I always envied Zuri Morgan. Harvard adored her, and my mom was fond of her too. It felt like no one ever loved me. Zuri was the apple of everyone’s eye, while I was just a shadow, easily ignored. Everything I fought hard for came naturally to her. After all these years, Mom still looked elegant. I watched her from a distance, not expecting to see her and Harvard with Zuri.

They walked side by side, looking like the perfect couple. Whatever they were talking about made Harvard, normally reserved around me, smile warmly at her. I stood there, stunned by the softness in his gaze. Then Mom joined them with a smile, and the three of them headed off together.

Before I knew it, they were already far away. That's when I noticed Mom had left her purse on the seat. I slipped my savings ledger inside—a compilation of everything I had saved over the years. Given my circumstances, the money was of little use to me. I caught up with them and said with a polite smile, “Hey, you left your purse.”

When Mom retrieved the purse, she didn’t recognize me. It had been over ten years since we last saw each other, and to her, I was just another face in the crowd. The moment I appeared, Harvard’s face went white. He couldn’t bring himself to speak or even meet my eyes. Zuri watched me warily, knowing I could expose our past. She had known my identity all along and had orchestrated bullying against me during school.

I kept my composure, pretending not to recognize them, and walked away silently.

That evening, Princeton returned home earlier than usual, just after dinner.

"Tiana, I was just out celebrating Aunt Morgan's birthday. You know the impact she's had on my life," he explained, trying to brush off any suggestions about his relationship with Zuri.

Yet, if Zuri Morgan wasn't important to him, why couldn't he meet my eyes at that moment? I suppressed the sadness swelling within me and calmly helped him hang up his coat. "It's important to celebrate birthdays with those who've been there for us," I replied.

Seeing that I wasn't upset, he seemed relieved. He was always so reserved, rarely showing his emotions. Even when he smiled, it was just a faint gesture. I used to believe I'd reached his heart, that I was different from everyone else. But once Zuri returned, I realized how naive that belief had been.

"Princeton," I said suddenly, turning to look at him.

He glanced over with a puzzled expression.

"Do you remember the vows we exchanged at our wedding?"

We had promised each other a lifetime of loyalty, honesty, and understanding. His eyes flickered as if recalling something distant. "Why bring this up out of the blue?" he asked.

"No real reason. It just came to mind."

A piercing ache coursed through my head, but I tried to seem unaffected.

"Tiana, don't let your imagination get the better of you," he murmured, pulling me into a gentle embrace. "I remember everything."

I knew he wouldn't betray me, yet he would never be completely mine either. There would always be a part of him reserved for Zuri Morgan.

I suddenly wondered, after I'm gone, if Princeton looks back on today, what will he feel? Remorse? Or nothing at all?

When I found out about the brain tumor, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen to Princeton if I died. Back then, I hoped he would remarry someone who loved him just as much as I did. Even if it were Zuri Morgan, I thought I could accept it. But now, I've changed my mind.

Zuri had added me on WhatsApp before coming back to the country, her words laced with thinly veiled threats. I kept asking myself why. Why could others find happiness, but not me? Why did Zuri manage to take everything I ever wanted—my childhood, my mother, my husband—leaving me with nothing? Well, not entirely nothing. I had Skyla, but now she's gone too.

So I started journaling, documenting the mundanity of each day alongside my rapidly declining health. The illness worsened quickly. Insomnia became my constant companion, and the piercing headaches felt like thousands of needles stabbing me. I had no idea how much longer I could endure.

I still cooked for Princeton every day, listened as he talked about work—how busy he was with projects and the conflicts among colleagues. Sometimes, when he said something amusing, I'd chuckle. Just like old times, as if nothing had changed. But I knew everything had changed. Princeton didn’t notice that I hadn't taken a bite. I was in too much pain to eat. Even a single mouthful made me nauseous, my hands starting to tremble. I struggled to appear normal, calmly making my way to the bathroom.

I wanted to reach for the painkillers, but instead, I collapsed to the floor, unconscious. I don’t know how long I was out before I forced myself to stand. When I finally emerged, Princeton was ready to leave.

“Adrian, once I'm done with work, let's take a vacation to the countryside," he said.

I smiled and agreed. Going on a holiday with Princeton was my wish; there’s a legend there about stones that bless couples with lifelong love. I had casually mentioned the beauty of the countryside once, saying it was perfect for a getaway, but he was always too busy. Work always came first, leaving no time for vacations. Now, he brought it up.

As he was leaving, he added, “There’s a dinner party tomorrow. Are you free?”

I paused, my hands still holding the dishes, and thought of how frail I looked. I declined, “I’m not available.”

Princeton didn’t press further and hurried out. As the door clicked shut, I recalled Zuri's morning update on Facebook—she was picking out a suit, and Princeton's silhouette was visible in the mirror. Zuri, freshly back from abroad, wouldn’t miss any chance to expand her network, and Princeton was eagerly assisting her. It was clear he had already promised to take her, yet he still pretended to consider me by asking. He must have been certain I would refuse.