Zoe really didn't need to worry. Evelyn had no intention of telling the truth. She would wait until after she was gone. Then, Daniel and Noah could finally find out what had really happened.

That kind of grief and regret, when there was no way to make things right, would follow them for the rest of their lives.

"I heard you were here, so I came to see you," Evelyn said calmly. Her expression was so mild that both Daniel and Noah visibly relaxed.

"So, you came over from another department?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah," Evelyn replied.

Daniel let out a breath, but his brows stayed furrowed. "What are you in for? You're in a hospital gown."

Evelyn's mouth curved in a mocking smile. "Stomach issues."

The words landed, and both Daniel and Noah exchanged an uneasy look. Daniel knew she'd had stomach problems for years. He just hadn't thought they had gotten bad enough for her to be hospitalized.

Before he could say another word, Zoe walked up, her eyes misty and her voice shaking. "Evelyn, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn't made you drink that glass of liquor, you wouldn't be in the hospital."

The moment she started crying, Daniel and Noah softened instantly.

Daniel hurried to steady Zoe. "This isn't your fault at all! There's no way one drink landed her here! That would be a little too dramatic!"

"Yeah, Aunt Zoe! Don't be sad," Noah chimed in. "Mom definitely did this to herself! She probably skipped her meals on purpose and made herself sick just to get me and Dad to pay attention to her!"

To make Zoe feel better, Noah could say such cruel things. Evelyn couldn't help wondering when he had become this way. She remembered raising him to be better than this.

Zoe's expression finally softened. She pressed a hand to her chest and whispered that she felt a little unwell. Daniel and Noah immediately fussed over her, guiding her back into the ward. By the time they came out again, Evelyn was gone.

Daniel didn't think much of it. If there really was something wrong with Evelyn, she would say so. Evelyn was the type to cry over a minor scratch. There was no way she could face a serious illness without saying a word. If she wasn't talking, that meant she was fine.

Besides, Zoe didn't have much time left. He needed to be there for her while he still could. Once she was gone, he would make it up to Evelyn.

...

Evelyn picked up her prescription painkillers and went home. They were the only thing that could ease the pain.

There were eight days left before she left for the island. She didn't want anything to go wrong before then.

To keep her health from collapsing, she allowed herself to rest for the first time in years. She slept until noon every day.

She didn't have to prepare Noah's meals, worry about his school schedule, or lie awake at night wondering if Daniel would come home drunk from another business dinner.

It turned out living alone could be so comfortable.

A few days later, her parents called.

"If you're free today, come over. We should all get together," her mother, Tiana Dunn, said.

For the first time since Zoe's so-called cancer diagnosis, they were finally reaching out to Evelyn. Ever since they decided she was lying, they even blocked her on messaging apps.

Evelyn glanced at the calendar on the wall. It was the 21st, her birthday. She agreed to go, just for one last birthday with her parents. After that, they could all consider things settled.

When she walked into the Wynn residence, there was no cake nor presents—just her parents' strange expressions and a heavy, suffocating silence. Seeing her at the door, they exchanged a look.

"Since you're here, sit down," her father, Owen Wynn, said.

Evelyn sat on the couch.

Tiana watched Evelyn for a moment, then said in a low, conflicted tone, "On the 26th, Daniel's supposed to hold a wedding for you, right?"

Evelyn frowned, not sure where this was going yet. Before she could answer, Tiana continued, "Let Zoe have the wedding instead."

Evelyn's whole body went still.

Tiana went on bluntly, "You know Zoe likes Daniel. Daniel and Noah like her too. Their bond is already stronger than what you have with them! If this were any other time, I'd never step in. But Zoe has cancer. She doesn't have much time. I want to help her fulfill her wish and let her marry Daniel, even if it's just in name."

For a second, it felt like Evelyn's blood was boiling in her veins. Help Zoe fulfill her wish? What about her? That was her husband and her wedding. But her parents were asking her to hand them over like it was nothing. It was ridiculous.

"Have you thought about me at all?" Evelyn asked quietly.

Owen's expression darkened. "What's wrong with you? Are you the one dying?"

Evelyn's lips lifted into a thin smile. "Yeah. I'm the one who's dying."

The next second, a loud slap smacked across Evelyn's face. She raised a hand to her cheek and felt blood at the corner of her mouth.

"You're so stubborn!" Owen shouted. "How did I end up with such a cold-blooded daughter?"

Tiana's face was full of disappointment and disgust.

"As her sister, how can you be this heartless? You won't even agree to Zoe's last wish. If I'd known you'd turn out like this, I never would've had you! If we hadn't been so busy looking after you, Zoe wouldn't have gone missing back then. You're nothing but a curse on my life!

"If you refuse, I might as well move out and live with Zoe. Then, I won't have to see you and feel sick!"

Evelyn ran her tongue along the blood on her lip.

"You don't have to go with Zoe. I'll leave," she said.

She would go somewhere none of them could ever find her.

If they all ended up in heaven someday, she'd gladly go to hell instead.

Evelyn left the living room with her cheek still stinging, her palm pressed over the swollen skin. She almost walked straight into three people coming up the steps.

She instinctively shrank back into the shadow of the entryway and watched as Daniel and Zoe climbed out of the car. Noah stood between them, happily holding each of their hands. The three of them looked exactly like a family.

"Aunt Zoe, are you feeling better?" Noah asked.

Zoe smiled and ruffled his hair. "Much better."

"Great! Now, you can finally play with me again!" Noah kicked a pebble out of his way, grinning from ear to ear.

"Mom is boring and annoying. You're the only one who gets me. Good thing she didn't show up today. She would've ruined everything."

Zoe's smile deepened. She put on a gentle, helpless tone. "Noah, you can't talk about your mom like that."

"Why not?" He puffed out his cheeks. "She's awful! She's mean and always pretending to be pitiful! She wouldn't even drink one glass of liquor for you! If anyone should get cancer, it should be her!"

The words hit Evelyn like a bolt of lightning, and her body went rigid. The rest of their conversation blurred into a distant drone.

She stayed where she was, hidden in the corner like a ghost. She waited until she heard their laughter drift from inside the house. Only then did she turn and walk away.

She felt her life had become painfully pathetic, miserable beyond words. She had carried Noah for nine months, yet he wished her dead without a flicker of hesitation.

Tears spilled over as she walked away.

As they wished, she was the one with cancer. Once she was gone, Zoe would take over her place without a hitch. Noah would get what he wanted.

...

Back at the villa, Evelyn went through every room and cleared out anything that belonged to her. Then, she threw it all into a brazier and lit it in the backyard. She burned their wedding photo, their family photo, and every gift she had chosen for Daniel and Noah over the years.

When Daniel came home and saw the fire, his eyes widened in panic. He ignored the heat and pain, reaching straight into the blaze to grab for their photo. He managed to pull out half of a photo. The rest had already turned to ash.

His eyes went bloodshot as he shouted, "Evelyn! Are you insane? These are our family's memories. Why would you burn them?"

Noah stomped his feet in a fit of fury. "Those stuffed toys were my favorites! Why did you burn them?"

Evelyn said expressionlessly, "Doesn't Zoe buy you new toys now? You tossed those stuffed toys into the storage room yourself. What else would they have been good for?"

Noah's cheeks flushed bright red. He did love the toys Zoe bought. Who wanted old when they could have new? But those stuffed toys were all handmade by Evelyn.

Noah's hands balled into fists. His anger surged up uncontrollably, and he shoved Evelyn hard. "Bad mom! I hate you!"

He grabbed the only half-burned toy that hadn't fallen into the flames, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and ran back into the house.

Evelyn hit the ground hard. The brazier toppled, embers and burning wood rolling toward her. A piece of hot coal landed against her bare forearm. The sear of it made her gasp as the skin blistered and burned.

Daniel didn't notice at all. He was still staring after Noah.

When he finally looked back at her, his voice was cuttingly cold. "Noah shouldn't have pushed you, but you've gone too far! This isn't how you throw a tantrum. Get those photos restored from the negatives today. If you don't, then don't show up at the wedding!"

With that, he stormed off.

A cold, mocking smile tugged at Evelyn's lips. This was the excuse Daniel had been waiting for. If she didn't show up to the wedding, it would make things a whole lot easier for him to stand at the altar with Zoe instead.

It was fine. She hadn't planned on going anyway.

By the time Daniel put a ring on Zoe's finger, Evelyn would already be on a ferry to her own private island.

...

Over the next few days, Daniel and Noah froze her out on purpose. They didn't even greet her when they saw her.

Evelyn didn't care at all. She packed the few clothes she planned to take and was ready to leave at any time.

Tomorrow, she could finally leave this place.

Just then, her phone buzzed. Zoe had sent her a photo.

Evelyn opened it, and her eyes widened in shock. It was a photo of the one keepsake her grandmother had left for her. She was the only person who had ever truly loved her. Right next to the keepsake was a brazier.

Evelyn called Zoe immediately. "Zoe, what are you doing?"

"Come find me. I want to make a deal," Zoe said.

Evelyn grabbed her keys and rushed out the door. She had barely stepped outside when a hard blow slammed into the back of her neck. She collapsed instantly, her vision fading into darkness.

Right before she passed out, she heard Zoe's voice. "Tie her tight. Don't let her run away."

When Evelyn opened her eyes again, she was in an old, rundown warehouse. The rope dug into her wrists and ankles, tight enough to make them ache.

Across from her, Zoe sat with her legs crossed, casually fussing with her manicure. When she noticed Evelyn was awake, Zoe smiled and said, "You're finally awake, Evelyn."

Evelyn's nerves tightened. Confusion and disbelief swirled through her. "Zoe, what are you doing?"

She didn't have much time left. Her life was already measured in weeks. She wasn't a threat to Zoe at all.

Daniel and Noah had turned away from her long ago. She just needed to endure one more day. Tomorrow, she would disappear to a place no one could reach. Why would Zoe bother kidnapping her now?

Zoe smiled brighter. "Aren't you curious? If both of us are in danger, who would Daniel and Noah choose to save? Want to bet on it?"

Before Evelyn could answer, one of the men stepped over and tapped a number on his phone.

As soon as the call connected, Zoe let out a fake sob. "Daniel, help me! Evelyn asked me to meet her, but we got kidnapped on the way! They want money! If they don't get it, they're going to hurt me! I'm scared!"

"Zoe?" Daniel froze for a second, then panic broke through his voice. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

The man holding the phone said, "Mr. Hayes, your wife and your lover are both in my hands. I only want five million in cash. Bring it today, and I'll send you the address. We trade in person. No cash, no deal."

"Fine! I'll bring the cash!" Daniel's voice shook. "I'll pay whatever you want! Just make sure Zoe is safe!"

The man laughed. "Relax. We keep our word. Give us the money, and no one gets hurt."

"Good." Daniel finally let out a breath. "What about Evelyn? Is she okay?"

Evelyn almost laughed. Only now did he remember she existed. If she had been the only one kidnapped, he probably wouldn't even have believed the call.

"She's fine. Just have the money ready, Mr. Hayes."

After hanging up, the two kidnappers grabbed another rope and tied Zoe up as well.

It didn't take long for Daniel to call back.

The men each grabbed one of them, dragging them outside. Only then did Evelyn realize they were in the mountains. They walked down a rocky path until they reached a spot halfway up the slope.

Daniel and Noah stood there, both tense and nervous.

The moment Zoe saw them, her eyes filled with tears. "Daniel! Noah! Help me!"

Daniel and Noah lost their composure in an instant.

"Aunt Zoe!" Noah shouted.

"Zoe, don't be scared! I've come to save you!" Daniel said quickly.

Evelyn stood right beside Zoe, tied just as tightly. She was even worse off than Zoe. Her face was chalk white, her legs barely holding her upright. But neither of them spared her a look.

Evelyn slowly closed her eyes. It wasn't that crying worked. It was that they had already decided who they cared about.

Daniel tossed a suitcase at the kidnappers' feet. "Five million! Not a penny less! Let Zoe and Evelyn go!"

One of the men crouched down, flipped open the case, and let out a laugh at the rows of neatly stacked cash.

"Five million? Five million only buys you one person, Mr. Hayes!"

Daniel's expression shifted. "You told me five million! Now, you're changing the terms?"

"You misunderstood. I never said five million would cover both. It's five million each! Of course, if you bring another five million tomorrow, you can take them both. But right now, you get to choose one."

Silence dropped like a stone. Daniel's jaw clenched, and his gaze flicked to Evelyn instinctively.

Noah gripped Daniel's sleeve, equally stunned.

Then, Zoe suddenly screamed and dropped to her knees.

"It hurts!" She gasped for air, tears spilling over. She clutched her stomach like she'd been gutted.

A moment later, she shook her head, sobbing. "Take Evelyn! Just take her! I already have cancer! I'm a burden! I could die any time! Just let me die!"

"No way!" Daniel snapped.

"Don't say that, Aunt Zoe! You're not a burden! The burden is... someone else!" Noah shouted.

As the last words left his mouth, Evelyn felt her heart split apart.