The day before our wedding, my fiance, Yale Salvatore, died in an accident. He had been setting up the venue when the stage collapsed.

I'm now a widow and carrying his child. Devastated with grief, I even tried to end my life.

However, my parents-in-law urge me not to grieve too much. After all, I'm pregnant and need to stay strong for the child's sake.

On the day of Yale's funeral, his older twin brother arrives from Novavista with his wife and child. They're here to attend the funeral. His face is so identical to Yale's that I nearly mistook him for Yale several times.

By accident, I overheard a conversation between him and my in-laws.

"You faked your death just for Gwen King? Sasha is pregnant with your child! Do you want your baby to be born fatherless?"

"You did all of this just so you could be with Gwen out in the open?"

My brother-in-law, exasperatedly explains, "Mom, Dad, Gwen has cancer. She has less than a month to live. She's loved me for years, and her dying wish is to marry me.

"Once she passes, I'll return to Sasha's side and give her an even grander wedding. Then, I'll be there for the birth of our child, and we'll raise him together."

Hearing this, I'm so shocked I can't speak. My so-called "brother-in-law" is actually my fiance, Yale!

For the sake of helping another woman fulfill her dying wish, he doesn't care how upset or devastated I may be. And once he completes his benevolent mission, he intends to return to my side?

No. My fiance, Yale, is already dead. I won't beg him to come back.

And in three days, I'll be just like him. I'll be lying beneath a cold gravestone, and he'll be the one left crying.

I sent a message to my parents, telling them that I would be home in three days. I also told them I was going to return all the pain Yale Salvatore had caused me.

After sending the message, my tears kept falling uncontrollably. My mind was filled with memories of the time when Yale and I were preparing for our wedding.

He told me he wanted to give me a wedding I would never forget. So, he booked a venue by the seaside. Then, he personally took part in planning the entire setup. He even helped to decorate the venue—from the flowers on stage to the wedding poster design.

I was filled with joy and anticipation while waiting for my wedding day to arrive. However, what came instead was the stage collapsing, followed by a fire that destroyed everything on site. All I had left was a charred engagement ring. My child wasn't even born yet, but he had already lost his father.

When I learned the news, I was so heartbroken I couldn't eat. I even attempted to end my life a few times. However, the people around me urged me to live for the sake of the child I was carrying.

Yet, I never imagined that this death was just a meticulously planned trap. It was all because Yale wanted to play the role of a savior for another woman.

Since he disregarded my sorrow and pain, I would make him pay. I would show him just how broken down and devastated I was out of love for him. Then, I would pay him back everything he had given me in the exact same form.

My death would be a performance!

My mother-in-law, Helen Whitmore, angrily spoke up for me.

"But don't you know you faking your death has made Sasha very miserable? She's even tried to end her life a few times because of you! You're being unfair to her! She would resent and despise you if she knew the truth! Maybe even leave you!" she said.

"No. Sasha loves me deeply. She'll never hate me, and she'll never leave me. When this is all over, I'll make amends. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to her!" Yale stated resolutely.

I'd never leave him? And he'd spend the rest of his life making it up to me?

No, Yale. I'd never give you that chance!

I heartbrokenly returned to my room.

My phone rang. It was my mother.

"What happened, Sasha? What do you mean about Yale?" she asked.

"Yale isn't dead, Mom. He faked his death for Gwen King. And now, he's pretending to be his older twin brother. He stood by her side and did nothing but watch as I cried and grieved him," I answered.

There was a long silence on the other end. Then, Mom's serious voice came through the receiver.

"Don't be sad. In three days, I'll do as you've instructed. I'll help you carry out your death performance. You can count on me."

Mom didn't ask any more questions. She knew how heartbroken I was and how much I had poured into my relationship with Yale. So, she knew that my heart had completely shattered in the face of this betrayal.

I sat quietly, allowing my tears to fall as the sound of Yale's voice echoed in my mind. His excuses had been so full of lies. I was in so much pain that I found it hard to breathe.

A few minutes later, Yale knocked on the door. He stood at the doorway holding a glass of milk. His expression was gentle and concerned as he looked at me.

There he was—the man I had cried for, felt heartbroken over, and utterly mourned. He was standing calmly in front of me, still playing the role of my brother-in-law as though nothing had happened.

"You're crying again, Sasha? Are you missing Yale?" he asked.

Yale had been pretending to be his older brother, Quinn Salvatore, for over a week now. Every night before bed, he would bring me a glass of milk, just like he used to. He claimed that now that his younger brother had passed, it was his duty as my brother-in-law to take care of me.

Putting on a sorrowful face, Yale sank into grief with me. He acted as though he had really lost his brother and that he wasn't the reason I was so heartbroken.

I quickly deleted my chat history with Mom and slid my phone under my pillow. Then, I gave Yale a faint smile.

"Yes, a little. Mainly, the morning sickness is upsetting my stomach a little. And Yale isn't here with me, so I'm feeling a bit down," I said.

Yale sighed and gently patted my shoulder in comfort.

I studied him quietly. In three days, his face would be filled with anguish. His heart would twist in grief and heartbreak at the memorial service. He definitely wouldn't be this calm and composed.

"Drink some milk. It's rich in calcium. That baby of yours is being too naughty. Once he's born, I'll give him a scolding on Yale's behalf," Yale said as he handed me the glass of milk.

Once the baby was born? What a joke. Yale would never see the baby.

"There's honey in the milk, so it suits your tastes better. Drink it and rest early. If Yale were still alive, he wouldn't want you to be this sad," he added.

Yale? How could he say that name so easily? And without even an ounce of guilt for the lie he was telling?

It was as though Yale really believed he was Quinn and had forgotten his true identity.

My heart broke again. As I stared into his blue eyes, I saw a flicker of unease. However, it quickly vanished.

Still, I had caught it. So, I decided to test him.

Slowly, I asked, "Are you really not Yale?"

Yale froze. For a brief moment, panic flashed in his eyes. It was the kind someone would have if his mask had been stripped away. However, he quickly covered it up by forcing a smile, as though he had just heard some ridiculous joke.

Sighing, Yale looked at me with pity. He gently patted my head and said, "You must miss my brother too much, Sasha. That's why you're mistaking me for him. I understand how you feel. Still, I have to tell you that I'm not Yale.

"Drink your milk and get some rest. Once you relax, you won't have these wild thoughts."

Then, Yale moved away to put distance between us. It was as though he were afraid I might pick up on something he didn't want me to see.

"I might not be Yale, but I'll still take care of you and the baby. After all, your child will be the heir to the Salvatore family. As his uncle, I have a duty to watch over him," Yale added.

I bit down hard on my lip, kept my head lowered, and said nothing. I couldn't bear to look at the face of the man I had once loved so deeply. He had once been so sincere, but now, he was hiding behind a mask of lies.

"Alright, I understand. I'm going to bed now. You should leave," I said.

As soon as I finished speaking, a voice called from the hallway.

"Darling…" Gwen stood at the door in a lace camisole dress, looking seductive.

I had the same dress too. It had been a birthday gift from Yale last year. I didn't expect she would have one as well.

Putting on a pitiful look, Gwen said, "The cancer in my legs is acting up again. It hurts. Could you help me massage them?"

Yale hesitated, looking conflicted. He was caught between the woman who used to be his fiancee and the one who now had that title.

He was silent for a long while. No one knew what he was thinking.

Eventually, he said, "Alright. You should rest early. I'll go with you for your checkup tomorrow."

Then, Yale turned and walked away with Gwen.

As they left, Gwen turned back and shot me a mysterious smile. It was laced with provocation. I could tell her smile was the smug grin of a winner.

Gwen did it on purpose. She wanted me to notice something. However, she didn't need to because I was already aware.

As I lay in bed, tears of injustice slipped from the corners of my eyes against my will. I thought back to when Yale and I first met.

Five years ago, we met at an auction held by the Valcrest auction house.

Yale was the head of the Salvatore mafia family. Meanwhile, I was the daughter of the Lewis family, who owned a real estate empire. We both had our eyes on the same antique Solarian jewelry box.

When I had gotten a good look at Yale's stunning face, I had blushed. Even though he radiated the dangerous air of a mafia heir, I was still deeply drawn to him.

His blonde hair and enigmatic blue eyes had me utterly captivated from the start. I knew there was no escape.

I had given up the jewelry box to him. Unexpectedly, after the auction, Yale had gifted it to me.

After that, we had lost contact because we had forgotten to exchange numbers. However, his face had stayed in my mind every day. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about him.

Then, a month later, Yale had shown up at my front door and confessed to me. He had told me how, during the past month, he had missed me and had been consumed with thoughts of me.

After that, we started dating. We were a happy, sweet couple.

It was two years ago when Yale proposed to me with an emerald ring. It was a Salvatore family heirloom. Three months ago, he had found out I was pregnant. He had been filled with childlike excitement then.

Yale would lie on my belly and talk to the baby. He had bought a bunch of baby toys and clothes. He had even built a playground for our unborn child, which was set to be completed in a year.

And now? Yale had faked his death as though it were some game.

He had handed me this fatal news the night before our wedding—all for a woman who claimed her life would soon end.

Was it real, though? Was Gwen truly dying? Because if she were, then why had she smiled victoriously at me?

This was all a conspiracy. I didn't even know when Yale had abandoned me. After all, our relationship had always been good. He did love me.

However, he was now caring for and being attentive toward me under the guise of my brother-in-law. It was as though doing so could somehow ease the pain I was feeling from losing him.

No. It wouldn't ease anything.

…

The next day, Yale showed up on time, ready to take me for my prenatal checkup.

I had just finished getting dressed when I heard a weak, feeble voice calling out.

"Quinn, I've been throwing up all morning. My entire body is in so much pain that I can barely stand…"

It was Gwen. She looked pale as she clutched the wall for support, swaying unsteadily on her feet. The next second, she gasped and fell backward.

Yale rushed forward and caught her immediately.

"What's going on? Is your condition worsening again? I'll get your medicine," he said.

He carried Gwen in his arms and placed her on the sofa. Next, he slid a cushion behind her back so she would be comfortable. Then, he pulled out a blanket and covered her with it.

Yale sounded helpless yet indulgent as he comforted her. "You need to take your medicine on time. What if I hadn't been here just now, and you had fallen down the stairs?"

I entered the living room. Only then did he seem to notice me.

"I'm sorry, Sasha," Yale said.

His earlier tenderness was gone, replaced by a cold, businesslike tone. "Gwen's not feeling well, so I can't take you for your checkup. You'll have to go by yourself. I've arranged a driver for you and made an appointment with the hospital's doctor. You can head straight there."

He had arranged everything flawlessly.

As for Gwen, who had been so pale moments ago that she seemed about to faint, she flashed me another victorious smile. There was a hint of smugness in her eyes. Just like last night, they also held a challenge.

I caressed my belly and bit my lip, willing myself not to cry. However, the moment I turned around to leave, my tears fell anyway.

The checkup went smoothly. The black-and-white ultrasound image showed the baby's features clearly.

I couldn't keep him. However, the Salvatores owned this private hospital. So, everything I did couldn't escape Yale's watch.

After hesitating for a long while, I said I wanted to take a walk in the garden. The bodyguard accompanying me allowed it. When he wasn't paying attention, I slipped into a taxi.

I wanted to head to another hospital, one that wasn't under the Salvatore family's surveillance.

I arrived at the hospital and waited for my number to be called. While waiting, Gwen sent me a video.

I knew I shouldn't watch it, and I should just delete it. However, I couldn't help but take a look.

The video began to play. Gwen was straddling Yale and kissing his neck. He held her head in his hands and looked to be enjoying her kisses.

The moans in the video stabbed at my heart. It hurt so much.

Then, Yale flipped them over. Pinning Gwen under him, he kissed her.

I could see a faint purplish pentagram-shaped birthmark on his back. In that moment, my world collapsed.

Only Yale had that birthmark. There was no way I could be mistaken. If I still held onto any delusions before, then this birthmark was undeniable proof of his deception.

Feeling a faint movement in my belly, I decided to give Yale one more chance.

I called him. If he rushed over and told me the truth, I would choose to forgive him for the child's sake. I would forgive everything he had done—the lies, the staged death, and even his betrayal.

The moment the call connected, Yale said, "I'm sorry, Sasha, but I can't come pick you up. Have the driver bring you home."

He was slightly breathless, and there was an urgency in his tone. He sounded as though he were in a hurry to hang up.

Just as I was about to speak, I heard a low, sensual whine.

"Quinn…"

Gwen spoke loudly and with no attempt to remain hidden. She was provoking me over the phone. Then, the call was cut off, and I heard a beeping tone.

I smiled bitterly as I put my phone away. After speaking with the doctor, I entered the operating room.

With his own hands, Yale had destroyed his final chance to make things right. I swore that the next time he heard from me, it would be a fatal blow.

By the time I arrived home from the hospital, Yale was already waiting in the living room. Still, he wore the mask of Quinn and played the role of brother-in-law, acting generous toward me.

"Didn't you say you were going shopping after the checkup? Why have you come back empty-handed? Didn't see anything you like? That's alright. Tomorrow morning I'll take you to an auction. The items being auctioned off are rare and expensive. You'll probably find something you like," he said.

Walking closer to me, Yale finally noticed my bloodshot eyes and tear-stained face.

"You've been crying again… I know you miss Yale a lot. I miss my younger brother too. You're carrying his child, and with the child at your side, it should ease your grief a little. For the child's sake, you have to take good care of yourself."

I looked up into Yale's blue eyes. They were still shining, like they always had, full of sincerity. These eyes had once drawn me to him. Now, all I felt was irony.

Without responding, I brushed past Yale and returned to my room. Only 24 hours remained until I left. I hoped that when the news reached Yale 24 hours later, he wouldn't regret what he had done.

…

The next day, at the auction.

Everyone from high society was here because there were rumors that a rare item was up for bid.

Yale had brought both me and Gwen to the auction.

The very first item up for bid was the emerald ring he had proposed to me with.

"Have you lost your mind, Sasha? How could you auction off the engagement ring my brother gave to you when he proposed? I remember you telling me it was your most treasured gift and that it symbolized your life. But now you're throwing it away like it's garbage without even batting an eye?" Yale shouted.

Everyone present had heard him. In an instant, the entire auction hall fell silent.

I turned and looked at him coldly. My eyes held no warmth or affection. It was as though he were a stranger to me.

In a plain tone, I replied, "Because Yale is dead. I want to forget him. And the first step is to get rid of everything he had left me."

Yale's expression turned furious. He opened his mouth as if to explain something, but the words caught in his throat. Still, he kept up his "Quinn" facade.

Fine. Let's see how long he could keep up this act.

Yale grabbed my hand. His gaze was pleading and even a little pitiful. It was as though he were hoping to see a hint of reluctance or lingering love for him on my face.

"E-Even so, you can't sell the ring. It's a symbol of his love for you. If he knew you sold it off so easily, he would be heartbroken… He'd be devastated…" Yale stammered.

"Yes, he loved me, and I loved him too. But that's in the past. He's dead now, so he won't ever know about this. And over these past few days, my love for him has almost been completely drained…

"I've spent this time thinking things through, and all of you were right. I shouldn't keep wallowing in grief. I should forget him and start a new life," I said.

My words made Yale shake. A hint of panic flashed across his eyes. He could feel something slipping away.

Clutching my hand, he desperately wanted to explain something. However, Gwen stopped him and whispered a few words into his ear. Whatever she had said made him drop the conversation.

I glanced at them coldly.

See? I had given Yale another chance to tell the truth.

Yet, even after saying such harsh words, he still refused to come clean. Fine, he can keep wearing that mask.

I turned and left, returning home. There were still five hours left until the time I had agreed on with Mom. Once I arrived home, I packed up all my belongings and burned them.

I didn't want to leave Yale with anything to remember me by. I wanted to make sure he regretted it. I wanted him to be filled with sorrow and anguish.

…

As evening approached, Gwen pushed open my bedroom door.

She looked radiant, her complexion rosy. Her makeup was even perfectly done. She didn't look at all like someone with terminal cancer who supposedly only had a month left to live. In fact, Gwen looked to be in good health.

Like before, she was wearing the same style of nightgown and even the same perfume as me. With her arms crossed, she stood in the doorway like a victor.

"You must've seen that video, right? I'm sure you didn't miss the birthmark either. So, you know the truth now, don't you?" Gwen said.

She watched me with a gleeful smile on her face, as though waiting to see me break down.

"In other words, he's not actually your brother-in-law. And I'm not your sister-in-law either. Why do you still look so calm? Are you hiding how you feel, or are you pretending not to know? Unwilling to face the cruel truth?" she taunted.

"Let me tell you. I'm not going to die in a month. I'll be staying by his side as his wife. As for you? If you choose to stay, you'll have to watch him be with me, sleep with me, and eat with me," Gwen added.

Then, she looked at me smugly with the air of someone who had already won.

"I know you were testing him at the auction today, but you saw how he reacted. You said you didn't love or care about him anymore. You also said you were going to auction off the symbol of your love for each other. Even so, he didn't react at all.

"What does that say? It says he doesn't care about you anymore. Give up, Sasha. You may have loved each other once, but now, he belongs to me!" she exclaimed.