The day after Parker proposed to me, my brother's bone marrow match was successful.

On the day of the surgery, there was a heavy rainstorm in Arlington.

I couldn't drive, so I could only hope my fiancé Parker Parry would take me to the hospital.

Just a few minutes before we were supposed to leave, Parker disappeared.

I stood helplessly at the company entrance, not knowing what to do.

The streets were empty, and I couldn't even get a cab. By the time I got there, a death notice was handed to me.

My brother was dead.

I looked around helplessly and dialed Parker's number on my phone.

Parker answered just as the call was about to end.

"Your brother isn't the only one who's been sick for a long time. Lola needs me more."

——

"I'm sorry, Ms. Moore. Our hospital was informed in advance and found a suitable bone marrow, but... another patient was in critical condition and needed it more urgently, so we..."

"You just decided on your own to give my brother's bone marrow to someone else?"

My eyes were red, and my voice trembled.

What usually only happens in TV dramas was now happening to me.

The bone marrow meant for my brother was taken by someone else.

"Ms. Moore, this was Mr. Parry's instruction."

The doctor sighed and left after saying that.

Mr. Parry, my fiancé Parker, was a major investor in this hospital. No one could take my brother's bone marrow without his approval.

I was already numb all over.

He had done this more than once.

He used my brother's bone marrow to threaten me, forcing me to obey, to be sensible, and to be his docile little woman.

To be his puppet.

I had thought it was just angry talk, but it turned out to be true.

I dialed his number skillfully, my questioning voice coming out immediately.

"Why did you give my brother's bone marrow to someone else?"

A rather impatient male voice came from the other end.

"It's just bone marrow. I'll get you five or even ten to make up for it, is that enough?"

He added. "Lila, don't always bother me with such trivial matters. I promised to take care of your brother, and I won't lie to you."

My hand holding the phone tightened gradually.

Then I heard a soft, familiar female voice from the other side.

"Mr. Parry, my chest still hurts. Can you massage it for me?"

It was a very familiar female voice.

"Beep... beep... beep..."

Parker hung up the phone directly.

My arms dropped weakly, and I recalled how my brother had held my hand before the surgery, wishing Parker and me a speedy marriage.

He was afraid he wouldn't get to see me in my wedding dress.

I thought he was just saying things.

But unexpectedly, it was all true.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I quietly packed my brother's belongings and sent his body for cremation.

Long before he got sick, we had chosen a plot at the cemetery on the outskirts of the city. He said he liked lying on the field covered with irises, which symbolize freedom and guardianship.

He wanted to always watch over Parker and me.

While wiping away my tears, I placed my brother's urn down and gradually covered it with soil, his smile and voice appearing vividly before my eyes.

Many years ago, I had buried my parents in the same way.

My brother always said that after his death, I wouldn't be alone.

I had Parker.

But why was I still alone now?

Three days after burying my brother, the cemetery manager called me.

My brother's grave had been taken by someone else.

Unlucky things kept happening to me again and again, just like the constant rain in Arlington.

By the time I arrived, my brother's casket had already been placed aside.

A man and a woman were in front of me, holding the casket and occupying the grave that originally belonged to my brother.

The woman looked familiar, and the man was my fiancé, Parker.

When Parker saw me again, a hint of surprise was evident in his eyes.

"You actually followed me to find me?"

"Lila, since when have you become so unreasonable? Didn't I tell you I've been working overtime at the company lately?"

I ignored his words and asked instead.

"What are you doing?"

The woman stood up, revealing the face of Parker's first love, Lola.

Lola Lowe was still wearing a hospital gown, looking frail and helpless. When she saw me, her eyes reddened a bit.

"A little cat got hit and killed. Mr. Parry and I brought it here to bury it. It liked this place, so did I do something wrong?"

She looked at Parker with innocent, wide eyes blinking.

"Did the cat tell you it liked this place? Or do you think it's honorable to take someone else's grave? Don't you know there's already someone buried here?"

Parker shielded Lola behind him, his tone cold.

"Lila, you're being too aggressive. Lola's not in good health; speak to her more kindly."

"She dug up someone else's ashes. Why should I be kind to her?"

My voice was hoarse.

"Lila, you're being unreasonable," Lola said.

"It's just a small grave. Mr. Parry and I can pay the owner some compensation. Why are you so emotional? If people outside found out the future mistress of the Parry Group is so unreasonable, it would definitely embarrass Mr. Parry."

In front of me were my fiancé and his first love, accusing me of being unreasonable and aggressive after they dug up my brother's grave.

I was physically and mentally exhausted, having not slept for several days, and had no strength to argue with them anymore.

I bent down and directly picked up the small box Lola had placed inside, putting it aside.

Seeing this, Lola widened her eyes.

"Lila, what are you doing? How can you do this?"

She hurriedly came forward to stop me, but I pushed her away.

Lola fell to the ground, crying out in pain, her tears instantly flowing out in grievance.

"Mr. Parry, look at her..."

Parker helped her up, his cold gaze falling on me.

"Lila, how far do you intend to go with this nonsense? If you keep this up, I won't give you your brother's bone marrow or hospital fees!"

Lola exposed her back, red from abrasion.

"Mr. Parry, it hurts."

"Lila, apologize to Lola," Parker said sternly.

I completely ignored Parker's words and walked to my brother's urn, picking it up.

The next second, my arms were empty, and Parker had the urn in his hands.

"It's just an urn. Is it that important to you?"

He sneered, and in front of me, he directly smashed the urn to the ground.

My pupils contracted.

"No...!"

Parker raised his chin, his eyes full of arrogance.

"Apologize to Lola, or this won't just be about the urn."

The gray ashes scattered on the ground.

My last connection to my brother in this world disappeared before my eyes.

The rain washed away the ashes. I knelt on the ground, like a beggar, desperately gathering the ashes and carefully placing them back into the urn.

Repeating the process countless times.

A trace of dissatisfaction flashed in Lola's eyes.

"Lila, what does this ash have to do with you? Why are you acting so seriously?

"It's just a bit of ash. Should I get you some from the furnace later?

"Mr. Parry, look at her. She doesn't have any demeanor of the future mistress of the Parry Group, kneeling on the ground picking up ashes. Isn't she afraid of becoming a laughing stock?"

Parker said, "Lila, get up."

He advanced and took hold of my shoulder, lifting me up. Noticing my unwillingness, he surprisingly spoke with tolerance.

"What on earth are you sulking about, Lila?

"Is it because I've been working overtime and neglecting you lately? No matter how angry you are, you shouldn't treat Lola like this. She's sick and innocent."

I pushed Parker's hand away, glaring coldly at the person responsible for losing my brother. I spoke each word clearly and deliberately.

"Parker, let's break off the engagement."

Parker's expression changed slightly.

"Lila, what nonsense are you talking about? The invitations have already been sent out. We can't just call off the engagement. The Parry family can't afford such a disgrace."

"Break off the engagement."

I continued, expressionless.

Seeing my determination, a hint of panic appeared on Parker's face.

He hurriedly picked up his phone and called Secretary Kaur.

"Help me find a match for Walter's bone marrow as soon as possible, no matter the cost. I need the marrow this month!

"Is this what you wanted, Lila?"

Parker turned to me and asked.

I sneered.

"No, Parker. It's no longer important."