Phil's POV

“Phil, how could you be so cruel? How could you do this to someone who’s already sick?”

A sharp ringing filled my head, mixing with the pain coursing through my body. It dragged me back to that hellish week.

In a foreign street engulfed in gunfire, I was like a rootless weed, drifting between life and death.

And the woman who once pulled me from the flames, the one who promised to love me for a lifetime—she was now shoving me back into the abyss, all for Glenn.

As the past and the present collided, I couldn’t stop myself from shaking. Tears started to stream down my face.

Seeing my tears, Hazel seemed to realize her actions and hurriedly explained, “Phil, don’t cry. I didn’t mean to, I just… I lost control for a moment.”

Beside her, Glenn suddenly started to cry as well.

“It’s all my fault,” he murmured guiltily. “I shouldn’t have shown up. Phil, I know I wronged you before, but I’m married now. I just want to be with my wife and live a good life.”

He then paused before adding, “Since you hate me so much… Maybe I should just disappear forever.”

Without another word, he bolted toward the busy street.

At this critical moment, Hazel hesitated, glancing at me uncertainly. But then, with only the briefest pause, she ran after him.

I clenched my teeth against the ache in my chest, wiped my face dry, and stood up under the weight of countless stares.

On my way home, my phone buzzed with a message from Hazel.

[Phil, don’t be mad. Glenn is an important client of our company. I only gave him the lucky charm for business purposes. I didn’t mean to push you. I'm sorry. As you know, Glenn’s health isn’t great. So, please don’t hold a grudge against a sick man. I’ll make it up to you when I get home.]

Lies. Careless, empty words.

It was obvious she didn’t think twice about the hurt she had caused me. She was so sure I’d keep loving her, that I’d believe anything she said without question.

But how could a heart that had turned to ashes still love?

Mandy’s betrayal had already left me physically and emotionally wrecked. And now, Hazel’s deception crushed whatever remained.

I didn’t even have the strength to cry anymore. I just stared at the passing scenery outside the window and let out a silent sigh.

Hazel, I hoped when you found my “body” tomorrow, you’d be just as indifferent as you were now.

When I got home, I gathered every gift Hazel had ever given me.

Once, they had touched me deeply. Now, looking at them again, I realized they were just meaningless purchases—nothing more than bonus items she got while buying things for Glenn.

Then there were the photos.

In every picture, she was holding my hand.

But her eyes were never on me. It was as if she was looking through the lens, longing for someone else.

Ignoring the sharp ache in my chest, I threw everything into the trash—along with the last remnants of Hazel’s so-called love.

By the time I finished, daylight was breaking. Yet, she still hadn’t come home. Instead, she sent her assistant with a pile of gifts.

The assistant smiled awkwardly. “Miss Trivett really cares about you. She’s swamped with work but still made time to send you presents.”

Despite his sugar-coated words, I said nothing.

After he left, I opened my phone and found a string of messages from Glenn.

A video of Hazel accompanying him to the hospital.

A photo of her massaging his feet.

And the latest one—a picture of the two of them at a church.

Suddenly, I remembered the time Hazel had saved me and brought me home.

Back then, I was too afraid to sleep, so she had searched everywhere to find incense that would help me rest.

And just like when we were kids, she had stayed by my side, night after night.

Phil's POV

For the sake of our past, I decided to give her one last chance. I called Hazel on a video chat.

After declining three times, she finally picked up.

“Phil, I know you’re still mad at me,” she said with guilt. “I didn’t know what else to do, so I came to the church where we first met to pray for your safety. Look, I even lit a candle for you here.”

She then showed the candle with a note stuck on it, saying, [Wishing Phil health and safety.]

Ignoring it, I said, “I don’t feel well. Can you come home now?”

“What’s wrong? Are you sick? I’ll have my assistant take you to the hospital,” she said quickly. “I have an important meeting soon… I really can’t step away.”

As expected.

But her answer didn’t hurt me at all. I simply hung up, calm and unaffected, and moved forward with my plan.

On the way to the airport, my phone kept buzzing with messages from Glenn.

[Don’t even think about taking Hazel away from me. Because you can't. Every woman in your life only loves me.]

[While I was sick, Hazel went to every church she could find, praying for me. She even donated millions to them in exchange for my recovery. She never once thought about you.]

After reading his messages, I clicked on the video he sent.

The screen was then filled with rows of lit candles with notes of heartfelt wishes for him.

Every word carried love. Deep, unwavering devotion.

Then, their voices came through the recording.

Glenn sounded weak and hesitant as he said, “Hazel, I’m scared. I heard that having a blood transfusion from a donor can lower surgical risks. But Phil had just come out of surgery back then… What if something happened to him—”

“Don’t worry,” Hazel interrupted. “I’ll sign the consent forms for him when the time comes. Life and death are fate. If he makes it, great. If not… that’s his problem.”

After a brief pause, she then added as if convincing herself, “He survived a war. Losing a kidney and some blood is nothing. He’ll be fine.”

But before the recording ended, her confession to him was captured.

“Glenn, I gave up my happiness for you. I gave Phil a title, a life he could call ‘happy.’ All just for you. So if there’s a next life, I hope you’ll choose me.”

Her love sounded so deep, so desperate.

If I weren’t the one being sacrificed, I might’ve been touched, too.

But since it wasn't, I shut off my phone and boarded my flight without a second thought.

At the same time, a shocking headline took over the internet.

[Hazelt Travitt’s beloved husband dies in a car accident—suspected to have crashed while chasing after his cheating wife.]