Chapter 1

Jasmine Clark's client had showed up before us out of the blue, wielding a dagger and demanding his money back. In the scuffle, the intruder accidentally slashed my forearm. The wound was not deep, but the threat shocked me nonetheless.

Even the two guards shuddered when they saw what had happened. Life was usually peaceful, and that was their first encounter with such a ruthless assailant!

The intruder seized the brief moment of stupor to kick me hard, sending me crumpling to the ground. "Get out of my way!"

The searing pain took hold of me as I fell to the ground, my knees having given out beneath me.

After he was sure I was out of the way, the intruder turned and aimed his dagger toward Jasmine.

Suddenly, a silhouette darted into the room, shoving the intruder aside just in time so that the blade brushed Jasmine's skin. It was my boyfriend, Connor Sanders, having shown up just in time with his guards. There were so many of them that it took only a few seconds to restrain and disarm the intruder.

"Connor, help me…" I whimpered, my breath coming in short bursts as I struggled to breathe against the pain.

A glimmer of worry flashed through Connor's eyes. He turned toward me, and Jasmine's hand flew to her heart in that split second. She screamed, "Connor, my arm hurts so much! And my heart…my heart!"

She even extended her bloodied arm to him, which she had scraped against the ground upon being pushed out of the way.

I could feel the blood on my lips. I was getting more and more breathless by the second. In desperation, I reached an arm out to him, hoping against all hope that he would grab it.

Connor scowled when he saw me reaching toward him after Jasmine had. With his brows furrowed, he extended an arm toward me, but just as I thought he would take my hand…

He swatted my hand sharply, sneering. "Jasmine was right about you. You can't go a day without competing against her for attention. Do you honestly think I'll fall for your tricks again?"

I shook my head. The pain bloomed in my heart so excruciatingly that I could not utter even a single word.

Connor watched me coldly for a moment. Then, he knelt, gingerly picked up Jasmine in his arms, and turned to me with a look of scorn. "Get up, Rosie! Cut the crap! I know you're just faking, and you better stop, or karma will come back to you!

"You've been causing Jasmine misery since day one, and I'm going to make everything up to her! You can stay here and take care of all this. Jasmine has a heart condition. I need to send her to the hospital right away!"

My breath caught in my throat. I felt as if my heart was crushed and then torn into shreds.

He wanted to make it up to her? I had never done anything to hurt her!

Jasmine's biological mother had been a maid in my family. When she got knocked up, she gave birth to the child and disappeared without a trace, leaving her daughter behind.

My parents took pity on the baby and raised her as their own. That was how I acquired an adopted sister, whom my parents treated like the apple of their eye.

I loved Jasmine like a sister, and I had never bullied her!

Unfortunately, I was born with a heart condition, and I had grown up in the center of my parents' affections, primarily out of pity. I felt terrible for Jasmine, so I tried to make it up to her by sharing everything I had with her, and sometimes more.

Jasmine had a heart condition?

Oh, Connor, if only you knew! I was the one with the heart condition, not her!

I would admit I should have been more truthful with you, but I had my reasons for keeping that a secret. I had always felt insecure about my health, and I assumed you would leave me once you found out.

Worst of all, I was scared you would look down on me for that.

My vision blurred as I watched Connor leave the room, carrying Jasmine in his arms.

If only you had chosen me, Connor…

If only you would show up and make things right again…

If you changed your mind, I would still forgive you…

I did not know that would be the last time I would ever see Connor Sanders before my death.