I wanted them to leave. But my throat felt clogged—thick with the taste of blood.

"Mr. Evans, are you refusing to answer because we hit the mark? Were you born to do this?"

Seeing my panic, a cameraman shoved the lens in my face and began a live broadcast.

"Renowned software developer Jayce Evans has a promiscuous lifestyle, and twisted sexual orientation. Let this be a warning to the public—treasure your bodies. Don’t end up like Jayce, crippled from reckless indulgence."

I was nothing more than a stripped-down clown, unable even to curl up in humiliation.

The relentless camera flashes immortalized my most wretched, disgraceful moment.

"What the hell are you doing?! Who let you in here?!"

Wyatt burst in, his voice thunderous as he ordered them out.

Clara rushed forward, shrugging off her coat and wrapping it tightly around me. Tears streamed down her face as she scolded the guards.

"Where the hell are the bodyguards? Are they dead?! How could you let the press in? Fire them all—get them out of my sight!"

Their performance was flawless—so flawless that it made me sick.

I couldn't stop trembling.

Clara gripped my freezing hand, her eyes filled with guilt. "Jayce, I’m so sorry... It’s my fault for not protecting you, for letting these reporters take advantage of the situation. Don’t be afraid—I’ll suppress the news. I swear, I won’t let anyone tarnish your name. I promise, I will never let you suffer again."

How laughable.

The same sister who swore to shield me from suffering had inflicted the greatest humiliation of my life.

She knew—better than anyone—that those reporters had already captured everything they wanted.

My reputation was ruined. I would forever be branded as a disgrace, shunned like a rat in the streets just as she wished. Trampled into the dirt.

For Henry’s sake, the two people closest to me had destroyed me completely.

The shock was too much. My battered body couldn't take it anymore, and I passed out.

Just before losing consciousness, I heard Clara's panicked screams as the specialists, who had been waiting just outside, rushed in.

"We’ve delayed too long. His intestines have started to rot—we need to remove the damaged sections. Even if we repair his limbs, he might never regain full function. He’ll likely be wheelchair-bound for life. The situation is critical—we've already missed the optimal window for treatment. The success rate of the surgery is only fifty percent."

Clara’s voice trembled with disbelief. "No... How could this happen? You must save my brother, no matter what it takes!"

She never let go of my hand, sobbing as she whispered, "Jayce, you have to hold on. I can’t lose you."

Wyatt’s voice was hoarse with emotion as he said, "Jayce, we promised each other—we’d be each other’s best men, standing together on our wedding days. I won’t allow you to leave me behind."

I closed my eyes, feeling the barren emptiness in my chest.

—

When I woke up, I was back in my hospital room.

Aside from my slightly less-injured left hand, my entire body was wrapped in bandages.

Wyatt sat beside the bed. The moment he saw me awake, his face lit up in relief. "Jayce! You’re finally awake! Do you feel any pain? Are you hungry? Do you want some water?"

His usual concern was laced with careful, uneasy guilt.

I suddenly wanted to laugh.

They were the ones who had ruined me, left me less than human. And now that they had gotten what they wanted, they dared to act remorseful? Who were they trying to fool?

I forced a weak smile, my cracked lips barely moving. "Get some sleep. Those dark circles—how are you supposed to be a groom like that?"

Wyatt visibly relaxed at my attempt at humor. He lay down on the bedside cot and soon drifted into a steady sleep.

Watching his even breaths, I slowly reached for the phone he had left on the nightstand.

The moment I unlocked it, the screen lit up with his wallpaper—a photo of the three of them.

Henry stood in the middle, grinning widely, an arm slung around each of them.

I opened the photo album.

Thousands upon thousands of pictures—every single one capturing moments of the three of them together. Trips, celebrations, everyday life.

In one video, Clara—who had never so much as lifted a finger in the kitchen—stood proudly behind a three-tiered cake she had made herself, laughing as she playfully smeared frosting on Henry’s nose.

For his birthday, she had gifted him the deed to a luxury villa in the heart of the city which was worth billions.

Wyatt, not to be outdone, had handed him the keys to a Bugatti, vowing with absolute sincerity, "You’ll always be my only true brother in this life."

And yet—the photos of us, of the twelve years we had spent together—studying side by side, saving each other seats, teaming up in games, sharing a single cup of instant noodles, promising to grow old in the same retirement home—had all been deleted. Not a single one remained, except in the trash bin.

My vision blurred.

My heart felt like it was being carved apart.

How?

How could a friendship that had once meant everything suddenly become nothing?

I scrolled absently, until my fingers accidentally opened a private group chat—their group chat.

And there, sitting in plain sight, was a kidney transplant agreement.

My breath caught in my throat. My hands trembled as I read it again, my eyes widening in disbelief.

The recipient was Wyatt, and the donor was Henry.

A slow, numbing realization crept through me.

I bit my lip hard, my fingers pressing unconsciously against the scar on my waist.

Years had passed, but the pain returned in full force, as if a knife were twisting inside me all over again.

A sudden thought struck me.

Frantically, I scrolled up, my eyes scanning every message—until I found her words.

[That night, when the villa caught fire, it was Henry who carried me out, unconscious, risking his life. If not for him, I would have turned to ash. In this lifetime, Henry is my everything. No matter the cost, I will fulfill his every wish.]

Henry was her everything?

Then what about me?

The one who had been crushed beneath the falling beams, breaking two ribs?

The one who had been burned so badly that the scars still twisted grotesquely across my back?

Did my life mean nothing?

I let the phone slip from my fingers, my body sinking into the hospital bed as laughter bubbled up from my chest—wet and broken, streaked with silent tears.

For a long time, I simply lay there.

Then, with a steady hand, I wiped my face dry and pulled up a contact I hadn't spoken to in years.

Taking a deep breath, I sent a single message.

[Professor, is it still possible for me to join the confidential overseas software research project?]

The response came instantly.

[Of course. I’ve always admired both your skill and your character. I know the rumors online are nothing but slander, so don’t let them bother you. However, this project is classified, the timeline is uncertain, and your identity must remain confidential. You should discuss this with your family.]

[No need. Please help me erase my identity.]

There was a brief pause.

Then, as if my professor had understood everything, he sent a single reply.

[Okay.]

"Erase your identity?"

The voice came from the doorway.

Clara stood there, her face clouded with unease.

I met her gaze without a flicker of emotion and said, "My ID is expiring. I need to renew it."

She exhaled in relief, stepping forward with a bowl of porridge. "Your body isn’t healed yet. If you need anything, just tell me. We’re family—you don’t have to worry about troubling me."

Family?

Not for much longer.

Behind her, Wyatt stirred awake, his expression hesitant.

"Jayce, the wedding is soon... You’re still not fully recovered, so about the best man position—"

"Let Henry take my place," I flatly muttered.

I already knew what he was going to say. Their chat history had laid it all out.

They had long since commissioned a world-renowned designer to tailor a custom-made, multi-billion-dollar suit for Henry—along with a matching luxury watch and diamond-studded cufflinks. His best man’s attire was even grander than the groom’s.

And yet, Wyatt had been more than willing to let himself be overshadowed.

The moment I spoke, their faces lit up.

Clara beamed with satisfaction. "Jayce, you’ve really grown more sensible."

Wyatt patted his chest and swore, "Jayce, even if you can’t be my best man, you will always be the best brother in my heart—my one and only true friend."

Those promises were fake. The oaths were fake.

Only lies and betrayals were real.

I didn’t bother responding. I closed my eyes.

This family—I didn’t want it anymore.

And that included them.

—

A week later, the wedding proceeded as planned at a luxurious seaside hotel.

Dressed in his custom-tailored suit, Henry stood tall among the crowd, dazzling under the attention.

The moment he saw me approach in my wheelchair, his face lit up with exaggerated concern.

"Brother, are you okay? I heard you were injured so badly that your intestines almost fell out. I was so worried!"

Ignoring his pretense, I wheeled past him, looking for a quiet place to rest.

But he grabbed onto my wheelchair, his expression turned pitiful.

A sharp pain shot through my arm.

He had a tiny pin hidden between his fingers—one that he had just stabbed directly into my still-healing wound.

My scalp tingled from the pain.

Clara, busy greeting guests, turned at the commotion and approached us.

I knew Henry too well. If I reacted now, he would immediately put on an act, twisting the situation to make me the villain.

I gritted my teeth and endured it.

Sure enough, he sniffled and started whining, "Sis, Brother must be mad at me for not visiting him! But you know how busy I’ve been... My new software is a huge success, and I just won an award—I barely had time to breathe!"

He flaunted my hard work as his achievement, basking in the admiration of the guests.

Meanwhile, I—the one whose name had been dragged through the mud—couldn’t escape the whispers and disdainful glances, no matter how low I kept my head.

"Jayce, if you’re not feeling well, go rest." Clara's tone was gentle, but there was something else beneath it—an almost imperceptible trace of impatience and distaste.

Obviously, she wasn’t worried about me.

She was worried that my presence would embarrass her.

I nodded, silently wheeling myself away.

—

I had just turned a corner when a strong grip yanked me sideways.

Before I could react, I was dragged into a private lounge.

Once inside, I froze.

The men who had once humiliated me stood there, waiting—the very same ones Clara had promised had been sent to prison.

But they weren’t locked away.

They were here, like demons crawling out of my nightmares.

All the blood drained from my face.

From the crowd, Henry stepped forward, the mask finally slipped from his face, revealing raw malice.

"Jayce, wouldn’t it have been better to just rot away in some forgotten corner of the world? Why did you have to come back and fight me for what’s mine?"

I swallowed back my fear and swore. "I’ll leave. From now on, you’ll be the only young master of the Evans family."

However, Henry sneered. "I trust dead men more."

Then, without warning, he ripped his own expensive dress shirt apart. Buttons immediately flew, and he messed up his hair.

He threw open the door and screamed for help.

Soon after, Clara rushed in with a crowd, her wedding dress trailing behind her.

Her heels came down hard on my hand.

I heard the sickening crack as my barely healed fingers shattered once again.

Blood seeped through the pristine white carpet.

But she didn’t even look down.

She was too busy holding Henry up, her face was full of worry.

"Henry! What happened? Where are you hurt?!"

Wyatt stormed in behind her, panic-stricken. Even though there wasn’t a single scratch on Henry, he still shouted, "Call 911! Where’s the doctor? Is there a doctor here?!"

Not one of them noticed me.

Not one of them saw my broken hand, my blood staining their perfect wedding.

Shivering in Clara's arms, with eyes red, Henry choked out, "I just wanted to comfort Brother. He seemed so upset... But I never expected—he had already arranged for these sick men to ambush me. He thought that if he had to suffer, I shouldn’t be allowed to be happy either..."

He paused dramatically, voice shaking. "Sis, Brother’s reputation is ruined, and his body is broken. I know he must feel jealous of my success. But he didn’t mean it, right? He’s just in a bad mood right now..."

Clara turned to me, her eyes burning with rage. "Henry came to comfort you, and this is how you repay him?! Have you completely lost your mind?! If he suffers any trauma from this, you’ll pay for it with your life!"

Wyatt frowned, his face filled with disappointment. "I can barely recognize you anymore, Jayce. What did Henry ever do to you? How could you hurt him like this? You enjoy being a pathetic, lowly plaything—does that mean he has to stoop to your level too? You deserve to be used and discarded by those men!"

With that, they supported Henry and walked away without a second glance.

Before leaving, Clara turned back, her expression cold and merciless.

"Since you like being humiliated by men so much, let’s make sure you get your fill. Lock the door."

My desperate pleas for mercy were drowned out by the sound of the door slamming shut.

—

Wyatt hesitated when he heard the gut-wrenching screams from inside. An uneasy feeling crept up his spine.

"Honey... do you think this is too much?"

"Too much? What could possibly happen? Those men were his idea—he hired them to put on a show, do you really think they’d actually hurt him? Besides, you know full well that his preferences are completely normal. He doesn’t even like men."

With that, Clara took Henry straight to the hospital.

Only after running a full-body examination and confirming that he was completely unscathed did she finally remember Jayce.

She sighed and turned to Wyatt. "Tell them to let Jayce out. He’s still my brother, after all. This should be enough of a lesson. When we get home, give him the blue diamond watch I just bought—he loves blue, I’m sure he’ll like it."

But just as Wyatt pulled out his phone, the hotel manager called first.

"Ms. Evans, bad news! Sir Jayce... He jumped into the sea! He only left behind a medical report at the scene!"