After my father died, the illegitimate daughter he had been raising abroad immediately returned to the country to fight me for the estate. Her name was Alma.

I was his only legitimate child, and I even had a will on my side.

However, I still failed to keep my rightful inheritance.

My fiancé Wayne, who could command the entirety of North City with a flick of his wrist, insisted on helping Alma.

He stood protectively in front of Alma’s wheelchair and asked me impatiently, “With the money I gave you, you could buy plenty of houses like that. Are you really so heartless? Why would you fight a disabled person over it?”

I confronted him, my voice trembling with disbelief.

“Fighting? That house is the only thing my mother left me.”

In the end, Wayne helped Alma win the lawsuit.

He looked at my red, swollen eyes with a trace of guilt and said, “Jocelyn, I’ll make it up to you in the future.”

However, I knew then that there was no more future between us.

“I’ll add another $5 million to your compensation. Give Alma the mansion.

“She got into a car accident overseas. She’ll spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. Just treat it as an act of charity toward someone disabled.”

Wayne’s words, which were so casually spoken, nearly drove me insane.

“Absolutely not! That house was my mother’s dowry!

“Her mother was nothing more than a household maid back then. That maid climbed into my father’s bed while my mother was pregnant with me. Later, she shamelessly strutted around in front of my mother, showing off her belly. My mother went into premature labor from the shock and hemorrhaged badly. She died shortly after giving birth to me.

“If I’m supposed to pity her, who will pity my mother and me?!”

As I raged and cried out at him, Wayne removed his gold-rimmed glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Then, he shot me an impatient look.

“Jocelyn, stop making a scene. I’ll add another $20 million. That’s more than enough for you to buy several houses like that one. Surely you’re satisfied now.

“Come on. Sign the transfer agreement.”

I stared at the man in front of me in disbelief as tears slipped uncontrollably from the corners of my eyes.

“Wayne, I’m your fiancée! It’s one thing not to help me, but it’s another to actually side with her against me!

“Is this the undying love you swore to me when you proposed?”

Wayne knew he was in the wrong.

His tone softened after a long silence.

“I just feel sorry for her.

“Jocelyn, sign it, and I swear I’ll protect only you from now on.”

He pushed the agreement toward me again.

There was not even a moment’s hesitation.

I ripped the papers into pieces and flung them straight into his face.

“Give up. I won’t sign them.

“Court starts tomorrow. If you’re still determined to side with Alma, then we’ll meet in court.”

I grabbed my bag and stood up to leave.

Behind me came his warning.

“Jocelyn, don’t force my hand.”

I paused for a fraction of a second.

Then, I walked away even more decisively.

Suddenly, there was the sound of something struggling as they were dragged violently from behind.

“Woof!” A familiar bark reached my ears.

My heart sank. I turned around and collapsed at the sight before me, screaming at Wayne, “Are you insane?!

“You’re threatening me with BunBun?!”

BunBun was the dog Wayne and I had raised together for five years like our own child.

Now, BunBun’s limbs were tightly chained with iron shackles. Two burly bodyguards pinned him to the ground while a veterinarian stood nearby, holding a sharp syringe. All it would take was a single word from Wayne.

Then, the euthanasia drug would be injected straight into BunBun’s body.

Wayne let out a sigh and looked at me helplessly.

“Jocelyn, you forced me to do this.

“I had another agreement prepared. Sign it.

“You have three minutes. Whether BunBun lives or dies depends entirely on your choice.”

Seeing BunBun held hostage, I was on the verge of a breakdown.

I rushed forward, clutching Wayne’s sleeve, crying and begging, “Wayne, that’s BunBun. He’s the puppy we adopted together! How could you bear to hurt him? He’s already ten years old. He’s weak. He can’t take this. He’ll die!”

My tears stirred not even a trace of pity in him.

He glanced at his watch and said calmly, “You have two minutes left. The house, or the dog?”

BunBun’s body was already weak.

He struggled violently, his tongue hanging out as he gasped for air. His cries were sharp and desperate. The bodyguards only pressed him down harder until even his cries faded.

He could not speak. He could only whimper, begging me to save him.

The tail that once wagged so happily now lay limp against the ground. His eyes could barely stay open as tears streamed down his face. He looked at me in agony.

Every extra second I looked at him made it feel like another knife had pierced my heart.

However, the old house was the only thing my mother ever left me.

How could I willingly hand it over to the illegitimate daughter whose existence had destroyed my mother? How could my mother rest in peace if I did?!

“Jocelyn, there’s one minute left.”

Plop!

With a dull thud, I dropped to the floor. I no longer cared about pride or dignity as I knelt before Wayne and begged.

“Wayne, I’m begging you. Please let BunBun go!

“Why does BunBun have to be dragged into what’s between us? When he had parvovirus as a puppy and nearly died, you cried too. You used to care about him too! How can you be so cruel now?!

“Give BunBun back to me. He’s barely holding on. Can’t you see that? Please!”

Wayne did not respond. He only stared at his watch and counted coldly.

“Ten seconds.

“Five seconds.

“Doctor, you may…”

The syringe was raised high. BunBun lay on the floor, barely breathing.

At that moment, I finally understood just how ruthless Wayne truly was.

I collapsed to the ground, screaming in despair.

“I’ll sign!”

I signed the agreement with trembling hands.

Wayne finally smiled in satisfaction and handed the papers to Alma.

She grinned triumphantly, waving the agreement at me.

“Thanks so much, Jocelyn.

“I’ll bring my mother over so she can officially live in the old house with me. She’s going to be so happy!”

I was too furious to reply. I just turned around to look at Wayne.

“You’ll release BunBun now, right?”

He nodded and signaled the bodyguards to let BunBun go. He bent down and was about to help me.

Suddenly, Alma screamed in panic.

“Ahh! Help!

“My wheelchair is acting up!”

She yelled as her electric wheelchair suddenly surged backward.

In a flash, the wheelchair rolled straight over BunBun, crushing him under its weight before hitting the wall and stopping.

“Ouch! My leg! It hurts!”

She could still scream in ‘pain’.

Meanwhile, BunBun could not move at all. The full weight of the wheelchair combined with Alma had rolled over him, crushing him. He let out one last pitiful, piercing yelp before going completely still.

Wayne did not even spare him a glance. He stepped over BunBun’s lifeless body.

He scooped up a pale-faced Alma and comforted her in a gentle voice, “It’s okay. I’m here. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Then, he left in a hurry.

I scrambled and crawled toward Bunbun, only to see blood already trickling from the corner of his mouth.

I grabbed the vet’s hand and screamed, “Save him!

“He’s not breathing! You’re a doctor. Do something!”

The vet checked BunBun’s nose for breathing and shook his head.

“Miss Peay, he’s gone.”

A ring exploded in my ears.

I could not even remember how I went through the motions of carrying BunBun’s body to the crematorium. I was like a walking corpse that afternoon.

I had no family left.

My mother was long gone. My father had been unfaithful.

The only other ones who ever truly loved me were my fiancé and my dog.

Now, Wayne had betrayed me, and BunBun was dead.

As I stood beside the blazing furnace, I felt a chill that pierced every bone in my body.

My phone vibrated.

It was a message from Wayne.

[It was just a little pressure. BunBun could still make a sound, so he should be okay, right?]

[Alma was more shaken than he was. I’ll stay at the hospital with her tonight. Since the agreement is signed, I’ll cancel tomorrow’s lawsuit. Don’t be upset. From now on, I’ll love you even more!]

I did not reply.

I picked up BunBun’s ashes. My gaze fell on the ring on my middle finger, and all I felt was bitter irony.

Love?

Screw love.

Wayne knew exactly how much that would hurt me, yet he did it anyway.

That was not a mistake. That was a choice.

Given the choice between love and pain, he chose pain, and he did it so deliberately.

It was unforgivable.

I did not cancel the lawsuit scheduled for the afternoon. I spent the night packing and left our home.

I pulled off the ring that had once proven we were in love and threw it on the coffee table.

The ring felt like trash, and Wayne’s love felt even worse.

My phone buzzed again.

It was a flight alert.

[Miss Jocelyn Peay, your ticket for CA8785 from North City to San Francino has been successfully booked. Departure time: 10:15 AM, the day after tomorrow. Wishing you a safe trip!]

There was another vibration. This time, it was from a number I did not recognize.

[Miss Peay, I looked into it. Alma was never in any car accident.]

I did not withdraw the lawsuit. The court hearing went on as scheduled.

However, with the transfer agreement in hand, Wayne had no trouble helping Alma win the case.

When the hearing ended, Wayne stopped me.

He asked tentatively when he saw the cold expression on my face, “Didn’t I tell you to drop the case? Are you still mad?

“It’s not that I’m playing favorites. Alma was my junior in high school when I studied abroad. We were close. I can’t help but feel sorry for her, seeing her like this now. That’s why I…

“There’s a new waterfront development I checked out. Its location and environment are even better than the old house. I’ll buy two units and give them to you. We can go take a look later. Consider it your compensation. I already promised you that from now on I’ll…”

Wayne had yet to finish his sentence.

Persistent as ever, Alma approached in her electric wheelchair and interrupted, “Jocelyn, I was just about to look for you!

“Wayne said he was worried I’d be bullied after coming back, so he’s hosting a party at the house tomorrow. It’s kind of a housewarming party, as well as a way to give me more legitimacy.

“Why don’t you come too, since you’re moving out tomorrow anyway?”

The moment Alma spoke, Wayne eagerly agreed.

“Exactly. Alma’s situation is awkward enough. If you’re there, it’ll help legitimize her.”

I frowned and could not help but sneer.

“Legitimize her? How, exactly?

“Her age and background speak for themselves. She was born while my parents were still married. If she’s not a mistress’s child, then what is she?”

Then, I turned and walked away.

Alma’s face flushed red with anger.

She swallowed back the curses at the tip of her tongue, turned around, and put on a fragile, pitiful look as she faced Wayne.

“Wayne, is Jocelyn still mad at me?

“It’s all my fault. I should’ve stayed overseas and been a useless cripple. It would’ve been better if I had just died instead of coming back to make people hate me.”

Wayne patted her shoulder to comfort her.

“What right does she have to be angry? I’ve already compensated her more than enough.

“Stop overthinking. I’ll handle things for you tomorrow.”

Handling things?

That was a veiled threat toward me.

While I directed the movers in the backyard, the party in the front yard was in full swing. Wayne pushed Alma through the crowd, patiently introducing her to everyone.

Even their formal outfits were carefully coordinated in matching colors.

From a distance, anyone would have thought they were the real engaged couple.

I let out a bitter smile and looked away. I never once stepped into the front yard, focusing only on urging the workers to finish faster.

At some point, Wayne came up behind me.

His voice was sharp with displeasure.

“I sent you so many messages last night. Why didn’t you reply to a single one? She’s already lost her legs. Is it really necessary for you to make sure she won’t survive in this circle?”

When I refused to even look at him, Wayne stepped directly in front of me and handed me his tablet.

On the live surveillance feed, a group of men were gathered around my mother’s grave, holding shovels and chisels. Their intentions were obvious.

“Jocelyn, if you’d just been a little more obedient, I wouldn’t have needed to go this far.”

I looked at Wayne, who stood in front of me.

The pain had gone so deep it turned numb.

Grave‑digging?

He had really gone to such lengths.

Of course, only a person who once loved you knew exactly where to stab to hurt you the most.

I could not even summon anger anymore. It felt like disappointment had hollowed me out completely.

My heart felt empty.

What I hated most was my own helplessness.

“There’s no need to make such a spectacle, Mr. Stone.

“It’s just a few words. Don’t disturb my mother’s peace.”

I handed the tablet back to him.

Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and demanded, “Why aren’t you wearing the engagement ring I gave you?”