Chapter 1

I died on my wedding night. On the day of my wedding, my husband abandoned me at the altar, turning me into the laughingstock of the entire city.

When I was attacked by a killer and dialed for help, he told me to just die—because if I were dead, no one would upset Amber anymore.

Before I died, I saw fireworks illuminating the city. They were meant to celebrate our marriage but had instead become his way of pleasing another woman.

I thought that once I, the stumbling block, was gone, he and Amber would finally be together, out in the open.

However, I never expected that when he learned my bones had been turned into prayer beads, ones he would caress day and night, he would lose his mind.

As my consciousness faded, I made the final phone call of my life. The line was filled with noise before his icy voice cut through.

"Allison, haven't you had enough? I gave you a grand wedding. Spending time with Abbie doesn't mean anything. What more do you want?"

Blood drained rapidly from my body as the killer towered above me, looking down with disdain, as though I were nothing but an insect.

He knew I didn't have much time left and that I wouldn't cause any more trouble. But I wasn't willing to give up. Clinging to a sliver of hope, I used every ounce of strength left in me.

"Shane… save me!"

His voice turned impatient. "Enough! Aren't you tired of this act? Because I'm tired of watching it."

"I'm not lying—someone is trying to kill me…"

"Heh." He let out a cold laugh. "Allison, first you pretended to be sick, and now what? Another performance?

"Do you really crave attention that much? Abbie is your sister! You're already Mrs. Lundberg. Do you have to push her to the brink to be satisfied?"

The freezing wind clawed at me, but it couldn't sting as much as his words.

I looked down at the blood soaking through my wedding dress. The crimson was spreading fast. I knew my time had come.

Swallowing the words of farewell I wanted to say, I let out a faint laugh. "The one who gets to keep living is Amber. But me… I'm about to die."

"Then hurry up and die! Once you're gone, Abbie won't have to be upset anymore."

Before the call ended, I heard a sugary-sweet voice in the background. "Shane, the fireworks show is starting!"

His voice disappeared, leaving only the sound of the wind rushing past. My blood-stained phone slipped from my hand, hitting the edge of the river with a heavy thud.

The splash of water stung my eyes, becoming scalding tears that trailed down my face.

Amid the falling snow, specks of light dotted the dark horizon. Drones sparkled like a galaxy, and the deafening explosions of fireworks filled the air.

My pupils reflected the vibrant bursts of color.

The grand fireworks display Shane had spent six months planning for our wedding had become his gift to another woman.

Someone sent me a photo. Amid the dazzling fireworks, Shane was holding another woman in his arms. The corners of his lips, so often cold toward me, curved into a faint smile.

In their happiness, I closed my eyes forever.

They said that, after death, souls entered the underworld to await reincarnation. If there was a next life, I hope I'd never meet Shane Lundberg again.

But fate never listened to wishes.

When I regained consciousness, the first thing I saw under the starry sky was Shane, locked in a kiss with my sister, Amber Schultz.

"Shane Lundberg! You can't do this!" I charged toward them, screaming, only to watch my hand pass straight through their bodies.

Lowering my head, I stared at my nearly transparent form. No one noticed me.

That was when it hit me—I was already dead. Somehow, my soul had found its way back to them.

Looking at the couple kissing in front of me, I realized something painful—even after death, your heart could still ache.

It had always been me who grew up with him, my childhood intertwined with his. Not long ago, Shane had solemnly promised me that his feelings for Amber were purely platonic, that the only woman he loved was me.

Yet now, as another firework streaked across the sky with a thunderous boom, Shane suddenly pulled away from Amber, his expression conflicted.

"Abbie, we can't do this," he said, his voice tinged with hesitation.

Amber's cheeks were still flushed, her delicate face glowing under the light of the flames. She bit her lip, her voice trembling.

"Shane, I didn't mean to… I just… I couldn't help myself."

Shane gently patted her head. "It's okay. I'm not blaming you. Let me make a call."

I watched as he pulled out his phone and dialed my number, and a chill spread through my entire body.

Over 20 years of companionship, and in the end, it meant nothing. Even the thought of me only came to him after he had indulged in an intimate moment with Amber.

The phone rang. Once. Twice. Three times. No answer.

I would always answer his calls within three rings. Always. No matter the time, no matter what I was doing. But now, Shane, I was dead.

A corpse couldn't pick up the phone.

His brows furrowed, worry flickering across his face. "Abbie, I'm going to check the location Allison sent me."

Finally. Finally, he thought of me.

Before I died, I had sent Shane my location by the river. If he came now, he might still be able to recover my body.

But time was slipping away. I didn't know what that meticulously prepared killer might do to my corpse if he found it first.

A small hand tugged at Shane's wrist. Amber looked up at him with wide, tearful eyes, her voice soft and pleading.

"Shane, can you stay with me a little longer?"

Hesitation flashed in his eyes. "But Allison…"

"Shane, you know how Allison loves to act. Remember when she claimed she was having surgery? You dropped a billion-dollar deal to rush to her side, and what happened? She was perfectly fine, bouncing around the hospital."

Her voice took on a pitiful tone as she continued. "And then there was the time she said someone was following her. Nothing happened then, either.

"Allison has always been spoiled by the family, playing games like this. She's the eldest daughter of the Schultz family—who could possibly want to hurt her?"

Her words seemed to erase Shane's hesitation. He rubbed his temples, exhaustion etched across his face. "If only Allison could be half as understanding as you."

Amber smiled. I smiled too—bitterly.

Because, once, Shane had told me, "Only unloved children have to be understanding. My Allison can stay carefree and reckless."

But Shane didn't come looking for me. Instead, he led Amber to our marital home.

I stood at the door, trying desperately to block her path, but it was pointless.

Amber stepped through me with a mocking smile, as if to say, "Alive or dead, you can't stop me."

Wearing my wedding night lingerie, Amber emerged from the bathroom. It was meant to be a surprise for Shane, something special for our first night as husband and wife.

When Shane saw her figure beneath the sheer fabric, his Adam's apple bobbed, his pupils darkening.

I had been with him long enough to recognize that look—desire. Anger and despair twisted inside me as I watched their growing intimacy.

"Abbie, that's Allison's outfit," Shane reminded her.

"I know," she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Shane, I know you stopped liking Allison long ago. You like me, don't you?"

"Amber Schultz, that's enough!" Shane's voice turned cold.

Tears streamed down her face, large and heavy, like a wounded kitten. "After tonight, you'll officially be my brother-in-law. I'm not asking for much—just one night. Please, Shane, let me be your woman for one night."

"Anything else, but not this!" Shane pushed her away.

Amber stomped her foot. "Fine! If you don't want me, I'll find someone else! A delivery driver, a janitor, a male model—even a beggar under the bridge!"

"Stop being ridiculous!"

"If you don't want me, you won't even grant me this one wish… then I—"

Shane pulled her into his arms, silencing her with a kiss.

I screamed, my voice raw and broken, but no one heard me. The man I had loved for over a decade, the man I had married, was now entangled with Amber in our wedding bed.

That night, I watched Shane unleash every suppressed emotion he had kept locked away.

By morning, sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating Amber's body, now covered in marks. She shyly buried herself in Shane's arms.

Shane seemed to regain his senses, guilt flickering across his face. "Abbie, last night, we…"

I laughed coldly. What was the point of regret now? It was already too late.

"Don't worry, Shane," Amber whispered. "I'll never tell Allison. From now on, you're my brother-in-law. I'll go abroad to study and disappear from your lives."

Shane frowned. "Who said you should leave? You…"

Before he could finish, his phone rang. He picked up, his expression turning serious as he listened.

"Mr. Lundberg, this is the police. Early this morning, a wedding dress was retrieved from the river. It matches the one your wife, Allison Schultz, was wearing yesterday. Please come to the station to assist with the investigation."

Chapter 2

When I heard the officer's voice, I couldn't help but wonder: would Shane feel even a little sadness upon hearing the news of my death?

Maybe? After more than 20 years of being together, could those feelings really disappear so easily?

Yet, Shane's handsome face showed no sign of concern. He asked casually, "It's just the dress?"

"Yes. Only the wedding dress so far," the officer replied. "But Ms. Schultz could be in danger. We can't rule out the possibility of suicide. We found traces of—"

Before the officer could finish, Shane interrupted. "I don't know who reported this, but I know Allison well.

"There's no way she would commit suicide. This is just another one of her usual tricks. You don't need to waste police resources on such a childish game."

His words stunned the officer. They had just gotten married yesterday, yet as her husband, he didn't seem the least bit worried about his wife's safety.

The officer started to say something more, but Shane had already ended the call.

I wanted to laugh—laugh at myself for ever believing that Shane might still have feelings for me.

"Shane, I'm dead! The police called you, and yet you think this is some game I'm playing?"

Amber clung to Shane like a snake wrapping around its prey. "Shane, what if something really happened to her?"

A flicker of unease crossed Shane's face. "She did sound weak when she called for help yesterday."

"Maybe she's just upset because I tried on her wedding dress," Amber said, her voice soft and pitiful.

"She's probably still angry and threw the dress into the river. But we're the ones who truly love each other. I've already suppressed my feelings and let her have you—what more does she want?

"That dress was designed based on your preferences anyway. All I did was try it on. Was that so unreasonable?

"A million-dollar dress and she just throws it away? And now she's even dragged the police into it—doesn't she realize how embarrassing this is for the Lundberg family?"

Shane's unease disappeared instantly, replaced by his usual disdain for me.

A week ago, I had gone to try on my wedding dress, only to find Amber already wearing it. She had even altered the design and size to fit her.

When I told her to take it off, I hadn't even raised my voice, yet my family berated me.

"It's just a dress," they said. "What's the harm in letting your sister try it on?"

Dressed in the wedding gown, Amber stood arm-in-arm with Shane in his tuxedo. To an outsider, they looked like the bride and groom. I, on the other hand, became a mere accessory.

My family's favoritism had started years ago, ever since Amber fell into the river when we were five.

I had jumped in to save her but hit my head on a rock and passed out. When I woke up, I learned that it was the young master of the Lundberg family who had rescued me—while Amber had vanished in the river.

That incident tied my fate to Shane's, and we grew up as childhood sweethearts.

When I was 18, Shane's father brought his stepmother into the family, and Amber came with her. Back then, Shane despised her.

Three years ago, during my engagement party, Amber suddenly regained her memory and revealed that she was the long-lost fifth daughter of the Schultz family.

While everyone celebrated, Amber knelt before me, clutching my dress and sobbing. "Allison, why did you lie to me and push me into the river back then?"

I was completely blindsided. I hadn't even known she was my missing sister. I had always treated her well, whether as a sister or as a future sister-in-law.

Thus, her accusation hit me like a thunderbolt, leaving me utterly defenseless.

Amber continued to plead. "Allison, I promise to be good from now on. I won't compete with you for anything. Please don't hurt me again. I miss Mom, Dad, and Shane so much. Please let me come home."

My father slapped me across the face. "I can't believe you were so cruel at such a young age. She was only five years old! How could you do such a thing?"

Panicking, I tried to explain. "That's not true! I didn't push her! I didn't—"

"She's your biological sister. Why would she lie about something so serious?" my father shot back.

My mother held Amber tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. "My poor daughter! You've suffered so much."

Yes, she was my sister—so why was she doing this to me?

What should have been my engagement party turned into a melodramatic family reunion, leaving me branded as the wicked sister.

That label stuck, no matter how much I cried or tried to explain.

Even Shane's usually kind father glanced at me with disdain before telling Shane to escort me away to fix my makeup. His eyes were filled with one message—disgrace.

Clutching Shane's hand like a lifeline, I desperately tried to explain, but he pulled me into his arms, gently patting my back.

"I believe you. How could I not? You're the kindest and most patient person in the world, Ally."

But how had the man who once stood so firmly by my side become like this?

Now, I stood watching the two of them in bed, feeling nothing but an overwhelming sadness. Even in death, no matter how heartbroken I was, my hollow eyes couldn't shed tears. Without a heart, my chest felt as if a cold wind had swept straight through it.

I tried to leave but found myself trapped, unable to stray more than three yards from Shane.

I could only watch as they got out of bed. Amber slipped on one of my new dresses and sat at the vanity, pouting as she handed Shane an eyebrow pencil.

"Draw my eyebrows for me," she said coyly, as though they were the rightful couple.

Shane glanced at our wedding photo and hesitated. "Abbie, we agreed to go back to how things were after last night."

"Yes, I understand. I won't interfere with you and Allison," Amber replied, lowering her head in feigned remorse.

Shane dialed my phone again.

No answer.

If he asked the police to track my location now, they might still find my body, but he didn't. Instead, he shoved his phone back into his pocket with a dark expression.

"She's spoiled beyond belief," he muttered coldly.

Amber giggled. "Allison always knows how to play hard to get. Don't worry, Shane. She's probably already back at the Lundberg estate, deliberately ignoring your calls to make you worry."

Shane's face darkened further. "Today's the honor toast ceremony with the elders. Allison wouldn't miss such an important occasion. Let's go back. I would like to see what game she's playing this time."

Chapter 3

Shane's stepmother, Natalie Blake, once had a daughter with his father, Elliott Lundberg, but the child passed away at a young age, leaving an ache in her heart. Later, by chance, she adopted Amber Schultz.

Three years after Shane's mother, Courtney Barrett, passed away, Elliott brought Natalie into the family, and she became Mrs. Lundberg. Because of Amber, Natalie never liked me.

As soon as Amber saw Natalie and Elliott, she obediently greeted them.

"Dad, Mom."

Elliott's gaze shifted to Shane, his expression darkening with anger. "You ungrateful son! You still have the nerve to show up? You've disgraced the entire Lundberg family!"

Yesterday, during the wedding ceremony, just as Shane and I were about to exchange rings, Amber had called, saying her heart hurt terribly. Without hesitation, Shane rushed out, leaving me humiliated in front of everyone.

Amber quickly knelt before Elliott, panic written all over her face. "Dad, it's all my fault. My heart felt so bad I thought I was having an attack, so I called Shane. I didn't think it would cause such a mess. Blame me—it has nothing to do with Shane."

Natalie immediately pulled Amber into her arms. "Abbie wouldn't be dealing with these heart problems if Allison hadn't pushed her into the river back then. Besides, the Schultz family hasn't said anything about yesterday, so why are you so angry? Abbie, get up—the floor is cold."

This kind of scene had become all too common over the past two years. Every time Amber and I had a conflict, Elliott would start out furious but always let her off lightly in the end.

Amber always walked away with all the benefits, leaving me to swallow the bitter pill.

Shane scanned the room, his eyes searching for someone familiar. "Dad, where's Allison?" he asked.

"You still have the gall to mention her? Yesterday, you abandoned her at the wedding, leaving her to face all the criticism.

"She managed to calm the guests, took her wedding dress, and said she was going to change—but she never came back. She gave the Lundberg family face, but you trampled on her dignity!"

Shane's expression shifted slightly. "You're saying she never returned? Then where did she go? She sent me her location last night!"

He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly. "The police called me earlier today. They said they found her wedding dress by the Riverside…"

I laughed bitterly. Only now did he realize I was dead?

"And where is she now? How should I know? Did you think about her when you fled the wedding? Who are you putting on this show for now?" Elliott snapped.

"Dad, I'm heading out," Shane said abruptly.

"I'm coming with you, Shane," Amber added, clinging to him.

Watching Shane's somewhat frantic departure, I found it laughable. Now he panicked? But wasn't it far too late?

Shane got straight to the point at the Police Station. "Officer, what's going on?"

"Mr. Lundberg, this morning, a wedding dress was spotted floating in the river. A jogger thought it might be a body and reported it. When we retrieved it, we confirmed it was the custom gown your wife wore at the wedding…"

Amber interrupted, "Was anything else found besides the dress?"

"No," the officer replied, giving Amber a scrutinizing look.

"Maybe Allison threw the dress in the river just to spite you," Amber suggested nonchalantly. "She likes pulling stunts like this. Allison often plays these games—we don't have time to entertain her."

Her dismissive tone made the lead officer, Liam Ashford, frown. "And you are?"

"I'm Allison Schultz's sister," Amber said, her voice sweet and pitiful. "When I was five, she tricked me into leaving the house, pushed me into the river, and tried to drown me.

"Ever since I came back, she's constantly schemed against me. She loves using pity to manipulate people's feelings."

Listening to her slander, I screamed in protest, "It wasn't me! I never did any of that!"

I had repeated those words countless times, but to everyone else, Amber was the victim, and my explanations were mere excuses.

I thought Liam would fall for her lies, just like everyone else, but his expression remained calm.

"We found traces of blood on the wedding dress," Liam said, his voice steady. "After analysis, the DNA matches Ms. Allison Schultz. There are also two puncture holes in the fabric, consistent with stab wounds.

"If Ms. Schultz was wearing this dress at the time, she would have sustained injuries to both her abdomen and back.

"Our initial assessment is that Ms. Schultz may have been murdered."

Shane's face went deathly pale. His hand trembled as he held a disposable water cup, spilling its contents across the table.

Chapter 4

I sneered at him. Shane Lundberg, do you finally remember what I said when I called you? I was begging for your help! Why didn't you save me?

And now you dare react like this—who are you trying to fool?

"That's impossible!" Amber immediately denied it. "If Allison was murdered, there must be a reason. If it was for money, the wedding dress she was wearing was worth millions, adorned with real diamonds. Why wouldn't the killer keep it?

"If it was for lust, the murderer would've destroyed the blood-stained dress, not tossed it into the river. And besides, who kills someone, painstakingly removes the dress, and then makes the body disappear? It doesn't make any sense."

"Exactly!" Shane's eyes lit up. "Did you find any other clues at the scene? Things like her phone, shoes, or personal items? Or perhaps the weapon, or more blood traces?"

"None so far."

Amber made her conclusion. "I think Allison deliberately removed the wedding dress, stabbed it with a knife, dripped some of her blood on it, and threw it into the water to create a spectacle."

"That bitch has become utterly uncontrollable. It was one thing to pull small tricks in the past to vie for attention, but now she's involving the police," said a sharp voice.

It was my mother.

The Schultz family had been summoned by the police for questioning, and they arrived just in time to overhear the conversation.

From my parents to my brother, their responses were eerily identical.

Liam interrupted, "Mrs. Schultz, please calm down."

"Calm down? Officer, you're not young anymore. You must have children of your own. If the daughter you lovingly raised turned out to be an ungrateful brat who cruelly hurt her siblings, could you stay calm?"

My eldest brother glanced at his watch. "Officer, we're very busy. We're only here today to tell you not to waste our time on childish games."

I stood silently to the side, my chest aching as if it were being pierced by countless needles.

Looking at the parents and brother who had once loved me so dearly, I couldn't help but feel they had become strangers. What had I done to deserve this level of disdain?

The officers were visibly shocked. One of them blurted out, "She's your family, and she's missing. Maybe she committed suicide, maybe she was murdered, but either way, you're not even a little concerned?"

"My daughter's thick-skinned and shameless. There's no way she'd commit suicide. And she's Mrs. Lundberg—who would dare harm her? Stop wasting police resources. She's probably hiding somewhere, laughing at all of us."

"I have a meeting shortly, so I'm leaving."

The Schultz family went through the motions and then hurried out, treating the investigation like a trivial errand.

I even overheard my mother mutter, "I didn't even get to finish my manicure. What a waste of time over something so trivial."

"Mom, where did you get your nails done? They look beautiful," Amber chimed in.

"I'll take you there later. We'll also get facials. If Allison weren't so insufferable, I wouldn't have grown these extra wrinkles."

As they left, only Shane remained behind, silent.

"Mr. Lundberg, did Ms. Schultz contact you before she went missing? We understand you fled the wedding yesterday, leaving her humiliated. This could've caused her emotional distress, increasing the likelihood of suicide. If you know anything, we ask for your cooperation…"

At those words, Shane flared up. The officer's implication stung as if he were directly responsible for my death.

He slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Officer Liam, you haven't found a body or a crime scene, yet you're so certain she's dead?"

"She's your wife!"

Shane's face twisted with irritation as he rose to leave. "Then wait until you find a body to start your investigation.

Chapter 5

Shane didn't believe anything had happened to me. He slammed the car door shut and dialed my number again, only to hear the automated message saying my phone was turned off.

He opened WhatsApp. The first chat pinned to the top of his list was Amber's. I noticed he had saved her contact with a nickname followed by a heart emoji.

For years, my contact had been pinned at the top of his list. Two years ago, I discovered he had replaced me with Amber.

The man who used to impatiently call her "little pest" had gradually changed his tone to affectionately address her as "Abbie".

When I asked about the change in his pinned contacts, there was a flash of guilt in his eyes. He came up with some lofty excuse, even accusing me of being petty and overbearing.

Since Amber returned to the Schultz family three years ago, she had relentlessly targeted me. With her masterful acting skills, she managed to turn my parents and brother against me, convincing them I was the villainous older sister.

I thought Shane was different. We grew up together. No one knew me better than he did. However, without my noticing, he had changed too. He started looking at me the same way everyone else did.

The signs were there all along—Shane had drifted far away, but I stubbornly clung to the past.

Shane scrolled quickly through his WhatsApp messages, struggling to find my name amid the flood of texts from friends and family who were checking on him after his dramatic wedding escape. Finally, he found my profile picture and opened the chat.

Inside were two messages—a location and the last message I ever sent him.

"Shane, we need to talk."

He stared at the screen, frozen for a long moment. Then, he hit the voice message button.

"Allison, where are you? I told you to stop playing games. We're married now! Why do you always have to make things difficult for Abbie? Do you know how upset she was yesterday? If you come back now, I'll let what happened last night slide."

After sending the messages, he tossed his phone aside.

Through the rearview mirror, his assistant, Devon Wright, noticed the fatigue and faint worry etched on his face.

Trying to ease the tension, Devon said, "Mr. Lundberg, Mrs. Lundberg has always been a reasonable person. Even when you left her at the wedding yesterday, she didn't lash out. I don't think she would make a joke serious enough to involve the police. Maybe we should try to find her?"

"You think you know her so well?"

"No, Mr. Lundberg. I just think she's been through a lot."

"A lot?" Shane let out a cold laugh.

Then, he sneered. "That woman loves putting on a show, pretending to garner sympathy. Fine, if you're so free, gather some people to search Riverside. Let's see if you can fish her body out of the water."

When someone started to resent you, there was no point asking why. Every reason you could think of would only confirm their feelings.

I had long suspected Shane's heart had changed. From his disdain for Amber to the way he now brought her up in seven out of every ten sentences, I knew things were different.

He remembered her preferences, her favorite foods. When he traveled, he brought back gifts for her in addition to mine.

Then, six months ago, Shane went abroad to inspect a project.

A sudden earthquake caused landslides, and I immediately booked a flight to be by his side, but Amber had hidden my passport and visa.

Unable to leave the country, I found later that she had boarded a plane that same day.

Desperately, I risked illegal passage across the Serenity Ocean, only to encounter a tsunami. If not for a kind stranger, I would have drowned.

When I finally made it back alive, overjoyed to return to him, Amber accused me of taking a luxury cruise for leisure.

I tried to explain about the passport, but she pulled open a drawer in front of everyone, revealing my passport neatly placed inside, making me look like a liar.

However, Shane refused to listen and lashed out at me with harsh words.

Looking at the man who had become a stranger, I decided to end it all.

"Shane, let's break off the engagement."

"Are you joking?" He frowned, looking displeased.

I spoke calmly. "I've done everything I can for this relationship. I don't want us to go from supporting each other to hating each other. Let's end it before it gets worse."

When he realized I was serious, a flicker of panic appeared in his eyes. From that day on, he made promises to me and vowed to cut ties with Amber.

He showered me with gifts and organized an extravagant proposal, throwing himself into preparations for our wedding. I thought I was finally going to be happy.

Three months ago, after a drunken night, we were intimate, and I discovered I was pregnant.

I was excited to share the good news with him, but then Amber manipulated the situation again—this time by staging a fall down the stairs.

Shane rushed over in anger, cradling her in his arms. When I tried to explain, he shoved me to the floor without hesitation.

That was when I realized the happiness I thought I had was only an illusion. The fragile peace between us shattered with the slightest blow.

He always believed Amber, no matter the lack of evidence.

The pain from his push caused me to pass out. When I woke up, the doctor informed me that the pregnancy was at risk.

While I stayed in the hospital to secure my child, I heard through Devon that Shane was busy with a major project. Even though he knew I was hospitalized, he never came to see me.

But I no longer cared about him. The only thing that mattered to me was this child. I was determined to keep my baby safe.

But then Amber came to my hospital room. She painted vivid, disgusting pictures of Shane kissing her, holding her, caressing her…

My stomach churned, and I felt a warm, wet sensation spreading beneath me. Too weak to reach the call button, I called out for the doctor.

I stumbled out of bed, desperate to protect my baby no matter what. But when I looked back at the sheets, the sight of bright red blood froze me in place.

Pain racked my body, and cold sweat poured down my face. Step by step, I moved toward the door, blood trailing behind me.

I didn't care about the pain—my mind clung to one thought—my baby… I had to save my baby…

But before I could reach the door, darkness consumed me, and I collapsed to the ground.

Chapter 6

When I woke up again, I was lying on the operating table.

The doctor's voice was cold. "The baby is gone. We're preparing for a dilation and curettage procedure now, Ms. Schultz. Please be prepared."

After the surgery, I called Shane. He told me he was busy, discussing an important business deal. Despite feeling utterly defeated, I insisted on seeing him.

When he finally stormed into the hospital, there wasn't a trace of concern on his face—only frustration and disgust.

"Allison, how much longer are you going to cause trouble?"

The words I had wanted to say about our lost child were swallowed back down.

I looked at his face, still as handsome as ever, yet the gentle man I once knew had become unrecognizable.

"Why are you looking at me like that? What surgery are you even talking about? What did you do?"

The pain in my abdomen was unbearable, like knives twisting inside me.

Faced with his interrogation, I remembered Amber's mocking words. Nothing hurt more than a heart that has completely died. I didn't want to explain anymore. All I felt was an overwhelming hatred.

I had told him before that we should break off the engagement. If he wanted to be with someone else, that was his freedom—I couldn't stop him.

However, he was the one who insisted on staying, promising he would cut ties with Amber.

If I had walked away back then, I wouldn't have gotten pregnant. He could hurt me, but why did the innocent child have to suffer too?

Gripping the bedsheet tightly, I couldn't hold back my tears. They fell in streams, one drop after another, trailing down my chin.

It wasn't until he noticed my pale complexion and the cold sweat on my forehead, that he realized something was wrong.

"Allison, are you feeling unwell?"

Once, I would have tried to argue back. But now, my mind was filled with nothing but searing hatred.

What had I done to deserve this constant torment from him and Amber? And why did my innocent child have to become a pawn in their twisted game?

The old saying was right—"With love comes sorrow. With love comes fear."

Now, I was nothing more than a vengeful ghost crawling out of hell, determined to make them pay dearly for what they had done to my child.

I was staying in the Schultz family's private hospital. Amber had undoubtedly orchestrated everything in advance, ensuring all her tracks were covered.

Even if I spoke the truth, she would produce evidence to discredit me.

If Shane were willing to believe me, he could uncover the truth. But his heart was entirely with Amber now.

Amber knew he wouldn't dig deeper. He would take her words at face value and act against me.

I had seen her manipulations too many times before, but this time, I wouldn't let myself be a fool. I knew she wanted me to give up and leave Shane so she could take my place openly, but I wouldn't give her that chance.

Swallowing my grief, I buried the truth about the child deep in my heart.

This was my trump card. Only when everyone saw Amber's true colors would my miscarriage become a bombshell revelation.

Otherwise, just like before, she would trivialize everything, turning major issues into minor ones, and minor ones into nothing.

Seeing me sobbing uncontrollably, Shane began to panic.

"Stop crying. Are you upset because I haven't visited you? I've been tied up preparing for a major project."

It seemed that while he cared for Amber, he wasn't entirely willing to sever our years-long bond.

"Shane, I had a dream. In the dream, you didn't love me anymore. I was so scared."

"Don't be silly. How could I not love you?"

Amber had expected me to use this opportunity to start a fight with Shane, breaking off the wedding for good.

She timed her arrival perfectly, hoping to see me humiliated. But instead, she walked in to find Shane and me tightly embracing. Her face turned ghostly pale.

From that day forward, I changed. I resolved to gather evidence of Shane and Amber's secret affair.

Despite her countless manipulations, the closest Amber had come to sharing a kiss with Shane—he hadn't yet crossed that final line.

But even that was enough for her to mock me. She would deliberately send me ambiguous photos and chat messages, only to delete them moments later.

Unbeknownst to her, I captured everything—screenshots, recordings, and saved messages.

I was planning a grand revelation. At our wedding banquet, I would expose everything between Shane and Amber for all to see.