When I was being stalked by a psycho, I called Carter Dillamond twenty times.

He finally picked up on the twenty-first call. I begged him, “Carter, someone’s following me! Come help me, please!”

But he sounded annoyed. “Can you grow up a little? I’m busy. Stop making things up.”

The moment he hung up, the attacker knocked me out, dragged me into an alley, and beat me until I was barely alive.

When I woke up in the hospital, Carter told me the man was mentally ill, that there was no way to hold him responsible, and that we could only settle.

I believed him until I accidentally overheard him speaking with a lawyer in the hallway.

“Settle this as soon as possible. Find someone in a psychiatric hospital to take the fall. We cannot let Ellen find out the stalker was actually Kelley in disguise…”

I froze where I stood, feeling the blood in my veins turn to ice.

I thought of that night—how terrified I’d been, how the nightmares still haunted me.

So it was because Kelley’s design drafts had hit a creative block… She wanted a special kind of “inspiration,” so she orchestrated all of this!

I had been with Carter for five years, but it still couldn’t compare to someone who had only been around for five months.

The man who once claimed to love me to the bone was now letting Kelley do something this cruel to me!

My heart felt as if it had been split open. I stumbled back to my room, broke down, and took a long time to calm myself.

When I finally steadied my breath, I called a lawyer. “Draft a divorce agreement for me.”

“Should we notify Mr. Dillamond?”

“No need. He probably won’t care anyway.”

Just as I said that, Carter walked in. “Who were you talking to?”

I turned off my screen. “A friend.”

He came to my bedside. “Next time, don’t stay out so late. A lot of people are dangerous.”

I stared at him in disbelief. My god, how could someone be this hypocritical?

“Thank God it wasn’t serious,” he added. “Just rest. I’ll get you the best doctors and medication.”

A dull ache spread through my chest. I asked, “So as long as I don’t die, it doesn’t count as serious?”

His eyes darted away before he mumbled, “Stop making trouble. The guy was mentally ill. We can’t hold him accountable.”

Was it that he couldn’t, or that he didn’t want to? He knew the answer.

Just then, his phone rang. He turned away to answer it. “Compensate the secretary’s burn injury at three times the standard rate for workplace accidents. And don’t let her do any heavy tasks…”

He was talking about something from three months ago when Kelley spilled hot coffee and burned her hand.

When he heard she was injured, he gave her three months off.

He even hired five nannies to take care of her. And now, double workplace compensation on top of that!

Ridiculous! A simple burn got her three months of paid rest.

I got my ribs broken, legs swollen, arms too injured to lift, and he brushed it off with “nothing serious.”

When he left the room, he told me, “Work’s hectic lately. I’ll have someone take care of you.”

But over the next few days, all I got were photos and videos from Kelley.

[Sorry, dear. Carter said he wants to reward me for securing that big contract for the company!]

So this “hectic work” he mentioned was him taking Kelley out to have fun. He lied with such ease.

Carter and Kelley had done everything two people could do, except they’d always kept the intimate parts out of my sight.

But now, Kelley was clearly trying to provoke me.

Fine. I’d let her.

I saved every photo and video. They’d be useful later.

On the day I was discharged, Carter showed up, but Kelley was already sitting in the front seat.

“Ellen, I get carsick. Do you mind taking the back seat?” she asked sweetly.

Carter once told me the front passenger seat was only for me. No one else was allowed to sit there.

A previous secretary sat there for one second, and he blacklisted her across the entire industry.

But after Kelley appeared, that seat was no longer special.

I turned without a word, opened the back door, and got in.

A seat that dirty, I didn’t want anymore anyway.

No sooner had I sat down than Kelley began spraying perfume in the car.

I was allergic to that scent. “Please stop. I’m allergic to that perfume.”

She immediately put on a pitiful expression. “But Carter likes it… I just wanted to make him happy.”

He looked at her with such tenderness. “Go ahead. I love that scent in the car.”

So she kept spraying until the perfume filled every corner.

My rhinitis flared up instantly, and I couldn’t stop sneezing.

Then she said with exaggerated guilt, “Maybe I should get out… I don’t want to upset Ellen.”

Carter slammed on the brakes. “Ellen, are you doing this on purpose? If you don’t like the smell, then take a cab home!”

Before I could explain, he threw me out on the side of the road and drove off with her.

Rain began to pour. I stood there soaked, my wounds reopening, pain shooting through my body.

The cold rain extinguished the last bit of hope in my heart.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “You once said you wanted to marry me. Does that still count?”

Scott Knapp answered instantly. “Of course, it counts. Always.”

“Good. Then start preparing. I’ll go straight to our wedding next month.”

Chapter Two

Ellen’s POV

Scott sounded a little doubtful. “Really?”

“I swear. If you don’t believe me then…”

He cut me off right away. “I believe you. I believe you! I’ll wait for you!”

After I hung up, I grabbed a cab home. The moment I opened the door, I saw Carter feeding chicken soup to Kelley.

He was holding a steaming bowl, blowing on it gently. “It’s still a little hot. Let me cool it down for you before you drink.”

The scene hit me like a punch. My eyes stung, and something sharp twisted in my chest.

He once told me he’d only ever make chicken soup for me, that he’d never make it for anyone else.

Funny how “special treatment” can be broken over and over again.

Seeing me show up dripping wet, Carter frowned. “Ellen, why do you have to copy everything Kelley does?”

“So what, I left you on the road for a moment and now you purposely walk home in the rain? Trying to make me feel guilty?” he added.

The people who covered for Kelley when she hurt me never felt guilty at all. Why would a little cold bother them?

I clenched my palms. “If you really felt guilty, you wouldn’t have left me on the road in the rain.”

Carter fell silent—because he knew he had.

Kelley stood up right away. “I’m sorry, Ellen. This all happened because of me. You got caught in the rain because of me… I should go.”

She grabbed her things and tried to leave, swaying like a breeze could knock her over.

Seeing that, Carter snapped at me. “Jeez, Ellen, how can you be so heartless? It’s pouring outside, and you still want Kelley to go out?”

“I just told you earlier to get a cab yourself,” he continued. “How was I supposed to know it would rain?”

Kelley pretended to defend me. “It’s my fault. She got soaked because of me.”

Carter held her back. “You were already not feeling well after the cold wind earlier. Just rest here. Treat this place like your own home.”

“If I say you’re staying, you’re staying,” he insisted. “She won’t mind.”

When you’re past anger, all that’s left is laughter, so I smiled. “Yeah, I don’t mind. Do whatever you want.”

After all, in a month, this will be their home anyway.

With my “permission,” Carter went back to feeding Kelley the chicken soup.

He blew on every spoonful before holding it to her lips, then—out of courtesy, maybe—added, “There are some more chicken in the kitchen. Make some soup for yourself. Kelley’s weak, so I’ll take care of her first.”

A breeze came through, and I shivered. My heart felt colder than my body.

“No need. Enjoy your soup.” I turned to head upstairs.

But Carter stopped me. “You’re sleeping in the guest room tonight. Kelley’s a light sleeper. She can’t sleep on a hard mattress.”

That was our master bedroom, and he wanted to give it to her.

“But I just got discharged today. My neck is still injured—”

He interrupted impatiently. “You look fine to me. Kelley’s coughing, can’t you see?”

“And she already tested the bed earlier. She said it’s really comfortable. So that’s settled,” he said.

So she had already tried the bed. They weren’t “discussing” anything with me; they were informing me.

A single cough made her more delicate than someone who just left the hospital.

I swallowed my anger and went to the guest room.

Whatever. A bed that’s already dirty—I’d rather not sleep on it anyway.

I showered and had just put ointment on my neck when the doorbell rang.

Kelley stood at the door with the half-finished chicken soup. “Ellen, I didn’t finish it. You should drink some, too.”

“If you catch a cold later,” she added, “Carter and I will both worry about you.”

I looked at the bowl she had already drunk from and turned her down immediately. “I already took my meds. I’m good.”

She didn’t leave. Instead, she suddenly smiled. “Hey, your bed is so soft! Especially when Carter was holding me while we lay on it. It felt so good I didn’t want to get up. What should I do?”

She flashed a triumphant smile. I finally saw her true face.

But whether it’s the bed or Carter… I don’t care anymore.

“If you love using things other people already used, then take them. It’s all dirty anyway,” I retorted.

I continued, “Oh, and since you like collecting trash so much, you can take out the trash tomorrow, too.”

Her face turned pale and red all at once in rage.

The next second, the bowl slipped from her hands.

Just like that, Carter rushed over at the sound. “What happened?”

Chapter Three

Ellen’s POV

Kelley’s eyes were red. “I just wanted to bring the chicken soup to Ellen. I was worried she’d catch a cold.”

“But she said she didn’t want it… that I was disgusting. I was just trying to be nice…” she lied.

Carter’s expression darkened instantly. “Ellen, you’ve gone too far! Kelley brought you chicken soup out of kindness and you smashed it!”

“It’s just letting her take your bed for a bit. Why are you so petty?” he snapped.

In the past, I honestly couldn’t be bothered to explain.

But now? I refuse to keep giving in.

“If you’d check the house cameras, you’d know exactly who threw the bowl. And—”

Before I could finish, Kelley quickly crouched down. “I’m sorry! It’s all my fault! I’ll clean it up…”

She bent down to pick up the pieces, and the moment she touched them, her finger was cut. Blood instantly started dripping down.

Carter panicked and knelt beside her. “Stop picking it up. Let the housekeeper do it. I’ll take you to get bandaged.”

He wrapped her finger with a towel, completely distressed, then scooped her up in his arms.

Before leaving, he threw a heavy warning at me.

“You’d better pray Kelley’s okay, or you’ll regret it.”

He rushed out with her in his arms.

The last look he gave me was pure hostility—cold, sharp, like a blade trying to pin me in place.

Soon after, the family doctor came downstairs and told me Kelley had issues with clotting and needed a blood transfusion. Mine was the only type that matched.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry. It’s raining heavily, and we can’t get supplies delivered. We can only draw your blood.”

“But I just got discharged. I’m still recovering. I don’t believe an ambulance can’t—”

Before I could finish, they pinned me down.

“Sorry, Ma’am. This is also Sir Carter’s order.”

So this was Carter’s idea.

For Kelley, he didn’t care about anything, even my life.

They held me down and forcibly drew two full bags of blood.

By the end, I completely blacked out.

When I finally woke up in the middle of the night, I was freezing.

I realized they had dumped me back in my room after draining my blood and left me unattended.

Dragging my weak body out of bed, I heard sounds of pleasure coming from the second floor.

“Carter, you drew so much of Ellen’s blood. Won’t she get mad? What a waste.”

Carter’s cold voice followed.

“She didn’t appreciate your kindness and even let you cut yourself. She deserved a lesson.”

“Giving her a lesson will really make her behave? You’re so good at handling her.”

He let out a proud laugh.

“Last time she argued with me, I left her on the mountain. When she came back, she was much more obedient.”

That time, we disagreed about something, and I contradicted him in public.

He left me alone on a mountain and drove away.

Later, he claimed he thought I didn’t get in the car because I was making a fuss.

I never imagined that was one of his “lessons.”

My heart tightened painfully.

What hurt even more was that he was doing it again, this time partnering with Kelley to hurt me, indulging her every move.

“If I upset you one day, will you punish me like that, too?”

Carter chuckled softly, almost doting.

“I’d only punish myself. Why would I ever make you unhappy?”

Stumbling toward the kitchen, I froze when I saw it—two full bags of my blood tossed in the trash!

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I forced myself back to my room.

I pulled out my phone and called Scott.

To my surprise, he picked up instantly, even though it was four in the morning.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

I swallowed the pain in my throat. “How are the wedding preparations going?”

“Everything’s arranged exactly how you wanted it. We’re just waiting for you.”

“Good. I need you to handle something else for me.”

I sent him the files I’d collected.

“These are the surveillance clips from the day I had my accident. I want you to expose everything. Make them pay. Make them crash and burn.”

“No problem. If it’s for you, I’ll get it done.”

The next day, Carter came to check on me.

“If you’re not feeling well, don’t go to work. Just rest at home.”

For a second, I thought maybe—just maybe—he felt guilty.

But then he tossed a design draft onto the bed.

“Kelley hasn’t finished this yet. Help her complete it. The deadline’s coming.

“When you finish it, I’ll take you out to relax. Make it up to you.”

He’d said that countless times.

Yet every time, he “got busy,” and ended up going out to play with Kelley instead.

I took the design draft.

“No need to compensate me. Just agree to one request when the time comes.”

“What request?”

Carter looked genuinely surprised.

Chapter Four

Ellen’s POV

I normally never ask Carter for anything, so he looked a little surprised.

I clenched my palms. “I want to buy a house.”

“Alright. Whatever else you want later, I’ll buy it, too. I’ll get going now.”

He turned around and shut the door without a trace of hesitation.

He said he was worried he’d disturb me if he stayed home, so he’d live outside for a while and let me focus on my drafts.

But starting the very next day, Kelley would send me their schedule—every place they went—just to show off.

So while I stayed home drawing design drafts for her, he was out there charting maps with her.

I just kept gathering proof, sending everything to Scott, and organizing it into a video for exposing them.

The day I finished the design drafts, I went straight to the company.

Carter came over to get them. “Where is it? Hurry up and give it to me.”

I pulled out a document. “Sign this first. It’s for the house I’m buying in the countryside.”

He signed impatiently. “It’s just a house. You could’ve just put your own name.”

“That won’t work. This document needs both signatures.”

I thought the hint was obvious enough that he’d at least glance at it, but he didn’t even look. He just signed.

Then he tossed the papers back at me. “Done. Now, hand over the drafts.”

He only wanted to take the designs to Kelley. He didn’t even realize what he’d just signed.

I tucked away the divorce papers and handed him the drafts. “This is the last time.”

He froze for a second but still took them and left.

Watching his back as he walked away, I felt like I could finally breathe.

Kelley had used plenty of my designs, but she never noticed I’d left a unique marker on each one.

This batch was no exception. Once everything gets exposed, I’d love to see how she explains herself.

I sat at my computer and typed up my resignation letter, then handed it to the manager.

He looked shocked. “Why are you leaving?”

I smiled. “I want a break. Could you announce it at the end of the month?”

“You’re hiding it from Mr. Dillamond too?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I want it to be a surprise.”

After leaving the company, I went home and packed.

Everything Carter had bought me—I didn’t even want to touch it. I only took what I actually wanted.

Then I called Scott. “I’m all done on my end. Push forward on yours.”

He sounded thrilled. “Absolutely. I’ll wait for you!”

That night Carter came home drunk. The living room was empty; no one was waiting for him.

He stumbled to my room. “Ellen, make me some hangover soup.”

I locked the door and pretended to be asleep, no matter how many times he called me.

He eventually had to make it himself and even burned his hand.

He quietly applied ointment in the living room before finally going back to the master bedroom.

The next morning, with dark circles under his eyes, he asked, “Did you do that on purpose yesterday?”

I acted clueless. “What are you talking about?”

He retold the whole thing.

I said, “I haven’t been sleeping well, so I wore earplugs. I didn’t hear anything.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes. “Why didn’t you sleep in the master bedroom?”

Because it’s disgusting there.

“I suddenly don’t like that mattress anymore. It feels dirty.”

He’d custom-made that mattress for me and put a lot of thought into it.

But to me now, it was nothing but a dirty object.

He went silent, then muttered, “Then next time I’ll get you another one.”

He handed me a necklace. “This is the newest design. I thought you’d like it.”

I took it and casually set it aside. “Thanks.”

He froze, not getting the reaction he’d imagined—no excitement, no surprise.

Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at it and said, “There's dinner tonight. I won’t be home. Don’t wait for me.”

I smiled. “What a coincidence. I have plans, too. I won’t be waiting.”

I grabbed my bag and walked out, leaving him standing there stunned for a long moment.

My girlfriends had invited me out. I told them about the divorce.

They shrieked, “We need to celebrate you finally leaving that loser! I’m booking male models! Let’s have fun.”

But soon after, Kelley appeared. “Ellen? I didn’t expect to see you here.”

That’s when I realized—the “dinner” Carter mentioned was actually her birthday celebration in the room next door.

“Hey, can you come celebrate with me?”

I was about to refuse when Carter appeared at the door. Seeing a room full of men, his face instantly darkened.

“Ellen, you’re a married woman. Have some boundaries!”

My friend shot back immediately, “We’re just having drinks! It’s not like we’re the ones being shady with someone else.”

Everyone knew exactly who she meant; their eyes all drifted to Kelley.

Her eyes reddened and she ran off.

Carter then glared at me. “You owe me an explanation.”

Chapter Five

Ellen’s POV

My best friend cursed under her breath. “Explain what? Did he ever explain anything to you? Forget him. Let’s keep going.”

Not long after, Carter texted me.

[If I remember right, your best friend’s family is desperately looking for investors right now, isn’t that so?]

My heart tightened. He was planning to use my best friend to threaten me.

“I’ll be right back. You guys continue.”

I walked to Kelley’s private room. Carter handed me a glass of alcohol.

“Drink it. Consider it an apology to Kelley.”

Kelley quickly tried smoothing things over. “It’s all my fault, I—”

But Carter glared at me. “I don’t want to repeat myself. You know what to do.”

I reached for the glass, but Kelley suddenly suggested, “If Ellen has to drink, maybe she should have mango juice instead.”

Carter immediately swapped the alcohol for mango juice.

“Kelley’s so kind. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t bother giving you face.”

I didn’t take it. “I’m allergic to mango juice.”

Kelley’s expression shifted instantly. “I didn’t mean it… I didn’t know you were allergic.”

“To show you I’m really sorry,” she added, “I’ll drink it instead.”

But Carter snatched the glass out of her hand.

“Kelley is the one allergic to mango juice. Why are you lying?”

“If you don’t drink it,” he warned, “your friend who ran her mouth tonight… I’ll make sure she pays for it.”

Five years together, and he forgot I’m allergic to mango, too.

Looking at him now, all I felt was unfamiliarity.

Did he really forget, or was he helping Kelley mess with me?

No idea. And honestly, I didn’t care anymore. I’d be gone tomorrow anyway.

But before leaving, I couldn’t drag my best friend into this.

So I took the mango juice.

I drank it, and not long after, red rashes started spreading across my skin.

“You guys enjoy. I’m not feeling well, so I’m heading out first.”

But Kelley grabbed me. “Ellen, we haven’t had cake yet. Don’t you want to stay for my birthday?”

Carter’s cold gaze locked on me.

“Don’t ruin the mood. Eat, then leave.”

“I’m not feeling well. Can’t you see my neck is already itching?”

He yanked my hand hard. “Stop throwing a fit. Think about your best friend.”

In his eyes, only Kelley existed.

I felt more like an enemy than a wife.

I could only dig my nails into my palm and sit back down.

My whole body itched, and I couldn’t even focus on their interactions.

I just kept drinking water to ease the discomfort.

Right then, Scott sent over several wedding dress photos for me to choose from.

I replied: [The second set is fine. You choose the rest.]

He sent back an excited emoji.

[Can’t wait to see my wife soon. I’m so happy.]

Seeing me staring at my screen, Carter came over.

“Who are you chatting with that makes you so happy?”

It was surprising he even noticed.

I turned off my screen. “My sister’s kid. She’s cute.”

“Yeah? Let me see.”

He reached for my phone, but he didn’t know the password.

“What’s the password?”

“It’s my birthday.”

His hand froze.

Right—he didn’t remember my birthday.

In the end, he shoved the phone back into my hand.

“Forget it. I’ve seen her before anyway.”

Five years together, and he didn’t even remember my birthday.

Oddly, I didn’t feel hurt. I actually felt… calm.

Tomorrow, I’d finally be done with this.

Suddenly someone exclaimed, “Isn’t that the newest necklace? The collector’s edition!”

Kelley held up a necklace Carter gave her. It really was the latest release, and it looked painfully familiar.

Buying the collector’s edition came with a limited-edition bonus.

So the one he gave me was just the freebie, huh?

Kelley stepped right in front of me. “Ellen, isn’t it pretty?”

I looked at Carter.

“It is. Truly one of a kind.”

He stood up calmly and walked away, avoiding the question entirely.

Even caught red-handed, he didn’t bother trying to explain.

The party was wrapping up when chaos suddenly erupted outside.

Thick smoke poured in, and people started running.

Someone shouted, “Run! There’s a fire! Looks like an electrical short!”

The entire room panicked and bolted for the exit.

I stood up but someone shoved me. I fell, glass slicing my leg.

Blood immediately started flowing.

I looked up, trying to call out to Carter.

But I saw him carrying Kelley in his arms, rushing straight out.

“Don’t be scared, Kelley. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He didn’t even glance my way.

I shouted after him, “Carter! Don’t leave me behind! I’m hurt!”

But he didn’t even turn around.

He just snapped impatiently, “Even a murderer couldn’t kill you. You’ll make it out of a fire.”

“Kelley is fragile,” he reasoned. “She needs me. Figure it out yourself.”

Chapter Six

Ellen’s POV

Carter’s words made my heart jolt violently.

Was that whole “stalker” incident something he and Kelley staged?

If it had been a real stalker, I might not even be alive right now.

I saw it with my own eyes—Carter ran out carrying Kelley, and no matter how loudly I shouted behind them, he never once looked back.

He just walked away without a trace of hesitation.

Soon, thick smoke billowed everywhere, flames shooting up around me.

I tried to escape but the fire had already cut off my way out.

When I finally forced myself up and struggled to the door, there were crowds of people outside, rushing around in a panic, screams everywhere.

I opened my mouth to call for help, but smoke flooded into my lungs, and I blacked out instantly.

Just like that, the fire swallowed me whole.

Carter had rushed out of the burning building with Kelley in his arms. Fortunately, both of them were unharmed.

Kelley trembled in his embrace, clinging to him tightly.

He watched as more people stumbled out of the flames, each one accompanied by screams.

The fire grew even fiercer, and after watching for a long time, he still didn’t see me among those escaping.

His brows instantly furrowed. Something like worry flickered in his chest.

Only then did he remember—right before he left, it seemed like I’d called out to him.

But he didn’t catch what I said.

He searched the crowd again, shouting my name several times.

Kelley saw this, immediately gasped, and collapsed. “Carter… I can’t breathe…”

She fainted right after. He quickly shouted for help.

But no one came. The whole scene was chaotic—fire trucks, police cars, ambulances were arriving one after another.

He had no time for anything else—not even for me.

He carried Kelley to the hospital.

Before getting in the ambulance, he glanced back at the burning building and muttered to himself, “She was fine last time, too. She’ll definitely make it out again.”

At the hospital, Kelley was examined and found to be perfectly okay. She woke up soon after.

Carter wanted to rush back to the scene, but she grabbed him.

“Carter, stay with me. Please… I’m really scared.”

Looking at her red, tear-swollen eyes, he ended up staying.

So many people had escaped, and the firefighters were already there; he figured I would be fine.

For the next several days, he stayed at the hospital taking care of Kelley.

He never went home.

He never called me.

Maybe he was just used to me taking care of myself.

He was used to me healing on my own.

He was used to me not bothering him whenever he was with Kelley.

The news kept reporting the rising death toll.

Photos of the tragedy spread online—gruesome and heartbreaking.

He glanced at them a few times, didn’t see me, and turned off his phone.

It wasn’t until the official list of victims appeared—with my name on it—that he finally panicked.

“How could Ellen’s name be here? That’s impossible!”

Kelley noticed the fear in his eyes.

“Maybe it’s someone with the same name. Ellen is tough. She’ll be fine.”

But Carter suddenly felt an inexplicable dread.

“You take care of yourself. I’m going back to check.”

“But I haven’t fully recovered… I need you, I—”

He didn’t listen. He stood up and left.

Back home, there was no sign of me anywhere.

He opened the bedroom door—everything looked the same, yet something felt missing.

When he checked the guest room, he realized all my things were gone.

He frantically called me, but no one picked up.

Then his phone buzzed; our manager had posted in the group chat announcing that I’d resigned.

He finally let out a breath.

“She’s still processing her resignation today… that means she’s fine.”

But when he returned to the living room and saw the necklace he’d given me still sitting on the table, untouched, guilt flickered across his face.

“She didn’t even take something this important… she must not have really left,” he muttered. “She’s run away from home before. She always comes back after a few days. When you’re back, I’ll buy you a new one.”

Reassured, he returned to the hospital to take care of Kelley, and when she was discharged, he even brought her home.

During that time, he kept messaging me.

[Don’t think I’m going to chase after you just because you ran away from home. You’re an adult. Stop playing childish games.]

But after half a month passed—no sign of me, no reply from me—he finally panicked again.

He searched everywhere, asking anyone he could about my whereabouts.

But there wasn’t a single clue.

His heart felt hollow.

He didn’t know why, but it felt like he was losing me—truly losing me.

When the official death certificate was finally placed into his hands, he completely lost it.

“I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it! She must be hiding somewhere. Keep looking!”

And then, a headline flashed before his eyes.

[The Well-Known Heir of the Knapps in Los Angeles Is Getting Married!]

Carter froze on the spot.

Because the bride standing next to Scott… was me.