It has been five years since Tobias and I started living together. Five years of sharing a roof, a bed, and a life—without a ring on my finger, without a wedding to call my own. We called it marriage, but it was only words. No vows. No ceremony.

I always told myself to wait. That Tobias just needed time and stability in his business, that one day he would keep his promise of a ring and a wedding ceremony.

I thought today was supposed to be different as it marked our fifth year together.

I had just finished fixing the files in Tobias’s office when I noticed a plain white box tucked neatly in the corner of his cabinet. I shouldn’t have opened it. I knew better than to pry into his things. But curiosity burned through me, and before I could stop myself, I lifted the lid.

My heart stopped.

Inside lay the most beautiful gown I had ever seen. My dream gown. The one I had always imagined walking down the aisle in, lace and silk glistening under soft lights. And beside it, a velvet box. I opened it with trembling hands, and there it was—a ring. A diamond ring so perfect it made my breath hitch.

Tears blurred my vision. My heart pounded as I slipped the ring on my finger, staring at it like it was the answer to every prayer I had whispered late at night. Finally, after years of waiting… was Tobias planning to surprise me tomorrow? On our anniversary?

I stood before the mirror, clutching the ring to my chest, already imagining myself in the gown, walking toward him, hearing him vow forever.

Then, the door creaked open.

“Carmela?” Tobias’s voice cut like a whip.

I spun around, smiling nervously. “Tobias, I… I saw it. Is this… is this for us? Are you finally giving us the wedding you promised? Tomorrow, for our anniversary?”

His face hardened. His brows knitted. “What the hell are you doing wearing that?” He strode forward, his eyes flashing with something close to rage.

I froze. “What? I thought—”

“No.” His tone was ice. “This isn’t for you. This is a wedding gift—for my investor. I’m attending her wedding tomorrow.”

The world tilted. I stared at him, my mouth dry. “What… about us? About our wedding anniversary? You promised a surprise.”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Postponed. I’m busy. We’ll go next time. And don’t you dare touch that ring again.” He yanked it off my finger, his grip tight, then shoved me out of the office.

The door slammed in my face.

I stood in the hallway, my chest hollow. For five years, I had waited for him. For five years, I had clung to every broken promise. And now…

He walked past me with his coat in hand. “I’m not coming home tonight. Don’t wait up.” His voice was cold, final. Then he was gone.

I sighed, sinking to the floor. Happy anniversary to me.

When I tried calling Thomas and Paul, my brothers, hoping maybe they could at least celebrate with me tomorrow, both said they were busy. No one had time for me.

So the next day, I made a choice. If no one would celebrate me, I would celebrate myself.

I rented a wedding gown—just for a day. Silly, maybe, but I wanted to see myself as a bride, if only in a picture. I went to a small church, planning to light a candle, maybe whisper a prayer for better days.

But fate wasn’t done with me.

On my way there, I spotted familiar figures outside the church. Thomas. Paul. And—Tobias.

My heart leapt, ready to call out. But then I saw the woman with him.

Janine.

My blood froze. Janine—our sister who disappeared five years ago after scamming the family, the sister they all swore to hate. It was because of her that we got bankrupt and our parents got sick. I was forced to live with Tobias so he can merge our company and help us financially. But why… does they seem to forget what she had done?

She was even dressed in a wedding gown. My dream gown. The one Tobias said was for the investors.

I hid behind the gate, my heart racing, listening as their voices carried.

“Are you really sure about this marriage?” Janine’s voice trembled. “What about my sister, Carmela? If she learns about it, she’ll kill me.”

Tobias’s laugh was low. “Of course not. She’ll never know. It’s not like we’re married. We’re just living together. And soon… she’ll be disposed of. You know you’re the one I truly loved, and she’s just convenient when you left.”

“I’m sorry for leaving. I was just scared you will all get mad after what happened. But I’m back now.”

My knees weakened. They were all happy—without me.

“Brother,” Janine turned to Thomas and Paul, her voice soft, “thank you for accepting me again. You really love me more than Carmela, don’t you?”

Thomas’s voice was calm, steady. “Yes. Always you, Janine. Carmela was just the one Dad handed everything to. I don’t even know why she’s the favorite. Always the bitch. But not anymore. We were only pretending with her. For Dad’s sake. Now you’re back, you’ll get what you deserve.”

Paul nodded. “She’ll pay for everything. You suffered for her mistakes. Why not tell us that she was the reason you got scammed? But we’ll protect you this time.”

Tobias took Janine’s hand, pressing a kiss to it. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she never hurts you again. If she tries… I’ll be the one to hurt her… especially now that you’re my wife and she’s nothing.”

The world spun. My breath caught in my throat as their voices blurred together.

They left laughing, their words echoing in my ears. My sister. My husband. My brothers. All against me.

I staggered back, tears blinding me. The gown I wore felt heavy, suffocating. My chest clenched so tight I could barely breathe.

I turned and ran, my sobs breaking through the silence. I ran without seeing, without thinking—until headlights blinded me.

The screech of tires.

A horn blaring.

Then—impact.

The world turned black.

The first thing I became aware of was the beeping. Slow, steady, unrelenting. I blinked against the harsh lights, my throat parched, my body weak as though every bone had been drained of strength.

Then voices drifted through the fog.

“…we had no choice,” a doctor’s tone was calm, professional. “The wife survived. The baby didn’t.”

My breath hitched. Baby? I’m pregnant?

“What?” Tobias’s voice thundered, so close it made my heart jolt. For a brief, fragile second, warmth spread in my chest. Was he worried about me? Did he care?

But then—

“You should have let her die instead! What use is she to me without the baby? I needed the child, not her! Why didn’t you ask me whom to save?”

My world froze. Is he seriously saying that?

The doctor’s voice grew sharper. “Mr. Tobias, it was impossible to save both. Preserving the wife’s life was the only viable choice. The fetus was only six months along—far too early to survive outside the womb.”

I heard papers shuffle, the doctor sighing heavily before adding, “She likely didn’t even realize she was pregnant. With her medical condition—a retroverted uterus and polycystic ovary syndrome—carrying to term is already rare. Many women with PCOS don’t have regular cycles. It’s common to mistake the signs for something else. No visible bump until later, irregular red days… it would’ve been difficult for her to notice.”

The words blurred together, but they struck like knives. Six months. I had been carrying life inside me all this time—and I hadn’t even known.

And Tobias… he wanted me dead instead.

Footsteps shuffled, another voice chimed in—Thomas. His words were colder than ice. “So she’s alive, but the baby is gone. Pathetic.”

Paul muttered, almost to himself, “She ruins everything. What a disappointment. If she’s not stupid to be walking without looking then it wouldn’t happen, and why is she even wearing a wedding gown?”

I wanted to scream, to sit up, to fight back—but my limbs were heavy, my eyelids dragging me down into darkness.

Maybe it was a dream. Yes, it had to be. A nightmare born of pain and exhaustion.

When I woke again, the room was quiet. A nurse leaned over me, adjusting my IV.

“You’re awake,” she said softly, offering a gentle smile.

My lips parted, my voice hoarse. “W-What happened?”

“You were in an accident,” she explained. “You were hit by a truck. You’ve been unconscious for two days. I’m so sorry… you lost the baby.”

Tears slipped down my temples before I could even process the words. A baby. One I hadn’t even known I carried. And now—it was gone.

My hand instinctively pressed against my stomach. Empty. Hollow.

“My husband…” I whispered, clinging to a fragile hope. “Where’s Tobias? Was he here?”

The nurse hesitated, her silence louder than any answer. Finally, she shook her head. “No one has visited since you were brought in.”

Her words cut deeper than any scalpel.

Alone. I was completely alone.

When she left the room, I turned to the small table where my phone rested. My hands trembled as I reached for it, praying—begging—for a message. Anything.

But there was nothing. No calls. No texts. Not from Tobias. Not from my brothers.

Biting back a sob, I dialed Tobias’s number. The line rang, then clicked.

At first, I heard nothing but muffled sounds. Then—

A woman’s voice. A soft moan.

“Mm… Tobias…”

My heart stopped.

And then, laughter. Mocking. Familiar.

Janine. I ended the call with shaking fingers, my chest heaving. My vision blurred as hot tears spilled down, staining the sheets.

Moments later, my phone buzzed again. A message this time.

I opened it, and bile rose in my throat.

Photos. Tobias and Janine, their hands entwined. His lips pressed to hers. Her head tilted back in laughter as they toasted with champagne. In one, he slipped a ring onto her finger.

The caption was cruel, deliberate.

Sorry, sister. We’re on our honeymoon. But don’t worry—I’ll take care of Tobias for you. I’m back.

The mocking tone bled through every word, as though she was standing beside me, whispering in my ear.

My phone slipped from my fingers, clattering onto the floor. I pressed my palms to my face, sobbing into the silence.

The betrayal cut deeper than anything Tobias had ever done. My husband. My brothers. My own sister. Together. Against me.

For hours, I stared at the ceiling, numb, empty, broken. But as the tears dried, something else began to stir within me. A sharp, cold resolve.

If Tobias thought he could discard me, if Janine thought she could waltz back into my life and steal everything… they were wrong.

I wouldn’t beg. Not anymore.

I picked up my phone again, scrolling through my contacts. My thumb hovered over one name, a name I hadn’t dared think of in years.

Dave. The man who once loved me with a sincerity I had overlooked. The man I had turned down for Tobias’s empty promises. The man I should have chosen.

My breath shook as I pressed call.

The line rang once. Twice. Then—

“Hello?” His voice was deep, steady, tinged with surprise.

My throat tightened. “Dave. It’s me. Carmela.”

There was silence. A sharp inhale. “Carmela? After all this time—why are you calling me now?”

I closed my eyes, pushing down the lump in my throat. Pride had no place here. “Do you… still want to marry me?”

Dave’s voice was calm, teasing almost, when he finally responded on the other end of the line.

“So, what changed your mind? The last time we spoke, you swore you’d rather die than marry your enemy.”

A bitter laugh slipped out of me. “Well, Tobias already wanted me dead. So tell me, Dave—doesn’t that make you the better option?”

For a moment, there was silence. Then Dave chuckled darkly. “So I’m just an option now? A second choice because the great Tobias failed you?”

I clenched the phone tighter. “Fine. If you don’t want me, then forget I even called. I’ll figure it out myself.”

“Carmela,” his voice softened, a sigh following. “I didn’t say I don’t want you. I’ve always wanted you. But if we do this… there’s a condition.”

My breath caught. “What condition?”

“You would never leave my side again,” Dave said firmly. “No matter what happens, no matter who comes between us, I won’t allow you to walk away from me. If you want this marriage, then that’s the price. I will never let you go.”

Something heavy pressed against my chest. Was it fear? Relief? I didn’t know anymore. My lips trembled, but I forced the words out. “Then let’s plan the wedding.”

He exhaled sharply, almost in disbelief. “Just like that?”

“No.” My voice shook, but I steadied it. “There’s one more thing. I want them to suffer losing me. All of them. So can you fake my death in five days?”

There was a pause, then Dave’s low, dangerous chuckle. “Consider it done.”

I dropped the phone, my hands trembling. I never thought I would even reach this point. But this is better than staying with someone who’d been betraying me since I don’t know!

For the rest of the day, I waited. Waited for someone—anyone—to call, to check on me. To ask where I was, why I hadn’t come home. But no one did. Not Tobias. Not Thomas. Not Paul.

By evening, I couldn’t take it anymore. I dragged my weak body out of the hospital and went home.

The sight that greeted me made my stomach twist. The entire house reeked of alcohol and cigarette smoke, remnants of a party still scattered everywhere—confetti on the floor, empty bottles on the table, laughter etched into the walls as if grief had no place here.

I climbed the stairs slowly, dragging my bag behind me, but froze when I saw her.

Janine.

Her eyes went wide, her face paling as if she had seen a ghost. She stumbled back, clutching her chest. “No… no, she’s here! She might kill me!”

Before I could even speak, Thomas and Paul rushed out.

“And why would she?” Thomas asked, glaring at me.

Both their gazes fell on me, sharp and accusing.

“Where have you been?” Paul demanded. “It’s been days! You missed the welcome party. Janine is back, and you weren’t here to support her.”

My throat tightened. “Welcome party? After everything she’s done? You said you’d never forgive her—you said she was the reason for Dad’s death!”

The words barely left my lips before Thomas’s hand struck across my face, the slap ringing loud in the hallway. My cheek burned, tears stung my eyes.

“Don’t you dare say that!” Thomas snarled. “Janine already told us everything. It was you. You lured her to that man, the scammer. You introduced him. You made sure she took the blame so you’d look clean.”

My heart stopped. “What? That’s not true! Yes, I knew him—but only because Janine begged me to introduce her. She liked him, Thomas! She was the one chasing after him, not me. I never had anything to do with him outside of that one introduction. If she got herself tangled in his schemes, that was her choice, not mine!”

But Thomas’s glare only hardened, his hand curling into a fist at his side.

“You expect us to believe that?” Paul snapped. “After all this time, you’re still lying to our faces?”

I shook my head desperately. “I’m not lying! I never even got close to him. I warned her, I told her it wasn’t a good idea—but she didn’t listen. And now you’re telling me it’s my fault?”

Janine sniffled, lowering her gaze, playing the victim. “Stop… please. I don’t want us to fight anymore. This is why I never came back. I didn’t want to cause problems.”

Paul’s glare silenced me. “Enough, Carmela. We’ve heard enough of your lies. You’ve deceived us for years.”

And then Janine, the snake, lowered her gaze and whispered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come back if it would only make us fight. Please, I don’t want us to hate each other.”

“Fight?” Tobias’s voice cut in as he walked down the stairs. He crossed his arms, eyes cold as stone. “We’re not fighting, Janine. We’re just making things straight. That’s why Carmela should apologize and hand over her inheritance. It belongs to you. You deserve it more than she does.”

I shook my head furiously. “No! Father gave it to me because he knew I was the only one who could be trusted in this family!”

Paul’s hand lashed out, striking me across the other cheek this time. “Shut up! You don’t deserve anything, Carmela. Not after what you did.”

My body trembled, rage coursing through me like fire. My vision blurred with tears but I refused to let them see me break. “I’m truly disappointed in all of you,” I whispered, voice cracking. “I don’t have a family anymore.”

I ran to my room, slamming the door shut behind me. My hands shook as I threw clothes into a bag, stuffing in whatever I could carry. Each fold of fabric was fueled by my fury, my heartbreak.

The door creaked open behind me. Tobias.

He stepped inside, his expression softened, pretending to care as he wrapped his arms around me. “Hey… I’m sorry, okay? Please, just listen. I’m only trying to—”

I shoved him away, the force of my push stronger than I thought possible. My hand reached for the plastic ring on my finger—the $5 ring he once gave me as a promise of forever. With a bitter laugh, I ripped it off and threw it at his chest.

“Leave me alone!” I spat. “You can keep your lies, Tobias. I don’t need them anymore.”