The day before our wedding, my fiancée, Chloe, decided to test my love by inviting our families onto a yacht. When the wind picked up and the waves got rough, she pushed my mom overboard, then jumped into the sea herself. Caught in the middle, I panicked, torn about what to do. My mom was already choking on water, but she weakly pushed me away, gasping, "Save Chloe first! She's your fiancée!" But after I struggled to drag Chloe back onto the deck, I looked for my mother again. She was silent, lifeless. Chloe watched me sob in agony, her eyes cold. "Stop pretending. Your mom was a competitive swimmer when she was young. How could she possibly die?" "You didn't even try to save me first. Jake was right, you just don't love me enough." "Our wedding is postponed. When you've reflected on this, and you bring your mom to apologize, then we'll talk about getting married." With that, she walked off, arm-in-arm with her childhood friend, Jake. But she didn't know. After a serious illness a few years ago, my mom couldn't swim anymore. That push had cost her her life. ... When they pulled my mom's body from the water, she was cold, gone. I held her, trembling, trying desperately to wake her, but she didn't move. Chloe walked over impatiently and kicked my mom's hand, which had slipped to the deck. "Alright, enough with the act! Everyone knows your mom's a pro swimmer. A few small waves aren't going to kill her." "Even if you play the victim in front of me, I'm not just going to let this go." "I can't stand being second best. Whoever marries me has to love me completely, put me first. You really disappointed me this time." Even being kicked like that, my mom showed no reaction. A flicker of uncertainty crossed Chloe's face. She started to bend down to check. Her friend Jake stepped in front of her, glanced at my mom's pale face, and scoffed. "She looks fine to me, definitely doesn't look like she's dying." He patted Chloe's shoulder, acting like an expert. "I heard swimmers like her are great at holding their breath, two or three minutes is nothing." "I bet they planned this together, mother and son, trying to intimidate you. So after you're married, you'll have to obey their every whim." Chloe froze, clenching her fists. Her gaze slowly shifted to me. "Ethan, is that true?" Before I could answer, she cut me off: "Don't bother explaining. It's hard for me to trust anything you say right now." "As punishment, our wedding is delayed by six months. When you learn how to love me properly, I'll consider marrying you again." Then, she turned and left with Jake, never looking back. Just then, I felt my mother's fingers twitch in my arms. It was like grabbing a lifeline; I felt a surge of hope. I scrambled over and grabbed Chloe. "My mom's alive! She can still be saved!" "We're on an island, there's no hospital! Please, can you just let your private doctor take a look?" Seeing her unmoved, I pleaded again, my voice low. "Have you forgotten how good she was to you? She treated you like her own daughter! Remember during that crazy lockdown, she risked everything to bring you food? She would never harm you! She'd never try to lay down rules before you even married in!" Chloe seemed slightly moved. She paused. She studied me with searching eyes for a long moment before finally agreeing. "Fine, I'll call the doctor." Jake tried to stop her. "Chloe, you don't have to—" But Chloe cut him off. "But this is the last time I trust you on this. If the doctor comes and finds out your mom is fine, you both will pay the price." I nodded frantically. Just getting a doctor was all that mattered. I couldn't think about anything else. But just as the doctor in a white coat hurried over with his medical bag, my mom suddenly coughed up a mouthful of seawater, hacking violently. 2 Everyone jumped when my mom opened her eyes. I froze too, but there was no joy in my eyes. I knew this was likely the final surge of energy before death, the 'last rally'. I rushed to the doctor. "She's fading fast, please, give her CPR, do something..." Before I could finish, Chloe raised her hand, cutting me off. Her face hardened. "That's enough! Your mom is perfectly fine." "Jake, let's go." She turned and walked away without a second glance. I started to go after her, but my mom weakly tugged at my sleeve. A tear rolled down her cheek as she spoke, her voice broken. "Ethan... don't blame Chloe... It's my fault, I'm useless... couldn't even swim a few hundred yards." "Explain things nicely to her... don't hurt her feelings... Mom will pull through... Mom still wants to be at your wedding..." But as soon as she finished speaking, her pupils dilated, and her hand slipped lifelessly from mine. No matter how desperately I called her name, she didn't wake up again. My heart finally died. Numbly, I closed my mother's eyes. Three years with Chloe. I couldn't understand how we'd ended up here. Just a year ago, Chloe and I were inseparable, madly in love. But everything changed when her childhood friend, Jake, came back from abroad. She started acting distant for no reason, constantly setting up these 'tests' to gauge my love. She said I had to pass ninety-nine tests of my sincerity before she'd marry me. Last time, she called me in the middle of the night to go to Jake's welcome-home party. The moment I walked in, a bowl of flour was dumped over my head. Jake held the empty bowl, looking pitiful. "It was me. Ethan won't blame me, right? Just wanted to liven things up a bit." Seeing Chloe watching me with questioning eyes, I swallowed my anger and just shook my head, saying it was fine. The next second, Jake winked at Chloe, congratulating me on passing: "Not bad, your boyfriend actually passed the test. Looks like he's got a good temper. You won't have to worry about domestic violence later." Chloe's expression softened slightly, but looking at my flour-covered mess, she offered no comfort. She just told me flatly to go wash up in the kitchen and then use the leftover ingredients to cook dinner for everyone. Even though I didn't understand Chloe's obsession with these tests, my love for her kept me from complaining. I told myself things would go back to normal once Jake went abroad again. I never imagined it would end like this. I sat slumped on the ground for a long time before slowly getting up. After finding a place to temporarily lay my mother's body, I went to find Chloe, who was now at a party. All I wanted was to leave this island, give my mother a proper burial, and let her rest in peace. But on my way to find Chloe, people kept pointing their phones at me. They were taking pictures, whispering among themselves. I didn't pay much attention at first, until someone jumped out and blocked my path, shoving their phone right in my face. "Hey buddy, how much did you sell your mom's life for? Maybe next time I'll try faking an accident in front of the rich girl too." I froze, snatching the phone from his hand. I saw that Jake's friends had posted videos online. The comments were brutal: 【Isn't the old hag supposed to be a swimming champ? How could she not even make it a few yards to shore?】 【Yeah, who knows what shady tricks she pulled back in the day.】 【If I were Chloe, I'd be crying my eyes out. Stuck with such a poor, nasty mother-in-law and a gold-digging fiancé. Probably staged the whole thing so they could control the rich daughter-in-law after the wedding, planning to bleed her dry.】 3 I pushed past the gawker and ran, frantically searching for Jake. "Jake, why did you let your friends spread these lies online!" "I can take it, but what did my mom ever do wrong? Why does she have to suffer this kind of slander even after death?" Jake lounged with his feet up on a table, looking completely unfazed. "Isn't this just the dirty stuff you guys pulled? What, you can do it, but you can't handle people talking about it?" "Chloe falling for you is the luckiest thing that ever happened to you. We, as her friends, have to help screen you. After all, you're just some poor kid. Who knows what your real intentions are." The glass in my hand shattered. Blood dripped between my fingers, but I felt nothing. Before I could say more, Chloe interrupted. "Alright, Ethan, stop making a scene. Jake was just trying to look out for me." "We're going to get married eventually anyway. The wedding's only postponed by six months. If you just admit you were wrong, everything can go back to normal." Chloe had someone bring a first-aid kit. She took out some gauze, her expression softening with a hint of concern. "Your hand is bleeding. Come here, let me bandage it." I just looked up at her. "You also think I was putting on an act?" Chloe didn't answer. Her silence said everything. I nodded, a bitter smile twisting my lips. "If that's the kind of person you think I am, then let's just go our separate ways starting today." "Chloe, the wedding is off." I turned to leave, but Jake called out. "Wait. Since you're leaving, you should give back the ring Chloe gave you." He pointed to the ring on my finger. Chloe had it custom-made for me. Her 'sincerity tests' started six months ago and continued until now. I endured countless humiliations during that time. There were moments I wanted to give up. But right after I suggested breaking up, she threw a massive tantrum, smashing everything in her house, then stormed out in a rage. The next morning, she rushed back home, her eyes red, hugged me, and apologized. Then, she took a ring box out, pulled out a ring, and coaxed me softly, "This is your wedding ring, I'm giving it to you early. We can get married very soon, just as long as you pass all the tests. After that, I'll belong only to you, okay?" My heart softened, and I didn't push the breakup anymore. I never imagined it would lead my mother and me into this abyss. Thinking of this, I didn't hesitate. I pulled the ring off my finger and threw it coldly onto the sand. "Take it back. We don't owe each other anything anymore." Chloe's face turned ugly. But I didn't care. I walked away without looking back. She called me many times on the way, but I didn't answer. I just held my mother's cold body tightly, unable even to cry. Back in our hometown, I wanted to arrange the cremation and burial immediately. But no funeral home would take her. No one would issue a death certificate. Even when I knelt and begged, they answered emotionlessly. "Miss Sterling gave instructions. We can't accept." "The Sterling family is planning a wedding. They can't have a funeral associated with them; it's bad luck." Desperate, I had no choice but to call Chloe. But Jake answered, mocking me cruelly. "You've got some nerve. You break up with her, and now you're calling to harass her again." "Give it up already. The person Chloe will end up with is me." "Those so-called sincerity tests? Just stuff I made up to mess with her. I was trying to get rid of you, but who knew you'd stick it out this long, even getting your mom killed in the process?" Jake hung up, his laughter loud and arrogant. When I tried calling back, the line was dead. I clenched my fists and slammed the phone against the wall. I went back to our old house and set up a simple wake, placing my mom in a coffin. After the traditional seven days of mourning, I was preparing for the burial when unexpected visitors arrived. Chloe burst in, looking furious. "Ethan, buying a coffin, holding a wake, when are you going to stop this charade?" "What happened last time already embarrassed the Sterling family enough! Now you're doing this, giving people more gossip? Don't think my tolerance means you can do whatever you want!" Her face was full of pain and disappointment, as if I had betrayed her deep love. But right then, I just said coldly, "Don't disturb my mother's peace. Whatever you have to say can wait until after she's buried. You're not welcome here." I had never spoken to Chloe like this before. She froze. After a moment, she bit her lip. "Enough! How long are you going to keep up this act! Do you think I'm a child?" I just calmly repeated, "Please leave." Chloe laughed, a bitter, tearful sound. She nodded, a desolate look in her eyes. "Fine. You say your mother is in this coffin, right?" "Men, take this coffin away!" The bodyguards she brought swarmed forward, lifting the coffin. They balanced it precariously on the edge of the window ledge. One hard push and it would fall. "What are you doing!" I struggled violently, but they held me fast. I couldn't move. And Chloe actually said, "Since you insist on lying to me, let's play one final sincerity test." "Do you choose this coffin, or do you choose to marry me? You can only pick one." I stared at Chloe in disbelief. I couldn't fathom she'd do something so insane. "Put it back! That's my mother in there! If you really throw it down, I will never forgive you!" Tears streamed down Chloe's face instantly. "Even faced with a fake coffin, you won't choose me?" "Ethan, you're truly heartless. I declare that you have failed the final sincerity test." "Then you can just watch me marry Jake. As for this..." Chloe looked at the coffin and sneered. "Throw it down! I'm sick of looking at it!" The men released their grip. The coffin plummeted from the high floor, crashing onto the ground below, shattering instantly.
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