###6

The familiar yet slightly unfamiliar voice made me look up. Reflected in my blurred vision were the iconic black curls and the ever-cynical, striking face of Bert Lester. I clutched the arm of Nate’s sworn enemy and pleaded desperately.

“Bert, help me… kill Nate.”

He raised his brows. “Oh? So that’s why you came to me? The woman once head over heels for her fiancé now wants him dead?”

“Though I’d enjoy seeing that guy gone, if it’s a job, I don’t come cheap, Ruth.”

I blurted out, “I have money!”

Over the years, while Nate climbed the ladder of power, I helped him smooth the way—and in return, earned generous rewards.

Bert smirked. “But I’m not hurting for money. Right now, the most important thing is getting you to a doctor.”

He shoved me gently into the car. I was panicking. “Will you help me or not?”

“Let me think about it,” he said casually.

I expected him to glance at my belly, ask about the child, or demand an explanation for why I wanted to kill the man I once loved.

But he stayed silent the whole drive. Maybe he already knew everything. His network was far deeper than Nate’s.

The three of us—Nate, Bert, and I—grew up together in chaotic Detroit. But somewhere along the way, Nate and Bert became bitter rivals.

Eventually, Bert was taken in by his uncle White, head of the largest mafia in the U.S.

Since then, Nate considered him a mortal threat.

“Young Master, you think you’re so great? One day, I’ll make you bow to me!”

I still remember nineteen-year-old Nate, standing under the blazing sun, teeth clenched as he glared at the fading silhouette of the White family’s luxury car.

He kept that promise.

I had once admired him for it.

But now, those days felt like a distant past life.

After the doctor stitched my reopened wound, I slept deeply.

When I woke up, I found dozens of missed calls and unread messages from Nate.

“Darling, let’s get married next month.”

“I’ve hired the top wedding dress designer to rush the most stunning gown for you.”

“Call me, Ruth. I’m worried. You just lost the baby—it’s normal to be emotional. Cassie says she doesn’t blame you.”

I laughed through tears.

So now I’m supposed to be grateful she doesn’t blame me?

I’d imagined marrying Nate countless times. He always said, “Just wait a little longer.”

So I waited—ten years.

Now, he’s finally willing to marry me.

But it’s too late.

And far too disgusting.

I tossed my phone aside without hesitation.

The nurse came in to change my bandages. “Your husband stayed by your side all day and night. He just left not long ago.”

“What?” I sat up. “Nate was here?”

She shook her head and handed me a folded note from under the pillow.

I opened it.

“I’ve accepted your commission. Contact me again, Sleeping Beauty.”

It wasn’t from Nate.

It was from Bert.

My hand trembled as I crumpled the note.

I would make Nate pay with his life—and I’d never regret it.

I got out of bed and took a cab home to pack my things.

On the way, Lucas called. She said all the documents were ready. If Nate refused to sign the breakup agreement and split the property, we’d sue.

“Do it,” I said.

But at this point, the lawsuit didn’t matter much.

Still, I thought Nate would be thrilled to know I was making it easier for him and his beloved Cassie.

To my surprise, while I was packing, Nate returned—with Cassie beside him, both carrying bags.

“Ruth, what are you doing?!”

His eyes darted to the neatly folded clothes stacked beside me.

There was a flicker of confusion in his tone.

###7

I quickly kicked the suitcase behind the cabinet to hide it and replied calmly,

“Nothing. The house is messy—I’m just tidying up.”

His expression relaxed a little, and he smiled.

“Baby, your wound hasn’t healed yet. You should rest. I’ll have the staff take care of it.”

He handed me a leather handbag.

“I bought this for you. Do you like it?”

He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my face away, letting his lips meet only air.

I glanced at the bag. Wasn’t this the same one Cassie had posted herself throwing away on social media?

Nate, do you really think I’m this cheap?

Worth nothing more than her trash?

His smile froze. His eyes narrowed, searching my face.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Before I could reply, Cassie’s voice cut in.

“Wow, it’s so pretty. Can I have it?”

She was staring at the necklace in my hand.

My mother’s green jade necklace—the only thing I had left after she destroyed my wedding dress.

I took two steps back and refused coldly.

“No.”

Nate frowned.

“Ruth, it’s just a necklace. Let her borrow it—take it as an apology for what happened.”

“I didn’t hurt her at all!” I snapped.

Before I could react, my palm was empty.

Nate snatched the necklace and handed it to Cassie.

“I hate being lied to,” he said with a trace of disappointment. “But don’t worry, I’ll buy you another one tomorrow.”

Whatever Cassie wanted—stars in the sky, moon on the water—he’d move mountains to give it to her.

And whatever she said, he believed.

Not me.

Why did I have to keep backing down for her?

“No! Give it back to me, now!”

I lunged forward, but Cassie curled her lips and deliberately let go.

Clang.

The jade shattered on the floor.

My eyes widened. A tidal wave of grief and rage crashed through me.

The baby was gone. And now the last memory of my mother was destroyed too.

My already fractured heart froze over.

Nate’s face paled.

“Ruth… Oh God, I’m sorry.”

He knew what the necklace meant to me—and he still took it.

My fists clenched. My voice broke.

“What good is sorry now?! You monsters!”

Cassie shrank into his arms, trembling.

“I didn’t mean to! She scared me—I just let go by accident…”

Nate instinctively wrapped his arms around her, shielding her.

As if I were the threat.

I had stood beside him for years.

When had he ever protected me like that?

I couldn’t speak. The pain in my chest was suffocating.

I knelt down to gather the shattered pieces.

But they were beyond saving.

Just like my love for him.

Seeing my devastation, Nate panicked. He knelt beside me, whispering apologies.

“She didn’t mean it. I’m sorry for her. Please—”

I slapped him across the face.

My voice was hoarse.

“Who is she to you? You don’t get to apologize on her behalf!”

You’ve killed me inside, again and again—for her.

His mouth opened, but no words came.

He saw despair in my eyes and tried to hug me.

I shoved him away, nausea rising like a bile.

I turned and vomited on the floor.

“Oh my God, Ruth!”

He knelt beside me again, eyes red. He didn’t care about the mess—just wanted to hold me.

“Don’t touch me!”

I staggered to my feet. My voice was like ice.

“This is the last time, Nate.”

As he stood frozen, I walked out the door.

“Ruth, wait! Our wedding’s in two weeks!”

He chased after me, but Cassie clutched his arm tightly.

“Nate, I’m scared. Please don’t leave me alone. Please…”

He hesitated.

Then he stayed.

And walked her back inside.

I ran straight to the bank.

I needed to withdraw the childcare savings—tens of millions, the future I’d prepared for our unborn child.

Enough to pay Bert. Enough to make Nate regret everything.

But I was stunned.

The account was empty.

“Your fiancé made a full withdrawal recently. Here’s the signed authorization.”

The bank staff handed me the document nervously.

I stared at the signature—his unmistakable handwriting.

All the color drained from my face.

Then I remembered: Nate had promised to help pay off my father’s debts.

The date on the receipt… it matched.

But that was our child’s future.

Our savings.

And he gave it away—to her.

I walked out of the bank in a daze.

Wandering the streets, completely lost.

I couldn’t kill him.

I had no money.

No child.

No justice.

I didn’t even notice the truck speeding toward me.

###8

By the time I realized it, the blood-red truck was almost upon me.

I froze in place.

Then my vision blurred, and in the next second, a figure slammed into me, throwing me out of harm’s way.

Shouts erupted from the crowd as Bert raised his head, bloodshot eyes glaring.

“What the hell were you doing?! If I’d been a second late—”

But then he went silent, holding me tightly, his body trembling.

He was terrified.

A wave of guilt washed over me. I scared him. I couldn’t help but apologize.

“I’m sorry, Bert. I… I won’t do it again.”

“Promises mean nothing.”

His voice was filled with anger.

Then, without asking, he dragged me back to his villa.

He’d never been so forceful before, and I couldn’t resist.

He brought in a doctor and a nutritionist and practically forced me to settle in.

That night, he leaned against the door of the guest room, arms folded.

“I’ve decided what reward I want, Ruth.”

I looked up at his unreadable face, stunned.

“You’re joking, right? Bert?”

But he stepped forward, voice low and gravelly, like a devil tempting me.

“Don’t you think killing him is letting him off too easily? Don’t you want real revenge? Seeing him unravel, helpless and furious, it’s more satisfying than any blade. Doesn’t that idea thrill you?”

He tilted his head and smirked like a mischievous child.

“So, marry me. Be my bride—and make that bastard suffer more than death.”

I remembered how he was as a boy—wicked to the core, always enjoying the torment of others.

It was his nature.

Over the next few days, I ignored all of Nate’s calls.

He bombarded me with messages.

“Baby, I know you're upset after everything. Take some time for yourself. I won’t bother you.”

“You should see the wedding dress I had custom-made. It has your favorite star motif—you’ll love it.”

“I even bought you several jade necklaces. I’m having a designer remake the old one just for you.”

But I never liked stars. They were her favorite—Miss Cassie’s.

When he sent me a photo, Cassie was spinning in the wedding dress he had “customized for me,” looking like a radiant butterfly.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled.

“Let me wear it first. What if Ruth gets angry when she finds out?”

“Then don’t let her know,” he replied.

His voice was cold. He didn’t even glance at the beautiful woman clinging to him.

His eyes remained glued to his phone screen.

A week has passed.

Surely by now, Ruth had cooled off, he thought.

Every time we argued before, I was the one who came back with an apology.

But this time, I was completely silent.

He remembered the blood and heartbreak in my eyes that day, and his chest tightened.

Shoving Cassie aside, he paced restlessly across the luxurious living room.

“Ruth, where the hell are you? Don’t force me to dig you out from under the earth!”

Then he received my email—just before ordering his men to find me.

“Nate, I’m out for a walk. I haven’t had my phone with me.”

“Don’t come looking. I’ll be back in time. Just wait for our wedding—I’ve prepared a special gift for you.”

He stared at those words. A smile broke across his face.

I’d forgiven him. Wonderful.

“Boss, told ya! Ruth couldn’t leave you.”

His crony, Hyena, grinned with a mouthful of yellow teeth.

“Without you, how’s she gonna keep living the high life?”

Nate wanted to tell him that back when we first met, he had nothing—not a penny.

And I never cared about money or power.

But he said nothing.

Maybe Hyena was right. Maybe I really couldn’t leave him.

Why else would I still marry him?

Feeling reassured of my loyalty, Nate relaxed.

He turned to look at Cassie, still dressed like a bride in my wedding gown.

Satisfied, he ordered his men to escort her to the hotel.

“Boss, early congrats on your wedding night,” Hyena said with a sly grin, closing the door to the Skyline Presidential Suite.

It wasn’t until the morning of the wedding that he finally left Cassie’s arms.

He got dressed, tidy and elegant, and messaged me:

“Dear, I’m waiting at the venue. Can’t wait to see my most beautiful bride.”

But after sending it, a strange unease crept into his heart.