Bryan and I spent five years together.

No matter how bitter or exhausting it got, I never uttered a single complaint and stayed by his side through thick and thin.

He knew all too well how deeply I loved him, and he refused to believe that I would ever leave him.

I knew his love ran deep in his bones, too.

If he knew everything, he would have never allowed me to trade my life for his.

To save him, I had to steel my heart and pretend I had had enough.

I had to act like I was tired of the endless hardship that I faced by his side. I had to pretend like I was feeling hopeless with him.

I told him I was sick of the cheap medicine and only a plain toast a day.

Such a life was making me frustrated.

I told him I had had enough of it all.

I still remember the day when I told him.

The boy who had always been strong and never even flinched from hardship or bloodshed shed tears for the first time.

He signed the divorce papers as he sobbed.

I wrote my name on the organ donation agreement.

After the surgery, I left Bryan for good with shame in my heart.

I returned to the rented apartment where we had lived together for five years.

I quietly waited for death, which I would embrace with my willing hands.

I never imagined I would see Bryan ever again.

He was drifting further away. He had become who he had always dreamed of being.

But I could never go back.

As I watched his confident demeanor on the news, a pang of bitterness suddenly welled up inside me.

Then, I felt a touch of relief.

The ringing of my phone interrupted my memories.

I answered it. It was from the bank.

They informed me that the previous transfer of $200,000 was a clerical error.

I must return the funds immediately, or else I would face criminal charges.

I hung up and smiled bitterly. I was at a loss for words.

After a moment’s silence, I called my best friend and asked her to find me a job to repay the debt.

Bryan hated me that much. He knew that someone like me could only pay him back in installments.

He would gladly accept it and watch me work myself to death to pay it off.

Due to my heart condition, my body felt weak. This made it impossible for me to work many jobs.

I could only survive on occasional odd jobs.

My best friend, Beryl Smith, knew of my health issues and found me a job as a banquet waitress.

The work was relatively easy. I could earn $500 a day.

As I slipped into the waitress uniform, put on my mask, and served drinks at the banquet, I saw Bryan once more.

He wore an expensive suit and was standing tall with an imposing presence.

Jade glided in an elegant evening gown and radiated grace and charm.

Arm in arm, the two looked like the perfect couple. They were adored and admired by everyone around them.

I glanced at them once and immediately lowered my head.

Bryan, who was holding a glass of wine, did not recognize me. Just as I was about to turn away, Jade spoke up.

“What kind of service is this? Didn’t you see that you spilled wine on my gown?”

I paused mid-step. Only then did I notice a patch of dampness on the hem of Jade’s gown.

I said nothing, simply lowered my head, and dabbed at the stain on Jade’s gown with a tissue.

Bryan watched me. His brow slightly furrowed, and his lips pressed into a straight line.

Malice shone in Jade’s eyes as she suddenly kicked me hard in the chest.

A sharp pain shot through me as I collapsed to the floor. I could not stifle my cry of agony.

“Don’t you dare touch me with those filthy hands! Security, throw her out!”

Jade’s face was twisted in rage, yet the smugness in her smirk was impossible to hide.

Though only my eyes were visible, in that fleeting moment of eye contact, Bryan recognized me.

His lips moved as if to speak. A flicker of pain shone in his eyes. It was then replaced by nothing but mockery.

He raised a hand to halt the security guard, then ripped off my mask.

“Aria! Won’t you even say hello to your ex-husband?”

Jade feigned surprise when she recognized me and hastily pulled me to my feet.

“Ms. Lewis, why are you here?! You’re Bryan’s ex-wife! Why are you working as a waitress here?”

It was as if someone had pressed mute on the grand hall. Silence fell in an instant. No one made a sound.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on me.

Then, the wave of mockery crashed on me.

“I heard that Mr. Abbott’s ex-wife ditched him for money when he hit rock bottom…”

“Ha! Serves her right!”

“Abandoning Mr. Abbott and ending up as a waitress? Good for her!”

Someone overturned a glass of red wine over my head.

Immediately, wine poured in from all directions.

Glass after glass shattered against my body.

The dark crimson wine mingled with bright red blood and pooled on the floor.

Clearly, those eager to get Bryan’s favor were ready to express their anger on his behalf.

Blood trickled down my forehead and across my cheeks.

Yet, I felt no pain and remained silent.

Bryan stared at me. His eyes were cold and unyielding.

“Aria, why aren’t you saying anything? Do we need to pay even to speak to you?”

Bryan sneered coldly, and a wave of derision rippled through the room.

“You came here as a waitress just to borrow money from me, didn’t you? I’ll grant your wish!”

He waved his hand, ordered someone to bring over a dozen bottles of premium red wine, and had them uncorked.

“Finish all this wine, and I’ll give you $300,000.”

He flung the money to the floor, where it lay against the wine-stained floor.

A coldness settled over Bryan’s face that just would not go away.

Everyone in the room looked at me mockingly as the spectacle unfolded.

Ever since the artificial heart transplant, my body had grown weaker by the day. Even the slightest bit of activity was beyond my grasp.

Simple running and jumping became impossible. A few extra steps would leave me gasping for breath.

Even the normal amount of alcohol that other people enjoyed could cause my artificial heart to fail.

I lifted my head to meet Bryan’s gaze and forced out a smile. “I suppose that means I won’t have to repay the $200,000.”

Bryan froze in shock. His eyes were blazing with fury beneath the bone-chilling cold.

He gritted his teeth and snapped, “Fine!”

When I heard his reply, I smiled faintly. Then, I grabbed a bottle and downed it in one gulp.

My body had long been pushed beyond its limits, and the doctor had warned me against even a drop of alcohol.

My mouth burned, and I retched. I almost threw up.

I forced down the discomfort and swallowed the liquor. Then, I downed bottle after bottle.

Everyone watched this spectacle in repulsion.

Bryan’s face grew increasingly dark and gloomy.

I finished another bottle and reached for more. Bryan could not hold back anymore. He grabbed my hand.

“Aria, is money really that important? Would you die without it?!”

Staring into his bloodshot eyes, I nodded.

“You’re right. Without it, I would really die.”

He pushed me away in rage.

“Fine! Then, drink it all! Drink until you’re satisfied!”

My whole body felt weighed down and heavy, as if I was tied to a boulder.

The artificial heart in my chest seemed to have stopped beating.

I smiled faintly, took a shallow breath, and grabbed another bottle to pour it down my throat.

Bryan, unable to bear it any longer, wrenched the bottle from my hand with a beastly growl, “Enough!”

I collapsed. I was unable to support myself any longer.

Fine shards of glass pierced my skin and stained the floor crimson.

Hearing the commotion, my best friend Beryl rushed over in a panic. She held me and looked horrified.

She shouted at Bryan, “Aria gave you her heart! She relies on an artificial heart now. She can’t drink! She’ll die! Do you even understand that?!”