I woke up to a dull ache spreading through my body. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling. The beeping of the machines, the sterile scent of antiseptic—it all felt too familiar now.

I took a slow, deep breath. I survived. But… what happened? I moved my hand to my stomach, fingers pressing against the fabric of my hospital gown. Pain.

I inhaled sharply, pulling the blanket down. There was a bandage. A fresh incision. My stomach twisted. Did they do it?

Did they really take away my uterus? A shaky breath left my lips. What about my brother? Had he abandoned me? Had my desperate whisper to the nurse gone unheard?

The door creaked open. I snapped my eyes shut, forcing my face into a calm, blank expression.

Footsteps. A familiar scent—Harold. I didn’t move as he came closer, his presence looming over me.

Then, in the softest, most affectionate tone, he murmured, “Charlotte, my love. You’re awake.”

I forced my eyes open, blinking as if groggy. “Harold…?”

His lips stretched into a smile. “You’re okay now. The surgery went well. You just need to rest, and after some therapy, you’ll be back on your feet.”

I swallowed, nodding. Pretend. Act like you know nothing. Then his expression shifted, adopting a look of deep sorrow.

“There’s… something I need to tell you,” he said, sighing as he sat beside me. He reached for my hand, squeezing it gently.

I let him.

“The accident…” he trailed off, his jaw tightening. “It was serious. The damage was… extensive.”

I stayed silent. Waiting.

Then, in a voice thick with regret, he said, “Your uterus had to be removed.”

I gasped, widening my eyes in pretend shock. “W-What?”

Harold nodded solemnly. “I know this is hard. I know we talked about starting a family, but—” He exhaled, eyes filled with what could almost be mistaken as genuine grief. “We’ll figure it out. Even if we can’t have children of our own, I’ll never leave you.”

He cupped my cheek, looking at me as if I was the most fragile thing in the world.

“We can adopt,” he continued. “I know a good orphanage. We’ll raise a child together. It doesn’t change my love for you.”

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. He was a liar. A manipulator.

Harold played the role of the perfect fiancé all day. He adjusted my pillows, brought me food, held my hand, and whispered sweet reassurances.

I endured it. I smiled, I nodded, I pretended.

But inside? I was counting the seconds until he left. And when he finally did, when the door clicked shut behind him, I exhaled shakily.

The nurse entered moments later. I didn’t waste time.

“Did you call my brother?” I whispered urgently.

She nodded, quickly glancing at the door before sliding a phone into my hands.

It was already ringing.

Then—

“Charlotte?”

A familiar voice. A voice I hadn’t heard in years.

My throat tightened. “Brother…”

He exhaled sharply. “He hurt you, didn’t he?”

Tears welled in my eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I didn’t believe you.” My voice broke. “Please. Take me home.”

A heavy silence. Then—his voice, low and laced with anger.

“It’s also my fault. I should’ve done more. Harold’s hated me ever since that deal. He thought I stole it from him, so maybe… this is part of his revenge.” He paused. “But you don’t deserve this, Charlotte.”

I bit my lip, tears slipping down my cheeks.

He continued, voice firm. “I managed to stop the operation. They didn’t remove anything.”

I sucked in a sharp breath.

“You’ll recover,” he said. “Just do what Harold wants for now. Pretend. Once you’re strong enough, I’ll send a private plane to get you.”

I nodded, gripping the phone. “Okay.”

The call ended.

I wiped my tears quickly. “No one can know about this,” I whispered to the nurse.

She nodded. “Understood. Your brother already made sure I’m on your side.”

That evening, Harold returned, eyes narrowing slightly. “You seem… different.”

I forced a small smile. “I feel a little better.”

His gaze searched mine, then he chuckled. “That’s my girl. You always bounce back fast.”

I tilted my head. “I was just thinking… I kind of want pizza.”

He looked surprised. “Pizza?”

I nodded. “But never mind. It’s late.”

Harold smirked. “You should’ve told me earlier. I’ll get you one tomorrow.”

I smiled, playing along. Then, as if to seal the act, he brought food and fed me like a doting husband.

And I let him. Because I knew this wouldn’t last.

Later that night, when Harold thought I was asleep, I heard him talking on the phone. I stayed still.

“So, you already divorced him, Lily?” he said, voice smug. “Great. That means we can finally get married.”

My blood ran cold. Married? To Lily?

“Oh, about the wedding—Charlotte agreed to a stand-in,” he continued. “But she doesn’t know that the stand-in is you.”

My breath caught. That was it, why he had asked me earlier about continuing the wedding even though I was paralyzed instead of waiting for me to recover. He said it was important for the company, but I know better. This is for Lily. It has always been Lily.

Harold laughed quietly. “She’ll think she’s still marrying me… and by the time she realizes, it’ll be too late. I’ll destroy her. If her brother thought I was done with him, then he was wrong because I am going to use Charlotte.”

“Charlotte, love, don’t you think it’s time we consider adopting?”

I looked up from my wheelchair, meeting Harold’s expectant gaze. I knew this was coming. For the past few days, he had played the part of the perfect fiancé—caring, attentive, devoted. The type of man any woman would dream of marrying.

But I knew the truth. I knew what he was doing behind my back. He was meeting with Lily and preparing their wedding that was supposed to be their wedding. But none of it matter as she was also preparing to leave. She was recovering, and could barely walk. But she didn’t tell Harold about her progress. It was not his business anymore.

And I simply didn’t care of his opinion. So, if he wanted to rush an adoption, then fine. I would play along.

I forced a small smile. “That sounds like a great idea.”

His face lit up. “Really? That easily?”

I nodded. “You’re right. We should move forward. If we can’t have children of our own, adoption is the next best thing. Plus, I think a baby would help me with my current situation. I was feeling depressed since I couldn’t move, so it would be a great distraction.”

His shoulders relaxed. “Good. There’s an orphanage I’ve donated to for years. We can visit today.”

Today? That fast? He really planned everything.

I didn’t react. Just nodded. “Sure.”

The orphanage was warm, bright—cheerful, even. Children ran around, laughing, playing. The staff greeted us politely, their eyes filled with curiosity. Then, from across the room, a small girl with big brown eyes came running. Straight to Harold.

“Daddy!”

She threw her arms around him. My stomach dropped.

Harold stiffened. “Ah, Charlotte, don’t think much of it,” he said quickly. “The kids here call me Daddy since I donate often.”

I smiled. Pretended to believe him. “That’s sweet.”

The girl—Sam—pulled back, beaming up at him. She looked familiar. Too familiar. Her curls, her soft features… she looked like Lily.

Harold cleared his throat. “She’s adorable, isn’t she?”

I tilted my head. “She looks like you.”

Harold laughed. “Then that’s even better, isn’t it?”

He didn’t deny it. I felt nothing.

Just nodded. “Maybe we should adopt her, then.”

Harold looked at me carefully, as if trying to figure out if I was serious. But I knew better, he thought I was stupid enough not to know. But he was also stupid enough not to know that I take back everything he had stolen from me. I would make him beg soon.

I held my pleasant smile.

“Perfect,” he finally said. “Let’s do it.”

Harold stayed behind, filling out paperwork. I pushed my wheelchair toward the hallways, needing a moment away from him. Then I heard voices.

“I can’t believe Mr. Brown is letting his own daughter pretend to be an orphan.”

A laugh. “And worse—he’s going to adopt her himself?”

“I feel bad for his fiancée. She has no idea.”

My fingers clenched against the armrests of my wheelchair. So it was true. Sam was his daughter. I should have felt rage, betrayal. But I only felt a dull ache. Resignation.

I already knew. This was just confirmation. I took a breath, prepared to return—then I heard another voice.

A familiar one. Lily, and beside her was Sam. Sam was calling her mother. When they felt my presence, Harold immediately spoke.

“Oh, Sam was calling her mother because she volunteered her a lot. No need to worry,” he said.

I laughed at myself. No need to worry? He was making it obvious. He was the idiot!

“Hey, Charlotte. Great to see you again,” Lily smiled.

I faked a smile. “Yeah, you too.”

“I hope you recover soon. Harold told me about the wedding. But don’t worry, I can ask as the stand-in. That would be okay, right? I mean, unless of course you want to walk the aisle with your estate…” She continued while mocking me. “People would think that Harold’s wife is useless… and his parents would surely not want that for the media. But no worries, people will just think I was the stand-in but you’re really the real wife.”

I forced a nod, keeping my expression neutral. “Thanks for being kind.

“Sure.”

“Anyway, I’ll wait outside.”

His eyes flickered with something unreadable. “Wait, why? You’re not upset? You look like…”

I tilted my head. “Why would I be? Did you lie to me? Did you do something that would upset me?”

Harold’s jaw tensed. “Of course not.”

I smiled. “Then there’s nothing to be mad about.”

I pushed my wheelchair toward the exit, not waiting for his reply.

I barely made it to the car before I heard the footsteps. Lily. I didn’t react as she came up beside me.

“You’re really going to play dumb, huh?” she scoffed.

I finally looked at her. “Excuse me?”

She crossed her arms. “When are you going to leave Harold?”

I tilted my head, watching Lily with amusement. She was furious, hands clenched into fists, eyes blazing with confidence—as if she had already won.

“Are you really going to play dumb?” she sneered.

I let out a small, confused laugh. “What do you mean?”

Lily glanced around, lowering her voice. “I’m only telling you this so you’ll finally leave. But don’t you dare tell Harold.”

I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be curious. “Go on.”

She leaned closer. “He’s just using you, Charlotte. Hurting you. This isn’t about love—it’s about revenge.”

My expression didn’t change.

Lily smirked, thinking she had my attention. “Your brother stole what was supposed to be his company. Harold is getting back at him—through you.”

I blinked, feigning shock. “That’s… a lot to take in.”

“Oh, I’m not done,” Lily whispered.

She smiled, slow and cruel. “That little girl? Sam?”

I waited.

“She’s our daughter.”

I knew that. But I let my lips part in pretend surprise.

“So,” Lily continued, watching my reaction carefully, “I think that’s enough reason for you to step aside. The wedding? It’s mine.”

I let silence hang between us for a moment. Then, I laughed.

Lily’s smirk dropped. “What’s so funny?”

I met her eyes, smiling. “What if I don’t leave?”

Her nostrils flared. “Did you not hear what I just said?”

“Oh, I heard you,” I said, voice calm. “But tell me—why would I make things easy for you?”

Lily’s expression twisted in frustration.

I leaned closer, voice dropping. “You want Harold? Fine. Have him. But don’t think for a second that I’ll let the both of you win. I’ll pretend none of this ever happened.”

I turned to leave. But before I could wheel myself away—Lily grabbed me. She yanked my arm, forcing me down as pain shot through my legs.

I gritted my teeth, but I didn’t fight back. She smirked, realizing I wasn’t resisting.

And then—she hit herself. Hard.

I inhaled sharply. Oh, damn her. She would really go this low?

“Help!” Lily suddenly screamed.

The doors burst open. Harold rushed in, Sam clinging to his hand.

Sam gasped. “Mommy!”

Lily sobbed, clutching her cheek. “She—she attacked me.”

Harold’s face darkened. His gaze snapped to me.

Sam’s tiny voice trembled. “She hurt Mommy?”

“She did,” Lily whimpered, looking at Harold with tearful eyes. “I’m sorry. Maybe she was mad because I was going to be a stand-in and she thought I was going to steal you. But that wasn’t it. I was just being nice. For your wedding, and also for the sake of company."

Lame. They both have lame and pathetic excuses. I was blinded by those before but I knew better.

Harold turned to me, anger brewing. “Charlotte, what the hell? Is that it? Why would you hurt her? You can just talk to me.”

I swallowed, voice steady. “She started it. It wasn’t my fault. She told me to leave you!”

“What? No!” Lily protested. “That is not true! I told her to even take care of you like I hadn’t done before!”

Harold scoffed. “Why would Lily say that? You heard her. She was happy for us… you are being dramatic.”

“She—”

He cut me off. “You’re disabled and still picking fights?”

Sam glared at me, pure hatred in her little face. “You’re bad. I don’t want you near my daddy!”

I stayed silent. Harold shook his head and helped Lily up. Not me. He carried her in his arms, murmuring soft reassurances.

Then, he left. I sat there, on the ground, alone. A moment later, a staff member rushed in to help me.

I let them. But inside? That was the last straw. I was truly done… with them. I only want revenge now.

Later that night, Harold walked into my hospital room, sighing. “I’m sorry.”

I didn’t respond. He sat on the edge of my bed, running a hand through his hair. “I had to help Lily first. You understand, don’t you?”

I nodded. Pretended.

“She’s going to be the stand-in at our wedding tomorrow,” he continued. “I need her to be okay for it.”

I barely reacted. “Right.”

Harold exhaled in relief. “You’re always so understanding.”

I smiled weakly. He reached for my hand. “Just wait for me, okay?”

I tilted my head.

“It might be Lily standing there tomorrow,” he explained, “but it’s our wedding. Our certificate. Once you get better, we’ll have another wedding just for us.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

His shoulders relaxed.

“Good,” he murmured, brushing his lips against my forehead. “I knew you would.”

The day of the wedding, Harold left with Lily, heading to the venue while I was picked up by the limousine that my brother had prepared. I was finally coming home.

At the wedding venue, Harold stood beside Lily, radiating victory. This was his moment. His perfect wedding. Then—a staff member rushed toward him, pale-faced.

“Sir,” they said breathlessly. “There’s a bad news.”

Harold frowned. “What news?”

The staff hesitated. “Miss Charlotte… boarded a plane this morning and it crashed to the sea.”