Chapter 3

But the year Pearl turned eighteen, everything shattered.

First, Bennett’s parents suddenly returned to the country. They were fiercely against our relationship and even locked him in his room.

Then, I received my medical report from the hospital: late-stage stomach cancer. I had three years left to live, at most.

When I walked through the door that day, it wasn't a cheerful Pearl who greeted me, but my mother.

Without saying a word, she handed me a diary.

With trembling hands, I opened it and turned the pages.

"Went to the Cole estate with Norah again today. Finally saw him. His smile is so beautiful."

"Norah has been so busy lately and hasn't visited the Coles. Ugh, I miss him so much."

"Saw him again today! Following Norah around is definitely the best decision ever."

Every word felt like a dagger piercing my chest.

Pearl was in love with Bennett.

My mother remained silent for a long time before she finally spoke. "Do you know why Bennett’s parents suddenly opposed you two?"

"I called them. I told them you are just an adopted daughter, and that everything in the Vance estate will belong to Pearl in the future."

With one simple phone call, she destroyed any future Bennett and I could have had.

That night, Bennett escaped through his window and found me.

"Norah, let's run away. Anywhere, as long as I'm with you."

Looking at his desperate face, my heart bled.

Run away?

If he did, he would lose his inheritance. His five cousins would tear him apart and take everything he owned.

He would have nothing.

And what could I give him in return?

If we ran away, I could only give him three years of my life.

Was I supposed to ruin the rest of his life for just three years of togetherness?

I couldn't. I absolutely couldn't.

Pearl loved him. They grew up together, and they were perfect for each other.

More importantly, I couldn't let Bennett waste his youth on a dying girl.

It was better to make him hate me.

Looking at the passionate young man in front of me, I forced a bright smile. "Okay, let's run away."

I tricked him into drinking a glass of red wine laced with sleeping pills, then carried him into Pearl's bedroom.

I didn't drug him with anything else like Grandma did. I just wanted him to hate me.

As for his relationship with Pearl, I decided to let nature take its course.

Then, I went to a noisy VIP club, hired a couple of handsome escorts to sit with me, and called my best friend over. I wanted to say my goodbyes to her while waiting for Bennett to find me.

At the same time, my mother burst into Pearl’s room with the housekeepers.

Bennett and Pearl woke up to the commotion, completely bewildered.

My mother demanded angrily, "Bennett, what did you do to my daughter?"

Confused and panicking, Bennett blurted out, "How is this possible? I was with Norah last night!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he remembered the glass of red wine and my unusually bright smile.

A terrible realization washed over him. He quickly corrected himself, "I'm sorry. I drank too much last night and stumbled into the wrong room."

Pearl quickly chimed in, "Bennett and I are fully clothed! Nothing happened, Mom. He must have been looking for Norah and got into the wrong room because he was drunk."

After calming my mother down, Bennett ran out of the house.

He had to find me.

We had each other's locations shared on Snapchat.

I watched the little icon on my screen get closer and closer to the club.

The icon stopped just a few feet away from my VIP table.

My friend asked, "All these years of history, and you’re just throwing him away?"

I swirled my drink, laughing carelessly. "Friends are like limbs; men are just clothes. She’s my sister. What’s wrong with letting her have some fun with him?"

After that night, Bennett vanished from my world.

He blocked me on Snapchat, and our families stopped speaking to each other.

Pearl became the most anxious one.

Every day, she would hover around me, her eyes filled with worry.

"Norah, what happened between you and Bennett? Did you guys have a fight?"

I just shook my head and smiled, saying everything was fine.

Refusing to give up, she tugged at my sleeve and explained for the hundredth time.

"That night, I was fully clothed, and so was he."

"He smelled so strongly of alcohol. He really just got drunk and walked into the wrong room."

"Norah, I swear!"

I pinched her nose gently. "You've said that so many times. I know."

Pearl’s voice softened, filled with a young girl's hope. "Then can we go visit the Coles? I haven't seen Bennett in so long. Just go with me, please?"

Looking at her bright, hopeful eyes, a dull ache spread through my chest.

She really did love him that much.

What I did was right.

I turned my face away and said quietly, "Go by yourself. I've been feeling a bit tired lately."

Pearl looked at my pale face, wanting to say something, but stopped herself.

The side effects of chemotherapy were getting worse.

I started vomiting constantly, unable to keep any food down.

My weight dropped rapidly, and my hair began to fall out in clumps.

I became terrified of brushing my hair because every brush brought away a handful of strands.

I couldn't stay here anymore.

I was terrified Pearl would discover my secret.

Even more, I was terrified Bennett would suddenly show up and see me in this pathetic state.

I packed a small suitcase, left a letter, and left the city.

I moved to a quiet, sleepy town in Georgia.

There were peaceful, flowing creeks and endless fields of wild yellow flowers.

I rented a tiny cottage and spent my days watching the sun rise and fall.

I kept taking my chemo pills, and the dosage only got stronger.

Whenever the pain became unbearable, I would curl up by the window, clutching my knees, picturing Pearl’s bright smile and remembering the warmth of Bennett's hand in mine.

In the blink of an eye, three years passed. One day, I was casually watching the news on TV.

"The eldest son of the Cole family is engaged to the daughter of the Vance family. The wedding will take place in three months."

Pearl and Bennett were getting married.

So, they really did end up together.

My departure had indeed paved the way for them.

I should be happy, shouldn't I?

I had achieved my goal.

But why were my tears pouring down like rain?

I sat in my rented cottage, staring into the dark all night.

I wanted to see them one last time.

Just once.

Before I died, I wanted to lay eyes on the two most important people in my life.

I booked a flight back and began my journey home.