Chapter 1

The night before our wedding, Silas Thorne handed me a cancer diagnosis.

It belonged to his foster sister, Sadie.

His face was cold, his voice filled with a fake sense of righteousness.

"Sienna, the wedding is off. Sadie is too fragile right now. I can't let our marriage break her."

"I don't agree!" I screamed.

"Why would my wedding affect her at all?"

Silas didn't get angry at my refusal. Instead, he acted like the perfect fiancé and brought me a glass of warm milk.

The next morning, I woke up to a house that should have been buzzing with bridesmaids and stylists. It was deathly silent.

I panicked. I called Silas ninety-nine times, but he didn't pick up.

On the hundredth call, he finally answered.

"Why are my wedding dress and shoes gone?" I gasped.

He stayed silent for a long moment, his voice heavy with a forced apology.

"Sienna, I'm sorry. Sadie wanted to know what it felt like to be a bride. I couldn't let her die with regrets."

"Just endure this for a bit. Once she passes away peacefully, I'll make it up to you."

The line went dead. I sat on the bed, my mind going completely blank.

A month later, while Silas was on his honeymoon, I made my move.

I sent a live-stream link to his phone. It was the announcement of my wedding to his greatest business rival.

By the time he realized what he had lost, it was already too late.

1

I pushed open the heavy doors of the ballroom. The sight of the happy couple on stage felt like a knife to my heart.

"Wasn't I supposed to be the bride today?"

My eyes were bloodshot. My voice shook as I looked at Silas.

Guilt flashed across his face, but it was quickly replaced by annoyance.

"I already explained this to you. Stop making a scene. Everyone is watching, and Sadie can't handle the stress."

"Then why am I the one who has to handle the pain? Silas, look at me! I'm your fiancée, not her!!"

His words were like a blade, carving into my chest without mercy.

"Sienna, don't blame Silas. It's all my fault. I'll just go and die right now. I only have three months left anyway."

Sadie's eyes filled with tears. She swayed as if she were about to faint. The guests gasped in sympathy.

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded across my face. A slap sent my head spinning.

"Sienna Moore, she's your sister! How can you be so heartless and drive her to suicide?"

My father stood before me, his hand still raised. He had slapped me in front of everyone for a girl who wasn't even his blood.

When I was ten, my dad brought six-year-old Sadie home. He told me her father died saving his life in the army. He told me I had to treat her like a real sister.

From that day on, I stopped being the princess of the family. Sadie took my place.

"Dad, I'm your biological daughter!" I screamed, clutching my burning cheek.

"Sadie is my daughter in my heart! She only has three months to live. She just wanted to feel like a bride. You're the older sister, why can't you just let her have this?"

His tone was so casual it made my blood run cold.

Silas looked like he wanted to reach out to me. He took a step forward.

I laughed through my tears, stepping back. My heart was shattered into a million pieces.

"Then I hope you two are very happy."

I turned and ran out of the hotel, leaving the nightmare behind.

The sky opened up, pouring rain down on me.

I stood at the entrance, lost and broken.

Then, I saw something in the trash can nearby. It was a shredded photo of my face.

It was our wedding welcome board. In the photo, I was smiling brightly. Silas barely had a grin.

Right next to the trash stood the new board. It was a giant photo of Silas and Sadie. In that one, his eyes were full of genuine joy.

I shook with rage and grief. My hands trembled as I gripped the wet photo.

I sprinted into the heavy rain, hoping the water would hide my sobbing.

A loud, piercing horn blared behind me. I jumped to the side instinctively.

I didn't notice the manhole cover had been washed away by the flood. I stepped into empty air and plummeted.

I lay at the bottom of the sewer, pain radiating through every bone in my body. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

With trembling fingers, I pulled out my phone. Out of habit, I called Silas.

"Silas... I fell into a sewer. Everything hurts. Please, come save me."

"Sienna, stop it. Even a kid wouldn't fall for a lie like that. Just go home. I'll come find you after the reception."

He sounded exhausted, as if I were a burden.

Then, Sadie's sweet voice echoed in the background. "Silas? Where are you? Come on, we have to toast to Mom and Dad."

"I'm coming, sweetie," he replied warmly.

He hung up without a second thought.

I closed my eyes in despair. Just as my consciousness began to fade, a deep voice reached me.

"Are you okay? Hang on!"