Chapter 3

Main Story: Anya's POV

"Baby, why are you looking at me like that?" Eli asked, his voice laced with a hint of nervousness. "Why are you crying? Was the soup too hot?"

He pulled me into his arms, gently patting my back. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I shouldn't have blamed you.

"With my dream of marrying you just around the corner, I couldn't help but get cold feet. I disappeared for a few days, and I know it made you feel insecure. Can you understand where I'm coming from?"

The lie was flawless.

He gently kissed my forehead and whispered, "In just four days, it will be our wedding. I won't leave you again. We'll grow old together."

Inwardly, I knew that day would never arrive.

Eli wiped away the tears on my cheeks. "I'll go take care of the discharge paperwork for you."

He hadn't even bothered to take his phone with him, still playing the role of the "devoted lover".

The screen continued to light up with incoming notifications.

It was the same woman I had seen on Instagram just yesterday.

She'd sent a barrage of messages.

"Eli, I got home safely! Thank you for seeing me off."

"Could you send me an invitation to your wedding? I just want to see you happy."

"It's late, and I can't sleep. I made some soup. Can I bring it to you tomorrow morning?"

Eli replied to the last message, "Could you bring it now? Take it to the inpatient department at Pinebrook Hospital."

As I glanced at the thermos on the table, a wave of nausea washed over me.

"Are you sick, Eli? I'll stay and keep you company."

"I'm in the lobby."

The screen went dark.

As I stepped out of the hospital room, I saw Eli and the woman in a secluded corner of the lobby.

She sat there, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her eyes were slightly swollen, and she carried herself with a gentle, docile air.

I watched through the crowd as she gestured excitedly, laughing so hard that she nearly doubled over.

At one point, she gently nudged Eli's arm.

He responded by tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

From last night's kiss to today's affectionate gesture, it was clear that she had won Eli's heart.

After all, who could resist a sweet, thoughtful woman who loved so completely?

I lowered my gaze, a bitter smile forming at the corners of my lips.

As I turned to walk away, I caught sight of Carter in the dim yellow light.

He emerged from the shadows, his eyes glinting with disdain as they shifted toward Eli.

"So, is this your fiance?" he asked.

I met his gaze without flinching. "Mind your own business."

"Anya, why did you pull away from me back then?" he asked, staring at me.

After a decade spent pursuing him, this was all it amounted to.

How cruelly ironic.

I stayed silent. It was clear he couldn't admit he'd lost.

"Are you seriously going through with marrying him?" Carter asked sharply.

"That's none of your concern," I replied.

"I moved on from you a long time ago," I added nonchalantly.

As our paths crossed, he asked, "What if he betrays you? Will you still accept him?"

No. I couldn't.

My eyes fell to my clenched hands.

The ache would eventually subside.

Only three more days remained. I could make it through.

…

"I... I accidentally ripped the wedding dress," I whispered, my eyes locked onto Eli's. "This can't be a good sign, can it?"

He took my hand, his tone soft and reassuring. "Don't say that. It's just a dress. We've got plenty of other options.

"It's no big deal. We'll go pick out a new one tomorrow, okay?"

I had waited nearly a year for this dress. It had just arrived yesterday and was custom-designed by my favorite designer.

When I went for the fitting, Eli wasn't there.

But now, I didn't even want it anymore.

"Eli, if you're going to play this role so seriously... then I'll step into character as well," I thought.

The next day, we went to a high-end bridal shop in Sapphire Grove.

Naturally, none of the dresses fit. I'd known that from the start, yet I still asked Eli to spend the entire day with me shopping.

Sitting in a cafe, I gazed out the window. "What a disaster. I can't believe I ruined it all myself," I murmured, letting out a sigh.

Eli placed his coffee cup down. "It's fine. We still have time," he said nonchalantly.

I turned to face him. "If we can't find the right gown... maybe we should postpone the wedding."

His expression shifted in an instant.

Before I could even react, he was on his feet, the table tipping over.

The cups hit the floor, shattering into jagged pieces.