I'm the woman Hector Ramirez kept and pampered.

For four years, I've stood by his side—shielding him from knives, swallowing medicine for his sake, tying my very life to his whims.

Everyone calls me Mrs. Ramirez, and it's taken for granted that I'm destined to be his future wife.

That was true until his unforgettable love, Gianna Joyner, became the target of a hit. With a single, ruthless motion, Hector shoved me forward, and I took the fatal blow meant for her.

He didn't know I was carrying his child.

That day, the cold blade cut my stomach, blood soaking through my white dress.

For the first time, that cold, merciless man lost his composure.

He held me, kneeling in a pool of blood, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "Kimberly, please... don't close your eyes!"

He said he loved me.

How laughable.

The man I truly loved was a cop.

Five years ago, the night before our engagement party.

That man, Edwin Dedrick, fell beneath Hector's gun.

***

In the fourth year of being Hector's lover, he told me he wanted to marry me.

When I asked why, he said it was because I was gentle, sensible, so much like the woman he couldn't erase from his heart—Gianna.

No one knows better than I do. In Hector's world, I'm nothing more than Gianna's shadow.

On those long nights when he missed Gianna, he would pin me beneath him, moving roughly, like he was venting or trying to prove something. At his worst, he'd grip my waist, his voice low and seductive, "Kim, cry for me, cry like she did."

He said I looked just like Gianna when my eyes went red and tears fell quietly.

His love was never truly mine.

His closest friends tried to comfort me, saying Hector once loved Gianna so much it almost destroyed him—but he'd never mentioned marriage.

Now, he was willing to give me a title—he must have feelings for me and just doesn't realize it.

He'd tie on an apron to make me soup to sober me up. He had the patience to coax me out of bed. And when I pretended to be angry, he'd quiet me with a kiss.

The name "Mrs. Ramirez" echoed through all of New York. I became the woman everyone envied.

Until, on the eve of our wedding, Hector and Gianna reunited in the VIP lounge of an auction house.

That day, I saw two red lines on the pregnancy test.

But Hector didn't want me anymore.

Gianna appeared, her arm linked with a rich businessman, her laughter dazzling and sweet.

Word was her family had fallen on hard times—her father drowning in debt, forcing her to survive among men who could crush her.

She drifted in with the crowd into our private suite, and the instant her eyes met Hector's, her face went pale, and she ducked her head in panic.

Gianna clearly didn't want to be recognized, but someone in the crowd, eager for drama, shoved her right into the seat beside Hector.

Hector, cigarette dangling from his lips, leaned back against my shoulder, eyes closed, and drawled, "For God's sake, watch where you're going! Don't crowd me! If you piss off my babe, you'd better watch your hands!"

Flattery and envy rippled through the room.

Gianna clutched her purse so tightly her nails nearly punctured the leather. She shot me a quick, venomous glance—jealousy and hatred written all over her face.

A woman nearby, desperate to curry favor, suddenly pushed Gianna forward.

"Gianna! Mr. Ramirez wants to hear 'Nightingale.' You sing it best, go on!"

The name "Gianna" dropped like a stone, and the suite fell silent.

Hector's eyes snapped open. His hand on my shoulder tightened so hard it sent pain shooting through my bones.

Gianna, mortified and furious, tried to get up and flee, but Hector grabbed her wrist and slammed her back onto the sofa.

In the next moment, he gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him, his voice icy and sharp. "Gianna! Didn't I warn you? Show your face in front of me again, and I'll make you wish you were dead!"

Everyone in New York knew Gianna was Hector's unforgettable love.

When Hector loved her to the core, Gianna slept with his sworn enemy out of spite.

That year, Hector drank himself sick every night, ended up with a perforated stomach, and nearly died on the operating table.

After that, Gianna became taboo.

Everyone believed he hated her with a vengeance.

Someone snickered, piling on, "Hey, Ms. Joyner, where's your sugar daddy now? What, can't afford to keep you anymore? Had to come out and hustle yourself?"

The words were filthy. I shot a glare at the speaker, and he shut up, embarrassed.

I tugged gently on Hector's sleeve. "Let it go. It's not easy for a woman trying to survive."

He glanced at me, his eyes cold as steel. "My business with her is none of yours."

My fingers froze, and I quietly let go.

Gianna's lips curled into a barely noticeable smirk, her gaze now tinged with contempt.

She lifted her hand, her fingertips tracing Hector's jaw, her voice trembling with tears. "Hec, don't marry a woman you don't love just because of me. Watching you... breaks my heart."

She bit her lip, fat tears rolling down and landing on his hand, burning hot.

"Hec, that night you saw me with him... in bed... he drugged me."

Hector's brow furrowed sharply, his grip on her chin loosening.

The anger from moments ago vanished like smoke.

Gianna collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Hector didn't push her away.

Whether that story about the drugs was true or not, there was no way to prove it anymore.

That man had already been destroyed by Hector, reduced to a shell, and dumped somewhere to die.

But Hector believed her.

Or maybe, he wanted to believe her. He forgave her easily.

With everyone watching, he gently patted Gianna's back, his voice softer than I'd ever heard. "Don't cry. I'll take you home."

I heard someone whisper, "Gianna's back. What happens to Mrs. Ramirez?"

"What do you think? The real deal's returned—the stand-in's gotta go."

Hector heard it, but he said nothing.

Once, he wouldn't let anyone say a word against me.

Now, his beloved was back.

And I was just... an extra.

That night, Hector brought Gianna back to our villa.

I trailed behind them, and as I stepped through the door, Gianna glanced over her shoulder, flashing me a sweet, triumphant smile.

She clung to Hector's arm, her voice sugary and coy. "Hec, it's late. Why don't we let Ms. Florian move out tomorrow? It's not safe for a woman to be out alone at night."

She couldn't wait to stake her claim.

I gave her a faint, polite smile. In the next instant, a small butterfly knife slipped from my sleeve, the tip pressing against the artery in her neck. My voice was calm, almost detached. "This isn't your place to give orders."

Gianna's face went ghostly pale, her eyes darting to Hector for help.

Hector lit a cigarette, clamping it between his teeth, a playful smirk tugging at his lips as he reached over to lower my blade.

He tousled my hair, his tone indulgent and lazy. "I taught you to handle a knife for self-defense, not to play tough in front of me.

"Come in."

He led Gianna inside, leaving me alone in the cold night air, like a discarded doll.

I should have turned around and walked away right then.

But I couldn't.

I had to marry Hector.

I had to be good, obedient, shamelessly in love with him.

I stood at the doorway for a moment, swallowing every turbulent emotion, then walked inside on my own.

Gianna was already wearing my silk robe, and it fit her perfectly.

She sidled up to me, her tone intimate and innocent. "Kimberly, I wasn't really trying to kick you out earlier. Hec said you saved his life, and he's sentimental. So am I.

"From now on, you can stay here with us. We'll treat you like a little sister, take care of you for life."

She casually pointed to the guest room. "You can stay there. Make yourself at home."

I let out a cold laugh and slapped her hard across the face, my voice icy. "Who do you think you are, telling me where to go?"

I shoved past her and headed straight for the primary bedroom, slamming the door behind me.

Late that night, Hector pushed open the door and walked in.

I stared out at the stark, pale moonlight, my voice airy. "What, here to collect a debt for your sweetheart?"

Hector said nothing, just grabbed me by the collar and hauled me up.

I glared at him, wanting him to see every ounce of my resentment.

But he just gave a low, amused laugh. Leaning down, he captured my lips in a searing kiss. His breath was hot against my skin. "Go comfort Gianna."

Tears spilled over in an instant. I bit down, breaking his lip, and the taste of blood spreading between us.

He kissed me like he'd never stop, making me weak and shaking. In my confusion, he pressed his lips to my ear, his breath scorching.

"Go apologize to Gianna. She keeps crying—bad for her eyes.

"Kim, be good. While I'm still patient, don't make things harder for me."

I smiled silently, and after a moment, whispered, "Okay."

Word got out that Hector made me bow to Gianna—and it spread through New York like wildfire.

He set Gianna up in a luxury apartment—a gilded cage for his darling.

Rumors swirled that I was about to be thrown out.

I paid no mind, focusing only on playing the part of his obedient fiancée.

The wedding was set for a month from now, and I counted down the days, one by one.

Hector toyed with a strand of my hair, his voice soft. "You really want to marry me that much?"

I wrapped my arms around his neck, my breath brushing his ear. "It's what keeps me going."

He chuckled, then, as if by magic, pulled out a diamond necklace. The cold chain rested on my collarbone, the pear-shaped stone sparkling with rainbow light.

"Happy birthday, fiancée," he murmured, his voice lazy and magnetic.

He booked a private yacht party, inviting friends to celebrate with me.

When I arrived, I saw Gianna was there too.

She came right over, her voice delicate and sweet. "Kimberly, I hope you don't mind me coming. Last time, Hec insisted you apologize, but I told him it wasn't necessary. He just couldn't stand to see me upset... It's all my fault for making things hard on you.

"Honestly, I really like you. Can we be best friends?"

I looked at her quietly, saying nothing, just tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear.

The sunlight sparked off the diamonds, making Gianna squint in pain.

"He gave you that?" Her voice trembled.

I smiled. "I'm his wife. If he doesn't give it to me, who would he give it to—you?"

The crowd pressed in, full of envy. "Mrs. Ramirez, you're so lucky! Mr. Ramirez has given you his whole heart!"

"That diamond—I've seen it in catalogs. It's worth a fortune!"

"Mrs. Ramirez, can you take it off so we can all admire it?"

Gianna's face turned ashen.

I was just about to undo the clasp when she "accidentally" bumped into me.

I stumbled. The necklace slipped from my fingers, arcing through the air, and plunging into the icy sea.

Pain stabbed through my lower abdomen from the fall.

Gianna put on a frantic act, crying prettily. "I'm so sorry, Kimberly! It's all my fault—I'm so clumsy! Don't worry! I'll ask Hec to buy you an even bigger one to make up for it! He's always generous with me—if I wanted the stars, he'd fetch them!"

I stared at her coldly. "That won't be necessary. You lost it—you go get it back."

I grabbed her perfectly styled curls and dragged her toward the edge of the deck.

Gianna shrieked and struggled, chaos erupting all around.

"Mr. Ramirez's here!" someone shouted.

Instant silence.

Hector appeared, arms full of roses—a surprise meant for me.

Gianna tore herself free and threw herself into his arms, pointing to her bare neck and sobbing, "Hec! She threw my gemstone pendant into the sea! It was all I had left from my mom!"

Ignoring the agony twisting in my stomach, I dug my nails into my palm, forcing my voice steady. "I never touched her pendant. But she tossed our wedding gift into the ocean."

"Hector, the necklace you gave me—it's gone..."

Before I could finish, Hector cut me off, voice icy. "It's just a necklace. Is it really that important?"

I froze, then laughed, retorting, "Hector, the wedding gift you gave me—doesn't it matter?"

He stared at me, enunciating every word. "Kimberly, her gemstone pendant was her mother's keepsake.

"You can always buy another necklace, but can you replace a keepsake?"

He slammed the bouquet into the trash, his voice thunderous. "You lost it. You go find it!"

Someone tried to speak for me. "Mr. Ramirez, Mrs. Ramirez doesn't look well..."

Gianna jumped in, pretending to plead. "Let it go, Hec! I know Kimberly hates me! If it'll make her feel better, I don't need the pendant! I'll find it myself—don't hurt her for me..."

Hector ignored her, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "Are you feeling alright?"

I forced a smile. "I'm fine."

Then I turned and walked toward the frigid sea.

The early autumn water was bone-chilling cold.

Just before dawn, I found Gianna's smooth gemstone pendant wedged between the soaked rocks on the shore and brought it to her apartment.

When the door swung open, Hector stood there shirtless, beads of water tracing down his sculpted torso.

Gianna was curled up beside him in a nearly see-through camisole, her smile sugary sweet.

"We just finished a workout and hopped in the shower. Kimberly, don't get the wrong idea—Hec's just soft-hearted, he never meant to make things hard for you."

Hector caught sight of my damp clothes and lips turned purple from the cold, his brow furrowing as he yanked me into his arms, pressing my shivering body against his burning chest.

His voice was tinged with frustration. "Would it kill you to swallow your pride for once? Where's that sharp wit of yours now?"

I gently pushed him away and handed over the wet pendant, my palm icy as I held it.

"I'm done," I said with a bitter, self-deprecating smile. "Hector, your heart is made of stone. I can't warm it, and I'm tired of trying.

"I know you care about her. Here's her pendant—go make her happy.

"And don't let her live here anymore. She looks like a homewrecker, and it's humiliating for her.

"Give me two days. I'll move out."

I turned to leave, but Hector's grip clamped around my wrist like a steel vise, nearly crushing my bones.

"Aren't we getting married?!" His voice was cold as ice.

My eyes burned, tears threatening. I choked back a sob. "You don't want to marry me, and I don't want to marry you. Works out for both of us."

I tried to wrench free, but he only tightened his hold. Desperate, I bit down hard on his hand until the taste of blood filled the air.

Hector cursed under his breath, then seized the back of my neck, pinning me to the cold wall. His breath was hot and menacing at my ear. "Who was it that said marrying me was the only reason she kept going?! Kimberly, was that just bullshit?!

"Too bad—I actually believed you!

"Now you want to run? Too late!"

That night, Hector left Gianna behind and took me back to the villa.

He dragged me into the bathroom, hot water pouring down as he gripped my chin and kissed me fiercely, tearing away my soaked clothes.

His kiss was punishing, possessive.

For the first time, I fought back, refusing to give in.

By the end, Hector was breathless, laughing against my forehead. "Kimberly, listen to me! No one can steal me away from you! Not even Gianna!"

He said he only pitied her.

It felt like—he really did love me.

After that, Hector started ignoring Gianna.

He came home on time, ate dinner with me, and took walks—just like an ordinary married couple.

Everyone said he'd never been so patient with anyone.

As the wedding approached, Gianna announced she was leaving.

It was Hector's birthday, and I'd planned to tell him I was pregnant.

Before I could say a word, Gianna appeared, dragging her suitcase, eyes red and brimming with tears.

"We promised forever... but I can't stay anymore.

"Kimberly can't accept me. She's unhappy when I'm around, and it'll affect you both... I have to go.

"Thank her for me. From now on, make sure she takes care of you."

Hector's face darkened. "Didn't we agree to be like family? Kim's sensible, she'll listen to me.

"Why do you have to leave?"

Gianna gave a sorrowful smile, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Hector, can you really just treat me like family?

"All those hugs, kisses, nights together... Can you really forget?"

She waited for his answer, but Hector stayed silent.

Suddenly, Gianna broke down, screaming, "I can't! I still love you, Hector! Watching you marry her, have kids with her—it's like being stabbed over and over!"

She yanked up her sleeve, revealing jagged scars, old and new, on her wrist.

"I have depression, Hector! If you don't love me, I'll die...

"But I know—you'll never care for me again..."

She turned and ran.

Hector didn't hesitate—he chased after her.

Outside, rain poured in sheets. I stood at the window, watching their figures blur and fade in the storm.

My heart pounded with panic.

If he walked away this time—

Maybe he really wouldn't marry me after all.

I had to bring him back. I had to.

I tore through the rain, frantically searching.

I had no idea how long I'd been running before I finally spotted Gianna curled up in a corner, sobbing into her knees. Hector was crouched in front of her, holding her tightly.

Gianna pounded on his chest. "You don't love me! Why did you come after me? Don't you know Kimberly will be heartbroken?!

"Why?! She's just my shadow, but she stole everything from me!

"I have nothing left, Hector! No home, no you..."

Hector let her hit him, his voice filled with a tenderness I'd never heard before.

"Don't hurt yourself. Gia, I'll always be here. If you want a home, I'll give you one.

"Whatever Kimberly has, you'll have too. I'll give you more—just for you."

Watching this gentle, unfamiliar Hector, I felt like he was worlds away from me.

Gianna clung to him, her gaze sliding over his shoulder to lock on mine.

Her lips curled into a victorious smirk.

I heard her ask, "You don't really love Kimberly, do you? You're marrying her just to spite me, aren't you?"

Hector was silent, but Gianna pressed harder.

"Say it! Say you don't love her! Say you love me!

"Hector! If you don't comfort me, I'll really leave! You'll never find me again!"

Hector sighed, a weary, indulgent sound.

"Fine, you're right.

"I love you, okay? Come home with me."

Gianna closed her eyes, tilting her face up.

"I don't believe you. Unless... you kiss me.

"Hector, kiss me."

I couldn't hold back anymore. "Hector! Don't! We're about to get married! Can't you spare a little of that softness for me?"

Hector turned to look at me, stunned.

Gianna nestled into his arms, flashing me a smug smile.

Suddenly, she whipped out a small knife and pressed it to her throat, her voice hysterical. "Make her leave! Hector! Make Kimberly go! I never want to see her again!"

Hector nodded, his voice cold as ice. "She's unstable. You... need to go."

I was shaking all over, fighting back tears. "Hector, I have something to tell you... I'm pregnant."

Hector froze, forgetting even Gianna's tears, his eyes locked on me.

I reached for the ultrasound report in my pocket, my fingertips just brushing the edge of the paper—

Bang!

A deafening gunshot ripped through the rain-soaked night!

Gianna screamed and dove into Hector's arms. He instinctively shielded her, holding her close.

And I was left standing there, pinned in place by the gunfire, my blood running cold.

We'd been through life and death together more times than I could count—he knew better than anyone how terrified I was of gunshots.

Before, he'd always cover my ears right away, laughing and calling me a scaredy-cat.

But now, the man who used to protect me was holding someone else, forgetting me.

Another shot rang out!

I clutched my head, wanting to crouch down, but a numb, searing pain shot through my lower abdomen!

Warm liquid gushed out, soaking the white dress clinging to my body in crimson.

"Kimberly—!" Hector's scream was raw with terror, unlike anything I'd ever heard.

He rushed over, catching me as I collapsed, desperately pressing his hands to my wound.

He was crying, rambling apologies, and begging me not to die.

I gave him a weak smile, slowly pulling out the blood-soaked ultrasound report I'd kept close to my heart.

"Hector... look... our baby...

"Too bad... we'll never get to see them..."