A year ago, Elias had fallen from the fourth floor during a daring rescue, his left leg slamming into the outdoor air conditioning unit. The impact caused severe internal injuries. The doctor had cautioned him to take extra care, especially during the rainy season, as the cold would exacerbate his condition and only worsen with age.

Mira had been by his side every step of the way, attending physical therapy sessions with him, even reminding him to wear his knee pads on rainy days. She had always been terrified that his old injuries might resurface during a mission. Many nights, she woke up in tears after dreaming of him dying in one of those rescues.

Elias had always promised her he would take care of himself, that they would grow old together. But now, it seemed as though those promises no longer mattered. His old injury was forgotten, overshadowed by his obsession with winning Vera's affection and giving her the perfect wedding.

Mira, watching as her husband fought for another woman, felt a painful numbness settle in her chest. The sadness that should have gripped her never quite came.

The crowd around her grew larger, their murmurs intensifying. In the dark water below, Elias and the other young man were slowing down. Elias had been leading by three or four meters, but now, the young man was gaining ground.

As the distance between them closed, the young man powered ahead, his strokes growing more frantic, splashing water in every direction. The gap shrank with every second.

Only two hundred meters remained. Elias, unable to maintain his pace, was caught up and overtaken.

"Looks like the ex-boyfriend's going to win her heart," someone remarked with a smirk.

"Did the current boyfriend cramp up or something?" another person laughed.

"No surprise, he's about to lose," someone else added, their voice dripping with amusement.

The young man surged ahead, now several meters in front of Elias, and Mira stood there, frozen.

At that moment, Vera’s voice rang out over the crowd, clear and desperate: “Elias, I just want you to be my groom, come on, I love you—”

As if her words were a lifeline, Elias, who had been struggling in the water, suddenly surged forward. His movements became more purposeful, more powerful. The reassurance her voice gave him seemed to fuel his every stroke.

In the final stretch, only fifty meters to go, Elias' speed increased dramatically. The water around him splashed in great arcs as he pushed himself to the limit.

"Elias, come on, come on—" Vera’s voice cracked with emotion, her calls now tinged with tears.

With the finish line in sight, Elias surged ahead, his body moving like a machine. He overtook the young man with ease, crossing the finish line first. The young man, just a beat too slow, slapped the water in frustration, cursing under his breath.

The crowd, which had gathered to watch, slowly began to disperse, their excitement fading with the race. But Elias remained in the water, struggling to catch his breath. A man jumped in to help him, pulling him to the shore where he collapsed, utterly exhausted.

Mira, standing at a distance, took slow, deliberate steps toward the scene. She stopped behind a large tree, watching as Vera knelt beside Elias.

"Elias, are you stupid? Is it worth it?" Vera’s voice trembled as she scolded him, tears streaming down her face. She quickly took off her coat and draped it over him.

“Be good, don’t catch a cold, I’m fine.” Elias, barely able to lift his head, smiled weakly, still breathless. He reached out, despite his exhaustion, to help Vera adjust her coat over his shoulders. "I won, right?"

Vera nodded, her face filled with gratitude and relief. “Yeah.”

Elias' smile deepened. “I’m still your groom, right?”

Vera couldn’t hold back anymore. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He wrapped his arms around her gently, his hand soothingly patting her back, as if trying to calm her.

Mira stood motionless, watching the two of them. The scene was a sharp reminder of her place—of the promises now broken and the love now given away. With a quiet, steady breath, she turned and walked away.

Alone, Mira made her way down the street, the soft snow beginning to settle on her cashmere coat. She walked until she found a convenience store, where she bought a bowl of oden, the warm broth comforting her frozen body. The heat of the soup spread through her, but it did little to warm the ache inside.

As she stepped out of the store, she came face to face with Elias and Vera.

Elias' eyes flickered with surprise and embarrassment, but he quickly composed himself. “Mira? Are you working overtime again?”

Before she could respond, he hurriedly added, “I just got back from the neighboring city and happened to run into Vera. It started snowing, so I thought I’d walk her home.”

Mira noticed his wet hair, her gaze sharp. “Why is your hair all wet?” she asked, her eyes subtly shifting to Vera.

Vera flinched, quickly averting her gaze.

“Oh, I just took a shower at the dorm,” Elias explained with a forced smile. “I was worried I’d come back too late and disturb your rest. Mira, let’s go home.”

Mira opened her mouth to reply, but a sudden sharp pain pierced her head. Before she could react, her vision blurred, and she collapsed.

When she regained consciousness, the first thing she heard was Elias' anxious voice.

“Doctor, what’s wrong with my wife?”

His voice was strained, and his hands trembled with concern.

Mira slowly opened her eyes, finding the doctor handing a piece of paper to Elias. The man’s gaze fixed on the document, his expression darkening.

Mira’s heart squeezed. It’s over. He’s going to find out about the tumor.

The thought struck her like a cold wave. She couldn’t let him know.

“The situation is not serious,” the doctor reassured, “Her hemoglobin is low, and there are signs of anemia. She probably fainted from exhaustion. Just ensure she gets plenty of rest.”

Elias' tense posture visibly relaxed. “Thank you, doctor.”

Mira blinked, confused. Could it be just a simple check-up?

“Mira, you’re awake.” Elias sat beside her, his face full of concern. “When you fainted, I was terrified. Do you know how scared I was?”

Mira, still feeling the weight of the moment, suppressed a bitter laugh. Terrified? she thought bitterly. Outwardly, she forced a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing. I’ve just been working overtime too much lately.”

Elias sighed lightly, his expression softening. “I’ll go pay the bill. Are you hungry? I’ll get you whatever you want.”

“McDonald’s,” Mira replied flatly.

Mira felt a wave of disgust wash over her. She didn’t want to see Elias at all now; all she wanted was for him to vanish from her life, to disappear from her sight.

"Okay," Elias said softly, rising from his seat. Just as he reached the door, he stopped, turned back, and kissed her forehead gently.

The ward fell into silence. But it wasn’t long before the door creaked open again.

Vera stepped inside, her presence as cold as the air outside. Mira met her gaze, her expression unreadable.

"Mira, you know everything, don't you?" Vera walked toward her, each step deliberate, measured. "I don't mean to steal your husband. I just want to live without regrets. After the wedding, I’ll return Elias to you."

Mira’s lips curled into a bitter smile. Return him? She didn’t want him. Not now, not ever. Dirty men...

Vera continued, oblivious to the bitterness in Mira’s heart. "And... Mira, why are you sick?" She pulled out a CT scan report, her voice quiet but penetrating. "It’s a brain tumor."

Mira’s heart tightened at the words. She frowned.

"I’m guessing you don’t want Elias to know. So, I asked a family doctor to help keep it a secret. But when you’re ready, you can tell him," Vera said, her tone almost too thoughtful.

Mira couldn’t help but smile, a cold, detached smile. "There’s a brown envelope in my bag. Give it to Elias and ask him to sign it."

Vera immediately found the envelope, her eyes widening when she saw the contents.

"You’d better not let him know this is a divorce agreement," Mira said, her voice sharp. "Otherwise, your wedding may not happen as planned."

Vera’s smile remained, but it shifted into something smug, self-assured. "Mira, I didn’t mean to take your husband. But Elias fell in love with me. He’s a light in my dark life. Thank you for your help."

She tucked the envelope under her arm and headed for the door. But before she left, she turned back with a sly smile.

"He likes it with me, you know," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "He tossed and turned all night, wouldn't let me go. No matter how much I begged, it was useless. He said you were like a piece of wood in bed—no passion."

After Vera's departure, the ward fell silent once more.

Mira lay still on the bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. A smile, empty and hollow, tugged at her lips. So, this is what it feels like... to lose everything—your heart, your will, your purpose. It makes you invulnerable.

The next day, Mira was discharged from the hospital. Her phone buzzed with a message containing flight details to Manchester, England. She was set to depart in four days.

Despite the turmoil inside, she carried on with her daily routine, masking any signs of distress. She went into work as usual, her composure unwavering, her movements deliberate.

Later, she visited a photo studio in the mall, where she had a number of old photos developed. As she sifted through them, she was struck by how much of her life Elias had occupied. Junior high, high school, college, marriage... He was in nearly every shot, a constant presence in the background of her life.

Without hesitation, Mira began to cut out every trace of him. The men in the pictures were gone, leaving only her. She couldn't bear the thought of his image lingering, especially after the surgery. After the procedure, I won’t even remember who I am. There's no need to keep him in my memories.

Once the photos were put away, Mira entered the elevator, only to find Vera already inside.

"What a coincidence," Vera said with a smile, her voice sugary sweet.

Mira didn’t respond. She pressed the button for the first floor, her eyes fixed forward, avoiding any further interaction.

Suddenly, the elevator jerked to a stop on the fifth floor. A voice crackled over the mall’s loudspeaker.

"Dear customers and friends, we apologize for the inconvenience. A fire has broken out in the mall. Please remain calm. The fire brigade has arrived and is working on emergency rescue operations..."

The air grew thick with smoke, seeping into the elevator through the narrow gaps. Vera’s face turned pale, her panic evident.

She fumbled with her phone, her hands shaking as she typed furiously. "Elias, where are you? Save me..."

But every message she sent was met with a red exclamation mark. The messages failed to send.

The smoke grew denser, the choking smell of burning filling the small space. Mira stood motionless, her expression unreadable, while Vera’s frantic breathing echoed in the elevator. The fire outside raged on, and with every passing second, the air seemed to grow heavier, more suffocating.

Mira struggled to breathe, the air thick with smoke, suffocating her. Her lungs felt as if they were being filled with heavy, swollen balloons. Every inhale was a sharp, burning sensation, and the acrid scent of smoke seemed to cling to her throat.

Vera’s frantic sobs pierced the air, her cries harsh and jarring in the confined space of the elevator. Mira closed her eyes, trying to steady herself amidst the chaos.

Suddenly, the elevator doors slid open with a loud mechanical groan. Elias stood there, his presence a stark contrast to the chaos inside. "Hurry, come out now!" His voice was urgent, his gaze scanning the two women within.

"Elias!" Vera cried out, her voice thick with grievance and fear.

Elias held a wet towel in his hand, his hesitation palpable. He seemed torn, unsure of who to offer it to. The tension in the air was suffocating.

After a beat, he spoke again, his voice low and strained. "Mira... Vera is very weak. If she inhales too much smoke, something bad might happen." His gaze shifted to Mira. "I taught you—take a deep breath, hold it, and I’ll get you out of here."

Without waiting for a response, Elias handed the wet towel to Vera. "Cover your mouth and nose," he instructed her, his hands already reaching for Mira and Vera, pulling them toward the evacuation passage.

The fire’s smoke grew thicker, its presence almost suffocating. Mira coughed violently, her chest feeling as though it would explode with each wheeze. Her vision blurred, the dizziness threatening to overwhelm her.

"Mira, hold on a little longer," Elias urged, his voice filled with concern as he dragged them both through the thickening smoke. Vera, clutching the wet towel, seemed relatively unharmed, but Mira felt like every breath was her last.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they emerged into the open air. The fresh breath of the night was a relief, but Mira still felt weak, her body trembling from the ordeal. She was swiftly placed into the ambulance parked nearby, where oxygen was administered to help stabilize her.

The world around her was a haze as she drifted in and out of consciousness, the events of the night a blur.

By the time she made it home, she was still groggy, her head heavy with exhaustion. The soft hum of the house seemed distant, and she moved through it like a ghost.

Elias returned at two in the morning after finishing his work. His eyes were filled with guilt as he approached her. "I’m sorry, Mira..." His voice was low, regret dripping from every word. "The situation was urgent, and you know Vera’s condition. I made you suffer."

"It's okay, I'm not dead, am I?" Mira laughed softly. Her voice carried warmth, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of something she didn’t say.

She was always so generous, yet Elias couldn’t shake the weight pressing on his heart. He pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice trembling. "Mira, I swear—this will be the last time. From now on, your safety will always come first. Always."

Mira nodded, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Alright, I believe you, Captain Sullivan."

Later that night, as the steady rhythm of Elias' snores filled the bedroom, Mira lay awake. Her gaze lingered on the soft glow of his phone screen, where she had caught a glimpse of the message he sent to Vera before drifting off to sleep.

Mira is leaving on a business trip tomorrow. After the wedding, I’ll make sure we check off every item on your bucket list. She’ll be back in about 20 days. Let’s not contact each other until then.

Her chest tightened, and the ache spread through her as if winter’s chill had seeped into her bones.

At five o'clock in the morning, before the first light of dawn, Mira rose quietly. She dressed swiftly, careful not to disturb him, and packed her suitcase. Standing in the doorway, she turned back for one final glance at the home they had built together—the memories etched into its corners, now too painful to bear.

"Elias," she whispered in her heart, "I will never return. From this moment on, let us be strangers, with nothing to do with each other ever again."

The icy winter wind bit at her cheeks as she stepped into the dark, her figure swallowed by the vast emptiness of the early morning.