That night, Vincent came home drunk. He pinned me under him without protection. The next morning, he shoved a handful of pills into my hand.

“You have no right to carry my child. Even if you ever got pregnant by accident, I’d make sure it never sees the light of day.”

And now his wish had come true.

He forced me to donate blood to his mistress and because of that, I lost my child.

Yet he lit up the whole city with fireworks to celebrate hers.

I wept silently. After the IV was finished, I signed my discharge papers and went home.

Passing through the backyard, I found myself standing beneath the wisteria tree. Its blooms were in full glory. Without realizing it, I sat beneath it for hours.

By evening, Vincent returned with Sable in tow.

Spotting me under the tree, he paused.

Sable’s eyes glimmered as she said sweetly, “Vincent, this wisteria is thriving. Should we cut it down and make a good-luck charm for our baby? But… I heard Andrea planted this tree herself.”

She paused, then looked at me with fake sweetness. “Would you mind, Andrea?”

This tree was one of the few beautiful memories Vincent and I shared.

My adoptive father had planted it for my adoptive mother—it was their symbol of lifelong love.

Four years ago, I transplanted it here from my hometown, digging the hole with my own hands.

Vincent once told me it wouldn’t survive. I seized that moment to bargain with him.

“If I keep it alive and it blooms… would you consider loving me?”

He went quiet for a long time, then said, “I’ll think about it.”

It was the only sliver of hope he’d ever given me.

Since then, I’d cared for that tree more than anything else.

Once, his eighteenth mistress broke a single flower off it and I fought her like my life depended on it.

Anyone who dared suggest cutting it down would’ve faced my full wrath.

But now, facing Sable’s provocation, I smiled faintly.

“Go ahead. Cut it if you want.”

Vincent frowned, visibly displeased.

As I stood to leave, he stopped me. “You planted it,” he said coldly. “So you cut it. I don’t want you bringing this up later and blaming Sable for it.”

He wanted me to destroy my last sanctuary with my own hands.

I expected this, but my heart still trembled.

A servant handed me the chainsaw. My hands shook as I slowly severed the thick trunk.

The master bedroom. My mother’s keepsake. The baby. My faith…

Everything I had treasured was now just entertainment for Sable.

Vincent gazed at her indulgently. “Pick whichever piece you like. I’ll have it carved for you.”

Sable carefully selected a slender branch no thicker than a finger.

Vincent turned to the servants. “Clean up the rest. Throw it all in the trash.”

Trash. That’s what my love for him had amounted to.

Dropping the chainsaw, I numbly returned to my room.

That night, Damian texted me.

[A month is too long. I’m already back in the country. I’ll come get you in three days.]

I stared at the now-empty garden and typed my reply:

[Okay.]

Three days.

That was enough time to settle everything.

The first day, I sold off the equity agreement Vincent had signed.

Five years of torment—this was what he owed me.

The next day, with the money in my account, I went to the nursing home to arrange my brother’s transfer.

There were far better treatments abroad. I was taking him with me.

But as soon as I arrived, I was met with chaos.

The nurse rushed over, panic written all over her face.

“Miss Leighton! Where have you been? Your brother’s condition has taken a turn for the worse!”

My heart dropped. “What? But his vitals have been stable all this time! What happened?”

The nurse couldn’t give me any clear answer.

Not long after, the doctor emerged from the ER, his face grim.

“Miss Leighton, we’ve stabilized him for now, but his situation is critical. Things could deteriorate at any moment.”

“This facility isn’t equipped for this level of emergency care. I strongly recommend transferring him to the provincial hospital immediately.”

I didn’t hesitate for a second.

An ambulance was called and we sped down the highway toward the hospital.

We were only two blocks away when a line of luxury cars blocked the road.

The driver got out to negotiate, but came back shaking his head.

“They’ve reserved this entire stretch for a private event. They won’t let us through.”

What could possibly be more important than a life hanging by a thread?

I threw open the ambulance door and got out. That’s when I saw them—Vincent, leaning casually against his car, one arm wrapped around Sable.

At that moment, the massive LED display on one of the cars lit up:

‘Happy 24th Birthday, Sable Frost.’

A birthday celebration.

They blocked an emergency route—for a birthday party.

Rage boiled inside me.

“Vincent! Move the cars! We need to get through to the hospital!”

He looked over lazily. “You just got discharged. Instead of going home to cook some soup for Sable, you’re running off to the hospital? What for?”

“My brother!” I snapped, my voice trembling with urgency. “His condition worsened. I need to get him to the hospital right now!”

My adoptive parents were long gone. My brother was all I had left in this world.

And Vincent knew that better than anyone. He hesitated.

But Sable leaned in, feigning confusion.

“Your brother? Isn’t he safe, comfortable and perfectly fine at the nursing home as we speaking?”

I was burning with frustration.

“I don’t have time for your games, Sable. This is life and death situation. Move out of the way!”

Her lips quivered as she forced tears into her voice.

“Andrea... I know you’re upset because Vincent’s been spending so much time with me lately. But how could you stoop so low? Cursing your own brother’s to death just because you’re jealous?”

Then she glanced at Vincent with an innocent look. “Vincent could easily check the truth with a quick phone call. There’s really no need to lie, is there?”

Her soft, gentle voice landed like a knife—hitting every one of Vincent’s sore spots.

Frowning, he dialed a call.

After a short conversation, the hesitation on his face vanished entirely.

Just then, the medical equipment inside the ambulance started beeping wildly.

“Miss Leighton, we’re losing him!” the nurse cried out. “We need to move NOW!”

My palms were soaked in sweat as I pleaded, “Vincent, I’m begging you! Please let us through!”

But Vincent only sneered. “I just called. Your brother’s at the nursing home, perfectly fine. I really didn’t expect you to sink this low, Andrea. How much did you pay that actor inside the ambulance? You’re just jealous of Sable’s pregnancy, so you picked today of all days to pull this stunt and ruin her birthday.”

The machines inside shrieked louder. But he was too caught up in his own delusions to see the truth.

Moments later, one long flatline rang out from inside the ambulance. Chaos erupted as the paramedics rushed to resuscitate him.

The doctor soon came out, shaking his head.

“I’m sorry, Miss Leighton. We were too late.”

My whole body trembled. The tears wouldn’t stop falling.

“Vincent…” My voice cracked. “You’ve finally done it. For Sable, you killed the last family I had left. Are you happy now?!”

For a brief moment, seeing my devastation, doubt flickered across his face.

He opened his mouth to say something when Sable handed him her phone.

“Vincent, I was worried I might be wrong, so I called the nurse earlier. Look—they’re taking good care of her brother.”

She showed him a photo of my brother, perfectly fine, being wiped down in his hospital bed.

The perfect cover.

Whatever doubt Vincent had vanished in an instant. Disgust twisted across his face.

“Such an amazing actress. What a waste not going into show business.”

“Today’s Sable’s birthday. So I won’t deal with your nonsense now. But tomorrow, we’ll finish this.”

With that, he pulled Sable close and walked away without a second glance.

I crumbled beside my brother’s cooling body, sobbing helplessly.

The crematorium was cold and empty. I sat there the whole night, staring blankly at nothing.

On the third day, I officially signed away my legal identity and brought my brother’s ashes back home.

The moment I stepped through the door, Vincent was already waiting. His voice was sharp, irritated.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls last night? Do you have any idea how upset Sable was? You completely ruined her birthday.”

I kept my voice calm. “I was at the crematorium. Waiting for my brother.”

He let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Always the lies with you. What are you gonna say next? That what you’re holding is really his urn?”

I said nothing. There was no point trying to defend myself. He never believed me anyway.

Vincent waved his hand like he couldn’t be bothered. “Forget it. Sable didn’t sleep well last night. You owe her.”

Sable’s eyes lit up instantly. “Andrea, why don’t you make it up to me by giving me a birthday present? That ring you’re wearing would be perfect.”

My wedding ring. The Blackthorne Family heirloom Vincent had put on my finger. Out of everything he’d ever given me, it was the only thing that ever felt meaningful.

I raised my gaze and looked Vincent dead in the eye. “Is that what you want too, Vincent?”

For a brief moment, I saw hesitation flicker across his face.

Sable dropped her gaze, playing the innocent victim.

“It’s okay, Andrea. If you don’t want to give it to me, I understand. It’s just a birthday gift anyway. I don’t really need it.”

Her pitiful act worked like a charm. Vincent’s face hardened.

“If she wants it, give it to her. Don’t make me take it off you myself.”

Before I could react, Sable jumped up and reached for my hand. In the struggle, the urn slipped from my grip.

The porcelain shattered as it hit the floor, sending my brother’s ashes scattering across the hardwood.

My heart clenched. I dropped to my knees, frantically trying to gather what little I could.

And then, just as I reached out, a gust of wind blew through the hall, sending the ashes flying in every direction.

“No… please, no…” My voice broke as my eyes welled up with tears.

Vincent stood there, finally seeming to grasp something wasn’t right. “Andrea, you—”

But Sable cut him off immediately. “I’m so sorry, Andrea! I didn’t mean to!” she said sweetly, though her foot intentionally crushed one of the remaining bone fragments as she kept trying to snatch the ring from my hand.

I shoved her away, my voice shaking with rage. “Get away from me!”

She stumbled backward, landing hard on her backside. The next second, her fake sobs filled the air.

“Andrea… you know I’m pregnant. How could you push me like that? Do you hate this baby so much?”

Vincent immediately wrapped his arms around her.

“Andrea! She just wanted the ring, for God’s sake! Why would you get so aggressive?”

Tears were pouring down my face. Something inside me finally snapped.

“You will pay for this!” I screamed, my voice breaking. “One day, you’ll both pay for everything you’ve done to me!”

I had never been this furious in my entire life. My rage silenced even Vincent; Sable sat frozen, wide-eyed, as if she didn’t recognize me anymore.

But I didn’t care. I didn’t care about either of them. All I could think about was my brother. His ashes now scattered across the floor like worthless dust.

I dropped to my knees, desperately trying to salvage what little I could, my hands slicing open on the shards of broken porcelain. My blood mixed with the ashes, turning everything into a sticky, painful mess.

Vincent’s voice softened slightly, like some twisted part of him felt pity.

“If you didn’t want to give the ring, you could’ve just said so. You didn’t need to put on this act. Anyone watching might actually believe this really was your brother’s urn.”

I froze. My hands still bleeding, my chest heaving.

Even now—after everything—I still couldn’t get him to believe me.

Sable clicked her tongue, letting out a little sigh of annoyance.

“Owh, the ring’s dirty. What a shame.”

Vincent brushed her hair back, comforting her like she was some fragile princess.

“Don’t worry. I’ll buy you a new one.”

And just like that, they walked away—stepping on my brother’s ashes as if they were nothing but dirt beneath their feet.

That afternoon, Sable bombarded me with messages.

Vincent bought me dozens of rings today! All different designs, with matching necklaces and bracelets too!

He said I deserve the very best. Tonight, he’s even taking me to an auction to bid on some antique royal jewelry!

Rings… the symbol of a lifetime promise, of loyalty, of love.

But Vincent’s love? Just like these rings—cheap and mass-produced, thrown around like meaningless trinkets.

Fine. If that’s who he is, then I don’t want him anymore.

And I don’t want the filthy ring either.

I walked into the study and opened the drawer.

Inside were the photos of his one hundred mistresses and the divorce papers I’d quietly prepared long ago.

I took off the blood-stained wedding ring and placed it inside, along with my medical report—the one confirming I’d lost our child.

Once everything was in order, I gently placed what little was left of my brother’s ashes into my suitcase and headed downstairs.

I left the house key on the dining table and wiped my fingerprints from the security system.

Every trace of me in this mansion was now gone.

And then, under the cover of night, I stepped into the car waiting for me outside.

I pulled out my phone, snapped the SIM card in half, and tossed it out the window of the moving car.

The wind caught it, carrying it far into the trees.

By the time he returned… I was already gone.