The quiet morning turned into an anxiety that hung over my chest. Last night, I could barely sleep thinking about what happened at the hospital. Ashton quickly decided things without involving me, and I still couldn't accept that fact.

After breakfast, I went to Ashton's house because Rosalind Said that Elena was back at the apartment. I needed answers. I needed clarity on what was going on. If we were going to get married, he should be able to prioritize me, not Elena.

However, Ashton wasn't there when I arrived at his house.

"He left early this morning, Claire," said Iyan, the housekeeper who knew me well.

Disappointed, I turned back to the car. My heart was pounding. I knew this might cross the line, but I had to do it. Without thinking, I decided to go to Elena's apartment.

***

Arriving at the apartment, I headed straight for the door. I had access to this place because Elena had given it to me with the excuse of 'just in case there was something urgent.’ Today, I felt that reason was very appropriate.

The apartment door opened quickly, indicating Elena hadn't changed the access code. I stepped inside. The apartment was tidy, with no signs of disorder. However, to my surprise, neither Elena nor Ashton were in sight. Where had they gone? Wasn't Elena acting like the sickest person in the world?

Evil thoughts started to fill my head. I walked down the room until I reached Elena's room. My hand trembled as I opened the door.

Inside, everything seemed so ordinary, like there was nothing to hide. But my gaze fell on a small box on the dressing table. The box looked familiar, something that instantly made my heart sink. It was a box from a famous jewelry store- the same store where Ashton bought me a bracelet as a birthday present, which I wear today.

I walked over to the box, my hands shaking as I reached for it. I opened it slowly and inside was a bracelet that was completely identical to mine. My eyes widened, and nausea crawled into my stomach.

I thought I was just jealous of their closeness, but I saw this gift.

However, the thing that broke my heart the most was the greeting card inside the box. With trembling hands, I read it. Ashton's familiar handwriting was emblazoned on it.

"To Elena, the woman who has always been by my side. Thank you for being an important part of my life."

My knees felt weak. So, all this time, Ashton has been buying similar bracelets for Elena? His words, the attention I thought was only for me, were also given to my step-sister?

Tears started growing in my eyes, but I wasn't done yet. I saw another note on the dressing table, a more explicit message. The words it contained broke my heart into pieces. The message was full of expressions of love from Ashton to Elena.

I couldn't breathe. What did this mean? Why would Ashton involve me in such an unclear relationship?

The apartment door rang Just as I tried to understand it all. Panicking, I immediately slipped under the bed. My breath catches in my throat when I hear footsteps entering the room.

---

The door to Elena's room was open. From under the bed, I saw a pair of feet that I recognized immediately. The black leather shoes were Ashton's, and the high heels were Elena's.

"How's your wrist?" Ashton's voice sounded soft, too soft.

"Elena," he continued, "you need to be more careful. I don't want you to get hurt again."

I clenched my fists, trying to hold back the pain and anger that mixed in my heart.

"You're too kind, Ashton," Elena replied in a spoiled voice that made me sick.

They walked to the side of the bed, and I heard a conversation that made me want to scream.

"Elena, you didn't have to force yourself to attend yesterday's wedding. Your health comes first."

Elena chuckled. "That was my plan. I knew this accident would make you cancel the wedding. I couldn't let you marry Claire.”

Ashton was heard sighing. "Elena... I know you did that, I just want you not to hurt yourself again."

"I love you, Ashton. I'm not willing for you to be her."

Those words made my chest feel like it had been stabbed. I couldn't take it anymore. With all my might, I pushed my body out from under the bed.

"Elena!" I exclaimed, startling both of them.

Elena jumped back, her face pale. "Claire What are you doing here? this isn't what you think."

"Ashton, explain!" I glared at him, hoping he would defend himself. But he just stood there, silent as a statue.

"Elena, you've gone too far," I said shaky. "I've been trying to understand and be patient with all your behavior. But this? Interrupting my wedding? Claiming to love my fiancé? This is crossing the line!"

Elena looked panicked. She knelt in front of me, clasping my hands. "Claire, I'm sorry! I just... I can't accept reality. I…”

I brushed her hand away roughly until elena fell down "Stop pretending, Elena! I've suffered enough because of you."

“Stop it Claire! You're really going too far, your sister is sick!" Ashton snapped.

Ashton, who had been silent, immediately helped Elena who started acting in pain again on the floor.

I could only laugh sadly at the incident.

"She's not my sister, she just came to live with my father!"

"Stop your nonsense!" Elena yelled pointing at my face.

Ashton pulled Elena and sat her on the bed, then whispered something that I couldn't hear, after which she seemed to be silent..

"Elena was a part of my life. Don't be rude to her,” he finally said quietly.

"And me? Am I not a part of your life? What do you think I am? It's like you're standing by Elena's side. Do you love her?" I asked, my voice full of emotion.

“I only care about her now. We did have a relationship, but that was long before I knew you. I'm sorry, this is a fact that you shouldn't know."

The truth that came out of Ashton's mouth made my blood boil. I don't know why they were so sneaky to cover all this up. And why did Elena even introduce me to him?

Everything that happened felt like a puzzle piece to me. No wonder he gave me the same gift, apparently his relationship with Elena wasn't that simple.

"You have destroyed me so cruelly. You should be able to choose well the person you want to prioritize. You can't hold two hearts in one hand, Ashton. You're rotten!”

"I can't choose. You mean everything to me. Elena is my past, but I can't leave her because she's fragile. She needs someone who can understand. I'm the only one, Claire. We have to help Elena."

“You're lying, you don't just care about her! I already know everything about your feelings for Elena. Stop saying nonsense. I'm sick of hearing it all!”

"Do you still care about her that much? You still love her, right?”

Ashton was silent. He didn't answer. That was the thing that hurt me the most.

I wiped away my tears and braced myself. "You guys don't have to worry about the wedding. I canceled it. I don't want to marry a man who can't tell who he should prioritize."

Ashton looked surprised. "Claire, wait-"

"I've had enough," I cut in.

However, just as I left, Elena suddenly ran towards the balcony. Panicked, she said, "If you cancel this wedding and complain to Dad, I'll jump off the balcony!"

I twisted my body, staring at her with a sharp gaze. "I'm not afraid of your threats, Elena. You've ruined my life enough already. Do what you want; I don't care anymore, even if you die in front of me!”

I hurriedly walked to the car. Ashton and Elena's footsteps approaching from behind made my body tense, but I didn't turn around. I didn't want to see their faces.

"Claire, wait! Don't leave like this!" Ashton's voice called out, approaching faster and faster. His hand held me open the car door.

I twisted violently, glaring at him angrily. "What else do you want, Ashton? I've had enough humiliation from you and this woman! If you still love each other, why do something this ridiculous? I've already told you to get back together, right?"

Elena approached, her face paled. "Claire, I... I didn't mean it like that. You have to believe me. I don't want this to turn out badly. I'll throw all those feelings away, okay? Will you forget everything? I'll help you get married to Ashton.”

I laughed sarcastically, seeing Elena's behavior. "Help me get married to Ashton? I don't need anything from you! You made things this way, Elena! You ruined my life, and now you pretend to care? Ashton is one hundred percent yours."

Ashton stepped forward, touching my arm and pulling me close, but I brushed him off. "Don't touch me, Ashton."

"Claire, I'm guilty," Ashton said, his voice sounding desperate. "I don't know how things got this way. I want to fix it. I need time!"

My eyes narrowed. "Fix? By continuing to let Elena interfere? By forcing me to accept this humiliation, you need time to reflect on why you could be this bad."

Elena began to cry, her hand clutching Ashton's arm like a child seeking protection. "I don't want you to misunderstand, Claire. I don't want to look bad in front of anyone."

I felt sick of her acting. "You care about yourself, Elena. Only you.”

I got into the car and started the engine roughly. Ashton tried to open the door, but I locked it from the inside.

"Claire, please, not like this! We can talk!" he yelled.

I ignored him, pressed the accelerator, and drove at high speed. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. My breathing was heavy, and my eyes were getting wet with tears. It hurt my heart to be betrayed throughout my relationship before it started.

I didn't know where I was going, but one thing was clear: I had to get away from them. But my emotionally charged mind made me lose concentration.

"Claire, focus," I muttered to myself. But it's useless because I can see Ashton's car behind me, why are they following me? What do they want?

The car accelerated. Of course, I was scared because they were overreacting. They should have been happy I canceled the wedding, but why were they never satisfied? What was their real goal? I maintained the speed while grabbing the bag on the side seat. I tried contacting Jena because I was confused about where to go if they followed me like this.

The cell phone I grabbed fell, and when I tried to pick it up, my focus was distracted, so my car hit the side of the road, and I couldn't control it anymore.

My head felt dizzy as I hit the steering wheel repeatedly. Everything seemed to fade away, and a humming sound filled my ears. After that, I could see a woman who was, of course, Elena. I could see she had a smile on her lips.

I could no longer hold my consciousness as the darkness increasingly took my vision.

***

When I opened my eyes, bright light dazzled my vision. The faint sounds of people talking could be heard all around, and slowly, everything became real in my eyes.

"Ashton, how is she?" It was Rosalind's voice.

"She'll be fine. The doctor said she needs to rest," Ashton replied.

I turned my head slowly and looked at them. Rosalind stood with a face full of worry while Ashton sat in a chair near my bed. In the corner of the room, Elena stood with a worried face that looked forced. Jena and my father, too, were there.

Jena came over and hugged me. I cried in her arms.

"You'll be fine, Claire. The doctor is having difficulty caring for you, and you'll recover soon. Take it easy.”

I nodded. Jena's embrace made me much calmer. Even though my heart now hurt even more when I saw those two traitors here.

"Claire, I'm here. I'll keep you company," Ashton said softly, his voice gentle. He came closer, trying to touch my hand. His lips formed a smile, but I felt disgusted by his attitude, which felt fake now.

"Don't touch me!" I shouted, pulling my hand away.

Everyone fell silent. The sound of my breathing was audible in the room.

"Ashton and Elena, you better not come here! I'm sick of it! Stop pretending!"

Ashton looked awkward. He moved away but didn't leave as I ordered, while Elena cried like a baby, and she hugged Rosalind as if I was hurting her.

"What happened, dear?" my father asked. He hugged me and calmed me down.

I didn't know what to say. I knew he must be shocked by this disgusting truth.

I was about to speak, but Rosalind interrupted me.

"What's really on your mind? Why do you always hate my daughter? What didn't we do to take care of you, Claire? Why did you kick Elena out?"

"She's starting to act up again, Mom, and she's accusing me of having a relationship with Ashton, even though I have no intentions whatsoever. But why did she have the nerve to say that earlier in my apartment? And now, when we want to visit her, she's acting weird again."

I almost choked on my saliva hearing that.

"You, do you have two faces now? Are you slandering me, Elena?"

"Frank, I'm going to be honest with you. Since the first day the wedding was postponed, Claire didn't accept it and instead accused my daughter with vile accusations."

My father looked at me, and he rubbed my cheek gently.

"I know my daughter wouldn't behave like that over a trivial matter. There must be something big that you are trying to keep from me, Rosalind. Now, when you are all together, it is better to tell me the truth.”

I felt calm when my father was by my side.

"Claire, are you going to tell me?"

I nodded and started telling him everything from the beginning. I kept the intensity of my voice. I didn't want to shock my father, as his health could suffer.

My father looked at Elena quizzically.

"Is it true, Elena? What have you done?"

Ashton approached my father and held his hand. "It's all my fault." My father immediately swatted his hand away until Ashton fell to the floor.

Elena, who saw it, got up from her seat.

"You want to know the truth, dad?"

I looked at my father, who looked angry, and his jaw hardened. His blue eyes stared intently at Elena. I stroked his hand.

"Dad, don't listen to her, she will definitely create more drama!"

Honestly, I was afraid of my father's health, which had declined considerably. The doctor had told him to keep his temper.

I looked at Jena and asked her to send Elena away, but Rosalind blocked Jena completely.

“Frank, why are you backing our daughter into a corner? Do you believe Claire? She's just blindly jealous!"

"Let Elena talk! I want to hear her confession!"

Elena smiled wryly. "I'm the one responsible for everything that happened. I wasn't willing to let Claire get everything she wanted so easily. Ever since my mom and I moved into that house, we've been mere decorations, we can't get along, and I've always been treated like I have no feelings. I was an outcast; you even deliberately threw me away by sending me to school abroad for years, and then you left all your wealth to your spoiled child. My mother has accompanied you and taken care of your frail body. You should be able to see us!"

I didn't expect Elena to say such nonsense.

"You're such a liar, Elena! I never do anything for no reason. I sent you to school abroad because of your mistakes, too! You... oh my god!" My father was holding his left chest.

I helped him to sit up with the rest of my strength. Jena and Ashton also helped my father to the sofa, but before they could, my father's body wavered and lost consciousness.

"Dad!”