I got into a car crash with my adoptive sister. The first person to rush to the scene was my childhood sweetheart, Jay Porter—the guy I'd been secretly seeing for two years.

But Jay went to her first. He didn't even look my way as I sat there, bleeding heavily on the side of the road.

I grabbed his hand, desperate to tell him I was pregnant. He just shook me off.

"Sorry, Emma. Julia's delicate. I have to get her to the hospital now. Just wait here for the paramedics."

By the time the rescue team got me to the hospital, I was out of immediate danger. But my baby... was gone.

I wanted to confront Jay, to demand an explanation. Instead, I overheard him talking to a friend.

"You played Emma this whole time, just for Julia's sake. Don't you think that's going too far?"

Jay's reply was cold. "So what? Julia's just the Bourne family's adopted daughter—she's never been as protected and cherished as Emma, the precious heiress. That's exactly why it has to be me. I'll protect Julia. For her, I'd do anything."

So it was all a lie. Every bit of love he'd ever shown me was just an act.

After I was discharged, I went straight home and called my father.

"Dad, can you make it so I never existed here? Erase all my records from this country."

My father’s voice on the other end of the line was thick with concern. "Why the sudden decision, Emma? Did someone hurt you?"

Tears pricked at my eyes, but I forced a light laugh. "I just... feel like a fresh start. A new identity."

"Alright. Whatever you need, I'll make it happen. Just give me three days."

He was silent for a moment before adding, "But I thought you were going to bring that boyfriend of yours home to meet me."

His words were a knife to the heart. "We broke up," I said, my voice rough.

"Well, out with the old, in with the new. My daughter deserves nothing but the best."

A beat later, he added, "I heard Julia has already agreed to be Jay's girlfriend. He's planning to propose in a few days. She may be our adopted daughter, but as her sister, you can't miss the occasion. Maybe some laughter and celebration will cheer you up?"

Bitterness surged in waves, crashing over me until I could hardly breathe. My hand drifted to my flat belly. Forcing a smile onto my pale face, I answered softly, "No… I have things to take care of."

After hanging up, I heard the faint click of the lock turning.

When I looked up, I met Jay's eyes—the same smiling, affectionate gaze I had once drowned in.

"What things do you need to take care of?" he asked.

I stared straight into those eyes, eyes that used to look full of devotion. How had I never seen that his love belonged to someone else?

Casually, I replied, "Taking care of you."

His brows arched in amusement as he pulled me into his arms. "Then tell me, how do you plan to take care of me? In bed?"

His hot breath spilled against my ear. Once, that kind of intimacy would have made me blush. Today, it only filled me with revulsion.

I reached out to push him away, then caught sight of the marks on his skin, the deep red hickeys scattered across his neck beneath his shirt collar.

My breath caught. Rage and grief surged all at once as I shoved him hard.

But I was still weak from the miscarriage. My strength faltered, and while he didn't budge, the world around me spun. My body tilted backward.

Jay caught me by the waist in an instant. Only then did he seem to notice my pallor. His brows furrowed sharply.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? I'll take you to the hospital."

The worry in his eyes looked real, so real it could have fooled anyone.

But I knew better. I knew it was nothing more than another mask.

I steadied my breath, pushed Jay away with resolve, and said, "I'm fine. It's just my period. Rest will do."

Jay gave a knowing smile. "Then I'll make you some warm milk. Drink it, and get a good night's sleep."

He bent down, carried me to the bed, and sighed with a helpless smile. "You never know how to take care of yourself. What will you do without me?"

I smiled. "Without you, I'll live just fine."

He froze, then pinched my cheek a little harder than usual. "Heartless girl. How could you live well without me? You should say, 'I'll stay by your side forever and never leave.' Understand?"

With that, he turned and headed downstairs, smiling as if my words had been a joke.

Only I knew every word I said was the truth.

I had chased Jay for five years and hidden our relationship for two. The first year, he treated me with indifference. Only in the last year had our feelings grown seemingly inseparable.

He began making me breakfast. He coaxed me awake in the mornings. He kissed me when I pouted.

We looked like a couple in the throes of young love, and I truly believed he had started to care for me.

Until the car crash. Until today, when I finally heard the truth with my own ears.

I realized then that all of his affection had been nothing but an act. Every gesture, every touch, had been a performance.

The one he truly loved was Julia, the fake heiress who had stolen my identity for more than a decade.

His pretense of loving me was only to stop me from being with Billy Sikes.

After all, Julia had feelings for Billy, while Billy had feelings for me.

Watching Jay busy himself in the kitchen, I let out a hollow laugh.

Since the miscarriage, I often felt a dull, dragging pain in my abdomen. At night, the ache grew so sharp it left me drenched in cold sweat.

Jay was always the first to notice. He would rub my stomach and ask, "Cramps again?"

Instinctively, I pushed his hand away.

Seeing my pallor, he touched my forehead. "You've got a fever. You can't just lie at home. I'll take you to the hospital."

In the hospital corridor, we unexpectedly ran into Julia.

She stood alone, struggling to hop forward, steadying herself against the wall.

Jay's expression changed instantly. Without thinking, he shook off my hand and strode quickly toward her.

Catching her arm, his voice was urgent. "Didn't the doctor tell you to rest at home? Why are you here again? Did something happen?"

Julia cast me a glance before looking back at him. She gave a weak smile. "This morning I wasn't careful and twisted my ankle again. But… why are you here with Emma?"

Jay faltered, as if only then remembering he had abandoned me moments ago. He turned back, eyes flickering.

"I heard Emma wasn't well, so I came to check on her."

Our relationship had never been public. Only a handful of his closest friends knew about us.

Julia looked at me again, her gaze tinged with disdain, though her voice remained gentle.

"Emma suffered a lot before she was found. Her health's never been good. She often falls ill. You should take better care of her. Go on, get her checked. I'll go collect my medicine."

Leaning heavily on the railing, she limped away, her steps slow and difficult.

Without a second thought, Jay swept her up into his arms. "I'll take you there first."

Jay glanced back at me.

"Julia's leg is injured. I'll take her first. Wait for me in the consultation room," he said, then strode away, carrying Julia in his arms.

Leaning against his shoulder, she looked at me and flashed a triumphant smile.

I wasn't surprised by his choice.

The so-called devotion he had faked for me collapsed the moment Julia appeared.

And yet he still thought he hid it well.

I couldn't stop the mocking curl of my lips.

Turning away, I forced myself toward the consultation room.

The doctor warned me to keep calm. My body was fragile after the miscarriage. Too much grief would only make things worse.

That was when a message popped up on my phone.

Julia: [The moment I beckon, he comes back to me. What do you have to compete with?]

The loved are always fearless.

But I wasn't going to compete. I admitted defeat.

Pocketing my phone, I went alone to collect my medicine. Jay never came. Not a single call, not a single text.

This time, I didn't wait.

Back home, my screen lit up with a message from my father: [Your visa is ready. Once your records are canceled, you can leave anytime.]

I replied with a single word: [Okay.]

While packing the last of my luggage, I happened to see Julia's latest post.

A candlelit dinner for two. Hands clasped across the table. On one long, slender finger gleamed a ring.

I recognized Jay's hand instantly.

Without hesitation, I tapped "like."

A moment later, his call came through. His voice overflowed with apology.

"Emma, I'm sorry. I meant to drop Julia home first, then go back to the hospital for you. But her stomach started hurting, so I took her out to eat instead."

Before he could finish, a woman's voice drifted clearly through the receiver.

"Jay, who are you talking to?"

"Work," he answered quickly, muffling the phone—yet I heard it all.

Then came his gentle coaxing. "Emma, just rest. If your stomach hurts, take your medicine. I'll explain everything once I'm back."

I had no interest in his lies anymore. I hung up.

After resting through the night, my strength returned. I went to the company the next morning to resign.

My colleagues were warm and insistent, clamoring for a farewell meal.

Unfamiliar with restaurants, I chose one Jay had often brought me to with good food and a decent atmosphere.

Halfway through, I excused myself for the restroom.

And there, I overheard a familiar voice—Julia's—speaking with her friend.

The friend sounded worried. "You've secretly gotten back with Billy. If Jay finds out…"

Julia replied, utterly unbothered, "He wouldn't believe it even if he did. He's my biggest simp. One wave of my hand, and he abandoned the woman who'd stayed by his side for seven years without hesitation. Of course, he'll forgive me.

"Besides, if you don't tell and I don't tell, who will know the baby in my belly belongs to Billy?"

I sat frozen in the stall, waiting until their voices faded, then finally switched off my phone's recording mode.

A simp who grovels in love never meets a good end.

I was one. And so was Jay.

Back in the private room, I saw everyone had nearly finished eating. I rose to my feet, ready to settle the bill.