After I donated my kidney to my movie star girlfriend, she finally agreed to marry me.

On our wedding day, Vanessa Laurent left only a video of herself jumping off a cliff, then disappeared. I led a desperate search and rescue at the mountain base for three days straight. Even when a falling boulder crushed my leg, I kept going.

When I finally dragged myself to the scene with my last shred of strength, I found Vanessa tangled up with Mason Miller, her late sister's husband. Her usually cold expression was flushed, her thighs red and swollen. When our eyes met, she did not even flinch.

"Today is my sister's death anniversary. Mason was going to kill himself to follow her, so I had no choice but to sleep with him. From now on, I'll fulfill my duties to both of you."

Mason looked down at me with contempt. "You don't mind if I consummate with Vanessa first, do you? You can wait for your turn."

Everyone expected me to explode, but I just smiled. "Of course."

I was done with Vanessa. I would never be with her again.

When she saw how easily I agreed, Vanessa Laurent's cold, beautiful face froze for a moment before she nodded with satisfaction. "Good. You've really been more reasonable lately."

She pulled out a platinum ring like she was doing me a favor. "This ring is yours. Consider it compensation for missing our wedding today. But don't worry. As long as you stay in line, I'll give you a proper ceremony eventually."

The other ring, the diamond one she had personally designed and spent two years perfecting, was already on her brother-in-law Mason Miller's finger.

I smiled and turned her down. "Keep the ring. I don't need a ceremony either. Just give me back my kidney, and we can go our separate ways. After that, who you're with is none of my business."

The second I finished, Vanessa's expression went cold. "I knew you couldn't stand Mason. And here I thought you'd finally grown up. Turns out you're still the same selfish prick."

Mason, standing beside her, put on a hurt look and spoke in a choked voice. "Beckett, please don't take this out on Vanessa. It's my fault. I should just end it all. Nobody's ever going to love me anyway."

He started moving toward the edge of a nearby cliff, barely ten feet high.

Vanessa's eyes went red with panic. She grabbed me and shoved me in front of Mason.

"Beckett Cross, Mason's been alone and miserable for years. Are you really going to push him over the edge before you're satisfied? Get down on your knees and apologize to him right now, or we're done."

Hearing her threat, I realized how stupid I had been all these years. I had given her everything. I had loved her too much for too long. That was why she thought she could walk all over me.

What a waste.

I yanked my hand free and let out a cold laugh. "Don't try to guilt me. If he wants to kill himself, that's his problem. I told you already. We can break up the second you give me my kidney back."

Vanessa's hand flew across my face. "Last chance. Apologize."

Her voice could have frozen water.

I stumbled but forced myself upright. "You want an apology? Dream on."

Mason, still playing his little suicide game, spoke up with a mocking edge. "Come on, Beckett. Women are meant to be spoiled, not fought with. Stop making things difficult for Vanessa and just say you're sorry. I'll forgive you, I promise."

Right as he finished talking, a sharp pain tore through my hand like someone had sliced it open with a knife.

I tried to pull away, but he suddenly shoved me hard. I went over the edge. Everything went black. Pain ripped through my entire body. At least the drop was not that deep, and thick brush broke my fall.

I yelled up at Vanessa, "Vanessa! Get someone down here!"

I figured she would still help me. We had been together for years. We made it through school and everything after.

However, she just looked down at me with cold indifference. "You brought this on yourself. Stay down there and think about what you did."

Vanessa turned and left without another word. Before she was out of earshot, I heard Mason's voice. "Vanessa, are we really just leaving? What about Beckett?"

Vanessa's reply was ice-cold. "Forget him. He's just putting on a show for sympathy. Besides, I've spoiled him for too long. It's time he learned his lesson."

With that, Vanessa drove off, ignoring my cries for help. I was desperate and broken, screaming for someone, anyone, at the bottom of the cliff. Tears streamed down my face. I had always been the one who gave more in this relationship.

Back when she dreamed of becoming a star, I used every connection and ounce of energy I had. I swallowed my pride and begged people on my hands and knees.

Later, to land her the scripts and endorsements she wanted, I went three days and nights without sleep. I drank until I had a bleeding ulcer.

At home, I took care of everything. I refused to let her lift a finger. Vanessa used to tell me I was the perfect man. She said she wanted to spend the rest of her life with me. I never imagined her idea of forever would be so short.

No one came to help, so I dragged myself up the cliffside again and again in desperation.

It got darker. The wound from the boulder earlier seemed infected now. The pain blurred my vision. I broke down and called Vanessa over and over, begging her to save me. No one answered. Just when I thought all hope was lost, the call finally connected.

"Vanessa, please, I'm begging you to help me..."

What came through the line was the sound of heavy breathing.

"Mason, slow down..."

I nearly threw up. My heart plummeted into the abyss.

That day, I thought I was going to die. Luckily, a nearby farmer found me. When I woke up again, I was in the hospital. I stared at the empty room. Then, I called my father back in Hartford.

"Dad, I agree. I'll come back for the arranged marriage and join the company to inherit the corporation."

Years ago, I ran away from Hartford to escape that arranged marriage. I came all the way here for school. That was where I met Vanessa.

I helped her build her career from nothing. I used every skill and connection I had to transform her from nobody into an award-winning actress. I put her on top of the world.

When her kidneys failed, I even gave her one of mine without hesitation. However, I regretted it now. She was not worth the depth of my love.

Dad's voice on the other end sounded relieved. "Seven years. You've finally come to your senses. Did you finally see that love is worthless?"

I closed my eyes and nodded. "Yes. My contract with her ends in a month. I'll be back on time."

After that, I spent a week in the hospital. Meanwhile, the internet exploded with news about Vanessa and Mason being together. The usually aloof Vanessa publicly confessed to Mason after a concert, promising to give him all the security he needed.

On Mason's birthday, she even rented an entire yacht to celebrate. Photos of them kissing went viral online.

I remembered how she used to forget my birthday or claim she was too busy to make time. Now, I realized it was never about being busy. She just did not care. A faint ache stirred in my chest, but I quickly pushed it aside.

When I finally made it back to the house, all of Vanessa's relatives and friends were there. Vanessa stood at the center of the crowd like a queen, holding Mason's hand.

Vanessa's mother, Patricia Winters, announced loudly to everyone, "The Laurent family finally has an heir. Vanessa is pregnant!"

"Mason's really something! He got Vanessa pregnant so fast. Not like that useless Beckett Cross. Seven years together and couldn't even give her a child."

Hearing that, my heart turned cold.

In all the years Vanessa and I were together, she never let me touch her. She said she wanted to wait until after marriage. Now, she already had a child with Mason. When Vanessa saw me, guilt flashed across her face for a moment.

"Where have you been all this time? I was planning to spend our wedding night with you the next day, but I couldn't find you, so Mason took your place instead."

When I did not answer, she continued, "Actually, your timing is perfect. Mason doesn't like living with other people. Pack your things and move to a hotel for a while. I'll cover the cost. Once the baby is born, you can come back and help me."

She started to transfer money, but I stopped her. "I came here today to pack my things anyway."

Vanessa froze for a second, then nodded with satisfaction.

Mason followed me into the room with a smug look on his face. "How pathetic. You're getting kicked out of your own place. But hey, if you get on your knees and beg me right now, I might let you stay."

I let out a cold laugh. "Do you even deserve that?"

He smirked and pulled out a marriage certificate with a flourish. "Vanessa and I are legally married now. You're the other man."

A sharp pain pierced my chest. Vanessa had actually married him.

Of course, she did. She was already carrying his child. What was a marriage certificate compared to that?

Mason leaned close to my ear and whispered, "You don't know this, do you? While you were waiting like a fool at the wedding, she was underneath me, bleeding everywhere. But to comfort me, she endured the pain without a word.

"Tell me, you were with Vanessa for all those years and never even slept with her. Are you impotent or something?"

I clenched my fist, about to punch him, but Mason deliberately leaned back and fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"Beckett, I was just trying to help you pack. Why would you hit me?"

Vanessa rushed over and slapped me across the face. "Beckett Cross, I knew you wouldn't leave quietly."

She threw all my belongings out the door in one sweeping motion, then pointed at the exit and told me to get out.

Vanessa's parents pinned me to the ground and forced me to apologize to Mason.

"You disrespectful piece of trash. Is this how you treat Mason? Apologize to him right now."

They held me down and slapped me 99 times. When the 100th slap was about to land, I finally could not take the pain anymore and apologized to Mason.

"I'm sorry. You can have Vanessa. I hope you don't regret it."

Mason looked at Vanessa with tender affection. "I won't regret it. Ever."

In the end, I was thrown out the door like trash.

A few days later, I went to the company to sign my resignation papers. HR signed off quickly. All that was left was Vanessa's approval. I was about to message Vanessa when I received one from her first. She sent me an address and said she had something to tell me.

Since the resignation agreement needed her signature anyway, I went. However, when I arrived at the address, no one was there. I was still debating whether to wait when Mason appeared in front of me with a group of large, intimidating thugs.