Chapter 3

In Grayson's memory, whenever he said he was tired, I'd run to him without hesitation—massaging his shoulders, rubbing his legs. Maybe it was that same blind devotion, that "good wife" image, that made him think he could do whatever he pleased.

"Grayson, what I said at the wedding wasn't a joke. Let's set a time to get the papers." I meant divorce papers.

He'd dragged me to get the marriage license as soon as he learned I was pregnant. But these past few days, I've had time to think things through. I don't want to keep dragging out this love triangle. I'm done being entangled with either of them.

His hand shook as he lit a cigarette. "Brianna, what now? You're starting with me too? I'm already exhausted dealing with Sophia. Can't you just be a little more reasonable? Try to understand me for once? I didn't want things to happen that way either, but I couldn't just watch her die. You're always so understanding. You get it, don't you?"

He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world—like it was my fault. Like he was the one abandoned at the altar, not me.

I stared at that handsome face. It was that very face that once blinded me, made me do pathetic things. But that was over now.

"Watch her die? Grayson, is your brain made of mush? Think about it—how many times has she 'tried' to kill herself? Has she ever really died?"

Grayson smoked furiously, saying nothing.

"If you really wanted what's best for her, you'd take her to a hospital. If they can't treat her here, send her abroad. As long as it's not terminal, there's always hope for treatment."

"But she's afraid of hospitals. The doctors said as long as we don't trigger her, she'll gradually get better. Brianna, let's just hang on a little longer. Things will get better."

I laughed bitterly. "And what if she never gets better? Are we just never getting married? Maybe you're willing to wait your whole life, but I'm not. I don't have that kind of time to waste on you two."

If Sophia ever truly wanted to die, really meant it, maybe I'd respect her for it. But she never did. She knew exactly how much medication to take, just enough to get her rushed to the ER, never enough to actually die.

Six months ago, she was in a car crash. When she woke up, she claimed to remember nothing—except Grayson. She told everyone she was his fiancée, and that I was the other woman, the one intruding on their love.

I argued with Grayson. And what did he say?

He said that as long as he believed me, that was enough. Sophia was ill, and we shouldn't upset her. Once she recovered, he'd go public with our relationship and explain everything.

And so she moved in with us. On our anniversary, she faked a suicide attempt. On Valentine's Day, she forbade Grayson from celebrating with me. He bought me a bracelet—she took it, saying he'd betrayed her by "cheating."

When others told her I was his real girlfriend, not her, she said I'd bribed them to lie. In the end, she climbed to the rooftop and shouted that Grayson was a heartless bastard, and she didn't want to live anymore.

Grayson had no choice but to give her the bracelet he bought me. He even took her to a hotel that night—to "comfort" her.

I spent that night alone, staring at the ceiling.

At first, Grayson would still explain things. He even felt a little guilty. The next day, after sending Sophia off, he secretly bought me a necklace.

He said, "Brianna, you're such a kind, understanding girl. You wouldn't get upset over something like this, right?"

One year. The doctors said her condition would improve in a year. After that, she'd leave, and we could finally have our life together.

I believed him. I believed in us.

I even promised him I'd treat Sophia like a younger sister.