Main Story: Anya's POV

"Baby, why are you looking at me like that?" Eli asked, his voice laced with a hint of nervousness. "Why are you crying? Was the soup too hot?"

He pulled me into his arms, gently patting my back. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I shouldn't have blamed you.

"With my dream of marrying you just around the corner, I couldn't help but get cold feet. I disappeared for a few days, and I know it made you feel insecure. Can you understand where I'm coming from?"

The lie was flawless.

He gently kissed my forehead and whispered, "In just four days, it will be our wedding. I won't leave you again. We'll grow old together."

Inwardly, I knew that day would never arrive.

Eli wiped away the tears on my cheeks. "I'll go take care of the discharge paperwork for you."

He hadn't even bothered to take his phone with him, still playing the role of the "devoted lover".

The screen continued to light up with incoming notifications.

It was the same woman I had seen on Instagram just yesterday.

She'd sent a barrage of messages.

"Eli, I got home safely! Thank you for seeing me off."

"Could you send me an invitation to your wedding? I just want to see you happy."

"It's late, and I can't sleep. I made some soup. Can I bring it to you tomorrow morning?"

Eli replied to the last message, "Could you bring it now? Take it to the inpatient department at Pinebrook Hospital."

As I glanced at the thermos on the table, a wave of nausea washed over me.

"Are you sick, Eli? I'll stay and keep you company."

"I'm in the lobby."

The screen went dark.

As I stepped out of the hospital room, I saw Eli and the woman in a secluded corner of the lobby.

She sat there, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her eyes were slightly swollen, and she carried herself with a gentle, docile air.

I watched through the crowd as she gestured excitedly, laughing so hard that she nearly doubled over.

At one point, she gently nudged Eli's arm.

He responded by tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

From last night's kiss to today's affectionate gesture, it was clear that she had won Eli's heart.

After all, who could resist a sweet, thoughtful woman who loved so completely?

I lowered my gaze, a bitter smile forming at the corners of my lips.

As I turned to walk away, I caught sight of Carter in the dim yellow light.

He emerged from the shadows, his eyes glinting with disdain as they shifted toward Eli.

"So, is this your fiance?" he asked.

I met his gaze without flinching. "Mind your own business."

"Anya, why did you pull away from me back then?" he asked, staring at me.

After a decade spent pursuing him, this was all it amounted to.

How cruelly ironic.

I stayed silent. It was clear he couldn't admit he'd lost.

"Are you seriously going through with marrying him?" Carter asked sharply.

"That's none of your concern," I replied.

"I moved on from you a long time ago," I added nonchalantly.

As our paths crossed, he asked, "What if he betrays you? Will you still accept him?"

No. I couldn't.

My eyes fell to my clenched hands.

The ache would eventually subside.

Only three more days remained. I could make it through.

…

"I... I accidentally ripped the wedding dress," I whispered, my eyes locked onto Eli's. "This can't be a good sign, can it?"

He took my hand, his tone soft and reassuring. "Don't say that. It's just a dress. We've got plenty of other options.

"It's no big deal. We'll go pick out a new one tomorrow, okay?"

I had waited nearly a year for this dress. It had just arrived yesterday and was custom-designed by my favorite designer.

When I went for the fitting, Eli wasn't there.

But now, I didn't even want it anymore.

"Eli, if you're going to play this role so seriously... then I'll step into character as well," I thought.

The next day, we went to a high-end bridal shop in Sapphire Grove.

Naturally, none of the dresses fit. I'd known that from the start, yet I still asked Eli to spend the entire day with me shopping.

Sitting in a cafe, I gazed out the window. "What a disaster. I can't believe I ruined it all myself," I murmured, letting out a sigh.

Eli placed his coffee cup down. "It's fine. We still have time," he said nonchalantly.

I turned to face him. "If we can't find the right gown... maybe we should postpone the wedding."

His expression shifted in an instant.

Before I could even react, he was on his feet, the table tipping over.

The cups hit the floor, shattering into jagged pieces.

Main Story: Anya's POV

Eli instinctively shielded me. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head, trying to look innocent. "Why did you react like that?"

He pulled me into a tight embrace. I could hardly breathe.

"Please, don't joke about our marriage," he whispered. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day."

His voice deepened. "Don't downplay this, baby. I've waited three years for us to get here."

I managed a bitter smile.

This was clearly a script Eli had orchestrated all along.

From attending dress fittings to designing the invitations, he played his role to perfection. He guided me through every detail of the planning, raising my hopes higher with each step.

Once I was fully invested, he'd strike the final blow.

I was just going along with his performance.

So why did he look so on edge?

…

Later that night, we arrived home.

Eli grabbed my legs and pinned me against the door the moment it clicked shut. I barely had time to take off my shoes.

His breath scorched my skin. Each kiss was fierce and reckless, consuming me completely.

I turned my face slightly and whispered, "Eli, I'm not feeling well. Can we skip tonight?"

His body froze for a moment. In the silence that followed, he held me gently.

Resting his chin on my shoulder, he murmured, "Why don't you sit down for a bit? Once I finish showering, I'll whip up something for you."

His phone lay nearby. I couldn't resist picking it up.

One by one, messages from that young woman appeared on the screen.

"Eli, your invitation still hasn't arrived. I'm getting impatient."

"Your mom said I can come to the hospital tomorrow. I got the job! Yay!"

"From now on, I can leave work with you every day. I'm so happy…"

I quietly set the phone down and made my way to the study.

Flipping my diary open, I let my thoughts spill onto the page.

"3 Days Until the Wedding"

"The custom wedding dress I'd waited half a year for was ruined today. Eli and I scrambled to find last-minute replacements, but nothing fit. I've lost so much weight recently, but it's okay. Thinking about becoming his wife in just a few days fills me with happiness."

Turning back through the pages, I began filling in the days before.

"7 Days Until the Wedding"

"Eli vanished without a single word. At first, I was terrified something awful had happened. I spent the entire night calling everyone I could think of, but there was no trace of him anywhere. Eventually, I cried until my eyes were swollen shut. I'm starting to feel afraid. Does he really plan to not show up at all?"

"5 Days Until the Wedding"

"Eli returned like the storm never came. I kept silent about how hard those days were. What matters is that he's here now. Maybe some of it was my fault, but it's only because I care for him too much."

This "diary" held every ounce of my devotion.

I left it in the most obvious place, hoping Eli would notice.

…

That evening, Eli placed the order for the final wedding dress over the phone.

He told me he had arranged with the designer to have the new gown custom remade. The dress would be worn at our ceremony on the private island after the wedding.

I noticed the young woman had updated her social media.

"It's official! I'm finally a nurse. I get to stay by the person I love and see him every day. I'm so thrilled!"

She posted a candid photo of Eli in a mask, checking on a patient.

I screenshotted everything.

I opened my wedding diary and began to write.

"Just three days to go. Eli's deep in the wedding preparations, and so am I."

"While he's playing his role, I'm quietly playing mine."

I figured it was better to keep that last part to myself.

From the first step of planning to the final execution, I decided Eli should oversee every aspect of the wedding.

I wanted him to take charge of selecting the flowers and managing the schedule.

He had to be present in every single moment.

I told him I was drained and asked him to take over the meeting with the wedding team.

I placed my full trust in him, letting him know that every choice was his to make.

He went along with it without a second thought. I even saw a spark of excitement in his eyes.

Holding me close, he laughed softly. "Honey, a wedding this grand is definitely a one-time-only kind of thing."

I smiled and teased, "So, does that mean you're sticking around this time? With an event this big, it wouldn't be right if you weren't here."

After a pause, he held me even tighter. "How could I ever leave? I love you more than anything," he whispered.

But despite saying all that, Eli turned away and typed in the group chat, "This wedding's such a hassle. I can't wait for her to be alone that day."

At last, Eli's true feelings came to light.

I didn't respond. Instead, I casually suggested, "Let's send out another round of handwritten invitations to our closest friends."

In reality, the invitations had already been sent. I just wanted him to write them by hand.

While Eli picked up the pen, I focused on sealing the wax.

I asked him to write the following. "From dawn to dusk, every moment we spend together is filled with tenderness. It'll be a memory we cherish forever."

I looked at him and smiled. "This perfectly captures my love for you."

Without saying a word, Eli lowered his gaze and typed, "The wedding invitation will be sent to you tomorrow."

It was meant for that young woman.

She responded with a smiling emoji.

I reached for my diary again and began writing.

"2 Days Until the Wedding"

"We'll grow old together, won't we?"

Main Story: Anya's POV

That young woman posted another update.

"I'm ready to give myself to my crush. Do you think he'd go for it?"

The photo showed a set of alluring lingerie.

In the kitchen, Eli was busy cooking pasta.

His phone rang twice. When he picked it up, his eyes flickered toward me.

I sat in the living room, a smile curling on my lips as I watched him.

Eli untied his apron and walked over.

"There's an emergency consultation at the hospital, so I have to go. The meal's ready—go ahead and eat without me."

With a smile, I teased, "What's the big emergency? Please don't tell me it's another patient asking you out."

His eyes flickered for a moment.

He stepped closer and gently pinched my cheek. "What are you saying? It's just a last-minute call. I'll be back before you know it."

I knew it was another lie.

I reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "I don't feel well. Can you stay with me?"

"Where does it hurt?" he asked, nervously touching my forehead.

I pointed to the left side of my chest. "Right here."

Eli chuckled softly and kissed my forehead. "You little troublemaker. Quit teasing me. I promise I'll come back early to be with you."

With that, he closed the door behind him and stepped out.

We hadn't been intimate during this period. He must have been feeling restless.

I slipped on my coat and quietly followed his car.

For someone usually so sharp, Eli was surprisingly careless this time.

He'd rushed out without his keys and even left his glasses behind.

Without them, he was practically blind.

I waited in the hotel lobby for two long hours.

By 2:00 am, he still hadn't come out.

…

When Eli walked in, I kept my back turned to him.

The crisp sound of water running in the bathroom soon pierced the quiet.

My chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.

After a moment, he pulled back the covers and slipped into bed.

As he wrapped his arms around me from behind, I tried to pull away.

"Baby, I'm really tired tonight. Please don't push me away," he whispered.

His lips brushed against my hair. The faint, unfamiliar scent on his skin made me feel nauseous.

I gripped the edge of the blanket, my fingers shaking uncontrollably.

Noticing my unease, he asked softly, "What's wrong, Anya?"

He propped himself up. Seeing my pale face, his brows knitted in concern.

"You haven't seemed yourself lately. Are you hiding something from me?

"You don't have to bear this alone. Just promise me you won't keep it all inside, okay?"

Looking into his familiar but distant eyes, a lump caught in my throat.

"It's nothing… Maybe I'm just too anxious. The wedding is so close, after all."

Eli's voice softened. "No matter how messy or exhausting things get, I'm here with you. Don't be afraid. I'll take care of everything."

I remained silent.

He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "Have you ever thought about what life will be like after we're married?"

"No."

We were never going to reach the wedding day, after all.

"I used to believe marrying you would complete my life."

So why was he still planning to run away?

"I want to watch you brewing coffee in the kitchen. I'm excited for the day we have children—some who inherit your traits, and others who carry mine.

"No matter if it's spring, summer, fall, or winter, I want you by my side every single day.

"Why would you think I'd run away at the last moment? That could never happen. I've done everything to keep you close."

Eli's performance was flawless. I wouldn't be shocked if he believed it himself.

Unfortunately for him, I wasn't going to be fooled again.