Chapter 2

I couldn't understand why Skyler would do something like this to me. We had grown up together and naturally got together after graduation.

Skyler had always been supportive of my pursuit of art. During my years of art studies, he would accompany me as I honed my skills and encouraged me.

I genuinely thought my life would continue to be blissful—until Skyler brought Leah to the art studio one day.

Back then, I had appraised one of her paintings, which was of a peony. Leah's technique was nearly identical to mine, and she had even copied the number of leaves. However, I didn't call her out and instead allowed her to work in the studio.

The week before, I had accidentally glimpsed something on Skyler's phone. It turned out he and Leah had feelings for each other. He was even planning an art show for her.

Skyler was the person I loved and trusted most. Yet, in the end, he had changed.

I stared blankly as I sat on the hospital bed, still unwilling to accept my new reality. I still had a sliver of vision in my left eye, but this remaining sliver merely added to my misery.

Picking up a pencil, I attempted to sketch something. However, every stroke was just painfully difficult with my blurred vision. Just then, a familiar voice sounded from outside the door.

"Julia, are you okay? I heard you were hospitalized due to an injury."

I froze in shock, and the shaky hand I had been sketching with halted, too. The voice was unmistakably Leah's.

I jerked my head in the direction of the door. Despite my blurry vision, I could still make out that the person standing before me was Leah—but wasn't she supposed to be dead?

Skyler followed her into the room shortly after. My lips trembled as I stared at them both, but I couldn't utter a single word.

Leah burst into laughter at my shocked expression.

"Hahaha! Oh, Julia. Actually, my suicide note was just a little prank. Don't you know yesterday was April Fools' Day? Although, I didn't expect Skyler to get so worked up over it and even quarrel with you for my sake. I'm really sorry about that," she said.

A prank? Then, why on earth did she pin her death on me? Skyler spoke up from beside Leah, too.

"I'm sorry, Jules. What happened yesterday was just a misunderstanding. I didn't realize Leah was just messing around.

"I mean, who wouldn't have panicked when someone's life was involved? So, try not to take it too seriously, okay? And Leah, why do you have to be so mischievous!" he said.

The two of them laughed and joked about what had happened, but neither of them brought up my destroyed paintings nor my damaged eye… Unable to hold back my fury, I shot out of bed and charged at Leah.

"Do you think this is the kind of joke you can make lightly? Do you have any idea what you've done? My art show was ruined, and my life's work was destroyed because of you! I've even lost my eye!" I yelled.

Unexpectedly, Skyler swiftly shielded Leah from me. Frowning from displeasure, he then accused me of overreacting.

"We already said yesterday was April Fools'. It's a tradition to play pranks on that day, so why are you getting so worked up? Besides, your paintings were ugly anyway—so what if they've burned?

"You're a painter, aren't you? So just repaint them—what's the big deal?"

Skyler's words were like a knife to my heart. He was once the top admirer of my work. Yet now, not only had he personally destroyed them, but he also called them ugly.

Summoning the last of my strength, I pointed at the bandage over my right eye. I scathingly asked, "Repaint them? How am I supposed to do that?"

Skyler was stunned for a second.

Then, he scoffed and said, "Don't you have just another stye? I've told you so many times not to stare at your phone late into the night, but you never listen!

"So stop acting like it's something serious! Leah and I purposely came to check on you, and yet you throw your temper at us? How about you calm down and reflect on yourself?"

With that, he dragged Leah along with him and left without a second glance.

At that moment, my heart clenched so tightly that the resulting pain was intense. Since Skyler loved Leah so much, I might as well step aside. Taking out my phone, I sent this message to Skyler's parents with great difficulty.

"I'm calling off the wedding."