Ellen’s POV

My best friend cursed under her breath. “Explain what? Did he ever explain anything to you? Forget him. Let’s keep going.”

Not long after, Carter texted me.

[If I remember right, your best friend’s family is desperately looking for investors right now, isn’t that so?]

My heart tightened. He was planning to use my best friend to threaten me.

“I’ll be right back. You guys continue.”

I walked to Kelley’s private room. Carter handed me a glass of alcohol.

“Drink it. Consider it an apology to Kelley.”

Kelley quickly tried smoothing things over. “It’s all my fault, I—”

But Carter glared at me. “I don’t want to repeat myself. You know what to do.”

I reached for the glass, but Kelley suddenly suggested, “If Ellen has to drink, maybe she should have mango juice instead.”

Carter immediately swapped the alcohol for mango juice.

“Kelley’s so kind. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t bother giving you face.”

I didn’t take it. “I’m allergic to mango juice.”

Kelley’s expression shifted instantly. “I didn’t mean it… I didn’t know you were allergic.”

“To show you I’m really sorry,” she added, “I’ll drink it instead.”

But Carter snatched the glass out of her hand.

“Kelley is the one allergic to mango juice. Why are you lying?”

“If you don’t drink it,” he warned, “your friend who ran her mouth tonight… I’ll make sure she pays for it.”

Five years together, and he forgot I’m allergic to mango, too.

Looking at him now, all I felt was unfamiliarity.

Did he really forget, or was he helping Kelley mess with me?

No idea. And honestly, I didn’t care anymore. I’d be gone tomorrow anyway.

But before leaving, I couldn’t drag my best friend into this.

So I took the mango juice.

I drank it, and not long after, red rashes started spreading across my skin.

“You guys enjoy. I’m not feeling well, so I’m heading out first.”

But Kelley grabbed me. “Ellen, we haven’t had cake yet. Don’t you want to stay for my birthday?”

Carter’s cold gaze locked on me.

“Don’t ruin the mood. Eat, then leave.”

“I’m not feeling well. Can’t you see my neck is already itching?”

He yanked my hand hard. “Stop throwing a fit. Think about your best friend.”

In his eyes, only Kelley existed.

I felt more like an enemy than a wife.

I could only dig my nails into my palm and sit back down.

My whole body itched, and I couldn’t even focus on their interactions.

I just kept drinking water to ease the discomfort.

Right then, Scott sent over several wedding dress photos for me to choose from.

I replied: [The second set is fine. You choose the rest.]

He sent back an excited emoji.

[Can’t wait to see my wife soon. I’m so happy.]

Seeing me staring at my screen, Carter came over.

“Who are you chatting with that makes you so happy?”

It was surprising he even noticed.

I turned off my screen. “My sister’s kid. She’s cute.”

“Yeah? Let me see.”

He reached for my phone, but he didn’t know the password.

“What’s the password?”

“It’s my birthday.”

His hand froze.

Right—he didn’t remember my birthday.

In the end, he shoved the phone back into my hand.

“Forget it. I’ve seen her before anyway.”

Five years together, and he didn’t even remember my birthday.

Oddly, I didn’t feel hurt. I actually felt… calm.

Tomorrow, I’d finally be done with this.

Suddenly someone exclaimed, “Isn’t that the newest necklace? The collector’s edition!”

Kelley held up a necklace Carter gave her. It really was the latest release, and it looked painfully familiar.

Buying the collector’s edition came with a limited-edition bonus.

So the one he gave me was just the freebie, huh?

Kelley stepped right in front of me. “Ellen, isn’t it pretty?”

I looked at Carter.

“It is. Truly one of a kind.”

He stood up calmly and walked away, avoiding the question entirely.

Even caught red-handed, he didn’t bother trying to explain.

The party was wrapping up when chaos suddenly erupted outside.

Thick smoke poured in, and people started running.

Someone shouted, “Run! There’s a fire! Looks like an electrical short!”

The entire room panicked and bolted for the exit.

I stood up but someone shoved me. I fell, glass slicing my leg.

Blood immediately started flowing.

I looked up, trying to call out to Carter.

But I saw him carrying Kelley in his arms, rushing straight out.

“Don’t be scared, Kelley. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He didn’t even glance my way.

I shouted after him, “Carter! Don’t leave me behind! I’m hurt!”

But he didn’t even turn around.

He just snapped impatiently, “Even a murderer couldn’t kill you. You’ll make it out of a fire.”

“Kelley is fragile,” he reasoned. “She needs me. Figure it out yourself.”

Ellen’s POV

Carter’s words made my heart jolt violently.

Was that whole “stalker” incident something he and Kelley staged?

If it had been a real stalker, I might not even be alive right now.

I saw it with my own eyes—Carter ran out carrying Kelley, and no matter how loudly I shouted behind them, he never once looked back.

He just walked away without a trace of hesitation.

Soon, thick smoke billowed everywhere, flames shooting up around me.

I tried to escape but the fire had already cut off my way out.

When I finally forced myself up and struggled to the door, there were crowds of people outside, rushing around in a panic, screams everywhere.

I opened my mouth to call for help, but smoke flooded into my lungs, and I blacked out instantly.

Just like that, the fire swallowed me whole.

Carter had rushed out of the burning building with Kelley in his arms. Fortunately, both of them were unharmed.

Kelley trembled in his embrace, clinging to him tightly.

He watched as more people stumbled out of the flames, each one accompanied by screams.

The fire grew even fiercer, and after watching for a long time, he still didn’t see me among those escaping.

His brows instantly furrowed. Something like worry flickered in his chest.

Only then did he remember—right before he left, it seemed like I’d called out to him.

But he didn’t catch what I said.

He searched the crowd again, shouting my name several times.

Kelley saw this, immediately gasped, and collapsed. “Carter… I can’t breathe…”

She fainted right after. He quickly shouted for help.

But no one came. The whole scene was chaotic—fire trucks, police cars, ambulances were arriving one after another.

He had no time for anything else—not even for me.

He carried Kelley to the hospital.

Before getting in the ambulance, he glanced back at the burning building and muttered to himself, “She was fine last time, too. She’ll definitely make it out again.”

At the hospital, Kelley was examined and found to be perfectly okay. She woke up soon after.

Carter wanted to rush back to the scene, but she grabbed him.

“Carter, stay with me. Please… I’m really scared.”

Looking at her red, tear-swollen eyes, he ended up staying.

So many people had escaped, and the firefighters were already there; he figured I would be fine.

For the next several days, he stayed at the hospital taking care of Kelley.

He never went home.

He never called me.

Maybe he was just used to me taking care of myself.

He was used to me healing on my own.

He was used to me not bothering him whenever he was with Kelley.

The news kept reporting the rising death toll.

Photos of the tragedy spread online—gruesome and heartbreaking.

He glanced at them a few times, didn’t see me, and turned off his phone.

It wasn’t until the official list of victims appeared—with my name on it—that he finally panicked.

“How could Ellen’s name be here? That’s impossible!”

Kelley noticed the fear in his eyes.

“Maybe it’s someone with the same name. Ellen is tough. She’ll be fine.”

But Carter suddenly felt an inexplicable dread.

“You take care of yourself. I’m going back to check.”

“But I haven’t fully recovered… I need you, I—”

He didn’t listen. He stood up and left.

Back home, there was no sign of me anywhere.

He opened the bedroom door—everything looked the same, yet something felt missing.

When he checked the guest room, he realized all my things were gone.

He frantically called me, but no one picked up.

Then his phone buzzed; our manager had posted in the group chat announcing that I’d resigned.

He finally let out a breath.

“She’s still processing her resignation today… that means she’s fine.”

But when he returned to the living room and saw the necklace he’d given me still sitting on the table, untouched, guilt flickered across his face.

“She didn’t even take something this important… she must not have really left,” he muttered. “She’s run away from home before. She always comes back after a few days. When you’re back, I’ll buy you a new one.”

Reassured, he returned to the hospital to take care of Kelley, and when she was discharged, he even brought her home.

During that time, he kept messaging me.

[Don’t think I’m going to chase after you just because you ran away from home. You’re an adult. Stop playing childish games.]

But after half a month passed—no sign of me, no reply from me—he finally panicked again.

He searched everywhere, asking anyone he could about my whereabouts.

But there wasn’t a single clue.

His heart felt hollow.

He didn’t know why, but it felt like he was losing me—truly losing me.

When the official death certificate was finally placed into his hands, he completely lost it.

“I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it! She must be hiding somewhere. Keep looking!”

And then, a headline flashed before his eyes.

[The Well-Known Heir of the Knapps in Los Angeles Is Getting Married!]

Carter froze on the spot.

Because the bride standing next to Scott… was me.