Chapter 1

The first time I helped someone propose, it was helping my rival propose to my fiancé.

I wore a strawberry bear mascot costume, shivering in the cold on a winter street, personally handing the ring to Sophia.

She turned around and gave me a sweet smile, her eyes full of undisguised smugness and provocation.

The crowd gathered in a circle around us, their cheering growing louder and louder.

I blended in among them, clapping the hardest, shouting the loudest.

Mason looked past Sophia, who was kneeling on one knee, and in front of everyone, he yanked off my mascot head.

He dragged me to a corner, staring at my belly, his gaze dark as water:

"Vivian, you're carrying my child. What the hell are you doing?"

Mason furiously dragged me back home.

He pinned me against the wall. "Vivian, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

I just looked up at him, even curving my lips slightly.

"Didn't you say Sophia was pitiful?"

I blinked, my tone innocent. "That we should give her whatever she wants as much as possible? She wants you, so I'm just helping her out."

Mason's expression froze for a moment. He probably hadn't expected me to say that.

Then again, I'd been obedient for eight years. Whatever he said, I listened. Whatever he told me to endure, I endured.

"There has to be a limit to satisfying her." He stared into my eyes, word by word. "You're carrying my child. How dare you..."

"I know I was wrong."

I interrupted him, lowering my eyes.

My voice was soft, just like every other time I'd apologized before.

"Forget it." His tone softened as he reached out to touch my face. "I won't pursue what happened today. I'll explain things to Sophia."

I tilted my head slightly. His hand stopped mid-air.

I didn't look at him, just kept my head down, staring at the floor.

"Mason," I suddenly asked. "Do you love me?"

He paused, then laughed, as if I'd asked something ridiculous.

"Would I have been with you for eight years if I didn't love you?"

He gripped my chin, forcing me to look up. "Would I have gotten you pregnant if I didn't love you? I promised you—once I've appeased Sophia, I'll marry you."

I looked at him.

His gaze was so affectionate. It was the same look he gave me every time he wanted me, every time he said sweet words, every time he made promises.

But I remembered yesterday afternoon. My stomach felt uncomfortable, and I couldn't reach him by phone.

Before going to the hospital, I went to his office to get the car keys.

His office door wasn't fully closed. Sophia's voice drifted out from inside.

"She's pregnant? Mason, make her get rid of it! How could you let her carry your child!"

Then came Mason's helpless voice, full of indulgence, coaxing her.

"Sophia, listen to me."

"I won't listen! If you don't get rid of the baby in her belly, I'll kill myself! My parents died saving your parents, and this is how you treat me—I don't want to live anymore!"

"I know, I know everything."

After a moment of silence, he sighed helplessly.

"How about this—I'll fake my death for three years and give you a child. For those three years, it'll only be you. After three years, I'll return to Vivian's side. Is that okay?"

Sophia stopped making a scene.

I stood outside the door and suddenly felt like laughing.

He'd even thought of faking his death.

Had he ever considered what would happen to me when I heard news of his death?

How would I, pregnant and alone, get through those three years? What would I tell the child when they asked where their father was?

He probably never thought about it.

His mind was full of how to appease Sophia, how to repay his debt, how to have it all.

He just never thought about me.

"What are you thinking about?" Mason's voice pulled me back to reality. He leaned in to kiss me. "Don't overthink it. I'll go talk to Sophia in the next few days. I'll give you a wedding that everyone will envy."

I turned my head away and stepped to the side, moving past him.