"Jamie, you're here." Claire's expression transformed instantly from storm clouds to sunshine.

She took Jamie's hand affectionately. "You're always so thoughtful. So much better than some people," she said, shooting me a pointed look.

"Claire, you're too kind," Jamie replied. "Even though Elias and I broke up, we're still friends. You've always treated me like a daughter."

She then held an orange slice to Claire's lips. "Try this. I just cut it. It's really sweet."

Claire beamed, accepting the fruit. The look she gave me grew even more disgusted.

"Look at Jamie," she said. "She's so considerate. She actually knows how to care for people.

"Not like you. All you do is work all day. You can't even be bothered to peel an apple for me. If Elias had married Jamie, I'd have grandchildren running around by now!"

A flash of smugness crossed Jamie's face, though she quickly masked it with feigned concern. "Claire, don't say that. Myra has sacrificed so much for this family."

She then turned to me with a sweet, innocent smile. "Myra, don't take it personally. Claire just speaks her mind.

"Actually, Elias was just telling me how guilty he feels. You've given up so much to take care of him, even your dream of traveling."

She blinked, all wide-eyed innocence. "Didn't you always want to see the aurora in Svalgard? How come you still haven't gone after all these years?"

I stared at her without answering. Five years ago, when Elias was first diagnosed, I had already bought my ticket to Svalgard. I was finally going to fulfill my college dream.

But I canceled that ticket for him without hesitation. I gave up chasing what I wanted because Elias had held my hand and cried, saying he couldn't bear to be without me.

Now that dream was coming out of his ex-girlfriend's mouth like a punchline to a joke.

Claire scoffed. "The aurora? What a waste of money! She'd be better off spending that on supplements for my son!"

"Exactly." Elias appeared out of nowhere, casually draping his arm around Jamie's shoulders.

"Jamie's right," he said. "Don't stress yourself out so much. You don't need to worry about money. Jamie and I already discussed it."

He looked at me, his tone casual and matter-of-fact. "Jamie knows this amazing investor. I'm going to put our savings into it. She says we can double it in six months."

I froze.

Our savings were what I had scraped together over years of brutal hours at my studio. That money was meant for the down payment on our house, renovations, and his kidney transplant.

And now he wanted to hand it over to his ex-girlfriend for some investment scheme?

"Elias." I took a deep breath. "That money is for our house and your transplant—"

"I know," he cut me off with a frown, impatience creeping into his voice. "But there's a better way to grow it now, isn't there?"

He continued, "Jamie says it's a sure thing! When the money doubles, we'll buy a bigger place outright. Can't you think bigger for once?"

"Exactly, Myra," Jamie chimed in, leaning against Elias, her voice syrupy sweet. "I'm trying to help you both. I can't believe you don't trust me. That money's just sitting there doing nothing when it could be working for you."

Claire jumped in immediately. "Jamie's absolutely right! Myra, stop being so ungrateful! Elias makes the decisions. What gives you the right to question him? That's my son's money, and he'll do whatever he wants with it!"

I stared at the absurd scene unfolding before me, feeling like I was watching someone else's life.

"Elias." I looked him in the eye, enunciating each word carefully. "Do you remember last month when I wanted to upgrade my design computer? It cost 20 thousand dollars, and you said it was too expensive. You told me to make do with the old one.

"Yesterday I wanted to buy a 20-dollar bouquet of lilies for the house, but you said I was wasting money, that I didn't understand what being frugal means."

"But now you want to take all our savings—that is over a million dollars—and hand it to your ex-girlfriend for some investment?" I asked.

My voice was calm, but all three of them visibly stiffened.

Elias looked like I'd struck a nerve. He pushed Jamie aside and pointed his finger in my face.

"Myra!" he shouted. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? You think there's something going on between us? Jamie and I are just friends! She's trying to help us. You're being completely unreasonable!

"A computer just needs to work. Why does it have to be expensive? And lilies? You can't eat them. They wilt in a few days! Grow up, will you? Stop obsessing over every little thing!"

"Every little thing?" I repeated.

Suddenly, I wanted to laugh. So five years of sacrifice, of careful devotion, amounted to nothing more than petty concerns in his eyes.

"Yes! Every little thing!" Elias' voice grew more righteous. "We're getting married soon. We have decades ahead of us. Can you think long-term for once?

"Stop acting like some nagging wife, checking my phone, questioning how I spend money! I'm exhausted trying to hold this family together, and you're still not satisfied?"

Claire immediately rushed to shield her son, glaring daggers at me. "Look what you've done! You've upset Elias! His health is already fragile. If something happens to him because of this, can you live with yourself?

"A computer and some flowers. You actually have the nerve to bring that up? So what if you're a kidney match? Donating an organ makes you think you can control my son?"

Her voice rose, shrill and cutting. "Listen here, Myra. Don't think having that kidney gives you power over this family! The Barretts don't need you that badly! If you ruin my son's chance at this investment over something so petty, I'll make you regret it!"

Jamie stood to the side, playing peacemaker while fanning the flames with every word.

"Claire, please calm down," she said. "I'm sure Myra didn't mean it that way."

She then turned to me, eyes brimming with tears, the picture of wounded innocence. "Myra, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn't mentioned the investment, you two wouldn't be fighting.

"I just saw how worried Elias was about money and wanted to help. I didn't mean anything by it."

Tears slid down her cheeks, delicate and pitiful.

Elias immediately pulled her into his arms, his voice tender. "It's not your fault, Jamie. Don't cry. This is on me."

He then looked up at me, his expression filled with disappointment and disgust. "Myra, look what you've done to Jamie. She's trying to help us, and you treat her with nothing but suspicion! What kind of person are you? How can you be so cruel? I was wrong about you!"

I stood there watching them hold each other, watching Claire's face twisted with contempt and distrust. And in that moment, I understood. I'd been wrong from the start.

I shouldn't have given up my dreams. I shouldn't have poured everything I had into this. I shouldn't have believed a man who promised he'd cherish me forever.

And I definitely shouldn't have agreed to donate my kidney.

"Fine." The word came out soft.

They all froze. I lifted my head and gave them a smile they couldn't quite read.

"Do whatever you want with the money. As for the house, I'll go along with whatever you decide, as long as it makes you happy."

Elias and Claire exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with the smug satisfaction of victors.

"That's more like it," Claire said with a sniff. "If you'd been this agreeable from the start, we wouldn't have had this problem."

Elias visibly relaxed. He let go of Jamie and walked over to me.

"Myra, I know you're upset, but I'm doing this for our future," Elias said, his tone softening slightly. "Once we make money, you can have whatever computer you want, as many flowers as you want. I'll buy them all for you."

He then reached for my hand like he always did.

But I stepped back, avoiding his touch. "I'm tired. I need to rest."

Without looking at any of them, I turned and walked out of the kitchen.

In the living room, Elias' relatives were still chatting loudly. The television blared a New Year's Eve countdown special.

I moved through the crowd, returned to our bedroom, and closed the door, shutting out everything beyond it.

I pulled out the donor consent form I'd already signed from the nightstand drawer. I stared at my name on the page, then picked up the scissors from the desk and cut it into pieces.

Then I took out my phone.

First, I messaged the wedding planner. "Hi, I need to cancel the wedding scheduled for next month. Please cancel the venue and all vendors. Keep the deposit."

Next, I opened the real estate app and contacted the agent who'd been helping us with our house. "Hi, the house is ready to list. I need a cash buyer. Price it ten percent below market. The faster it sells, the better."

Then, I booked a one-way ticket to Svalgard, leaving in three days.

After finishing everything, I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

We'd ring in this New Year together. And after that, Elias' life—his future, his happiness with his family and his ex-girlfriend—would have nothing to do with me.

…

On New Year's Day, Elias left early in the morning with Jamie. They were going to look at investment opportunities, he said.

Claire invited her poker friends over. They set up in the dining room, their laughter filling the apartment.

The movers arrived right on time. I only packed my personal belongings, the furniture and appliances I'd bought, and everything from my studio—including all my design files and equipment. I didn't touch a single thing that belonged to Elias.

One of the movers asked, "Ma'am, what about the pre-wedding photos on the wall?"

I looked at the picture of myself smiling so happily and felt nothing but bitter irony. "Leave them."

Two hours later, half the apartment was empty. It looked bare and hollow.

I sat on the old couch that belonged to Elias–the only piece of furniture left in the living room—when the real estate agent called.

"Ms. Smith, you're in luck. A client who saw your place before is still interested. He can pay cash and wants to expedite everything.

"The buyer loved your property. He's just hoping you might be willing to come down a bit more on the price. What do you think?"

"Fine," I said without hesitation. "As long as we can sign the contract today."

At 3:00 pm, I walked into the real estate agency office. The moment I signed the contract and received the wire transfer confirmation, I felt a lightness I hadn't experienced in years.

The apartment I'd traded countless sleepless nights for was finally mine again, converted back into money that belonged only to me.

That evening, Elias and Jamie came home laughing together. When they saw the empty apartment, both of them froze.

"Did you get robbed?" Jamie gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

Elias looked around, his face turning ashen. He realized everything that belonged to me had vanished, while everything that belonged to him and Claire remained exactly where it was.

He bolted into the bedroom and found the note I'd left on his nightstand.

"I sold the house. We're even now."