The next day, I went to the hospital alone.

I signed my own surgical consent form. When the doctor asked me about it, I kept a calm demeanor. "I'm an orphan," I simply said.

The surgery went smoothly enough. I stayed for three days before they told me that I could recuperate at home. During that time, neither Mom nor Jeanette called me. They didn't even send me a single text.

Strangely, I felt a sense of peace I hadn't known in a long time.

On the bus ride home, I passed the university district. Memories of Jeanette flooded back to me.

It was hard to believe now, but she was the one who chased me first. Back then, she was bold and full of life. She had confessed to me in front of the whole school. Even when I rejected her again and again, she refused to back down.

She showed me a kind of affection I had never known before. It wasn't surprising that I fell for her.

During our senior year, her dad's business partner ran off with their money, and her dad fell ill. Their family had crumbled into debt overnight.

I spent my days interning and my nights working odd jobs. I carried her weight as well as my own, paying for everything while trying to support her.

That was when my stomach problems began.

Later on, a benefactor helped her dad, and they recovered some of the money. Slowly, things improved, and we set a date for our wedding.

But then Noah returned from abroad, and everything changed.

I got off the bus at my apartment building and froze right after pushing the door open.

The apartment I had decorated for the wedding was a wreck. Takeout boxes piled on the floor. There were even a few cockroaches crawling on them. The succulents I had tended to on the balcony had been ripped from their pots.

Through the open bedroom door, I could see Noah sitting on my bed as Jeanette coaxed him into taking his medicine.

Mom lounged comfortably on the brand-new couch. White stuffing spilled out of the throw pillows I had ordered, and our couple of photos were strewn about, as they were torn to shreds by Noah's dog.

"What are you guys doing?"

My mom glanced at me, then gave a cold snort. "Jenny's pregnant with our family's child. This place was supposed to be your marital home anyway, so I let her and Noah move in."

"My marital home? And he gets to live here?" I looked at Noah, who looked smug behind Jeanette's shield. I drew a breath. "Besides, I already decided that I'm not marrying—"

Before I could finish speaking, Mom lunged at me and clawed my arm. "I'll beat the ungratefulness out of you, you bastard! Noah lost his leg because of you. What's wrong with giving him your house? Better yet, just sign it over completely!

"And now that Jenny's pregnant with his child, they should live together. You, on the other hand, do nothing all day. How will you ever provide for them?"

I was pissed.

Mom had despised me since birth because Dad had cheated on her while she was pregnant with me. She blamed me for everything since the day I was born.

As a child, I begged for her love. I aced exams, did every chore, and even saved pennies to buy her gifts.

However, none of it compared to Noah, who did nothing but was still adored.

When I finally told her that I was getting married, she didn't offer me a single cent. Not for a marriage gift or a house. Instead, she tossed me a notebook filled with a list of every expense from my childhood. Even an eraser was included.

Ironically, she didn't spend even 50 thousand dollars to raise me for all those years.

From then on, I stopped seeking her love.

Warmth spread across my forehead. I touched it and realized that it was blood.

I took a deep breath and looked at the three of them—my mother, my brother, and the woman I had planned to marry.

For the first time in forever, my head was crystal clear.

"Noah, you know exactly how your leg got broken."

His eyes flickered, and I smiled faintly at him.

"This apartment is mine. If you want it, sure. Just pay me. And one more thing…" My gaze locked onto Jeanette. "If you didn't hear me clearly on the phone, I'll say it again. I'll step aside for you and Noah. This wedding is off!"

The room fell silent for a moment. Mom, Noah, and Jeanette looked uneasy. For once, Jeanette actually seemed flustered. She stepped toward me as if she wanted to explain her side of things.

That was when my phone buzzed.

I pulled out my phone. It was a text from the city clerk's office. It was a reminder to attend the marriage registration appointment tomorrow at 8:00 am.

I froze before realization dawned upon me. Stella Zahn.

We hadn't spoken since the call. I thought she was just teasing. After all, marriage wasn't a trivial matter. Yet, she had scheduled the license for the following morning. That was fast.

Her playful, drawn-out, "Honey" replayed in my mind, and I felt my ears burn.

Jeanette peeked at the screen and let out a sigh of relief. "Nathan, I know you've been upset because I've been neglecting you. Don't worry. I'll be there on time tomorrow."

Her gaze flicked to the bag of medicine in my hand. She softened her tone. "You're actually sick? I thought you were making it up. But since you're here, it can't be that serious. I promise I'll make more time for you."

I didn't respond to her. Taking my silence as agreement, she tugged me toward the study and asked, "Where's that charm I gave you? Hand it over. Noah wants it."

Her words slammed into me. "What did you just say?"

The charm wasn't worth much, but she had once waited hours in line at the store for it back when she was courting me. She had even fallen sick afterward. Because of that, I swore I'd never let her down. I had carried it with me everywhere ever since.

"I'll buy you another one later. Noah has been in a bad place since the accident. As his older brother, you should let him have it," Jeanette scowled.

Let him have it? Hadn't I let him take enough already? He got everything he wanted—even my fiancee.

I pulled the charm from around my neck but didn't hand it over. "Tell me the truth, Jeanette. Did you ever actually love me?"

She snatched it and said, "Don't be difficult. I've already agreed to marry you tomorrow, haven't I? Yet you're whining over a trinket? If you can't part with something like this, what kind of husband will you be?"

She then stormed out.

I stood there with blood dripping from my temple onto the hardwood floor. Whatever feelings I still had for her bled out with it.

The moment I left, I put the apartment up for sale.

There was something I hadn't told them. I had been promoted, but it meant relocating out of state. Before, I couldn't bear to leave Jeanette. Now, I couldn't wait.

I checked into a cheap hotel nearby. Not long after, I received a video.

It showed neon lights and played pounding music. It was a bar.

Jeanette, dressed to tease, perched on Noah's lap. They fed each other mouth-to-mouth as the crowd egged them on.

Someone asked, "Aren't you supposed to be marrying Nathan tomorrow? What happens when he finds out you're with his brother?"

"He already knows I'm pregnant with Noah's baby. What can he do? Throw a tantrum? He's the one rushing to tie the knot." Jeanette curled against Noah, smirking. "Besides, he's Noah's sibling. The kid will still be a Rowley. If Nathan had any generosity, he'd accept it and act like a real man."

The crowd howled in laughter.

"Jenny really knows how to keep a man in line!"

"You've got to keep your man in check!"

The video cut off, followed by a text that read, "You were born to be beneath me, Nathan."

I didn't need to wonder who had sent the video.

Instead of feeling angry, I felt strangely calm. All I could think about was standing at the clerk's office with Stella tomorrow morning.

I wondered if, after all these years, she was still the same.

That night, I slept better than I had in months.

When morning came, I found myself feeling nervous about marrying the girl who used to trail after me everywhere.

I almost showed up late.

The second I stepped into the city clerk's office, I saw a dolled-up Jeanette pushing Noah in his wheelchair.

She eyed my suit and smirked. "Wow, you actually cleaned up to register our marriage today."

She dug in her purse and took out a folded document. "But before we do that, sign this agreement."

I frowned. I was about to tell her that she had the wrong idea when she stuffed the document into my hands.

"This is simply to ensure the happiness of our marriage," she said sweetly. "So don't go crying that I took advantage of you."

Noah piped up from his chair, "That's right, Nathan! Jenny stayed up all night working on that. She even asked Mom for help so that you wouldn't think it was unfair."

I didn't want to argue in public, so I took a quick look at it.

A single glance was enough.

The first clause stated, "After marriage, Nathan must treat the child in Jeanette's womb as his own, assume all parental duties, and provide no less than ten thousand dollars a month in support."

I moved on to the other clauses. "After marriage, Nathan must allow his younger brother, Noah, to move in with them and will not interfere with his interactions with the unborn child.

"After marriage, Jeanette may decide whether or not to have more children. Nathan may not object to her wishes.

"After marriage, all of Nathan's assets must be transferred to Jeanette's unborn child."

I didn't bother reading the rest.

Calling the agreement unfair would be too kind. The conditions didn't even regard me as a human being.

I started laughing.

"What are you waiting for, Nathan? Do you want to get married or not? Sign it already!" Jeanette urged.

I looked at her, crumpled the document, and threw it in their faces. "You really think I'd sign garbage like this?"

Her expression faltered. "You—"

I cut in, "Also, who told you I was here to marry you?"

She froze.

Noah leaned forward. "Come on. Stop throwing a tantrum. Everyone knows that you'd never marry anyone but Jeanette. You finally got this far. Don't screw around.

"Plus, you made the appointment for eight o'clock, right? If you're not marrying her, then who?"

Jeanette snapped out of her daze and crossed her arms. "Exactly. You just want my attention. Well, you've got it. Stop playing games and sign the agreement."

I checked my watch. It was already 8:10 am. Yet, there was still no sign of Stella.

Had something come up? Had she changed her mind?

Either way, one thing was certain—Jeanette and I were done.

Before I could speak my mind, a horn blared outside. A clear, bright voice called out to me. "Sorry for being late, honey."