While we were scuba diving, my boyfriend, Raphael Carlisle, ripped off my oxygen mask and put it on his childhood friend, Lucia Fairchild, whose mask had started leaking. I was left thrashing helplessly in the freezing water.

Just as I thought it was over, Raphael's younger brother, Gabriel Carlisle, swam over, breathed life into me, and brought me back to the surface.

After he saved me, he presented me with the purple diamond ring he designed himself and proposed, "For as long as I live, I'll never let you face danger again."

I believed that he was my one true love, so I married him, leaving my job behind to focus on starting a family.

On the day Lucia was given a critical condition notice, I ended up in a car accident.

As I lay half-conscious on the hospital bed, I overheard Gabriel talking with Raphael. "Get a doctor to induce labor right away! Lucia's illness can only be treated with a stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood. The only reason I got Phoebe pregnant was for this very day."

"But she's carrying our bloodline! How could you have someone hit her with a car?" Raphael yelled.

Gabriel replied, "Lucy matters more to me! As for Phoebe, I can spoil her rotten once she wakes up."

At that moment, I realized the love I held on to was nothing but a lie.

If that was the case, I'd just leave.

I lay on the cold hospital bed, clutching my stomach as sharp waves of pain tore through me. I could feel the life I had longed for inside of me slipping away.

My husband, Gabriel Carlisle was right beside me, his forehead drenched in sweat. "Draw as much blood as you need, doctor! Don't worry about hurting her body. I'll make sure she's taken care of."

His words struck my heart like crushing weights. So, he was willing to sacrifice me for his childhood friend, Lucia Fairchild. This revelation cut me open from the inside.

Even my ex, Raphael Carlisle, who was usually calm and composed, had a grim look in his eyes. "Please, doctor. My wife is still in the ICU waiting for the cord blood to save her life!"

The doctor looked at me, who was heavily pregnant and covered in blood, and hesitated. "The baby is already far enough along. If we give it our all, we might be able to save both the mother and child. As for the cord blood, we could contact another hospital and find a way to have it delivered here."

Gabriel's eyes misted over as he seized the doctor's shoulder and bellowed, "I don't want this child. I want you to operate on her and get the cord blood now! Lucia can't wait any longer!"

Raphael held him and choked out, "Calm down, Gabe. Phoebe needs you; you can't lose it now."

As soon as his words fell, Gabriel walked over, his calloused fingers brushing against my cracked lips. Then, cool drops of liquid landed on my face.

His voice was thick with grief and longing. "Three years ago, I proposed to Lucia with a ring I designed myself, but she told me the man she loved was my older brother.

"I figured, since I couldn't be with her in this life, I could at least clear every obstacle in her path. Afraid she might relapse one day, I begged Phoebe to give me a child, so there would be cord blood ready for her if that day came."

Raphael couldn't bear to listen any longer and staggered out of the ward.

Gabriel leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. His tone was filled with a tenderness I had never heard before. "Don't worry, Darling. Even without this child, I'll take care of you for the rest of my life."

He paused before ordering, "Start the surgery, doctor."

The doctor was well aware that nothing he said would change Gabriel's decision. He couldn't save my child, so all he could do was nod in resignation. "Alright."

I was lifted onto a gurney and wheeled into the operating room.

Tears rolled down from the corners of my eyes. God knows I would rather die on that table than wake again to face Gabriel's cruel illusion of love.

Unfortunately, fate didn't grant me what I wanted. I lost my nine-month-old baby, yet I survived.

Half-conscious, I heard the doctor whisper in my ear, "Your child may be gone, but you still have your family. You have to stay strong and live for them!"

My heart ached as if an invisible hand had clenched it. He didn't know that my parents were already gone, so Gabriel was the only family I had left. He was all I had.

Yet, he lied when he promised he'd love me forever. The only one he truly loved was Lucia.

When I was finally able to force my heavy eyelids open, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling.

My body ached as if I had been run over by a truck. The pain was unbearable, especially in my abdomen.

Instinctively, I reached for it, only to discover that the bump that had once been there was now gone. I felt a hollow ache within, like I was missing a piece of myself.

"Darling, you're awake!" Gabriel, who had been lying by my side, abruptly lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot.

I turned away, refusing to look at the fake, tender expression of his.

"Our baby didn't make it," he said quietly, carrying a hint of sorrow in his eyes. "But thank God you're fine! I didn't lose you. Cheer up. We can try for another child once you recover!"

Bitterness rose in my throat as I wondered if my child was only meant to be medicine for Lucia. I shook my head, a dull ache spreading through every fiber of my being.

Gabriel tried to coax me as he always did, plastering a smile on his face. "You must be starving. Wait here. I'll go to the east side of the city and buy your favorite pudding."

I looked into those soft, smiling eyes and couldn't understand how he could hide his love for another woman.

As night began to fall, he still hadn't come back.

When the nurse came to change my dressings, her eyes were filled with pity. "Don't you have any family to take care of you?"

I took a deep breath and dragged my weak body up to the third floor.

Through the glass door, I watched as Gabriel spoon-fed Lucia pudding, his gaze gentle and full of warmth.

Lucia's complexion was pallid, yet her beauty still shone through.

When she noticed me, she gave me a taunting look before clutching Gabriel's arm and coyly asking him to help her put on her shoes.

I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug deep into my skin, blood seeping through my fingers.

Gabriel sank to one knee, took her ankle, pressed a reverent kiss on the top of her foot, and let her step on his knee as he slipped her shoes on.

My nose prickled, and tears slid down my cheeks like a broken string of pearls. I couldn't stop them.

This was the chauvinist who once told me that a man should never get on his knees easily and that in this life, apart from proposing, he would never get on his knees for me.

Yet, here he was, looking like a worshipper at Lucia's feet. I, on the other hand, was reduced to a pitiful thief, coveting someone else's happiness.

Panic flashed across his face when he turned with Lucia in his arms. He hurriedly let go of her and rushed toward me. "I can explain, Darling! Raphael is too busy, so he asked me to look after Lucia."

"Where's my pudding?" I asked hoarsely.

He handed me a bowl of pudding that had already turned lukewarm and apologized. "Lucia ate it, but it's good. Have some, Darling. I'm sure you'll like it!"

Lucia strolled over, her face pale and her voice soft. "I didn't know the pudding was yours, Pheebs. I'm sorry."

Gabriel's eyes clouded with conflict and sorrow as he stared at Lucia's thin figure. I bit down hard on my tongue until the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth, forcing myself to let go.

"It's fine." I gave in, despite the fact that he had forgotten that whenever I ate lukewarm pudding, I ended up barfing my guts out.

As long as Lucia was around, Gabriel saw nothing else; she was always his top priority.

There was a time when his gaze had fallen on me, too.

Three years ago, when he had rescued me from the ocean, dripping wet, he got on one knee in front of me and pulled out a dazzling purple diamond ring. "Please give me the chance to love you for as long as I live, Pheebs."

The pink diamond bracelet on Lucia's wrist was the design that had just brought him acclaim.

I still remembered the joy I felt watching him on television, giving his acceptance speech. The host had asked Gabriel where his inspiration came from, and he beamed, "I wanted to give it to the woman I love most, because she is as beautiful as the stars!"

The audience marveled with envy. Even my best friend rang me up to tease me about having such a loving husband.

Yet, the woman he loved had never been me.

Raphael was always busy with work, so Gabriel took it upon himself to look after me and Lucia.

He bought me a bunch of new clothes and handbags as he promised, "Don't take it the wrong way. It's not that I don't love you anymore; it's just that Raphael can't step away from work right now. Plus, he doesn't trust anyone else to take care of Lucia. You understand, don't you?"

When I didn't answer, he wrapped his arm around my waist, his warm breath brushing against my neck. "Come on, don't be mad at me. In a couple of days, I'll take you to church to pray for your safety and well-being."

What he didn't know was that I wasn't angry; I was just numb. I had already died on the night that my child was taken from me. Every word he said now felt like a feather brushing past me, unable to stir even the slightest ripple in my heart.

…

The day we went to church, Lucia and Raphael came along as well.

The path to the church went through a steep mountain path, so Raphael kept close to Lucia while looking after her.

Gabriel frowned, lowering his gaze to hide the frustration in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Gabe?" I asked, a little out of breath.

He hastily regained his composure, crouched in front of me, and offered, "There's still a long way to go before we reach the top, Darling. Since you haven't fully recovered yet, you should let me carry you up."

My cheek rested against his broad back, his warmth seeping through his clothes and into me. Every step he took was steady, as if he would never let me fall.

It reminded me of the day he came crashing through the waves to reach me. In my haze, I thought a prince had appeared before me.

"When I'm all better, let's visit my parents' graves," I murmured, wrapping my arms around his neck.

Without a moment's hesitation, he said, "Sure, we'll do whatever you want."

When we celebrated our first anniversary, he promised my parents just as firmly that he would spend his whole life doing whatever I wanted.

Raphael walked over with four prayer candles. "Light them up and place them by the altar. I'll take Lucia to the chapel for a bit."

Gabriel forced a smile. His grip on my hand tightened, his palm slick with cold sweat. "Lucia's not in good health. A baby can wait, can't it?"

Lucia leaned into Raphael, chuckling behind her hand. "It can't wait anymore. Mom and Dad called just last night. They're urging us to have a baby."

Her eyes drifted ever so slightly in my direction. "They've been waiting so long for a grandchild, only for something this awful to happen."

The blood drained from my face. Raphael avoided my gaze and hurriedly pulled her away.

Gabriel stared blankly at their retreating figures, lost and dazed. It took him a while to come back to his senses, placing his hand on my belly.

He kissed me fervently, and between his ragged breaths, I heard him whisper, "It doesn't matter if we don't have a child. You're all I need."

Yet, his heart hammered against his chest.

"Let's go," I said flatly, without responding to whatever he said.