The night before our wedding, Jason Scott receives the cancer diagnosis of my adopted younger sister, Helena Sanderson.

His expression falters, and he says indignantly, "We'll cancel the wedding tomorrow, Victoria. Helena is very fragile now. I can't risk upsetting her at this point in time."

I reply, "I don't agree with it! Why would my wedding upset her?"

Jason doesn't show any displeasure after my rejection. He even thoughtfully prepares a glass of milk for me.

…

When I wake up the next morning, I realize the house that should be full of excitement is eerily quiet.

Anxious, I dial Jason's number 99 times. He only picks up the call on my 100th try.

"Where did my wedding dress and shoes go?" I ask.

Jason falls silent for a moment. His tone is apologetic when he replies, "I'm sorry, Victoria. Helena wants to experience being a bride once. I can't let her leave with regrets. Please bear with this for now. I'll make it up to you once she passes away peacefully."

As the line goes dead, I sit frozen on the bed, unable to recover for some time.

…

A month later, while Jason is on his honeymoon, I send the livestream of my wedding announcement with his rival, Frank Lawrent, directly onto his phone.

Jason regrets it bitterly.

I pushed past the heavy doors, and the sight of the happy couple standing on the stage hurt my eyes.

"Isn't the bride today supposed to be me?" I asked Jason Scott with a trembling voice, my eyes reddening.

Guilt briefly crossed his face, but he was more upset by my sudden appearance. "Didn't I explain this to you before? Stop causing a scene—there are so many people watching now. We can't risk upsetting Helena."

I replied, "Why should I be the one getting upset then? Wake up, Jason! Your fiancee is me—not her!"

Jason's words tore through my chest like a merciless blade.

"Don't blame Jason, Vicky. It's all my fault. I'll kill myself now—I can't live any more than three months anyway." Helena Sanderson teared up, her body swaying as if she was about to pass out soon.

The sight of her made the crowd's hearts ache.

An unexpected slap left my mind blank, with nothing but the searing pain burning across my cheek.

"She's your younger sister, Victoria. How could you be so heartless as to drive her to her death?" Dad struck me in front of everyone. But the "younger sister" he spoke of was nothing more than a daughter of his fallen comrade.

When I was 10, Dad brought a six-year-old Helena back. He told me that her father sacrificed himself to save him, and asked me to treat her as my own younger sister from then on.

From that moment, I no longer was my parents' cherished daughter—Helena was.

"I'm your real daughter, Dad!" I yelled, covering my flaming cheek in disbelief.

"Helena is just as real a daughter to me as you are. She only has three months left to live—she only wants to experience what it's like to be a bride. As her older sister, can't you just let her have that?" Dad's indignant tone sent chills down my entire body.

Jason seemed reluctant, stepping out to reach for my hand. However, I backed away, smiling desolately as tears continued to fall onto the floor.

"Then, I wish both of you happiness." I turned around and fled the wedding venue disgracefully.

It started pouring outside. I stood blankly at the hotel entrance, unsure of where to go.

I happened to catch sight of half of my face peeking out from the trash can. Upon picking it up, I realized that it was a wedding portrait of Jason and me.

I was smiling brightly in the photo, while his lips curved up faintly. However, on the huge banner displaying his wedding portrait with Helena at the hotel's entrance, even his eyes sparkled with happiness.

My face paled as my hands gripping the photo trembled. Endless sorrow and anguish filled my heart.

I broke down and rushed into the pouring rain, hoping that it would wash away my never-ending tears.

A sharp, piercing horn sounded behind me, and I instinctively stepped aside.

However, I didn't realize that the manhole cover had been dislodged by the rain. My foot ended up slipping and I fell into the manhole.

Lying at the bottom of the sewer, I felt myself being drenched in cold sweat. The pain seared through my entire body as I couldn't help but whimper.

I struggled to take my phone out and called Jason out of habit. "I fell into the manhole, Jason. It hurts so much—please come and help me."

"Stop messing around, Victoria. Even a child wouldn't believe such an excuse. Be good and go home for now—I'll find you after the wedding's over," he comforted me irritably.

From the other end of the line, Helena asked, her voice coquettish. "What are you doing, Jason? Come and take photos with Mom and Dad!"

"I'm coming, Helena," Jason replied affectionately. He then ended my call without hesitation.

Despaired, I closed my eyes. Just as I was about to lose my consciousness, a deep, male voice sounded, "Are you alright?"

…

When I woke up, I found myself lying in a private hospital room alone.

Jason did not send any messages. Our last conversation was right before the wedding when he expressed, "You'll be the most beautiful bride, Victoria."

I laughed bitterly, feeling a lump in my throat.

I hadn't become the most beautiful bride. Instead, I'd become a joke.

At that moment, Frank Lawrent walked in with a fruit basket. Upon seeing his face, I recalled the man I saw before losing my consciousness.

He was the one who saved me.

"You're up. Do you feel uncomfortable?" Frank's concerned tone filled my chest with warmth.

I shook my head and parted my lips to speak, but only a harsh rasp came out of my throat.

Frank then helped me up and gently fed me some water.

"Thank you for saving me," I replied.

He responded, "How about helping me out if you're truly thankful?"

"What?" I looked up at him, confused.

"My family has been pressuring me about marriage lately. Can you act as my girlfriend to help me deal with them?" Frank's earnest expression showed he meant business.

I looked at him in silence.

"I've already covered the medical bills. Just rest here and don't worry about the cost. This is my business card. You can contact me after you've thought it over." Frank left the ward after handing me his card.

My thoughts grew heavy as I stared at his name card.

Why was Helena left with only three months to live?

I saw her medical report at home just a week ago. Everything seemed fine then.

Was it a misdiagnosis, or was she deliberately deceiving everyone?

I opened my contact list, found a friend working at the public hospital, and got his help to investigate this matter.

…

After two days of rest in the hospital, I was discharged after I was deemed fully recovered.

I returned to the marital home that once belonged to Jason and me. Upon opening the door, I saw his wedding photo with Helena.

My vision blurred. Our photo was supposed to be there.

How had the woman of the house changed to Helena in just two short days? It was as if everything had been prepared long in advance.

A growing suspicion stirred within me amidst my grief.

As I walked past the study, I happened to catch the conversation within. It took me aback.

"I'm not used to having a housekeeper take care of me, Jason. Let's have Vicky come with us for our honeymoon in Orphoria, okay?" Helena wrapped her arms around Jason's waist as she sweetly added, "She takes better care of people than any housekeeper. She could look after both of us."

He replied, "Sure. You're right, Helena. After all these years, Victoria really did take better care of me than any housekeeper. I'll talk to her once she's back."

Jason's words cut deep into me.

After his company had stabilized, he felt sorry seeing me shuttle back and forth between our home and the company. He then asked me to resign and focus on taking care of our home.

Since then, Jason always had a hot breakfast and dinner waiting for him. His suits were spotless and neatly pressed, and our home was always in perfect order.

He never had anything to worry about.

Yet, in the end, I was only slightly better than a housekeeper to him.

How ironic.

I turned, retreating to my room to pack my things. I could no longer stay in this place.

Jason and Helena were drawn by the noise I made. They showed up hand in hand at the doorway.

I glanced at their tightly intertwined hands before dragging my suitcase toward the entrance, my face devoid of expression.

Jason frowned slightly. For some reason, his chest started tightening. "Where are you going, Victoria?"

I did not answer him, walking right past him without even batting an eyelash.

"Stop right there!" Jason grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.

"Do you need me for anything?" I coldly asked and yanked my hand free.

He replied, "Stop making a fuss, Victoria. Just stay at home for now. I'll make it up to you in three months."

"With what status am I supposed to continue living here? As your housekeeper?" I retorted.

Jason's expression darkened, unable to reply.

Helena said, "Just let Vicky leave if that's what she wants, Jason. It's just Grandma had asked the cathedral's revered cleric to bless the bracelet Vicky's wearing. Can you get her to give it to me? It might let me live longer."

My eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing her words.

When I was three, I had a raging fever that no hospital visits could cure. In desperation, Grandma, who was already 70 years old, ignored the family's objection. She climbed up the stairs to the mountaintop cathedral—all just to obtain this bracelet.

Once she returned home, she personally put it on me and warned everyone not to remove it from me.

Grandma was the only person who continued to treat me with kindness after Helena came. This was the only keepsake she left for me—I could never hand it over.

The rage and hatred within me grew upon that thought. "Are you even human, Helena? Stealing my husband was one thing, but you now even have your eyes on Grandma's keepsake?"

"Helena is right, Victoria. It's useless for you anyway—just give it to her." Jason knew just how important this bracelet was to me.

I couldn't believe how he could utter those words in such nonchalance.

"No way!" I gritted, my body shaking from rage. Not wanting to argue with them anymore, I turned to leave.

However, Jason grabbed my wrist tightly and forced the bracelet off me. I teared up from how hard he was gripping my hand.

I struggled hard. The moment the bracelet slipped free, it suddenly fell from his hand to the floor.

I clenched my fists tight as I looked at the broken pieces of the bracelet. My nails dug deep into my palm, causing it to bleed as I wordlessly wept.

I lost all hope at that moment.

…

I stared blankly outside the window, watching the cars pass by. I only snapped back to my senses when my phone rang twice.

It was a call from Theo Lupine, my friend who worked in the hospital. I quickly accepted his call.

"I have the results of what you wanted me to look into, Victoria. You should prepare yourself—it's not good," he said.

"Just tell me. I can take it," I replied calmly.

Theo replied, "Our investigation shows that your parents and younger sister bribed our doctor to fake her medical report. Your sister doesn't have cancer."

…

My entire world shattered when the call ended.

I had always known that my parents favored Helena.

When I was 15, I bought my very first phone. As soon as Helena said she liked it, my parents took it from me and gave it to her.

When I was 18, my parents only prepared a dress and flowers for her, even though it was my birthday.

When I was 23, I brought my first love home. Helena said she didn't like my boyfriend, so my parents forcefully made us break up.