Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Killian is a rising star in the business world.

And I? I was nothing more than his kept canary.

On my birthday, Killian's first love suffered a sudden depressive episode.

To rush to her side, Killian abandoned me in the middle of a desolate mountain range.

I encountered a serial killer and met a gruesome end.

Later, he regretted it. He decided that I was his one true love.

But I was already dead.

***

I had been with Killian for seven years.

This was the first time he had ever offered to celebrate my birthday.

Overjoyed, I rented out the Blue Cloud Villa, determined to have a perfect, private night with him.

As it turned out, I had some good news to share with him, too.

Just as we reached the halfway point up the mountain, a call from Wynne came through.

Wynne was Killian's first love, a girl he had grown up with in a family of equal standing.

When the Killian family hit rock bottom, Wynne had suddenly left for college abroad and dumped him.

Enraged, Killian turned to me―the girl who had been pining for him in silence―and we started our life together.

Two months ago, Wynne had suddenly returned.

Seven years had passed, and I thought the dust had settled, that Killian's feelings for her had faded into memory.

But the moment that familiar voice rang out through the speakers, Killian looked as if his soul had been sucked out of his body.

Though his shell remained in the passenger seat, his spirit was already miles away.

That very day happened to be the date of our engagement.

Later, I learned that Wynne was suffering from severe clinical depression.

Seven years ago, her mother had threatened her own life to force Wynne to leave Killian, which sent her into a downward spiral.

It grew worse every year, with several suicide attempts, until her mother finally allowed her to return for treatment.

But she returned too late.

Killian was already with me, and he had been planning to marry me.

Because of this, Wynne's condition only worsened.

Killian and Wynne were like the star-crossed leads of a romance novel.

They were kept apart by endless misunderstandings.

And I? I was the secondary character, the obstacle wedged between them.

I was such an eyesore, so utterly unwanted.

Everyone wanted me gone.

Even Killian's mother, the employees at the Killian Group...

It was as if my very existence was a desecration of their sacred, beautiful love.

Killian, I'm in so much pain. I can't breathe. Can you please come see me?

Every time that voice played, it brought with it a nightmare.

Killian kept driving, the car moving smoothly down the road.

But I knew a storm was already raging in his heart.

I didn't speak, because I refused to let go of my pride.

He didn't stop, nor did he answer, but he didn't hang up on Wynne either.

My fingers tightened around the ultrasound printout in my lap, then relaxed, then tightened again.

After a long struggle, I finally decided to tell him.

Killian, I'm pr―

Thump.

A heavy object hitting the floor sounded on the other end of the line.

Wynne!

Screech!

Almost simultaneously, Killian slammed on the brakes.

The calm mask he wore finally shattered.

Get out!

I crushed the ultrasound into a ball in my hand.

I forced a smile that felt more painful than crying.

Killian, you promised you'd spend the day with me…

Get out!

His patience was clearly gone.

His rage and anxiety hit me like a slap.

In the end, I lost.

I lost everything, completely.

My eyes burned with unshed tears.

Before they could fall, I opened the door and stepped out.

He immediately whipped the car around and drove away without a backward glance.