Chapter 3 We're Just Friends

My soul was forced to follow Winston back home.

That home I used to be in was now devoid of all my traces.

In its place were the things that belonged to Vivian and Winston.

"You are back." As soon as Vivian saw that Winston was back, she came up and wrapped her arms around Winston's waist.

Winston tenderly held her in his arms, burying himself deep in the crook of her neck and closing his eyes.

What a sweet scene!

Winston had never done such an intimate action to me before.

"Does your hand still hurt?" Winston asked.

Vivian smiled and shook her head. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

Winston looked at her affectionately. "Did you take painkillers behind my back again?

"Aryanna stabbed you so many times back then. You still have after-effects even now."

I floated in the air, wanting to argue. It wasn't me. I didn't!

Why did you misunderstand me based on Vivian's lies?

Winston had never believed me.

Before I fell in love with Winston, I didn't know that Winston had Vivian in his heart.

The year I graduated, Vivian broke up with Winston decisively and went abroad to study with a rich young man.

I met Winston after I started working.

After we got together, Winston took good care of me, and all my friends believed he was an excellent boyfriend.

At that time, nothing would separate us.

But the year we were about to get married, Vivian came back.

Winston began to wander in and out of our relationship.

I didn't know how many times he left me behind for Vivian, and even repeatedly postponed our wedding date.

"Can you stop acting like a crazy person?

"Vivian and I are friends. Don't be paranoid all day long."

But did best friends give each other gifts on Valentine's Day?

Would one leave his girlfriend alone in the middle of the night to meet his female friend because she called and was afraid of thunder?

Or would he acquiesce to his friends around him saying that she was his new girlfriend?

On the eve of the wedding, I saw Vivian's message on Winston's phone.

Vivian: [If there was no Aryanna, would you have married me?]

When I saw Winston's reply, my entire body shivered.

Winston: [Yes, I love you. But Aryanna and I have been together for so many years, it's my responsibility to marry her.]

So in his heart, I was the responsibility, while Vivian was his love.

Vivian was not qualified to be in the Scientific Expedition Team, but Winston used his networks to get Vivian into the team.

We quarreled fiercely because of that. And all I got in return was his merciless words, "Aryanna, you're sick. If you dare to make things difficult for Vivian at work because I'd been with her, then we shouldn't get married."

That day, Winston and I had a big fight.

I even ignored the wedding date and applied for the expedition team to Salakole.

But I didn't expect that Vivian would apply too.

It was only during the third week in Salakole that I realized I was pregnant.

In order not to cause everyone trouble, I hid the news. I planned to deal with it when I went back.

However, I could never go back.

Because of Vivian's mistake, all of us were stranded in Salakole.

The rest of the expedition team went out, hoping to look for assistance nearby.

They left the two girls, Vivian and I, on the ship.

Vivian wanted to steal all the supplies and sneak away.

After being discovered by me, all the supplies fell into the ice crevices while we fought.

"Satisfied? No one can leave now. It's all your fault."

In the distance, a rescue ship was coming towards us.

Without a bit of hesitation, Vivian directly picked up the hemp rope on the side and strangled me.

After I fell unconscious, she stabbed me with the knife. Fearing that people would recognize me, she ruined my face.

Her knife, colder than the ice, cut through my skin inch by inch.

Finally, she threw me into the lake in Salakole.

When I was dead, she pushed me off the ship.

"I'm sorry, Aryanna. Only if you die can you keep my secret forever."

When she packed everything up, she slashed at her own body a few times.

She then lied, "I'm sorry. Aryanna ran away with the supplies...

"It's all my fault for not keeping an eye on these things."

Vivian convicted me, saying that I fled to escape punishment.

I looked at the harmless Vivian in front of me, and anger grew wildly in my heart.

Why was it that I was dead and she, a murderer, could live so well?

She took possession of my fiancé as well as my house.

Vivian leaned into his embrace. "It's okay. These wounds can let you see Aryanna's true face. I think it's worth it."

"So Winston, after we get married, you shouldn't look for Aryanna anymore. Let bygones be bygones, OK?"

Winston looked at Vivian heartily, his tone was all pity, "I've seen you in pain so many times that you couldn't sleep.

"When I think of this, I can't wait to find Aryanna and make her experience the pain you've suffered too."

Winston had already done that.

Wasn't I dissected by his own hands?