Chapter 3

Elara Vance pov

The time when Nate and I were in love felt like a very distant memory now.

On this day five years ago, we should have been the happiest newlyweds.

Nate held me in his arms, kissing my forehead, saying:

"Elara, I've finally married you. From now on, my life is yours."

But now, he held another woman in his arms, and he wanted my life.

They grew up together, from kindergarten to college, always inseparable. Everyone knew how much Nate loved me.

Late at night, I'd casually mention wanting cake from the west side of town, and he'd drive two hours in a snowstorm to buy it;

When I had period cramps, he'd stay up all night rubbing my stomach;

On the day he proposed, he knelt and put a ring on my finger, saying he'd pamper me like a little princess for the rest of my life.

Until the day our wedding was supposed to happen, a car crash changed everything.

My parents, rushing to attend the wedding, drove drunk and sped, killing Nate's entire family.

That day, a joyous occasion turned into a tragedy, and lovers became enemies.

He lost his father, his mother, and his sister. From then on, he was the only one left of his family.

His hatred was boundless. He used his connections to send my parents directly to prison.

The last time I visited them, I was informed that my parents had taken their own lives.

The two elders had already been tormented and emaciated in prison, clinging to their last breaths.

They gently stroked my cheek, sobbing and comforting me:

"Elara, your parents did wrong and deserve to atone for their sins, but you did nothing wrong. You must live well…"

"Nate hates you, but he once loved you deeply… Please, your parents are begging you, no matter what happens next, you must hold on for five years. If after five years, you still can't find hope to live, then… then come and join us."

That day, my parents died.

And I became the one to continue atoning for Nate's family.

Five years, over 1,800 days and nights, I was tormented by Nate in various ways.

Kneeling in the snow in winter, locked in an air-conditioner-less room in the scorching summer, forced to eat foods I was allergic to…

Countless times I wanted to die, but because of that five-year promise, I was pulled back from hell again and again.

Until three months ago, Sera appeared.

She looked like me from back then, her demeanor also similar. She was a carefully chosen replacement for Nate.

He gave all his love to this stand-in, and vented all his torment on me, the original.

His methods of torture were already bizarre; I should have been used to them.

But watching them kiss countless times, hearing him call her "Sera," witnessing him dote on her just as he used to dote on me, I still felt a suffocating pain.

Now, only seven days remained until the five-year mark.

In the cold freezer, I touched the family photo hidden in my pocket, my fingertips already numb from the cold.

The three people in the photo smiled brightly, a dream now out of reach.

"Dad, Mom…"

I whispered softly, my body slowly tilting towards the icy surface.

"I'll hold on for seven more days… After seven days… I'll come find you…"

When I woke up again, it was already noon the next day.

I lay on the cold, hard bed in the guest room, my wet clothes having been casually changed by a maid. A high fever made my body burning hot, and my bones ached from being soaked in ice water.

My hands were covered in chilblains and cracks, and the slightest movement caused piercing pain.

I touched the family photo over my heart, remembering the five-year promise with my parents—

Six days left.

I had to listen to my parents and try to find hope to live.