East of Marina City, which also happened to be the heart of the city, stood two uniquely designed skyscrapers on some of the most expensive land in the country. From above, they looked like lovers embracing—hence the name, Gemini Towers.

This land was where our family estates once stood before the earthquake reduced them to rubble. It was also where I was buried for 48 hours—my worst nightmare.

To help me heal from the trauma, Dominic sketched design after design, even with his hands still wrapped in bandages. Then, he poured his entire fortune into buying this piece of land.

Gemini Towers stood as a symbol of Dominic's devotion to me and the bond we had shared since childhood. We were the classic story—a couple who grew up together and got married to each other.

Back then, he proposed, and I said yes. But he didn't have any money left to hold a wedding. So he said that every year on our anniversary, he would host a grand wedding at Gemini Towers—making up for the one we never had—to let us receive everyone's blessings.

"We'll walk through this life together, and the next, and the one after that. One day, we'll sit side by side and witness Gemini Towers become a historic landmark and a heritage building."

I felt a sudden tightness in my chest. "Dominic, I want to go up to the rooftop."

"I'll come with you."

"No, it's okay. You're afraid of heights."

As the elevator ascended, I glanced down and saw Dominic pull out his phone. Mine buzzed at the same time, and a screenshot of a chat appeared.

Rosa texted, "Hey honey, I'm so hungry for your carrot right now."

Dominic replied, "Wait for me."

The attached photo showed Rosa in black fishnet bunny lingerie, sitting suggestively on the floor, with a fluffy white tail peeking behind her. Her gaze was seductive as she stared into the camera.

Seconds later, my phone rang.

Dominic's voice was breathless. "Sorry, Yvonne. A big client just came—"

I cut him off, giving him one last chance. "Dominic, do you remember what I said to you the day you proposed to me? If you ever fall for someone else, just tell me. I won't cling to you. But if you lie to me, I'll leave you forever."

Dominic suddenly felt uneasy. Gripping the phone, he hurriedly replied, "Yvonne, I only love you, and I'll never fall for someone else."

In that moment, the last remnants of my love for him vanished. I descended from the rooftop, leaving a signed divorce agreement on the VIP lounge chair.

Dominic Cruz, my first gift to you was freedom.

…

Late into the night, Rosa sent me a new photo every hour. She didn't stop until dawn.

"He took me all night, trying every position. I could barely get out of bed after that. Has he ever done that to you?"

Before I could finish reading, Dominic opened the front door. He saw me packing up my clothes.

Panicked, he asked, "Yvonne, why are you packing? Where are you going?"

"Just reorganizing for the season," I said casually.

Dominic immediately stepped forward and crouched down beside me with a smile. "Yvonne, it was wrong of me to let you go home alone because of the client. Let's go try on the wedding dress today, okay?"

I smiled back at him but hid my hand behind my back. I was clenching it so hard that my nails nearly broke my skin.

The bridal shop staff were already waiting at the entrance when we arrived. Seeing Dominic help me out of the car, they quickly approached, their voices laced with admiration.

"The gown was personally designed by Mr. Cruz. It's the most exquisite and luxurious piece in our collection. Embellished with 150 diamonds and 1,000 pearls, it symbolizes your everlasting love for each other."

But their happy chirps lasted barely three minutes. I saw that the place where my wedding dress was supposed to be displayed was empty. And there, Rosa was wearing my wedding dress.

"Ms. Kerr, you can't wear this." The shop manager carefully held up the hem of the gown. "This dress was custom-designed by Mr. Cruz for his wife."

Rosa's long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her smile was the perfect blend of guileless charm and feline cunning.

"I know, I know. But I just love this one," she said to the manager.

She was about to say more when she suddenly spotted Dominic and me standing not far away from her. Her expression shifted to one of surprise before settling into a smile. "Hello, Mr Cruz, Ms. Baird!"

She quickly approached me, reaching out to grab my hand. But then she paused when she noticed the lunchbox I was holding.

"Mr. Cruz, Ms. Baird, today marks the 1,000th day my boyfriend and I have been together. This wedding dress is absolutely gorgeous. It even has 1,000 pearls on it. Ms. Baird, you're not angry, are you? Sorry, I just couldn't resist trying it on."

Rosa flashed an apologetic smile at me.

Three months ago, on the very day I learned I had cancer, I received a WhatsApp message from Rosa for the first time.

It turned out they had already been together for 1,000 days—two years and nine months. And Dominic and I had only been married for three years. So, they’d been together for a long time.

No wonder the first thing Dominic did when he came home from work was shower and change his shirt. All those nights he claimed to be working late were spent in the arms of another.

I finally came to a decision after wavering for a while.

Well, there were only two days left anyway. Since Dominic liked to put on a show, I would just play along.

Dominic suddenly erupted in anger. "Take it off right now! You don't deserve a dress like this!"

The smile on Rosa's face instantly faded into a look of hurt. "Mr. Cruz, Ms. Baird isn't even angry—"

But Dominic only grew angrier. "Don't make me take it off for you!"

"Mr. Cruz, I'm sorry. I'll take it off right away." Her eyes welled up with tears, making her look pitiful indeed.

"That's not necessary. I don't want something that's already been tainted. Ms. Kerr, you can keep the dress if you like."

I randomly pointed to another dress, and the shop manager swiftly retrieved it for me. From start to finish, I didn't spare Rosa a glance. After all, if it weren't for Dominic, she wouldn't have dared to act so cocky in front of me.

"Wait here for me. I'll get your wedding dress off her," Dominic said to me.

With that, he forcefully grabbed Rosa's wrist and dragged her into the fitting room.

Everyone else fell silent and kept their heads down, afraid to get involved.

A long time passed, but he never returned.

My phone screen lit up with a new message.

"Come to the fitting room."

When I reached the fitting room door, I heard Dominic's low growl.

"You're not worthy of wearing the wedding dress I designed for Yvonne! You should know your place!"

"I only did it because I love you so much. My legs are still weak from last night. What should I do? My whole body is covered in your marks. Do you want to see them?" Rosa whimpered coquettishly.

Dominic's hoarse reply came through. "Don't covet what's not yours. My heart belongs only to Yvonne. As for the dress, you'll take it off in front of me. If you've damaged it, I'll make you pay with your body."

Then came the sound of fabric rustling and labored breathing.

"You even wore the bunny tail outside?"

Rosa giggled, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness. "You don't like it?"

The only response was Dominic's increasingly ragged breathing.

In the end, Dominic returned with the wedding dress, his expression apologetic.

"Yvonne, there's still time. I'll design a new one for you."

"No, it's okay. I'll wear the one I tried on earlier."

The next day, as I followed the staff to the Gemini Towers, Dominic called me.

"Yvonne, I have another surprise for you today," he said mysteriously.

As the canvas in the center of the banquet hall was slowly unveiled, it revealed the last painting my parents had left behind before they passed away.

All the hotel staff around me started whispering amongst themselves.

"Mr. Cruz is truly the epitome of a devoted husband. Five years ago, during the earthquake, he ignored everyone's warning and dug through the rubble with his bare hands to save Ms. Baird. He even nearly crippled his hands in the process.

"Every year on their anniversary, he holds a wedding ceremony at Gemini Towers. He's put so much effort into restoring this painting. How many men in the world would go this far for their wives?"

…

Even though I was leaving tomorrow, the fact that he had spent five years restoring the painting still moved me to tears.

Dominic tenderly reminisced with me. "Remember how all the adults laughed at me when I was little and told them I would marry you someday?"

Back then, he would give me all of his money, saying that a man's money should be entrusted to his wife for safekeeping.

I couldn't help but laugh and cry along with him as he recounted all of the memories we shared together.

Just then, his phone rang. Without even glancing at the screen, he declined the call. Unfortunately, the caller was persistent and kept calling again and again.

"You should answer it. It could be something urgent."

A flicker of irritation crossed Dominic's eyes. But in the end, he still stepped aside to take the call.

I couldn't hear what the person on the other end said, but Dominic's expression shifted slightly, and his gaze darkened with guilt.

"Yvonne, there's an emergency at the company. I'll see you at the wedding tomorrow."

I nodded and didn't call him out on his lies.

He leaned in to kiss me, then turned and left.

The moment he was gone, my phone buzzed with a message from Rosa. It was an invitation to a birthday party, and the location was none other than the Crystal Hall on the top floor of Gemini Towers.

When I saw the lively scene inside the hall, my legs felt heavy, making it hard to move. In addition to Dominic and Rosa, his friends were there too, and even his parents had come.

So this was why he hadn't invited them to our wedding. He told me it was because he wanted it to be just the two of us.

I watched helplessly as Dominic presented the same supposedly one-of-a-kind masterpiece painting to her.

His friends started cheering and stirring things up.

"Dominic, your missus sure is cultured. She doesn't care for jewelry but treasures fine art."

Dominic shot them a cold glare. "Watch what you're saying. I only have one missus, and she's not it."

The men quickly mimed zipping their lips.

"Don't worry, Dominic. We won't spill the beans. Your precious wife has no idea the painting was secretly moved here."

"Who can even tell the difference between the real thing and a fake?"

Tracy Spence, Dominic's mother, walked over and slid the family's heirloom bracelet onto Rosa's wrist. "Although you can't publicly acknowledge your relationship with Dominic, you're younger and more understanding than Yvonne, so I only see you as my true daughter-in-law."

I suddenly remembered a time from long ago when my parents had just passed away. Tracy had held me and said, "There, there. Dominic should hurry up and marry you, so you can be my daughter-in-law."

His friends also teased him. "He's totally love-struck, Yvonne. You're the only one we see as his wife."

For 1,000 days, they all silently helped Dominic hide the truth. I was the only one in the world who looked like a fool.

Dominic Cruz, the last trace of love between us disappeared today.

Ten minutes later, a black car stopped in front of me.

A man stepped forward. "Ms. Baird, the body is ready. The new phone and plane ticket are prepared as well. From now on, no one in the world will be able to find you."

"Send the fake body directly to the wedding venue tomorrow, and hand this phone to the groom personally."

What I left for Dominic wasn't a grand wedding but a bottomless abyss.

I wanted him to feel my torment again and again.

I wanted him to spend his entire life haunted by the thought that his wife, who was suffering from a terminal illness, was slowly walking toward death while he wallowed in another woman's arms.

I wanted him to know that today was our final goodbye.

After giving all my instructions, I took my new ID and got into an unregistered car.

"Driver, take me to the airport."