I drifted toward Maximiliano Reyes.

He was in an opulently decorated mansion, standing tall and imposing by the window. His sharp features were directed toward the horizon before shifting back to the silent phone beside him. After a moment, impatience got the better of him. He dialed a number, only for the call to be instantly disconnected. His brow furrowed, and the tension in the room thickened.

Crash!

In a fit of rage, he hurled the phone to the floor, shattering it into pieces.

"Elisabeth Turner, what game are you playing now? Ignoring my calls, have you grown a backbone?"

Maximiliano let out a derisive laugh.

"Playing hard to get, or is this some other trick? Do you really think I'd come back for this? Pathetic. Even if you kicked the bucket, I wouldn't bother with your remains."

Is that so? Does Maximiliano truly despise me this much? Even though I had known for some time, hearing it straight from his lips still made my heart tighten involuntarily.

I couldn't help but give a bitter smile, whispering softly into his ear.

"As you wish, I'm really gone now. Right there at home, so you won't have to deal with my remains..."

Maximiliano couldn't hear me, yet he suddenly stepped forward, crushing a dark shape under his foot.

My heart sank, a deep sense of dread engulfing me.

That was...

Grasping my collar tightly, my breath caught.

Maximiliano's voice, as cold as ice, echoed:

"Useless creature, died so quickly. Serves her right, now I've lost my leverage over her."

"Snowball!"

I screamed, throwing myself onto that “thing” with overwhelming grief consuming me.

Snowball. My Snowball. The ragdoll cat that had been my companion for years, pure white and incredibly perceptive. Its blue glassy eyes were its most endearing feature.

But now it lay discarded here. Its fur matted and stained with blood, turning dark and stiff. Its belly caved in, the body twisted grotesquely.

Snowball, who once would flee at the mere sight of Maximiliano, was now lifeless despite his repeated kicks.

"Stop! Enough!"

I remembered. I remembered everything.

Snowball was gone. It died because of me. Because I shared a bond of suffering with Snowball, and Maximiliano, wanting to control me, didn’t hesitate to torment Snowball into this state.

Whip marks, burns, organs removed, bones shattered… All inflicted on Snowball, then transferred to me.

Yes, I should have known better. I’m already gone—how could Snowball still be living?

But my soul lingers here.

And what about Snowball?

The surroundings felt empty, missing the little furball who used to wag his tail and curl around me for affection. I closed my eyes, allowing the pain to seep in.

If I could turn back time, I would never have crossed paths with Maximiliano.

The man I always chased brought me nothing but endless sorrow. From start to finish, his heart held only Melany.

The Reyes and Turner families were old friends. Maximiliano and I grew up together, childhood companions without a hint of suspicion. Everyone expected Maximiliano's future wife would naturally be me. I secretly thought so too.

But that all shattered with Melany's arrival.

"Elisa, I've fallen for someone," he said.

It was the first time I saw Maximiliano smile with such genuine joy. His eyes were bright, locked onto the girl holding the camera. Melany, like Maximiliano, was part of the photography club. Their connection was immediate and spirited. According to Maximiliano, it was love at first sight, a soul-stirring experience.

"Elisa, you'll wish us well, won't you?"

I remember that day clearly: the sky was a perfect blue, with the scent of freshly baked gingerbread filling the air—a rare, beautiful day. My legs felt like they were made of lead as I stood there, staring at the perfect couple before me. The words in my heart transformed into a single phrase on my lips. "Congratulations."

For the next four years of college, I chose to fade from Maximiliano's life, only daring to watch from a distance at the happiness that wasn't mine. At that time, I thought I would always be alone.

But I hadn't foreseen Melany ending things with Maximiliano. She left abruptly for a study-abroad program, making a clean break. Maximiliano only found out after she had flown away. That was the first time I saw him completely lose control.

He caused a scene at the airport and was taken away by the police. The Reyes family was furious and decided to arrange a marriage for him immediately. And the bride they chose for him was me.

Marrying Maximiliano was something I was willing to do. At the time, I felt incredibly lucky. After all the twists and turns, I was still the one by his side.

But it was only later that I understood. Happiness that is borrowed isn't meant to last.

Due to my deep love for Maximiliano Reyes, I gave up my position as the heir to the Turner family and dedicated myself to being a supportive and loyal wife.

"Max, you've always looked after me; now it's my turn."

When we got married, Maximiliano seemed emotionally distant. When Melany Jackson left, it was as if she took his spirit with her. But I didn't mind; after our wedding, he was all I could see. I always believed that love would grow over time.

Just like now, when I said those words, Maximiliano didn't reply with words. Instead, his throat bobbed, and he pulled me into a warm embrace, carrying a faint coffee aroma—a scent I've always loved.

During that time, I was so happy that I even smiled in my sleep. I thought this happiness would last forever, especially after I accidentally discovered that I could share feelings with Snowball. I experienced all its emotions and its deep love for me. It seemed absurd—the idea of shared emotions between a human and an animal. But when I told Maximiliano about it, he was simply curious, not finding it odd.

My heart felt warm as I joked, "So, you'd better watch out when you pet him from now on; I can feel it all."

Maximiliano's eyes flickered, but he didn't respond. It wasn't until later that I realized he began using Snowball as a way to control me.

Melany came back in the second year of our marriage. It was then that I understood how powerful a past love can be. Despite all my efforts to win his heart for over a year, one tear from her was enough for Maximiliano to walk away from me. It was the first time I lost my cool with him.

"If you go to see her, I'll tell your grandfather!"

The Reyes family was dead set against Melany due to past events. I thought I had found Maximiliano's weak spot, but I only ended up making him furious.

"Elisabeth Turner, don't think I don't know that your family had its own motives when I married you!"

His expression turned icy, and as I stood there stunned, he grabbed the sleeping Snowball. In the next moment, it felt like a heavy weight pressed down on me. Maximiliano choked Snowball, and the suffocating feeling was transferred directly to me. Clutching my throat, I crumpled to the floor.

Seeing this, Maximiliano seemed satisfied. "Remember, this is what you get for threatening me."

He let go, tossing Snowball aside. "Please, don’t...please don’t go..." I gasped, reaching out in desperation, as everything faded to black and I passed out.