Chapter 1

The day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Chloe Baker abandoned me to take care of her childhood sweetheart, Zack, who had threatened to slit his wrists.

I called her to say I was feeling awful, but she was only impatient with me:

"Zack is seriously hurt. Why don't you have any sympathy? Why don't you just say you're dying too!"

I didn't argue against these venomous words,

Because I really didn't have much time left.

I was planning to tell her today,

But now I suddenly don't want to.

I will continue to be good to her,

And then die in front of her on the day she loves me the most.

On the day I was diagnosed with stomach cancer, I waited all morning outside city hall for Chloe Baker's call.

"Mia, let's get our marriage license another day."

"Zack is really sick, he can't be without me."

I sat numbly on the steps outside city hall, staring at the medical report in my hand.

"Can't someone else take care of him? A nurse, a part-time caregiver? Doesn't he have any family?"

I couldn't help but feel anxious.

I would never have asked such direct questions before.

Sure enough, there was silence on the other end of the phone.

The next second, a weak male voice suddenly appeared in my ear.

"Chloe, can you feel my forehead? Do I have a fever?"

The rustling sound of clothes rubbing against each other pierced my ears like needles.

I couldn't help but shout loudly, "Chloe Baker, do you still want to get married or not?"

After a moment of confusion on the other end of the phone, she spoke with impatience.

"I'm just checking Zack's temperature, don't overthink it."

My stomach suddenly burned with pain,

"Chloe, I'm sick too. I need you too."

Her voice was very low, accompanied by footsteps and the sound of a door closing, tinged with irritation.

"Zack is seriously hurt. Why don't you have any sympathy? Why don't you just say you're dying too."

My body couldn't help but tremble. I couldn't hold back anymore. Covering the mouthpiece, I hugged the trash can by the roadside and threw up.

I vomited until I was shaking, until there was nothing left to throw up.

Maybe I was silent for too long.

Her voice became shrill.

"Mia Gray, I hate the silent treatment the most. If you're going to be like this, I need to reconsider whether we should get married."

Before I passed out, I wanted to explain something.

But the phone went dead with a beep.

I collapsed next to the flower bed.