That year, I was eighteen, and Tobias was twenty-one.

Years of obsession came crashing down the moment I learned about his passionate college romance, which ended in total failure. It sparked an impulsive decision.

I gave up my acceptance to Yale and enrolled in the same school as Tobias, just to be closer to him.

While he was drowning in heartbreak, I was the one who pulled him back, step by step. I stayed by his side through the long nights, cleaning up after him, comforting him.

When his stomach issues flared up, I tried everything to cook meals that would help, even when my hands were covered in painful blisters. I would jokingly ask him to cuddle me, just to lighten the mood.

Every single moment was spent thinking about what Tobias might need, what he was going through.

Honestly, it’s not an exaggeration to say that when he furrowed his brows, I wouldn’t dare to step out of line. When he was quiet, I could read his mind without a word.

The whole school knew I was his loyal little puppy, but only he—always with that gentle, affectionate smile—would ruffle my hair softly and say,

"Stop saying things like that. She’s my little sister."

It was the day of his graduate school farewell party, and the rain was pouring down.

In the midst of thunder and lightning, I buried myself under the covers, curling up, lost in thoughts of Tobias getting married, having kids, and building a future.

Then, suddenly, a thought struck me, and I sat up straight. No, I couldn’t accept that. I demanded the address for the party, grabbed an umbrella, and rushed out.

When I arrived, I saw his figure standing in the rain outside the KTV entrance.

I ran toward him, tears streaming down my face, my nose running. I threw myself into his arms, the yellowish glow around him lighting up his delicate features, making him look like an untouchable saint.

He was as gentle as ever, comforting me while I cried uncontrollably.

"I don’t want to be your sister, do you know that? I love you. I’ve loved you for five years, Tobias."

"Which sister would be afraid to hear that you have a girlfriend? Which sister, after hearing that you broke up with her, would rush to be by your side?"

He held my disheveled self in his arms, soothing me quietly. After a long silence, he said,

"Gwen, let’s be together." In that moment, my heart exploded like fireworks. Bang—

But I seemed to have forgotten that fireworks only last for a fleeting moment.

The next morning, I looked at Tobias, still soundly asleep beside me, and kicked him with my foot.

He was in the way.

After I finished washing up, I grabbed a selfie stick and poked him in the eye, pretending like nothing happened before softly calling out,

"Good morning, hubby. I’ll make you something delicious."

"Good morning, Gwen. Why do I feel like my eyes hurt a bit?" Tobias said, planting a kiss on the corner of my lips. Six years had passed, but there had never been a moment when my heart didn’t tighten with pressure.

After capturing the perfect moments of our happy married life, I pushed him away without hesitation, wiping the spot where he had kissed me.

I buried the dark emotions deep in my eyes, forcing a smile and pretending everything was fine.

After registering the account and editing the video, I spent twenty thousand on data and traffic. I wasn’t worried about getting attention. I had money, looks, and content to share.

Though Tobias was a scumbag, he wasn’t bad-looking, and he had money—though none of it was mine.

I trusted the internet to dig up everything, so I decided to craft the image of a perfect, happy family, ensuring he’d have something to regret later.

By the time I started working on my TikTok account, within a day, I had learned everything I needed to.

After all, I had always been the top student in school.

I looked at Tobias, who had arrived late.

"Eat quickly and get to work, hubby."

He looked at me, then hesitated before asking, "Gwen, earlier I had an expense—was that for something urgent of yours?"

"Is there...?"

As I set the bowl of soup beside her, I spoke softly.

"Darling, we’re living in an age where new media is booming. I’m thinking about setting up an account to document our sweet life together. You know me, I can’t sit still—I want to show off my amazing husband."

"And about that twenty thousand... I bought a bag."

"Aren’t you the one who doesn’t like branded bags?"

"Tobias," I said, staring down at the soup swirling in my bowl with the spoon.

"Before I met you, I never went anywhere without my Chanel or LV bags."

Tobias didn’t come from a wealthy family, and after we started living together, I took on the responsibility of funding his doctoral studies, covering all his living expenses. Even his first car, after he started his job, was a gift from me.

No matter how much I had to cut back on my own spending, I never let him feel the slightest pinch.

Though my parents had passed away when I was young, their insurance payout had been enough to support me for most of my life. And once I started working, I was able to make a decent income on my own.

"Gwen, how did you become so materialistic?"

He seemed so confused. Why was she suddenly using TikTok? Would she post something online that I wouldn’t want her to?

It was only after I heard the sound of a table being overturned and him storming out of the house that I started laughing—laughing hysterically.

This was the first time I hadn’t followed his wishes, the first time we had parted ways without compromise.

In the past, I had always believed that if I stayed by his side, supported him, and helped him make every decision, we’d live a good life.

But it turned out, that "good life" was only for him.

I pinched every penny, gave up on my own dreams, and lost myself in the process.

And what did I get in return? He began seeing me as cheap, unworthy of the best, thinking I was just an ordinary woman with a low education and plain looks.

Tobias wasn’t like this before.

When my family situation changed abruptly, I moved in with my grandmother, and we ended up in this community.

Everyone disliked me for being shy and short, but it was Tobias who stood in front of me, protecting me when others bullied me.

I didn’t have parents anymore, and that was the first time I had ever felt kindness from someone outside my family.

But losing my parents at such a young age made me even more self-conscious, and throughout middle school, I was often bullied.

It was Tobias from the high school department who rushed over and pulled me out when I was cornered in the girls' bathroom.

"This is my sister. Anyone who has a problem with her has a problem with me."

Slowly, my feelings for him evolved from gratitude to admiration, and eventually, every time we met, my heart would race and my face would flush.

I knew—I had fallen for him.

But in the end, time only left me behind.

I wasn’t sure how long I had cried in silence, but as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought, a sudden jolt made me sit up straight.

The room was empty—there was no sense of home.

The soft murmur I spoke to myself felt like a stone shattering the illusion I’d held onto for six years.

"Tobias, I hate you."

In the next two months, I wasn’t sure if it was for the camera or out of guilt, but Tobias started treating me better.

On camera, he would show extreme tenderness—gentle kisses, soft hugs. He’d prepare a box of my favorite strawberries every day.

He’d even bring me an adorable water bottle every day, knowing I didn’t like drinking water.

When he was busy with work, he’d make sure to prepare all my snacks, drinks, fruit, and even TV shows, so I could relax with everything served to me on the bed.

When I lost my appetite, he would dash out in the middle of the night to buy me something, just to see me smile.

He even brought me cream cakes, fresh flowers, and more.

The comments section was filled with people believing in our "love," all admiring how lucky I was to have such a wonderful husband.

Of course, there were also those who thought I, with my regular undergraduate degree, didn’t deserve someone like Tobias—someone with top-tier education and credentials.

I saw one comment that said:

"Do you want this happiness?"

The thing is, this marriage, which appeared so blissful to everyone, was full of cracks and holes beneath the surface. It was like a decaying bug in a sewer.

This was the 10,086th time I’d told Tobias, in my mind, that I wanted to sever ties with Meredith.

As I watched him hold me, lost in thought, I held back the growing frustration inside me, reminding myself that now wasn’t the right time.