Chapter 1

Ian Grant had done lots of similar things in the past because of his love for Bella Sadler.

The first time was when he purposely tore his homework to shreds and demanded that Ember Lawson stay up all night just to piece it back together. He only did that to make sure her vision was wrecked the next day, so she couldn't join them at the observatory to catch the meteor shower.

The second time was when he purposely kicked his new soccer ball into the doghouse and demanded that Ember retrieve it. He only did it so that she would have her fingers bitten off by the dog, which had been starved for three days. So, she couldn't go pottery-making with them.

The third time was when he purposely walked to the center of the road and suddenly paused in his tracks. A huge truck was hurtling toward him, and Ember didn't even think twice before shoving her son away. In the end, her lower leg was crushed, so she couldn't join them for the kindergarten's school fair.

The last time Ian succeeded was when he cried about losing his protective amulet and demanded that Ember go back to the snowy mountains to look for it. But when she finally found the amulet, she realized that the car had already driven off. Left all alone in the sub-zero temperature, she suffered severe hypothermia and almost died in the emergency room.

…

At night, Nathan Grant came home.

His slender body was clad in a dark suit paired with a long black coat. His arm was drenched, but it didn't affect the man's effortless elegance and handsome looks at all.

The umbrella tucked in Nathan's Rolls-Royce was the largest and most luxurious kind available, but snow still got on his body.

Ember knew that the snow must have fallen on Nathan when he escorted Bella Sadler out of the car. He had not only tipped the entire umbrella in her direction, but he had also stretched out an arm and carefully pulled her into his arms.

It was as if he were carrying a precious, fragile treasure in his arms.

When Ember saw the photo Bella had deliberately sent to assert her dominance, she could even spot the deep love the man was trying to hide in his eyes.

They were the perfect couple.

That was, if Nathan weren't Ember's husband in the first place.

Nathan's head was lowered as he took off his coat. Then, he casually tossed some medications onto the entryway cabinet. "I brought some medicine for you. With that fever of yours, you shouldn't attend Ian's birthday party tomorrow. I've already talked to Bella about it. She'll be replacing you—"

Nathan was still speaking when the lights in the living room turned on.

When he saw Ember, who looked the same as always, he suddenly frowned. "You… You didn't get sick?"

Ember nodded, noticing the hint of annoyance and panic flashing across Nathan's eyes.

Nathan continued, "I thought… But I've already talked it over with Bella. She will be the one receiving the guests tomorrow. The invitations were already printed and sent out…"

The invitations were printed three days ago. A maid had accidentally signed for the delivery too early and even opened it. A photo of Nathan, Ian, and Bella was printed on the cover of the invitations.

Even the maid couldn't help saying, "Mr. Grant is looking at Ms. Sadler with such emotion, and they're leaning so close to each other. That's what I call a real couple in love. It's nothing like the wedding photo in the bedroom, where the two seem no better than strangers. By the looks of it, Mr. Grant didn't even want to touch Mrs. Grant's sleeve."

When the maid said those words, Ember was right behind her.

The maid was terrified when she noticed Ember, and she thought she would be fired on the spot.

But Ember had simply remained calm as she asked the maid to put the invitations away.

And right now, Ember was equally calm as she quietly responded to Nathan's words. "I'll leave the party in Ms. Sadler's hands, then. I just so happen to have other plans tomorrow."

She was about to turn around and return to her room when Nathan forcefully gripped her wrist. "Other plans?"

The man stared at Ember's calm and indifferent expression, an unknown anger suddenly welling up inside him. "What could possibly be more important than Ian's birthday?"

"You're the one who asked Bella to take my place, aren't you?" Ember found it ridiculous. "Also, as you said, I am my own person. I should have my own life to focus on instead of constantly buzzing around you two like an annoying fly."

"I didn't mean it like that…" For once, Nathan was actually trying to explain himself.

However, Ember pulled her hand away. "I'm tired. I'm going back to my room."

Feeling the sudden emptiness in his palm, Nathan was dazed for a moment.

In the past, he had indeed found Ember annoying.

She would follow him wherever he went and share every single thing with him. If he didn't answer her call, she would spam him with calls all day long until he picked up. Also, whenever Bella's name was mentioned, she would completely lose it.

But now, when Ember heard that Bella would be replacing her tomorrow, she didn't seem to have much of a reaction.

Nathan felt like Ember had changed ever since she returned from the snowy mountains. She wasn't just getting thinner and weaker by the day, but she was also becoming even more unsettling.

Nathan couldn't help it as he went after Ember. He had a stern look on his face, as if he were doing her a huge favor. "The seating arrangements for the party are finalized, so I can't change them. But if you insist on going, I can arrange a spot for you at the back."

"It's okay," Ember declined without hesitation. "I really have plans tomorrow."

"And what would that be?" Nathan's expression finally grew cold. "You're just upset because of what happened on the mountain, right? I've already told you, Bella was suffering from severe altitude sickness back then. I had no choice but to rush her to a hospital for treatment.

"Later on, you didn't call me, so I thought you already got a ride in someone else's car. That's why I didn't go back for you. Do you have to make such a fuss for something so trivial?

"The Lawson family has already gone bankrupt. You're no longer the respected daughter of the Lawson family, so no one is obliged to put up with your tantrums!"

As soon as Nathan said that, he realized he had gone too far. "Wait, I didn't mean it like that…"

It was quite a rare sight.

The CEO of Grant Group was a man of few words, but he had said the same thing twice to the same woman that night.

But before he could explain, his phone rang.

Bella's intermittent sobs could be heard coming from the other end of the line.

She was saying something along the lines of the lights being broken or some unknown sounds in the stairway.

Panicking, Nathan grabbed his coat and headed outside.

Ember could still hear him gently trying to comfort Bella in the corridor. "It's okay. I'll be right there. Don't worry."

As the front door closed, Ember's phone rang as well.

It was a call from the laboratory. "Ms. Lawson, thank you so much for agreeing to donate your brain neurons for this experiment. The preliminary preparations for the operation are all set. You can come over anytime."

Ember was about to say something when she suddenly felt a searing pain in her abdomen.

Struggling, she grabbed a bottle of pills from the cabinet, poured out a handful, then shoved them into her mouth. It was only then that she managed to recover some of her strength.

After steadying her breath for a moment, she slowly spoke up. "I've already got terminal pancreatic cancer anyway. If I get to contribute to modern medicine before I leave, at least I wouldn't have lived this life for nothing."