When the tabloids broke the news of Ethan Cross’s engagement, he was lying on my lap, reviewing a merger file. I thought it was just another piece of celebrity gossip. I teased him. "Very funny. They’re saying you’re getting married next month." Ethan casually flipped to the next page of the contract. "Yeah. Make sure you’re free to play piano at the reception." I froze, completely stunned. Ethan traced a hand over my face, a touch of mockery in his eyes. "It took a lot of work to get her to say yes. Be a good girl, okay? Don't make a scene." 01 My mind went completely blank. I stared at him, not knowing how to react. Ethan let out a soft scoff and set the merger file down on the coffee table. "Don't look at me like a deer in headlights. It's not like we're never going to see each other again." He paused, tilting his head. "Or did you actually think I was going to marry you?" I fought back tears, pushing against his shoulders to sit up. "These five years... what was I to you?" Ethan refined his brow, sitting up and gripping my chin. "An assistant. You are the most capable assistant I’ve ever had." I wasn't satisfied. I asked again, my voice trembling. "Just an assistant?" Ethan’s expression darkened slightly. He wound a lock of my hair around his finger. "Sarah, do you know what I like most about you? You’re compliant. Smart. Rational. Sane." He applied pressure to my chin. "Right now, you’re acting in a way that is very annoying." My heart felt like it was being stuck by a thousand needles. A dense, stinging pain surged through my body. He leaned in and kissed away the tear at the corner of my eye, his hand moving down. My body’s instinctual reaction made me shudder slightly against my will. He let out a sharp laugh, the sound filled with ridicule. "Don't act so aggrieved. After all, you enjoy this too, don't you?" I pushed him away with all my might and frantically grabbed my clothes, pulling them on over my head. He sat back, resting his chin on one hand, watching me amusedly. "By the way, you know my fiancée. She’s timid. Don't go near her, don't scare her." I froze mid-motion. A horrifying premonition seized my brain. "Who is it?" "The Sterling Group heiress. Harper Sterling." It was like a lightning bolt struck me. My brain felt like it exploded, pressure throbbing violently at my temples, mixed with a piercing pain. "Why her? You know... she..." "That was all a misunderstanding." Ethan reached out, pulled me back toward him, and got down on one knee to slide my high heels back onto my feet. "Harper already explained everything to me. If you are disrespectful to her because of things that happened in high school, don't blame me for being ruthless." He squeezed my ankle hard, looking up at me. It was an open threat. The pain made it almost impossible to sit still. I forced a sliver of a voice out of my throat. "Understood." 02 Winter in the Midwest is unforgivably cold. I stood by the railing of the downtown bridge, the wind stinging my face like a slap. I used to think that Ethan and I would get married, have kids, and live a quiet, happy life just like any other loving couple. After all, no other man had ever treated me as well as he did. He would clumsily cook my favorite dishes. Even though he hated the smell of spicy crawfish, he still took me to a shack on the Gulf just to get the authentic stuff. He even went to a simulation class to experience the pain of childbirth, crying as he told me we shouldn't have kids because he didn't want me to suffer. I thought he loved me to his core. But it turns out, he never once considered marrying me, let alone having a family with me. The wind howled past, and the black water rushed furiously beneath the bridge. I lifted my foot to step onto the bottom railing, intending to just feel the wind, but someone suddenly grabbed me from behind in a tight bear hug. It was an older woman, her face filled with panic, gripping my arm tightly. "Oh dear, I’ve been watching you for a while. It’s not worth it, sweetie, it really isn't." "If something happened to you, it would break your parents' hearts." "Life is long. There’s nothing you can’t get through." She practically forced her own gloves, scarf, and beanie onto me. Finally, she pulled a warm, foil-wrapped breakfast burrito from her coat pocket and shoved it into my hand. I had been holding back tears for so long, but at that moment, they completely exploded. I sobbed uncontrollably. I wasn't trying to jump. I just wanted to freeze myself into feeling rational again. I wanted to accept the brutal reality that Ethan Cross did not love me. But facing this stranger's warmth, I suddenly felt so aggrieved, so full of resentment. 03 By the time Ethan’s call came through, I was already back at my apartment. "I'm formally introducing Harper to everyone tomorrow. You should be there." I gripped the phone, my hand slowly tightening. "I don't want to go." Ethan let out a soft scoff. "Sarah, this is a notification, not a request. Harper wants you there." "I said I don't want to go." My voice was terribly raspy. The cold wind from earlier seemed to have blown into my very bones. A bone-deep chill settled into my core. "Sarah!" Ethan lost his patience, his voice booming through the speaker. "If I don't see you tomorrow, you can forget about ever getting your mother’s prescription covered again." The line went dead. I leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor, collapsing. 04 Having been with Ethan for five years, I knew his friends well enough. So, at the party, when they saw me, their eyes were filled with mockery. "How does she still have the nerve to show up? Live as a mistress long enough, and you actually start thinking you belong here." "Some people just don't know what shame is. Who else would stripped naked and crawl into a bed for a promotion?" I kept my eyes on the ground, pretending to be deaf. Someone walked over and pressed his hand down on mine on the table. His sticky breath fanned against my ear. "Sarah, don't be sad. Now that Ethan’s done with you, you can always come find me. I don't mind seconds." The area erupted in crude, disgusting laughter. I clenched my teeth, stood up, and took a step back to put distance between us. "Respect yourself, please." He gave me a predatory look, scanning my body. "Still acting high and mighty? Believe it or not, I could handle you right here." My body instantly went rigid. My palms were wet with fear. I looked toward the door over and over, desperately hoping Ethan would walk in. I knew exactly how vicious these people could be. At a moment like this, only Ethan could help me. As he kept crowding me, I slowly backed into a corner. "Sarah, just give in to Mr. Miller. It's not like trash like you has other options." They looked at me with greed, disdain, and excitement. They were nailing me to a cross of shame. I had nowhere left to retreat. I tried to quickly dart around him. But someone stuck their leg out, tripping me. I crashed to the floor. My arm caught a bottle of Cabernet on the adjacent table. It fell and shattered. I landed with both hands directly onto the glass shards. My white dress was instantly stained red with blood. The crowd erupted in roars of laughter. I struggled to move, trying to stand up, but a sharp, agonizing pain shot up from my ankle. Mark Miller bent down and grabbed my wrist. "Sarah, let me help you..." The door suddenly opened. Ethan walked in, Harper Sterling on his arm. They were late. He saw me sprawled on the floor. He frowned. "What's going on?" "Sarah wasn't careful. She tripped and broke a wine bottle. Mr. Miller was just trying to help her up," someone smoothed over. Ethan’s gaze moved to Mark Miller’s hand gripping my wrist. His expression darkened slightly. "Let go." Mark awkwardly stood up, backing away from me. "Mr. Cross, don't misinterpret this." Ethan walked over quickly, a faint trace of worry in his eyes. "Ethan, let me help Ms. Jenkins up." Harper Sterling’s voice was soft and warm, interrupting him as he started to bend down. Ethan froze for a microsecond, then stood back up. "Alright." Harper extended her hand to me. I looked at that smiling face, and it was like I was transported back ten years. Pure terror broke me into a cold sweat. "Ms. Jenkins, do you not like me helping you?" She looked innocent, a trace of grievance in her voice. Before I could speak. Ethan said with a cold face, "If she doesn't want to get up, let her crawl on the floor. What an embarrassment." "Ethan, don't speak to a woman like that," Harper chided softly, helping me up. "Are you okay?" Then, she whispered close to my ear, just loud enough for me to hear. "Even though everyone knows Mark is a predator, you didn't have to humiliate yourself like this just to get his attention." Her face was full of concern, but her eyes were venomous. She viciously pinched the glass wounds on my hand. The pain was unbearable. I violently pushed her away. "Get away from me. Don't touch me." Harper staggered back a step and fell toward the floor. I stared straight at her, wishing with every fiber of my being that she would fall onto the broken glass. Unfortunately, Ethan caught her. He stepped forward furiously and slapped me across the face. "Harper was kindly trying to help you, and you treat her like this? You ungrateful bitch." My ears were ringing. I felt like I stepped off a ledge, plunging into darkness. Ethan’s mouth was opening and closing; he was probably saying more horrible things, but I couldn't hear him. When my senses finally returned, I only heard the last sentence. "Sarah, apologize to Harper." I looked at him in disbelief, wanting to defend myself, but not knowing how to say it. Even if I did say it, Ethan wouldn't believe me. "I am telling you for the last time. Apologize. Otherwise, you know what I’m capable of." His voice held an undertone of a threat. I curled my lips in a self-deprecating smile, letting out a bitter laugh. "If I don't apologize, you'll cut off my mother's treatment, right?" He snorted coldly and said nothing else. How ridiculous. The man who once swore he would never let me suffer a single grievance was now forcing me to apologize to the person who used to bully me. Just a week ago, he was sitting in front of my mom, peeling an apple for her, swearing that she would live to be a hundred. "Forget it, Ethan. Sarah didn't do anything wrong. She just doesn't like me, that's all." Harper’s eyes were downcast, pulling on Ethan’s sleeve. "I don't need your hypocrisy," I snapped, not knowing where the courage came from. Harper looked frightened by me. Her rim med with red, and she shrunk back behind Ethan. "Don't be scared," Ethan comforted her gently. Then he turned and viciously kicked my knee. "Watch your attitude!" I was forced to my knees on the ground. "Apologize, Sarah. Don't push me." Ethan’s jaw was tight, a storm brewing in his eyes. My heart was completely dead. My body didn't even seem to feel the pain anymore. My mom’s illness could only be treated with a specialty drug developed by Ethan’s company. I could not sacrifice my mother's life for the sake of my dignity. "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I beg for Ms. Sterling's forgiveness." I looked down, my voice shattered and broken. 05 Late that night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, listening to the torrential rain outside. I heard the smart lock chime as the front door opened. A moment later, the sound of the shower ran in the bathroom. I turned over and closed my eyes. The other side of the bed dipped, and I was pulled into a damp, cold embrace. "Does your face still hurt?" He asked neutrally. "We broke up." I pushed him away calmly. He let out a light laugh. "Still angry? It was just an apology." I tightly gripped my nightgown. "Stop it, I'm having a hard time right now," he mumbled, his voice hoarse, burying his face in the crook of my neck. "Why didn't you go to Harper Sterling?" "We're not married yet. It wouldn't be right to do this to her." My heart was completely ash. I let my hands fall lifelessly, like a dead fish. Ethan struggled for a while, but seeing I was unresponsive, he turned over and flipped on the bedside lamp. "Sarah, do you have to ruin the mood like this?" He lit a cigarette, his cold gaze sweeping over my barely covered body. "I really don't know what you're dissatisfied about." "If it weren't for me, could you afford to live this decently?" I clenched the bedsheets, tears silently flowing down my face and into my ears. He forcefully turned my face toward him. When he saw my red, swollen eyes, he froze. His phone on the nightstand suddenly buzzed. It was Harper Sterling calling. "Ethan, it’s thundering. I’m so scared." He comforted her with a few soft words, then quickly put his clothes back on. He turned to look down at me, his voice freezing. "Sarah, you need to seriously reflect on yourself. Don't just cry over every little thing. Crying doesn't solve any problems." He was right. Crying doesn't solve any problems. But nobody cries because they want to solve problems. 06 I stood outside the hospital room door and took several deep breaths before pushing it open. "Whose mom is this? Why is she so pretty?" I teased with a smile. My mom was sitting in bed, knitting a scarf. When she saw me, she dropped the yarn and waved me over. "There's my girl." Then she pretended to be angry. "Hmph. You haven't been here to see me in days." I happily hugged her. "I was just here two days ago. Didn't the doctor say you need to rest? What are you busy with now?" She took my hand, showing off her work. "Oh, just lying here gets so boring. I’m knitting scarves for you and Ethan." "Is this color nice? I specifically picked matching ones for couples." My eyes stung with sourness. I slowly ran my hand over the scarf. "It's beautiful." "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" My mom realized my mood was off, her voice filled with worry. "Did you and Ethan have a fight?" "No." I snuffed. "I just feel so lucky to have you, Mom." "Silly child." My mom patted my shoulder gently. "I only have one wish in this life, and that is for you to be happy and safe. I can't be with you forever. You have to walk your own path in the future. Ethan is a good man, you can rely on him. When two people are together, there will always be disagreements, but as long as you talk it out, it’ll be fine." "I know, Mom. Don't worry, Ethan and I... are great." I looked down to hide my expression. "That's good." My mom nodded in relief. "One of these days, when he isn't busy, bring him by and we’ll all have... cough cough cough..." My mom suddenly started coughing, unable to catch her breath, her mouth suddenly filled with bright red blood. "Doctor! Nurse!" I frantically pressed the call button. A massive panic seized me. 07 After emergency resuscitation, my mom was temporarily out of danger. I stopped the primary physician in the hallway. "My mother’s condition has been stable for years. What happened today?" Dr. Lee looked at me with a complicated expression. "Ms. Jenkins, you should probably talk to Mr. Cross." "What do you mean?" "Mr. Cross cut off the coverage for her specialty drug. If this happens again, I’m afraid your mother won't make it. You need to handle this immediately." My heart dropped into a bottomless pit. I frantically dialed Ethan’s number, but it showed that his phone was off. I called over twenty times, with the same result. I knew this was my punishment for not being "compliant" last night. He was waiting for me to beg. I looked everywhere—at the office, his house, his private club, the golf course. He was nowhere to be found. I collapsed helplessly against the front of my car. Finally, the housekeeper at his villa couldn't watch me suffer anymore and told me where Ethan was. I immediately booked the closest flight to Miami. 08 When Harper Sterling saw me, her eyes filled with genuine surprise. "Sarah? What are you doing here?" Ethan, on the other hand, was not surprised at all by my arrival. I cut straight to the chase. "Mr. Cross, my mother..." Ethan gave a low, appreciative whistle, refined his brow, and pulled Harper into a tight embrace by her waist. "I'm busy." I took a deep breath. "Then when will you have time?" "Depends on my mood." He leaned back, resting his chin on his hand, looking down to coax Harper. "Should I take you to watch the sunset?" "I knew you were the best, Ethan." Harper blushed and kissed him shyly. I turned to leave, but Ethan called out to me. "Stay right there. Don't move." 09 The night grew deeper. A few stars poked through the high sky. Giggles and soft sounds kept drifting out from Ethan’s suite. I looked down at the potted hibiscus nearby; there were fewer blooms this year than in the past. For the five years I was with Ethan, he took me here every winter. The same hotel. The same room. The pool, the lounge chairs, the balcony swing. Every inch of this place witnessed our past happiness. He really knew how to find new ways to humiliate me. But it didn't matter. As long as my mother lived, I would do anything. The door was pushed open from the inside. I lifted my eyes, then immediately looked back down. "Sarah, you are just as spineless as always." Harper smiled as she walked up to me, a lit cigarette dangling between her fingers. The terror that had disappeared for so long drilled back into my brain. For a dazed moment, I was back in high school. It was the same kind of lit cigarette. They had shamelessly used me as a human ashtray. Ash tapped into my mouth. Cherry pressed against my skin. They forced me into the abandoned art room. Harper said that if I crawled on all fours like a dog, they wouldn't go cause trouble at my mom’s street food stall. Day after day. For all three years of high school—what should have been the brightest years of my life—I lived in an absolute living hell. Someone kicked the back of my knee, forcing me to stumble. Harper leaned close to my ear, her voice like a demon's whisper. "Don't be scared. Your life is only going to get more miserable from now on." I looked up, staring straight into her eyes, asking the question I had wanted to ask for years. "Why? Why do you hate me so much?" She laughed arrogantly. "Sarah, you are still so naive. Hating someone doesn't need a reason, just like loving someone doesn't need a reason. From the moment I saw you, I despised you. Everything you want to protect, I want to take away. Including your mother." Alarm bells went off in my head. A moment later, Dr. Lee’s call came through. "Ms. Jenkins, your mother needs the medication immediately, or..." I didn't stay to hear the rest. I yanked open the door to the suite. "Ethan Cross, get out here. I’m begging you. Cover my mother's medication again." I woke him up. He looked annoyed, then quickly got out of bed and rushed toward me. A sliver of hope ignited in my heart. But it was quickly doused. "Harper! What’s wrong? Sarah, what did you do to her?" He pushed me aside furiously and scooped up the unconscious Harper from the floor behind me. I anxiously explained, "I didn't! She’s faking it! Ethan, please, call the hospital. If my mom doesn't have that medicine, she will die." He snorted coldly. "Sarah, you really will stop at nothing. Just to get my attention, you’re actually cursing your own mother to die. You are truly shameless and disgusting." "If anything happens to Harper, I will never forgive you." He rushed out with her in his arms. I knelt on the floor, grabbing the cuff of his jeans. "I am telling the truth! It only takes a minute to make a phone call! Ethan, please! If you make the call, I will do anything. I’ll apologize to Harper Sterling with my life if you want!" "Get lost." Ethan kicked me hard in the chest. "Your mother must be so miserable having a daughter like you." 10 By the time I rushed back to the hospital, completely frantic, it was too late. I never got to see my mother for the last time. I collapsed to the floor. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart, ripping it right out of my chest. Dr. Lee walked over and handed me a paper bag. "I'm sorry." His eyes were full of guilt. I slowly opened it. The two brightly colored scarves were inside. I couldn't hold it back anymore. I cried out in agony. "Mom, I was wrong... It’s all my fault!" 11 After finishing my mother's funeral arrangements, I locked myself in my apartment. On the third day, Ethan showed up. He disgustedly yanked open the blackout curtains. "What? Planning to die here? You’re going through all this life-and-death drama just over a little medication hitch?" "Do you love me that much?" The bright light outside instantly stung my eyes. Then he threw a designer handbag at me. "Here. The one you’ve always wanted. I brought it straight here from the airport." Ethan’s mouth kept opening and closing. My head hurt so much from the noise. "Get out." I stood up, hysterical, grabbed a pair of scissors from the table, and viciously stabbed them into the handbag over and over. "Have you gone insane?" Ethan walked over, clamped my wrists, and threw the scissors away. "Sarah, think about your mother before you do anything stupid. My patience is not unlimited. If you keep throwing these tantrums, you will never get that medication covered." I suddenly started laughing. The laughter grew louder and louder, eventually turning into choking sobs. I forcefully slapped him across the face, pointing at the black-and-white photo on the wall. "My mother is dead." 12 "That’s not possible. When?" Ethan froze, a trace of suspicion in his eyes. "Sarah, are you lying to me again?" I didn't have the energy left to argue with him. I leaned against the table, breathing heavily. He violently grabbed my wrist, forcing me to look up. "Sarah, speak to me. You do not joke about things like this." I let out a cold scoff, fighting the urge to vomit. "You're right. I am lying to you. My mom isn't dead at all. I staged this whole thing." "Now that you’ve caught me, can you get the hell out?" He tightened his jaw, his eyes turning cold. He snorted and flung my hand away. "Don't ever play stupid games like this again." 13 After Ethan left, I changed the security code on the door lock. I called a real estate agent I knew to list the apartment. "Ms. Jenkins, the market isn't great right now. The price might..." I interrupted him. "It doesn't matter. Just sell it as quickly as possible." This was the apartment I bought during my second year with Ethan. Back then, I thought he was just a struggling artist. To reassure my mom, I worked myself to the bone, saving every penny to make the down payment on this place, intending for it to be our future home. Later, when his true identity was revealed, I broke up with him in a rage. He stood outside in the pouring rain all night. Asking me pitifully, "Sarah, I was wrong. Please don't leave me." I was soft-hearted. I made him ginger tea to ward off the chill. I thought I had found true love.
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