Chapter 3

After two seconds of silence, I could hear him sneering.

"Clarissa, you're lying through your teeth just so you can get me to treat you better. Was that why you said something like that?" Chris asked.

I closed my eyes and let out a bitter chuckle.

I knew full well that it would end up like this.

I also knew full well that no matter how badly I suffered, Ruth would always be more important to him.

Despite knowing all this, I was still a little delusional.

Suddenly, I sensed a wave of nausea down my throat. I leaned over the edge of the bed and started vomiting.

Chris was oblivious to this. He continued to speak with a tone of superiority.

"If you want to throw a tantrum, do it on your own. Don't drag Caleb's girlfriend into this. They agreed to meet their parents to discuss and decide on their wedding date. Now, she's nowhere to be found!

"Just because you can't manage your own romantic relationship, you decide to bring others down. You even used your own life as an excuse. Don't you think you've gone too far? If I let you have your way this time, what will you ask for next? Will you deliberately hurt yourself to force me to do something?"

Regardless of what happened, Chris would have a preconceived notion that I orchestrated everything to take advantage of his worthless sympathy.

At a party last year, Ruth had given me food I was allergic to. I immediately ran a high fever that nearly cost me my life.

Even then, Chris merely looked at me in a cold, condescending manner.

"Clarissa, the way you lie to people just sickens me to the core.

"Didn't you just want to marry into my family? You've already tricked my parents into agreeing to our marriage. Why are you still pretending?"

To Chris, I was a vicious woman who repeatedly used self-harming means to ruin his relationship with Ruth.

In the past, I would desperately try to explain myself whenever he said something like that.

But now, I felt so tired that I could not even be bothered to say anything in my own defense.

"Chris, I want to call off the wedding. Once I get better, I'll personally explain everything to your parents. I won't attend the party today," I said calmly before hanging up.

To my surprise, Chris actually came.

He immediately frowned when he saw me lying on the hospital bed.

Before he could say anything, Ruth walked in.

She took Chris' arm out of habit and leaned against him.

Ruth gave me a look that conveyed she was in control. However, she forced an expression of sympathy on her face.

"What happened? How did Clarissa end up like this?

"I'm sorry, Clarissa. I really was not feeling well the other day. That's why Chris went to see me. Don't be mad at him. Both your parents are waiting for you at the hotel. You're putting him in a difficult spot by doing this."

Before she could finish delivering her pretentious speech, Chris cut her off.

He looked at her as if he felt deeply sorry for her.

"Ruth, you don't have to say all this to her! Clarissa, you've gone too far! Do you think I'll give in just because you're putting on a show? You have to apologize to Ruth and our parents right away!

"This is the last chance I'm giving you. If you refuse, you'll never get to become part of the Zachmans!" He yelled.

I snorted.

"Chris, it's over between us. Please get out of my ward with your girlfriend!"

Chris was visibly annoyed by how I mentioned his beloved Ruth.

He lifted his hand and slapped me hard across the face.