Hannah Yanetta and Shawn Adelson were well-known sworn enemies in their social circle.

They had been married for five years, and fighting just as long.

On their wedding night, he showed her private photos without permission, so she hit him on the head. When he came home drunk with other women, she destroyed his favorite antique vase. At a business party, he embarrassed her on purpose, so she threw a glass of red wine right in his face.

But soon, it would all come to an end.

Hannah stared at the medical report in her hands. It said she had late-stage stomach cancer. The doctor's voice still rang in her mind, "You have two weeks, at most."

Surprisingly, she didn't feel all that sad. Instead, a strange sense of relief settled over her.

Her phone suddenly buzzed nonstop, and messages popped up one after another.

"Hannah! Look at the group chat!"

"Has Shawn lost his mind?!"

"He's actually auctioning off a night with you!"

Her fingers went cold. Her whole body froze.

"Shawn, how could you do this to me?"

Without thinking, she grabbed her car keys and rushed out. She made it to the auction house as fast as she could.

The auction hall sparkled under dazzling lights. Shawn was sitting casually in the front row, dressed in a black suit. A girl in a white dress sat beside him.

When Hannah saw who it was, her heart dropped.

Ariana Cauley.

She was the girl Shawn had chosen—the one who looked the most like her sister.

On the screen above the stage, Hannah's private photos were being shown. Men in the audience were excitedly raising signs and bidding.

"Three hundred thousand!"

"Five hundred thousand!"

"Eight hundred thousand!"

Then, a bald man suddenly jumped to his feet, face shaking with excitement as he shouted, "I'll pay eight million for one night with Ms. Yanetta!"

The audience erupted in shock.

Hannah stood frozen in place, feeling like all the blood in her body had turned to ice.

She looked at Shawn, searching his face for a flicker of emotion. But he didn't even spare her a glance. Instead, he leaned back and nodded lazily. "Deal!"

The bald man walked up, rubbing his hands eagerly, his eyes roaming over her in a disgusting way. "Mr. Adelson, are you serious? I can really take her with me?"

"Of course," Shawn replied with a smirk, though his eyes were cold. "Once the money's in, she's yours."

Every word stabbed into Hannah like a knife.

The bald man reached out to grab her to the hotel, but she snatched a wine bottle from the table and slammed it into his head with a loud crack!

Glass shards flew everywhere, and blood dripped down his face.

"How dare you touch me?" she growled. Her voice was shaking, but her glare was sharp. "Whoever bought me tonight, I'll pay double to cancel the deal. Now get the hell out of my sight."

The entire hall went dead silent.

Then Shawn let out a low chuckle, clapping slowly with mocking ease. "Ms. Yanetta, you haven't changed a bit."

He walked up to her, leaned in close, and whispered, his breath warm against her ear, "But you know, if I can auction you off once, I can do it again and again..."

He stopped for a second, his tone laced with a cold smirk. "Ms. Yanetta, how much money do you have to keep buying your freedom back?"

Hannah lifted her head, eyes swollen and red. "Shawn, do you really despise me that much?"

"Despise?" Shawn's expression turned cold, as though he had just heard something ridiculous. "You killed the two people I care about the most. What do you think I feel?"

Hannah's chest suddenly felt tight, like an invisible hand was squeezing it hard.

Her mind wandered to Shawn's older brother, James Adelson, the man who always had a warm, gentle smile.

Ever since they were young, he had given her everything she ever asked for, spoiling her without hesitation. As she grew up and started to understand love, it felt natural for her to fall for him—this caring, thoughtful man.

Meanwhile, Shawn had feelings for her older sister, Brielle Yanetta, a soft-spoken girl with charming eyes when she smiled.

The four of them used to hang out together often. She and Shawn were always arguing, while James and Brielle just stood by with amused, helpless smiles.

Then everything changed.

One day, James held Brielle's hand and told both families they were getting married.

Hannah was shocked and heartbroken. She locked herself in her room and cried through the night. Still refusing to face the truth, she ran away from home.

James and Brielle went looking for her out of worry, but ended up in a terrible car accident, and both lost their lives.

After that, Hannah spent every day visiting their grave, crying until she nearly passed out.

Shawn was the one who lifted her up, wiped her tears, and stayed by her side during the worst time of her life.

When nightmares woke her up, he'd turn on the light. When she had no appetite, he'd make her something to eat. When she cried in the middle of the night, he'd quietly bring her a glass of water.

Little by little, she started leaning on him more and more.

Then one night, Shawn suddenly said, "Hannah, I've fallen for you. Marry me."

Hannah froze, completely caught off guard.

"I want to take care of you for the rest of my life," he said softly. His deep gaze made her heart tremble. "During this time, you have also been attracted to me, right?"

It was true.

He had reached out when she was sinking, bringing light to her darkest days. Somewhere along the way, she really had fallen in love with Shawn, the boy she had once fought with constantly as a child.

So, she said yes.

On the day of the wedding, Hannah wore a pure white wedding gown, holding her flower bouquet nervously. She believed this would be a fresh start.

Suddenly, the screen in the banquet hall turned on, revealing her private photos.

"So, what do you all think of Mrs. Adelson's figure?" Shawn stood on stage, smirking coldly. "These are my special wedding gifts to everyone."

Hannah froze in place, her whole body going cold.

Her voice was weak and shaking. "Shawn... Why are you doing this?"

"Why?" He walked down from the stage, grabbed her chin roughly, and glared into her eyes. "You killed my brother and Brielle. You thought I actually loved you? I married you just to keep you by my side and make you pay for what you did to them for the rest of your life!"

Hannah let out a bitter laugh, her body numb with pain. While everyone whispered around her, she grabbed a bottle of champagne and smashed it against his head.

From then on, their marriage became nothing but pain and revenge.

Five years have gone by since that day.

Neither of them ever walked away.

"I never meant for any of it to happen..." Hannah whispered, her hands shaking as she held the medical report. "Shawn, can we please stop fighting and just get along for the next two weeks? After that, everything will be over."

She only had two weeks left to live. Once she was gone, the hatred would be gone too.

Shawn let out a chuckle, like it was all some kind of joke. "So now you lie too? How can anything be over?

"Hannah, the fight between us ends only when one of us dies."

Her heart turned cold.

What a cruel fight.

She said quietly, "You'll understand in two weeks. By then, I'll give you what you want."

Shawn gave a mocking smile. "Fine. I'll wait to see how you plan to repay for the deaths of those two!"

After saying those cruel things, Shawn left the auction with Ariana. Hannah went home too, looking exhausted.

That night, Shawn didn't come back at all.

By morning, the internet was flooded with photos of Shawn and Ariana entering and leaving a hotel late at night.

Hannah scrolled through the photos without any emotion. In the photos, Ariana wore a white dress and had soft features. She looked a lot like Brielle, around 70% similar.

Over time, he had dated many women who resembled Brielle. This one looked the most alike, so she was his favorite.

Hannah set her phone aside and continued her breakfast quietly. Her stomach ached slightly, but she'd gotten used to it.

All of a sudden, the front door flew open. Shawn stepped in, sharp in a suit. When he saw her still sitting there at the dining table, his face darkened. "Why are you still here?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

Then he added with a smirk, "Didn't you promise to give me what I want in two weeks? Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

Hannah looked up at him, but before she could speak, a sharp pain hit her stomach. A metallic taste filled her mouth.

She stood up and rushed into the bathroom, leaned over the sink, and started gagging until blood came out.

A servant cried out in surprise, "Mrs. Adelson, is this morning sickness?"

Shawn's expression shifted instantly. He rushed in, grabbed her arm, and asked, "Are you pregnant?"

He remembered that night two months ago when he had too much to drink and was out of control. The two of them tangled in a night of mutual torment.

"Go to the hospital and get an abortion," he said coldly, as if something had just clicked in his mind. "You mentioned two weeks. You thought using a child would make me stop punishing you?"

Hannah shook off his hand and held back the pain in her stomach. "Don't worry. I'm not pregnant, and I never will."

Shawn didn't believe a word and grabbed her, trying to drag her out the door. "We're going to the hospital now."

"I'm not going!" Hannah shouted, trying to break free.

His face darkened, and a flash of annoyance appeared in his eyes. "You've never been scared of doctors before. What's wrong with you today? You're clearly sick!"

"That's right. I am sick," she said with a bitter laugh.

"So you won't go, huh?" Shawn let go of her and turned to the servant. "Go get some abortion medicine."

The servant, too afraid to disobey, quickly returned with a glass of dark-colored liquid.

Shawn grabbed Hannah by the chin and made her open her mouth. "Drink it," he ordered.

Though Hannah clenched her jaw tightly, the liquid was still forced past her lips.

As soon as the medicine slid down her throat, her stomach felt like it was on fire. She collapsed to the floor in agony, her back drenched in sweat from the pain.

"Urgh!"

She suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Her vision blurred, then went dark as she lost consciousness.

"Hannah!"

Shawn's voice sounded panicked, but she couldn't hear it anymore.

She came to in a daze, with blurry voices drifting into her ears.

"The patient isn't even pregnant. Why would she take abortion medicine? We have to perform an emergency gastric lavage immediately," the doctor said in a low voice.

She tried to open her eyes, but her body felt too weak to move.

When the cold tube slid down her throat for the procedure, her whole body shook from the pain.

With late-stage stomach cancer, her stomach lining was already paper-thin. And now, it felt as if someone had ripped it apart with their bare hands.

"Hang in there," a nurse whispered softly, trying to calm her while continuing the procedure.

Each second dragged on forever. Hannah gripped the bedsheet with all her strength; her hospital gown was soaked with sweat.

When she was finally wheeled out of the operating room, the anesthesia was starting to wear off.

She slowly opened her eyes and caught sight of the doctor holding a report, looking uncertain as he spoke to Shawn. "Mr. Adelson, your wife's condition is more severe than we thought..."

Shawn cut him off, sounding annoyed. "How bad can it be? She just took the wrong medicine. You already pumped her stomach. What's the big deal now?"

The doctor paused, then carefully explained, "It's not only because of the abortion medicine. Her test results also show that she has a stomach..."

"I have stomach issues," Hannah said suddenly, her voice rough and raspy. "I know my body. There's no need to tell him."

She turned her head to the side, refusing to meet Shawn's eyes. "He doesn't care about stuff like that."

Shawn let out a cold chuckle. "You're right. As long as you're breathing, your health means nothing to me."

He was about to walk away when his phone began to ring.

"Shawn, where are you? I miss you so much..." came Ariana's sweet voice through the phone.

Shawn gave a glance at the hospital bed and then smiled lazily. "I'm at the hospital. Come see me if you really miss me."

After ending the call, he looked at Hannah with a mocking grin. "Didn't you want me to accompany you more in the next two weeks? Fine, I'll stay with you now."

Moments later, Ariana stepped into the ward. She froze when she noticed Hannah, but quickly walked over to Shawn without saying a word.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned in to kiss her.

Ariana kissed him back shyly, and the two made out, ignoring Hannah lying in the hospital bed.

Hannah's face turned ghostly pale, and her stomach twisted in disgust.

She reached for the vase nearby and hurled it.

"Get out! I don't want to see you!"

Shawn turned around just in time, shielding with his back, but some of the broken pieces flew off and scratched Ariana's face, leaving a thin line of blood.

"Shawn..." Ariana touched her face, eyes filling with tears. "My face..."

Shawn's eyes widened, and his expression turned cold and dark.

He picked her up in his arms, his voice laced with a panic Hannah had never heard from him before. "Don't touch the cut!"

He shouted at the bodyguard near the door, "Call the head dermatologist right now! No, send a helicopter to get all the best foreign specialists! Do it now!"

Hannah stayed on the bed, watching Shawn rush out with Ariana in his arms. His worried voice echoed down the hallway, "Use the best treatment! She can't have a scar!"

Hannah's chest tightened like it was being cut repeatedly by a blunt knife.

She looked at her hands, full of bruises and needle marks, and suddenly let out a soft laugh.

How ironic.

Ariana only slightly resembled Brielle, yet Shawn was so panicked over a small injury.

And yet she—his legal wife—couldn't even get a second glance.

Pain surged in her stomach again, and she curled up, her hospital gown damp with cold sweat.

She remained in the hospital for several more days.

Every day, it was an endless routine of pills and injections. Her stomach felt like it was being torn apart from the inside.

She became so skinny that she was almost unrecognizable, and her hair fell out in thick bunches. Even the nurse couldn't stand watching anymore and quietly slipped her a few extra painkillers.

Then one day, Shawn stormed into the ward with a gloomy face and yanked her off the bed.

"Ariana's face was nearly ruined. Are you happy now?" he said, his voice sharp and cold.

Hannah tried to pull away, her voice weak. "It was only a scratch..."

"Shut up!" Shawn snapped, his voice sharp as a whip. "Hannah, you dared to lay a hand on my people. Now you'll pay the price."

Hannah didn't even have time to respond before two bodyguards grabbed her and pulled her toward the staircase.

Broken pieces of glass were scattered everywhere!

"Throw yourself down the stairs!" Shawn ordered coldly. "Do it, and I'll let everything slide."

Hannah clung tightly to the handrail. "Shawn, she's not Brielle. Have you completely lost your mind?"

"As long as she looks like Brielle, that's all that matters!" Shawn's gaze was cold and threatening. "Since you won't take the blame, fine. Guard, push her down."

The bodyguard shoved her hard.

"Ah!"

She tumbled hard down the stairs, her body hitting each step with brutal force. Sharp bits of glass sliced into her skin, and blood started to smear the staircase.

She struggled to push herself up, her vision blurring. But before she could find her balance, they yanked her up again.

A second time. A third time...

Until she could no longer move. Blood poured from her mouth, soaking the front of her hospital gown.

When she regained consciousness, she could hear the nurses' whispers from the corridor.

"Ms. Cauley's small injury healed long ago, and Mr. Adelson still stays by her side every day. He treats her like his precious one."

"Compared to that, the patient in room 302 is in such a miserable state. Covered in wounds, and no one even brings her meals."

"Isn't she his legal wife?"

"Be quiet..."

Hannah closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks without a sound.

She remained in the hospital for several more days. Her condition kept getting worse. The painkillers no longer helped, and the pain from her stomach cancer only grew harder to bear.

She realized there was no reason to stay in the hospital anymore, so she simply got discharged early.

When she got back home, Shawn was in the living room. As soon as he saw her walk in, he stood up and headed toward his study, ready to ignore her.

Leaning weakly against the wall, Hannah softly said, "Shawn, my birthday is the day after tomorrow."

He stopped and glanced over. "So what?"

"I want to spend one last birthday with you," she remarked.

He asked, "What do you mean, 'last'? Are you planning on dying or something?"

Hannah gave a faint smile. "Yeah. That's exactly what I'm planning. So, are you going to give me that birthday or not?"

Shawn thought she was just being dramatic. He let out a mocking laugh. "Sure. I'll prepare a special surprise for you."

He stressed the word "special," and there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.

On her birthday, Hannah followed the address Shawn had sent and arrived at the hotel.

But the moment she stepped inside, she froze.

The entire hall looked like a funeral setting. In the middle stood a coffin, and the place was surrounded by white lilies meant for mourning.

A "memorial photo" of her hung on the wall. The guests were all dressed in black suits with white flowers pinned to their sleeves. As soon as she entered, silence fell over the crowd. Everyone stared at her like they were waiting for the drama to begin.

"Do you like it?" Shawn emerged from the crowd, a smirk on his face. "Hannah, this funeral is my gift to you."

Hannah stared at her memorial photo, then suddenly smiled and said, "It's nice. I like it."

Shawn froze for a second, clearly caught off guard, then replied with a cold tone, "If you're so into it, then stay right there."

He lifted his arm, and right away, a few of his friends came forward and started lighting the candles in front of Hannah.

"Hannah, better to go early and get it over with."

"Don't mess with Shawn in your next life."

"Hope you have a nice journey."

Hannah smiled faintly, taking in every word.

Once everything was done, Hannah turned to leave, but Shawn held her back and demanded, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"What are you talking about?" Hannah asked.

"Why didn't you smash everything up? Don't you usually hate it when I treat you like this?" he said, narrowing his eyes.

Hannah gave him a peaceful look. "Because this isn't shameful to me. I actually really like the gift."

After all, she really didn't have much time left.

Shawn stared at Hannah for a while. The anger in his eyes slowly turned into confusion, and then into a cold smirk. He mocked, "So now you're switching from being aggressive to trying to act sweet?"

He stepped closer. "Hannah, I'm warning you. No matter what you try, I will never forgive you."

Hannah stayed quiet and looked at him calmly.

Her calmness somehow made Shawn even more irritated. He turned around and walked quickly out of the banquet hall.

When Hannah got home, the pain in her stomach was so bad that she could barely stand straight.

She ran into the bathroom, leaned over the sink, and coughed up blood. The red drops on the clean tiles looked brutally out of place.

Her hands shook as she took some painkillers, and once the pain dulled a little, she soaked in a hot bath.

Later, while brushing her hair, she noticed that a large clump of it had come off on the comb. Looking in the mirror at her tired, pale face, a chilling thought hit her.

She probably wouldn't even last another two weeks.

The next morning, Hannah walked into a small, old photo studio.

"A memorial photo?" the owner asked, adjusting his glasses and looking at the young woman in front of him with surprise. "You're still so young. Why would you need something like that?"

Hannah said softly, smiling, "I have a serious illness. Please help me take a good picture."

The owner sighed and gently fixed a strand of her hair. "Don't worry. I'll make sure it turns out lovely."

In front of the camera, she wore soft makeup, her favorite red dress, and a glowing, confident smile—like the cheerful girl she used to be.

After the photos were done, the owner asked, "Do you want to take the prints right away?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Please touch it up and send it to this address in a few days."

She wrote down her home address, planning to place her memorial photo beside Brielle's.

Leaving the studio, Hannah made one more stop. She went to the Adelson family's chapel room.

She stood quietly in front of the portraits of James and Brielle, her fingers gently brushing the edge of one frame.

In the photo, Brielle smiled softly, and James still had that gentle look in his eyes, like he might step right out of the frame and ruffle her hair like he used to.

"James, Brielle... I'll see you soon," she whispered so faintly it was barely audible.

"The feud between our families..." She paused, a single tear falling onto the table. "It's finally coming to an end."

"Hannah, who said you could be here?"

A cold voice sounded behind her, making her whole body tense. Her elbow accidentally knocked into the picture frame.

"Crash!"

The glass shattered, the sharp sound echoing through the quiet chapel room.

Shawn's expression turned stormy. He stormed over and grabbed her by the wrist. "Was killing them not enough for you? Now you're ruining their memorial photos too?"

"I didn't do it on purpose!" Hannah yanked her arm, trying to get free. "If you hadn't shown up out of nowhere, I wouldn't have even touched it!"

"Shut up! You're a killer. What right do you have to touch anything that belongs to them?" Shawn snapped.

"I just came to see them!" she cried.

"See them?" Shawn laughed coldly, his eyes full of hate. "You think you're worthy?"

He suddenly dragged her toward the door. Hannah stumbled and slammed her knee against the door sill.

"Let go of me!" She grabbed the doorframe desperately, her fingernails nearly breaking. "Shawn, have you lost your mind?!"

"You're the insane one!" he yelled, shoving her back into the chapel room. "Fine. Since you don't want to leave, kneel here and make up for what you've done!"

A bodyguard quickly came over and grabbed her by the shoulders. Hannah fought back fiercely, shouting, "Leave me alone! I have my own way to make things right, and this isn't it!"

Shawn's expression turned cold. Without a word, he raised his foot and kicked her knees.

"Ah!"

She screamed as pain shot through her leg, collapsing onto the floor where shattered glass pierced her skin. Blood spread fast, staining the hem of her skirt.

"Shawn..." Ariana's soft voice came from the door.

She stood there nervously, holding up her dress a little. "Did I bother you...?"

As soon as she stepped into the room, she suddenly cried out, "Ouch!" Her foot slipped, and she accidentally knocked over a candleholder.

The fire quickly spread across the floor, catching on the scattered photographs. One by one, the pictures of James and Brielle burned away into nothing but blackened ash.

Shawn's eyes widened in shock, but then he froze, caught off guard by the sight of tears welling in Ariana's eyes.

Her frightened expression looked just like Brielle's had back in the day.

"Shawn, I didn't do it on purpose..." she whispered, biting her lower lip as tears welled up. "Please don't be mad..."

For a second, Shawn looked lost. Then, he gently reached out and wiped her tears. "It's okay. I'm not upset."

Watching this, Hannah felt like her heart had been ripped open.

She suddenly yanked herself away from the bodyguard, stormed up, and slapped Shawn across the face. "Shawn, wake up!"

Her voice shook as she shouted, "She's just a cheap stand-in, not my sister!"

Shawn's face darkened instantly. He seized her wrist, and a cracking sound echoed from her bones. His voice was low and rough. "I know she isn't.

"Then can you bring Brielle back to me?!"

Hannah tried to speak, but no words came out.

Her eyes filled with tears, and as she stared at Shawn's face just inches away, she could barely stop herself from crying.

"Tie her up," Shawn said coldly as he let go of her. "Make her kneel and pay for what she's done."

The bodyguard tied Hannah's hands with a thick rope and forced her to kneel in the center of the chapel room.

As Shawn walked away with Ariana, he didn't glance back even once.

The doors slammed shut behind them, leaving the room in complete silence and darkness.

Hannah was bound tightly and collapsed to the floor. Her tears finally fell without control.

Staring at Brielle's burned photo, she let out a soft laugh. "Brielle... Look, he can't even tell the difference between real and fake.

"I'll see you soon...

"When I do, can you tell him yourself how pathetic that stand-in is?"

Outside the chapel room, Shawn leaned against the wall, silently lighting one cigarette after another.

Ariana walked over and tried to act cute, but he brushed her off with annoyance. "You go back first."

"But Shawn..."

"I told you to leave."

Though she didn't want to, Ariana turned and walked away.

Shawn crushed his cigarette beneath his shoe, then glanced at the tightly shut chapel doors. A strange pressure filled his chest.

"I should've felt satisfied. So why did I feel so hollow?"

Hannah had been kept in the chapel room, tied up for a full day, and wasn't let out until the evening of the following day.

Her limbs were sore all over, and her knees were scraped from kneeling so long. Standing up was hard.

When a servant tried to guide her back to her room, she gently refused. "No. I want to go out for a bit."

She knew her time was running out and wanted to visit her parents one final time.

In front of Yanetta's residence.

Hannah stood on the other side of the road, staring at the house she used to know so well.

She hadn't returned in five years, ever since marrying Shawn.

She'd only planned to take a quiet look at the house from afar, but an old servant spotted her.

"Ms. Yanetta?!" the old servant cried out. "What are you doing back here?"

Before she could answer, her parents had already rushed out at the sound.

Her father went pale. "Who told you to come back? Taking Brielle from us wasn't enough? Now you still have the nerve to show your face here?"

Her mother grabbed a stick nearby and swung it at her. "Leave! Our family has no daughter like you!"

The stick hit her over and over. Hannah didn't try to move away. She simply took the blows without saying a word.

Her voice trembled, "Dad, Mom... I only wanted to see you both..."

"What's there to see?!" her father shouted, kicking her leg hard. "Go back to the Adelson's residence!"

She collapsed onto the wet ground as rain and dirt soaked into her clothing.

Slowly, she forced herself up, bowed her head toward her parents, then turned to leave.

The rain kept falling harder. Hannah wandered along the sidewalk, drenched from head to toe.

Suddenly, a black car pulled up beside her. The window slid down, revealing Shawn's cold face.

"Get in," he said firmly.

But Hannah didn't look at him. She kept walking forward, letting the rain pour over her.

Shawn smirked. "If you won't get in, I'll drag you in myself. Pick one."

The car door opened suddenly, leaving Hannah no choice but to get in.

Water dripped from her clothes onto the leather seat as she curled up in the corner, soaked and shivering like a lost kitten.

Shawn said with a cold glance, "You're pathetic. Even your own parents don't want you. People like you don't deserve forgiveness."

Hannah didn't respond. Her eyes stayed on the window, watching the rain slide down in thin streams like tiny rivers.

Instead of going home, the car pulled up in front of a high-end club.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked, confused.

"Let's have some fun," Shawn said as he pulled her out of the car. "What's wrong? Are you nervous?"

Inside the private room, the lighting was soft and a little hazy. Ariana, dressed in a white dress, sat in the center seat. As soon as she saw them arrive, she rushed over and held onto Shawn's arm. "Shawn, why are you so late? We've been waiting to start the game with you."

"Let's begin the game!" one of Ariana's close friends shouted excitedly. "Whoever loses has to take a punishment."

Not long after the game started, Shawn and Ariana "just happened" to lose.

The group of girls shared knowing looks and shouted louder on purpose, "Linked arm toast!! You both have to do it!"

Ariana's face turned red as she lifted her glass. Shawn smirked, glanced at Hannah, then slipped his arm into Ariana's.

In the next game, they both lost again.

"This punishment is way juicier!" another friend said, flipping over a card. "A French kiss—five full minutes!"

Everyone in the room burst out screaming and laughing.

Without hesitation, Shawn grabbed the back of Ariana's head and kissed her right there in front of everyone.

"Last round! This time, carry the lady like a princess!"

Shawn effortlessly lifted Ariana into his arms and twirled her around a few times while everyone cheered and clapped.

Her white dress swayed as she giggled, her arms wrapped around his neck, shaking with laughter.

Hannah quietly noticed that Shawn kept sneaking glances at her, like he was waiting to see her break down.

But she calmly sipped from her glass of water. The burning in her stomach made her eyebrows tighten a little.

"I'm going to the restroom," she said as she got up. Her skirt brushed Shawn's leg as she walked past.

Inside the restroom, Hannah splashed cold water on her face.

The reflection in the mirror looked pale, almost like a ghost. As soon as she stepped out, she found Ariana standing in her way.

"Trying to act cool?" Ariana said while playing with her new manicure. "Too bad Shawn already told me that tonight's all about humiliating you."

Hannah didn't even glance at her. She turned around, ready to leave.

Ariana grabbed her arm. "You still think you're his wife? He told me himself that marrying you was just his way of getting revenge."

She leaned in close and whispered, "I know I'm just a stand-in, but one day, he'll forget your sister and love me instead."

Hannah pulled her arm free. "If he wants to hurt me, fine. But who do you think you are? You think you're even worthy?"

"How dare you!"

Furious, Ariana grabbed her shirt collar. But just as she was about to explode, she spotted Shawn walking over from the hallway. Right away, her face changed. She let go of Hannah, stepped back, and let out a scream.

"Ah!"

Ariana fell to the floor, landing on her back.

By the time Shawn reached her, Ariana was crying, her hands covering a cut on her forehead. "Shawn, please don't blame Ms. Yanetta. We were just having fun, but I think she got jealous. That's why she pushed me..."

"Hannah!" Shawn shouted, lifting Ariana into his arms. His eyes were full of rage and hatred. "You already caused Brielle's death, and now you want to hurt her too? She's the closest person I've found who looks like Brielle!"

In the distance, the sound of an ambulance echoed through the air.

Shawn gently placed Ariana inside the ambulance. Before stepping in, he glared at Hannah and said, "If she dies, I'll make sure your life becomes a nightmare."

Hannah stayed on the steps as the rain poured down, soaking her clothes.

She started to laugh, but tears fell down her cheeks at the same time.

"A nightmare life?"

She had already been suffering for what felt like forever.

She returned home alone. Shawn didn't contact her after that night, but deep down, she knew it wasn't over.

As expected, around three in the morning, someone kicked open the door.

Shawn stormed in with a dark expression. He ripped off her blanket, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her up.

His voice was sharp and icy. "Get up! Go to the hospital and give Ariana a blood transfusion!"

He dragged her so hard that Hannah almost fell. Her stomach twisted in pain. "I didn't push her..."

"Enough with the lies!" Shawn forced her into the car. "She's bleeding too much. Your blood type matches hers, so it's your responsibility!"

The hospital corridor lights were too bright, making Hannah squint.

They shoved her into the blood collection room. The nurse approached with a needle, but paused when she saw Hannah's pale skin. She said hesitantly, "Sir, we can't take blood from her..."

"Why not?" Shawn asked coldly, cutting her off.

The nurse glanced at the medical records and said softly, "Her condition isn't good. She's already in the late stage of cancer..."