While cleaning out the attic of the old family estate, I accidentally found three candles. Right after, a mechanical voice echoed in my head. "Light one candle to make one wish come true." Thinking of my boyfriend who had lost his legs in a horrific car accident, I made a wish, half-skeptical. I wished for his legs to heal. Later, that first candle actually brought his legs back. I used the second candle to help him launch his startup, turning him into a billionaire. But on the day he promised to marry me, he looked at me with complete indifference and said, "I thought about it, and let's just forget it. The one I actually want to marry is Chloe." I lowered my head, letting out a cold laugh. "And what if I don't agree?" He raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with disdain. "I’m notifying you, Sera. I’m not asking for your permission." Without another word, I turned and walked away. Back in the familiar attic, I didn't hesitate. I lit the third candle. The clock struck midnight. I looked at the food on the dining table, which had been reheated over and over again. I couldn't help but ask, "Martha, did you actually tell Carter that I was waiting for him to come home for dinner?" Martha, who had been dozing off, snapped awake immediately. She quickly said, "I did tell Mr. Sterling, but..." She stopped abruptly, her face twisting into a grimace of hesitation and embarrassment. I looked up at her and offered a gentle smile. "It's fine. Go ahead. But what?" Hearing this, Martha burst out angrily, "But Chloe was the one who answered his phone!" "She said we should wait until she and Mr. Sterling finished their date, and then they'd come over for dinner together." "She is crossing the line! Ever since she came back, she’s been clinging to him 24/7. It’s been weeks since Mr. Sterling last came back to the estate to see you!" "A shameless home-wrecker acting like she owns the place." As Martha kept venting, my face grew stiffer. Actually, I knew the truth. It wasn't just Chloe clinging to him. They were clinging to each other. Because Carter had never truly let her go. Just as I was about to stand up and head back to my bedroom, the doorbell rang. I stopped Martha and went to open the door myself. The moment the door opened, Chloe practically shoved her way inside. She was holding a takeout box, and there were unmistakable, fresh hickeys on her neck. My hands clenched into tight fists as I stared at her. Chloe deliberately touched her neck, giving me a provocative smirk. "Blame Carter. He just wouldn't let me leave. Otherwise, we would’ve been back for dinner ages ago!" "Sera, sweetie, have you eaten yet? I brought you some leftovers." With that, she smoothly slipped into a pair of slippers and walked straight into the living room as if she owned the house. Ever since she returned to the country, she had visited the estate even more often than Carter. Every time, she either claimed Carter forgot some important files, or she was packing his overnight bag for a "business trip." I didn't understand why he would rather have someone who lived ten miles away pack his things instead of his own girlfriend. In fact, most of the time, I had to find out about Carter's whereabouts from Chloe's mouth. Shaking off my thoughts, I followed her into the living room. She glanced at the untouched dishes on the table and gasped in mock surprise. "Sera, you haven't eaten yet? Don't tell me you’ve been waiting for Carter this whole time!" "Oh, it's all my fault. I’ll definitely give him a piece of my mind when we get back!" Before I could speak, Martha couldn't hold back anymore. She sneered, "Who do you think you are? I’ve never seen a home-wrecker act so bold in front of the actual fiancée!" "If it weren't for you, Mr. Sterling would have been home eating dinner with Miss Vance hours ago!" Chloe's face fell instantly. She pointed at Martha and snapped, "Who are you calling a home-wrecker?!" "They've been together for seven years and aren't even married. Don't you ever wonder why?" "In a relationship, the one who isn't loved is the real intruder. Got it?" My head throbbed. I interrupted them, unable to take it anymore. "Enough. Stop fighting." I got it. I knew better than anyone else why Carter and I hadn't married after seven years. But I was waiting. I was waiting for the day Carter had promised to make me his wife.
"Why is it so loud in here?" Carter was back. He casually took off his scarf, revealing red marks on his neck that were even more prominent and shameless than Chloe's. I felt a sudden tightness in my chest, forcing me to take deep, gasping breaths. Chloe rushed to his side immediately, looking incredibly aggrieved. "Carter, I think Sera misunderstood something." "They're calling me a home-wrecker." As soon as she finished speaking, tears began to stream down her face. She looked up at Carter with red, tearful eyes, pouting as if she had suffered the ultimate injustice. Carter gently wiped the tears from her face. As he did, a very clear bite mark on his hand caught my eye. My heart felt as though it were being violently ripped apart. After comforting her, Carter turned his cold gaze on me. His face darkened with intense annoyance. "Apologize to her," he commanded coldly. I clenched my fists and shot back, "I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?" "Besides, what did I 'misunderstand'?" "Did I misunderstand the hickeys on your necks, or that bite mark on your hand?" Hearing this, Carter looked slightly guilty and quickly pulled up his collar. "That's a separate issue. No matter what, you don't talk to her like that." "Don't you know how much words like that can hurt someone?" I let out a bitter, mocking laugh. Words can hurt? Did their actions not hurt me at all? Why was I always the one who had to compromise? Seeing that I remained silent, Carter lost his patience. He grabbed my arm in a tight, painful grip and snarled, "Are you going to apologize or not?!" I stared back at him, my eyes welling with tears. "No!" Seeing the tension, Chloe quickly stepped in and pulled his arm away, acting like an angel. "Carter, let it go." "I'm sure Sera didn't mean it. It's just that you haven't been home lately and you're always with me. It’s natural for her to overthink." "Sera hasn't eaten yet. Let's sit down and eat together." Only then did Carter let go of my arm. He sat down and sighed heavily. "Chloe, you're always the reasonable one." Chloe smiled and opened her takeout boxes, calling out to me, "Sera, come and eat!" I cast a brief glance at the dishes. Every single one of them contained ingredients I was severely allergic to. I couldn't help but marvel at her dedication. She had actually managed to gather all my allergens in one meal. Seeing me stand there without moving, Chloe urged, "Sera, what's wrong?" "Is the food not to your liking? Let me go heat up the dishes you made." She started to stand up, but Carter grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down. "Don't spoil her. She's lucky to have food at all." "Why should you heat up her food? She's just being dramatic." My heart felt completely dead. But those dishes on the stove... I had kept them warm, heating them up over and over again just for him. He had probably forgotten who used to have such a sensitive stomach that he couldn't touch anything cold. Since then, I had always made sure a hot meal was waiting for him. But even when the food had turned to mush from being reheated so many times, he never came home. I forced myself to remain calm and said quietly, "I'm not hungry. I'm going to bed." Carter slammed his hand on the table, instantly standing up. He swept the dishes off the table, sending them crashing to the floor, and roared, "I don't give a shit if you eat or not!" "Starting today, I am never coming back here!" With that, he grabbed Chloe's hand and stormed out. The moment the heavy front door slammed shut, my tears finally poured down. "Martha," I choked out. Martha looked at me with deep concern. "Miss Vance, please don't be too sad." I wiped my tears away. "Seven years, Martha. How could I not be sad?" "But I regret it. I regret ever loving him." The more I loved him, the more out of reach he became. Perhaps I should have realized this a long time ago.
Carter and I had been together for seven years. I still remembered when Chloe was about to move abroad years ago. Carter, who was the golden boy and a perfect student, skipped class for the very first time. He climbed over the school wall and ran toward the airport like a madman. In his desperate rush, he ignored a red light and was struck by a truck, flying two meters into the air. Fortunately, he survived. Unfortunately, he lost the use of both legs. When he dropped out of school to undergo treatment, I was the one who tirelessly stayed by his side, caring for him day in and day out. In the beginning, he was incredibly hostile. He threw things at me and screamed at me to get out. But I didn't give up. Instead, I came even more frequently. Gradually, my devotion touched him. With red eyes, he told me, "Sera, let's be together." With my constant care, he finally dragged himself out of his darkest depression. One day, while cleaning the attic of our old estate, I accidentally found three candles. Just as I was about to throw them away, the mechanical voice sounded. "Light one candle to make one wish come true." Thinking of Carter, who was bound to a wheelchair, I made a wish with a sliver of hope. I wished for him to walk again. And miraculously, his legs recovered completely. When he realized he could walk, he held me tightly in his arms, crying, "Sera, thank you!" "I promise I will treat you right for the rest of my life. Once my career is stable, we'll get married!" I believed him. In that quiet hospital room, my joyful laughter felt like it could fill the world. To help him build his dream quickly, I lit the second candle. And just like that, his startup took off, turning him into a billionaire almost overnight. During the company’s launch celebration, he held my hand high and announced to his employees, "Meet your future boss-lady!" "I'm marrying her soon. When the day comes, everyone in this room gets a massive bonus!" Amidst the cheers of his employees, he kissed me for the first time. When we got home, he handed me the keys to the most luxurious villa in the city. With a bright smile, he told me that would be our future home. I was so happy I couldn't sleep a wink that night. Yet, only five short months later, Chloe returned. And everything changed. All his past promises popped like fragile bubbles, vanishing without a trace. In the dead of night, Martha and I were picking up the shattered plates and ruined food from the floor. Martha kept glancing at me, looking hesitant, as if she had something to say but didn't dare to. After a long silence, she finally spoke up. "Miss Vance, I went to Mr. Sterling's office today to drop off his lunch." I nodded, my voice flat. "Yes, I know." She studied my face carefully before whispering, "Chloe was there, too." My hand slipped, and a sharp piece of broken porcelain sliced into my finger. The sudden, stinging pain cleared my head a little. I pretended not to care. "That's normal." "She’s always bringing him 'files.' I’m used to it." Martha frowned, her tone growing urgent. "No, it's not just that." "All the employees in the office are talking. They're saying... they're saying Chloe is the real future Mrs. Sterling!" I looked up at Martha, my gaze piercing. "So, do you think so too?" Realizing she had crossed a line, Martha quickly apologized. "No, no! I just have a big mouth. Please don't be angry with me!" I waved my hand, feeling an overwhelming exhaustion wash over me. "It's fine. It's late. Go get some sleep." Martha quickly grabbed the broom and scurried away. I went up to the attic alone. I curled myself into a tight ball on the floor, staring blankly until my tears soaked through my collar. I opened a drawer and looked at the single remaining candle. I thought to myself, Maybe it really is time to wake up.
The next morning, I woke up in the attic. After a quick shower and change of clothes, I headed out. Today was the exact date Carter had promised to marry me. When I arrived at his company, the lobby was buzzing with excitement. Chloe was handing out Starbucks drinks to the staff, earning herself non-stop praise. "You're the best, Chloe! You always look out for us!" "Carter is so lucky to have a girl like you. I'm so jealous!" "When is the wedding? Don't forget to send us invitations!" Chloe lowered her head, blushing prettily. Carter walked out of his office, wrapping an arm around her waist with a beaming smile. "Alright, guys, she's shy. Stop teasing my girl." Watching this scene from a distance, my heart ached with a dull, sour pain that made me want to cry. Suddenly, an employee noticed me. He tapped Carter’s shoulder and pointed in my direction, looking incredibly awkward. "Uh, Miss Vance is here." Carter turned around, his brows instantly furrowing. "Did you finally realize you were wrong and come to apologize?" I shook my head, gathering every ounce of courage left in me. "Carter, do you remember what today is?" "Five months ago, you promised you would marry me today." As soon as those words left my mouth, the entire lobby fell dead silent. In his arms, Chloe looked up with a hurt expression. "Carter... is that true?" Without a single shred of hesitation, Carter denied it. "No." I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my skin, letting out a weak, hollow laugh. I had known coming here would only result in my own humiliation. Yet, a foolish part of me had still hoped. What if he remembered? What if he still loved me? But reality slapped me in the face once again. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice completely devoid of emotion. "I thought about it, and let's just forget it. The one I actually want to marry is Chloe." In an instant, the employees around us began throwing pitying looks at me. I lowered my head and let out a cold laugh. "And what if I don't agree?" He raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with disdain. "I’m notifying you, Sera. I’m not asking for your permission!" No matter how strong a heart is, it cannot withstand such public humiliation. I said nothing more. I turned around and walked out. Back in the attic of the estate, I resolutely took out the third candle and lit it. But the mechanical voice I expected didn't sound. I froze, wondering what had gone wrong. Suddenly, a frantic set of footsteps rushed up the stairs. Martha fell to her knees before me, her eyes red and swollen. She was trembling violently. "Miss Vance, I'm sorry... I took the candle. I... I had to give it to him." "Mr. Sterling said if I didn't hand over the candle, he would fire me and make sure I never find another job in this city!" "You know how old I am. No one else will hire me, and I have a paralyzed son to support!" In that split second, it felt as if my entire world was collapsing. I began to shake uncontrollably. I grabbed her arms tightly, raising my voice. "Where is the candle now? Tell me!" Martha didn't dare look me in the eye. She kept her head down, sobbing. "I don't know. I gave it to Mr. Sterling. I don't know what he did with it after that." I collapsed onto the floor, staring at her in sheer disbelief. I was the one who had taken her in out of pity. When I found out about her paralyzed son, I paid her triple the market rate and even covered his medical expenses. I couldn't understand why she didn't even give me a chance to help her. She knew I was the one who had been supporting her, yet in the end, she still chose to betray me for Carter. "I am the one paying your salary, Martha!" I said, my voice cracking. "And you're telling me you were afraid Carter would fire you?" "Even if he did, I could have easily kept paying you!" Martha gritted her teeth, her voice turning sharp. "But Mr. Sterling barely comes home anymore! Everyone knows he loves Chloe!" "Once Chloe officially moves in, you'll be kicked out of this estate. Without Mr. Sterling, you won't even be able to support yourself, let alone pay me!" Her words hit me like a physical blow. She had no idea that without me, Carter would never have achieved his current success. Indeed, the only reliable bond between people is mutual benefit. Some snakes can never be warmed. I stumbled to my feet, determined to find Carter and demand what was mine. But the moment I took my first step, my vision went black, and I collapsed. When I woke up, it was already the middle of the night. In the hospital room, Martha was clutching my hand, weeping uncontrollably. I sat up, trying to force a weak joke to ease the tension. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was dying." But Martha merely handed me a medical report with trembling hands, her eyes rimmed with red. "Miss Vance... why didn't you tell us you have cancer?"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "NovelMaster" app ? search for "463133", and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster