On the eve of our wedding, Evelyn Gates fell to her death. Everyone believed that, since I had always been devoted to her, I would take my own life to follow her. However, I didn’t shed a single tear.

Three years later, I saw her again. Not only was she alive, but she had no memory of the past.

“So you’re my ex-fiancé? After all these years, why do you look so broke and shabby now? For old time’s sake, I’ll give you one day a week to wait on me.”

I didn’t even bother to look her in the eye.

Evelyn had no idea that, on the very night she fell, I received a video recording. She didn’t know that, during the three years she spent pretending to have amnesia while traveling the world with Cole Anderson, I had gotten married.

My bride was her older sister.

In the private lounge, no one noticed I was already standing at the door.

Suddenly, someone brought me up. “Evelyn, it’s been three years now. What are you going to do about Jace?”

Evelyn Gates brushed a strand of hair from her temple and answered nonchalantly, “It’s been three years already, so what’s the rush? I’ll deal with him after I marry Cole.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“Honestly, Jace is such a pathetic lapdog. I bet when he sees Evelyn again after all this time, he’ll be shocked stupid!”

“I heard he’s been living like a wreck these past three years. It figures. Without Evelyn, his life is pure trash.”

The room was filled with a drunken kind of cheer, but beneath it all, no one could hide the sharp edge of mockery in their words.

I was about to leave when someone spotted me and shouted, “Jace?”

In an instant, every pair of eyes turned toward me. The loudest one from earlier scratched his head awkwardly, scrambling to smooth things over.

“Jace, Evelyn being alive… We didn’t tell you because she lost her memory. We were worried it might hit you too hard.”

I shot them a look of pure disgust.

Before I could even speak, Evelyn swept her gaze over me from head to toe.

“So you’re my ex-fiancé? Why do you look so broke and shabby now? They say your whole life’s gone downhill without me. I guess that’s true, huh?”

She was still as arrogant and spoiled as ever. However, I no longer had the patience I once did. Now, I felt nothing but endless disgust.

I stayed silent, and Evelyn didn’t seem bothered. Lounging lazily in Cole Anderson’s arms, she traced circles across his chest with her finger.

Cole caught her hand and held it, his smile laced with challenge as his eyes locked onto mine.

“Jace, it’s been three years. How did you end up like this? No wonder Evelyn forgot about you. Who’d remember someone like this?”

My brows furrowed, fists clenching on instinct. Their shameless display made me sick to my stomach.

Evelyn, however, thought I was just hurt by their show of affection. Smugness lit her face.

“Don’t be so jealous. If you still want to be with me, you’ll have to get used to this arrangement. Don’t worry, I’ll still give you one day a week to wait on me.”

As soon as she finished, the others crowded around me, jeering with malicious delight.

“See, Jace? Evelyn still has feelings for you. Even with her memory gone, she’s keeping you in her life—one day a week!”

“Just take good care of Evelyn and Cole, and you’ll live better than you do now. Look at you, all ragged and poor. Haven’t you had enough of this miserable life? You should grab the chance while you can!”

Cole leaned back on the sofa, his legs stretched lazily over the coffee table, and Evelyn nestled snug in his arms.

Cole clicked his tongue a few times. “You have no choice, Jace. You’ll just have to put up with it for now. Evelyn’s heart belongs to me.”

Evelyn let out a smug little laugh. Admiring her freshly done nails, she gave me a sidelong glance.

“What’s he got to complain about? He’s head over heels in love with me. Giving him one day a week is already more than he deserves.”

Her words twisted something deep in my chest. That Evelyn felt so unfamiliar, I almost couldn’t recognize her.

Years ago, she had loved me so much. When I was bedridden with a fever of 104 degrees Farenheit that refused to break, she abandoned all her work to stay by my side day and night. She even traveled to a renowned church in the neighboring city, praying for my health on her knees day and night until her knees were raw with blood.

I had been so heartbroken that I could barely speak, lecturing her for being foolish. However, she cupped my face tenderly in her hands and said, “As long as you’re safe and healthy, even if it costs me my life, it’s worth it.”

Those memories were still vivid. Yet now, reality was unrecognizable.

I swallowed the storm rising in my chest and met Evelyn’s glimmering eyes. Lifting my hand, I showed the wedding band on my finger and tried to keep my tone steady.

“You’ve got the wrong person. And besides, I’m already married.”

The room instantly fell silent. Everyone exchanged looks, their eyes darting around until laughter suddenly erupted.

Evelyn raised her brows slightly, glancing at my ring with complete indifference.

“Married? To who? Some middle-aged woman? Look at how shabby you are. That ring has to be from the bargain bin at a dollar store. What? You think flashing it will jog my memory?”

Before I could react, she shot up from the couch and yanked the ring off my finger. I was exhausted from days of work and didn’t manage to dodge in time.

Cole stepped forward, examining the ring closely before bursting into laughter.

“Evelyn, doesn’t this look just like the rings of Eternal Hearts your sister bid on in France three years ago? Don’t tell me the wife Jace’s talking about is your sister, Valerie Gates?”

He shot me a mocking glance while tossing the ring in his hand up into the air.

The room grew even rowdier. To them, the idea was absurd. After all, Valerie was the Gates family’s heir.

She was ruthless and decisive, the kind of ice queen in business no one dared to cross. Yet, three years ago, she suddenly married in secret. She loved her mysterious husband so fiercely that some might call it an obsession.

For years, no matter how hard the media dug, no one had uncovered even a trace of that man or their daughter.

“Jace, don’t tell me you’re claiming to be the mystery man everyone’s been trying to unmask for three years?”

Cole tossed the ring high in the air and caught it, landing back in his palm. Under the glow of the lights, it sparkled with a dazzling brilliance.

“I’m not gonna lie, though. The craftsmanship is impressive for a fake. Which factory did you get this knockoff from?”

Their constant jeers wore thin on me.

“Put my ring down. It’s real–”

Before I could finish, Evelyn slapped me hard across the face. Pain stung as heat spread across my cheek.

“Jace, have you lost your mind? How dare you spread lies about Val? Everyone knows she’s obsessed with her husband. Not even I have seen his face, and you dare to pretend to be him? Who gave you the nerve?”

I licked my dry lips and slowly turned back to meet Evelyn’s eyes.

Maybe my gaze was too chilling, because Evelyn flinched.

Cole immediately stepped forward, shielding her behind him. He jabbed a finger at me and cursed, “Jace, how can you be so heartless? Evelyn has promised to give you one day a week, and it’s fine if you don’t appreciate it. Fine. But now you’re even pretending to be her brother-in-law? Everyone in this city knows Evelyn’s sister has a mysterious husband whom she won’t tolerate anyone crossing. Are you trying to drag Evelyn down with you? How cruel can you be!”

His words made me pause.

Back then, Cole never missed a chance to undermine me, always trying to push me down. He even went out of his way to badmouth me in front of Evelyn, hoping to split us up.

However, she never believed him. In fact, she punished him harshly once for spreading lies. Yet now, the woman who once defended me the most was standing at Cole’s side.

She grabbed his hand and flung a wad of cash straight at my face.

“Enough. Stop pretending. For old time’s sake, I won’t press charges. Look at you, so pitiful. This money should last you a month.”

The sharp edges of the bills cut across my face, leaving thin trails of blood. I ignored it and lifted my eyes to stare at Evelyn. For a brief moment, guilt and panic flashed across her face.

Seeing that, I let out a cold laugh and bent down.

Now, Evelyn’s panic vanished, replaced once again with mockery.

“I thought you had some pride left…”

Her voice trailed off when she saw me pick something out from the scattered bills. Her eyes froze because in my hand, glinting among the red notes, was a ring.

She rushed to block my way before I could leave.

“Still pretending, are you? Any of these bills is worth more than that cheap ring of yours!” Her face twisted, a mix of irritation and something else.

I ignored her, smacking her hand aside with force.

Her arm stiffened midair, her teeth grinding audibly as she yelled, “Fine! You think you’re so tough now, huh? You’re poor and bitter but full of attitude. Three days from now, I’m getting married to Cole. Val will also be back that day, with her mysterious husband. If you’ve got the guts, come!”

The word “wedding” made Cole’s eyes light up. He quickly added, “Or maybe he’s too scared of being exposed. Maybe he won’t even dare show up.”

I had no desire to argue further. Turning away, I strode toward the door, and before I walked out, I left them with one sentence.

“Three days from now, I’ll be there. I hope you’ll be as confident as you are now.”

Stepping out into the night, I finally breathed in fresh air, easing the nausea twisting my stomach.

I pulled out my phone and replayed the video I’d received three years ago. On the screen, Evelyn leaned in Cole’s arms, laughing with smug delight.

“Jace’s so boring. I do love him, but he’ll never give me the excitement I want. Once I’ve had my fun with this fake death, I’ll go back. He’s the type you settle down with. And after this stunt, with his personality, he might even kill himself over me. You all need to keep an eye on him.”

The day she was pronounced dead, I really did think about ending it all. It was her so-called friends who stopped me, holding me back, telling me not to be stupid. Now, I realize their twisted sobs were just them choking back laughter.

I put my phone away and looked up at the yellow glow of the streetlights. Whether Evelyn was dead or alive, in my heart, she had ceased to exist three years ago.