On her twenty-fifth birthday, Nicole received two “gifts.”

The first was Gregory—the man she had desperately pursued for five years—finally agreeing to become engaged to her.

The second was the meticulously planned, premeditated assault he had orchestrated.

She hadn’t known. Not until she tried to push open the door and found him, covered in fresh wounds, while those bloody truths stabbed into her already battered heart like a serrated blade.

“Greg, that was brilliant!”

“Not only did you teach that bitch a lesson for Judith, but now Nicole will be even more devoted to you!”

“Yeah, she’s probably still swooning over her knight in shining armor! Hahaha!”

The chorus of mocking laughter seemed to drill straight into Nicole’s skull. She bit down hard on her lip, fighting to keep silent, her hands and feet turning to ice.

“Tch, serves her right. Who told her to run and leave Judith behind when they were attacked seven years ago?”

“Exactly! A selfish, vicious woman like her deserves whatever she gets.”

Gregory’s eyes darkened. “Judith saved my life back then. Anyone who hurts her will pay tenfold.”

Nicole’s heart was being sliced to ribbons, then ground with salt, as she remembered his gentle, reassuring words just moments before he found her.

“Don’t be scared, Nicole. I’m here.”

So even that tenderness could be faked.

His acting was truly impeccable.

“Greg, aren’t you… worried you might be punishing the wrong person?”

Someone voiced a hesitant doubt. “The panic on Nicole’s face looked real…”

“What, you believe her nonsense? That *she* was the one who saved me?”

Gregory let out a cold snort. “Do you think someone who’s terrified of water would ever jump in to save anyone?”

Besides, when he’d opened his eyes, the first person he saw was Judith.

How could it possibly be wrong?

Hearing this, the girl managed a bitter smile.

The tears she’d been holding back could no longer be contained, falling in heavy, silent drops.

The man she loved most was the architect of her nightmare.

He, too, thought she deserved it.

But back then, it was Judith who had pushed her forward, telling her to run for help.

As the attackers closed in, Judith had shoved her ahead.

“You go first! I’ll hold them off!”

“Go get the police! I’ll wait for you!”

By the time Nicole returned with help, all she found was Judith curled on the ground, clothes torn, a picture of utter devastation.

Eighteen-year-old Judith lay unconscious in the hospital for three days. The first words she spoke upon waking were a tearful scream for Nicole to get out.

“Why did you leave me alone! Why!”

“I never want to see you again! I hate you!!”

Just like that, no one listened to Nicole’s side of the story. She became the family’s permanent sinner, condemned to spend her life atoning for Judith.

As the biological daughter who’d been brought home, Nicole became the only outsider in her own family.

No one believed her. Not even Gregory.

She used to doggedly follow him, trying to tell him she was the one who had saved him that day.

She would tirelessly recount every detail, hoping to see a flicker of doubt, a shred of belief in his eyes.

But for seven long years, nothing.

Perhaps the truth didn’t matter anymore.

She stood up and slowly walked back to the place they called home.

The moment she stepped inside, a glass vase shattered at her feet.

“Where the hell have you been, you shameless thing?!”

Her father didn’t even glance at her injuries, his voice sharp with accusation.

“Judith’s performance is about to start. Why aren’t you getting ready?”

Nicole pressed her lips together and walked into the dim, isolated recording booth without a word.

Yes, Judith had always dreamed of being a pop star. Unfortunately, she couldn’t carry a tune to save her life. Her parents, of course, would move heaven and earth to fulfill their precious daughter’s wish—by any means necessary.

So they came up with the idea of having Nicole lip-sync from the shadows.

“This is just part of your penance.”

“What you owe Judith, you can never repay in a lifetime!”

To ensure Nicole’s silence, they even spread the story that an accident had damaged her vocal cords, leaving her unable to speak.

Meanwhile, Judith, dressed like a princess, sat before the live-stream camera, performing her “hit songs” for millions of fans.

Wracked with physical and emotional pain, Nicole’s voice was unsteady. She faltered on several high notes, causing Judith to lose her composure on stream.

After the performance, Judith threw herself into the arms of Gregory, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, and sobbed inconsolably.

“If my sister doesn’t want to cooperate anymore, she could just tell me. She didn’t have to humiliate me in front of all my fans…”

“Greg… it hurts so much… *sob*…”

The man glanced at Nicole, then gathered Judith into his arms as if comforting a child, his voice soft.

“Don’t be scared, Judith. I’m here…”

Forced to kneel on the floor, Nicole watched it all unfold. Her heart had long since dried up, numb to any further pain.

“Sis… I heard Greg just got engaged to you today… I’m sorry…”

Judith sniffled softly, her eyes red like a rabbit’s. “I didn’t mean to… It’s just my skin hunger acting up again… I feel so awful…”

Gregory patted her back gently. “Judith, you’re too kind.”

“*She’s* the reason you’re sick. *She* should be the one apologizing.”

Nicole closed her eyes. After kneeling for three solid hours, everything finally became clear.

This marriage was off.

Gregory, she was done with him.

“How are your injuries?”

The next morning, Nicole stepped out of her room and nearly collided with Gregory, who was just leaving Judith’s.

“Why do you care?”

Caught off guard by her sharp tone, he replied patiently, “Judith had a flare-up last night. I was worried she’d cry herself sick, so I stayed with her.” He paused, then added, “I only see her as a sister. Don’t overthink it.”

“How could I dare?” She let out a cold laugh, gesturing toward the door behind her. “My fiancé walks out of another woman’s room in the morning and tells me not to overthink it?”

His expression darkened. “Enough with the attitude. If you hadn’t deliberately humiliated her during her livestream last night, would she have cried so hard? Ever since that incident, she’s suffered from severe touch deprivation. As her older sister, can’t you be more understanding?”

“Don’t forget who put her in this state in the first place.”

He shoved past her roughly and headed downstairs to make breakfast for Judith himself.

Nicole wanted to ask him then and there: If he loved Judith so deeply, why had he agreed to their engagement? Was it to humiliate her further, or was it simply his father’s command?

She pushed the thoughts aside. Instead, she went to the Gregorys’ home and formally requested to call off the engagement in front of his parents.

The elder couple exchanged a puzzled look. “What’s wrong, dear? Weren’t you always the one most smitten with that boy? Why call it off just a day after the engagement?”

“It’s my own failing. Seven years trailing after him, and I still couldn’t make him like me.” She lifted her head, forcing a strained smile. “Let’s just end it. I don’t want to make things difficult for him.”

Seeing the tears welling in her eyes, the Gregorys understood. As longtime friends of her family, they’d heard whispers about the tension between Nicole and Judith. But looking at Nicole now, they found it hard to believe she was the villain their son painted her to be.

The problem was, their son wouldn’t listen. He was utterly convinced Judith was his savior from all those years ago.

But Judith was, after all, just an adopted daughter. They could never allow their son to marry someone of such questionable standing. Nicole was, without a doubt, the best choice.

“Uncle, Aunt, I’d like to be the one to tell him about calling off the engagement. Is that alright?”

“Of course, dear. We’ll follow your lead.”

After leaving the Gregorys, Nicole arrived at a discreet door of a certain agency.

“Hello, can you issue a false death certificate here?”

She produced a bank card, her gaze resolute. “I need to erase all my identities in Rivermouth and fabricate a fatal accident.”

…

By the time she finished at the agency, it was already afternoon. The agent told her she had one month to prepare everything.

Lost in thought, Nicole’s phone rang—Gregory.

“Where are you? Judith has a livestream performance tonight. I need you back here.”

He hung up before she could reply.

He was always like this. Only Judith mattered.

When Nicole returned home, she saw it immediately—the pink crystal necklace she’d wanted for so long, now draped around Judith’s neck. She’d hinted and begged for ages, but he’d always “forgotten” to buy it. Now, it sat effortlessly on someone else.

Of course. She was always the one left unchosen, unfavored.

“I just mentioned it in passing. I never thought Gregory would actually get it for me.” Judith lowered her head shyly. “Gregory, you really shouldn’t spoil me like this.”

Noticing Nicole’s pale face, Gregory’s voice turned stern. “Nicole, just bear with it a little longer. Once I help Judith complete all ninety-nine items on her wish list, her touch deprivation will be completely cured. Only then can I marry you with a clear conscience.” He softened slightly. “You’re the older sister. You should yield to your younger sister, okay?”

From the day she was brought back to her family at age thirteen, Nicole had been yielding to Judith for twelve years. Their social set treated Judith as if she were the real daughter. Whatever Judith wanted, she got with ease. A mere crystal necklace was nothing.

Nicole took a deep breath and met his eyes directly.

“Gregory, I don’t want to sing anymore.”

"Nicole, stop. You don't have a choice."

"On what grounds?"

Gregory's voice, already low, turned to ice.

"On the grounds that you left Judith alone in that alley!"

"And when she was facing those four thugs by herself—did *she* have a choice?!"

The man's eyes began to redden. Behind him, Judith tugged timidly at his sleeve. "Gregory, please… let it go. It's fine."

Her words only stoked his anger. "She's just trying to use her dream to forget the pain. Can't you even help her with that?"

"Her dream? A dream built on a stolen voice?"

Looking into Gregory's eyes, Nicole finally understood: she would never change his mind.

"Is that so?" He leaned in, his voice a low murmur beside her ear. "I seem to recall your mother is still in critical condition at the hospital."

Nicole's pupils contracted; a cold sweat broke over her skin. "What are you trying to do?"

Gregory tossed the studio keys to her, a dangerous smile in his eyes. "Nothing at all. Have a great performance."

Without another glance, Nicole turned and walked into the recording booth.

The studio was fully equipped. Before her, a live feed showed Judith's broadcast room, ready for instant synchronization with the girl's reactions.

Moving mechanically, she began her pre-stream checks. Images flashed through her mind—her mother's frail, gaunt face, the man's low threat.

Once everything was set, Nicole watched, as she always did, while Judith entered the room, impeccably dressed.

In this pink-hued space, every detail had been handpicked by Gregory. The crystal necklace around the girl's neck sparkled brilliantly, its gleam like a needle in Nicole's eyes.

"Hey everyone! First, a huge apology for yesterday's stream. I was totally off my game, and I feel awful I couldn't give you all the best show. Seriously, thank you for sticking with me."

After the pleasantries, Judith gave the prearranged signal, and Nicole cued the backing track.

"Today, I'll be performing a new song I wrote myself—'Against the Light.' I hope you all like it!"

As the music swelled, Judith began lip-syncing before her adoring fans.

At the same time, Nicole's clear, ethereal voice filled the recording booth, streaming live into the broadcast.

She performed thirteen songs in all. The irony cut deep: only a few were covers; the rest were her own original compositions.

Yet Judith brazenly claimed them as her own, celebrated online as the city's "Musical Prodigy Princess."

All propped up by Gregory's unwavering support.

Judith's #1 fan, "Waiting for Snow," once again flooded the stream with extravagant gifts. The barrage of visual effects obscured the girl's bashful smile, sending fans into a frenzy.

A sharp, unmistakable ache lanced through Nicole's chest.

She knew exactly who he was.

Three hours later, the stream finally ended. But before Judith could shut off the camera, Gregory swept her up in his arms and carried her away, leaving the audience buzzing with speculation.

"Oh my god, who was that?"

"Is that our Snow Angel's boyfriend? So sweet!"

Nicole paid no mind to the chatter. She packed up without a word and retreated to her room.

Her bookshelf held rows of gifts. Some were from Gregory; others she'd had to coax and plead to get.

Like the button from his white dress shirt.

And the simple "Happy Graduation" scrawled on the back of his school blazer.

That year, after high school graduation, she'd mustered the courage to ask. The boy hadn't said a word—he'd simply unpinned the button from his prep school blazer and handed it to her.

Those cool, distant eyes… she'd remembered them for years.

Nicole lowered her gaze, tracing the button one last time with her thumb. Then, along with the engagement ring, she dropped them both into a cardboard box.