I've been dating my enemy, Sean Thompson, for four years. At first, I intended to lurk by his side and find an opportunity to get my revenge. But little do I know that a medical report with my cancer diagnosis is capable of shattering my life's plans in an instant.

Since then, I've quit my job and broken up with Sean. Now that I no longer give a damn about everything, I lash out at everyone who dares approach me.

Everyone is weirded out by my behavior. They all wonder what made my personality go through such a huge change to the point that I'm easily triggered by the slightest inconvenience.

My family is already ruined to begin with. My parents are dead, my family has gone bankrupt, and now I'm on the verge of death. My only wish is that I can screw Sean over so that my older brother, Adrian Price, can get released from prison as soon as possible.

But I can't do anything about my wish at all.

At that moment, my childhood friend stands by my side, consequences be damned. He takes good care of me and cares for me as he always does.

When Sean finds out that I have terminal cancer, he actually agrees to help fulfill my wish.

Half a year later, Adrian is released from prison. Sean also returns the company to my family.

My wish is fulfilled.

Everyone wants me to keep fighting for my life and continue receiving treatment for my cancer. I know that I need to keep going for their sake, even if it means extending my life for a day or even a month longer.

On the fourth birthday I spent by Sean Thompson's side, I received two envelopes. The first contained his wedding invitation and the second, a letter detailing my cancer diagnosis.

I sat on the floor in silence for a long time, the two sheets of paper lying on either side of me. In my eyes, they resembled two diverging paths, though they both led to certain death eventually.

My phone rang, sending a sharp pang through my nerves. I lay down as I answered the call. A gentle female voice came through the line.

"Ms. Cassandra Price? Hi, I'm calling from Lunastrel Private Hospital…"

I had always loved the feeling of walking barefoot across the floor. It was late autumn and the heating wasn't on, so the cold seeped directly into the soles of my feet. It took me a long while before I hung up on the woman who was cautiously urging me to consider chemotherapy over the phone.

As soon as I did, however, Sean's name appeared on my screen.

Sean rarely called me himself. Whenever he needed me, his assistant would simply inform me of the time and place to meet Sean, and that was it. Seeing his name now made me freeze for a moment.

The call ended after barely 20 seconds. I supposed that was the extent of his patience. Within two minutes, his assistant would certainly call me and coldly tell me everything I'd done wrong, and I'd be expected to dress up and appear before Sean afterward.

After all the time I'd spent by his side, no one knew Sean's rotten temperament better than I did.

I sat up, grabbed the phone that was still ringing, and flung it forward. The shrill ringing finally stopped, though I'd smashed a hole through the TV.

I took a deep breath, forcing the emotions in my chest back down. I pushed the mess on the floor under the coffee table and went upstairs to take a shower.

When you truly knew you were going to die, once the initial wave of emotions passed, it was hardly as devastating as one might think. All those years I'd spent by Sean's side, I rarely pondered about my own future. I'd always felt that sooner or later, one of us was bound to die.

After my shower, I groomed myself meticulously from head to toe, masking my sickly pallor. Slipping into the black evening gown Sean had given me, I stared at the alluring woman in the mirror. I dabbed some vivid red lipstick on my lips, smiled, and bade myself farewell.

A car was already waiting outside by the time I stepped out of the house. I pulled open the car door and saw Paul Winfrey, the vice president of Sean's company, seated inside.

Paul had always looked down on women like me. Whenever we met, he would greet me sarcastically. I never backed down though, and my sharp retorts left him fuming every single time. I couldn't imagine how Sean had managed to get Paul to pick me up this time.

"You really know how to make an entrance, Ms. Price. I wonder if Sean's ever waited two hours for you downstairs," Paul remarked.

I shot him a dismissive glance. I was sick of his condescending attitude and couldn't be bothered to respond. Instead, I closed my eyes as soon as I got into the car.

Paul fell silent for a few seconds. He was likely surprised by how I'd let his taunts go unanswered.

For the next 30 minutes, I drifted in and out of consciousness as he chattered incessantly. By the time we reached our destination, I still hadn't fully woken up. My legs gave way as I stepped out, and I stumbled, only to be caught as an arm snaked around my waist.

I attempted to struggle, but the arm refused to budge. Instead, it pulled me closer.

Sean had never known when to hold back. His grip on my waist was beginning to hurt. I felt rather helpless.

"Let go of me, Sean," I said.

He froze upon hearing my words before finally releasing his grasp. He patted my head a few times.

"You didn't answer your phone. Are you in another one of your moods again?"

I didn't reply. Instead, I lifted my gaze to look at him.

Sean was undeniably handsome. He had eyes that were flirtatious yet passionate, the kind you could drown in if you weren't careful. I tugged at his slightly crooked tie. It was the one I'd picked out for him two days ago.

The banquet had been underway for quite some time now. There weren't many people by the entrance, so I leaned close to Sean's ear, my movements slow and deliberate.

"I'm not the only one in a mood, Mr. Thompson," I said.

Walking toward us in the distance was Mabel Hamilton, Sean's soon-to-be fiancee. Her smile almost faltered as she approached us.

As I watched her stride toward us as though she'd caught us cheating, I couldn't help but laugh.

"What do you think she'll call me when she gets here?" I asked Sean. "A mistress or a slut?"

Sean was long accustomed to my bold remarks. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"She wouldn't dare come over," he replied.

Sure enough, when Mabel was merely steps away from us, Sean lifted his gaze and glanced at her. She abruptly turned and walked off to the side.

I laughed openly.

As usual, I hooked my arm through Sean's as we mingled our way through the banquet. I quickly lost track of how many times my champagne glass had been emptied and refilled. The looks directed at me held both envy and disdain.

These people were all members of high society. No one would openly call me shameless even if they thought it, lest they offend the big shot next to me.

Still, their eyes spoke volumes, and standing at the center of it all, I felt every last ounce of their malice.

I didn't care, though. Perhaps it was because I was dressed too beautifully tonight.

…

"Today is Luke's birthday. There's another gathering later," Sean informed me.

The lights in the car were dim. I played with his fingers, nestled lazily in his embrace. I offered no objections upon hearing his words and merely yawned.

"Tired already?"

I didn't speak. I could sense that he was in a good mood, so I pulled his hand down. Sean chuckled, his grip tightening as he drew me closer. He brushed my lips with his fingertips, his heartbeat steady in my ears.

"We'll stay for a bit and then leave," he said.

Unable to resist Sean's rare display of tenderness, I fell asleep in his arms like that. At some point in my haze, I dreamed of the day we first met.

When we entered the private room, everyone else was already gathered. The man of the hour was Luke Short, Sean's childhood friend.

He seemed to be in the middle of some sort of game and was stripped down to his underwear. A few others were around him, trying to pull off his last shred of modesty.

Luke's face was bright red as he tugged at his underwear, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey, Sean! Come join in the fun!"

Most of the people present were Luke's friends, many of whom also knew Sean. As I rarely attended private gatherings like this one, I quietly found a corner to sit in and watched the commotion unfold.

Sean had removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt. Wherever he went, he always ended up being the center of attention. I noticed a few women nearby edge closer to him. It was quite amusing, really.

I stopped watching them after a while. The singer on stage had an incredible voice. When he sang a string of impressively high notes, I found myself almost reeling.

A sudden burst of commotion snapped me back to my senses. I turned to see the woman next to Sean looking all flustered as she gazed at him shyly.

The next moment, Sean dipped his head casually and kissed her on the cheek.

I wiped my lips instinctively. The crowd that lived for the drama was still stirring things up, and I could feel several stinging stares land on me.

A wave of fatigue washed over me. My stomach, which had been aching all night, lurched suddenly. Nausea hit me fast, and I stood, covering my mouth as I nudged aside the leg blocking the exit and bolted toward the restroom.

As I rushed out, dead silence descended upon the private room, but I didn't care. I'd never run this fast in my life.

Still, when I reached the sink, nothing came up. After a bout of dry heaving, I started coughing. It was the kind of cough that made it feel like my lungs were about to be ripped out of my chest. It was unbearable.

Eventually, I braced myself against the counter. I stared at the bloodstains in the sink, my vision darkening. After a moment, I looked at my haggard reflection in the mirror, finally feeling like someone on the verge of death.

Slowly, my complexion would grow paler and my face would become gaunter. I'd waste away beyond recognition, my hair falling out completely. I'd lie in bed, unable to care for myself, and finally die in the most hideous form possible.

I splashed some water on my face to sober myself up. I then touched up my makeup and sashayed back into the private room in my heels.

Everyone was staring at me when I returned, including Sean.

I smiled. "Sorry, I felt a little queasy earlier. Carry on, guys. Don't mind me."

Sean's expression darkened. I knew this was the prelude to him losing his temper, but I walked over to him regardless, oblivious to everyone else around me.

As soon as I sat down, however, someone yanked me up again.

Sean and I had been acting lovey-dovey when we got out of the car earlier. Now, we sat on opposite sides of the car, not speaking. The air felt like it was frozen solid.

"What the hell are you playing at?"

I blinked innocently. "I'm not."

Sean clearly had no patience for my games. I'd already provoked him several times that day, and I could see the unchecked anger in his eyes.

"Cassandra." He looked at me as he enunciated each word clearly. "Don't push it."

Was that it?

I couldn't help but giggle.

"Behave yourself and don't make me mad," he said.

I stared at him blankly. I could see my own reflection staring back at me in his eyes. He clearly didn't care for me that much, yet he insisted on putting on such a show of deep affection.

"Sean."

I looked like a mechanical doll, emotionless and worn out. I felt utterly exhausted, so much so that I no longer had the energy to keep up this charade.

"Let's break up."

The autumn wind was howling when he dumped me by the roadside. I shivered in the cold, slightly regretting my decision. I should have waited until we'd reached our destination.

The streets were deserted at this hour. Perhaps the alcohol had overtaken me, but I didn't feel like hailing a cab. I slipped off my high heels and walked barefoot on the ground.

The instant my feet touched the ground, a chill shot through me, followed by a surge of unprecedented clarity and exhilaration.

I skipped along the road. I knew Sean was trailing behind me in the car, waiting for me to give in.

Looking back, the past 24 years of my life seemed to have been stitched together by countless acts of submission and retreat. It was truly pathetic!

I marched on like that for the next two hours, walking ahead until both my feet became numb.

When I reached the building, I tossed my shoes aside, turned back, and waved goodbye to the car.