Nyelle

The day I found out I was dying was the same day my husband proposed to another woman.

I had walked into the house with a cake that I had bought after the doctor broke the heartbreaking news to me that I had cancer. My hands were trembling as I tried to call Vincent, again and again, but he didn't pick up. Not once. I sat alone in that hospital hallway listening to the phone ring until it went quiet, and each time it did, something in me broke a little more. But today was our anniversary, so I cleaned my face, forced the redness out of my eyes, and came to the house anyway, because some stupid part of me still wanted to celebrate with him.

When I stepped inside, I saw rose petals scattered across the floor in messy heart shapes, candles flickering on the table, tiny golden lights strung along the walls like stars trapped inside the room. For a second, just one second, I was happy, and I let myself believe it was for me.

Then I saw him kneeling on the floor.

"It's been five years," Vincent murmured. "Five years, and I've only ever had eyes for you. I've waited so long for this moment, so long to tell you how much you mean to me." He paused for a heartbeat. "Will you marry me again?"

My chest was pounding so hard it hurt. I would have said yes. After five years of loving a man who never once looked at me the way I needed him to, I would have said yes without a single moment of hesitation, because some foolish part of me still believed he had finally chosen me.

But then the lights came on.

And I saw Cassia, my adoptive parents' biological daughter. She stood beside Vincent in a curve-hugging red dress, matching red heels, and bold red lipstick. Her silky brown hair spilled over her shoulders as she smiled at him. "Yes, I will marry you," she said, excitement shining in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around him like she belonged there.

That was when I understood. He hadn't been kneeling for me at all.

The cake slipped out of my hands and hit the floor, cream splattering across my shoes, the box rolling somewhere I didn't bother to look. I couldn't move. Cassia was the same woman who had disappeared on her own wedding day and left me to take her place five years ago. Now she was back, and Vincent was looking at her the way I had begged silently, for five long years, for him to look at me.

Someone in the room started clapping. "They look so good together." My stomach twisted so violently I thought I might be sick right there on the petals. Nobody in that room knew I was his wife. To them I was probably just his mute secretary, standing quietly in the corner while another woman got proposed to in front of me.

I bit down on my lower lip to keep it from trembling, but the memories came anyway. I remembered standing silently in my father's office five years ago while Vincent argued that he shouldn't have to marry me. "She's mute. Why would I marry her?" he had said, like I wasn't even in the room, like I couldn't hear every word. My father hadn't even looked at me. "It's for our company," he said coldly. "This marriage is necessary." That was all I had ever been to either of them. A transaction. A replacement. The daughter with no voice and no choice.

Even on our wedding night, Vincent made the rules painfully clear. "You'll only be my wife when I need sex," he told me, loosening his tie without a trace of emotion. "Apart from that, you're nothing to me." He kept that promise for five years. Even tonight, with candles and petals and the softest voice I had ever heard from him, I had let myself forget it for one hour. I was still nothing to him. Cassia had only walked back into the room, and he had already forgotten I existed.

Vincent noticed me eventually. His brows lifted slightly in surprise, then he walked toward me, casual, like none of this was tearing me apart.

"You're back," he said flatly. He glanced at the ruined cake on the floor, then back at me, without a trace of guilt. "Your sister is back, so you know the deal." His voice stayed flat and careless. "I'll send the divorce papers soon. Sign them when they arrive. Cassia and I are getting married this week."

This week. My fingers twitched at my sides. Breathing suddenly felt impossible.

Cassia sauntered over with a dramatic pout, wrapping both hands around his arm. "Aw, still can't speak?" she asked, mocking me, her eyes dragging slowly down my body. "You still didn't get that surgery to fix your voice?" She laughed softly, then let her hand brush against my stomach. "Anyway, thanks for keeping my man safe for me. And thanks for not getting pregnant too."

Pregnant. As if that had ever been possible. Every time Vincent touched me it felt cold and mechanical, like a duty he was rushing to finish. Whenever he got close to climax, he always pulled away at the last second.

"I can't let you carry my child," he said it every single time, like a rule carved into stone.

Meanwhile I had wanted children more than I had ever wanted anything. I used to imagine tiny fingers curled around mine, tiny footsteps running down our empty hallways, someone who would love me without seeing me as a burden first. He never gave me that chance. And now I was dying, with less than two years left to live, and I had nothing to show for any of it.

Something cracked open inside me right there on that floor. Why should I leave this world with absolutely nothing?

My breathing was shaky, but I straightened my back anyway. I lifted my iPad with trembling fingers while Vincent watched, impatient, and I typed quickly, then turned the screen toward him.

"One month," it read. "Let me be your wife for one month. Your real wife. After that, I'll sign the divorce papers."

Nyelle

"What kind of game are you playing right now?" Vincent's voice came out in a harsh whisper, but the anger inside it still made my chest tighten painfully.

His jaw flexed hard as he stared down at the words on my iPad like they personally offended him. The veins along his neck stood out sharply, and for a second, I almost laughed bitterly inside my head.

After five years of treating me like I was invisible, this was finally the moment he looked at me properly.

I swallowed against the lump burning inside my throat before typing again with shaky fingers.

"Or would you rather I tell everyone here that we're still married while you're proposing to another woman?"

The second he read it, his expression darkened instantly.

There it was. Not fear of losing me. Fear for his reputation, his company and becoming tomorrow's headline.

I watched his eyes sharpen dangerously before his hand suddenly shot forward, grabbing my wrist so tightly that pain rushed straight through my arm.

I nearly gasped. His grip burned.

"You spent five years staying invisible, and now you're threatening me?" he snapped under his breath, his face dangerously close to mine.

I could smell alcohol faintly on him mixed with his expensive cologne, the same scent that used to make my stupid heart race whenever he came home late at night.

Now it only made me feel sick. The room around us was still filled with soft music and quiet conversations, but somehow it felt distant, blurry, like I was underwater.

"People are watching," Cassia quickly whispered beside him, forcing out a fake smile for the guests nearby.

Vincent's fingers tightened once more before he finally let go of me.

I immediately pulled my wrist back, trying not to react to the throbbing pain shooting through it.

I quickly typed again before shoving the screen toward him.

"I'm trying to make a deal with you. What do you say?"

Vincent stared at the words for a long moment before dragging an irritated hand through his hair.

I could tell he was thinking fast. Calculating.

Trying to find the easiest way out like he always did.

"Say no," Cassia muttered sharply beside him, though her smile never left her face for the guests watching nearby. "Let her do whatever she wants."

Her voice was low, but the hatred inside it was impossible to miss.

Vincent immediately shook his head.

"No. I can't let anyone know I've been sleeping with that-"

He stopped himself halfway, but the damage was already done.

That. Not even her or Nyelle. Just that.

Like I was some disgusting mistake he regretted touching.

Cassia's expression shifted slightly in surprise, probably because even she didn't expect him to say it out loud.

Something sharp stabbed deep into my chest, but I forced myself to stand still.

Don't cry. Not in front of them.

"So what are you planning to do?" Cassia asked again quietly, her nails digging possessively into Vincent's arm.

For a few seconds, he said nothing. Then he turned toward me fully, his eyes cold enough to freeze every last bit of hope still living inside me.

"Fine," he said flatly. "One month. After that, you'll disappear from my life forever."

My fingers trembled slightly around the iPad, but I still typed my response.

"Fine. One month is all I need."

The second he read it, I turned and walked away before either of them could see the tears filling my eyes again.

But I still heard Cassia's angry voice behind me.

"How are we supposed to get married now?" she hissed furiously. "That bitch knows exactly what she's doing. I won't let this happen."

I kept walking anyway. Each step felt heavier than the last as I made my way upstairs toward the bedroom I had slept in for five years.

The moment I pushed the bedroom door open, my entire body went still.

My suitcases were already sitting outside near the entrance like trash waiting to be thrown away.

Slowly, my eyes lifted toward the walls.

The wedding pictures were gone. Every single one.

The photo from our wedding day that I secretly loved staring at before sleeping.

The framed anniversary picture I placed beside the mirror myself. All of them had disappeared.

My breathing started becoming uneven. I rushed toward the wardrobe and pulled it open quickly.

Then I froze again. Another woman's clothes filled one entire side, with bright dresses, luxury handbags.

High heels lined neatly underneath.

Cassia's perfume lingered inside the space that once held my things.

A broken laugh almost escaped me.

So this had already been planned. While I was sitting alone at the hospital hearing that I was dying...They were here replacing me.

The pain hit too fast this time. My knees weakened slightly as tears finally spilled down my cheeks.

I quickly covered my mouth with my hand even though no sound could come out anyway.

The silence somehow made the crying hurt worse.

Because no matter how broken I felt, I still couldn't scream.

All I could do was stand there shaking while tears rolled endlessly down my face.

By the time the guests finally left hours later, my eyes were swollen and burning painfully.

I was still sitting at the edge of the bed when the door suddenly opened again.

Cassia walked in confidently with her arms folded across her chest.

The smug look on her face instantly made my stomach twist.

"As you can see," she said while glancing around the room dramatically, "I've already moved in. So you'll be sleeping in the guest room from now on."

I slowly looked up at her. Then I stood.

Despite how weak my body felt, I forced myself to walk toward her calmly before lifting my iPad between us.

"I'm still his wife for one month," the screen read. "So who has more right to stay here? You or me?"

Nyelle

Cassia's face twisted so violently with rage that for a second, she didn't even look human anymore.

"You seriously think you belong here?" Cassia's voice came out sharp and furious, her eyes blazing so fiercely it almost looked like she wanted to rip me apart with her bare hands.

For the first time in years, I didn't look away. I moved closer to her instead.

My fingers pressed hard against the iPad screen while anger burned violently inside my chest. The words appeared faster this time, almost aggressive.

"The last time I checked, I'm still the one legally married to him while you're just the shameless mistress."

The second her eyes landed on the screen, her face twisted completely.

I scoffed internally. The truth really did hurt.

"How dare you!" she snapped.

Her hand flew toward me so suddenly that even she probably thought I wouldn't react in time.

But I did. I grabbed her wrist before the slap could land. The sound of our struggle echoed softly through the room while she tried pulling away angrily, shock flashing across her face.

"You psycho, let go of me!"

I tightened my grip slightly instead.

Funny, because five years ago I would have immediately backed away, apologized silently, and cried in some hidden corner.

But tonight something inside me felt different. Maybe because I was dying. Because people with expiration dates stopped being afraid of consequences.

"What's happening here?" Vincent's cold voice cut through the tension instantly.

The second I heard him, I released Cassia's hand immediately. But before I could even step back properly, Cassia suddenly stumbled dramatically onto the floor with a loud gasp.

I froze. My mouth parted slightly in disbelief while she sat there holding her belly like she had just survived a brutal attack.

Wow. She deserved an actual award.

Vincent rushed toward her instantly, panic flashing across his face.

"Cassia!" he called sharply, kneeling beside her. "Are you alright?"

She groaned softly and leaned against him weakly. "No... I'm not," she whispered painfully. "She pushed me so hard. How can someone be this wicked?"

I stared at her in complete disbelief. Was she serious right now? She honestly could have survived perfectly as an actress.

Vincent carefully helped her stand before slowly turning toward me, and the second our eyes met, my stomach dropped. His face was terrifying with pure rage.

"How dare you?!" he yelled, his voice shaking with anger. "Is it your plan to make her lose my child?!"

My entire body went cold. Child?

For a second, I genuinely thought I heard wrong.

My eyes widened automatically as the words replayed inside my head again and again.

Cassia was pregnant?

The realization hit me so hard it physically hurt.

All these years...All these years Vincent had made sure I never carried his baby.

Every single time we slept together, he always pulled away before finishing, always looking disgusted whenever I accidentally mentioned children.

Now suddenly this woman returned and she was already pregnant?

The pain that spread through my chest felt unbearable. I couldn't breathe properly. It honestly felt like someone had reached inside me and crushed my heart with their bare hands.

"You're really becoming shameless," Vincent continued furiously.

Cassia immediately pointed toward me with trembling fingers like she was the victim in some tragic movie.

"She actually told me I can't move into this room!"

"What?" Vincent snapped immediately, turning toward me again. "Really? What right do you even have to say that?"

His words sliced through me so easily. I almost laughed bitterly. Five years as his wife, and somehow I still had no right to anything. Not even the bedroom I had slept in beside him for years.

My fingers shook badly while typing this time, but I still forced myself to lift the iPad toward him.

"I'm your wife, so it's my right. I won't leave no matter what. You agreed to let me stay for one month, so don't go against your word or I'll do the same."

The second Vincent finished reading, his expression darkened dangerously.

"Wow," he said coldly. "So everything they say about quiet people is true. You've finally started showing your real colors."

The words stung more than they should have.

Real colors? As if surviving him for five years wasn't already hard enough.

Before I could even process it properly, he grabbed Cassia's hand gently.

"Let's leave the room for her," he said calmly.

I blinked in shock.

Cassia looked equally stunned. "What?" she snapped immediately. "Why should we leave for her? She should be the one leaving!"

"You can't stress the baby," Vincent replied firmly. "Let's just endure this for one month."

Endure. Like being near me was some horrible punishment.

Cassia glared at me so viciously I almost expected smoke to come out of her ears. Honestly, if looks could kill, I would already be dead and buried beautifully.

"Fine," she snapped bitterly before storming toward the door with Vincent following beside her.

But even while leaving, he never looked back at me. Not once.

The second the door closed behind them, the strength left my body completely.

I slowly sank onto the floor beside the bed while the silence wrapped around me heavily.

So he would rather leave his own bedroom...Than stay beside me. A painful scoff escaped silently from my chest. I stayed there for a long time before finally forcing myself up and walking toward the bathroom.

Maybe cold water would help calm me down. I stood under the shower for nearly thirty minutes, but the tightness inside my chest never disappeared. It only got worse.

Especially later that night. Maybe they weren't even trying to be quiet.

Cassia's soft moans echoed faintly through the hallway followed by Vincent's low voice, and suddenly breathing became difficult again.

I quickly pressed the pillow over my ears, but it didn't help.

Tears rolled silently down my cheeks. Five years beside him, and somehow hearing him with another woman still destroyed me this badly.

I hated myself for it. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore.

I grabbed my hoodie and left the house without thinking.

The cold night air hit my face immediately as I walked down the empty street aimlessly.

The city lights looked blurry through my tear-filled eyes while my hands shoved deeply into my pockets.

Maybe I should get a drink. Maybe getting drunk for once wouldn't hurt.

I kept walking slowly, my mind completely numb, until suddenly-A strong hand grabbed me from behind, his hand clamped violently over my mouth.

My eyes widened in terror. The grip tightened painfully.

I tried struggling immediately, but the person dragged me backward roughly while covering my mouth harder.

My heartbeat exploded with panic.

I couldn't scream, couldn't breathe properly.

Everything started spinning fast.

Then slowly everything went black.