I had only gone to Celine, my fiance’s step-sister to collect a debt. That was it. Just money she owed.

But the next day, Argus, my fiance threw a thick ledger straight at me. It hit my chest and dropped to the floor like it weighed a thousand pounds.

“Pick it up,” he said, voice cold and sharp, like I was nothing more than something stuck under his shoe. “Go on. Read it carefully. Every single page.”

My hands shook as I bent down. Something felt wrong. Terribly wrong.

I opened it and my vision blurred for a second.

It was everything.

Every single thing he had ever spent on me in five years.

A custom-made gown worth fifty thousand dollars. A limited-edition supercar he said was “just a gift.” Diamond sets, private island vacations, luxury suites, chartered yachts. Even the smallest things were there… a gourmet dessert, late-night wine, flowers I thought meant something.

All written down.

Every cent counted.

Even the hotel rooms. Even the clothes he bought for me.

My fingers tightened around the pages. My chest felt tight. Was this… what I meant to him?

“I’ll be fair,” Argus said, leaning back like this bored him, slowly swirling the wine in his glass. “We split the hotel costs. I’m not unreasonable.”

Fair?

My throat felt dry.

“After deducting the fifty thousand Celine owes you,” he continued, finally looking at me, eyes sharp and cold, “you still owe me 52 million. One month. Transfer it.”

Fifty-two million.

My lips parted but no sound came out at first. “Argus… I never asked you for those things. You gave them to me, I didn’t—”

“I didn’t what?” he cut in softly, but it felt worse than shouting. “Didn’t enjoy them? Didn’t accept them?”

“That’s not what I mean, I just…” I swallowed. Why couldn’t I explain it? “I thought… it wasn’t like this.”

“Then what was it like?” His gaze locked on mine, pressing, suffocating. “Say it properly, Dahlia. Or do you not even know what you were thinking back then?”

I froze.

What was I thinking?

That he loved me?

That those things weren’t debts waiting to be collected?

A laugh broke the silence.

“Dahlia sorry, Argus really kept receipts,” someone said, amused. “Do you even know how much fifty million is?”

Another man’s voice joined in, sharper. “She doesn’t. She was just warming his bed and playing house. Thought she got lucky.”

Laughter spread across the room.

My ears rang.

“Honestly,” another man smirked, eyeing me up and down, “fifty-two million isn’t that much. Dahlia, if you serve me tonight and don’t disappoint, I might just give you sixty million. Easy, right?”

More laughter.

I felt like I was shrinking, like the air was being sucked out of my lungs.

Argus didn’t stop them.

He didn’t even look annoyed.

“That’s none of my concern,” he said lightly. “How she gets the money has nothing to do with me.”

Something inside my chest cracked.

“Argus…” My voice came out weak, barely there. “I didn’t humiliate Celine. She lied to you. I wouldn’t do that. Why would I—”

“Why wouldn’t you?” he replied, tilting his head slightly, almost curious. “You really want to argue about that?”

My body went cold.

The memories came back, sharp and cruel. After Celine came back from overseas... I was late cooking for her. Just late. The food wasn’t even bad. And Argus? He locked me outside. Three days. No food. No water. I remember sitting on the cold floor, my hands shaking, wondering if I was going to pass out.

The second time, I accidentally broke her tablet. It slipped from my hands. That was it. Argus had someone grab me, and the next thing I knew, my arm was in a cast and I couldn’t even lift it without crying.

The third time, I wasn’t even doing anything wrong. I was just sad. And Celine made me dress up, stand in front of her friends, perform like I was some kind of joke. I almost collapsed that night, but no one stopped her.

Now I only wanted the fifty thousand Celine begged me for my father's treatment. But she cried, said she had no one else, and promised she would pay me back. And this… this was what I got.

Dragged here.

Humiliated.

Reduced to nothing.

“Dahlia,” Argus said, his voice pulling me back like a chain around my neck. “If you can’t pay on time, I’ll take you to court. And trust me, you won’t survive that.”

My legs felt weak.

When I thought about my father lying in that hospital bed, machines breathing for him and bills piling up like they were waiting to bury me too, I forced a smile. It felt wrong on my face, like it didn’t belong to me anymore.

I turned to the man sitting beside Argus, “If I… if I serve you well tonight, will you really give me fifty-two million?”

For a second, everything went quiet. Then the man lit up like he had just won something.

“Of course I will,” he said quickly, leaning forward, eyes dragging over me in a way that made my skin crawl. “Fifty-two million isn’t a problem. But you have to earn it, right?”

He glanced at Argus.

Argus didn’t stop him. He just sat there, swirling his drink, watching me like I was nothing.

That was all the permission the man needed.

“Waiter,” he called out, snapping his fingers. “Bring thirty glasses. The strongest you’ve got.”

My stomach dropped. Thirty?

The bottles came quickly, lined up in front of me like a punishment I couldn’t escape.

“Dahlia, if you finish all of these tonight, every drop, I’ll transfer the fifty-two million immediately. No tricks. You’ve got my word.”

My fingers curled. Could I even survive that? Did it matter?

I picked up the first glass without thinking anymore.

The moment the liquid hit my throat, it burned. No, it tore through me, like it was ripping me open from the inside. My stomach twisted violently and I almost choked, my eyes stinging as tears threatened to fall.

I forced it down.

Don’t stop. You can’t stop.

I could hear them laughing. Feel their eyes on me. Disgust. Amusement. Curiosity. Especially his.

But I didn’t look at Argus. I couldn’t.

I just kept drinking.

Glass after glasses.

My hands shook, my vision blurred, and cold sweat soaked through my back. At some point, I couldn’t even taste it anymore. It was just pain, raw and endless.

Why am I still doing this?

Because I had no choice. Because I needed the money. Because without it, my father…

No.

I finished the last glass and slammed it down on the table. The room spun, my head felt like it was about to split open.

I forced myself to stand straight, even if my knees almost gave out. I reached out my hand toward the man.

“M-money,” I said, my voice hoarse. “Y-you said… you’d give it to me.”

The man didn’t answer right away. He turned to Argus instead, smirking.

“Argus, what do you think? Should I pay her? She did pretty well.”

Argus looked at me, “Give it to her. It’s just fifty-two million. Think of it as charity.”

Charity.

The word hit harder than anything else tonight.

The man laughed and pulled out a bank card, tossing it to the floor at my feet.

“Here. Don’t say I’m not generous.”

I bent down slowly, my fingers trembling as I picked it up. I didn’t say thank you.

I just turned and walked out as fast as I could, almost running.

My father.

With this money, his surgery could finally go through.

He would live.

He had to.

—

By the time I got to the hospital and paid the remaining fees, my hands were still shaking. I rushed to the doctor, my voice uneven.

“The payment is done. Please… you can proceed with the treatment now, right? Please save him.”

The doctor looked at me, and something in his eyes made my chest tighten.

“I’m sorry, Miss Dahlia. Mr. Argus gave strict orders to stop all treatment for your father. We can’t go against that.”

For a second, I didn’t understand.

“What?” My ears rang. “No… that doesn’t make sense,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “I just paid. You saw it. The money is there. Why would you stop now? He needs the surgery, he’ll die without it, you can’t just—”

“I’m sorry. There’s nothing we can do.”

The world tilted. I stumbled back, my heart racing so fast it hurt.

Argus.

I fumbled for my phone and dialed his number, my fingers slipping.

He picked up.

“You’re calling me already?” he said, amused. “What is it, Dahlia? Miss me that much?”

“Argus!” My voice broke. “Please, please don’t do this. My father needs treatment. I already paid, I did everything you wanted, I drank everything, I—”

“So?” he cut in, almost bored. “He had surgery last week, didn’t he? Skipping one won’t kill him. Or are you saying your father is that weak?”

My knees hit the floor.

“Please,” I whispered. “I’m begging you. Don’t punish him for this. If you’re angry, take it out on me. I’ll do anything, just don’t—”

“Of course it’s punishment,” he said, his voice turning colder. “This is for hurting and humiliating Celine. Did you really think you could walk away after making her upset?”

Everything went silent.

The call ended.

And then—

Beep.

Beeeeeeep—

I froze. Slowly, I turned my head. The line on the monitor… it wasn’t moving anymore. Just straight.

“No!”

My phone slipped from my hand and hit the floor. I rushed to the bed, grabbing my father’s hand. It was cold. Too cold.

“No, no, no… Dad!” My voice shook. “Wake up. Please wake up. I’m here now. I got the money, everything’s okay now, you’re going to be fine, so please…”

He didn’t move.

“Dad…” My grip tightened, my whole body trembling. “Dad!!!” My scream tore through the room. But no one answered.

—

I didn’t know how long I’d stayed there. Hours, maybe longer. By the time sunlight crept into the room, I was still on my knees, my eyes dry and empty.

He was gone. The doctor approached quietly and handed me a letter.

“Miss Dahlia… this is something your father left for you. Please… take care.”

My hands shook as I opened it.

[Dahlia, my dauhter. Please run... Don’t let Argus ruin your life.]

A broken laugh escaped me, and then I couldn’t stop crying. Even at the end… He told me to leave.

To live.

—

After arranging his funeral, after everything was done, after there was nothing left tying me here…

I stared at my phone for a long time.

Then I dialed the number.

“Professor Blackwood,” I said when the call connected, my voice quiet but steady. “I’ve made my decision.”

A pause.

“I want to join the research project.”

I closed my eyes. Argus took everything from me. But this time, I was the one walking away.

Professor Blackwood’s voice shook the moment he heard mine. “Dahlia, is that really you? Are you serious about this? Did you settle your father’s situation? And what about the man you love?”

I closed my eyes for a second before answering, my voice quiet. “My father’s gone, and I’m not going to love him anymore. Not now. Not ever.”

There was silence, just two seconds, but it felt heavy. Then his tone softened. “Dahlia… I don’t know what happened to you these past five years, but the most painful time is also when you grow the fastest. Your life isn’t over. It’s just starting.”

Just starting. I let out a breath. Was that even true? After everything… could I still start over? Still, I said, “Yeah. I understand.”

Maybe I really did like Argus before. He was handsome, and sometimes he treated me gently, and he spent money without hesitation, paid for my father’s treatment, and gave me things I never even dreamed of. So what was I unhappy about? I used to ask myself that.

Until Celine came back.

I still remembered that night. Argus had never drunk alcohol before, not once, but that night he drank like he lost control, and then he said it, clear and raw. “Celine… I missed you so much I went crazy. If only you're not my step sister, things would’ve been different.”

I stood there, frozen.

Later, I picked up a photo from the floor. She was beautiful, bright, and she looked a little like me. That was when I finally understood. Between her and me, I was never the one he chose. I was just the substitute. The one he could touch, the one he could use, the one he didn’t have to hold back with.

From that moment, whatever feelings I had left for him burned away. But I still stayed. Why? Because my father was still in that hospital, because I needed him alive. So I played my role, quiet and obedient, and I endured everything Argus wanted but couldn’t do to Celine. I told myself it was temporary. Once my father got better, I would leave and never look back.

But in the end… all I got was his body. Cold. Gone.

And then Argus still asked me, “Do you even know what you did wrong?”

I stared at that message for a long time. Did I? Was it wrong to exist in his life? Without thinking, I opened his social feed. Beach, ocean, sunset, and him smiling freely beside Celine, so relaxed, like nothing ever happened. Like my father’s death meant nothing.

My chest tightened. Everything he had now felt like it was built on top of my father’s life.

I clenched my phone and took a taxi back to the villa. I needed to pack and leave before I broke completely.

The moment I walked in, I saw him sitting on the sofa, his face dark. “Where did you go? Why didn’t you reply to my messages? Do you think you can just disappear like that?”

I didn’t answer and walked past him.

He immediately got up and followed me upstairs, then shoved me hard. “Dahlia, you made Celine upset, and now you’re ignoring me? Who do you think you are, taking your anger out on me?”

My back slammed into the wall and something tore, warm blood sliding down, but I didn’t react. I just looked at him. “So what?” I said quietly. “What do you want me to do this time?”

He paused, clearly not expecting that.

I tilted my head slightly. “How should I apologize this time? Break a stone on my forehead in front of your friends? Or break my other arm too? Or maybe drink another thirty glasses until I pass out… will that finally make Celine feel better?”

For a moment, he just stared at me. Then his expression slowly calmed, like nothing happened. “Pack your things. Come back to the old house with me. Grandpa wants to see you.”

I didn’t move.

He added casually, “I’ll give you a fifty million. You know what to say and what not to say. Don’t embarrass me.”

I let out a small laugh. I didn’t even know why I was laughing anymore.

The Montgomery family always cared about reputation and rules. I learned that early.

When Argus’s grandfather found out his feelings for Celine weren’t normal, he sent her abroad without even discussing it. Just like that. Gone.

After that, he kept arranging blind dates for Argus, one after another.

And somehow, Argus noticed me.

Not because of who I was.

Just because I looked like her.

That night still felt like a blur I couldn’t wash away. My drink tasted strange, my head got heavy, and everything spun. I remembered his hands, his voice, the way I couldn’t even push him away properly.

One person needed love.

The other needed money.

So it became… this.

Something ugly. Something I could never name out loud.

...

The car stopped, and I snapped back to reality.

The old house stood in front of me, quiet and imposing.

The moment the door opened, Celine ran straight into Argus’s arms. “Argus, I missed you so much,” she said, clinging to him like she belonged there.

His expression changed instantly.

Soft. Gentle.

Like I had never seen before.

He reached out and pinched her nose lightly. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes again? What if you get sick? Do you even take care of yourself?”

She laughed, leaning into him. “If I get sick, then you’ll have to stay with me all the time, right?”

They kept talking, teasing each other as if nothing else existed.

Like they were the only two people in the world.

I stood there, watching.

What was I, then?

The butler stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Sir, the master hasn’t been well lately. You should be more careful.”

I knew what he meant.

The last time Argus came here, he fought with his grandfather over Celine. It got so bad the old man had to be rushed to the hospital overnight.

Argus frowned, clearly annoyed. “Why does Grandpa suddenly want to see Dahlia? What is it this time? More gossip?”

Before anyone could answer, a voice came from upstairs.

“Is there something I’m not allowed to hear?”

I looked up.

Grandpa slowly walked down, leaning on his cane but still steady.

My chest tightened.

Without thinking, I stepped forward to support him. “Careful, Grandpa,” I said softly.

He looked at me and nodded, his expression warming just a little.

Out of everyone here… he was the only one who ever treated me like family.

But the moment his gaze shifted to Argus and Celine still standing too close, something in his eyes changed.

Anger.

“What kind of behavior is this?” he snapped. “An uncle and his step niece acting like this in front of everyone? Have you lost all sense of shame?”

Argus’s face turned cold instantly, and he let go of Celine’s hand, though not willingly.

“Why did you call us back?” he asked flatly. “What do you want with me and Dahlia?”

Grandpa let out a cold breath. “Of course it’s about your marriage.”

My heart skipped.

“You’ve been together for five years,” he continued, his voice firm. “It’s time to make it official.”

I froze.

Marriage?

“With everything arranged,” he went on, tapping his cane against the floor, “one month from now, you and Dahlia will register your marriage and hold the wedding. No more delays.”

The room went silent. Celine’s face turned pale instantly, like all the color drained out of her.

I couldn’t even process what I was hearing.

Marriage? After everything? Did he really think this could fix anything?

“No,” Argus said suddenly, his voice sharp and decisive. “I don’t agree.”

The word hit like a slap. And somehow… It still hurts.

Grandpa didn’t hold back.

His cane came down hard against Argus’s back. “You ungrateful child!" he snapped, voice shaking with anger. “You were the one who insisted on being with Dahlia back then. You stood in front of your parents’ graves and promised you’d give her a good life. So what is this now?”

I lowered my eyes.

“You dragged this out year after year,” he continued, breathing heavier. “Five years. Five whole years. How much longer are you planning to waste her life?”

Five years.

I stood there quietly, but memories still came back whether I wanted them or not.

There was a time… when things weren’t like this.

Even someone like Argus, cold and ruthless, used to hesitate because of me. He used to ask what I thought before making decisions.

Once, I told him to stop hurting people. Just casually, just because I didn’t like it. And he actually let go of someone who tried to kill him. After that, everyone knew he had a weakness.

Me.

When I had a high fever for days, barely conscious, he went up into the mountains himself just to pray for me. I didn’t even know until later.

And when I mentioned I liked white roses… he filled the entire villa garden with them.

I thought those things meant something.

But later… those same flowers were renamed after Celine.

Just like everything else.

Now, Celine’s eyes were red, like she was about to cry, and Argus looked at her like the whole world could burn and he wouldn’t care.

“I’m not marrying Dahlia,” he said firmly, “She’s not the one I want.”

Not the one.

The words landed, but I didn’t react.

He grabbed Celine’s hand, tight, almost desperate, his eyes carrying that same reckless madness I had seen before. “The person I love is Celine. It’s always been her. I won’t marry anyone else in this life.”

The room felt colder.

“I can announce Dahlia as my fiancée if that’s what you want,” he added, “but I won’t marry her.”

Then, without warning, he dropped to his knees.

The sound echoed.

Celine followed immediately, kneeling beside him, her voice trembling but stubborn. “Grandpa… please. Let us be together. I’m begging you.”

Grandpa looked like he couldn’t breathe for a second, his chest rising and falling too fast.

“Get out!" he said finally, his voice shaking with rage. “Both of you. Go to the prayer hall and kneel. Don’t come out until I say so.”

And just like that, in front of everyone, they stood up, still holding hands, and walked away together.

Like nothing else mattered.

Like I didn’t exist.

I watched everything without expression.

Was I supposed to cry?

Or laugh?

I didn’t even know anymore.

Slowly, I took out a small wooden box from my bag. Inside was a family heirloom… an expensive sapphire pendant Grandpa had once given me.

He froze when he saw it. “Dahlia… what are you doing?”

I stepped back and bowed deeply.

“Grandpa, thank you,” I said softly. “For taking care of me these past five years. I won’t forget it. But… I can’t stay by his side anymore.”

He frowned, trying to say something, trying to stop me. But I had already decided. I placed the pendant down and turned to leave. No hesitation. No looking back.

As I passed by the prayer room, I heard something. Heavy breathing. Low voices.

My steps slowed for just a second.

Through the small gap in the door… I saw them.

Too close. Too intimate. Like the whole world didn’t exist outside that room. Like they were proving something to everyone, even to the people who came before them.

My chest tightened. Then I looked away.

What was the point of staying?

I walked out of the Montgomery house without stopping.