Once upon a time, Kayla thought she and Winston would be together until the day they died. She would never have expected them to take separate paths so soon.

After retrieving her diagnosis report, she sees him holding another woman in his arms. A final tear trickles down her face.

She's tired and doesn't want to use whatever time she has left to argue with him.

She makes the arrangements for everything that will happen after her death. Then, she prepares a final gift for Winston.

From this day onward, she'll leave for the afterworld while he remains on Earth. They won't see each other again.

Kayla Greenfield had prepared herself for this moment, but hearing the doctor say she had little time left still hit her like a ton of bricks.

She couldn't bring herself to accept it. "I still have so much to do. Is there any other option than staying in the hospital?"

Another coughing fit hit her, and when she pulled her handkerchief away, it was splattered with specks of blood.

The doctor looked like he was in a tough spot. "We can prescribe a strong medication that will give you a temporary boost, but you will only last a week at most."

"A week… that should be enough…" Kayla muttered, lowering her head with a wry smile.

A week would be enough to get her affairs in order before she passed.

Kayla left the consultation room with the prescription. A familiar voice reached her ears as she passed the obstetrics exam room.

"Doctor, is that for real?"

Driven by instinct, Kayla stopped and looked over her shoulder. The door was slightly open, and she caught a glimpse of the people inside the exam room.

It was supposed to be Winston Atwood's working hours, but instead, he was in the ward, smiling joyfully as he hugged a young woman. He rested his hand on her belly.

"Tiff, you're pregnant! This is for real!" he exclaimed.

Tiffany Sullivan shyly leaned into Winston, Kayla's husband. They looked like they were madly in love.

"Win, we're having a baby. We're going to be parents," she said.

The sight of it pierced Kayla's heart.

A sharp, metallic taste rose in her throat, and she coughed violently, spitting up fresh blood. She dabbed at her mouth with a tissue before sitting on a bench in the hallway, trying to catch her breath.

A woman nearby kindly offered her a bottle of water. "Here, take this. Drink up and take a breather."

The woman spotted the wedding ring on Kayla's finger and asked, "Where's your husband? You're so sick. Why isn't he here looking after you?"

Kayla managed a weak, tired smile. "He's tied up with work."

The woman sighed and muttered about how the younger generation didn't know how to care for their families.

Kayla lowered her gaze, took out her phone, and messaged Winston, "Where are you?"

Winston immediately checked his phone in the exam room.

After a moment, Kayla received a flood of replies.

"I'm in a meeting at the office, babe. What's up?"

"I can't wait to get off work and see you."

"Do you want that strawberry cake from Northvale? I'll get it and bring it home for you, okay?"

Kayla found herself marveling at how unpredictable people could be.

Winston had a mistress carrying his child in secret, but he continued to shower Kayla with sweet nothings. Was it really possible to draw a line between love and carnality?

But none of that mattered to her now.

She didn't reply to his text. Instead, she left the hospital.

The sky was a faded gray, and a drizzle hung in the air. Kayla stood on the sidewalk, umbrella in hand, staring at the diagnosis report.

A bitter smile crossed her face as she thought about having just a week to live. That was enough for her to say goodbye to this world and Winston.

Her phone died while she was on her way home. As soon as she reached home and turned her phone back on, it was bombarded with messages from her friends.

"Kay, you're so lucky! If I had a husband like Mr. Atwood, I'd wake up smiling every day!"

"Damn, Kay, your husband is something else! Everyone's buzzing about how he's flaunting his love for you!"

"He dropped a fortune just to make his wife happy—that's the most romantic thing ever!"

Confused, Kayla clicked on the news link. It turned out that Winston had paid 50 million dollars at an auction today for a white gold, diamond-studded barrette.

During a media interview, he gave a small smile and said, "There's no special reason. I just thought my wife would love it when I saw the barrette."

That interview clip quickly took over every media headline and trending list in less than half an hour. Tags like "Atwood Group CEO's Lavish Spending", "Mr. and Mrs. Atwood's Fairytale Love Story", and "Men Who Treat His Wife Like a Queen Wins" dominated the feeds.

Kayla cracked a bitter smile. She knew the truth about their marriage all too well.

If this had happened a year ago, she might've been swept away by Winston's extravagant gesture. But now, she felt nothing at all.

Last Christmas, Kayla and Winston went to Atwood Manor to spend the holidays. One night, while Winston was showering before bed, his phone rang.

Kayla answered the phone and politely asked, "Hello, who's calling? This is Win's wife. He can't take the call right now. Is there something you need?"

There was no response on the other end. After a moment, the caller hung up.

It was meant to be nothing worth remembering, but something about it bothered Kayla, and she couldn't ignore the unease it caused.

She traced the number, only to find it was registered under Winston's name. How could he be calling himself from a different number?

Kayla's suspicions grew, and she kept digging until the private investigator she hired sent her a batch of photos.

Winston had declared his undying love for her, but the photos showed him in a tight embrace under a streetlamp with a young, attractive woman, kissing her passionately.

Kayla's heart went cold when she realized Winston had been seeing a mistress all along.

His mistress, Tiffany, was a minor actress under Atwood Group. She never made a name for herself, yet her "lucky breaks" kept coming.

Kayla could easily tell whose influence was behind that. It turned out that the person who was sweet and loving with her was cheating on her.

She didn't get a wink of sleep that night. Flashbacks of her time with Winston kept running through her mind.

Kayla was Amethyst City's celebrated beauty, with admirers flocking her door. But only Winston had persistently courted her for five years.

He showered her with love and affection, and eventually, she opened up to him and married him.

On their wedding day, he blanketed every street in Amethyst City with white roses. Everyone couldn't stop talking about their romantic love.

Kayla remembered how Winston had taken her arm. His voice was shaking with excitement as he vowed to stay by her side forever before both families.

She couldn't figure out how things got to this point. How could Winston go back on his word after promising to grow old with her?

Winston returned at 8:00 pm. He brought the strawberry cake Kayla loved the most.

He walked in, spreading his arms wide toward her.

Kayla was on the couch.

"Kay, I'm home."

Winston wrapped her in his arms, pressing his face into her neck and inhaling deeply as if he couldn't get enough of her scent.

Suddenly, he lifted his head. "You're not feeling well, are you?"

Winston had a keen sense. He must've picked up on the faint trace of hospital antiseptic on her.

Kayla gave a slight smile. "It's nothing. I caught a cold, so I went to the hospital for some medicine. It's nothing serious."

Winston headed straight for the kitchen. It didn't take long before he returned, holding a warm cup of ginger tea with honey he'd made himself.

"I should've looked after you better," he said, looking at her with a broken heart. "It's gotten chilly, and I didn't do enough to look after you."

Then, he looked over his shoulder and told the butler to stoke the fireplace.

Kayla took a few small sips of the tea and set it down. She wasn't in the mood for it.

Winston pulled out a small box, almost as if he were offering her something precious. Inside lay a beautifully crafted white gold, diamond-studded barrette, its shine catching the light.

"Let me put this on you." He carefully slid the barrette into her hair, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before pulling her into a passionate hug. "I knew it. It fits you perfectly."

Kayla noticed a bright kiss mark on the inside of his collar. She didn't bring it up or question him.

Instead, she looked up at him. "I've got a gift for you, too."

"Really?" Winston's eyes sparkled like a kid who'd been promised candy.

Kayla hummed and nodded. "Not today, but in a few days. I want it to be a surprise."

Winston buried his face in her shoulder again and nodded. "Sure, Kay—whatever you say."

Kayla glanced at her handbag and gave a wry smile. Her diagnosis report lay quietly inside.

"Winston, I hope you'll like this surprise when the time comes," she thought.

Winston was already dressed for work when Kayla woke up the next morning.

She knitted her brow, rubbing her eyes. She'd been sleeping longer each day since her diagnosis. Perhaps someday, she'd fall asleep and never wake up again.

Winston was completely oblivious.

Noticing she was awake, he leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. "Sorry, did I wake you? Go back to sleep if you're still tired. I'll tell everyone not to bother you. I'm off to work now. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

After Winston left, Kayla got out of bed to freshen up.

The memory of the kiss mark she'd seen on him last night made her stomach turn. She rubbed the spot on her forehead where he'd just kissed her until her skin turned red.

While having breakfast, Kayla checked the news on her phone, as she always did. Entertainment news wasn't really her thing, but one headline grabbed her attention—it was about Tiffany and a new drama.

Tiffany was not famous or had any notable roles, yet she landed the lead role over several other top actresses.

The Facebook community roasted her, accusing her of shamelessly using her connections to get ahead.

Tiffany wasn't backing down. She put up a gutsy post. "Yeah, my man's loaded and got my back. Anyone got an issue with that?"

She posted a picture of an extravagantly dressed man putting a diamond necklace around her neck. The diamonds shone brilliantly. The man's face was hidden, but his hands had defined knuckles.

Kayla knew it was Winston as soon as she saw the watch he was wearing. It was the one she gave him for his birthday last year. She frowned a little and suddenly lost her appetite.

After breakfast, Kayla decided not to call the driver. Instead, she took a cab alone to Southhill, home to the largest cemetery in Amethyst City.

Her parents were long gone, and with no family left, she had to handle her final resting place.

A cemetery staff greeted her and handed her a hot cup of coffee. "No problem. We have plenty of plots available. If you don't mind me asking, Ms. Greenfield, is this for an older relative?"

Kayla shook her head. "No, it's for me."

The staff froze in disbelief.

Kayla ended up selecting a plot with great sun exposure. The winters in Amethyst City were brutal, and she didn't want to be stuck shivering underground when she was gone.

After taking care of everything, Kayla returned to Atwood Villa. Upon entering, she caught sight of Winston's shoes in the entryway.

"He's back?" she asked casually.

The butler hesitated. "Yes, Mrs. Atwood. Mr. Atwood's home. His coworker gave him a lift. He's in the bedroom now."

"His coworker?"

The butler nodded. "Yeah, a young lady."

Kayla paused, then quickly collected herself. "Got it. You can go now."

After sending the household staff away, she stood by the door to the bedroom she shared with Winston.

Tiffany's sweet and syrupy voice drifted out from inside. "Oh, stop it. Be gentle, or you'll hurt the baby."

Winston chuckled, his voice deep. "Guess this is your fault for seducing me. Come here, let me get a better look…"

Next came a series of sounds that were hard to bear.

That was Kayla and Winston's bedroom, but he was making out with Tiffany inside.

Kayla stood by the door, feeling her blood run cold from head to toe. The coldness stung, and it felt like her heart was being torn in two.

She wasn't sure how long it had been, but Winston finally pulled away from Tiffany, looking pleased.

Tiffany grabbed the barrette Kayla had left on the bedside table and pouted at Winston. "Win, you've given her such a nice thing. I want something, too."

Winston's expression hardened, and he snatched the barrette from her hand. "Don't go after what's not yours. You can have anything else, but not this."

Kayla overheard him outside the door and found it painfully ironic. Just moments ago, Winston was all over Tiffany, but now he acted like a devoted husband.

Kayla wondered where his heart truly lay. She knocked, and suddenly, the room went quiet.

"Who's that?" Winston asked, acting like nothing had happened.

"It's me," Kayla said flatly.

She heard quick footsteps coming closer, and the door flew open.

"Kay?" Winston took her hand, his face full of concern. "Where have you been?"

"M-Mrs. Atwood." Tiffany looked startled.

Before Kayla could ask anything, Winston casually introduced Tiffany. "This is someone I work with. I drank way too much tonight with a client and couldn't drive. She was heading the same way, so she gave me a ride."

Kayla looked up at him. "Is that so?"

As soon as she walked into the bedroom, she noticed everything—the messy sheets beneath the blanket, Winston's shirt buttoned up wrong, and the fresh scratch on his inner forearm.

Every little detail shouted his betrayal in her face.

Winston's eyes met Kayla's, and he froze. He couldn't place it, but something felt different about her.

"Yeah," he replied, pulling her into his arms. "I passed up all their invites so I could be back with you sooner."

"Mr. Atwood, you've had quite a few drinks. How about I whip you up a hangover remedy?" Tiffany suggested.

Kayla glanced over her shoulder and caught Tiffany giving her an unmistakable look of provocation.

Winston shot Tiffany a cold stare. "That's not needed. Why are you still sticking around?"

Tiffany's expression stiffened, her voice laced with hurt. "S-Sorry for interrupting. I'll go now."

She grabbed her purse and hurried out, her steps heavy with frustration.

Kayla watched Winston. He was holding her, but his eyes followed Tiffany as she walked away.

"I'm tired. I'm heading for a shower," she said, pulling away from Winston. She stopped at the sight of the bed. "Get the housekeeper to change these sheets."

Winston looked flustered.

"They smell like alcohol from you. I won't be able to sleep peacefully," she added.

Winston breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Okay."

Kayla couldn't sleep a wink that night. The thought of Winston and Tiffany having sex in their bed made her stomach churn.

The day after, she found something even more repulsive.

Winston headed to work like usual in the morning, and Kayla started packing her things.

Suddenly, her phone lit up with a message from Tiffany. "Ms. Greenfield, we need to talk."

Kayla thought about ignoring it, but Tiffany wouldn't stop messaging her.

"I'm sure you can tell by now, right? Win and I are more than just friends."

"He's totally into me, and there's no room for you in his life."

"It'd be better for everyone if you just stepped aside."

"I bet you didn't know this, but when you came home yesterday, he was all over me, begging for sex."

Next, Kayla received several photos of them getting it on in the bedroom, the car, and the office. She felt so sick that she bolted to the bathroom and threw up until she could barely see straight.

Her condition had gotten worse. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and stumbled back to the bedroom.

Kayla's gaze landed on the white gold, diamond-studded barrette resting on the bedside table, and she teared up.

Winston's love for her burned like fireworks—unpredictable and gone too soon. All the others saw were the beautiful sparks, while she was the only one close enough to see the ashes they left behind.

Kayla picked up her phone and called the auction house. "Hello, I've got something I'd like to donate."