He Chased Me for Her

On the eve of our wedding, I heard a conversation between my fiancé and my ex-boyfriend on the dashcam. My fiancé admitted that his relentless three-year pursuit of me was solely to clear the path for my adopted sister to be with my ex. His desperation to marry me was just to ensure that their upcoming wedding went off without a hitch. My entire family believed his scheme was flawless, assuming I would docilely spend the rest of my life married to Julian Foster. Little did they know, I had a splendid little show prepared for both of their weddings. On the way to meet with our wedding planners, my fiancé, Julian Foster, received a phone call. Hanging up, he pulled the car over to the curb. "Nicole, an important client happens to be at a restaurant nearby. I need to pop in and see him. Wait for me in the car, alright? I'll be right back." I nodded, not thinking much of it. "Go ahead. I'll call the planners to reschedule." He tousled my hair, stepped out of the car, and walked toward the restaurant on the corner. I waited for quite a while, but he didn't return. Suddenly, a prompt popped up on the dashcam screen: [Storage full. Older footage will be overwritten automatically.] This Maybach was Julian's daily driver; he drove it to the office and to see clients. Worried that something vital might be erased by mistake, I casually tapped into the folders and began scrolling through past clips. When I stumbled upon one particular recording, I froze. Sitting in the passenger seat was none other than Sebastian Vance—my ex-boyfriend, whom I hadn't seen in four years. Sebastian and Julian were friends, so his presence in the car wasn't entirely abnormal. Yet curiosity got the better of me. Wondering what the two of them could possibly be discussing, I hit play. In the video, Sebastian spoke first. "Thanks for everything four years ago." Julian let out a soft chuckle. "What's there to thank me for? It was all for Chloe's happiness. As long as you treat her well, it's worth it." I went numb. He was talking about Chloe Miller, my adopted sister. What were they talking about? What was he thanking him for? And what did he mean by "for Chloe's happiness"? Were Julian and Chloe that close? He had never once mentioned it to me. Chloe was an adopted daughter of the Shaw family. Her father had originally been my father's chauffeur. Years ago, he died in a car crash while protecting my parents, leaving her behind as an orphan. Racked with guilt, my father brought her into our home and raised her as his own. From that day on, the Shaw family gained a second young mistress—and lost any place for me. The recording lapsed into silence for a moment before Sebastian asked out of the blue, "You have feelings for Chloe too, don't you?" Julian gazed out the window, remaining silent for a long time. Just when I thought he would deny it, he spoke. "I do have feelings for Chloe. But she chose you. As long as she lives a happy life, I'm willing to spend the rest of mine with Nicole Shaw, making sure she never gets in the way of your lives." A violent buzz exploded in my head. I replayed the words mentally to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me. Julian actually had feelings for Chloe?! Four years ago, on the eve of my engagement to Sebastian, I caught him in bed with Chloe. Seizing the opportunity, he called off the engagement, claiming he had fallen in love with her. Sebastian had been the only light in the darkest days of my youth. Unable to bear the devastation, I went up to the rooftop on the twenty-eighth floor, all alone. It was Julian who charged up and pulled me back from the edge of the railing. "Nicole, I'm Sebastian's friend, but I fell for you the moment I saw you. This is the first time in my life I've ever loved someone. Will you give me a chance?" At that time, my heart was dead, so I didn't say yes right away. Yet he pursued me for three relentless years, an obsession known to the entire city. Terrified that I might try to end my life again, he pushed aside all his responsibilities and guarded me day and night for six months, staying by my side through my most desperate moments. When I mentioned wanting to photograph glaciers in Antarctica, he walked away from multi-million-dollar deals, chartered an entire luxury cruise ship, and accompanied me there himself. When I casually noted that I was craving French food, he hired the city's finest French executive chefs to come to our home, just to pick the one who suited my palate best. A year ago, I finally agreed to be his girlfriend. The very night we made it official, he dropped to one knee and pulled out a ring, claiming he had been keeping it ready for three years. I felt it was too rushed, so I didn't accept on the spot. He took no offense. Over the course of the following year, he proposed to me a total of ninety-nine times. A month ago, I finally said yes. The very next day, he dove into the wedding preparations. He personally oversaw every detail—the venue, the itinerary, the guest list, the favors. Everyone said I was blessed with extraordinary luck: once protected by a wealthy childhood sweetheart like Sebastian, and now cherished by a devoted lover like Julian. I, too, had believed Julian was the man who pulled me from the abyss, my destined soulmate. I refused to believe what was right before my eyes on that screen. I had to have misheard, or misunderstood. I dragged the progress bar backward and played it once more. I hadn't misheard. He admitted he had feelings for Chloe. He admitted he was willing to sacrifice his own marriage just to keep me trapped by his side for the sake of Chloe's happiness. A chill crawled up my spine, making my hands tremble uncontrollably. All along, for four whole years, he had been putting on a performance of devoted love. I had thought his relentless pursuit and eager proposals were born of love for me. They weren't. It was all for Chloe. What a noble romantic you are, Julian Foster. The video kept playing. Sebastian chuckled softly. "You're certainly willing to make a sacrifice. Four years... haven't you developed any feelings for Nicole at all?" Julian hesitated for a moment before answering. "Even after I marry Nicole, Chloe will always come first. You can rest assured on that. As for you, since you chose Chloe, treat her right. Don't go keeping any lingering ties with Nicole." "Of course," Sebastian replied without hesitation. "It was love at first sight with Chloe. I'll love her and protect her for the rest of my life, without a single stray thought." The corners of my mouth curled into a bitter sneer. Years ago, he had said the exact same words to me. He had told me, "It doesn't matter if your whole family doesn't care about you; you still have me." He had also told me, "Chloe sounds insufferable and pretentious, definitely a two-faced schemer. Just wait until I get back, I won't give her the time of day." Yet the moment he accompanied me back to the Shaw family home to discuss our engagement and laid eyes on Chloe, his heart wavered. Over a decade of devotion was completely undone the moment Chloe feigned a slip and fell into his arms. In the recording, Sebastian hesitated before finally asking, "Will you treat Nicole well?" Julian's expression instantly darkened. "Sebastian, that's none of your concern." The cabin fell silent. After a long while, Julian sighed. "I just need to marry her as soon as possible so she won't cause trouble for Chloe. Then we'll have a child early on. Once a woman has a child, her heart settles." It felt like plunging into an icy abyss. I had thought Sebastian's betrayal was the hardest hurdle I would ever face in this life. I never imagined Julian was planning to drag me into a bottomless pit and lock me away forever. My stomach churned violently. Unable to watch a second longer, I flung the car door open, rushed to the roadside, and threw up until the world spun. Dry heaves followed, tears streaming down my face. Julian's love was a lie. His promises were lies. Even our upcoming marriage was a lie. Back when my entire family favored Chloe, I had Sebastian to lean on. When Sebastian left, Julian appeared, becoming my new crutch. Only today did I realize that a life propped up by someone else is nothing more than an illusion. I didn't need anyone to save my life, and no one had the right to orchestrate my marriage. Wiping my mouth, I climbed back into the car, opened my email, and pulled up a message from a month ago. A month ago, an international organization I had previously worked with had invited me to serve as a photographer on the front lines, documenting the reality of a conflict zone. Conflict photojournalism had always been my lifelong dream. However, I had just accepted Julian's proposal at the time, and taking the assignment would mean postponing our wedding. After much hesitation, I had shelved the email. Now, there was nothing left to hold me back. I clicked reply: [I confirm my acceptance of the warzone photography assignment.] Just after sending the email, my phone chimed with a new message. It was from Julian: [Something came up on the client's end, and I can't get away. Nicole, head back on your own first.] If this had been the past, I would have believed him without a second thought and reminded him not to overwork himself. This time, I didn't believe a word. I pushed the car door open and walked toward the restaurant on the corner.I made my way inside the restaurant and quickly located the private dining room where Julian was. The door wasn't shut completely, leaving a narrow crack through which familiar laughter and chatter drifted out. Peering inside, I saw the round table surrounded by people—all faces I knew all too well. Besides Julian, there were my father, Donald Shaw; my mother, Cynthia Shaw; my younger brother, Lucas Shaw, along with his wife, my close friend Clara Reed; and finally, my ex-boyfriend, Sebastian Vance, and my adopted sister, Chloe Miller. What important client? It turned out Chloe was back. I clutched my fists in silence. I had already guessed what I was about to witness. Yet I stood rooted outside the door, refusing to leave until I saw it with my own eyes, needing to extinguish every last ember of hope. My mother held Chloe's hand, tears glistening in her eyes. "Chloe's finally home. Mom missed you so much." My father's eyes were rimmed with red as well. "You suffered so much these past four years for Nicole's sake, child." Suffered? She was the one who stole my fiancé and followed him overseas for four years, yet somehow she was the victim. Beside her, Sebastian peeled a shrimp and placed it into her bowl, then pulled out a napkin to dab at the corner of her mouth. Seeing her glass empty, he immediately refilled it with juice. He used to care for me like that, too. Lucas picked up a piece of chicken and placed it into Chloe's bowl. "Eat up, Chloe. You probably couldn't get authentic hometown food like this abroad, right?" Chicken was Chloe's absolute favorite. I had a weak stomach and couldn't tolerate spicy food, but ever since she entered the Shaw family, that dish had never been absent from our dining table. Julian's gaze remained fixed on her the entire time. The tenderness in his eyes when he looked at her was even gentler than when he looked at me. Tears welled in Chloe's eyes. "Nowhere feels as good as home. Everyone is here today... if only Nicole were here too. It's all my fault..." Clara immediately grabbed her hand. "Don't be sad, Chloe. Nicole brought it on herself by not knowing how to cherish what she had. How could anyone blame you?" Clara had been my friend for ten years. During the time Sebastian broke off our engagement, she had held me while crying, cursing Sebastian and Chloe as a scumbag and a tramp. Yet ever since she married my brother, Lucas, she had changed completely. Lucas exchanged a glance with Clara and chimed in, "Exactly. My sister is just like that. Aren't we all used to it by now? After all, she's family, so it's not like we can kick her out." My father let out a cold snort. "Nicole is petty and vindictive, constantly picking fights with her sister. She behaves nothing like a daughter of Donald Shaw!" My mother patted his arm. "Alright, alright. Chloe finally made it home. Let's just have a happy gathering and leave her out of it." Standing outside the door, I felt an icy chill wash over me. It turned out they had never changed. Before I turned twelve, my parents held me in the palm of their hands, and Lucas trailed behind me all day long. Whenever I had something good, I saved it for him first. Then Chloe arrived. When she first walked through our door, she always kept her head down, speaking in a timid, soft voice and looking at everyone with wide, fearful eyes. My parents pitied her for losing her father, so they softened their tone whenever they addressed her. Back then, I felt sorry for her too, yielding to her at every turn. When her eyes reddened as she stared at my dress, murmuring how pretty my clothes were, that very dress ended up in her closet the next day. When she stood by my bedroom door, whispering that she had never stayed in such a large room, it wasn't long before I was moved to another bedroom. By the time I realized something was wrong, it was already too late. If I refused to give in, my parents accused me of being selfish, claiming I was being petty toward a child who had lost her father. Gradually, the dining table was filled only with dishes Chloe loved, while the ones I enjoyed never appeared again. Chloe had a sweet tongue and knew how to play cute. In front of my parents, she was perpetually obedient and sensible, looking far more like their daughter than I ever did. Even Lucas stopped calling me his sister, barking out a careless "hey" whenever he needed something. In the end, she even stole Sebastian away. The very day after Sebastian called off our engagement, he went abroad under the pretense of expanding overseas markets. Chloe left with him. After they left, home gradually returned to the way it used to be. My parents began remembering what I liked to eat. Lucas started calling me his sister again, even inviting me out to watch games on weekends. I thought everything had returned to normal. Only now did I realize that I had only received their affection because Chloe wasn't around. The moment she returned, I went back to being the buzzkill who ruined the mood just by being mentioned. Inside the private room, my father raised his glass toward Julian. "Nicole is willful. We're lucky you're willing to take her in." My mother sighed in agreement. "Indeed. The girl was so obedient when she was little, but she grew more unlikable as she got older. Regardless, as long as you're willing to marry her, we can rest easy." Lucas curled his lip. "At least it'll keep her from making trouble for Chloe. As for the rest, she can live however she wants; we can't be bothered anyway." In their eyes, I was a burden, a piece of baggage finally handed off to someone else. They had probably forgotten that once upon a time, I was the daughter they took immense pride in. Lucas then turned to Sebastian. "Sebastian, you'd better treat Chloe well, or I won't let you off easy!" Sebastian took Chloe's hand, leaning down to kiss the back of it. "Chloe will be my wife soon. I will never let her down in this life, and my eyes will never hold anyone else." Everyone smiled and raised their glasses, the private room awash in joyous harmony. Four years ago, I had witnessed this exact scene at the Shaw family dining table. Today, the picture merely featured Julian Foster. I unclenched my fists, revealing deep red crescents pressed into my palms. A family like this... I didn't want them anymore. Without looking back inside, I turned, walked downstairs, and drove straight to the visa application center. The visa hall was packed. I took a queue ticket and sat in a quiet corner to wait. My phone rang; it was Julian. I answered, and he spoke first. "Babe, where are you?" Just as I opened my mouth, Chloe's soft, coquettish voice drifted through the receiver. Julian paused, then quickly said, "Things are still wrapped up with the client here. We'll talk later, gotta go." The call cut off. Staring at the darkened screen, I actually let out a sigh of relief. Good thing he hung up quickly. A few more words, and the announcements echoing through the visa hall would have reached his ears, giving everything away. Then the grand gift I had prepared for him wouldn't be delivered properly. My number was called. I slid my documents through the window and asked the staff member how long the visa processing would take. The agent replied, "About half a month."Leaving the visa center, I drove straight back to the villa I shared with Julian. Inside the walk-in closet, an entire wall of cabinets was filled with gifts Julian had given me over the past few years. Limited-edition handbags lined the shelves. Sets of fine jewelry acquired at auctions. Another wall was completely occupied by haute couture outfits. In the past, whenever I received one, I treated it like a treasure, carefully storing it away, reluctant to wear it. Looking at them now, they felt entirely laughable. To ensure Chloe could be with Sebastian in peace, he had truly spared no expense. These items were worth a fortune; there was no reason to leave them behind. I cleared out all the bags, jewelry, and clothes, contacting a familiar luxury reseller to come over and take the whole lot. Then, I began packing my luggage and photography equipment for heading abroad. While I was in the middle of packing, the sound of the front door opening drifted up from downstairs. Julian had returned. Seeing the suitcases spread out on the floor, he knitted his brows. "Why are you packing?" Keeping my head down, I wiped my camera lens. "Too much clutter. Just sorting things out." Believing me, his brow smoothed, and he wrapped his arms around me from behind. "I missed you, Nicole. In just a little over two weeks, we'll finally be married." I let him hold me, asking in a seemingly casual tone, "Julian, in my family, everyone always chooses Chloe and expects me to back down. You won't be like that, will you?" I tilted my face to look at him, not missing a single flicker in his expression. His body stiffened—only for a split second, before quickly returning to normal. "How could I?" He tightened his embrace. "You're the most important person to me. No matter what happens, I'll always choose you." If I had heard those words in the past, I would have believed that meeting him was the greatest blessing of my life. Yet I had already watched that footage. I had seen how they acted together at the restaurant. I didn't believe a single word he said. Turning around to face him, I said, "Marriage means everything to me. Don't lie to me. In this life, I will only marry someone who truly loves me. If you aren't that person, I won't marry you." Julian Foster gripped my shoulders, his gaze tender enough to drown someone in affection. "Nicole, I love you. Marrying you is my sincere wish, and I will love you for the rest of my life." He sounded so earnest; there wasn't the slightest flaw in his expression. For four years, that was probably how he had fooled everyone—and how he had fooled me. This was the very last chance I would ever give him. Since he failed to grasp it, he had only himself to blame for what came next. Just then, my phone rang. It was my mother. Instead of answering right away, I looked up at Julian. He maintained a natural expression. "Go ahead and pick it up. It might be something important." I gave him a searching look and swiped to answer. Over the line, my mother sounded unusually pleasant. "Nicole, come home for dinner with Julian tonight. Chloe is back. After so many years, it's time you let go of your anger." After that incident four years ago, my relationship with my family had grown distant overnight. In the past, I had always thought about going home more often, spending time with them, pleasing them—all just to earn a second glance from them. After that incident, however, I rarely went back. Whenever we met, keeping up superficial pleasantries was the best I could do. Julian clearly knew about tonight's gathering beforehand. He ruffled my hair. "Nicole, let's go back. After all, they're family. You can't avoid each other forever." He spoke with utter sincerity, as though genuinely caring for my well-being. Remembering that some of my certificates and documents were still kept at the Shaw residence, and that I needed to collect them before leaving the country, I agreed. At dusk, we arrived at the Shaw residence. The moment we stepped out of the car, Chloe Miller came rushing out from the front door. Catching sight of us, her eyes lit up, and she came dashing toward us, crying out, "Sister!" At the bottom of the steps, she missed her footing and tumbled to the ground. She grazed a bit of skin on her knee, and a few drops of blood seeped out. Julian rushed over instantly, kneeling down to inspect her knee with a face full of distress. "Why the rush? Does it hurt?" Looking past his shoulder, Chloe shot me a triumphant smirk. When she looked back up, her eyes were already brimming with tears. "I was just so excited to see my sister. It doesn't hurt. It really doesn't..." Before she could finish, tears began rolling down her cheeks. Pained yet helpless, Julian said, "Always trying to be tough! You're crying from the pain, yet you claim it doesn't hurt?" He scooped Chloe into his arms. "I'm taking you to the hospital." Passing by me, he finally remembered I was still standing there. "Nicole, go inside first. Chloe's injury can't wait. I'm taking her to get checked out." Glancing at the tiny scratch on Chloe's knee, I agreed it truly couldn't wait. Any later, and the wound would heal all on its own. Without a word, I walked straight into the Shaw residence. The moment I stepped inside, Sebastian Vance came forward to greet me. Not having seen him for four years, his features looked slightly more mature, though the look he directed at me was dripping with vigilance. "Why are you alone? Where's Chloe?" "She fell. Julian took her to the hospital." I had no desire to deal with him and moved past his side. He grabbed my arm tightly. "Nicole, I'm the one who wronged you. It has nothing to do with Chloe. If you want revenge, come at me. Don't hurt her again." The same old routine. Four years ago, Chloe had staged a fall right in front of him, crying as she pleaded on my behalf, claiming that her sister hadn't meant it and begging him not to blame me. From that moment on, Sebastian was convinced I had pushed her. There had clearly been a surveillance camera installed in that hallway. I told him to check the footage, but four years had passed, and he had never once looked at it. I had long realized that he only believed what he chose to believe; the actual truth meant nothing to him. In the past, I would have felt wronged and heartbroken. Now, I didn't care in the slightest about what he thought. "She fell on her own. I was ten meters away from her. Your friend Julian Foster is a witness." I shook off his hand and walked farther inside. Sebastian froze in place before hurriedly catching up. "Nicole, if you ever run into trouble in the future and need help, you can always come to me." Without slowing down, I said, "No need. You disgust me." In the dining room, dinner was already laid out. A table drowned in red chili oil, every single dish one of Chloe's favorites, without a single non-spicy option in sight. I had a weak stomach and couldn't touch spicy food. My family all knew this, but none of them cared. Sure enough, the moment Chloe returned, everything reverted to how it was four years ago. My mother emerged from the kitchen, saw me, and said, "Wait a bit. We'll start when Chloe gets back." Stepping closer, she gave another warning. "Chloe and Sebastian rarely get to visit. As the older sister, you need to be mindful of the occasion. Don't pull a long face later, do you hear me?" Following behind, Sebastian looked at me with deep agreement. Before I could reply, the front door opened. Clara Reed and Lucas Shaw walked in, Clara cradling a large bouquet of Chanel tulips. Chanel tulips were Chloe's absolute favorite flowers. Clara had been my college roommate. Back then, her family struggled financially. To earn living expenses, she worked three part-time jobs at once, pushing herself until she collapsed in a milk tea shop. Pitying her, I paid for all her living expenses and tuition out of my own pocket throughout our four years of college, and whenever we ate out, I always rushed to cover the bill. Knowing her finances were tight, I never let her buy me so much as a single cup of milk tea, nor had I ever accepted a single flower or gift from her. I had assumed she simply didn't understand social etiquette and never took it to heart. Now that she had married into the Shaw family, she suddenly understood everything, brown-nosing Chloe to the absolute extreme. Spotting me, Clara briskly walked over, linked her arm through mine, and pulled me toward a corner. "Nicole, you know Chloe will be back in a minute, right?" I nodded impassively, waiting to see what she had to say. Sighing, she advised me with earnest gravity, "You know that marrying Lucas was marrying above my station." "For me to have a good life in your family, I have to stay on good terms with her. For my sake, don't pick a fight with her, all right?" "I know you've been wronged. But you've treated me so well all these years—for my sake, just endure it this once!"Hearing this, I wished I could travel back to college just to strangle the version of myself overflowing with misplaced sympathy. I pulled my arm out of her grasp. "Whoever you choose to flatter is your own business, Clara Reed. I don't owe you anything." She froze on the spot, clearly caught off guard that someone as easygoing as me would turn cold so bluntly. Ignoring her stomping her feet in anger behind me, I turned and went back to the living room. Before long, Julian returned carrying Chloe in his arms. A piece of gauze was taped over her knee, and her face was buried in his shoulder, looking terribly fragile. Sebastian hurried forward, taking her from Julian's arms and gently setting her down on the sofa. Julian let go, yet his gaze lingered on her. With Chloe back, dinner could finally begin. My father came out of the study and sat down at the dining table. I pulled the bread I had packed beforehand from my bag, poured myself a glass of juice, and quietly began eating on my own. I had suffered at this table far too many times; I had long learned to come prepared. Catching sight of this, my father let out a cold scoff. "With a whole table of food, why are you gnawing on bread? Are we mistreating you?" Chloe hurriedly picked up a piece of fish and placed it into my bowl. "Sister, this is your favorite!" I fished the piece of fish out. "It's your favorite. I have never liked it, and I can't eat spicy food. Didn't you all know that?" Stunned by my rebuttal, everyone fell silent, plunging the dining table into awkwardness. My mother stirred the soup in her bowl with her head down, while Lucas turned his gaze away. The dining room fell so quiet that only the clinking of utensils remained. Under the table, Julian nudged my hand, frowning as he urged, "Nicole, say less. It's just a meal. Don't make it awkward for everyone over something so trivial." Right, just a meal. I had heard lines like that my entire life. It's just a dress. It's just a piece of candy. It's just a bedroom. It's just a vacation. My parents always said that, and later Lucas learned to do the same. Eventually, even Sebastian started saying it. I used to yield again and again, thinking that if I was sensible enough, my parents would eventually see my worth. Only later did I realize that backing down only invited them to push further. I had even given up my fiancé, yet my parents had merely said with breezy dismissiveness, "He's just a man. What's wrong with being the older sister and yielding to your younger sister?" Today, it was finally Julian's turn to say those exact words. Before coming here, he had held me in his arms, promising that he would always choose me no matter what. In the blink of an eye, sitting at this table, he sided with Chloe without a second thought. Even though I had braced myself, a chill still washed through my heart. Lucas picked up the conversation. "Julian, ignore her. She's always like this. Leave her alone, and she'll get over it herself." He scoffed lightly. "Does she really think she's a princess?" When we were little, Lucas and I used to cuddle together watching Sleeping Beauty. Back when he barely reached the height of the table, he would thump his little chest and promise, "Nicole, you're the princess! You don't need to wait for a prince—I'll protect you!" Now, he had severed that bond with his own words. He was no longer the chubby little kid who ran behind me. Just like my parents, he only had eyes for Chloe, leaving no room for his real sister. Picking up my bread and juice, I stood up. "Then I won't spoil your mood. Enjoy your meal, everyone." Going up to the second floor, I twisted the knob of my bedroom door, only to find it locked. I understood almost immediately. Chloe was back with plenty of luggage, so once again, I had to surrender my room. With familiar ease, I walked to the small, sunless guest room at the end of the hallway. Sitting by the window, I finished my dinner in peace, then opened the wardrobe to pack my certificates and documents into my bag. After dinner, Julian came upstairs looking for me. It was his first time inside this bedroom. Looking at the narrow bed and the north-facing window, he frowned slightly. Even so, he softened his tone to coax me. "Chloe explained it to me. She has a lot of luggage, and moving it is a hassle. We're only staying one night—just let her have her way." I couldn't be bothered to respond. In a few days, he and I would have nothing to do with each other anyway. Saying anything more was pointless. Taking my pajamas, I went into the bathroom. When I came out after showering, Julian pressed up against me again, wrapping his arms around me and inhaling at my neck. "You smell so good." Without hesitation, I pushed his arms away. "Not in the mood tonight." With that, I climbed into bed and lay down with my back turned toward him. He stood beside the bed for quite a while without moving. Probably feeling deflated yet unable to find a reason to lash out, he could only wash up himself and come back to lie down beside me. The next day was our scheduled bridal fitting. Just as Julian and I were about to head out, Chloe insisted on tagging along. "My sister trying on wedding dresses is such a major event—how could I possibly miss it?" Sebastian showed a conflicted expression. "Chloe, we just flew back yesterday and we're exhausted. Let's rest properly at home today." Chloe turned to act spoiled with my parents. "Dad, Mom, I haven't seen my sister in years, and I can't bear to be apart from her. Can't we all go together?" Smiling, my mother drew her into an embrace. "Oh, you naughty girl. Fine, fine. Sebastian, let's all go together." My father nodded as well. No one asked whether I was willing. In the end, the whole family accompanied us to the bridal boutique in full force. Having changed into the gown, I stepped out of the fitting room. Chloe's eyes lit up, and she circled around me several times. "Sister's wedding dress is gorgeous! I love it so much..." My father blurted out, "Nicole, let your sister have the dress." The moment the words left his mouth, even he realized it was inappropriate, freezing in place. Chloe cast her eyes downward. "Maybe we should just forget it. What right do I have to wear such a wonderful dress meant for my sister..." Seeing this, Julian felt a pang of pity. Looking troubled, he turned to me. "Nicole, how about letting Chloe have this one? I'll order an even better one for you." This wedding dress was something he and I had designed together. The skirt was embroidered all over with my favorite lilies of the valley, and the train was dusted with diamonds he had selected by hand. He had promised to spread an entire galaxy behind me. The hand embroidery and beading alone had taken six months, and it had just been flown in from Paris a few days ago. With barely half a month left before the wedding, where on earth was he going to order an even better one? Sebastian cut in first. "That won't be necessary. Our wedding dress will arrive in a few days." Shut down by his words, Chloe nearly lost her composure. I, on the other hand, merely offered an indifferent smile. "If you like it, take it. It's just a wedding dress. Yielding isn't a big deal." Sebastian looked at me, a flicker of heartache in his eyes. Julian was stunned. With me agreeing so easily, he should have been delighted. Yet for some reason, an unnameable suffocation welled up inside him: Why did Nicole give away the wedding dress they had designed together without a single protest? In her eyes, was this dress really so insignificant? Beaming with joy, Chloe lunged forward to hug me, though she was fortunately blocked by the puffed-out skirt. "Wonderful! I knew my sister was the best to me!" Her words brimmed with gratitude, but the look in her eyes didn't hide her provocation. She couldn't wait to duck into the fitting room, emerging in my wedding dress shortly after. My mother showered her with praise. "Chloe looks so perfect in this. It's as if it was custom-made for you." My father nodded in satisfaction as well. Standing to the side, Julian watched her with a gentle, affectionate gaze. Lucas was even more direct. "Chloe, you look way better in this than Nicole does." Lifting the hem, Chloe twirled in front of the mirror, her eyes catching the jade bracelet on my wrist. "Wow, this bracelet is so pretty too!" She leaned closer. "Where did you buy it, Sister? Can you tell me? I want to buy one too." This bracelet was the Foster family heirloom, placed onto my wrist by Julian's mother herself.Before Julian could speak, I slid the bracelet off and placed it into Chloe's hands. "No need to buy one. Consider it a gift." Chloe froze. Snapping back to reality, she smiled as she slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, giving me a smug wink. Pleased, my mother took my hand and patted it. "That's the spirit. Sisters ought to yield to each other. Nicole, if only you had been this sensible sooner." I offered a faint smile without answering. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Julian's face darken. I simply acted as though I hadn't seen it. As the group exited the bridal boutique, Julian deliberately lagged behind by a few steps and grabbed my wrist. Suppressing his fury, he demanded, "How could you give that bracelet away? You know perfectly well that it's—" I cut him off. "It's just a bracelet. Chloe rarely takes a liking to anything, so I might as well indulge her. Our relationship couldn't possibly end just over a missing bracelet, could it?" Choked by my words, his expression shifted several times before he finally let go. "Of course not. I'll get you an even better one to pass down to our children." I smiled and said nothing. A child was just the leash he intended to use to tie me down—a line I had already heard in the dashcam footage. On the way back, Julian, Lucas, and I rode in one car, while Chloe, Sebastian, and my parents took the other. Approaching an intersection, the car ahead braked abruptly. Our car failed to stop in time and rear-ended them. My head slammed violently against the window. A wave of heat hit my brow, and blood began trickling down along my brow bone. The second the car came to a stop, Julian and Lucas shoved their doors open and rushed out. "Chloe!" "Chloe!" Neither of them looked back at me. Sebastian had already carried Chloe out of the vehicle. Seeing the blood on her arm, my mother broke into tears on the spot. "Call an ambulance quickly! Chloe's arm is bleeding!" Turning around, my father glared furiously at me through the car window. "We never should have gone to try on that damn dress!" Lucas immediately pulled out his phone to dial emergency services. Kneeling beside Chloe, Julian coaxed her softly, "It's all right, Chloe, don't be afraid. It's just a small scrape on your elbow. The doctor will patch it up, and it won't leave a scar." Looking toward our car, Sebastian asked Julian in a low voice, "How's Nicole?" With all his attention fixed on Chloe, Julian didn't even look up. "Nicole is fine. She's completely okay." Pressing a hand to my forehead, I felt the blood quickly seep through my fingers. I had a blood clotting disorder. If a wound like this was left unattended, the bleeding wouldn't stop at all. Julian knew this, and my family knew it too. Yet not a single one of them remembered me. I pulled out my phone and dialed emergency services myself. I knew full well that no one would call an ambulance for me today. Before long, the first ambulance arrived. Looking at the tiny scrape on Chloe's elbow, the paramedics wore complicated expressions. One turned to Lucas and asked, "Are there any other injured passengers?" In their eyes, an injury like this hardly warranted an ambulance. Lucas Shaw pointed self-righteously at Chloe Miller. "Can't you see she's hurt? Take her to the hospital and run a full-body checkup!" The ambulance drove off with Chloe inside. Everyone followed them to the hospital. Not a single person remembered that I was still sitting in the car. I pushed the door open, stepped out, and leaned against the car by the roadside to wait. A passerby walked past, startled by the sight of blood all over my face. "Miss, you're bleeding terribly! Do you need me to call an ambulance for you?" I thanked them. "No need, I've already called one." At the hospital, the doctor went pale upon seeing my condition. "With this much blood loss, how did you come alone? Don't you have any family?" I looked down at my phone. On the screen was a message Julian Foster had sent not long ago: [Chloe is hurt. I'm taking her to the hospital to get checked out. Go home by yourself.] I looked up. "My family is dead. I'm an orphan." The doctor shook his head sympathetically and said nothing more. My wound was stitched up, and after great difficulty, the bleeding finally stopped. The doctor made me stay overnight for observation before discharging me. Lying in the hospital bed, I opened the family group chat. Messages were pouring in one after another, every single one about Chloe Miller. Clara Reed hadn't made it there in person, but every few minutes, she asked how the injuries were and whether she should come keep her company. Julian Foster answered every detail meticulously, sending photos of the test reports and relaying the doctor's instructions. Lucas Shaw texted: [Where is Nicole Shaw? Chloe is hurt this badly, and she doesn't even show her face?] My father followed up right after: [Completely devoid of human empathy.] Instinctively, I wanted to reply that I was hospitalized, but my finger paused before touching the keyboard. How could I forget again? They wouldn't care at all. I had to break this bad habit. From now on, not a single one of them would hold a place in my heart. I exited the group chat and laid my phone face down beside my pillow. The next day was both my and Chloe Miller's birthday. After she arrived at the Shaw family, my parents discovered she shared a birthday with me and called it destiny. From then on, the birthday celebrated by the Shaw family every year belonged exclusively to Chloe Miller. I ordered takeout and ate alone in the hospital room. New photos kept coming in the group chat. In the grand ballroom of the city's largest hotel, Chloe Miller wore a haute couture gown and a tiara, blowing out candles amid everyone's blessings, with gifts piled up like a mountain behind her. Among them was a gift box I had seen a few days ago in Julian Foster's study. Inside was a limited-edition necklace; at the time, I had assumed it was a birthday gift he had prepared for me. After all, over the past four years, he had never missed my birthday. This time, he forgot. My parents, Lucas Shaw, and Clara Reed had all forgotten as well. I scrolled to the very bottom of the photos, yet felt virtually nothing inside. Only then did I realize that I truly no longer cared about Julian Foster. Toward evening, I was discharged and picked out a small cake from a nearby bakery. Returning home, I placed the cake on the dining table. Just as I picked up the candles, the door lock clicked. Julian Foster walked in, and when he saw the cake on the table, his expression shifted. He remembered. Today was my birthday, too. Looking guilty, he stepped forward quickly and tried to hug me. "I'm sorry, Nicole, today I..." I sidestepped away, lit the candles on my own, and closed my eyes to make a wish. He stood aside at a loss, not daring to make a sound. Only after I blew out the candles did he speak in a placating tone, "Nicole, what did you wish for?" "Nothing much." My wish was to never have anything to do with any of them for the rest of my life. Only then did he notice the gauze on my forehead. "Nicole, how did that happen?" "From the car crash." He was rendered speechless. Moments later, he frantically grabbed my arm, barely able to form a coherent sentence. "I'm sorry, Nicole, I... I didn't see. I thought you were fine..." I brushed his hand off and walked toward the bathroom. "It's nothing. I've already been discharged." He froze. "Dis... discharged? It was that bad? You were hospitalized?" I stopped at the bathroom door. "You forgot. I have a blood clotting disorder." The bathroom door slammed shut. When I finished washing and stepped out, he was still frozen in place. Ignoring him, I went straight to the guest room to sleep. Waking up the next morning, I saw Julian Foster sitting on the living room sofa, dark circles under his eyes, the ashtray on the coffee table overflowing. He had sat there all night. Seeing me come out, he stood up immediately and asked nervously, "Nicole, our wedding... it's still on, right?" So that was what he was worried about. He was afraid that if I refused to marry him, it would ruin Chloe Miller's marriage, wasn't he? I looked at him nonchalantly. "Why? Do you not want to go through with it?" He let out an obvious sigh of relief. "Of course not! Of course I want to go through with it. I want to marry you, Nicole. Please don't leave me." He leaned down, burying his face into the hollow of my shoulder. Outside, Julian Foster was always decisive and commanding, never showing weakness before anyone. In the past, whenever he acted like this, my heart would instantly melt into a complete mess. Now, seeing him in this state, my heart didn't stir with a single ripple. Over the next two days, he reverted to his former self, attentive even beyond his past behavior. Every morning, he got up early to make me breakfast. After work, he returned holding flowers I loved and headed straight into the kitchen upon walking in. In the evenings, he hovered around me, cutting fruit and massaging my legs, meticulous in every way, doing it all without complaint. He also showered me with expensive gifts—jewelry, watches, and the season's newest designer handbags. Without exception, I resold them all while he was at work. I continued sleeping in the guest room, while he took a blanket and slept on the living room sofa. In the middle of the night, I woke up thirsty and got up to pour water in the living room. Just as I reached the guest room door, I heard Julian Foster on the phone out on the balcony.The night was so quiet that the voice from the receiver came through crystal clear. Julian Foster said, "I've already sent you Nicole's photography portfolio. Pass it along to Chloe and have her enter the competition with it." The person on the other end was Sebastian Vance. "Are you sure? Nicole poured her heart and soul into that portfolio—" Julian Foster cut him off. "What did you just call her?" Sebastian Vance switched how he addressed her and continued, "Even if Chloe doesn't have this award, no one in the Vance family will say a word when she marries me." Julian Foster lowered his voice. "Sebastian Vance, know your place. You're about to marry Chloe. Chloe is your wife-to-be. Whatever happens to Nicole has nothing to do with you." A chill crept through my entire body. Julian Foster stole my work and handed it over to Chloe Miller?! I had spent years shooting that collection. For the aurora series alone, I went to Norway twice and camped out there for three to four months, enduring frostbite on my hands and feet before capturing shots I was satisfied with. I had thought that him pretending to love me for Chloe Miller's sake was already the most agonizing thing. Turns out there was something even worse. I returned to bed and lay down, but sleep would not come. As soon as dawn broke, I opened my laptop and uploaded the entire collection to my own social media accounts, refusing to let Chloe Miller benefit from it. That afternoon, my phone buzzed non-stop. Unknown numbers called one after another. I answered a few. "Image thief! You don't deserve to be in the photography community. Get lost already!" "Do you know how much blood and sweat went into capturing those auroras? You habitual plagiarist, you're disgusting!" "You useless parasite living off men! Stealing just because you can't shoot anything good yourself—aren't you ashamed of yourself?!" I hung up and opened social media. Chloe Miller had posted a lengthy essay, claiming the portfolio was the result of years of her own hard work, and that the aurora shots were taken after traveling twice to Norway and suffering frostbitten hands and feet. She declared that someone stealing her work and posting it first was an insult to every photographer and photography enthusiast, and that the photography community should never tolerate such a person. Attached beneath the post was a batch of raw format files. The comment section was filled with vile, unbearable abuse. The image agencies that had long collaborated with me sent messages one after another, stating they were suspending our partnerships until the matter was investigated. Two magazines I had pending commissions with also emailed me, saying the current projects were on hold. It dawned on me: Julian Foster had given her the RAW files as well. He knew full well what photography meant to me. Photography was both my livelihood and my faith. Every time I stepped out with my camera, I temporarily broke free from the shadow of the Shaw family. I was simply myself—not anyone's daughter, nor anyone's superfluous burden. By selling my photos, I had earned my very first payment, traveled far from home for the first time, and built a foundation of independence outside the Shaw family. Julian Foster knew all of this, yet he destroyed it so flippantly! I wanted nothing more than to tear them to shreds. Yet impulse wouldn't solve anything. I went to the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face, and forced down the blazing fury inside me. A fake is always a fake; it can never become real. Chloe Miller knew nothing about photography. Aside from those raw files, she had nothing. Given enough time, she would expose herself. For now, however, I couldn't act rashly. The Shaw family, Julian Foster, Sebastian Vance—any single one of them was more than I could fight off alone. Chloe Miller had three elite families backing her, while there was nobody standing behind me. Acting now would only alert the enemy and drag myself down. I dried my face and started organizing the materials I had on hand. The door lock clicked. Julian Foster entered, carrying an insulated bag. The moment he walked in, he pulled me into his arms. "Nicole, I know everything. You've been wronged. I specially bought your favorite chicken soup. Eat it while it's hot." His expression was full of worry, his eyes brimmed with heartache and remorse, looking every bit the thoughtful, devoted fiancé. Had I not heard what he said on the balcony with my own ears, I would have been fooled by him. Suppressing the nausea rising in my chest, I looked at him calmly. "Since you know I've been wronged, how do you plan to clear my name?" He froze slightly. After a brief silence, he spoke, "Nicole, it won't be easy for Chloe marrying into the Vance family. This award will help her gain their acceptance. Once you marry me, even if you stop being a photographer, I will provide for you for the rest of your life. As long as you're with me, you'll never lack anything." I let out a sudden chuckle. "Julian Foster, that sounds so troublesome." I said, "I have a much simpler solution. Want to hear it?" Unsure of what I meant, he asked, "What solution?" "A disgraced image thief like me isn't rejected by the Foster family, and they're still willing to welcome me through the door. Since Chloe Miller has an untainted reputation, the Foster family would welcome her even more. Why don't you just marry her? That way, she won't have to bother scheming these dirty tricks. Wouldn't that be so much better?"Julian Foster froze in place, his face alternating between pale and flushed with anger. He fixed his eyes on my expression. "Nicole, what nonsense are you talking about? The one I love is you, and the one I want to marry is you. What does this have to do with Chlo... with Chloe Miller?" Watching his flustered panic, a faint, mocking smile touched my lips. "Why so nervous? I'm just curious how my RAW files ended up in Chloe Miller's hands." "I almost thought you stole them and gave them to her." Julian Foster was stunned. Only after a long pause did he squeeze out, "How could I ever do something like that?" I didn't press further. Instead, I ladled out the chicken soup and ate with large bites. Now was not the time for an open fallout. I just wanted to rattle him and make him uncomfortable. His misery was my joy. I scooped a spoonful of soup to his lips, pretending everything was normal. "You have some too. It tastes great." Only then did Julian Foster relax. He lowered his head, drank the soup, and his expression softened once more. "As long as you like it. Our wedding is next month, so rest well during this time and leave everything else to me." I smiled, focusing on eating the chicken without responding. Halfway through the meal, the doorbell rang frantically. Julian Foster got up to open the door. Sebastian Vance was the first to rush in, followed by Lucas Shaw, Clara Reed, and my parents. Except for Chloe Miller, every member of the Shaw family was present. The moment Lucas Shaw stepped through the door, he pointed straight at my face. "Where did you take Chloe?!" I froze. "What are you talking about? What kind of game is Chloe Miller playing now?" The moment Julian Foster heard something had happened to Chloe Miller, he dropped all pretenses and asked urgently, "What happened to Chloe? She was with me before I came home. What went wrong?" Lucas Shaw sneered, "It's all her doing! Chloe is missing—she definitely kidnapped her!" Tears were already streaming down my mother's face as she lunged forward, clutching my hand. "Nicole, consider it a mother begging you! You and Chloe are sisters after all. Please, let her go, okay?" Before I could say a word, my father slapped me across the face. The force knocked me to the floor, the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth. My father glared at me with pure hatred. "Why are you begging her? If I knew she was this vicious, I should have beaten her to death back then!" Growing up, he had scolded me countless times, but this was the first time he had ever struck me. For Chloe Miller's sake, he abandoned even the last shred of father-daughter affection. A flicker of pain flashed in Julian Foster's eyes, and he instinctively took half a step forward to help me up. Yet he stopped himself almost immediately. In his heart, Chloe Miller being missing was far more important than the slap I had just taken. "Nicole, I took your photos, and I gave the RAW files to Chloe. If you're angry, take it out on me. Chloe is innocent." Pushing myself up from the floor, I let out a cold laugh. "Julian Foster, so you admit it?" His face turned ashen as he stared at me, silent. Just moments ago, he had claimed he could never do such a thing; yet the moment Chloe Miller was in danger, he didn't even bother keeping up the facade. Sebastian Vance couldn't help but step forward and help me up. "Nicole, stop being stubborn. I'll compensate you for what happened with Chloe. Just tell me where she is first, all right?" Clara Reed rushed forward, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me violently. "Nicole Shaw! Can you stop causing trouble? Do you really have to tear apart a perfectly good family?!" I shoved her off fiercely. "Clara Reed, did you forget who brought you into the Shaw family in the first place? If not for me, you would have worked yourself to death in that boba shop! What right do you have to lecture me?!" Flushed with humiliation and turning furious, she snapped, "I'm talking about Chloe! Don't change the subject! Where did you take Chloe? Are you going to talk or not?!" "I already said, I haven't even stepped out of the door today. I don't know where Chloe Miller is!" Clara Reed grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the utility room, gritting her teeth. "Fine. You won't talk, right?!" She was much stronger than me; I couldn't break free. Lucas Shaw picked up the case left at the entryway and followed behind. Only then did I notice that case—they had prepared it before even walking in. Clara Reed shoved me into the utility room. Julian Foster and Lucas Shaw followed inside, pinning me firmly to the floor. I struggled desperately. "What are you doing? Let go of me! I'm calling the police!" Lucas Shaw swung his hand and slapped me across the face. "Shut up! If anything happens to Chloe, you're dead to me as a sister!" Julian Foster increased the pressure of his grip. "Nicole, the moment you tell us where Chloe is, I'll let you go immediately." "I said I don't know! What you're doing is illegal!" Standing at the doorway, my father sneered coldly. "Disciplining my own daughter—what law am I breaking? Clara, do it!" Clara Reed hesitated no longer and popped open the case. I recognized it: a set of electric shock equipment. Clara Reed was a doctor. She knew better than anyone what using this on a human being would do, yet she had specifically procured this equipment to use on me. The electrode pads were stuck onto my wrists and temples. Sebastian Vance looked tormented. "Nicole, just tell them, please, I'm begging you..." Julian Foster snapped sharply, "Sebastian Vance, shut up!" My mother turned her head away, unable to look at me. The current switched on. Excruciating agony exploded from my temples. My entire body convulsed, my teeth biting right through my tongue. Only after a long time did the current cut off. Clara Reed leaned down to look at me. "Nicole, are you going to talk or not?" The light in the utility room was dim; half of her face was cast in shadow, resembling a malevolent demon demanding a life. I spat at her. "Karma will get every single one of you!" Without even looking at me, Julian Foster told Clara Reed, "Again!" The current surged through me again, even more violent than before. Black spots flooded my vision, and my internal organs felt as if they were being shredded. The screams caught in my throat. I struggled with all my might, but my limbs were pinned down immovably by Julian Foster and Lucas Shaw. Unable to watch any longer, Sebastian Vance and my mother stepped out of the utility room one after the other. Clara Reed demanded harshly, "Nicole Shaw, are you going to talk or not?!" Gasping for air, I looked at her. "Clara Reed, you pitiful wretch! You still don't know, do you? In truth—" Lucas Shaw immediately cut me off, "Why are you wasting words on her? Crank up the voltage!" Clara Reed shot him a suspicious glance, but without thinking further, she twisted the dial. Agony tore through my entire body. I arched off the floor, my consciousness shattered to pieces. A wave of warmth gushed between my legs. Clara took half a step back, her brow furrowing in disgust. "She lost control of her bladder. Are we still doing this?" Right then, Sebastian barged in, clutching his phone. "Chloe’s been found!" The electric shock cut off instantly, and the hands pinning me down let go at once. Everyone scattered in a rush, scrambling over each other to find Chloe. Not a single person looked back at me. The storage room door hung wide open. I curled up on the cold floor as fluid continued to seep from between my legs. It was blood. The metallic stench of blood grew thicker and thicker. Struggling, I managed to grope around for my phone on the floor and dialed 911. The moment the call connected, I barely had enough strength to gasp out my address before darkness swallowed my vision.