The world tilted.

“What?” My voice barely came out.

Hanabi placed a hand on her stomach, proud. Smiling. “Yes. It’s Gusion’s. I’m carrying his baby.”

I couldn’t breathe.

My husband.

Her child.

While I was alone in hospitals. While I was told I was dramatic. While I was slowly dying and no one cared.

My mother nodded, pleased. “This is what Gusion needs. A fresh start. A proper family.”

Then I felt a small tug on my sleeve.

I looked down.

Nana.

Her big eyes were filled with confusion and hope, the kind only a child can carry without knowing it hurts.

“I like Auntie Hanabi,” she said softly. “She’s nice to Daddy. If Daddy loves her… maybe it’s okay, Mommy. Maybe she can be my mommy too.”

That was it.

That was the moment I shattered.

Everything around me went out of focus.

Hanabi’s little smile, like she’d finally won something she’d been waiting for. Gusion’s face, calm and empty, like this was just another meeting he needed to get through. My parents standing there saying nothing, letting it happen. And Nana… my baby… looking up at me with that hopeful smile, not understanding that my heart was breaking right in front of her.

I knew if I stayed one more second, I would fall apart. Or scream. Or do something I couldn’t take back.

So I turned around.

I grabbed Nana’s hand, tight, like she was the only solid thing left in the world.

“Miya!” Gusion called after me. “Where are you going now?”

I didn’t answer.

I just walked.

My legs felt weak, like they might give out any second, but I kept moving. Nana’s small hand was warm in mine. She kept looking back, confused.

I didn’t stop.

...

The house felt dead when we got back.

Nana fell asleep almost the moment her head hit the pillow.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to her, even though she couldn’t hear me. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

I stayed there longer than I should have. Just watching her. Memorizing her face. Because everything else in my life had already been taken from me.

When I finally left her room, I didn’t walk. I collapsed onto my bed like my bones had given up. The sobs came hard and ugly, shaking my whole body until there was nothing left inside me.

Gusion Colombo.

Billionaire. Tech empire king. Investor everyone worshipped.

Gusion used to chase me like I was the only thing that mattered. When my family sent me to Paris for business, he booked a flight the same night.

“I can’t go a whole week without you,” he’d said, standing in the hotel lobby with flowers, smiling like he’d won something.

I laughed and called him crazy.

He pulled me close and said, “Yeah. Crazy about you.”

Back then, he was warm. Possessive. Proud to be mine.

We got married fast.

Our honeymoon was Sydney. A whole month of luxury and soft mornings and nights that felt endless. He promised me forever like it was a fact, not a lie. When Nana was born, he hovered over me like I might break.

“Don’t move,” he’d say. “I’ve got everything. Just rest. I love you more than anything.”

I believed him. God help me, I really did.

Then Hanabi came home.

She’d been overseas for years studying fashion. When she returned, she was polished. Beautiful. Confident. The kind of woman people looked at twice.

Gusion noticed.

I noticed him noticing.

The way she laughed too easily around him. The way he suddenly paid attention. The way conversations stopped when I walked into the room. I told myself I was imagining it. She was my sister. He was my husband.

I didn’t want to see it.

Until one night, I walked into our bedroom and found them in my bed.

Together.

I couldn’t breathe.

“Gusion?” My voice sounded small. Weak.

Hanabi jumped up, pulling the blanket around herself. Gusion didn’t even sit up properly.

“Relax,” he said, rubbing his face like I was annoying him. “She wasn’t feeling well. She fainted. I was just helping her.”

And I let it go.

Because Nana was sleeping nearby.

Because I was tired.

Because I didn’t want my world to end.

Now I knew how stupid that was.

They didn’t just betray me once. They’d been doing it for a long time.

I lay there staring at the ceiling, my chest tight. The worst part wasn’t even the affair. It was that I still loved him.

After everything, my heart still wanted him. Still missed the man he used to be. I hated myself for it.

Then my phone rang.

Mom.

I almost didn’t answer. But some weak, broken part of me still hoped. Still wanted my mother.

“Hello?” My voice cracked.

She sounded calm. Annoyed, even. “Are you still crying? For fucking sake, Miya, this is getting ridiculous.”

My breath hitched. “Mom… did you really just say that?”

She sighed like I was exhausting her. “Hanabi is younger than you! She maybe adopted but you should love her. She hasn’t had a happy life. She deserves to be loved too.”

“And me?” I whispered. “What about me?! I’m your daughter too. Don’t I deserve anything?”

There was a pause. Then my father took the phone.

“Miya,” he said firmly, “you need to think rationally. Hanabi is sick. She has cancer. The doctors said she might only have a year left.”

The words hit me hard.

“What…?” My hands started shaking.

“She’s dying,” he continued. “All she wanted was to marry the man she loves before it’s too late. Can you really be that heartless?”

Heartless. What about me? I am dying too.

“She loves my husband,” I said softly. “A-and you’re telling me I should be happy about that?”

“Yes,” my mother cut in. “At least she loves someone we know. Someone respectable. Not some random man. You should be grateful.”

Grateful. Wow.

My father added, “Gusion will be her husband now. For Nana’s sake, it’s best if you cooperate. Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

Something inside me broke clean in half. I screamed until I passed out.

I didn’t say another word.

I threw the phone across the room. It hit the wall and shattered before sliding down to the floor. Then I buried my face into the pillow and screamed until my throat burned and my body shook.

I woke up to a silence that felt wrong. My head was pounding, heavy and sharp at the same time.

Then I sat up.

Nana’s bed was empty.

My heart dropped straight into my stomach.

“Nana?” I called out, already standing, already panicking.

I ran down the hallway, checking her room again like she might magically appear. Bathroom. Living room. Kitchen.

“Nana!” My voice cracked.

Nothing.

My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped my phone when I called my mother.

She picked up after a few rings, sounding perfectly awake. Perfectly calm.

“Oh,” she said lightly. “You’re finally up.”

“Where is my daughter?” I asked. I was barely breathing. “Where’s Nana?”

“With us,” she replied like it was obvious. “It’s her birthday. Of course she’s with family.”

My knees almost gave out. “You took her? While I was asleep? Without telling me?!”

She sighed, long and dramatic. “Miya, you were exhausted. We didn’t want to wake you up in that state.”

“In that state?” My voice rose. “You had no right! She’s my child.”

“Hanabi and Gusion organized something special,” she continued, ignoring me. “A real party. Balloons, performers, hundred of kids. Not some pathetic dolphin show. Pff! She’s smiling so much. You should be grateful someone is finally doing this properly.”

My fingers dug into my palm. “Give me the phone. Let me talk to her. Right now.”

There was a pause. Then a soft laugh.

“Don’t ruin her mood, daughter,” my mother said. “She’s happy. For once. Don't be a killjoy like you always used to be."

“Killjoy?” I choked. “I am here real mother! Do you even hear yourself?”

“Miya,” she said slowly, like she was explaining something simple to a stupid person, “you need to stop clinging. Gusion has moved on. He love Hanabi and Hanabi will be a better influence. She’s calmer. Healthier. She has time.”

Something dark twisted in my chest. “You’re saying she’ll replace me.”

“I’m saying,” my mother replied coldly, “that maybe Nana deserves someone who isn’t always pretending to be sick, crying, or causing scenes.”

My vision went white.

“Bring my daughter home,” I said, shaking. “If you don’t—”

“Enough!" she snapped. “Stop being selfish.”

The line went dead.

I stood there staring at my phone, my whole body trembling. I felt small. Powerless. Like I had no right to my own child.

My thumb moved on its own.

I opened Instagram. And my heart shattered all over again.

The first post was Hanabi’s.

A clean, glossy photo. Her hand intertwined with Gusion’s. The engagement ring shining right in the center.

"Fate brought us together. Love made us brave. Counting down the days until I become Mrs. Colombo."

Thousands of likes.

Hundreds of comments.

“Finally! You two make so much more sense.”

“She looks way more suitable than his wife, sorry not sorry!”

“I always felt he married the wrong one.”

“True love wins in the end.”

People I knew. People who smiled at me. People who attended my wedding.

Then I scrolled.

Another photo loaded.

I stopped breathing.

Nana.

Sitting on Gusion’s lap. Laughing. Her arms wrapped around Hanabi’s neck. Hanabi kissing her cheek. Gusion smiling like this was his real family.

Like I never existed.

A sharp pain exploded behind my eyes. My head started spinning, the pounding unbearable. I fumbled for the painkillers on the nightstand, my hands clumsy and weak. I swallowed two without water.

It didn’t help.

My mouth filled with a metallic taste.

Something warm slid down my upper lip.

I wiped it without thinking.

Red.

Blood.

My chest tightened. My breathing went shallow and fast. I dialed my mother again.

No answer.

My father.

Nothing.

My hands shook as I scrolled down and pressed Gusion’s name. The call rang once. Twice. Then it went straight to voicemail.

I laughed, but it came out weak and ugly. Of course he wouldn’t answer. Why would he?

My hands were shaking so badly I could barely press the numbers. I called 911.

“H-hello…” My voice didn’t sound like mine anymore.

“911, what’s your emergency?” the operator asked.

“I… I need help,” I said, trying to stay upright, my shoulder pressed to the wall. “Something’s wrong. My head hurts so bad and I can’t… I can’t—”

The phone slipped from my hand.

The last thing I heard was the operator calling my name over and over, her voice fading as everything went dark.

---

Bright lights burned my eyes when I woke up. A steady beeping filled the room. The smell of disinfectant made my stomach turn. I was in a hospital bed. Alone.

A nurse rushed in when she saw my eyes open. “Ms. Colombo, you’re awake. Thank God. How are you feeling right now?”

My throat felt like sandpaper. “How long… how long was I out?”

“You were brought in late last night,” she said softly. “Paramedics found you unconscious at home. You had a severe migraine episode and a nosebleed. Is there anyone we should call for you? Your husband? Family?”

Family.

The word hurt more than my head.

I gave a small, broken laugh. “No,” I said quietly. “There’s no one left to call.”

The nurse looked at me like she wanted to say something, then thought better of it. She just nodded.

The next morning, they discharged me. I went home alone.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt it. That heavy presence. Like the air had shifted.

He was there.

Gusion sat on the couch like he belonged there, suit perfect, phone in one hand, briefcase on the floor. He looked bored. Impatient. Like he was waiting for a meeting to start.

My chest tightened. “Why are you here?” I asked. My voice sounded small.

He stood up calmly, opened his briefcase, and pulled out a thick stack of papers. A pen clipped neatly on top. He held them out to me.

“We need to settle this,” he said. “Sign these.”

I stared at the papers, my hands trembling. “What is this?”

He didn’t even hesitate. “Divorce papers. Everything’s already arranged. Assets, custody schedules, legal terms. I just need your signature so we can move forward.”

Divorce—what?

I looked at his face. There was nothing there. No regret. No apology. Not even discomfort.

“After everything,” I whispered, “this is all you have to say to me?”

He sighed, clearly annoyed. “Miya, don’t make this harder than it needs to be. This is the cleanest solution for everyone. Especially Nana.”

My heart sank.

I stared at the divorce papers in Gusion’s hand, my whole body shaking like I might fall apart any second.

“Sign it,” he said again, calm and flat, like the years we spent together were just some expired contract. Like I had already been written off.

I took the papers from him. My hands were trembling so hard the pages rattled. Then I tore them in half. Once. Twice. Over and over, until they were nothing but scraps falling to the floor.

For a second, his eyes darkened. Then he smiled. Slow. Controlled.

He reached into his wallet, pulled out a black ATM card, and flicked it onto the coffee table.

“There’s a million dollars on that,” he said casually. “Consider it your settlement. You’ll be fine.”

Settlement.

The word burned. Like I was some long-term employee being laid off. Like my love, my body, my years meant nothing more than a payout.

Before I even realized it, I slapped him. Hard.

The sound echoed through the room. My hand stung, but my chest hurt worse.

Gusion barely reacted. He turned his head slowly, touched his cheek, and looked at me with mild curiosity.

“Do you feel better now?” he chuckled.

I grabbed the card and broke it and threw it back at him. “Keep it! I don’t want your money. I want my life back.”

He gave a small, cruel smile. “That life is over, Miya. You should start accepting reality.”

Then he leaned closer, his voice low and sharp. “Nana already sees Hanabi as her mom now. Children adapt fast.”

My blood went cold.

The kitchen door opened.

Hanabi stepped out, holding Nana’s hand. They were smiling. Both of them. Like this was normal. Like this was home.

Nana was hugging a huge robot toy, shiny and expensive, the kind Gusion bought without even checking the price. Her eyes were bright as she looked up at Hanabi.

“Thank you, Mommy Hanabi!” Nana said happily. “I love it so much!”

The word hit me like a punch.

“Na… Nana,” I whispered, barely able to breathe. “Baby, Mommy’s here.”

She looked at me, but there was no excitement. Just confusion. Distance.

“Why are you upset, Mommy? You always like that! I hate it. Mommy Hanabi bought me this and played with me all day. She makes Daddy smile. She’s really nice.”

Hanabi laughed softly and brushed Nana’s hair back. Then she looked at me, calm and unbothered.

“Miya, don’t look so shocked,” she said gently. “I’ve been the one taking care of Nana lately. She’s just responding to love.”

Nana nodded seriously. “Mommy Hanabi plays with me and stays with me. You’re always tired. I want us to be happy. You should sign the papers so we can be a real family.”

I felt all the air leave my lungs.

Before I could say anything, Hanabi turned to Gusion and kissed him. Slow. Deep. Right in front of me.

Nana giggled. “Daddy and Mommy Hanabi love each other! Yehey! I'm so happy.”

I didn’t move. I couldn’t.

I just stood there, frozen, watching my husband kiss the girl my parents raised as my sister, while my daughter smiled like this was her new world.

It felt unreal.

But it wasn’t.

This was my reality.

Gusion pulled away from Hanabi with a satisfied smile, like he’d just won something. Then he looked at me, his eyes cold and almost amused, the way he used to look at people he was done with.

“Be reasonable, Miya,” he said, handing me another copy of the papers. “Just sign it already. There’s no point dragging this out and embarrassing yourself.”

Nana hugged her toy tighter and looked up at me, her little face full of urgency. “Mommy, please sign it,” she said softly. “Daddy and Mommy Hanabi are happy. I want us to stay happy too.”

Happy.

They already looked happy. Like a perfect family that had erased me without effort. It felt like being stabbed twice and told to smile about it.

My legs gave out a little as I stepped back, my vision blurring. “I… I need to be alone,” I whispered, my voice barely holding together.

I turned and rushed into my room before anyone could stop me, slamming the door shut. The second it closed, I collapsed onto the floor, my body shaking as silent sobs tore through me.

I had lost everything. My husband. My child. My parents. I had been replaced in every role that mattered.

Why wasn’t I enough? Why was I the one breaking while they got to move on and be happy? Why!

My head throbbed violently, pain mixing with the ache in my chest until I couldn’t tell which one hurt more. I stayed there curled on the floor for a long time before I reached for my phone with shaking hands.

There was only one person left.

The line rang twice before a familiar voice answered. “Miya?”

I broke. “Lancelot… please,” I sobbed. “I need help. I can’t stay here anymore.”

His breath caught. “What happened? Tell me everything.”

“Gusion,” I whispered. “Nana. They don’t need me. They already replaced me. I don’t have anything left.”

“Miya,” he said firmly, grounding me with his voice, “you still have me. And I’m not letting you face this alone. Not now, not ever.”

Tears streamed down my face as he continued. “Come to me. I’ll get you out of that house. I’ll make sure you disappear if that’s what you need.”

Then he hesitated, his tone softening. “There’s something else you need to know. I didn’t want to tell you like this.”

“What?” I asked, wiping my face.

“Our hospital is starting a clinical trial,” he said carefully. “A new treatment for brain cancer. It’s risky, but it might actually work. It’s your best shot.”

My whole body went still. “You… you knew?”

“I suspected,” he admitted. “I saw your records. I knew you were fighting this by yourself.”

My chest hurt in a different way then. Not sharp. Just heavy.

“Come to me,” he said gently. “Let me help you. With the treatment. With leaving. With everything.”

I gripped the phone, my heart racing. For the first time in a long while, there was a door open in front of me.

“I’m coming,” I said quietly. “I’m coming, Lancelot.”