Chapter 1

“Withdraw all the wedding invitations.”

After hanging up with the wedding coordinator, I stared at the wall covered in couple photos; in every single one of them, we looked so happy.

I took all the photos down and set them aside. I was leaving anyway, so keeping them served no purpose.

A few hours later, Leonardo came back.

He’d taken his private jet back from the Alps overnight.

He was breathing slightly heavily, his hair blown into a messy tangle by the wind.

"Elena, you're actually canceling the banquet just because you're throwing a tantrum?"

His gaze fell on the empty frames on the wall, and he looked at me in sheer disbelief.

“Liliana only has a few months to live. Do you really have to fight with her over a few days?”

I stared at his empty hand.

“Where is my family’s ruby ring? It belonged to my mother.”

His expression turned awkward, and he shifted his gaze uncomfortably.

“It’s just with Liliana for now. After her farewell banquet, I’ll get it back.”

“It was my mother’s keepsake. What gives you the right to just hand it over to her?”

“The ring is right there. It’s not going to get lost. Why are you being so petty about this?”

Leonardo gripped the handle of my suitcase, his face turning cold.

“Your mother wouldn’t be this selfish. You’re healthy and have your whole life ahead of you. Liliana only has months left. Do you really have to make things difficult for her?”

I looked up at him. His azure eyes were filled with nothing but disapproval.

“So whoever is closer to death is automatically in the right?”

Liliana sat in a wheelchair as a maid pushed her inside.

Her cheeks were rosy; there was absolutely no sign of her being sick.

The ruby ring sat perfectly on her ring finger.

Her face was pale, her voice weak.

“Elena, I'm sorry, I just really like this ring. I just want to wear it until the farewell banquet ends. If it really bothers you, I’ll take it off right now.”

She said the words, but her hands didn’t move an inch. Two dry tears rolled down her cheeks.

I stepped forward, trying to take off the ring.

Liliana immediately let out a piercing scream and tipped backward, wheelchair and all.

Leonardo instinctively shoved me away.

My back slammed hard against the wall, and a sharp pain shot through my lower belly.

My document folder hit the ground, sending the pregnancy test and my flight ticket scattered on the floor.

Leonardo dropped to his knees in a panic, frantically checking Liliana for injuries. He didn’t even notice my face draining of color.

“Don’t blame Elena,” Liliana sobbed, clutching his sleeve.

“She’s just scared I’ll steal you away. It’s normal for her to be angry.”

A wave of agony washed over me. Clutching my stomach, I bent down to pick up the pregnancy test.

Liliana’s gaze followed my hand. The moment she recognized the medical report, her eyes shifted. She spun her wheelchair, hiding the pregnancy test.

I only managed to grab the mangled half; the other half was pinned firmly under her wheelchair.

“What is this? Be careful. Don’t let this trash trip your wheelchair.”

Just as he was about to crouch down and clean the debris off Liliana’s wheelchair, his eyes caught sight of the wedding cancellation notice lying nearby.

Frowning, he stared at it for a moment before tearing it to shreds.

“You can throw a tantrum if you want, but we are not canceling our wedding.”

He stared fixedly at me, his eyes holding some unreadable emotion.

“You will be my bride. Once Liliana’s farewell banquet is over, we’ll proceed with the wedding exactly as planned.”

If this were the past, I would have been thrilled, foolishly thinking he actually cared about me but was just bad at expressing it.

But now, I was done with him.

I replied calmly, “You have no right to make that decision for me.”

Leonardo froze, stepped closer to me, and frowned as if wanting to say something.

Liliana shot me a venomous look. She suddenly clutched her chest, her breathing turning ragged.

Sure enough, Leonardo scooped her up immediately.

“Leo, it’s all my fault. I’m just an obstacle getting in the way of your relationship...”

“Don’t say that. None of this is your fault. Let me take you to the hospital first.”

Leonardo gave me a lingering look before hurrying away.

Before the door closed, Liliana looked at me over Leonardo’s shoulder, a smug smirk playing on her lips.

Gritting through the pain in my belly, I pressed my hand against my stomach and leaned against the wall as I made my way to the hospital.

Thankfully, the doctor said the baby was fine for now, but my first trimester was unstable. I absolutely had to avoid any further impacts or stress.

The moment I stepped out of the hospital, Liliana texted me a rendering of the banquet setup.

Our wedding hall had been turned into Liliana’s farewell party, with massive lettering hanging above the stage:

“Bucket List Item No.100: If I only have one day left, I want to be his bride.”

The wedding altar that was supposed to be mine was plastered with photos of her and Leonardo completing their ninety-nine bucket list items.

Underneath a photo of them in the Alps, there was a caption:

Bucket List No.99: Wearing the promise ring Leo gave me.

My mother’s keepsake, my family heirloom, had somehow become their token of love.

I dialed Liliana’s number.

“Give me back my ring within three days.”

A soft chuckle came through the phone.

“If you want it, come to the farewell banquet. Let all the major families see your... pathetic side.”

After hanging up, Liliana sent another video.

She was lying in a hospital bed while Leonardo fed her water. My ring glinted on her finger.

Then, she picked up my wedding tiara from a gift box.

“Leo says this tiara looks perfect on me.”

“Elena, you wouldn’t refuse to fulfill a dying woman’s wish, would you?”