On my way home, Annie video-called me, her expression unusually serious.

“Are we still best friends? How long were you planning to keep this from me?”

Seeing her stern look, I was caught off guard. Had she somehow found out about my agreement to participate in Professor Davis’s time capsule experiment?

“I...” I stuttered.

Before I could figure out how to explain, Annie bombarded me with a flurry of words.

“I know your marriage was inevitable, but how could you not tell me about something as important as being pregnant? Lia, I’m your best friend!”

Pregnant? Me?

Annie’s face was full of grievances, while I was completely confused.

It turned out that one of her friends had seen Jared accompanying Molly to the hospital for a check-up that night and mistook her for me.

Ever since I started dating Jared, Molly had been copying my style of dressing and grooming. Given it was late at night and dimly lit, it wasn’t surprising they’d gotten it wrong.

I chuckled softly but didn’t bother to clarify.

—

Countdown: Day Four

At eight in the evening, a video of Jared accompanying his "girlfriend" to a prenatal check-up was suddenly released online by the paparazzi.

The news spread like wildfire, with headlines claiming that Jared and I were about to get married.

Looking visibly anxious, Jared rushed to explain himself to me.

“Sweetheart, it’s not what you think. She’s just an employee. She wasn’t feeling well that day, so I gave her a ride. That’s all.”

I ignored him, focusing instead on packing my things. Tomorrow was the first pre-test for entering the capsule.

To prevent any external interference, Professor Davis had gone to great lengths to create a humanoid replica of me. On the day I officially entered the time capsule, the replica would be used in a staged "traffic accident" to fake my death.

Seeing me neither crying nor angry, Jared grew visibly flustered.

He shuffled closer to me but hesitated to get too near.

I couldn’t help but find it ironic. The ever-composed Jared, always so confident in matters of love, now looked uneasy and unsure.

“Sweetheart, please don’t stay silent. If you’re upset, hit me. Do whatever you want to punish me, as long as it makes you feel better.”

Expressionless, I walked onto the balcony and answered Annie’s call.

She said she needed to talk to me urgently and asked me to come downstairs.

I went down and looked around but couldn’t find her.

As I pulled out my phone to call her back, the night sky suddenly lit up with bursts of fireworks.

I turned to see Jared holding a bouquet of flowers, kneeling on one knee to propose.

At that moment, Annie and a group of friends appeared out of nowhere, surrounding us with cheerful laughter.

Everyone started chanting excitedly, “Say yes! Say yes!”

All around us were the paintings Jared had created for me over the years, arranged beautifully under twinkling lights, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

I had to admit, this was the proposal I’d dreamed of—romantic and heartfelt.

He held out a dazzling diamond ring, his hands trembling slightly as he offered it to me. His eyes, filled with deep affection and nervous anticipation, locked onto mine.

“Lia, I’ve made up my mind. Tonight, I’m officially proposing to you. Will you marry me?”

I froze, my throat tightening, and my nose stinging with emotion.

“...I will.”

As soon as I said those words, relief and pure joy spread across Jared’s face.

He carefully slipped the ring onto my finger, his eyes misting over as he kissed the back of my hand.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood and pulled me into a tight embrace.

At that moment, all our friends surrounded us, celebrating with cheers and laughter.

Reflecting on our three years together, it felt like a dream to finally reach this milestone. Marrying Jared and building a home of our own had always been my ultimate goal.

But there was something he still didn’t know.

That wedding... I wouldn’t be able to attend it after all.

Jared’s sudden proposal had completely derailed Molly’s carefully laid plans. That night, she dropped all pretense, screaming at me through voice messages, trying to provoke me with video clips of her and Jared.

I paid her no mind, replying with just one sentence. [Be careful not to stress the baby.]

Countdown: Day Three

Early in the morning, Jared was brimming with excitement as he dragged me to try on wedding dresses. While we were busy planning, Molly unexpectedly showed up, throwing herself into my arms and calling me “sister.”

Jared’s face darkened instantly. He yanked her away from me and pulled her aside, his voice low but furious, as if facing an imminent threat.

“I’ve warned you to stay away from Lia. What do you think you’re doing now?”

Molly wrenched her wrist free from his grip, feigning the look of a wounded deer. She quickly darted behind me, clutching my wrist with her delicate hands. Her voice was soft and pitiful.

“Sis, tell him. Tell him what we really are to each other.”

She looked at me, then at Jared, whose expression had grown even colder. A triumphant smirk flickered across her face.

I remained composed, brushing her hand off lightly. Turning to Jared, I said, “Oh, I forgot to mention—she’s my half-sister.”

My words stunned him. He had no idea about my connection to her.

I’d always kept my distance from my biological family. As for Jared, he’d only met my stepmother once, during their infamous altercation years ago. He had no reason to know about Molly until now.

Shock registered on his face, but it was quickly overshadowed by the rising storm of hatred in his gaze toward her—sharp and icy as a blade. Even so, he forced himself to suppress his rage in front of me, managing a strained, awkward smile.

“...You’ve never mentioned having a sister before.”

I replied nonchalantly, “According to the household registry, I’m an only child.”

Years ago, when I discovered the truth about my father’s relationship with Molly’s mother, I distanced myself from that cold, loveless house. If not for my grandmother, I would have changed my surname too.

As for Molly, despite her many attempts to feign closeness and curry favor with me, I’d never considered her family. I saw no reason to bring her up in front of Jared.

Just then, a shop assistant approached with a wedding dress for me to try on.

“Go on, try it,” Jared said, eager to dissolve the tension. He picked out his favorite dress and handed it to me.

Before I could take it, Molly snatched it from his hands.

“Sis, this dress is so beautiful! Can I try it on?” she asked.

Jared’s gaze turned icy, but I merely smiled indifferently.

“Suit yourself.”

Molly beamed triumphantly, clutching the dress as she skipped off to the fitting room.

As she disappeared, Jared clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles white. But when he turned back to me, he forced a guilty smile.

“That dress wasn’t all that nice anyway, sweetheart. How about you try this one instead?”

At that moment, my phone rang. Seeing it was Professor Davis, I seized the opportunity. Handing the wedding dress back to Jared, I smiled apologetically.

“Sorry, I need to take this.”

Jared froze, the dress still in his hands, as I stepped out without a backward glance.

"Alright, Professor Davis. I'll be there shortly," I said and went out.

As the car started, Jared chased after me, but it was Molly, now wearing a wedding dress, who stopped him.

"Do you like it... brother-in-law?"

She deliberately made enough noise for me to hear.

I gave a faint smile, indifferent, and turned my gaze away from the rearview mirror, unwilling to watch their current struggle.

Thankfully, the results of my first physical test were acceptable. Professor Davis had reminded me to rest well in the next couple of days and focus on preparing for the final stage before entering the capsule.

As for the android, I had visited it earlier today. I was in awe of Professor Davis’s team. Their precision and attention to detail made it almost indistinguishable from reality.

Unable to track my whereabouts, Jared seemed defeated, sitting outside the villa, waiting for me.

When he saw me get out of the car, he rushed over with an anxious expression.

"Where have you been, sweetheart? I tried calling you, and I was about to call the police."

Knowing I would be leaving in two days, I let him hold me and didn’t push him away. In a slightly tired voice, I said, "I’m a bit exhausted. Let’s go inside and rest."

Jared nodded, brushing the stray locks of hair from my forehead. His eyes, though slightly red, finally softened into a smile.

Without a word, he bent down and, with one hand supporting my back, lifted me effortlessly into his arms.

Noticing his slightly dazed gaze, I frowned and asked, "Have you been drinking?"

He didn’t answer, his eyes fixed on mine, as if he wanted to kiss me.

I gently turned my head to avoid his lips.

His expression faltered with hurt, and I explained softly, "I’m just tired today. I don’t feel like it."

Jared didn’t press me. He held me as we both settled down and fell asleep peacefully.

Countdown: Day Two

Molly deliberately wore the same outfit from the night she went to the hospital with Jared and strutted into his office.

The online rumors exploded. People were debating whether the woman Jared had accompanied to the hospital for a checkup that night was her or me.

Jared was busy dealing with the media frenzy and couldn’t leave the office.

Annie, seeing the gossip on the internet, grew frantic. She was on a business trip and couldn’t be there to comfort me, so she cried on video the chat.

I reassured her that I was fine and told her not to worry. After all, over the years, Jared’s rivals had spread all kinds of rumors to undermine him.

Once I calmed Annie down, I deleted the endless stream of videos Molly had sent.

I ate the meals the housekeeper had prepared for me and spent my free time in bed, ensuring I got enough rest. Tomorrow, I would enter the capsule, and I needed to be well-rested and physically prepared.

Jared came back late at night.

Seeing me asleep, he gently caressed my cheek and kissed me softly.

I was a little surprised when I felt a tear drop onto my face.

He cried silently, seemingly regretting something.

I tightened my hands under the covers, but my face remained emotionless as I pretended to be asleep.

Countdown: Final Day

I stepped over the sea of roses Jared had carefully arranged overnight, holding the iron box my grandmother had left me as I made my way downstairs.

Jared’s car was on its way back to the villa, unaware that my car had just passed by in the opposite direction.

He called me, "Hey, sweetheart, I’ve finished dealing with things at the company. Stay at home and wait for me. I’ll be back soon."

"Okay," I replied calmly, hanging up the phone.

I removed my earphones and was about to leave when a loud "bang" suddenly echoed from nearby.

Suddenly, the sharp, piercing sound of sirens and an ambulance filled my ears.

"Lia! No!"