2. The 100 Wishes on My List

"Anna, do you really think a pathetic stunt like this will make Dylan change his mind about divorcing you?" Lea sneered, her gaze sweeping over me with open judgment.

I swallowed hard.

A mocking smile curved her lips. "Do you honestly think Dylan has ever wanted you?"

The question cut through my chest like a double-edged blade. Even so, I refused to hide the heat burning across my face. My fingers tightened around the fabric of my clothes.

"Think about it, Anna. You're better off accepting this divorce as soon as possible instead of making ridiculous demands," Lea mocked before rising from the sofa.

She slung her designer shoulder bag over one shoulder and casually settled herself on Dylan's lap, wrapping both arms around my husband's neck as if to remind me that she was the only woman allowed to do such a thing.

I let out a long breath before speaking with conviction.

"If you're so certain Dylan could never be interested in me, then you have nothing to be afraid of. I'm only asking for one hundred days. Nothing more."

Lea's hands clenched into fists.

I continued firmly, "Besides, Dylan already agreed. You can't stop him."

"Fine. Do whatever you want, because I'll do whatever I want too," Lea said.

Without the slightest hesitation, she kissed Dylan right in front of me.

Without shame.

Without the slightest respect for the fact that I was still his legal wife.

My heart felt as though it were being crushed to pieces. In the three years I'd been married to Dylan, I had never received a kiss like that.

But Lea had.

I quickly looked away.

When I glanced back, Lea was rising to her feet with a satisfied smirk directed at me. Without another word, she and Jessy left.

I touched my forehead before speaking to Dylan first.

"Starting tomorrow, I'll ask one thing of you, Dylan. I hope you'll do as I ask."

Dylan remained silent.

Instead of answering, he stood from the sofa and walked toward me.

I lifted my gaze and met his dark hazel eyes. My cheek twitched slightly as a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"Do as you ask? Who exactly do you think you are, Anna?"

"I'm your wife," I answered firmly.

Dylan chuckled.

"On paper. But in these past three years, I've never once seen you as my wife."

My chest felt hollow in an instant.

"It doesn't matter," I replied with a forced smile.

I stood and stepped in front of him, reaching for his tie. Dylan didn't stop me. He simply watched in silence as I carefully straightened his tie and collar.

"Because for the next one hundred days, I'll be your wife. Not a servant in this house anymore."

"You..."

"If you refuse one of my requests, I'll add another day," I interrupted quickly.

For the first time, Dylan chose silence instead of arguing.

I patted his shoulder lightly.

"So instead of dragging this out even longer, wouldn't it be better if you simply did what I asked?"

Without waiting for his response, I immediately headed upstairs.

My body felt weak. I ran my hand along the wall, using it for support as I made my way to my room. Standing in front of the door, I touched my nose and felt something wet.

I had another nosebleed.

I quickly entered my small, simple bedroom and walked toward the nightstand beside my bed.

For the past three years, I had lived in this room. It was the only place where I felt comfortable. Although during winter, I often had to endure the bitter cold alone.

Slowly, I pulled open the drawer. A bottle of medicine rested on top of the medical report inside. I picked up the paper and stared at the results blankly.

A long breath escaped me. There was no hope left.

Two days ago, I had gone back to the hospital for another examination.

Vallen, my doctor and also my best friend, had offered intensive treatment, but I no longer had any motivation to get better.

There was nothing left that made me want to keep fighting.

"Are you out of your mind, Anna?" Vallen snapped that day.

His voice rose in frustration. He no longer sounded like a doctor. He sounded like a friend who couldn't bear to watch someone he cared about be eaten alive by blood cancer.

My head hung low. I couldn't argue with him.

He reached across the desk and squeezed my hand tightly.

"You have leukemia, Anna." Vallen placed the report in front of me.

I couldn't bring myself to look at it. Instead, my eyes drifted to his worried face. He let out a long breath, as though carrying a burden too heavy to bear.

Running a hand through his hair, Vallen's professional composure completely crumbled. He pressed both hands against his forehead.

A moment later, he looked at me intently.

"You need treatment immediately," Vallen said, sounding as though my life was already slipping away.

My fingers searched along the edge of the desk for something solid to hold onto.

I stared numbly at the report.

"How long do you think I could survive if I skip treatment?"

"Anna!"

"Vallen, chemotherapy only slows down my death. What's the difference? Either way, I'm going to die."

"You're willing to leave your husband behind? You told me you love him. Doesn't that make you want to stay with him?" Vallen asked.

I bit my dry lip.

If only Vallen knew what my marriage was really like, he would never have said that. Unfortunately, I had never told him how Dylan treated me. I had to protect the Danforth family's reputation.

Vallen took a deep breath. "I'll prescribe medication, and I strongly recommend that you start chemotherapy. At the very least..."

"No," I interrupted.

My fingers tightened together.

"If I undergo chemotherapy, my husband will find out," I admitted before I could stop myself.

"What do you mean? Dylan doesn't know you're sick?" Vallen asked.

I looked up at him as he rose from his chair. "I haven't told him."

The moment I admitted it, Vallen's face turned red with anger. He ran both hands through his hair.

"That's unbelievably stupid!"

I had never seen him this furious before. He was known for being calm and composed, but apparently I had finally pushed him too far.

Vallen slammed his hand against the desk.

"You have to tell Dylan."

For a long moment, I stared at the lab results in silence. I ignored Vallen's words completely.

That day, I realized something.

If my life truly was going to end sooner than expected, shouldn't I prepare a beautiful ending for myself?

The idea came to me suddenly. Maybe it sounded insane. But to me, it was my only chance.

I let out a quiet snort as I remembered that conversation with Vallen.

Quickly, I folded the report and tucked it deep inside the drawer.

After taking my medicine, I sat by the window and stared outside. Slowly, I opened another drawer and pulled out my notebook.

A faint smile touched my lips. I looked at the list of wishes I had been writing down for the past three years.

Tomorrow, I would finally start making them come true.