Third Person's POV

“She’ll never know the truth. I had no choice at the time—she woke up too soon. If I had chosen to save her first, my whole act of pretending to have amnesia would’ve fallen apart. She would’ve hated me even more. But luckily, she’s okay,” Aldrich answered.

“Okay? The doctors said if she had been in surgery even a minute later, she would’ve lost her hand,” rebutted the other.

Starlet’s heart clenched after hearing it, while a sweat-soaked hand holding hers.

A few moments later, she felt a soft kiss land on her forehead, followed by a firm, determined voice.

“I know I owe her. But I’ve already planned everything out. In a few days, the doctors will announce that my memory has returned. Everything will go back to the way it was. I’ll make it up to her. I’ll love her the way I should have. I’ll give her everything she deserves," Aldrich explained.

“After we get married, I’ll take her to see the most beautiful northern lights. I’ll go anywhere she wants to go. We once made a wish under a shooting star that we'd stay together forever. She won’t leave me. She never will," he added, assured.

Starlet wasn’t sure if he was trying to reassure himself or remind her of their past.

But that wish… she had no desire to fulfill it anymore.

If someone stayed, it meant they loved their partner. But if they left, it meant they no longer did.

That applied to everyone, especially if one played with someone’s heart.

From then on, Aldrich never left Starlet's side while she was unconscious.

Every half an hour, he had the doctors check on her condition. Every so often, he gently wiped her dry lips with warm water.

He played the role of a devoted, attentive boyfriend flawlessly—until the moment she woke up.

The second she opened her eyes, he quickly turned and left the room.

Starlet watched his retreating figure, a cold smirk flickering across her lips.

A few minutes later, the doctor came in to check on her.

“These past few days… who’s been taking care of me?” she asked suddenly.

The doctor hesitated for a moment, avoiding her gaze before stammering, “I—I’m not sure… probably a nurse.”

“Is that so?”

She let out a soft, humorless laugh and picked up her phone, checking the time.

She had been unconscious for days.

And in three more, she would be gone forever.

Just then, her phone rang.

It was the nursing home.

“Miss Bennett… your sister… she passed away yesterday at around eleven in the morning.”

Her already shattered heart felt like it was being crushed under an unbearable weight.

Tears slipped silently from the corners of her eyes, soaking her pale face.

“Dr. Erickson… was she in pain?” she sobbingly asked.

“No, don’t worry. She was peaceful. She just kept calling your name, asking for you. I tried calling you so many times, but I couldn’t reach you… so I told her you were on your way,” Travis replied.

'This is all that bitch's fault! If she hadn’t crashed my car, I wouldn’t have missed my sister’s final moments. If I had never gotten involved with Aldrich, none of this would’ve happened,' she grittingly thought, guilt, regret, and grief consuming her.

After hanging up, she collapsed onto the hospital bed and buried her face in her hands as a muffled, anguished sob escaped her lips.

Biting down hard on her own arm, she forced herself to swallow the pain, the sorrow, the hatred.

This hospital was full of Aldrich’s people. She couldn’t let them find out about her sister’s death. Otherwise, her plan to switch death with her sister would be in vain.

The next morning, she checked herself out of the hospital and went straight to the nursing home.

When she arrived, her sister was lying in the morgue, peaceful and still, as if she were simply asleep.

Starlet’s legs gave out beneath her. She dropped to her knees and sobbed like a lost child.

Third Person's POV

"My condolences. Talia wouldn't want to see you like this."

Travis’s gentle voice came from behind, his broad hand resting lightly on Stralet's shoulder.

Of course. Her sister had been the kindest, most innocent soul. No matter how many mistakes she had made, that foolish girl only ever wished for her happiness. She would never want to see her in pain.

Swallowing back her grief, Starlet, with Travis’s help, arranged a simple funeral for her sister.

Once everything was settled, the sky was still bright. Instead of going back, she headed straight to the registry office to erase her identity as Starlet.

With the official death certificate from the sanatorium, the process went smoothly.

As she stepped out of the office, the snow that had been falling all morning suddenly cleared.

Lifting her gaze to the sky, she squinted against the sharp sunlight. It was blinding, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she could see hope—hope for a new life.

A faint smile curved her lips. Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang.

An unknown number.

She hesitated at first but answered anyway.

"Hello, Miss Bennett. This is the manager of the Haven Hotel. Your fiancé, Mr. Aldrich Young, booked the venue for a wedding three days from now, but there are still some details left to confirm. We’ve been unable to reach him, so we had no choice but to contact you. Would you be available to come by and discuss the arrangements?"

Her first instinct was to refuse. But then, when she heard the date, her eyelashes trembled slightly.

Three days from now—the day Aldrich had chosen to "regain" his memory and also the day she planned to disappear.

How fitting.

One last look at a wedding she would never attend—maybe that would be the perfect ending to this mess.

In the end, she agreed, hailed a cab, and arrived at the hotel. The manager led her to the 28th floor. The moment she stepped inside, a strong scent of magnolias filled the air.

Above her, tiny lights twinkled like stars, while delicate white magnolias cascaded like snow between strands of crystal beads. A soft fragrance lingered in the air, wrapping the room in quiet romance. It was beautiful—just like that spring when the magnolias bloomed, and she and Aldrich had met.

Magnolias symbolized loyalty.

She once believed their love would be as steadfast as these flowers.

She had forgotten, though—magnolias were fleeting. Just like everything between them.

The manager, about to explain the venue details, suddenly received a call and stepped away, leaving her alone.

The hall had two levels. Wandering aimlessly, she made her way upstairs.

From here, the floating lights in the air felt closer, almost within reach. It reminded her of that night—when Aldrich had knelt before her, eyes full of sincerity, holding out a ring as he made his lifelong vow.

Back then, when she had said yes, he had cried. And she had thought—marriage with him would be beautiful.

Who could have predicted that within three months, everything would crumble to nothing?

Lost in thought, she barely registered the sound of the doors downstairs swinging open.

At first, she assumed it was the manager returning.

But no—it was Aldrich and Eileen.

Aldrich was dressed in a deep burgundy suit, a bouquet of magnolias in his hands.

She had to admit—he looked stunning in that color.

She had loved seeing him in burgundy. He had once promised that on their wedding day, he would wear it just for her.

Beside him, Eileen’s eyes darted around the hall, a flicker of jealousy crossing her face. Then, as her gaze landed on the second floor, she paused—her lips curling into a knowing, wicked smile.

Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Aldrich’s.

"Aldrich, why did you bring me here?" she asked in a sweet, almost childish tone.

Aldrich placed a casual arm around her shoulders.

"This is the wedding venue I prepared for Starlet," he said. "The day after tomorrow, I plan to have a few of my friends bring her here. I’ll pretend to be overwhelmed by memories… and then, just like that, I’ll regain my memory."

Third Person's POV

“I brought you here today to do a quick rehearsal. You can stand in for Starlet and see if there’s anything we’ve overlooked.”

With that, Aldrich pulled Eileen to the center of the stage.

From the second floor, Starlet watched quietly from above, her gaze flickering slightly. She had to admit—Aldrich was talented when it came to acting. If she hadn’t already known the truth, she might have been touched when she showed up here three days later. She might have fallen for his lies.

Thankfully, she wasn’t that unlucky.

Downstairs, the “rehearsal” had reached its final act. Eileen rose onto her toes and kissed Aldrich deeply.

What started as a romantic scene quickly turned into something else entirely.

His burgundy suit slid off his shoulders, and her pink dress tangled with his crisp white shirt—now smeared with lipstick—as they fell away together.

No one knew how long the kiss lasted before Aldrich finally pulled back, his fingers gripping Eileen’s soft waist as he spoke in a low, teasing tone.

“Anyone could walk in here at any moment, and you still can’t keep your hands off me?”

Eileen smirked in return, pressing closer. “Doesn’t it make it even more exciting? Doing it at the site of your big, important wedding?”

Her seductive expression made Aldrich narrow his eyes and a slow chuckle escaped his lips.

“You’re full of tricks.”

“How do I compare to Starlet?” she asked coyly.

Without hesitation, he answered, “You’re definitely wilder. But don’t forget—my bride will always be Starlet. No one else can take that place.”

'Oh, really?' Starlet scoffed inwardly while watching the two from upstairs, concealing the mocking smile forming at the corners of her lips.

'Too bad, Aldrich. I don’t want you anymore,' she then thought.

For the next two hours, she subjected herself to the live show unfolding below, watching their every move in silent agony. Only when their heated whispers turned into satisfied sighs and they finally left did she pull herself together and walk away from that disgusting place.

Two days remained before her departure.

Out of the blue, Travis called her. He told her there was still a diary and a photo album belonging to her sister that he needed to return.

They agreed to meet at a Western-style restaurant.

Over dinner, Starlet was surprised to learn that he had decided to leave the country.

“You have a good job here. Why the sudden decision?” she asked.

Travis let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “I’ve never been one for routine. Life feels too predictable that way. I want to try something different—maybe going abroad will be a good change.”

'A life filled with challenges?' Starlet echoed in her mind, full of wonder.

Once, Starlet had chosen to leave the country, but for a different reason—to escape the betrayal and lies that had consumed her world.

But now… maybe looking at things from a different perspective wouldn’t be so bad.

She absently stirred her coffee while her mind wandered.

“Starlet? What are you doing here? And who is he?”

The familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

She hadn’t expected to run into Aldrich and Eileen, the two of them linked arm in arm, looking like the perfect couple.

But Aldrich’s expression was far from pleasant. His eyes were locked on Travis, filled with open hostility and barely concealed anger.

Eileen curled her lips into a mocking smile, but her voice carried a note of exaggerated concern as she interjected, “Starlet, it’s so late. Why are you out having dinner with another man? Is he your new boyfriend?” She tilted her head, giving Travis an appraising look. “He’s quite handsome, I’ll give you that. But does he know you were clinging to Aldrich not long ago, insisting he was your boyfriend? You wouldn’t be… playing both sides, would you?”

Starlet didn’t bother responding.

But Aldrich’s temper had already been ignited. His rage flared as he roared, “I asked you a question, Starlet! Who is this guy? I was only gone for a little while, and you couldn’t stand being alone? Are you really that desperate? That cheap?”