Cadence's silence only fueled Zayn's anger. Fury blazed even more ardently in his eyes.

He flung her off and wiped the hand that had touched her with a tissue in disgust. "What are you standing there for? Cassidy is still waiting for you to get her some water."

Cadence's steps toward the kitchen were slightly panicked. She poured a glass of warm water and placed it on the bedside table. Her hand couldn't help but tremble slightly.

"Thank you." Cassidy's voice was hoarse after a round of intense lovemaking. "I'll be in your care after this. Zayn said I can move in after this. We're all family. You don't mind, do you?"

Cadence froze for a moment before asking through gritted teeth, "He's lost his mind. Have you lost your mind too?"

Her slightly mocking tone provoked Cassidy, whose voice suddenly turned shrill. "That's right. I have indeed lost my mind! You've always been better than me. Everyone always loves you more. No one in our family ever cared about me!"

The bedsheets became crinkled from how hard Cassidy clutched them. "Only Zayn cares about me. But he only loved you! Even after being betrayed, he still insisted on marrying you!"

Jealousy filled Cassidy's tone as she cried, "You don't deserve this!"

Cadence let out a bitter laugh. "So you stooped so low as to climb into your brother-in-law's bed?"

"Even if it weren't me, someone else would eventually do that," Cassidy said blandly.

Then, she sat up and grabbed Cadence's hand. Her tone softened as she said, "The hospital called me. I know that you don't have much time left. Instead of letting some other woman take the position of Mrs. Ulrich, why not let me take care of Zayn in your place?"

"All my life, I've never fought with you over anything. Please relent this once. Let me be with him, Cadence," Cassidy pleaded.

Cadence shook her head. "You don't need my blessing."

Cassidy's expression became tense, but Cadence's following words made her relax. "He hates me so much. What could I possibly do to stop you?"

Cassidy picked up the glass of water and placed it into Cadence's hands while gently saying, "Then, help me one last time."

A wave of dread surged through Cadence's heart. She instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Cassidy suddenly yanked it forward and splashed the entire glass of water onto her own face!

At the same time, she let out a piercing scream. "Ah! No!"

Zayn rushed through the door and saw Cadence standing at the bedside with the glass in her hand, and before her was a soaked Cassidy, who looked especially pitiful.

"Cadence, what the hell is wrong with you?" Zayn held Cassidy in his arms, looking at Cadence with disgust. "Cassidy is your sister!"

Cassidy burrowed herself into his embrace, choking back sobs. "Zayn, don't scold Cadence… She was just too shocked…"

"Stop being a fool! Why are you still defending her when she's been nothing but horrible to you?" Zayn said in exasperation.

He looked down and said softly, "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no harm will befall you."

Cadence snapped out of her daze and looked at the affectionate scene before her. She felt an icy chill rise in her chest.

She turned and walked away, leaving behind that sickeningly sweet scene without looking back.

That night, Zayn and Cassidy seemed to be intent on paying back Cadence for earlier. Once again, they made love obnoxiously and made a ruckus.

"Cassidy, I love you so much…"

"Zayn, I love you too. Ah!"

Cadence was resting in the room right next door. She bit her lip hard and pulled the blanket over her head to drown out the sounds.

She, too, had once been like this with Zayn. They had once been entangled in each other's arms on the same bed, and his voice was just as tender back then.

They had once held each other tightly as they dreamed of a future where they grew old together, surrounded by their offspring.

However, times had changed. In the end, those dreams turned into illusions that popped easily like soap bubbles.

As Cadence thought of this, a wave of deep sorrow surged in her heart. Tears slid down her cheeks soundlessly.

Cadence barely slept that night. Early the next morning, she got out of bed with faint, dark shadows beneath her eyes.

At the breakfast table, she quietly ate her oatmeal while Zayn and Cassidy were busy being all lovey-dovey like they were putting on a show for her.

"This bread tastes amazing, Zayn. You have to try it." Cassidy spread jam on a piece of bread and brought it to Zayn's lips.

Zayn smiled and accepted the bread by biting down on it and holding it in his mouth for a moment. Then, he held it and took his time savoring it.

The sight of this caused Cadence to feel a pang in her heart.

Immediately after that, a sharp and very real pain started in her abdomen. It gradually intensified until cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

"What's wrong with you?" Zayn frowned from across the table.

"I…" Cadence opened her mouth but couldn't utter a single word.

The next second, she coughed up a mouthful of blood. Her entire body began to sway, and she looked like she was close to passing out.

"Cadence!"

Zayn's expression changed into one of horror as he shot up from his seat. "I'll take you to the hospital right now. Hang in there!"

At that moment, the anxious and worried look on his face made Cadence feel as if she had returned to all those years ago when they were a loving couple.

Back then, Zayn would panic whenever she had a slight cold or fever. He would rather he were the one who was sick instead of her.

Thinking of that, Cadence felt a tingle of warmth in her otherwise weary heart.

But that touching moment vanished just as quickly as it came.

Cassidy smiled faintly and stood up leisurely. "Don't panic. Look here. I happened to find an empty blood bag in the bathroom this morning."

She then pulled a blood bag with its contents emptied from her pocket.

Zayn's expression instantly turned grim.

"Cadence, I think the blood you just coughed up came from a bag like this. You wanted to make Zayn feel sorry for you. Am I right?"

Cassidy looked at Cadence with a disapproving expression.

"That was fake? Were you just putting on an act?" Zayn silently withdrew his hand and stood still. He glared at Cadence frostily.

"You're so dumb." Cadence forcefully swallowed the metallic taste in her throat and casually wiped her mouth. "Of course it's fake. I didn't think you'd fall for it, though."

"You… You're so vile!" Zayn exclaimed with contempt. "Even if you really are dying, it has absolutely nothing to do with me! If you're going to die, don't die in front of me! You're such an eyesore!"

Zayn clenched his jaw and spoke in a furious voice.

Seeing the look of disgust in his eyes, Cadence flashed him a wistful half-smile. "You'll get what you wish for."

Cassidy quickly latched onto Zayn's arm and said sweetly, "Zayn, there's no point getting angry over her. You'll just upset yourself. Look, the weather outside is so nice today. Why don't we go out shopping?"

Zayn turned to look at Cassidy, and his expression immediately softened.

"Alright, I'll go to the garage and get the car. Wait for me," he said gently, wrapping his arm around her waist.

With that, he turned on his heel and walked out, slamming the door shut with a resounding bang.

The loud crash shattered the last bit of calm Cadence had managed to hold onto.

Cassidy strolled over casually and dropped her considerate act completely. "I know you don't want him to know about your illness, so no need to thank me. That's just something a sister should do."

She winked proudly at Cadence and sashayed out of the dining hall.

Hearing the roar of the sports car fading in the distance, Cadence let out a bitter laugh and used all her strength to stand up.

The blood loss made her feel waves of cold. It was as if her soul had become weightless and was ready to drift away from her body at any moment. She reached out to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth. Then, she gritted her teeth and slowly made her way back to her room.

After she took her medicine, the pain she felt inside finally lessened. She could no longer hold on, so she collapsed into a deep, exhausted sleep.

From that incident onward, Cadence's appetite noticeably declined. Gradually, it progressed to a point where she could hardly eat anything.

During these days, Zayn and Cassidy stuck to each other like conjoined twins. They constantly showed their affection for each other in front of her with no intention of keeping it discreet.

Cadence watched them coldly as they flaunted their intimacy.

It was like looking at her past self. Once upon a time, they had been happy, carefree, and loved each other wholeheartedly. They had been absolutely focused on one another back then.

"This is fine," Cadence comforted herself inwardly. After she died, the two people she cared about the most could continue like this, happily spending the rest of their lives together.

Cadence rested for a few days at home. Then came the time for her to go to the hospital to pick up her medication.

But as soon as she stepped out, several unfamiliar men suddenly emerged from the alley. They looked unapologetically thuggish. It was clear they were up to no good.

"Who are you?" Cadence frowned and looked at them warily.

One of the men stepped forward and glared at her fiercely from head to toe. "You're Cadence, right?"

Cadence's eyes flickered slightly, and a sense of dread arose in her heart.

Sure enough, in the next second, the man waved his hand and barked, "Take her!"

Cadence could only let out a muffled whimper as everything went black before her eyes.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself tightly tied to a pool railing. Her body was immersed in the ice-cold water.

Judging from the surroundings, she was likely in an abandoned factory.

Cassidy stood at the edge of the pool, looking down at her from above.

"You're awake?" Cassidy said with a smile. "Perfect. Zayn should be arriving soon."

Cadence looked at her. "You kidnapped me? Aren't you afraid Zayn will find out?"

"He won't know," Cassidy replied with a coquettish smile as she stepped into the pool. "Because I'm a victim too! Say, who do you think Zayn will save first?"

When Zayn finally arrived, he saw both women tied up in the pool.

Cadence gave him a calm glance and turned her head away as if even one more look at him disgusted her.

Meanwhile, Cassidy had already begun crying pitifully. "Zayn, please save me. I'm so scared…"

Zayn's gaze hardened as he raised the suitcase in his hand. "I brought the money. It's all in here. Can I take them with me now?"

The head of the kidnappers gave a signal. One of his men stepped forward to take the suitcase and deliver it to him.

After counting the money, the head kidnapper nodded in satisfaction. "You're free to take them. But… you can only take one."

Zayn's head shot up in disbelief. He asked through gritted teeth, "What do you mean by that?"

The man glanced at the three of them with amusement. "Nothing, really. I just don't like the idea of a guy having two beautiful ladies waiting on him. I'm curious as to which one means more to you."

Without a moment's hesitation, Zayn reached out toward Cassidy. "I choose her."

Cadence looked at Zayn and felt a bitter taste spread in her mouth. She thought she no longer cared. But why… Why did her chest still ache so badly?

Zayn said in a low voice, "Cadence, you know Cassidy's always been weak. I need to get her to safety first. You're stronger, so you can hold on a little longer. I'll… I'll be back soon."

With that, he picked up Cassidy in his arms and left in a hurry.

Cadence laughed. As she laughed, a single tear slid from the corner of her eye.

Zayn didn't know that her body was already beyond repair and couldn't withstand such harsh conditions. Even so, Cadence thought it was better that he didn't know.

Only then could he go on hating her. When she died, he probably wouldn't feel a shred of sadness.

At that thought, Cadence lowered her head and looked at her chest. This was what she had wanted, so why did it still hurt?

The head kidnapper walked up to Cadence and grabbed her mouth brusquely. Then, he forced a pill down her throat.

"Sorry, Ms. Lacroix," the man said, his slimy gaze roaming over her. "I'm just following orders."

But before he could do anything more, one of his men rushed in frantically. "Boss, we've got a problem! The cops are here!"

The head kidnapper clicked his tongue in irritation as he barked urgent orders. "Forget it. We've already completed our mission. Let's go. Leave her!"

Cadence used the last of her strength to struggle against the ropes binding her. It finally loosened a little, but her stamina had reached its limit.

Water flooded her nose and mouth, and a terrible weakness spread through her body.

Was this the end?

What a shame… This was too painful a death, and her body likely couldn't be donated now. Her final wish to give something back to the world would go unfulfilled.

Cadence let out a bitter smile, closed her eyes, and waited for death to come.

In her haze, she seemed to hear Zayn's hoarse voice calling from far away. "Cadence…"

Zayn finally arrived and pulled her out of the water. "Cadence, wake up!"

He frantically untied the ropes on her body and patted her face.

But the moment Cadence was freed, the first thing she did was throw her arms around him.

"I feel awful… Help me," she gasped, her voice thick with a seductive whimper.

Zayn shone a flashlight on her and immediately noticed something was wrong. Her eyes were closed. She was delirious as her whole body burned up and trembled in torment.

"Cadence, do you know who I am?" Zayn asked, his voice hoarse and his eyes dark.

Cadence didn't care anymore. All she knew was that her body felt like it was about to explode.

Without another word, she reached out and yanked at the collar of his shirt, pulling it down in one swift motion.

"I know. You're… my Zayn."