"I miss you too." Mira looked up, her gaze inadvertently landing on the faint kiss mark on his neck. Her breath caught, and she quickly looked away, her heart tightening.

It was one of those rare moments where they both had time to relax, so they decided to watch the latest movie and take a leisurely stroll through the mall.

"Mira, you're going to the UK for that business trip on the 6th, right?" Elias asked casually as they wandered. "I’ll try to get the day off and take you to the airport."

"No, no, you don’t have to. Go ahead and do your thing," Mira replied, but her voice wavered slightly. She noticed him stop and follow something with his gaze.

His eyes were fixed on a jewelry store, where a variety of wedding rings sparkled in the display.

"Mira, why don’t you pick a ring to celebrate our third anniversary?" Elias said, already walking toward the store.

Mira hesitated but followed him inside. The shopping guide showed them several rings, and Elias took a few pictures with his phone before they chose a pair.

Afterward, they walked out of the mall together. Elias drove, his expression focused, but as he was about to start the car, he glanced at his phone and suddenly said, "Mira, there’s something urgent with the team. How about I call you a taxi home?"

Mira felt a pang in her chest but forced a smile. "It’s okay. It’ll only take ten minutes to walk back. Go ahead."

"Alright, take care." Elias parked the car and gently draped a scarf over her shoulders. "Let me know when you get home."

"Yeah."

She stepped out of the car, the cold wind hitting her like a shock, chilling her to the bone. Trying to shake off the unsettling feeling, she headed to a nearby coffee shop to warm up.

A few minutes later, she looked up to see Elias' car pulling back into the parking lot. He entered the mall again.

When he came out this time, he was holding a gift bag in his hand.

The gift bag Elias had been holding was printed with the logo of the wedding ring brand they had just visited. Mira took a sip of coffee, her throat tightening as the bitter taste lingered.

When she got home, she quickly handled some work matters, trying to keep busy to push her thoughts aside. But then, she saw Vera had posted something new on Twitter.

[I do.]

The image showed a pair of hands, one large and one small, their ring fingers adorned with dazzling diamond rings.

Mira’s phone buzzed. It was Elias' message: [The team has issued an urgent task, and we have to go to the neighboring city for support. We won’t be home these days.]

[Okay.]

She sent the reply before covering herself with the quilt. The muffled sobs filled the quiet room, her tears soaking into the fabric.

Three days later, it was already past nine o’clock when Mira finished working late. The snow was falling heavily outside as she aimlessly walked down the street. In front of her, a crowd had gathered beneath the overpass.

“Will you freeze to death if you jump down in this weather?”

“Two handsome guys are competing for the heart of a beautiful girl…”

“It seems that the girl’s ex-boyfriend found out she was getting married, and now he’s competing with her fiancé. Whoever swims back first will win her heart.”

Mira lifted her gaze through the crowd and spotted Elias standing on the overpass, his figure unmistakable, with a tall young man beside him.

Before she could process it, both men jumped into the water at the same time.

Vera's voice rang out from above, frantic: "Stop it, stop it! Come up quickly!"

But the two men, already in the river, ignored her, their arms flailing as they slapped the cold water, sending waves rippling through the frigid river.

"Is it really worth it, jumping into that water in this cold?" someone muttered from the crowd.

"Just for a woman? Is it worth risking your life?"

"I can’t even imagine how cold it must be. I wouldn’t dare to jump in..."

"That girl is lucky. Two men are willing to risk their lives for her!"

Mira stood at the edge of the crowd, her heart feeling heavier with each word, snowflakes landing on her scarf before quickly melting into nothingness.

A year ago, Elias had fallen from the fourth floor during a daring rescue, his left leg slamming into the outdoor air conditioning unit. The impact caused severe internal injuries. The doctor had cautioned him to take extra care, especially during the rainy season, as the cold would exacerbate his condition and only worsen with age.

Mira had been by his side every step of the way, attending physical therapy sessions with him, even reminding him to wear his knee pads on rainy days. She had always been terrified that his old injuries might resurface during a mission. Many nights, she woke up in tears after dreaming of him dying in one of those rescues.

Elias had always promised her he would take care of himself, that they would grow old together. But now, it seemed as though those promises no longer mattered. His old injury was forgotten, overshadowed by his obsession with winning Vera's affection and giving her the perfect wedding.

Mira, watching as her husband fought for another woman, felt a painful numbness settle in her chest. The sadness that should have gripped her never quite came.

The crowd around her grew larger, their murmurs intensifying. In the dark water below, Elias and the other young man were slowing down. Elias had been leading by three or four meters, but now, the young man was gaining ground.

As the distance between them closed, the young man powered ahead, his strokes growing more frantic, splashing water in every direction. The gap shrank with every second.

Only two hundred meters remained. Elias, unable to maintain his pace, was caught up and overtaken.

"Looks like the ex-boyfriend's going to win her heart," someone remarked with a smirk.

"Did the current boyfriend cramp up or something?" another person laughed.

"No surprise, he's about to lose," someone else added, their voice dripping with amusement.

The young man surged ahead, now several meters in front of Elias, and Mira stood there, frozen.

At that moment, Vera’s voice rang out over the crowd, clear and desperate: “Elias, I just want you to be my groom, come on, I love you—”

As if her words were a lifeline, Elias, who had been struggling in the water, suddenly surged forward. His movements became more purposeful, more powerful. The reassurance her voice gave him seemed to fuel his every stroke.

In the final stretch, only fifty meters to go, Elias' speed increased dramatically. The water around him splashed in great arcs as he pushed himself to the limit.

"Elias, come on, come on—" Vera’s voice cracked with emotion, her calls now tinged with tears.

With the finish line in sight, Elias surged ahead, his body moving like a machine. He overtook the young man with ease, crossing the finish line first. The young man, just a beat too slow, slapped the water in frustration, cursing under his breath.

The crowd, which had gathered to watch, slowly began to disperse, their excitement fading with the race. But Elias remained in the water, struggling to catch his breath. A man jumped in to help him, pulling him to the shore where he collapsed, utterly exhausted.

Mira, standing at a distance, took slow, deliberate steps toward the scene. She stopped behind a large tree, watching as Vera knelt beside Elias.

"Elias, are you stupid? Is it worth it?" Vera’s voice trembled as she scolded him, tears streaming down her face. She quickly took off her coat and draped it over him.

“Be good, don’t catch a cold, I’m fine.” Elias, barely able to lift his head, smiled weakly, still breathless. He reached out, despite his exhaustion, to help Vera adjust her coat over his shoulders. "I won, right?"

Vera nodded, her face filled with gratitude and relief. “Yeah.”

Elias' smile deepened. “I’m still your groom, right?”

Vera couldn’t hold back anymore. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He wrapped his arms around her gently, his hand soothingly patting her back, as if trying to calm her.

Mira stood motionless, watching the two of them. The scene was a sharp reminder of her place—of the promises now broken and the love now given away. With a quiet, steady breath, she turned and walked away.

Alone, Mira made her way down the street, the soft snow beginning to settle on her cashmere coat. She walked until she found a convenience store, where she bought a bowl of oden, the warm broth comforting her frozen body. The heat of the soup spread through her, but it did little to warm the ache inside.

As she stepped out of the store, she came face to face with Elias and Vera.

Elias' eyes flickered with surprise and embarrassment, but he quickly composed himself. “Mira? Are you working overtime again?”

Before she could respond, he hurriedly added, “I just got back from the neighboring city and happened to run into Vera. It started snowing, so I thought I’d walk her home.”

Mira noticed his wet hair, her gaze sharp. “Why is your hair all wet?” she asked, her eyes subtly shifting to Vera.

Vera flinched, quickly averting her gaze.

“Oh, I just took a shower at the dorm,” Elias explained with a forced smile. “I was worried I’d come back too late and disturb your rest. Mira, let’s go home.”

Mira opened her mouth to reply, but a sudden sharp pain pierced her head. Before she could react, her vision blurred, and she collapsed.

When she regained consciousness, the first thing she heard was Elias' anxious voice.

“Doctor, what’s wrong with my wife?”

His voice was strained, and his hands trembled with concern.

Mira slowly opened her eyes, finding the doctor handing a piece of paper to Elias. The man’s gaze fixed on the document, his expression darkening.

Mira’s heart squeezed. It’s over. He’s going to find out about the tumor.

The thought struck her like a cold wave. She couldn’t let him know.

“The situation is not serious,” the doctor reassured, “Her hemoglobin is low, and there are signs of anemia. She probably fainted from exhaustion. Just ensure she gets plenty of rest.”

Elias' tense posture visibly relaxed. “Thank you, doctor.”

Mira blinked, confused. Could it be just a simple check-up?

“Mira, you’re awake.” Elias sat beside her, his face full of concern. “When you fainted, I was terrified. Do you know how scared I was?”

Mira, still feeling the weight of the moment, suppressed a bitter laugh. Terrified? she thought bitterly. Outwardly, she forced a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing. I’ve just been working overtime too much lately.”

Elias sighed lightly, his expression softening. “I’ll go pay the bill. Are you hungry? I’ll get you whatever you want.”

“McDonald’s,” Mira replied flatly.

Mira felt a wave of disgust wash over her. She didn’t want to see Elias at all now; all she wanted was for him to vanish from her life, to disappear from her sight.

"Okay," Elias said softly, rising from his seat. Just as he reached the door, he stopped, turned back, and kissed her forehead gently.

The ward fell into silence. But it wasn’t long before the door creaked open again.

Vera stepped inside, her presence as cold as the air outside. Mira met her gaze, her expression unreadable.

"Mira, you know everything, don't you?" Vera walked toward her, each step deliberate, measured. "I don't mean to steal your husband. I just want to live without regrets. After the wedding, I’ll return Elias to you."

Mira’s lips curled into a bitter smile. Return him? She didn’t want him. Not now, not ever. Dirty men...

Vera continued, oblivious to the bitterness in Mira’s heart. "And... Mira, why are you sick?" She pulled out a CT scan report, her voice quiet but penetrating. "It’s a brain tumor."

Mira’s heart tightened at the words. She frowned.

"I’m guessing you don’t want Elias to know. So, I asked a family doctor to help keep it a secret. But when you’re ready, you can tell him," Vera said, her tone almost too thoughtful.

Mira couldn’t help but smile, a cold, detached smile. "There’s a brown envelope in my bag. Give it to Elias and ask him to sign it."

Vera immediately found the envelope, her eyes widening when she saw the contents.

"You’d better not let him know this is a divorce agreement," Mira said, her voice sharp. "Otherwise, your wedding may not happen as planned."

Vera’s smile remained, but it shifted into something smug, self-assured. "Mira, I didn’t mean to take your husband. But Elias fell in love with me. He’s a light in my dark life. Thank you for your help."

She tucked the envelope under her arm and headed for the door. But before she left, she turned back with a sly smile.

"He likes it with me, you know," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "He tossed and turned all night, wouldn't let me go. No matter how much I begged, it was useless. He said you were like a piece of wood in bed—no passion."