Chapter 1 Chapter 1

After her mother's funeral, Mia Larson received a call from her aunt, Zoe Larson. “Mia, your mom is gone now. I can’t stop worrying about you staying alone in the country. Why don’t you come abroad and live with me?” Mia remained silent for a long time, as though she was making a monumental decision. Finally, she solemnly answered, “Alright.”“Really? You’re willing to come? That’s wonderful!” Zoe’s voice on the other end was filled with joy. “But I heard you got married. Will your husband agree to move abroad with you?” Mia chuckled at the question. “Don’t worry. We’re about to get divorced.” Before the call ended, a commotion sounded from outside the door. Nick Ford was back. Mia glanced toward the door but didn’t get up to greet him like she usually did. Just then, Nick’s younger sister, Jenna Ford, strutted in, her face full of smugness. “Nick brought Xena back. You, the imposter, will be kicked out soon!” Mia frowned slightly. “Imposter?” Jenna looked even more pleased with herself. “You’ll understand once you meet Xena.” As her words trailed off, Nick entered, accompanied by Xena Quinn. The driver followed behind them, lugging bags upon bags of luggage. In Xena’s hands was a massive bouquet of roses—vivid red and strikingly beautiful. Mia held back her tears with difficulty. He actually had time to buy Xena roses. In five years of marriage, he had never given Mia so much as a single flower. “Xena just returned from abroad and hasn’t found a place to stay yet. She’ll be staying with us for the time being,” Nick announced without sparing Mia a glance. His gaze remained fixed on Xena the entire time. “Clean up the guest room next to mine. Xena will be staying there.” His tone wasn’t a request but an order, as though they weren’t a married couple—as though she was merely a housekeeper. Someone staying over didn’t require her consent, yet she was expected to clean the room for them. “Nicky, I can clean it myself. No need to trouble Mia,” Xena interjected, lifting her head. It was then that Mia finally saw her face. She froze on the spot, as if struck by a spell, her body rigid and unable to move. At that moment, Mia finally understood what Jenna meant by “imposter.” Xena had a face that looked strikingly similar to hers. The difference was that Xena’s features were softer, her demeanor more elegant, and her gaze carried the effortless confidence of someone born into privilege. “So that’s how it is…” Mia muttered under her breath. She let out a soft, hollow laugh, wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye as if brushing off something insignificant. Now it all made sense. Her life had always been marked by misfortune. Luck had never been on her side. Even her mother, the only person she had to lean on, had passed away on her birthday. She should have known better. Someone like her, cursed with bad luck, was never going to stumble into a fairytale ending. A chance meeting wouldn’t lead a wealthy heir to fall for her, let alone marry her. It all made sense now. She was nothing more than a stand-in. “Why are you crying? Seriously, is this worth crying about?” Jenna scoffed, a mocking tone in her voice. “Xena is only staying for a couple of days, and here you are acting all pitiful. Mia, you’re so petty!” Mia quickly shook her head. “No, this has nothing to do with Miss Quinn…” But before she could finish, Xena’s eyes reddened, and she interjected softly, “Forget it. I’ll leave. I don’t want to cause any strain on your marriage because of me.” A dark cloud immediately settled over Nick’s face. “You’re not leaving,” he said, stepping in front of Xena. His tone was commanding, leaving no room for argument. “I make the decisions in this house! Uncle Jacob, take her luggage upstairs!” The driver hesitated, glancing uneasily at Mia. He didn’t move. Nick noticed and turned his sharp gaze toward Mia. “Do you have a problem with this?” he asked, his voice low and tinged with warning, like a predator cornering its prey. Mia shook her head again, her eyes reddening as she forced a smile. “No, I don’t have a problem. Miss Quinn is more than welcome to stay here.” No problem at all. Why would she have a problem? Someone who was about to leave for good had no right to care. She would step down gracefully, give up her place, and disappear forever—never to return.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Nick cast a cold, penetrating look at Mia, then suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “Since you don’t mind, why don’t you help Uncle Jacob carry Xena’s luggage upstairs?” He was clearly trying to humiliate her, probably annoyed that she had made him lose face in front of his one true love. Mia’s face turned slightly pale, but she quickly recovered, forcing a smile. “Sure.” With that, she turned and started helping Uncle Jacob move the luggage. She was so obedient, so compliant. Logically, Nick should have been pleased. Yet, as he watched her calmly carry the bags upstairs, an inexplicable irritation rose within him. The room was tidied up quickly. Just as Mia was about to head back downstairs, Xena walked in. “Mia, thank you for letting me stay here.” Xena grabbed Mia’s hand with both of hers, her brows furrowing as she said with a delicate, pitiable expression, “If it weren’t for you and Nicky, I really don’t know where I would have gone.” As Xena spoke, the light caught on the back of her hand, and Mia’s eyes were drawn to it—a dazzling flash that stung her vision. Xena was wearing a ring on her left ring finger, identical to Mia’s wedding band. No, not identical. The diamond on Xena’s ring was larger, brighter, and far more striking. By comparison, Mia’s wedding ring looked like a cheap imitation. Even though she had already decided to leave, a sharp pang pierced her heart at that moment. So, even her engagement ring had been nothing but a knockoff. A stand-in paired with a counterfeit—how fitting. Just then, the doorbell rang. Moments later, a delivery man entered, carrying a massive cake. “Wow! Who ordered a cake?” Jenna exclaimed. “Nick, was it you? Did you get it for Xena?”“Xena’s birthday is next week,” Nick replied without looking up. “But yes, I did order her a cake in advance. Did the bakery mix up the date?” Everyone was still confused when the delivery guy suddenly called out loudly, “Is Mia Larson here? The recipient is Mia Larson. This cake is from your aunt, Zoe Larson. She asked me to tell you that she knows today has been really hard for you, but she doesn’t want you to dwell in sadness. She’s grateful you came into this world and wishes you a happy birthday!” The living room fell silent. Everyone turned to look at Mia. For once, Nick’s expression showed a hint of guilt. Awkwardly, he said, “It’s your birthday today? Why didn’t you tell me?” Xena’s birthday wasn’t until next week, and he had already ordered her gifts and a cake well in advance. But Mia’s birthday? He hadn’t remembered at all. Of course, why would he? She was just a stand-in. What was the point of keeping track of things like that? “Oh, it’s my birthday today? I completely forgot.” Mia diffused the awkwardness with a lighthearted tone. “I didn’t expect my aunt to remember. I’ll have to call and thank her later.” She would also take the opportunity to check on the progress of her move abroad and push her plans forward. The sooner, the better. “Nicky, you’re unbelievable,” Xena said in a playful, almost scolding tone. “How could you forget your own wife’s birthday? Mia, don’t be upset. Oh, by the way, when I got off the plane, Nicky gave me a gift—a stunning diamond necklace. “How about this necklace? Let’s call it your birthday gift from Nicky!” With that, Xena took off the diamond necklace from around her neck and handed it to Mia with a bright smile. “Mia, happy birthday!”

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The necklace was stunning, featuring a rare red diamond set in heart-shaped platinum—a symbol of a love that was meant to be unique and irreplaceable. But that love wasn’t hers to claim. “No, thank you,” Mia said, shaking her head with a polite smile. “This is a gift from Nick to you. How could I take something so precious away from someone else?” If it wasn’t meant for her, she wouldn’t take it. She wouldn’t accept the necklace and she wouldn’t accept the man who gave it either. “What’s with the attitude?” Nick suddenly snapped, his frustration boiling over. “So I forgot your birthday because I was busy with work. Is it really such a big deal? Do you have to act like this?” Mia was stunned. She didn’t understand what she had done wrong. She hadn’t cried or caused a scene. She had smiled the entire time and spoken with perfect courtesy. So why wasn’t he satisfied? “I wasn’t being sarcastic,” Mia said softly, lowering her gaze to hide the exhaustion in her eyes. “Nick, what do you want me to do? Do you want me to take the necklace? If that’s what you want, I’ll take it.” With that, she took the necklace and genuinely thanked Xena. “Miss Quinn, thank you for the gift.” As a stand-in, Mia felt she had already been as accommodating, cooperative, and respectful as she could possibly be to save Nick’s pride. But for some reason, after she accepted the necklace, Nick became even angrier. “Mia, you’re unbelievable!” he spat before storming out, slamming the door behind him. Whether she refused the necklace or accepted it, Nick was furious. That was when Mia understood that it was never about the necklace. No matter what she did, he would never be satisfied. “Those who are loved can get away with anything, while those who aren’t can never do anything right,” she concluded. The birthday cake from Zoe was enormous, but no one joined Mia to eat it. Not wanting to waste Zoe’s thoughtful gesture, she forced herself to eat the entire five-tier cake on her own. By the time she finished, she was so painfully full that she ended up in the bathroom, throwing up for what felt like forever. “How absurd,” she thought, slumping onto the bathroom floor. Tears streamed down her face as she laughed silently. When she was a child, they couldn’t afford birthday cakes. She used to stand outside the bakery, staring through the glass at cakes she could never have. And now? Now she finally had more cake than she could ever eat, but it only left her sick—her stomach aching and her chest heavy with regret. “Some things lose their meaning once they’re lost, even if you finally get them back,” she mused. By evening, Mia had packed her belongings and moved out of the master bedroom. The rightful owner of Nick’s heart—his “one true love”—was back. As a stand-in, she knew her place. She couldn’t stay in the same room as Nick anymore. It might upset Xena. As she was moving her things, Xena stepped out of the adjacent room. She was wearing a skimpy camisole dress, so short that it barely covered anything, exposing her alluring shoulders and her long, slender legs. “Mia, don’t misunderstand,” Xena said sweetly, her voice dripping with false sincerity. “Nicky isn’t staying out of the master bedroom to avoid you. He’s just still upset. Don’t worry, we didn’t do anything. We were just playing cards, that’s all.” Mia smiled faintly. “There’s no need to explain to me.” Even if they had done something, it didn’t matter. The divorce papers were already prepared. Tomorrow, she would find the right moment to have Nick sign them. “Mia, you’re still misunderstanding.” Xena bit her lip, her face a picture of innocence and grievance. “Nicky and I…” Before Xena could finish, Mia cut her off with a calm smile. “I know. You and Nick grew up together—childhood sweethearts, deeply bonded. Now that you’ve finally returned after so many years apart, of course, you have plenty to catch up on. “So go ahead and reminisce. I won’t get in your way.” With that, Mia turned and walked away without looking back. Xena stood rooted to the spot, watching Mia intently for a long moment, her gaze heavy with unspoken meaning.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Nick spent the entire night in Xena’s room. Mia hadn’t gone out of her way to notice this but Mrs. Zimmer, the housekeeper, had eagerly pulled her into the backyard early that morning to share this “important information” in hushed tones. “Ma’am, you’ve got to start paying attention!” Mrs. Zimmer said anxiously. “That shameless little vixen, Miss Quinn, is clearly here to seduce Mr. Ford! You wouldn’t believe what she was wearing last night. I couldn’t even look!” Mia smiled faintly. “You’re overthinking it. Miss Quinn and Nick grew up together, and he holds her in high regard. Please don’t speak badly of her again. Nick wouldn’t be happy if he heard you.” Mrs. Zimmer froze, her expression bewildered. She looked Mia up and down before hesitantly asking, “Ma’am, what’s going on with you?”“I’m fine,” Mia replied with a smile. “I’m doing great.” But that smile looked like a mask welded onto her face. She would keep smiling. She wouldn’t cry anymore. “No, something’s definitely off with you today!” Mrs. Zimmer said with certainty. “You used to call Mr. Ford affectionately as ‘Nicky,’ but now you’re using his name—Nick!” Mia lowered her long, dark lashes and stayed silent. In truth, when she first got together with Nick, she didn’t call him “Nicky” either. Like his friends, she used to call him “Nick.” It wasn’t until their first night together that he made her call him “Nicky.” That night, he had pinned her to the bed, blindfolded her with a strip of black cloth, and, while roughly pulling her hair, demanded she call him “Nicky” over and over. For the longest time, Mia thought “Nicky” was a special name just for her to use, a sign of their intimacy. The thought had secretly made her happy for quite a while. It wasn’t until yesterday, when she heard Xena call him “Nicky,” that she realized the truth. No wonder he had blindfolded her that night. Her eyes didn’t look like Xena’s. But her voice sounded similar, so he made her call him “Nicky,” over and over again, as if that was all that mattered. “Mrs. Zimmer,” Mia said softly, resting a hand on her shoulder, “in a place like this, the most important thing is to focus on your work and keep your thoughts to yourself. Please don’t say anything bad about Miss Quinn anymore.” She would be leaving soon, and Xena would take her place as the lady of the house. If Mrs. Zimmer offended Xena, she would certainly pay the price later. After advising Mrs. Zimmer, Mia went upstairs to grab the divorce papers and then headed to Nick’s study. Nick was busy working but scoffed when he saw her walk in. “Finally realized you were wrong?”“Yes,” Mia said flatly. If he said she was wrong, then she would let it be. She was too tired to argue, especially since it would all be over in a few days. “If you’d figured that out sooner, none of this would’ve been necessary!” Nick said irritably, his tone sharp. He pulled a finely crafted gift box out of a drawer and tossed it onto the desk in front of her. “Here’s a belated birthday gift. Open it.” Mia wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but her instincts told her that if she refused, Nick would only get angry. She still needed him to sign the divorce papers, so it was better not to provoke him. Silently, she accepted the gift without a word. Just then, Nick’s phone rang. Out of the corner of her eye, Mia saw the caller ID—Xena. Nick glanced at her, then pulled a pair of headphones from the drawer and put them on. He answered the call, and the cold indifference in his eyes was immediately replaced with a smile. His tone softened, a stark contrast to how he spoke to Mia. Mia placed the divorce papers on the desk in front of him. “Please sign these.” Without so much as glancing at them, Nick scribbled his signature and went right back to his call with Xena, his voice warm and affectionate. Mia frowned slightly, hesitating before asking, “Aren’t you going to check what you just signed?”“No need,” Nick replied impatiently. “It’s just about hiring foreign specialists for your mom’s treatment, right? Take care of it yourself. If there’s anything that needs my signature, just give it to Assistant Wilson to pass on to me. And stop calling me over nothing. Do you have any idea how many important calls I missed last time because you wouldn’t stop blowing up my phone?”

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

Mia’s mother, Charlie Larson, had passed away a week ago. She had been in the late stages of brain cancer. Despite Nick’s arrangements for her to stay in the best hospital in the country, her condition continued to deteriorate day by day. Her moments of clarity grew shorter, and her confusion lasted longer. Most of the time, she couldn’t even recognize Mia. The attending doctor had warned that they couldn’t delay any longer. A surgery was necessary. Otherwise, Charlie might not make it through the week. Mia didn’t know what to do. She called Nick, hoping to get his advice. The first three calls went unanswered, and when he finally picked up on the fourth, he lashed out before she could even speak. “Why are you calling for no reason? I’m busy! Stop bothering me!” The attending doctor, knowing Mia was Nick’s wife, suggested having Nick bring in foreign specialists to collaborate with the domestic team for a medical consultation. This would increase the chances of a successful surgery. Mia thanked the doctor, then sat in the hospital corridor with her phone, counting the seconds and minutes until 6 p.m.—Nick’s usual time to leave work. Summoning her courage, she called him again. He didn’t pick up. She reasoned he might be working late and decided to wait a bit longer. This time, she waited until midnight before calling, but no matter how many times she tried, the line wouldn’t connect. It took her a moment to realize the truth. Nick had blocked her. For the next week, Nick didn’t come home. Her calls didn’t go through, and her messages went unanswered. Meanwhile, Charlie missed the optimal window for surgery and passed away. Was Nick really that busy? So busy that he still found the time, in that same week, to pick out welcome-home gifts for Xena and order her a birthday cake? Mia couldn’t let herself think about it any longer. She closed her eyes, steadying her trembling hands as she clutched the divorce papers. Without another word, she left the study. At lunchtime, Mrs. Zimmer prepared a table full of delicious dishes. But Jenna, who had come over to mooch a meal, started nitpicking right away before even sitting down. “Mia, didn’t you usually do the cooking? Why didn’t you cook today?” Jenna asked provocatively. “Is it because Xena moved in? Do you think you’re too important now to cook for her?” Hearing this, Nick’s expression darkened, and he cast a cold, piercing glance at Mia, clearly waiting for her response. How ironic, Mia thought bitterly. Even as his wife, she didn’t have the right to refuse cooking for his "one true love."“I’m better at making spicy dishes,” Mia said softly, lowering her gaze. “Miss Quinn prefers lighter flavors. I was afraid she wouldn’t like what I make.”“Then why not just skip the chili?” Jenna shot back, still dissatisfied. “Jenna, don’t be like that,” Xena interjected, stepping in with a gentle smile. “Mia is your sister-in-law, and you should treat her with respect. Besides, I think Mrs. Zimmer’s cooking tastes wonderful…” Before Xena could finish her sentence, she suddenly frowned and clutched her stomach, her face contorting in pain. “Xena, what’s wrong?” Nick exclaimed, rushing to her side immediately to steady her. “Nicky, my stomach hurts,” Xena whispered weakly, her face pale as she collapsed into his arms, looking delicate and helpless. Nick frowned deeply. “How could your stomach hurt all of a sudden?” Jenna’s face lit up with dramatic realization as she pointed accusingly at Mia. “Oh, I get it! No wonder you refused to cook today. You must’ve drugged Xena! You’ve been feeling guilty, so you stayed out of the kitchen on purpose!”

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

The accusation came out of nowhere, leaving Mia feeling helpless. “If I haven’t stepped into the kitchen all day, how could I have had the chance to drug Miss Quinn?” she said calmly. “Just because you didn’t go into the kitchen doesn’t mean you couldn’t bribe someone who did,” Jenna sneered. “When I came over this morning, I saw you and Mrs. Zimmer acting all secretive in the garden. Now that I think about it, you were probably plotting to poison Xena!”“Heavens, Miss Ford! You can’t just make baseless accusations like that!” Mrs. Zimmer exclaimed, panicked. “I’m just a housekeeper. How could I dare poison someone?”“Then what were you and Mia whispering about in the garden this morning?” Jenna pressed, unwilling to let it go. “I…” Mrs. Zimmer glanced at Mia nervously, unsure of how to respond. With Nick and Xena present, she couldn’t possibly repeat the conversation from that morning. “Can’t answer, can you? I knew it! You two are definitely up to something!” Jenna declared smugly. “Xena, should I call the police for you? Tampering with food is practically attempted murder!” The mention of calling the police made Xena’s face contort with even more pain. Clutching Nick’s hand, she cried out, “Nick, it hurts so much! Am I going to die? I’m so scared!” Seeing Xena in such agony, Nick didn’t hesitate. He scooped her up into his arms and rushed toward the door. “Get the car ready! We’re going to the hospital now!” Before leaving, he shot Mia a furious glare. “I’ll deal with you when I get back!” Mrs. Zimmer, completely shaken, started to cry. “Ma’am, what are we going to do? I didn’t poison Miss Quinn. I swear I didn’t! I’m just trying to make an honest living. I would never do something like this!” Mia knew Mrs. Zimmer couldn’t have been the one to poison Xena. But Mrs. Zimmer was the one who cooked the meal, and unless she implicated someone else, Nick would never let her off the hook. “When Nick comes back, just say I was the one who told you to do it if he interrogates you,” Mia said calmly. “It’s fine, don’t be afraid. Blame everything on me.”“But how could I do that?” Mrs. Zimmer exclaimed, panicking. “Ma’am, we didn’t do anything wrong! We can’t just confess to something we didn’t do!” Mia gave a bitter smile. She had already realized over the past few days that whether she admitted to it or not didn’t matter. Nick had already decided she was guilty. Her outcome would be the same either way. Since that was the case, it was better to sacrifice herself and protect someone else. She couldn’t let an innocent person take the blame. “Do as I say,” Mia said firmly, her tone unusually resolute. “Don’t worry. I have a plan. Nothing will happen to me.” After an entire night at the hospital, Nick finally returned home with Xena in the early hours of the morning. The moment he stepped through the door, he launched into an interrogation. “Mia, you’re pretty clever, aren’t you? You knew Xena was allergic to peanuts, so you ground them into powder and sprinkled them in her soup. Do you have any idea that if I hadn’t rushed her to the hospital in time, she could’ve died tonight? “Mrs. Zimmer already confessed that you ordered her to do it. So, what do you have to say for yourself? I’m giving you one chance. Why did you do it?” Mia lifted her head and glanced at Xena. Xena’s pale face looked even more fragile as she lay on the bed, weak and pitiful. “Mia, I don’t believe you’d try to hurt me. You must have had your reasons, didn’t you?” Mia let out a quiet laugh. Looking Xena straight in the eyes, she spoke calmly. “Thank you for trusting me. I didn’t hurt you, and I have no idea why Mrs. Zimmer would accuse me. Why don’t we call the police? Let them investigate thoroughly. My words might not hold weight, but the findings of the police surely will.”

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

Mia's suggestion to call the police elicited interesting reactions from both Xena and Nick. Xena’s gaze darted nervously, while Nick erupted in anger. “Mia, do you think I wouldn’t dare call the police because I’m unwilling to let you go?!”“No, Nick, I know you would,” Mia silently answered him in her heart. “But your precious Xena won’t let you. She knows her little tricks might fool you, but they won’t fool the police.” If the police were to uncover that the peanut powder was something she added herself, wouldn’t that be incredibly awkward for her? Sure enough, a second later, Xena spoke in her sweet voice. “Nick, don’t do this. Mia is still your wife. You can’t send her to jail because of me. “Besides, I’m fine now, aren’t I? And think about it—if not for Mia, then at least for the Ford family. If the public finds out that your wife went to jail, it would damage the company’s reputation, and Ford Corporation’s stock would surely take a hit.” With Xena’s persuasion, Nick managed to rein in his temper and didn’t call the police. But while there would be no police involved, there still had to be punishment. “Mia,” Nick said coldly, his voice venomous as he grabbed her by the neck, “Xena is too kind-hearted to hold you accountable, but that doesn’t mean you’ll walk away unscathed. The pain she suffered tonight—you’ll feel every bit of it yourself.”“Dr. Jason, bring the prepared medication,” Nick commanded. Gripping Mia’s chin, he forced an unknown liquid down her throat. The effects of the medicine were almost immediate. Mia doubled over in agony, her body drenched in sweat. She clutched her stomach, writhing and convulsing on the floor. Several times, the pain was so unbearable she nearly passed out. Nick stood towering over her, his cold eyes fixed on her suffering without a flicker of emotion, not even a crease in his brow. “It hurts, doesn’t it?” he said icily. “When Xena drank that bowl of soup you supposedly tampered with, she was in just as much pain. Remember this feeling. Pain is the only thing that will teach you a lesson.” Mia bit down hard on the back of her hand, breaking the skin and drawing blood, yet she didn’t let go or cry out in pain. “Nick, don’t worry. I’ll do exactly as you said. I’ll remember this pain clearly. “This is what it feels like to love you. This is the outcome of loving you. “I understand now. I won’t make the same mistake again,” she silently remarked. The pain lingered for an entire day, only subsiding late at night when the effects of the drug finally wore off. Her body was drenched in cold sweat, and her face was pale, completely drained of color. It was then that Zoe called. Summoning all her strength, Mia answered the phone. “Hello—”“Sweetheart, it’s me,” Zoe said, her warm, gentle voice bringing a faint comfort. “I’ve taken care of all the paperwork for your move abroad. When are you planning to leave? I’ll book your flight.” Mia lay on the floor, her eyelashes trembling. She wanted to say she would leave at sunrise. She couldn’t stand another minute here. But after a full day of agony, her body felt completely drained of life. Even lifting a finger seemed impossible. In this condition, there was no way she could make it to the airport, let alone travel. And showing up like this would only worry Zoe. So, Mia forced herself to sound calm. “The night after tomorrow. The divorce will be finalized by then, and I’ll be ready to go.”“Alright, I’ll book a flight for 7 p.m. the day after tomorrow. Just bring your passport to pick up the ticket at the airport.”

Chapter 8 Chapter 8

After spending a full day and night in bed recovering, Mia had finally regained enough strength to face what lay ahead. Today was the day she would leave. Her flight was at 7 p.m., and once she boarded, she would never come back. As dawn broke, Mia got out of bed and began packing her belongings. She decided to donate everything to a local community center. Among the donated items were all the gifts Nick had given her over the years—clothes, handbags, jewelry and even the wedding ring he had placed on her finger. Anything of value was donated to benefit others, while the less valuable items were tossed into a fire. If she was starting over, she would leave with nothing that tied her to him. By the time she finished, it was already afternoon. Mia glanced at her phone—it was 3 p.m. Just four hours until her flight. She was about to change clothes and head to the airport when Jenna suddenly appeared, blocking her path. “Mia, what are you standing around for? Come on, get moving! You’re coming with me to get your makeup done.”“Makeup?” Mia frowned slightly. “For what?”“Don’t play dumb,” Jenna said with a scowl. “Isn’t today your wedding anniversary with Nick? He told me that when you got married, my parents didn’t approve, so you skipped the ceremony and just signed the paperwork. He’s always felt guilty about that. And lately, with everything going on with Xena, he knows he’s been neglecting you. So, he wants to make it up to you by throwing you a proper wedding for your five-year anniversary.” Fake. It had to be fake. This was definitely a trap, Mia thought. She and Nick had been married for five years, and he had never once mentioned holding a wedding for her. Why would he suddenly decide to do it now, on the very day Xena was back in his life? “What, you don’t believe me?” Jenna sneered, giving Mia a disdainful look. “Then call Nick and ask him yourself. Do you think I’m doing this for fun? If he hadn’t forced me, I wouldn’t be wasting my time on you.” Mia didn’t believe her, and she certainly didn’t want to call Nick. Seeing Mia standing there like a statue, Jenna lost her patience. She pulled out her phone, dialed Nick’s number, and shoved the phone into Mia’s hands. “Mia, I’ve already heard about your mom. You’ve been through so much lately. Let me make it up to you today.” Fake. It had to be fake. Nick would never speak to her in such a gentle tone. “I’ve already arranged everything. Go with Jenna and change into your dress. We’ll see each other at the wedding.” Fake. All of it was fake. Mia’s body began to tremble uncontrollably. What was Nick up to? Why would he suddenly hold a wedding for her? What was his real motive? She knew deep down it was all a lie. She knew she was the unloved one. But when she put on the custom wedding dress Nick had supposedly prepared for her, she couldn’t stop the faint glimmer of hope that stirred within her. There is a universal human tendency to cling to hope, even when logic and experience insist the outcome is impossible. What if? What if, this time, it was real? She had been unlucky for so long. Surely, she deserved a win, just this once. “Fine,” Mia thought. “I’ll go and see for myself. There’s still time.” With the mindset of a gambler taking a one-in-a-million chance, she went to attend the supposed wedding. By 4 p.m., her makeup was done. By 5 p.m., she arrived at the wedding venue. When she pushed open the doors to the banquet hall, a bucket of cold water poured down on her from above. “Hahahahaha!” Laughter erupted around her, loud and cruel. Jenna stood behind her, laughing so hard tears streamed down her face. “Mia, you idiot! Did you really think Nick was going to throw you a wedding? “Hahahaha, what a fool! Today is Xena’s birthday. This isn’t the wedding you’ve been dreaming of—it’s her birthday party!” The banquet hall was full of people, all there to celebrate Xena’s birthday. Xena herself was there, dressed in a wedding gown identical to the one Mia was wearing—except hers wasn’t drenched in water and still looked pristine and elegant. “This dress?” Jenna said smugly, pointing to Xena’s gown. “It’s the one Nick had custom-made for her. Isn’t it beautiful? He’s planning to propose to her today. “Mia, Nick and Xena are true love. You’re just a pathetic joke in their legendary love story. If you have any self-respect, you’ll leave on your own. It’ll be even more humiliating if Nick throws you out.” Mia reached up and touched her face, only to realize she was crying. Crying? Why? Hadn’t she already known this was all fake? “Mia, you really are a fool. How many times has fate played cruel tricks on you, and yet you still fell for it? “You knew it was a lie, and yet you came anyway. What were you trying to prove? How pathetic you are?’ she silently cried. She turned and fled from the suffocating venue, practically running out the door. Flagging down a taxi, she rushed to the airport as fast as possible. Once there, she bolted into the restroom and began tearing at the wedding dress she was wearing. “Take it off. Take it all off,” she thought desperately. The dress was too tight, too stifling. “Help me! Please, someone help me!” the plea echoed in her mind. She couldn’t take it anymore. Everything about it—the dress, the situation—was suffocating her. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. She had to get out of this cursed wedding dress and leave. Leave everything behind, never to look back. Finally, after frantically pulling and tearing at it, the wedding dress was reduced to shreds. Mia tossed the once-pristine white dress onto the dirty restroom floor. From her bag, she pulled out a long black slip dress and slipped it on. Her phone was vibrating furiously. She pulled it out to see dozens of missed calls—all from Nick. Apparently, he had been calling her nonstop since she got in the taxi, over thirty times at least. But she had been too consumed by her breakdown to notice. The phone was still vibrating, Nick still calling. Mia calmly removed the SIM card, snapped it in half, and tossed it into the trash. It was almost 7 p.m. She collected her ticket, cleared security, and boarded the plane without any issues. Moments before takeoff, she deleted all her social media accounts, severing every tie to her past. When the flight attendant came by to remind her to turn off her phone, she smiled and nodded. The phone’s screen went black as the plane lifted off the ground. Mia leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. “Nick, I won’t bother with goodbye. “Because I hope this is the last time I’ll ever see you,” she muttered.