Elias had told Mira not to pay attention to the online jokes—after all, he was a firefighter, and it was his duty and responsibility to put out fires and save lives. Mira, of course, hadn’t let those comments bother her. That was, until she discovered that Elias and Vera had added each other on Facebook.

Over the past three months, Vera had frequently threatened to commit suicide. Whenever she became overwhelmed with despair, she would call Elias, saying she no longer wanted to live. Without fail, he would rush to her side, even in the dead of night, offering his support and counseling her endlessly.

Now, Elias, a married man, was planning to give Vera a wedding in an effort to make her cherish her life. The realization struck Mira like a slap to the face.

Her jaw tightened, and she glared at the scenery flashing by outside the car window, her eyes burning with the weight of the emotion she struggled to suppress. It felt as though her heart was being squeezed, crushed under the weight of betrayal.

That evening, she ordered takeout and ate mechanically, each bite tasteless as her mind raced. She sent her various medical reports to her high school friend, who studied medicine, hoping for some clarity.

Not long after, the door opened, and Elias entered, his presence as cold as the winter air surrounding him. He walked over, setting a bag down on the coffee table.

"After thinking it over, I couldn’t let my Mira spend the anniversary alone," he said, his voice softening as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I rushed back as soon as I finished my mission. It’s not too late, is it?"

Mira’s pupils flickered, her heart fluttering for a brief moment before it sank. Before she could process the emotion, Elias pulled out a transparent lunch box from the bag.

"I packed this before I started my shift," he explained, opening the lid. "After you eat, we can figure out how to make up for the anniversary tomorrow. I swapped shifts with someone for the day."

Mira gazed at the three dishes inside the lunch box, recognizing them immediately. They were identical to the ones Vera had posted earlier. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Where did the food come from?"

Elias hesitated for a moment. "Oh, it’s from Simon. He insisted on treating us after we finished our shift. His daughter passed her piano exam, so we celebrated."

Mira’s heart sank as she looked at him. He lied without a second thought. She had known him for thirteen years, yet at this moment, he seemed like a stranger. Her eyes were cold as she glanced at the dishes, her stomach twisting painfully.

"I’ve already eaten," she replied flatly, her voice betraying nothing of the turmoil raging inside her.

"It's such a waste to throw it away..." Elias muttered as he placed the lunch box in the refrigerator. "I'll heat it up tomorrow."

Mira said nothing, silently watching his back as he turned away. The tension in the air was palpable, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

After they finished washing up, the two of them climbed into bed, agreeing to visit their high school alma mater together the next day.

But at two o'clock in the morning, Mira woke to find the space beside her empty. The bathroom door was slightly ajar.

She quietly lifted the quilt and stepped out of bed, her footsteps soft as she approached the bathroom. Inside, Elias' voice carried through the door.

"Be good, go to bed early, alright? Don't dwell on unhappy things. And... I’ll treat today’s kiss as a moment of confusion, impulsiveness. There won’t be another time."

The soft, feminine voice that responded sent a chill through Mira. "I’m just rehearsing for the wedding kiss. Elias, I know you only feel sympathy and pity for me. If that's the case, why can’t you accept my kiss for what it is? After all, the wedding is just a formality."

"You girl..." Elias laughed, but there was a trace of helplessness in his tone. "Are you going to sleep or not? Aren’t you worried about getting acne with all this stress?"

The girl’s voice became more playful. "Just five more minutes, let’s talk a little longer?"

"Okay... You’re so difficult," he chuckled.

His voice was laced with infinite tolerance, with a hint of pampering that twisted the knife deeper into Mira’s heart. The words felt like sharp thorns, each one more suffocating than the last. Her chest tightened as if a dark net had coiled around her, choking her breath.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, but the warmth of the day couldn't reach her heart. Elias went downstairs with the car keys, carrying two boxes of fruit and nuts in his hands, prepared to give them to their high school class teacher.

Half an hour into the drive, his phone rang.

Mira glanced at the caller ID.

— Vera.

Elias' brow furrowed as he pressed the answer button.

A soft, trembling voice came from the other end. "Elias... what's the point of me living? My limbs are so stiff today, I won’t be able to stand or dance anymore. I might as well die now... that way, I won’t have to keep suffering."

"Don’t be impulsive! Don’t do anything rash!" Elias' voice was sharp as he slammed on the brakes, veins standing out on his forehead. "Vera, calm down! Sit down, take a deep breath—please."

His tone softened, becoming gentle, like a patient teacher. "Promise me you won’t do anything stupid. I know you’re strong. You’re the best."

Vera’s sobs filled the line. "It’s too painful... I just want to end it."

The sound of something crashing to the ground echoed through the phone.

"I'm such a loser... I can't even pick up the knife..." Elias' body tensed at the words. "Vera, put the knife down! I’ll come to you now. Wait for me."

He quickly turned the car around and sped toward her place. Moments later, the car screeched to a halt outside a residential building. Elias hurriedly got out and glanced at Mira. "I’ll be back soon."

Mira felt a sharp pang in her chest. Her nails dug into her palm, but she said nothing. Her eyes felt hollow, distant.

Half an hour later, Elias emerged from the building, followed by Vera—her long black hair damp, eyes red from crying. The two of them walked toward the car together.

"This is my wife, Mira," Elias introduced, his voice casual. "You can treat her as your sister.’"

Vera hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly. "Hello, sis. My name is Vera." Her voice trembled. "I’m sorry to disturb you on your wedding anniversary..."

As she spoke, she started to back away, but Elias reached out to stop her. "It’s okay," he said, holding her hand firmly. "You’re staying with us today. Don’t go anywhere."

He pushed her gently but firmly into the back seat. Vera shrank under his touch, obediently settling in, not daring to argue.

"See, honey? This girl is always threatening to end it all. I have to keep an eye on her." Elias' voice was tinged with a forced lightness as he gripped the steering wheel. "It’s really exhausting..."

Despite the words, his face remained calm, not a hint of irritation visible.

Mira glanced at him, her mind racing. How far would he go for Vera? He had stopped her from committing suicide over and over again. He was even holding a wedding for her, and now, on their own anniversary, he was taking her along.

Mira couldn’t help but wonder what drove him to such lengths.

"Where are your family members?" she asked, her gaze shifting to Vera in the rearview mirror.

Before Vera could respond, Elias cut in. "Don’t ask about that. Her parents divorced, remarried, and she was raised by her grandmother."

The answer left no room for further questioning. Mira fell silent.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from her senior.

Frederick Hale: "It’s not advisable to continue conservative treatment. It’s best to remove the tumor as soon as possible to prevent malignant transformation."

Frederick Hale: "In cases like this, Phileklen Hospital in the UK has stable and advanced technology. The post-op recovery is generally smooth. Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland is also good, but I heard their surgery schedule is booked for more than six months."

Frederick Hale: "Mira, amnesia is better than death. If you need the surgery, just let me know."

Mira quickly searched for Phileklen Hospital, realizing it was in the same city as her upcoming business trip next month.

She typed a reply: "Thank you, sir. I’ll think about it."

As the car pulled up to Cedarbrook Academy, the couple got out to visit their former teacher. When they returned, they found Vera waiting outside, holding three cups of milk tea.

Vera trotted over with a bright smile, holding out a cup to Elias. "Elias, this is yours—three parts sugar, regular ice, double coconut."

She then handed another cup to Mira. "Mira, I wasn't sure what you like, so I just picked one randomly. I hope it’s to your taste."

"Thank you," Mira said, accepting the cup, while Elias took both cups with a small nod. He noticed Vera poking the straw into her drink and asked seriously, "Why are you drinking it iced?"

He gently took the milk tea from her hand, his expression concerned. "Don’t you remember what happened last time? You’ll get a stomachache again."

Vera pouted, clearly unsatisfied. "It’s just a small sip..."

Mira handed her the room-temperature drink she was holding. "Drink this one. I don’t like milk tea," she said, stepping toward the car.

The three of them made their way to a lamb rib shop near the school gate. The owner instantly recognized them.

"Ah, you two! I remember when you were students here. You used to come to the restaurant all the time. Your class president even caught you feeding her a piece of meat while trying to hide a premature love affair..." The boss chuckled as nostalgia filled the air.

The good old days seemed to resurface in an instant.

The boss’ eyes landed on Vera. "Who’s this?"

"My sister," Elias replied smoothly, exchanging a few more pleasantries with the boss before finding a table.

Soon, the ordered dishes arrived, with the steaming lamb ribs bubbling temptingly on the table. The boss had also sent a couple of extra dishes on the house.

"These aren’t spicy, so you can eat more. You’re looking too thin," Elias said, scalding the tableware with boiling water before handing it to Vera.

Mira watched the table filled with dishes, her gaze silent. She and Elias both loved spicy food, and it felt strange that every dish was so mild.

Vera picked up her chopsticks, but her movements were stiff. She tried to grab a piece of meat but struggled to pick it up.

Elias' eyes softened, a hint of pity flickering in them. "Let me help you," he offered, his voice gentle.

Elias carefully removed all the meat from the lamb ribs and placed it on Vera’s plate. "Eat," he said, his tone gentle.

"Thank you," Vera smiled sweetly.

Mira stared at the hot lamb rib pot in front of her, the steam rising in thick swirls. Her eyes stung, and she fought the urge to cry. Every action Elias took was so familiar, so reminiscent of the way he once cared for her in high school. But now, those small acts of kindness were being given to someone else, and it hurt more than she had expected.

Halfway through the meal, a boy in school uniform approached their table. He wore glasses and hesitated before pulling out his phone.

"Hello... Can we add each other on Facebook?" he asked, shyly.

The atmosphere around the table immediately turned icy. Elias' face darkened, and the air seemed to thicken with the dangerous emotion brewing in his eyes.

Vera paused for a brief moment, then pulled out her phone and said, "Okay."

She was about to accept the request when Elias' hand shot out, stopping her. He snatched the phone from her hands, his voice low and cold. "Which class are you from? What’s the name of your class teacher? What was your midterm exam ranking? You don’t focus on your studies and all you do is flirt with girls, huh?"

The boy’s face turned beet red, and in a flash, he turned and ran off.

Elias' expression remained sour, and after watching the boy flee, he handed the phone back to Vera. His voice was sharp. "Do you really want to add him?"

"No," Vera shook her head quickly. "I just didn’t want to embarrass him by refusing. If he adds me, I’ll delete him."

Elias' mood lightened a little upon hearing her explanation. "Alright, let’s eat then."

Mira, standing off to the side, felt like a stranger in the moment. She observed the interaction silently, her heart sinking.

After the meal, Vera excused herself to go to the bathroom.

Elias turned to Mira, his fingers brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Mira, are you upset?" he asked softly. "You didn’t say much during the meal."

Mira’s voice was blunt, her words cutting through the air. "You treat Vera very differently."