Jessica finally opened her eyes.Seeing that it was Abby, she reached out, snatched the medical report from Abby's hands, and stuffed it into her bag without a word. Then, without looking back, she walked away.Abby stood there, watching her retreating figure. After a few seconds of silence, she pulled out her phone and dialed Jack."Jack, I really don't understand what Jess is thinking. She actually went to the doctor and got a fake medical certificate saying she has late-stage stomach cancer..."…Later, Jessica met with the buyer. The transaction went smoothly.She didn't feel like going home to cook, so she grabbed a bite outside before heading back.For the next few days, they were all at the hospital, "taking care" of Abby.Every day, Abby updated her social media, posting photos, writing captions filled with poetic melancholy. Occasionally, she would send private messages to Jessica, subtly flaunting her condition.And, of course, she added a few mocking remarks about J
There was a time when she and Jack were deeply in love.He had held her close and whispered, "Jess, no matter what happens, I will marry you. You'll be the most beautiful bride in the world."Jess, what kind of wedding would you like? I'll let you decide."Jess, I'll take care of all the housework. And if you're afraid of the pain and don't want to have children, we don't have to. I don't want you to suffer."The warmth of those words still echoed in her ears.But now, all of that had collapsed into a single, cold sentence—"The wedding will proceed as planned the day after tomorrow, but the bride will be Abby instead."How absurd.It felt as though a massive truck had run over her body, crushing her bones, her lungs, her heart—grinding everything into dust. But after a fleeting moment of suffocating pain, she forced herself to smile."Alright, I agree… The bride will be Abby. And on that day, I'll prepare a special gift for the both of you."Jack hadn't expected her to agree s
As her parents walked toward her, Jessica took out the medical report and handed it to them."I hadn't planned on telling you," she said. "But now that you've seen it, there's no point in hiding it. I have late-stage stomach cancer."Until this moment, she had believed—no, hoped—that she was still their daughter, that the news of her illness would stir some kind of sorrow in them. That was how it should be, wasn't it? A parent's heart aching for their child.But the next second, all of that shattered.A sharp, brutal kick landed squarely on her stomach, sending her staggering backward. She crashed against the corner of the table, pain shooting up her spine.She gasped, gripping the edge for support, her eyes widening in disbelief at her father. "You… you…"Before she could finish, her father slapped her."Jessica! Have you become the kind of person who lies through her teeth?" he shouted. "If Abby hadn't warned us beforehand that you bought blood bags to fake your illness, we mi
The next day was the day before Jessica was set to leave for Paris. It was also the day before Jack and Abby's wedding.That evening, at Abby's request, the four of them gathered for a simple family dinner.The dishes were all her favorites—seafood and spicy food.Jessica couldn't eat any of it.Her illness had made it impossible, reducing her options to plain bread. But even if she weren't sick, she still wouldn't have been able to eat these dishes. Spicy food made her stomach ache. Seafood made her break out in hives.Yet no one seemed to remember that.All they remembered were Abby's preferences.Across the table, Abby clung to Jack's arm, smiling sweetly at him. Their parents sat side by side, looking on with beaming faces.And Jessica? She had called the waiter over to add an extra chair, turning a four-person table into a table for five.It was clear she didn't belong here.But it didn't matter.This was the last meal. After tonight, she would never see them again.Ab
No one noticed that Jessica had left.Everyone was too preoccupied with the wedding.Abby had always dreamed of a grand wedding, and Jack had accommodated her, replacing the original arrangements with an extravagant setup. A pricier makeup artist had been hired. Three sets of gowns had been prepared—one for the entrance, one for the ceremony, and one for the banquet.At eleven-thirty, the grand doors swung open. Abby stepped into the venue, draped in a flowing white wedding dress. The melody of the wedding march played softly in the background.On the giant screen, images of her and Jack flickered to life. Since she had taken over as the bride at the last minute, there hadn't been time for a proper wedding photoshoot. Instead, hastily gathered candid shots played in a slideshow.The hall was filled with guests, yet an odd atmosphere lingered. Faces twisted in curiosity and hushed whispers spread through the crowd."A wedding where the bride changes at the last minute? Never heard
Paris headquarters? With Nick?Jack stared at the photo for what felt like an eternity before his mind finally caught up. In just a few short minutes, it was as if his heart had been stretched and twisted for half an hour.He should have realized it earlier. From the way Jessica threw things around. From her hesitant, faltering voice on the phone last night.The signs were all there. She was leaving.Jack rummaged through the room, desperately searching for anything—anything that still carried a trace of her. But there was nothing. He sank onto the sofa like a punctured balloon.Abby's parents sat there as well, guilt etched across their faces. Then, they noticed the 250 million dollars.They weren't fools. They knew exactly what it meant.A severance payment. A clean break.They could almost picture it—Jessica, placing the money down with a heart full of despair and resignation.Who, unless forced, would willingly sever ties with their own parents? Who wouldn't want their f
Jack's flight was set for early the next morning. But that night, he couldn't sleep.Memories of Jessica flooded his mind. He saw her in a school uniform, in a wedding dress—every moment they had shared, from youthful innocence to the storms they had weathered together.She had loved him. Loved him so completely.And yet, all this time, he had been too preoccupied with another woman's fake illness to truly see her.How absurd. How unforgivable.Jack raised his hand and struck himself across the face. Hard. But it wasn't enough. He hit himself again, his palm stinging from the impact.And then, without warning, the tears came.He couldn't remember the last time he had cried or what it had been for. But tonight, there was no mistaking it—he was crying for Jessica.He didn't sleep at all.When morning came, he left for the airport immediately.'Wait for me, Jess. I'm coming.'…After arriving in Paris, Jessica quickly settled into her new position at headquarters. It came as
"Jess! I've finally found you. I know everything now. I know it all. It was my fault, all of it. Let's start over, okay? Let's just live a good life together," Jack pleaded.Jessica finally confirmed that the man standing in front of her was indeed Jack.It had only been a few days, but he looked different—leaner, more haggard, exhaustion carved deep into his features. Or perhaps it was just a trick of her mind. Either way, it had nothing to do with her.From the moment she left, their ties had already been severed.Her eyes, first filled with momentary surprise, turned cold and detached. Her voice followed suit, distant and flat. "Move."She had no intention of entertaining this conversation. She stepped past him, ready to leave.Jack reached out, blocking her path. "Jess, I came all this way for you. Can't you give me one chance? I know you still love me."Still love him?Jessica almost laughed."Jack, I don't love you anymore. After everything you've done, do you still expe
Jack smiled. "It's nothing. I've always liked helping others. Even if we can't be lovers or husband and wife in the future, we can at least be friends, right?"In the past few days, he had thought about many things.Instead of chasing after the impossible—trying to reconcile with Jessica—it would be better to take a step back and be her friend. Besides, he had seen it clearly now. Between Jessica and Nick, there was no place for anyone else. The two of them were like soulmates—connected in a way no outsider could ever disrupt.…After staying for a few more days at the Murray old estate, Jessica and Nick prepared to return to France.Before leaving, Jessica stood at a distance and took one last look at her parents. She didn't go any closer.She had forgiven Jack, but she still couldn't bring herself to forgive them.…Back in France, Nick and Jessica lived together, pouring all their energy into preparing for the design competition.They had a shared goal—to win first place.
Jack let out a cold laugh. "Someone as vicious as you should spend the rest of her life rotting in prison.""Jack…""Hearing you call my name disgusts me." His brow furrowed, every muscle in his face tightening with undisguised revulsion.Abby was stunned for a moment. Then, after a brief silence, she asked, "Jack, have you ever loved me? Even for just a fleeting moment?"Something inside her—some fragile thread of obsession, of belief—was on the verge of snapping."Never," he said."Then why?" she asked. "Why did you always choose to believe me over Jessica? Wasn't that love?"If it wasn't, she would have never dared to be so arrogant, so certain of her place.Jack's voice was calm, detached. "Because you were Jess's sister. Because you were sick. But I never realized—everything about you was a lie."There was nothing more to say. He turned away, his voice carrying a finality that cut through the cold air. "Take care of yourself. You've done enough wrong. The court will decid
Jessica stood frozen, her gaze fixed in the direction where the car had disappeared.She hadn't seen the driver clearly, but there was only one person who had both the motive and the audacity to try to kill her—Abby.She turned sharply and ran toward Nick. He lay unconscious, his body motionless atop a pool of blood.The crowd was in chaos. Some people were calling the police, and others dialed for an ambulance.Upstairs, Jack, having heard the commotion, hurried down, followed closely by Jessica's father."Jess, what happened?" Jack asked, his voice tight with urgency. After a brief hesitation, he slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over Nick's motionless body.Jessica was sobbing uncontrollably. The moment she saw Jack, she clutched at his sleeve, her fingers trembling."Jack," she choked out, her voice breaking between gasps. "Please… please save Nick. Take him to the hospital—I'm begging you…"Tears streamed down her face. "It was Abby. She drove straight at me, and N
The moment Jessica laid eyes on the scene before her, she was stunned.For as long as she could remember, her parents had always treated Abby with the utmost care, as if she were a delicate treasure. They never even raised their voices at her. And yet, now—now, her father had raised his hands against her.For a brief moment, Jessica wasn't sure how she should feel. Was this something to be happy about? Or was it something to mourn?As Abby lifted her head, her gaze met Jessica's.In that instant, all the hatred and malice that had been lurking beneath the surface surged forth, raw and unfiltered.Without warning, with a strength that seemed to come from nowhere, she shoved Mr. Conway aside and lunged at Jessica like a madwoman."Jessica, you wretched bitch! How dare you show your face in front of me?! I'll kill you! If not for you, I wouldn't have ended up like this!"Jessica, already frail from late-stage cancer, had no way to withstand Abby's sudden assault. She staggered back
Jessica hesitated for a few seconds before finally answering the call."Hello."She had intended to say "Dad," but the word caught in her throat. In the end, she let it go.On the other end, her father's voice was anxious."Jess, I know I shouldn't be calling you right now, but your mother's health has taken a turn for the worse. She really wants to see you. Can you come back?"A silence stretched between them.Then, Jess asked, "What happened to her?""Abby is causing trouble. We drove her away before we left for France, but she is still holding a grudge. The moment we returned, she started harassing us every day. Your mother, already in poor health, ended up in the hospital from the stress. But even that wasn't enough for Abby—she went to the hospital and caused another scene. Your mother was so angry she got a stroke."His voice grew hoarse, choking on emotion.He had never imagined things would spiral like this.He had once envisioned a life with two loving daughters, war
Jessica held the card in her hand. A thousand emotions surged through her. After a long pause, she placed it into her safe. She had no intention of using that money.The weather was noticeably better today compared to the past few days. The air, cleansed by the rain, carried a crisp freshness. After buying breakfast, Jessica headed straight to the office.Meanwhile, Jack, who had been recovering well after three days of rest, inexplicably developed a fever again on the fourth morning.When his fever spiked to 40 ℃, he collapsed.Michael had no choice but to inform Jack's grandfather about Jack's condition.The old man erupted in fury upon hearing that his grandson had driven himself to such a state over a woman. His cane struck the floor repeatedly."For a woman, he disregards his own health? This is not how a man of the Murray family should behave."Despite his anger, he couldn't ignore his concern for his grandson. Without hesitation, he dispatched a helicopter to retrieve J
"As for you and Abby—whether it's just an act or something real—it has nothing to do with me anymore," Jessica said.Each word landed heavily in Jack's ears, pressing down on his already restless heart and sinking it into the abyss.Panic gripped him. A kind of panic he had never felt before.Desperate, he tried to explain. "Jess, I'm sorry. Can't you forgive me? I just want to be with you. Just the two of us, like before."But Jessica's voice remained calm. "But Jack, I've been doing just fine without you. If I'm already living well, why should I give you another chance to hurt me again? I am a living, breathing person. I have the right to choose my own happiness, my own future. I don't exist to revolve around you, nor do I have to wait forever for you to change."Jack understood. He understood completely.There was no way back for them. Not now. Not ever.And yet, some part of him still refused to accept it.He had let this love slip through his fingers, squandered something
Jack stepped out of the hospital ward as well.He arranged a place for Jessica's parents to eat and stay the night, but the atmosphere remained heavy. No one had an appetite, their thoughts weighed down by Jessica.Mrs. Conway couldn't hold back her tears. They fell silently, one after another."Why is she so stubborn?" she choked out between sobs. "We've already humbled ourselves and apologized—what more does she want? We're family. What can't be forgiven?""Let's just eat," Mr. Conway said, placing some food onto her plate. "After everything we've done to her over the years, how could a few words make it right?"After dinner, the two of them returned to the guesthouse Jack had arranged. He kept them company for a short while before stepping out into the night.It had grown colder. A light drizzle had fallen earlier, sharpening the chill in the air.As he walked down the empty street, one sentence repeated in his mind—"After everything we've done to her over the years, how co
Jessica didn't know how to react.For the longest time, she had thought she would never see her parents again.But that moment of shock passed quickly, replaced by an impenetrable coldness.The 250 thousand dollars she left behind had already severed any lingering ties between them. From now on, they owed each other nothing.Seeing how thin her daughter had become, Mrs. Conway's lips trembled, but no words came—only tears.Mr. Conway, too, felt his throat tighten, his reddened eyes brimming with emotion as tears slipped down his wrinkled face.Mrs. Conway crouched by the hospital bed, taking Jessica's hand in hers. "We know now, Jessica. We know everything. We really messed up… I'm so sorry. Please, forgive me, will you?"Mr. Conway, standing beside her, quickly echoed, "I was wrong too. Can't you find it in your heart to forgive us? We flew ten hours just to see you—doesn't that count for something?"There it was. That subtle, inescapable pressure—the kind that gnawed at the e