Chapter 3

3.

I leaned against the cold wall, my limbs icy and my tears hitting the floorboards.

He wasn't just keeping a place for her in his heart; he was handing over our hard-earned blood and sweat to her on a silver platter.

The next morning, I walked out of the bedroom feeling faint after a sleepless night.

In the dining room, Chloe was already seated, sipping her breakfast bowl.

She looked up and smiled at me, her fingers casually brushing against her neck―where a stunning diamond necklace sparkled.

My breath hitched.

I recognized that necklace.

It was the matching piece to the bracelet Alistair had spent three months' salary on three years ago.

Back then, he had held me and said, "Clara, when we're rich, I'll buy you the whole 'One and Only' set."

Chloe's voice was sickly sweet as she toyed with the pendant.

"Sis, do you like it?"

"Alistair said this set is called 'The Only One.' He said it was a welcome-home gift and insisted I try it on this morning."

She tilted her head, looking innocent yet triumphant. "Doesn't it match your bracelet?"

"It's so sweet! Alistair is so thoughtful, giving us matching sister jewelry!"

My stomach churned, and a sharp, stabbing pain erupted in my lower abdomen.

A warm liquid quickly soaked through my nightgown, feeling sticky and cold.

I looked down and saw a terrifying crimson stain spreading.

Cold sweat drenched my body instantly. I shook violently as I grabbed Alistair, who had just walked in.

"Alistair... my stomach hurts so much..."

He looked down at me, but I saw no concern, only deep annoyance and suspicion.

He shoved my hand away with a harsh snarl.

"Chloe just started feeling better, and now you're faking an illness? Is this fun for you?"

"I've bought you so much jewelry. Do you have to be this jealous over one necklace?"

― "I will always believe in you and protect you."

The tearful promise he made when he proposed echoed in my ears, but now it felt like a jagged blade gutting me.

The light in my eyes began to flicker out.

Maybe my face looked too ghostly, or maybe it was the amount of blood.

Alistair froze for a second, his anger cooling into a frown as if he were about to lean down and pick me up.

Just then, Chloe let out a moan, clutching her forehead and swaying.

"Al... I'm so dizzy..."

Alistair made his choice in a heartbeat.

He turned his back on me and caught her. "What's wrong?"

Chloe leaned into his chest, weakly pointing toward the kitchen counter.

I hadn't noticed a small bag of what looked like fake blood sitting there, now ruptured and leaking red fluid onto the floor.

"I just wanted to get some water for my sister, and I saw..."

She gasped for air, tears flowing on command. "Is she still mad at me? Is that why she..."

She grabbed Alistair's sleeve, sobbing.

"It's all my fault... Al, don't worry about me, go check on her!"

"She must be so angry that she did this just to get your attention... I'm fine, really..."

Alistair's face turned livid, his rage drowning out the last bit of doubt.

He turned and roared at me, his eyes full of cold disgust.

"Do you have to pull this crap right now? If anything happens to Chloe, I'm done with you!"

He remembered how tough I was when we worked on projects for seventy-two hours straight. He was convinced I couldn't be fragile like the "weak" Chloe.

He scooped Chloe up in his arms and stormed out of the house without a single glance at me, curled up on the floor in a pool of blood.

The car door slammed, and the engine roared away.

The world went silent.

And my heart finally went cold.