Chapter 2

2

Vivienne was in a great mood when she returned.

"The doctors tried a new experimental drug on Sebastian. It worked wonders! He didn't have a single episode all night!"

But when she saw the table full of untouched food, her face fell.

"Did I not tell you we need to be careful with our spending? Why did you cook so much!"

"My parents stopped giving me an allowance because your tests keep failing. Sebastian has ten more sessions left. If you keep wasting money like this, how are we going to pay his medical bills!"

I frowned. "Viv, am I supposed to be the one paying for his treatment?"

She realized she had slipped up and looked away awkwardly.

But soon, she was back in my arms, trying to play it off.

"Sean, Sebastian and I grew up together. He cannot survive without me, and I cannot just abandon him."

"You are my fiancé. We are going to be husband and wife. We should be one. You understand me, right?"

I looked down at the face I had loved for years, but the spark was gone.

I simply asked her coldly, "Viv, do you actually want to marry me?"

Vivienne jumped back as if I had slapped her.

"Sean Sterling, what is that supposed to mean? Are you seriously blaming me?"

"You are the one who messed up the family tests over and over! That is why we haven't been able to marry for three years!"

I stared at her calmly. "Yeah. It is quite a medical miracle that Sebastian's terminal cancer has lasted three years."

I had always treated her like a princess, spoiling and coddling her. This was the first time I had ever spoken to her like this.

She immediately flew into a rage.

"What the hell is wrong with you? I spent over twenty million dollars to keep him alive!"

"Do you have any idea how much pain he is in? How can you insult a dying man? No wonder you failed eight times with a heart as small as yours!"

My skin crawled.

Twenty million dollars. That was the exact amount I had paid for those eight tests.

"Vivienne, did you use the money for the tests to pay for Sebastian's treatment?"

Having her secret exposed made Vivienne panic for a split second.

She bit her lip and decided to go on the offensive. "So what? Sebastian's life is at stake! Can you not tell the difference between a human life and a wedding?"

I stared her down.

"If my money went to his bills, then what exactly were you injecting me with?"

Vivienne clenched her fists, her voice full of self-righteousness.

"It was just some old samples of the drug the family had lying around. The potency was low. Who knew you had so little willpower that you would fail every time?"

"Sean, if you want to marry me, find a way to pass. Stop interrogating me over petty things while Sebastian is literally fighting for his life!"

I couldn't believe she was still lying even now.

I couldn't even remember when Sebastian Brooks had become a permanent third wheel in our relationship.

Anniversaries were forgotten because he had a sudden "episode."

Our newly renovated house had to be given to him for free because he needed a "quiet place to recover."

Last year, when I got injured working on a Lane family project, she left me while I was still unconscious because Sebastian said he "didn't want to live anymore" and needed her to take him to the beach.

The more I thought about it, the more pathetic it felt. I let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

"Since he is dying and cannot live without you, why don't you just marry him? Maybe the joy will cure him."

"Sean Sterling!"

Vivienne's expression turned dark as she screamed at me.

"He is a sick man! How dare you suggest something so disgusting? We are innocent!"

"Innocent? You turned our home into his nursing home, spent countless nights with him, and gave him all my money. You have the nerve to call that innocent?"

I laughed coldly. Her face turned from pale to purple until she finally exploded.

"You are a psycho! Sebastian was right―you do not deserve to be my husband!"

She stormed out, slamming the door in my face.

"Stay here and think about what you have done! Do not even think about stepping foot outside until you apologize!"