, her body went strangely numb, like something inside her had finally switched the pain off. She forced herself to stand steady. At this last moment, there was only one question she wanted to ask. She asked quietly, her voice rough, "If I were the one with cancer… If I were the one dying, would you regret it?" Looking at her pale, hollowed-out face, something jabbed deep in Daniel's heart. A wave of cold fear swept over him. For the first time, he felt genuinely rattled. However, he shook it off almost immediately. No! Impossible! "How long are you going to keep up this act?" he snapped, irritated. Why? Why did she keep saying things that felt like they were cutting straight into him? Evelyn would live a long life. The three of them would live happily together as a family. That was how it was supposed to be. Daniel said coldly, "If you insist on pretending you're sick, then I hope you get exactly what you're asking for!" Still burning with anger, he took Zoe and walked off without a backward glance. The next second, the kidnappers shoved Evelyn onto a bed and began tearing at her clothes. "Zoe sure knows how to play them. Those two actually bought it," one of them sneered. "They're idiots." The other snorted. "Daniel really left his wife behind for that scheming woman. Does he have no idea what could happen if she spends a night with the two of us?" "Who cares? We'll just do what Zoe told us to. Cover Evelyn in hickeys and toss her into the wedding venue tomorrow!" "Damn, this is great! We actually get to sleep with Daniel's wife!" Evelyn's throat tightened, and she jerked her head to the side as another flood of blood spilled from her mouth. Her stomach felt like it was being sawed open. Pain clawed through her so hard that every muscle seized. Blood surged upward and even began to ooze from her nose. The two men went white. One of them lifted a trembling finger and held it under her nose to check if she was still breathing. A second later, he fell back on his backside, his eyes full of panic. Evelyn curled in on herself, her vision flickering between black and white as a low buzzing filled her ears. The same sentence kept replaying over and over in her mind. "If you insist on pretending you're sick, then I hope you get exactly what you're asking for!" Tears slid from the corners of her eyes as a broken laugh slipped out. He wanted her to get exactly what she was asking for? Then, she wished them the same. Let them all get exactly what they were asking for! Daniel wouldn't have to see her again. Tomorrow, at the wedding, he could stand there with a smile on his face and marry the woman he truly loved.