Seeing the unfamiliar number, Stacy knew right away that it was Rachel Fox.

After all, she had sent Stacy a photo of herself in Martin's arms, who was looking downward at her and smiling affectionately, and they were clearly at Rachel's place.

On top of that, the photo was captioned: We're getting married soon because Martin finds you worthless. Know your place and make yourself scarce already.

Stacy's fingers clenched around her phone as the words were knives that cut into every fiber of her being, leaving her unable to breathe.

Soon, the fireworks show had ended, leaving the peak at once dark and silent.

Stacy's phone turned off on its own from the cold, and without any light, she had to walk down the hill with the faint moonlight.

It started to snow, and she knew that if she stayed above the hill, they would find her dead the next morning.

She had no choice but to keep heading down the hill, a chill creeping up her spine as her fear of the dark engulfed her.

She was afraid of the dark and the paranormal too, but Martin seemed to have forgotten about that.

Even so, she kept trudging on despite her fear and the freezing cold, and felt totally numb by the time she arrived at a place she could get a taxi four hours later.

By the time she reached home, her face was deathly pale and her lips blackened.

It was pitch-black in there too—the servants had left, while Martin was busy keeping his fiancee company.

Stacy pursed her numb lips then. After all, was this not the natural course of things?

She was nothing, and Martin had every reason to stay with his fiancee.

-

Martin shook her awake the next day, and Stacy found herself staring at his worried face as she opened her groggy eyes.

"You have a fever. Let's get you to the hospital," he said.

Stacy could vaguely feel him carrying her into his car, although only one thing came to mind: what was he doing here, instead of staying with his fiancee?

Still, when her mind cleared and she saw the bright sun outside the car, she realized that it was already noon the next day.

In the car, Martin held on to her tightly, even carrying her to the ER.

He stood at her side as she was too dizzy to sit straight, holding her upright in a rather strange position.

Through it all, Martin appeared very worried and kept asking what he had to be worried about.

While giving her IV, the doctor smiled at her, "You have a really good boyfriend. You should really cherish him."

But at that instant, Stacy picked up Rachel's scent that was clinging to Martin's clothes.

Although Stacy smiled at the doctor, it was a smile of faint bitterness.

A good boyfriend? As in the one who just left his fiancee's bed?

Nonetheless, Martin was still carrying her here and there, refusing to let her walk at all.

He even kept her head in his embrace as she was given an injection, assuring her endlessly like she was a child, "It's alright. It just hurts for a second."

But it was his fault she was in the state in the first place, and she wanted to say that she was fine—because this pain was far less from the terror she had gone through last night.

Hence, she didn't argue and let Martin keep up his perfect boyfriend act. No one would know otherwise that he actually had another woman for a fiancee, and Stacy herself was almost fooled too.

As she lay on her sickbed, he tucked her in, asking if it hurt anyway.

She quietly shook her head and closed her eyes, refusing to speak further.

Eventually, she dozed off, and Martin wasn't around by the time she woke up.

She pulled out the IV needle which was used up, and headed to the restroom.

When she was done and left, she found Martin leaving the gynecologist's office, his hand around Rachel's waist.

She hid in the restroom, but overheard them anyway.

"You're a mother now," Martin said mildly. "The fetus is two months old, so quit being such a child."

Rachel tugged on his arm playfully. "Then you have to keep both eyes on me. The baby needs Daddy, see?"

Martin flashed a loving smile. "Alright. And don't worry about the wedding, or you'll tire out yourself and the baby…"

Their voices faded into the distance, but Stacy remained where she was as if frozen stiff.

By the time she came to her senses, she had her hand pressed on her own chest as she arched her back, wheezing from the heartache while large drops of tears rolled down her cheeks.

Martin and Rachel were already having a baby—they had already been together since two months ago, and who knew how long Rachel would be kept in the dark if not for the conversation she had overheard yesterday.

Laughing bitterly and wiping the tears off her cheeks, all Stacy felt was a chill. She opened her eyes to find herself staring at a ring.

Martin had been down on one knee when he gave Stacy that ring, looking up at her face nervously as he spoke with a crack in his voice, "Will you be my girlfriend for the rest of our lives? I really love you, and I won't marry anyone but you."

It was such a vague promise that anyone slightly rational would be skeptical of, but Stacy had bought it.

And how moved she had been then, was exactly how devastated she was now.

Collecting herself, Stacy left, her fingers now empty save for the faint traces on her ring finger, while that clearly expensive ring lay on the bathroom sink.

It was not until 10pm when Martin rushed into the room, and immediately dropped on one knee in front of her as she sat on the couch.

Before she realized what was happening, he pulled out the ring she had left and gently slid it on her finger, looking into her eyes lovingly, "Didn't you know you lost this? How could you be so clumsy? Don't ever lose it again—it's proof of our marriage."

Despite that loving gaze, Stacy couldn't find the affection she felt years ago.

In fact, any feelings she had were corrupted irreversibly.

Staring fixedly into Martin's eyes, she avoided his question and asked, "Where were you today?"

She sharply noticed the flicker of guilt in his eyes, but that lasted for just a second before he answered, "Had to go to the office, and you were gone when I returned to the hospital."

All Stacy felt was endless weariness from his response, and quietly turned back to the tv.

Martin thought she was just upset he didn't report where he had gone, and sweet-talked her.

"Why don't we go horse riding tomorrow?" He asked. "You've always wanted to do that, right? And the doctor was just suggesting that you need the sun."

Stacy didn't refuse, as she was too tired to deal with his web of lies, and keenly waited for the day when she would finally leave.

-

When they arrived at the stables the next day, Stacy noticed that Rachel was there too.

It was the first time they met, and only ever heard about others speaking about her.

She carried a strong presence and was obviously an heiress, the perfect match to Martin if they stood side by side.

Even as Stacy felt pained, she thought that Martin wouldn't bother with her now that the real owner showed up.

To her surprise, Martin kept his arms firmly around her as if he never saw Rachel, let alone look her way.

"Let me teach you how to ride a horse," he said, and picked a docile horse for her, holding her hand as he taught her everything.

Stacy really was interested in learning horseback riding, and slowly forgot about her jealousy.

When she said she was tired after thirty minutes, Martin helped her off her horse.

Just two minutes after she sat down, however, she noticed that Rachel was gone.

And another two minutes later, Martin told her, "Just sit tight. I'll get you a drink."

Stacy was just feeling something from his meticulous attention, but her heart abruptly turned placid again.

As Martin left, she followed him quietly to a quiet place, where Rachel was already waiting and immediately threw herself into his arms.

Although Martin caught her, he was frowning, "I told you—we have to pretend we don't know each other before we get married. Our families will be affected if Stacy causes a fuss."

He had indeed said that before, but Rachel simply pouted, "I missed you. And it's not like she knows."

She was naturally talking about Stacy, who watched as Martin's creased brow smoothing out like he couldn't do anything about Rachel.

Stacy watched as they then kissed, their tongues intertwining.

Her heart felt like it was cut again, and she clenched her knuckles, not knowing that her nails were cutting into her own palm.

She listened to their gasps and moans, but eventually stopped hurting and left, returning to the lounge while feeling light-headed.

It was not until thirty minutes later that Martin returned with their drinks, putting hers in front of her while apologizing, "Sorry, darling—had to take a call. Didn't keep you waiting, did I?"

Being called darling left Stacy remembering the sight of him swapping spit with Rachel and she felt sick to the stomach right then.

As she quickly drank to quell her impulse to retch, Martin sharply noticed her palm and took her hand, utterly worried as he asked, "What's this?"

It was only then that Stacy noticed her palm, but was merely surprised for a moment until she gently pulled her hand out of his grasp, saying nonchalantly, "Must have been holding the lead rope too tightly."

Still, Martin was worried and insisted on taking her to treat the minor injury.

Stacy didn't want him to touch her, however, and freed herself from his grasp again. "No. I'm going back to the horse."

When Martin started after her, she said, "I want to ride alone."

He stopped following her at that.

Though Stacy rode very slowly, she was spacing out and never noticed Rachel directing her horse toward hers, their horses crashing into each other before she realized what had happened.

Though caught by surprise, she released the lead rope and leapt off, dropping into a nasty roll as she landed.

As she looked up, she found Rachel falling off her horse too, and straight into Martin's arms.

As soon as Martin let her down, she grabbed his arm and gasped feebly, "The baby…"

Stacy watched him pause before picking Rachel up again, and turned toward her as if it troubled him, "She's pregnant. I'll take her to the hospital for now, alright?"

The sight of him holding Rachel so tightly left Stacy feeling a pang of bitterness, but she smiled bitterly as she murmured, "Yeah."

And with her permission, Martin dashed off, while Stacy watched as he ran so anxiously, her bitterness almost showing.

A trainer came up to her just then, helping her to her feet, "Are you injured, ma'am?"

She had jumped off just in time so wasn't hurt that badly.

And such bumps and bruises would never measure up to her heartache.

"Thanks, but I'm fine," she told the trainer, shaking her head and bearing the pain as she left the stables.

She felt deja vu as the car that was supposed to take her home was gone, but it didn't hurt like the last time.

After all, she had expected that.

After getting an Uber, she went home alone, falling asleep early from the days of exhaustion.

She didn't wait up for Martin, as she didn't care if he ever returned.

However, she woke up the next morning to see him sitting on the bed, watching her.

He was smiling at first, but when he saw her gaze turning gloomy as if she didn't even see him, he started to feel a curious panic.

He scrambled to pick up the box he had put by the bedside drawer before he knew it, pulling out a bracelet and putting it around her waist.

Then, he gently kissed the back of her hand as if it were really precious to him. "Sorry I didn't take you to the hospital right away. Rachel's my friend, and she's pregnant—I have to take care of her, don't you agree?"

Friend?

Stacy lowered her head, hiding her sardonic smile.

Then, she glanced at the bracelet—she recognized it, as she remarked that it was beautiful offhandedly.

Remembering what she had overheard, she murmured, "It's not worth it…"

It left Martin flustered, and he quickly asked, "What are you saying? What's not worth it? You're really worth it, darling—you're not just worth this too, you're worth everything good in the world."

Stacy laughed faintly as she looked up at him, "So, there's this soap opera I just watched yesterday. The female lead was in a relationship with the male lead, but she got engaged behind his back. Everyone's arguing about whether the male lead should forgive her… What do you think?"

Martin was busy fondling her hand, and replied nonchalantly, "No way. She shouldn't be forgiven."

"I think so too," Stacy replied, gently pulling her hand out of his grasp, and spoke before he could hold it again, "I'm hungry."

"I'll cook," Martin quickly said. "Just wash up. I'll get you later."

As he excitedly headed downstairs to do so, Stacy watched him act like nothing ever happened and took off the bracelet.

She wasn't worth that expensive thing, just like how she wasn't worthy enough for him to sacrifice his family's ambitions.

-

It was going to be Stacy's birthday in two days. Martin usually accompanied her on her birthday. This time, he suddenly said that he was busy that day, so he celebrated her birthday a day in advance.

This time, Stacy didn't ask why he was busy.

If she could, she wouldn't even celebrate her own birthday.

But when she said that, Martin shook his head and said sternly, "No chance. I said I'll celebrate every birthday with you."

Stacy snorted as she thought to herself that this was going to be the last—that he wouldn't be around for her birthdays from now on.

Putting the candles on her birthday cake, Martin sang her a birthday song as he always did.

As she closed her eyes, she wished quietly that she would really have a new life after leaving Martin, and blew out the candles.

Martin smiled at her, asking what she wished for.

'Leaving you.'

Stacy thought as she simply kept her eyes on the cake as she cut it.