My first encounter with Benjamin was rather embarrassing.

I was about to leap off a bridge when he grabbed me and flung me to the ground.

He locked eyes with me. Instead of urging me to be strong like others might, he told me something entirely different. He said that the person I loved would always live in my heart from then on. With every beat, it was proof that we were both fighting to live.

He said I didn't have to let go of the past to move forward.

Like others carried dreams, I could carry my love deep within me. Each day I lived would be another step closer to the one I had lost.

After that, worried I might try to take my life again, he stayed by my side. No matter how much I ignored him, he never complained.

Under his tender loving care, I gradually stepped out of the inferno of grief. He helped me find the courage to walk back into the light.

That was the second year after we'd met.

Not long later, he confessed his feelings to me. He said that he loved me with utmost conviction.

I was so moved by his devotion that I didn't hesitate to agree. That day marked our first day as a couple.

The same day, I visited the cemetery with the couple rings that Samuel Harrison and I had bought together. Placing them on his grave, I told him I was ready to move forward and start a new chapter.

But I never imagined that the man I chose would one day use such a cruel method to test my sincerity.

Someone in the room hesitated and voiced concern, "Honestly, I think your plan is a bit extreme. Feigning illness might be easy to see through. What's more, if she truly believed you and tried to follow you in death, what if you weren't able to save her in time?"

Benjamin raised an eyebrow.

"This is the best way for her to prove her love for me. Even if it gets exposed, I'm confident Cherilyn won't hold it against me," he replied.

"Besides, if she'd been more passionate toward me, I wouldn't have to go to such lengths to test her."

He paused, drained the glass of wine in his hand yet again, then continued.

"All investments come with risks. I helped her move past her pain—I'm her savior from the outset. If she gives her life for me, so what?

"It's easy to claim true love with words. But it'll only show when she chooses me over everyone else."

I stood frozen, listening to his words that cut me like a blade. I felt my heart being sliced into a million pieces.

My heart ached so much I could barely breathe. Stumbling, I leaned against the wall to keep from collapsing.

That phone call—it had all been Benjamin's setup.

He wasn't sick at all. He just wanted me to die for him, to satisfy his twisted curiosity.

I didn't dare probe deeper—was he ever truly in love with me? Or was this all just his need to win? To boast that he made me abandon my past and sacrifice my future for him?

Closing my eyes in despair, a plan began to take shape in my mind.

Fine. Since he wanted to play this game, I would gladly play along.

I could paint the image of the devoted girlfriend he pictured and pretend to die for him. By then, we would see if that smug look would be wiped off his face.

I turned and left.

On the way home, my emotions finally got the best of me. Tears streamed down my face as I burst into uncontrollable sobs.

He had once promised he wouldn't pressure me. He'd said he wanted to save our most intimate moments for marriage.

Yet, here he was setting traps and blaming me for not jumping into them. Benjamin Zoller was such a vicious snake.

He told me he didn't mind, but turned around and told his friends otherwise. How utterly laughable.

If he thought staying with me for three years was a waste of time, why didn't he leave earlier? Why keep stringing me along until I couldn't imagine life without him?

I wiped my tears fiercely.

Good thing I managed to learn of his schemes ahead of time. I wasn't going to become a foolish pawn and let him lead me to destruction. I wasn't going to end my life for his twisted game.

It was close to midnight when Benjamin finally came home.

He pushed the door open and entered. When he saw me sitting on the couch staring blankly into space, he seemed a little surprised.

"Cherilyn, why haven't you gone to bed yet?"

I turned to face him with my tear-streaked cheeks.

I raised my phone and replied, my voice trembling, "I got a call from the hospital today."

I paused, then continued, "Whatever the doctor said about you..." My voice faltered. "Is it true, Benjamin?"

Before I finished my sentence, large teardrops rolled down my cheeks again.

Stunned at that sight, Benjamin immediately walked up to me. He wrapped his arms around me gently, patting my shoulder lightly.

"Don't cry, my love. I'm okay."

Perhaps guilt was eating at him, but his voice carried a faint tremor.

"Life and death are inevitable... Maybe I used up all my luck meeting you in this lifetime, and now it's time to pay it back.

"Being with you has left me with no regrets. Please don't be too sad—I just... I don't want you to have to go through this pain again."

What an act.

To think that he could hurt me and still have the audacity to feign concern. I couldn't help but wonder how much of his so-called love for me was genuine.

His tone sounded so cold and detached when he plotted with his friends to orchestrate my death.

But here he was, holding me tightly in his arms. The warmth of his embrace was such a stark contrast.

Memories of our time together played out in my mind, but every image of Benjamin had morphed into a venomous snake. It coiled itself tightly around my neck, as if intending to choke the life out of me.

A desperate voice screamed inside my head, "Now's the time—confront him and leave."

But before I could begin, his worried voice flowed into my ear and interrupted my thoughts. "Cherilyn, why aren't you saying anything? Are you upset?"

I snickered to myself. How ironic. Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?

I pushed him away abruptly and stared straight into his eyes.

"You're not actually sick, are you?"

As soon as the question was asked, I hoped with all my heart that he would just confess. I hoped he could admit his resentment and end things between us. We could then pretend none of this ever happened.

Yet, Benjamin displayed not a single sign of hesitation. He put on a sorrowful expression immediately.

"Cherilyn, how could I ever lie to you? I wanted to run to you the day I was diagnosed. But I was too afraid that you would be heartbroken. That's why I thought it would be best to distance myself from you slowly. I was hoping to fade out of your life before finally breaking up.

"I just didn't want to drag you down..."

Liar.

Doctors were bound by the law and their professional duty to maintain patient confidentiality. They weren't allowed to contact a patient's family without consent. The fact that the doctor had my phone number proved that it was Benjamin who orchestrated the whole act.

"But this past month, all I could think of was you. Now, standing at the edge of my life, I realize I'm not as selfless or noble as I thought. To let go of you is way more difficult than I thought.

"I love you. I want to experience life with you until the very end. Please, I hope you forgive me for my cowardice and selfishness."

I watched him, my expression blank.

Since the very beginning, this man had only ever cared about his pride.

Why bother feeding me these sweet lies?

I pinched myself back into reality and forced a smile. Leaning forward, I wrapped my arms tightly around him.

"Don't say things like that. Of course, I would never leave you. Let's work with the hospital to fight this together. I'm sure you will recover.

"And if worse comes to worst," I added softly. "I'm willing to die with you."

For a split second, Benjamin's hands stiffened before he rested them on my shoulders.

Ultimately, he had chosen to conceal the truth from me.

Since he was so determined for my life, he shouldn't blame me for being ruthless in return.