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.

When I got home, I took a shower, my legs trembling. After that, I made myself a simple meal. As I walked to the window, I could see Sean's car still parked downstairs.

Sean was leaning against it, smoking. The ground around him was littered with cigarette butts. As if he'd sensed my presence, he looked up and met my gaze.

I couldn't quite name what I felt at that moment. Sean's emotions were unreadable, yet it still rubbed me the wrong way. I pulled the curtains shut, determined not to think about him anymore.

At midnight, I turned off all the lights in the house. I ordered an eight-inch black forest cake on DoorDash, sat on the floor and lit 24 candles for myself.

I had never been big on ceremonies. For years, my birthdays slipped by before I even realized it. Sean was the same. Come to think of it, during all our time together, we'd never really marked any meaningful occasions.

However, this year demanded something special. After all, who knew if it was going to be my last birthday on earth?

When the time came for me to make my wish, my mind went blank. I didn't know if the cancer was a punishment or a reward.

When the thought of dying crossed my mind for the first time, I felt relieved, like I was about to be set free.

Only when I began packing did I realize how much stuff I had. I'd grown up in this house before it was sealed off and later bought by Sean before the foreclosure auction. I'd lived here ever since.

Much of that stuff was useless to me now. Still, since I was leaving, I didn't want to leave it behind, so I decided to throw it all away.

It took me two days to sort and clear most of the stuff out. I threw away what could be discarded and moved on to getting rid of the rest. My time on earth was limited as it was, and I refused to waste any more of it on trivialities.

In the end, I packed only two suitcases. When I left, I felt as light as a feather.

I booked a hotel for a week. Although I'd decided against getting treatment, I still went to the hospital. My doctor was an elderly gentleman well past 60. He had graying temples and wore a thick pair of glasses.

He'd likely never encountered a patient who treated leukemia like it was nothing. Or perhaps he was simply a kind old man saddened by a young person giving up on life.

He tried everything to persuade me, from gentle advice to stern words. Still, I didn't budge.

Eventually, when I thanked him and took the prescribed medication from him, he simply patted my shoulder wordlessly.

That afternoon, I went to see my brother, Adrian Price, who refused to see me. He hadn't actually seen me since he learned I was still with Sean despite everything.

I could hardly fault him for it.

Our family had gone bankrupt, and Dad had jumped to his death while Adrian was implicated in the fallout and subsequently imprisoned. Despite it all, I'd remained by the side of the man responsible for it all, as though nothing had happened.

If Adrian wasn't behind bars, I had no doubt he would have strangled me himself for being such a disgrace.

I waited until visiting hours ended before leaving. I handed the letter I'd written last night to the guard.

Rain had started falling outside by the time I stepped out. I stood under the awning for a while before dashing straight into the downpour.

The momentary thrill of walking in the rain came at a cost. That night, I developed a high fever and was eventually sent to the hospital by the hotel's housekeeping staff.

Since I didn't have my phone with me, I clung to consciousness just long enough to ask the nurse to arrange for someone to stay with me. After that, the next three days passed in a blur.

On the fourth day, I forced myself to get up and returned to the hotel. There, I showered, put on some makeup, then left to buy a new phone.

On the day I confronted Sean, I'd already submitted my resignation to the HR department. They told me to come in as soon as possible to finalize my resignation.

Since the next day was the weekend and I still had some things to collect from the office, I decided to go in.