I chased after Julian for ten years. He loathed me, never sparing a kind glance or a gentle word. Until I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Suddenly, he started to care. He doted on me, even planning a grand, public proposal that swept me off my feet. Just when I thought my years of suffering were finally being rewarded with love... He placed an organ donation agreement in front of me. "You don't have much time left anyway," he whispered, coaxing me like a lover. "Why not give your heart to Winnie? It would mean so much." He lowered his voice, sounding so sweet, so reasonable. Julian will never know. On that very day, I discovered my diagnosis was a mistake. I accepted a job offer on the other side of the ocean and finally decided to leave him for good. Chapter 1 When I walked out of the hospital, I was burning up with a fever, my mind in a fog. Julian called. "Where are you? Didn't I tell you Winnie's heart condition is unstable? She can't be left alone!" I blinked, and two hot tears rolled down my cheeks. My chest felt like it was being ripped open. I wanted to say, Can't you be nice to me just for once, Julian? I have terminal cancer. I'm going to die soon. But I knew better. In Julian's eyes, I was just a desperate dog who had been tailing him for a decade. He only had a heart for Winnie, his fragile "white moonlight"—his first love with the weak heart. "I'm coming. Don't be mad," I whispered. Even in the final stretch of my life, I was still protecting him, terrified of annoying him. When I arrived at Winnie's apartment, I was soaked to the bone from the rain. My clothes clung to my shivering body. Winnie sneezed delicately. Julian shot me a look of pure disgust. "You're dragging all that damp air inside. Winnie can't handle the chill." I bowed my head, clutching my bag tighter to hide the terminal cancer diagnosis buried deep inside. My heart twisted in agony. "I know. I'm sorry." I wiped away a tear mixed with rain. Winnie and Julian were at the grand piano, playing a duet. Four hands, one melody. Watching their intimate silhouettes from behind, I had never felt so superfluous. "Chloe," Winnie turned her head and smiled at me. "Can you go upstairs and fetch a painting for me? Please?" When she smiled like that, nothing good ever happened. Last time, she "accidentally" shattered a wine glass into my palm, then tearfully told Julian I was clumsy. The time before that, she mixed crushed peanuts into my food, sending me into anaphylactic shock. My shoulders trembled involuntarily. "Hurry up," Julian scoffed, his gaze cold. "Why are you so slow today?" Sure enough, as I was carrying the painting down the stairs, Winnie, who had come up to "help," let go without warning. I tumbled down like a ragdoll, landing in a heap of shattered glass. My back was sliced open by the shards. "Ah!" Winnie screamed, as if she hadn't just pushed me. "I loved that painting!" She started sobbing, looking pitiful and fragile. Julian rushed over. He picked up the ruined canvas, not even sparing a glance to see if I was alive. "It's all your fault! You're so clumsy. Can you do anything right?" He sneered, nudging my leg with his foot. But when Winnie made mistakes, he never spoke like that. When I was hospitalized from the peanuts, he told Winnie, It's okay. Chloe is tough. She won't die that easily. But I was going to die. Really. I struggled to stand. Between the high fever and the blood loss, the room spun. Julian frowned, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. He reached out a hand, almost instinctively, to steady me. "My chest... it hurts," Winnie gasped, clutching her heart. Julian's attention snapped back to her instantly. "Stop acting," he barked at me. "If you're hurt, go clean it up. Standing there bleeding isn't going to make me feel sorry for you." I turned away. That's when I saw it. On the table sat my original music score. It was my composition, the one I prepared for the national competition. I hadn't shown it to anyone. "Where did you get this?" I snatched the sheets, hugging them to my chest. Julian didn't hesitate. He ripped them from my hands. "Winnie has her solo piano recital coming up. She needs a piece." I understood instantly. The key to my apartment... I had only ever given one to Julian. When I shyly played this piece for him weeks ago, pouring my love into every note, was he moved? Or was he just thinking how perfect it would be for Winnie? Tears erupted like a fountain. Then, a thought hit me. I was dying. I had stage four cancer. I didn't need a career. I didn't need accolades. It's all worldly possessions. Let her have it. I don't care anymore. I smiled through my tears—a broken, resigned smile. The smile seemed to trigger Julian. "Why are you so stingy? It's just a song." Behind him, Winnie looked at me with triumphant mockery. The stimulus was too much. My knees gave way, the fever spiked, and I collapsed into darkness. Chapter 2 When I woke up, I was alone in the hospital room. My backpack, containing the diagnosis, hadn't been touched. I sat up slowly and thanked the nurse for stitching up my back. "The gentleman who brought you in paid for it," she said, looking at me with pity. Julian... When Winnie was sick, he stayed by her bedside all night. He had never done that for me. Did this mean he cared, even just a tiny bit? My phone buzzed. It was the bakery owner, reminding me that the custom cake I ordered for Julian was ready. Right. Today was his twenty-seventh birthday. I met him ten years ago. My parents worked for the Sterling family and died in a factory accident. Old Mr. Sterling took pity on me and took me in. Back then, I cried every night. It was Julian who knocked on my door and fed me ice cream. He used to be kind. Until he realized I loved him. Then he turned to ice. "Being loved by someone so poor and low-class... it's humiliating," he told me once. "We are not from the same world, Chloe. Don't mistake pity for love." The next day, he brought Winnie home. I shook off the memories, exhausted, and went to pick up the cake. This might be the last birthday I spend with him. Regardless of everything, I wanted him to be happy. Julian's birthday party was loud. His inner circle was all there. Standing at the door, I heard them joking. "The lapdog isn't here this year? Did she finally give up?" Another guy laughed. "Chloe? She's more loyal than a Golden Retriever. Ten years and you still can't kick her away." Julian let them talk. Then I heard his voice, cold and detached. "Ten years ago, we made a bet. How long until my cold shoulder made her quit? Turns out, she's still here." Laughter filled the room. I turned to leave, but Winnie spotted me. "Why don't you come in? Did you finally realize you don't belong?" Her eyes danced with malice. My tears hadn't dried, but I looked her in the eye. "At least I'm not cruel." Still, I hid the cake box behind my back. Comparing my humble gift to the ten-tier masterpiece Winnie ordered made me feel pathetic. "Sister-in-law is here!" Winnie announced loudly as we walked in. Julian frowned and told everyone to shut up, but he let Winnie sit right next to him. "Julian is so secretive. His mom already told us about the engagement." Everyone's eyes darted to me. I straightened my back, raised a glass of wine, and forced a smile that felt like a grimace. "Congratulations to you both, then." I downed the wine in one gulp. "Are you crazy?" Julian grabbed my wrist, looking tense. He remembered I was allergic to alcohol. But last time, when Winnie and I argued, he forced me to drink to apologize until I got alcohol poisoning. His cruelty always outweighed his kindness. Death felt like a relief compared to loving him. "Julian," Winnie called softly. He turned away immediately, dropping my hand. After the cake, the crowd chanted for Julian to open gifts. His friends were all old money; I was the charity case. When he got to mine, his expression darkened. It was a jade bangle. The quality wasn't top-tier, but it was the only thing my mother had left me. I once told Julian that if I ever decided to die, I would leave this bangle to him. "What is this drama? First you play sick, now this cryptic goodbye crap?" He exploded in anger. "I underestimated your manipulative tactics." Right. To him, I was always acting. I wiped my eyes. "I won't be able to stay by your side anymore. I wish you and Winnie eternal happiness." Even if my future was a blank void. Julian turned his back on me, practically shaking with rage. "Don't be mad," Winnie cooed, tugging his sleeve. She reached out a hand. "I think the bangle is pretty. Can I have it?" Julian looked down, then slid the bangle onto her wrist. Winnie flashed me a provocative smile and mouthed three words: You don't deserve. I sat in the corner, and the love I held for Julian shattered into dust. My phone pinged. An email from Ethan. [Chloe, I've opened a music studio in New York. Do you want to come on board as a partner?] My hands trembled. "What are you looking at?" Maybe realizing he'd gone too far, Julian leaned over to look at my screen. I swiped away quickly. His eyes darkened. Then he saw my shopping app, still open in the background. In the cart sat a diamond ring. Expensive. Fiery. "Still pretending? You say 'bless you' with your mouth, but in your head, you're still fantasizing about marrying me." He smirked. The room erupted in laughter. They called me delusional. A toad lusting after swan meat. I locked my phone, face expressionless. "Think whatever you want." I didn't care anymore. Chapter 3 If only I had received that email sooner. Before the diagnosis. I would have packed my bags and left Julian forever with joy in my heart. I realized then that I had wanted to leave him for a long time. But it was too late. I had no future. Back home, I took off the amulet I had worn for ten years. When I was seventeen and gravely ill, Julian had hiked up a mountain to a temple to beg for these. One for him, one for me. The amulet didn't work. Loving Julian didn't work. Mrs. Sterling, Julian's mother, messaged me to come to the main estate. I owed the Sterlings my life, so I never refused her. When I arrived, Julian was arguing with his family, refusing to look at me. Mrs. Sterling smiled. "Just in time. Rumors are spreading that Julian is engaged to Winnie." She frowned. "I don't like that girl. Heart condition, fragile, too needy." She liked me, not for my personality or talent, but because I was healthy, obedient, and loved her son like a religion. "I called you here to discuss your marriage to Julian." Julian crossed his arms and scoffed. "Her? Mom, are you senile? You care about status more than anyone." He shoved me lightly. "What potion did you give her, Chloe? You're really unscrupulous." I looked him in the eye, calm. "Let go of me." Julian froze. In ten years, I had never used that tone with him. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Sterling. We aren't suitable. You can't force this." Julian blinked. "Chloe, you..." I pulled the diagnosis paper from my bag. "Three days ago, I was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. The doctor says I have less than a year." Julian went limp. Like a puppet with its strings cut, he couldn't support his own weight. He snatched the paper, reading it over and over. "We'll see another doctor. It can be cured. It has to be cured." His hands shook violently as he leaned his forehead on my shoulder. I felt the wetness of tears soaking my shirt. "It can't be cured! Do you know what stage four means? I'm going to die. I won't pester you anymore. Are you happy now?" I pushed him away, wiped my eyes, and broke down sobbing. Julian's phone rang relentlessly. It was Winnie. "What do I do? My condition worsened. The doctor says I need a healthy heart donor immediately." On the other end, Winnie wept pitifully. "I... I have to go to the hospital. She needs me. Once she's settled, I'll take you to a specialist." The warmth in my heart turned to ice instantly. "Sure. Once she's settled, bring her to burn incense on my grave." I laughed coldly. It was always like this. Winnie's needs were always priority one. My life was priority zero. I had learned not to expect anything. Shortly after Julian left, Winnie posted on social media. She tagged me. Photos of Julian running errands for her, feeding her, holding her hand while she got an IV drip. I left a comment: He's trash, you're cheap. A match made in heaven. I wasn't living long anyway. Might as well burn bridges. Chapter 4 Three days later, Julian called. "Meet me at the beach where we first met. Please?" Julian was once kidnapped on that beach. The kidnappers took the money and threw him into the ocean. I jumped in and dragged him out. He had stopped breathing. I did CPR until my ribs ached. The first thing he did when he woke up was push me away. "Why is it you? Where is Winnie?" Recalling the past, I smiled bitterly. But my heart still clenched instinctively. I didn't want him to be hurt. The sea was calm. Julian stood there holding a massive bouquet of flowers, looking handsome and clean. It was a grand, solemn proposal setup. I had run there sweating, without even putting on lipstick. I had told him a hundred times: If you propose, tell me beforehand. For the most important moment of my life, I want to be ready. I want to look beautiful. People who don't love you never remember what you say. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have been so cold. Please, give me one more chance to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Will you?" Julian dropped to one knee. He opened the ring box. Inside was the exact ring from my shopping cart. He remembered. Maybe because the diamond was so bright, my dead heart fluttered. I covered my face, trying not to sob. This scene... it was what I had dreamed of for ten years. Just as I reached for the flowers, Winnie screamed— "NO!" She forgot her "heart condition" and sprinted over, kneeling in front of me. "Please don't guilt-trip him! I know dying of cancer is sad, but he has no obligation to be with you..." Julian frowned, a flash of shock in his eyes. "Winnie, get up. I'm doing this voluntarily. Chloe didn't force me." I crossed my arms, watching them bicker. I hadn't planned to say yes. But seeing Winnie's desperation triggered my rebellious streak. I snatched the ring from the box. Take that, Winnie. Seeing me take the ring, Julian exhaled in relief. He held my hand with his left, and Winnie's hand with his right. "The three of us... we've been friends for ten years." He looked at me with earnest, pleading eyes. "Chloe, after we marry... sign an organ donation agreement, okay? You won't live long anyway, and Winnie needs a heart." Ah. There it was. My heart turned to stone. I understood now. The proposal wasn't for me. It was for the vessel that carried Winnie's spare part. It was pathetic, but I didn't even feel sad. I was just numb. Used to it. Winnie looked at me like it was the obvious solution. I shook off their hands. "I think you misunderstood." I stood tall. "Even if I toss this heart to stray dogs on the street, I will never give it to Winnie." I laughed and turned to leave. Julian grabbed my waist from behind. "Chloe, don't be impulsive! I love you!" After ten years, I finally heard him say he loved me. Too bad I didn't give a damn anymore. My phone beeped. A text from the hospital. [We apologize deeply. There was a mix-up with patient records due to a similar name. Your scan results are clean. You are perfectly healthy.] An overwhelming wave of joy crashed over me. Only after facing death do you realize that love is nothing compared to life. I quickly replied to Ethan's email and booked a flight for tonight. I accepted the job. Julian's eyes flashed with panic. Maybe people sense when they are about to lose something forever. I didn't say anything about the text. I just hugged him. "Darling, I accept your proposal. Go prepare the wedding." "I have some business to handle abroad. Don't worry. I'll be back before the wedding date." I lied. I was never coming back. But after all the humiliation he put me through, I wanted him to stand at the altar alone, waiting for a bride who would never arrive. That was my final revenge.
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