"How could you rummage through my things without my permission?" Edgar panicked and dodged Jessica's question. "I'm already 18! You can't just barge into my room and go through my stuff!"

Furious, Jessica grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it to the floor. "That's not the point right now!"

The sound of the glass shattering echoed through the room, making Edgar flinch.

"Edgar, you've misunderstood Jess," Cooper interjected with feigned innocence. "She didn't go into your room. It was me. I didn't have any clothes to change into, and my clothes yesterday were…"

He paused deliberately before continuing, "I had no choice but to check your room for clothes to borrow. That's when I accidentally found the cancer diagnosis on your desk."

He was lying.

Edgar had locked the document away the very day he received it. In Cooper's version, it sounded as if Edgar had intentionally left it out in the open, waiting for someone to stumble upon it.

"Edgar, you're so young. How could you possibly have cancer?" Cooper's expression filled with sorrow and concern. "Be honest with me. Is the diagnosis real or just some prank?"

Edgar turned to look at Jessica and noticed her gaze was filled more with anger than worry. Before he returned home, Cooper must have said enough to convince her that Edgar was faking an illness just to gain her attention.

Edgar thought that perhaps this was for the best. At least his secret wouldn't come to light.

"It was a prank," he said softly. "I was just messing around with my friends. I didn't expect you to find—"

Before he could finish, Jessica suddenly stood up. "We're going to the hospital for a checkup. Now."

Whether it was a prank or not, they would find out at the hospital.

"Jess…" Edgar tried to resist, but her sharp glare silenced him instantly.

He knew Jessica too well. There was no way to avoid this.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, it was already midnight. Normally, only the emergency department would be operational at this hour, but Jessica had called the hospital director in advance.

Not daring to cross her, the director hastily arranged for doctors to conduct a full examination of Edgar.

Cancer screenings took at least two hours to process, and for Edgar, every second was torment.

He couldn't help but wonder, "If Jess finds out I'm dying, will she feel sad for me? Or maybe I'm just a burden to her. Jealous, twisted, and difficult. Maybe she's been wanting to get rid of me all along."

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally emerged with the report in hand. "Ms. Yale, the tests are complete. Mr. Lawrie's health is excellent; there's no sign of cancer at all."

Edgar was taken aback by the announcement. He couldn't believe that after enduring such agony, this was the outcome.

He turned sharply to look at Cooper. There was no doubt in his mind who had tampered with the results.

Cooper exhaled a long breath of relief and said, "Thank goodness. It's just a prank. Edgar is fine… Jessica and I can finally stop worrying."

Meanwhile, Jessica said nothing. Her gaze lingered on Edgar, and for the first time, she seemed to notice how frighteningly pale he was.

The once vibrant boy she cherished looked as if he were slowly withering away.

"Although Mr. Lawrie has no cancer, the test results show that his body is extremely weak, and he's severely malnourished."

Noticing Jessica's doubts, the doctor added calmly, "Has he been dieting recently to lose weight? Dieting for fitness is common, but doing so to this extent is harmful.

"Especially in your case, Mr. Lawrie, where it's already affecting your health. Just look at how pale your face is. It's no wonder your sister thought you might have cancer."

Jessica's expression darkened instantly.

Edgar indeed hadn't been eating well lately, which was understandable. Being sick, coupled with Jessica's coldness and disdain, had left him with no appetite or energy to take care of himself.

But to Jessica, it painted a very different picture.

"You've been starving yourself just to fake being sick and trick me?" she asked.

Her icy gaze bore into him as she scolded, "Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you so I'll agree to be with you? Edgar, can't you stop this ridiculous behavior?"

"I didn't…" He knew she wouldn't believe him, but he still tried desperately to deny it. "I really didn't."

Yet his denial sounded feeble against the cold, hard facts.

Jessica looked at him with profound disappointment. "How did I end up raising you into such a person?"

At that moment, Edgar felt his heart break into pieces.

Moments later, Jessica walked away with Cooper and left him at the hospital.

For the next week, she didn't speak to him at all. Edgar tried several times to mend their relationship, but every attempt failed. It wasn't until the day before Jessica and Cooper's wedding that he finally spoke to her.

"Jess, you're getting married tomorrow. Are you still not willing to talk to me?" Edgar's expression was heart-wrenchingly sorrowful.

Jessica's gaze remained indifferent. "Have you given up yet?"

Edgar's eyes turned redder as he nodded. "Yes, I've given up. I swear I won't lie to you this time."

He wasn't lying because he was about to die. Once his life ended, so would their heart, right?

Jessica glanced at his eyes, clearly unconvinced. Nevertheless, her heart softened in the end. After all, she'd raised him. She couldn't possibly ignore him forever.

"Come to my wedding tomorrow. Give us your sincere blessing, and I'll forgive you. But don't pull any stunts. No matter what you do, I'm marrying Cooper. Nothing will change that."

Edgar lowered his gaze. "I won't cause trouble."

His compliance and calmness tugged at Jessica's heart. A sudden irritation swelled in her chest. She averted her gaze, unable to look at Edgar any longer.

However, Edgar spoke again, "Jess, I'll attend your wedding. But can you join me for dinner after that?"

Jessica and Cooper's wedding was scheduled to conclude before noon.

"Tomorrow is my birthday. You've always spent my birthday with me. Could you do it one last time? I know it's selfish to ask this on your wedding day, but I won't interrupt the ceremony.

"The wedding should be over at 4:00 pm. Just come and have a piece of cake with me and wish me a happy birthday. That's all I ask for."

Jessica couldn't bring herself to refuse such a humble request. So, she answered stiffly, "Fine."

That night, Edgar barely slept. He kept his eyes open until dawn, then carefully prepared himself to attend Jessica's wedding.

The wedding was lively, and nearly all the elites were present.

Cooper was dressed in a custom white suit and looked blissful as he held Jessica by the waist.

Jessica had changed into her wedding gown. Edgar thought she was simply stunning. Elegant, regal, and poised.

Time seemed to have favored her, leaving not a single mark on her face. 13 years had passed, yet she was just as beautiful as the day she had pulled him out of the wardrobe all those years ago.

His gaze lingered on her to indulge in a few more stolen moments. Only then did he step forward and present his wedding gift with both hands.

"Jess, congratulations on your marriage," Edgar said sincerely.

He truly wished her happiness and good health in the years ahead.

Jessica accepted the gift while casting a searching look at Edgar. Although she said nothing, a tumultuous emotion—something she couldn't allow to surface—seemed to churn wildly in her eyes.

Unfortunately, Edgar didn't see it.

After presenting the gift, he left the wedding quietly as he simply couldn't bear to witness Jessica marrying Cooper with his own eyes.

He didn't have that kind of strength. While he genuinely wished Jess well, he would never accept Cooper.

After leaving the wedding, Edgar went to the cemetery, where he laid one final bouquet of fresh flowers on his parents' graves.

"Mom, I think I finally understand why you chose to end your life. Living is so painful. Why didn't you take me with you? You hated Dad so much, but you took him. You said I was the one you loved most, yet you left me here alone."

The world was so vast, and suddenly he felt unbearably lonely. It seemed that no one had ever truly chosen him and loved him unwaveringly. Not even his mother.

"Never mind. If even you couldn't love me, Jess has already done more than enough. If you and Dad are watching from above, don't bless me. Bless her instead."

With that, Edgar bent down, planted a kiss on the gravestone, and turned to leave. He went to a restaurant and patiently waited for Jessica to join him for what would be his final birthday.

Fireworks erupted in the sky in the distance, their light bright enough to display large characters that read, "Congratulations Jessica and Cooper on your marriage!"

How extravagant. But admittedly, it was romantic.

Jessica was the type to spare no effort to pamper the person she loved. It was just a pity that the person she loved was never him.

As time ticked by, the laughter and noise from the direction of the wedding continued.

Even in the restaurant, people were animatedly discussing the event and marveling over how Cooper's wedding attire cost billions, adorned with real diamonds, and how Jessica had willingly splurged to invite his favorite singer to perform at their wedding.

Edgar listened quietly. The world was so vibrant, yet he was alone and isolated.

When it was finally 3:00 pm, he wondered if Jessica would be arriving soon.

An hour later, the appointed time had passed, yet Jessica was still nowhere to be seen. Perhaps, he thought, something had delayed her.

At 5:00 pm, the wedding had long since ended, and the restaurant patrons had stopped talking about it. However, Edgar still didn't see Jessica.

His phone buzzed with a notification. It was an Instagram post from Cooper.

"The wedding's done, and our honeymoon starts now. First stop, Sadores. Boarding the plane."

The photo showed two stacked plane tickets. The top one bore Cooper's name, and Edgar didn't need to guess to know whose name the bottom one bore.

The flight was scheduled to depart at 5:30 pm. At that moment, Edgar finally understood that Jessica wasn't coming.

The cake on the table had begun to melt. Edgar picked it up, his motions wooden and lifeless, and brought a piece to his mouth.

Why was the frosting salty? It tasted awful.

He forced himself to finish the cake, paid the bill, and left.

"Edgar, I wish you an unhappy birthday. May your death bring an end to your pain."

That was his birthday wish for himself.

Edgar drove to the cryonics lab. Inside, the staff were already waiting for his arrival. No one celebrated his birthday, but at least there were people to witness his death, even if they were strangers.

Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a letter and handed it to Harry. "If someone comes looking for me, give them this letter. If no one does… throw it away."

Nothing important was written anyway.

Harry accepted the letter. "I'll keep it safe."

Then, Edgar turned and walked toward the capsule that would become his coffin. He lay inside, just as he used to hide in the closet as a child whenever his parents fought to seek comfort in the cramped space.

The world was too vast and too complicated. He couldn't cope with it. So, he returned to his "wardrobe."

"All systems ready. Begin the cooling process."

At Harry's command, cold vapor enveloped Edgar, and he lost consciousness instantly.

Goodbye, Jess. Congratulations on your wedding.