Chapter 1

"Ms. Lane, your condition is unique. Without a kidney donor, I'm afraid..."

The doctor trailed off, but his pitying look said it all.

I let out a bitter laugh.

Years with Spencer Saun—of course my body would eventually call it quits.

And now that it had, I felt... weirdly calm. Like the pressure was finally gone.

Walking out of the hospital, I started drafting how I'd break the news to Spencer without sounding completely pathetic.

People get attached to stray cats just by feeding them. Would he feel even a shred of doubt about letting me go?

My thoughts were cut short when my phone buzzed, the sound jarring.

"Maya, get back to the office. Now."

***

In the dim corridor, Spencer crushed his lips against mine, harsh and unrelenting.

I flinched, trying to pull back, pain tightening my face. His eyes darkened.

"Don't frown." His voice was ice-cold.

I didn't need him to say the rest. '...Because then you won't look like her.'

Humiliation crept in, quiet and sharp.

He, on the other hand, seemed satisfied as tears pooled in my eyes. That's exactly how Fiona Wore looked when she pouted for his attention.

Faint footsteps echoed nearby. Spencer shoved me away, hard.

The back of my head slammed against the wall. Pain bloomed, sharp and dizzying, but I didn't dare react. I knew better than to make him angry again.

He smoothed his suit like nothing had happened, his face sliding back into cold indifference.

Then he turned and walked off, leaving me there.

I slid down to the floor, wrapping my arms around myself. The dizziness took a while to fade before I could finally stand.

***

In his office, Spencer exhaled a cloud of smoke, the scent heavy in the air.

I wanted to tell him to stop—that it was wrecking his health.

But I knew better. He never listened to me.

It wasn't until he lit his third cigarette that he finally glanced up, his gaze sharp and unreadable.

"Maya, let's get married."

***

The wedding gown was stunning, every detail impossibly perfect. Spencer had picked it out himself.

My fingers brushed over the intricate stitching.

How fitting—it was exactly like the dress Fiona once gushed about as her dream gown.

After Spencer proposed, I'd kept my illness to myself. If this was all just a fleeting fantasy, I wanted to savor it for a little longer.

Even the church was decorated to match Fiona's tastes, down to the last flower arrangement.

The guests watched, waiting for me to say the words, 'I do.'

But before I could, a commotion at the entrance turned every head in the room.

Fiona had arrived.

Breathless and wild-eyed, she stood in the doorway, her voice cutting through the silence as she pointed at Spencer.

"Spencer, that's my dream wedding gown! How could you let her wear it?"

Her voice cracked as tears shimmered in her eyes. She bit her lip, teetering between pitiful and defiant, her gaze fixed solely on him.

"You told me you'd wait for me forever! Did those words mean nothing? How could you betray even yourself?"

The room froze, stunned silence settling over the crowd.

Guests exchanged confused glances, unsure if they were witnessing a wedding or a soap opera.

What should've been the happiest day of my life was unraveling, thanks to Fiona.

For a split second, I almost wished I weren't the bride.

Watching her standing there, tears glistening, I even felt a flicker of pity.

Spencer moved toward her, but I gripped his hand tighter, refusing to let go.

Keeping my voice steady, I picked up the microphone, forcing a smile that barely reached my eyes.

"Fiona, this is my wedding to Spencer. If you've come to give us your blessing, you're welcome. But please, don't ruin it."

She said nothing, her gaze fixed stubbornly on Spencer, ignoring everyone else in the room.

Even standing alone, she carried herself with the confidence of someone backed by an entire army. Fiona was always relentless when it came to him.

Spencer shot me a sharp, displeased look, but I didn't budge.

Today, I was willing to risk it all.