Two men stood before me, both dressed in black, like the gloomy weather—oppressive, suffocating.

My brother, Alfie, and my childhood friend, Theo. One held a black umbrella; the other leaned against a car door. Their eyes were fixed on me.

They looked profoundly concerned, almost tender. If only they weren't the very ones who'd put me here.

They’d made sure I received "special attention" inside. If it weren't for the constant ache in my body, I might have been moved to tears by their solicitude.

Three years ago, I hurt Ruby.

I held the knife that plunged into her, watching her crumple before my eyes.

She gave me a triumphant smile just before two figures burst onto the scene.

Theo restrained me, wrenching my arms behind my back. Alfie, arriving moments later, kicked me down a flight of stairs in that abandoned building.

I tumbled halfway down before hitting the concrete floor. There was no time for explanations before the cuffs snapped shut.

And so began my life of swill water, filthy drainage ditches, and soiled clothes.

New wounds bloomed daily on my skin; bruises hadn't healed before fresh ones purpled elsewhere.

It took a long time to learn survival – learning to curry favor with the cell block leader, finding a sliver of protection, just to lessen the beatings.

Once, after I’d groveled particularly well, she told me, "You pissed off someone powerful to land here, didn't you? Someone paid good money just to teach you a lesson. Pathetic, getting on the wrong side of people you shouldn't cross."

I knew exactly who she meant. Theo held the most sway. Hurting his beloved Ruby, he truly wanted me to suffer endlessly.

But he was also the one who once shielded me with everything he had.

He once lit up the entire city with fireworks for my birthday. From the highest point, they illuminated the sky all night long.

I ignored them both and walked past. If I could help it, I never wanted to see either of their faces again.

"Now that you're out, stay on the straight and narrow," Alfie said, opening the car door. "Let's go home."

The irony was almost laughable. The man who'd personally delivered me to prison was now holding a car door open, telling me to come home.

On the day I was imprisoned, my parents, rushing frantically to the courthouse, died in a car crash.

My brother, Alfie, was busy securing my conviction. I never saw our parents. Neither did Alfie.

He wasn't my biological brother. He was the boy my parents adopted.

At that moment, hatred consumed me.

Ruby stepped out of the car. She pushed her bangs aside and smiled sweetly.

"Your brother and I are together now. Starting today, I'm your sister-in-law. You've paid for hurting me with three years of your life. I forgive you."

My fists clenched, the urge to tear off her mask of innocence almost overwhelming.

She leaned closer, whispering words meant only for my ears, "Guess why your parents had that accident?"

My eyes widened. In Ruby’s gaze, I saw the devil himself. I shoved her aside and kept walking.

I was terrified I might actually kill her right then.

I could feel them behind me, sense Ruby’s victory radiating off her. Through the rearview mirror ahead, I saw her nestled in my brother's arms, weeping dramatically.

I curled my lips into a smile.

Ruby ran after me, grabbing my hand. To an outsider, it might have looked like concern. "Remember to come to our wedding," she hissed under the guise of a gentle touch. "I want you to see just how pathetic you look right now."

I had nowhere to go in this city.

Alone outside the convenience store, I sat drawing my outer coat tight around me.

A pair of shoes stopped in front of me. After a long moment, I looked up.

Theo took off his jacket and threw it over my head.

"Three years inside, and you still haven't learned? Your stubbornness is pointless. Come with me."

"I stabbed your precious girlfriend. Shouldn't you be strangling me?"

"You've paid for what you did. If you just repent..."

"Repent?" I laughed. I genuinely wanted to hit Theo. I knew exactly where to strike to cause the most pain, thanks to my time inside.

That handsome face, once the object of my deepest affection, meant nothing now.

The moment he opened the door for Alfie holding Ruby, the moment he walked away while steel nails were driven into my flesh – every ounce of my love for him had withered away.

"But you knew," I said, "You knew Ruby tried to kill me. You saw. And you took the surveillance footage, didn't you?"

Theo’s face drained of color. He stared at me, stunned.

I knew this because Ruby had told me. She wanted my pain to be absolute – unloved by my brother, betrayed by my childhood protector.

Perfect! She’d succeeded brilliantly.

"Keep telling yourself those lies," I said, shoving his jacket back at him. "Spare me your hypocritical excuses. Leave me here. Let this be the end."

Alfie was smoking. Seeing me approach, he crushed the cigarette under his heel.

"Finished talking to him?" Alfie asked, walking towards me.

"Yeah. Isn't that what you wanted, Alf?" I called him 'Alf' sweetly, just like old times.

I obediently got into the car, letting Alfie drive me to an apartment.

Ruby wasn't there. This was one of Alfie's private places, unknown to her.

Alfie was impressive. In three years, he’d gained everything.

I could never forget how desperately poor he'd been, how ruthlessly ambitious he was to climb higher.

He didn't love Ruby, but Ruby could give him everything he craved.

Even if it meant betraying the family that took him in, even if it meant sacrificing his beloved sister.

"You'll stay here for now," he said. "I'll arrange to send you abroad."

"Do you love me, Alf?"

"From today on, no one will ever hurt you again. I'm strong enough to protect you completely now." Alfie knelt before me, his gaze intense. "You can trust me, Alice. Completely."

So I began living in that house. Everything was arranged to my taste, even Alfie’s clothes seemed to mimic Theo's style. He was trying desperately to become the man he thought I loved, even if it meant losing himself.

Alfie was gone during the day, only returning at night to hold my hand tightly.

I couldn't push him away. I had to appear to like him.

My days were spent mostly in front of the mirror, practicing my expressions, repeating over and over, "Alfie, I like you."

I had to make myself believe it, to make the act convincing for him.

One day, I overheard Alfie on the phone. His voice was tight with impatience, almost threatening. He said a name: "Ruby."

Standing outside the door, I listened to his suppressed fury and eventual, reluctant concession. Alfie was going to accompany Ruby to try on wedding dresses tomorrow. Their wedding was imminent, yet Alfie sounded devoid of any joy.

I only caught half the conversation before slipping back into bed.

Soon after, Alfie returned. The other side of the bed dipped as he slid in and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

The earlier anger was gone, replaced by a chilling coldness.

"Can't sleep?"

"No. Slept too much during the day."

Alfie patted my head and began telling me a story, just like he used to when I couldn't sleep as a child.

I forced myself to relax, knowing Alfie would keep talking indefinitely if I stayed awake.

He was that obsessive, almost pathologically so.

It reminded me of a winter years ago when I'd sprained my ankle. Alfie blamed himself for not protecting me.

He insisted on carrying me to and from school, running up and down stairs between classes to fetch water. Even after I healed, he cleared every potential obstacle from my path and still followed me everywhere.

On Christmas Day, Alfie claimed urgent business would keep him out very late.

I knew he was lying. He was accompanying Ruby to her dress fitting.

I saw the apology and evasion in his eyes. Pretending ignorance, I let my disappointment show – a reaction that visibly pleased him.

"You'll wait for me, won't you?" he asked.

I smiled sweetly. "Of course, I'll wait for you to come back."

But I didn't.

I followed Alfie, carefully keeping my distance.

Ruby is beautiful, especially when she wears a wedding dress. She was always a princess, and standing with Alfie at this moment, she seemed even more like that.​

Alfie placed a ring on her finger, his eyes constantly flicking to his watch, his patience visibly fraying.

While Ruby went to change into a second dress, I tapped on the glass door.

Alfie heard the sound, his eyes widening with complex emotions swirling within. When he looked at me, he fought to control the look in her eyes.

I didn’t enter. Instead, I tilted my head, watching him.

He composed himself and came out.

"You shouldn't be here," he said, taking my cold hand. "It's reckless. And you're not dressed warmly enough. You'll catch a cold."

"Ruby looked beautiful in that dress," I commented. "When's the wedding?"

"I won't be marrying her."

I believed him. Whether his feelings for me were love, guilt, or obsession, I was a thorn in his side. And I was certainly the thorn in Ruby's side.

I watched her emerge in another exquisite gown.

"Come home with me," I said, gripping Alfie's hand.

I repeated it, firmer this time, "Now. Come home with me. I don't want to see Ruby. Please?" Ruby was approaching. I didn't move.

Just as she spotted us, Alfie pushed me aside and pulled me into a tight embrace, shielding me from Ruby's view. I caught his scent as I breathed in.

"Go home, I'll be there soon."

Peeking around his arm, I saw Ruby admiring herself in the mirror.

Then Alfie abruptly released me and walked back into the boutique.

I shrugged and offered the one inside a smile.

I didn't wait long at the apartment before Alfie returned, looking harried.

I was certain Ruby had seen me.

"You really..." he chuckled, ruffling my hair. "Since when did you enjoy playing games like this?"

I smiled back. "Did my brother only just figure me out?"

Alfie visibly flinched at the word 'brother', his brow furrowing slightly.

But he didn’t make it too obvious.

His attitude towards me was always cautious, as if constantly afraid of upsetting me.

"Ruby saw you. You need to leave the country soon. I'll arrange it."

He knew this situation was volatile. Ruby seeing me with Alfie meant she wouldn't rest until she destroyed me.

And Alfie failed to protect me. Ruby had me kidnapped.

A hood was pulled over my head. I didn't struggle much. I'd been waiting for this. Ruby was just slower than I expected.

"Fresh out of the gutter, you should have stayed crawling in the filthy sewers," Ruby spat as the hood was ripped off, “You shouldn’t have touched my man—or lived in his house.”

My eyes adjusted to the dim light. I was bound, surrounded by thugs.

Ruby stood before me, her disgusting face making me nauseous.

"I’d planned to let you attend my wedding, but it seems unnecessary now." Ruby stroked my cheek. "Do you know how much I despise you?"

I knew.

Ruby’s hatred for me wasn’t new—it had festered for ages.

I tilted my head. "Tell me, who do you think Alfie would choose right now—you or me?"

"Since you love choices so much, how about I send you to Sinaloa?" Ruby slid a dagger along my neck. "Plenty of men there for you to choose from."

I didn’t get angry. Instead, I smiled at Ruby. ​​

"Has Alfie ever gotten laid with you?"​​

That single sentence twisted Ruby’s delicate face into a snarl.

She lunged at me, hitting me, strangling my neck, spewing vile insults.

Had she been stronger, I suspect she’d have choked me to death.

I was counting the seconds. Alfie arrived right on cue. A blur of motion, and Ruby was sent sprawling by a vicious kick.

Alfie rushed to me, his eyes wild. I looked up at him, tears welling.

"I was so scared," I choked out.

Alfie frantically apologized as he untied me, promising he'd never leave me alone again. I clung to him, burying my face in his shoulder, and shot Ruby a triumphant smile.

I win this round.

Ruby, utterly enraged, screamed orders. Several men grabbed Alfie. Ruby seized my hair, dragging me onto the deck and shoving me overboard into the freezing sea.

Exactly what I wanted.

I needed Alfie to hate Ruby more, to sever their bond forever.

I fought my way back to the surface, gasping, drenched.

Later, I heard fragments of what happened next: Alfie had gone berserk, trying to strangle Ruby on the deck. They fought like animals. If Ruby hadn't hired muscle, Alfie might have killed her. I also heard he'd nearly jumped in after me.