After making the decision, Kara felt all her strength leave her, and she collapsed heavily onto the ground. She splashed water everywhere.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a hospital.

"Kara, you're finally awake! Do you know how scared I was?" Bennett exclaimed, pulling her into his arms as if he were trying to merge her into his very being. He only released her when she was nearly suffocating. His eyes were red with worry.

"What happened? Why didn't you answer my calls? If it wasn't for our phones being linked for location tracking, I wouldn't even know what happened to you!"

Bennett, usually rebellious, showed unusually deep concern.

So now he was worried?

What would his reaction be if he found out she was marrying someone else?

Kara wearily withdrew her hand and smiled faintly, though her face was a bit pale. "You called me? I didn’t notice. I went out to buy medicine since there wasn’t any at home. I might have put my phone on silent."

"You two really are something!

"On New Year's Eve, when you went missing, Bennett almost called the police. He gathered our friends and drove around Crestmoor all night looking for you. If they hadn’t found you, he probably would have done something drastic!

"Knowing about your heart condition, he even booked an entire floor in the hospital and summoned the top cardiologist with a helicopter to treat you. You had a fever for three days, and he didn’t sleep for those three days. He stayed by your side the entire time!"

If this had been in the past, Kara would've been touched and would've cupped Bennett’s face, urging him to get some rest.

But now, Kara merely asked listlessly, "It was just a little rain. Was it really necessary to call in a cardiologist?"

"Ahem–"

Several of Bennett's friends exchanged glances and then quickly left to give them space.

Bennett called the doctor, and after a thorough check-up on Kara’s condition and confirming there were no issues, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

After the doctor left, Bennett hastily took out two capsules from a medicine bottle. "Kara, take these heart supplements. They’ll help protect your heart. You haven’t taken them for the last few days since you were unconscious. You can't skip them now."

The two capsules lay silently in Bennett's palm. What was once sweet now felt like poison.

Kara’s eyes reddened. "I don’t want to take them now."

"You have to. I know your condition better than anyone. You’ve been out in the rain, had a fever, and if your emotions get too stirred up, your heart won’t be able to take it! You have to take them. I’ll feed them to you."

Before she could say anything else, Bennett decisively placed the capsules in his mouth, then cupped her head with his hands and kissed her forcefully.

He was domineering, pushing her to swallow the capsules, and only then did he release her. "Babe, you’re the best."

Kara struggled to suppress the lump in her throat.

Was that 'babe' meant for her or was it meant for Natalie?

It turned out that many things had been apparent even eight years ago.

Bennett had fallen in love with her at first sight. From that moment on, he had been by her side, following her like a shadow. Every morning, after breakfast, he would make sure she took two capsules for her heart.

He insisted on supervising her to sleep before 10 o'clock every night, warning her not to stay up late or it might cause heart issues.

To take care of her, Bennett even got a nutritionist certification, fearing the high-fat and high-salt meals at the cafeteria would add extra stress to her heart.

It turned out that all of that wasn’t for her. It was because of the heart that was beating inside her.

"Kara, why is your face so pale? Is your heart bothering you? I see your heart rate is rising! What kind of incompetent doctors have you been seeing? I’m going to get them!"

The heart monitor emitted a series of beeps, and Bennett’s expression changed. He rushed out like a gust of wind.

Kara looked down and saw the heart monitor on her finger. She endured the aching feeling in her heart as she removed the device, tossing it away like she was discarding the past and all the love that had once filled her.

Three days later, Kara was discharged.

Bennett organized a gathering to help her shake off the bad energy, and just like after their public announcement, he couldn’t wait to introduce Kara to the people in his social circle.

Kara didn’t want to go, but she couldn’t resist Bennett’s pleading.

Anyway, she was about to leave soon. She wanted to see what Bennett could come up with next.

"Oh, are you Bennett's future wife? You're truly beautiful. No wonder Bennett is keeping such a close eye on you. We’re playing truth or dare. Care to join?"

As soon as Kara arrived, a woman with long, wavy hair pulled her inside.

Kara instinctively turned to look at Bennett, who furrowed his brows slightly.

"Kara’s heart is weak. Take it easy–"

"We know, Bennett. This is the first time we’ve seen you so concerned about someone besides my sister. Too bad my sister passed away when she was only fifteen. She was hit by an overloaded truck, and there wasn’t even a complete body left."

The woman, Vanessa Johnson, pretended to wipe away a tear, not caring that the entire room had gone quiet. She pulled Kara into a booth.

However, Kara couldn’t stop hearing Vanessa’s words echo in her ears.

She didn’t even know what the game was anymore until Vanessa nudged her shoulder. Kara clearly heard her ask, "Bennett, you lost this round! Let’s have a truth question. Is your true love here with us today?"

Kara instinctively looked at Bennett.

His face was shrouded in the amber glow of the light, making it hard to see his expression. Someone in the know nudged Vanessa and whispered, "Vanessa, don't stir up trouble. Bennett just made his relationship official. Of course, he loves his girlfriend. There's no doubt about it!"

"This question is pointless. Let's move on to the next round!" Someone urged them to continue.

Kara tuned out their banter, keeping her eyes fixed on Bennett. It felt like an eternity had passed before he let out a soft chuckle, picked up his glass, and downed his drink in one go.

"What a ridiculous question. I can't even be bothered to answer it. I'll take the dare."

Kara was speechless.

Although she had braced herself, she still felt a chill down her spine.

She made an excuse and left for the restroom.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she noticed how pale her face was. Her eyes were tinged with redness as if she had suffered a great grievance. She lowered her gaze, forcing herself to swallow the bitter ache rising in her heart. Just as she turned to leave, someone blocked her way.

Vanessa leaned leisurely against the restroom door, a cigarette between her fingers, and smirked.

"So, you're the woman Bennett chased for eight years? Kara, right? I heard you had heart surgery eight years ago. The heart beating inside you belongs to my sister. Did you know that?

"Do you really think you've turned into some kind of Cinderella? If not for my sister's heart, he wouldn't even look at you. You're nothing more than a vessel."

Vanessa flicked the ash from her cigarette. Her tone was laced with mockery. "Oh, and do you remember that guy back in senior year who hid behind the door to scare you? Do you know what happened to him in the end?"

Vanessa smiled.

Kara's face turned even paler.

Back in her senior year, a boy had played a prank on her by jumping out from behind a door to startle her. Bennett had stormed forward in a rage, throwing punch after punch at the guy until he fell to his knees and begged for mercy. He was nearly dying.

Later, Kara heard that the same guy had been robbed and stabbed more than a dozen times.

Kara felt ice-cold blood rush through her veins. "That robbery… Bennett arranged it?"

"A vessel should know its place. Your only job is to keep my sister's heart healthy. Stay out of everything else."

Vanessa tilted her head back and laughed.

When Kara returned to the room, the game of truth or dare was still ongoing.

This time, Bennett lost again.

The question was 'Do you love your current girlfriend?'

Standing just outside the door, Kara clearly heard Bennett scoff.

"Love Kara? She's just a vessel. How could I possibly love her? Stop asking stupid questions."

"Hahaha, of course! Bennett's photo album is still filled with pictures of Natalie. He spends every night on his secret Facebook account reminiscing about her. A guy like him? How could he ever fall for someone else? Hey, wanna bet? I'll mess with Kara a little, and I guarantee Bennett won't even object!"

"Really? I thought after chasing her for eight years, he might've developed some feelings."

Vanessa returned at the perfect moment. Just as Kara was about to turn and leave, Vanessa shoved her forward, forcing her back into the room.

The next round began. This time, Kara lost.

One of Bennett's close friends poured out 88 shots and grinned. "Well, looks like you have no choice but to take the dare! Either drink all 88 shots, or do 10 push-ups!"

"Only ten? That shouldn't be too hard, right? You should pick the push-ups, Kara. I heard you're allergic to alcohol."

Kara stared at the shots lined up on the table. Her throat clenched.

She lifted her head and looked at Bennett. "Bennett, should I drink or do push-ups?"

Kara had been allergic to alcohol from a young age. Drinking would make her break out in painful red rashes all over her body, but doing push-ups would mean putting strain on her heart.

She left the choice to Bennett.

He picked up a shot glass, brought it to her, and spoke in that same gentle tone.

"Babe, be good. You have a heart condition. Even one push-up could make you unwell. Drink these, and I'll take you straight to a doctor."

"Okay, I get it."

Kara let out a small, bitter laugh. She tilted her head back and tried to hold back her tears.

But they fell anyway, slipping down her cheeks and mixing with the harsh burn of the alcohol. It tasted salty and bitter all at once.

She kept drinking, glass after glass.

By the time she was almost done, red rashes covered her arms, itching and stinging unbearably.

And still, she kept going.

She didn't stop until Bennett cursed under his breath and snatched the glass from her. He scooped her up in his arms.

"All you do is drink. Why don't you just drink yourself to death? Somebody get the family doctor, now!

"And bring her heart medication! Kara's upset. Her heart might act up!"

Seeing how worried he seemed, Kara finally closed her eyes.

A vessel should indeed know its place.

Kara was allergic to alcohol. She broke out in a widespread rash.

The doctor prescribed eczema medication, but it seemed to have side effects on her heart.

"Kara, it's just some itching. If you just bear with it, it'll pass.

"If it leaves scars, I'll find the best plastic surgeon in the country to treat you!

"We can't take any chances if this medicine possibly has side effects. Your heart has been through surgery. I can't even begin to imagine losing you if something happens!"

Inside the villa, Kara looked up at the man keeping watch beside her.

His eyes were filled with concern and love, yet his words only made her heart grow colder. It was summer, yet she felt ice-cold. There was a chill that seeped into her bones.

"Bennett, the doctor said the side effects are so rare that maybe one in a thousand people would experience them.

"I can't even sleep from the itching. Are you sure you won't let me take it?"

Her throat felt dry when she spoke.

"Kara–"

Pain flickered across Bennett's face.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he quickly pulled out a bottle of sleeping pills from the drawer and eagerly poured out a few.

"Take this. These sleeping pills were prescribed by our family doctor. They have no side effects. If you take them, you'll be able to sleep."

Afraid that Kara would insist on taking the eczema medication, he swiftly stuffed the bottle into his pocket. Just then, his phone rang. Anxiously, he rushed out to take the call.

It was as if staying even a second longer would give Kara the chance to ask for the medicine again.

Kara's hand was suspended in midair. There were more than ten sleeping pills on her palm. If she took them all, it would likely be a fatal dose.

She turned away. Her tears silently soaked into the pillow.

At that moment, a call came in from abroad. She absent-mindedly picked it up.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Miss Sierra, hello. I heard from Miss Carter that you've agreed to the marriage. I'm calling to inform you that the wedding will be held as soon as possible. Are you okay with that?"

Kara suddenly recalled that she had agreed to Marilyn's request.

She forced a smile. "I'm fine with that. But there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

"I'm at your service."

"I don't want a wedding gift worth billions or a villa. Instead, I'd like you to help me fake an accident. On the day I head to Solaria, I plan to take the Odyssey Cruise. Could you fabricate news that I accidentally fell overboard?"

There was a brief silence on the other end before they quickly agreed.

"Understood, Miss Sierra. I'm looking forward to our wedding."

Kara politely ended the call.

The moment she hung up, Bennett rushed in with an anxious look on his face. Visibly tense, he sat by the bed. "Kara, I just heard you mention a wedding. Who's getting married?"

"Just a friend," Kara brushed him off.

Fortunately, Bennett didn't press further.

For the next few days, he seemed unusually busy. He always left home early and returned late.

Kara wasn't idle either. Unable to sleep at night due to the itching, she spent her time researching immigration policies. At dawn, she went to the immigration office to complete the necessary paperwork.

Once everything was settled, she returned home and slowly began packing her belongings.

Eight years wasn't a short period of time.

Over the years, Bennett had written her a love letter every week, filling an entire bookshelf. She gathered them all, placed them in a fire basin, and burned them.

Bennett had a diary filled with notes about her preferences.

The first page stated that she had a heart condition and needed special care, followed by a list of precautions. Things that had once felt like love now felt like a sharp blade, cutting her open and leaving her bleeding.

The second page noted her alcohol allergy, warning that she must never drink. Yet, hadn't she downed those 88 glasses of alcohol under his watchful eyes? The fiery taste had burned straight into her heart.

–

Kara hugged her knees, crouching on the floor as she watched the flames consume the letters and diary.

Bennett rushed home just in time to witness this scene. Panicked, he pulled off his jacket and frantically tried to smother the fire, completely disregarding the risk of burns as he pulled the diary from the flames.

Ash scattered everywhere, some landing on the back of Kara's hand, scalding her and making her inhale sharply.

"Kara, didn't I tell you not to touch anything in that room? If anything happens to this diary, I'll make you pa–" Bennett caught himself before finishing the words' pay for it'.

He had noticed that the diary was still signed with 'Kara' on the cover. After sighing in relief, he finally realized that she had been burned. He frowned. "How could you be so careless? There's burn ointment in the drawer. Go take care of it yourself."

With that, he strode upstairs without looking back.

There was a locked room on the third floor of the villa, a place where Bennett never allowed anyone near.

Now, as if desperate to prove something, he unlocked the door in a hurry. He was so preoccupied that he didn't even notice Kara following silently behind him.

At the corner of the hallway, Kara caught sight of the room's interior. Her eyes widened in shock.

The walls were covered with photos of a couple.

Beneath a cherry blossom tree in spring, amidst golden wheat fields in summer, on a bed of red maple leaves in autumn, and beside a snow-covered road in winter.

These were places she and Bennett had once traveled together, and they included every photo they had ever taken.

Her face had been replaced in all of them.

All of them had been altered with AI, swapping her out for an unfamiliar woman.

That had to be Natalie's face.

Kara's heart clenched. A suffocating pain jabbed at her heart like a thousand needles. Even the burn on her hand seemed insignificant in comparison.

Clutching her aching heart, she found herself unable to breathe or even utter a single word.