Chapter 3

Serena walked out of the restroom.

As if trying to keep his distance, Ethan violently let go of my wrist.

He probably didn't realize how weak my body had become.

With just a slight push, I lost my balance and fell hard onto the floor.

Serena gasped and rushed over to pull me up, glaring at Ethan.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

I smiled at her and used her support to stand up.

"I'm fine. Don't blame him. I just lost my footing."

"I just checked the time. My flight is in the evening, so I should have enough time to attend your wedding the day after tomorrow."

Serena's eyes lit up with excitement.

"That's wonderful!"

"I'm so happy you can make it!"

On the way back, I didn't get into Ethan's car.

Instead, I hailed a cab.

"You guys are getting married soon. It's not appropriate for me to stay at the villa anymore."

"I booked a hotel room last night, so don't worry about me. Just have the maid send my bags over."

Without waiting for their reply, I pulled the cab door open and got in.

Fifty yards away from the courthouse, my phone vibrated.

Ethan had unblocked me.

Thank you.

I let out a hollow laugh. I didn't even know how to react to his gratitude.

What did this even mean?

I locked my phone, took my medication at the hotel, and went back to sleep.

When I woke up in the afternoon, Serena had already posted several photos on Instagram.

She announced her marriage to Ethan and shared photos of her trying on wedding dresses.

They were smiling, their faces pressed close together.

Underneath, Ethan had commented:

Finally, you're mine.

Looking at the flood of congratulatory comments, I felt a deep wave of envy.

I envied their love, and I envied their healthy, strong bodies.

Checking the time, I realized I had to meet with my lawyer.

With only a 40% success rate, I knew I probably wouldn't make it off the operating table alive.

Before I left, I needed to make a will.

By the time I walked out of the law firm, it was already dark.

Suddenly, Serena called me.

She sounded heavily intoxicated, slurring her words incoherently. Fortunately, a bartender took her phone and gave me the address of the bar.

When I arrived, Serena was completely wasted.

The moment she saw me, she threw her arms around me and sobbed hysterically.

"I'm sorry."

"I really couldn't let go of Ethan. I'm so sorry."

I didn't know what to say, so I just let her hold me.

I sent a quick text to Ethan, telling him to come pick her up.

Seeing my silence, Serena grew agitated.

She grabbed my sleeve, gripping it tightly.

"Why won't you tell me it's okay!"

"Being the other woman was so painful. Why won't you forgive me!"

I looked at the tears streaming down Serena's face.

I gently reached out to wipe them away and spoke softly.

"Because I don't want to. You ruined my family and stole my husband. But you were also the only person in the Harper family who was ever kind to me. And yet, the nurse swapped us at birth, letting me steal twenty years of your life."

"Serena, I can't bring myself to hate you, but I can't forgive you either."

My words seemed to trigger something vicious in her. She shoved me away with brutal force.

She fell to the floor herself, pointing a finger at me and screaming.

"What right do you have to hate me!"

"I hate you too! But then you had to get that stupid, wretched disease. I pitied you, and I hated you at the same time! I loathed myself for being the other woman, but I couldn't stop myself from being with Ethan. It's all because of you! You made me this way!"

Suddenly, Serena grabbed me again.

Her sharp nails dug deep into my arm, leaving bloody scratches.

Her face twisted with malice as she glared at me.

"Are you going to steal Ethan back from me in the future?"

"You will, won't you? A man who risked his life for you, who was even willing to transplant his bone marrow to save you—how could you ever let him go?"

"Chloe, I wish your surgery had failed three years ago. You should have just died back then!"

I froze.

I didn't know how to handle the sheer depth of Serena's hatred.

I just felt pain.

An agonizing pain that started in my chest and spread to every inch of my body.

It felt like everyone in this world hated me.

Blood was oozing from the scratches on my arm.

I ignored it.

I wrapped my arms around Serena and whispered into her ear:

"I won't. I'm dying anyway."

"My cancer is back. There is no future for me."