Chapter 2

"Oh, she's just a bar hostess? Let's just leave. I don't even want to touch her."

The passersby who were helping me suddenly became repulsed by me.

Meanwhile, Liam stared down at me for a moment before finally extending a hand toward me as if he was doing me a favor.

"That's enough, I'll have the driver send you…"

"No need."

I avoided his touch and gritted my teeth through the pain while I got up.

"I'll be fine. I'll be going now."

Liam was taken aback. Just as he was about to explode with rage, he noticed the way I hobbled as I walked away.

His expression changed.

I wasn't the one who had been drinking last night.

He was the one drinking.

Somehow, he had forgotten about it.

He forgot how he came home drunk and how I made soup and even spoon-fed him to help him sober up.

He must have also forgotten how he wrapped his arms around me while mumbling Nora's name. As soon as he sobered up, he shoved me away.

I was thrown away with such force that I ended up twisting my leg. Even after a night's rest, I still could not walk properly.

After I had taken a few steps, he caught up and grabbed me.

He implored in a tender voice, "I'm sorry, I forgot about last night...

"Nora has been dealing with a lot of class tutorials and must have mistaken you for someone else.

"She's still young and doesn't think before she speaks. Don't hold it against her."

Even if Nora were blatantly at fault, Liam would still somehow find a way to defend her.

"Let me take you…"

"Oh no! Someone else has fainted!"

Liam's hand was just about to graze against me when he pulled away.

"Hey, young man! Forget about that girl over there! Hurry up and check on your wife!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Liam turned and ran toward Nora, leaving me behind.

With that, I braced through the chilling wind and hobbled to the hospital before I finally collapsed at the entrance of the emergency room.

When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed with an IV drip hanging over me.

"Ms. Dreyner, you must prioritize quality rest. You can't afford another stressful episode, if not…"

The doctor tried to be tactful about it and expected me to read between the lines.

I understood what he was trying to say.

I did not have much time left.

My body had burned through all of its lifespan ahead of schedule. I was running on the last of my life's essence.

After the doctor left, I pulled myself out of the bed and reached for my phone.

I was still halfway through texting that person before I passed out. Thankfully, I managed to send the text at the very last second.

He replied within seconds. [Okay. I'll pick you up at nine on Friday morning.]

A marriage license could be obtained in a measly ten seconds. And yet, Liam wanted me to give away ten months of my lifespan for it.

I slumped weakly against the pillow. With every breath I took, pain ran through my body, but I could not cry.

This had always been his nature.

One night, I got drunk and accidentally told him about the system.

He did not doubt me or interrogate me. Rather, he held me close and told me how much his heart ached for me, then promised to get the marriage license the very next day to alleviate my fears.

At the time, I still had a whole year and more to complete the mission. I was convinced I had it all under control.

I trusted him because he once dropped his research project and flew home to care for me when I was sick, even if it meant he could get fired.

Once, when we were in a car accident, his immediate reaction was to shield me with his body. His arm was embedded with shards of glass that almost left him disabled.

Once, we loved each other deeply.

That was, until Nora appeared out of nowhere and changed everything.

"Hey, Amelia, so it's true that you're here!"

Nora's chirpy voice pulled me out of my trance.

I turned toward her voice just in time to see her entering.

She wore a lamentable look while saying, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said earlier today.

"I was hoping to tell Liam to take you to the hospital, but I ended up fainting too."

She approached me with her head lowered, then flashed a shy smile before announcing daintily, "Also… I really didn't mean to get pregnant with Liam's child.

"Won't you forgive me?"

I looked at the way she put a hand over her stomach. It felt as if I could hear thunder in my ears.

All the empty assurances Liam once made echoed in my ears.

"As I said, I only see her as a little sister. I will draw boundaries!"

"You are my wife, the only one for me. There is nothing to worry about!"

Before I could even respond, I was shoved by Liam, who had shown up out of nowhere.

"Let me explain! Don't hold it against her!"