I pushed him gently, afraid that the elevator door would close.

He tightened his arms as he shouted, “I won't cheat!”

“What?" I asked in confusion.

“I have discussed it with both of our parents and started preparing for the wedding. Three days from now is the best auspicious day of the year and I don't want to miss it.”

After saying that, he pulled me out without further ado, his wet palms revealing his nervousness.

Looking at his tense profile, I suddenly said, “Phoebe, I want to have a modern wedding!”

He paused, then turned around abruptly, the smile in his eyes like a lit star as he answered, “Everything you want.”

My thoughts could not help but go back to the past.

When we were in high school, he was the most handsome boy in school and I was a poor student who could never be taught by him.

After going to college, we went our separate ways.

He took a three-hour flight to see me every week and he did this for three years without getting tired of it.

Until Alec and I started dating.

As I dragged my suitcase back to Valencia's family's house, my mother hugged me with red eyes and said, “That kind of bastard is not worth it for my daughter’s cry.”

My father made a voice message in the business group with a gloomy face, “Anyone who asks Alec for investment consultation will be making things difficult for me, Valencia Family.”

After comforting my parents, I fell on the bed exhausted.

Opening the social media, Edwina just updated her status on the nine-square grid.

Eight screenshots of her winning the game and in the middle was a selfie of her sitting on Alec's lap and making a V sign.

Caption wrote, [When siblings work together, they can accomplish anything!]

I silently gave a thumbs up.

A few minutes later, Alec called, “Want to play games? Edwina and I will lead you, just follow us, don't run around or mess up the pace!”

In order to fit into his circle, I once begged him to take me to play games.

As a result, that one time, he scolded me severely, saying that I was a loser and a burden and told me to get out.

The game also opened that day, but I did not care about it anymore.

Just as I was about to hang up the phone, Edwina's voice came, “Alec, I feel like vomiting again. It's all your fault! That night I just wanted to try if I had any feelings for a man, but you did it for real. Oh, my waist hurts too, come and rub it for me.”

“Can you please coax your girlfriend later? Which is more important, siblings or women? You can choose for yourself.”

Alec threw me a sentence, “Forget it, I don't want to talk to you.”

There was a busy tone on the other end of the line.

My brain exploded.

What drunken accident? It was all planned long ago.

They actually had some clues a long time ago.

Every time he went on a date, he felt bored and would turn around to play games with Edwina online until late at night.

When traveling, he must bring Edwina with him, because he said, ‘She can liven up the atmosphere.’

I saw on the phone that she was always pinned to the top and a special reminder tone was set, saying, ‘Gaming Literacy.’

The gift given to me on Valentine's Day always includes one from Edwina and the reason was, ‘She's such a pitiful single person.'

Whenever I raised questions, he would fly into a rage, “Are you possessed by a troublemaker? Why don't we just break up, so I don't have to depend on you for everything I do.

“Don't try to control me just because your father has some money. I, Alec, don't rely on your Valencia Family's charity!”

I thought about it countless times that day, ‘Would the outcome be different if I had forcefully asked him to keep his distance from Edwina?’

But in front of him, I had always been humble like a housekeeper.

As a result, sensitive, suspicious and stupid were the words he gave me.

Every time I felt uneasy, he defined it as unreasonable.

Even when my father introduced clients to him, it was misinterpreted as an insult to his abilities.

What the hell!

The next day was the school’s centenary celebration.

I did not expect that the school actually invited outstanding alumni from the neighboring school, Alec and Edwina, to attend as guests.

After their speeches, the host smiled and joked, “You two look like a perfect match, are you a couple?”

Alec did not answer immediately, but instead glanced at me coldly.

I turned away expressionlessly.

Edwina immediately put her hand on Alec's shoulder and said, “Are we similar? We are actually siblings…"

Before she finished speaking, Alec suddenly put his arm around her waist and interrupted, “Yes, we already have a baby.”

There was a sudden burst of cheers and applause from the audience.

I heard a whisper behind me, “Alec was a recognized male idol in the university town. I heard that there was a shameless dog who stalked him for three years, causing him to remain single, but in the end, the dog succeeded.”

“A few days ago, the classmates were saying that they were getting married. Today, the rumor was finally dispelled.”

“She's here today, too. If her family didn't have some money to donate to the school, how could such an idiot like her be worthy of being an outstanding alumnus?”

I clenched my fists, turned around and looked at them when I scolded, “Have you said enough? Why don't you say it to my face?”

Their eyes flickered as they whispered, “We didn't mention any names, but you insisted on identifying yourself with them.”

At this time, Edwina and Alec had already sat next to me.

Edwina hypocritically advised, “Kimberley, these two sisters didn't say it was you, you are too sensitive.”

Alec sneered, “You are sick!”

With their support, the two men immediately became confident, “That's right, you are just looking for trouble, you are crazy!”

Just then, the host on the stage announced the start of the alumni sharing session and invited me to speak on stage.

I took a deep breath, suppressed my anger and prepared to stand up.

Just as I took a step, Edwina suddenly stretched her legs and tripped me.

I fell heavily to the ground.

My whole body was in severe pain, especially in the knees, elbows and chin and my body felt as if it was being torn apart.

My face felt burning with pain and when I touched it, I found blood on my fingertips.

The entire venue fell silent in an instant.

“Are you too excited, Miss Valencia?” A harsh laugh came from behind, “Giving such a big gift to the school leaders!”

Amid the constant laughter, I was in so much pain that I could not get up for a while.

Alec sat there, lowering his voice and shouting angrily, “Get up quickly! You are embarrassing yourself!”

Edwina pretended to reach out to help me up, “Kimberley, don't do that in this situation. It is just a fall and everyone is watching.”

The pent-up anger suddenly erupted and I fiercely shook her hand away, “Why are you pretending to be kind? Edwina, why did you deliberately trip me?”

“Ah!” She suddenly fell backwards and hit the chair behind her hard, holding her stomach and crying out in pain, “Kimberley! I was kind enough to help you, but you didn't appreciate it and pushed me? What if I get miscarriage?

“Women are such a hassle. If it weren't for Alec's sake, I would have fought with you today!”

After saying this, he turned to Alec, “Alec, control your woman. Small things please the heart, but big things hurt the body. I'm really fed up with these women, they fight over men all day long and have nothing to do!”

I was amused by her remarks.

I saw clearly how Edwina stretched out her leg to trip me and I also saw the triumphant sneer on the corner of her mouth.

That time she dared to turn the tables.

I could not bear it any longer, so I forced myself to stand up and raised my hand to slap her.

Alec took a quick step in front of her and slapped me in the face with his backhand.

The slap was so powerful that it made my vision go black and my ears buzz.

The venue suddenly exploded.

Alec looked at the blood on his hands, wiped it with a tissue in disgust, his eyes as cold as ice as he shouted, “Kimberley, get out of here!”

I stared at him blankly, my throat tightening when I questioned unbelievably, “Alec, can't you stand by my side just for once?”

He was stunned for a moment, then became even more furious, “I'll count to three. If you don't get out of here, we'll be separated forever! Three, two..."

At this moment, I suddenly felt so sick with his superiority. While covering my burning cheeks, I walked out quickly.

Behind me, Alec's tone suddenly softened, “Slow down, don't fall again.”