Chapter 2

Rosie's POV

I don't know how I left the club.

Rain pelted my body like beans, but I didn't care. Only the conversation from the room replayed over and over in my mind.

Vivian... Just hearing that name made my whole body tremble uncontrollably.

I didn't understand. She'd already left the country. Why wouldn't she leave me alone? Why was she so obsessed with completely destroying me?

Just because of a title, "Most Beautiful Girl on Campus." Because my candid photo beat Vivian's heavily edited entry photo, Vivian had cornered me in the bathroom with a group of people, tormented me with every method possible, then shoved my head into a toilet.

Because I refused to kneel and apologize, for the next three years, I lived through hell.

She beat me up. She stabbed me with needles.

She even put thumbtacks in my shoes, got the whole class to isolate and bully me, sabotaged my part-time jobs, spread rumors about me.

She also arranged for many rich guys to pursue me. Once I overheard her plot. She wanted money to corrupt me, then cruelly abandon me.

Vivian never succeeded. Even when she studied abroad in junior year, she hadn't completely broken me.

But by then, I was already severely depressed and engaging in serious self-harm.

That's when Ethan appeared.

He wasn't like the other rich boys pursuing her, always examining me with lewd, appraising eyes, throwing bank cards at me.

His gaze was honest. He genuinely tried to understand my struggles and listen to my needs.

When he learned I had a grandmother who needed long-term medication, he didn't look down on me. Instead, he improved my life within limits I could accept.

He introduced me to internships and part-time jobs. Between work shifts, he'd sit with me at convenience stores eating dinner, then gently pat my head.

"Rosie, you've worked so hard. You're really amazing."

Once when Grandma got sick and I was out of town, Ethan sent her to the hospital and personally stayed with her for a day and night.

When I rushed back the next day, he was exhausted but smiled to comfort me.

"Grandma's fine. Don't worry. Don't wear yourself out."

A voice inside me said then:

"It's him. Try to trust him. Regardless of the outcome, treasure the present."

Later, he continued to treat me well, even bravely standing up to his family to be with me.

Ryan's contemptuous mocking laughter echoed in my mind again.

"She's so stupid. How could the family allow an orphan like her to marry in? Just hire two actors to put on a show, have my brother fight for her a bit, and she's completely devoted."

"So stupid. Three years and she never noticed anything wrong."

"So stupid. Even now she thinks Ethan is devoted to her."

"So stupid, so stupid, so stupid..."

I collapsed in the rain, tears mixing with rainwater pouring down.

So stupid...

I really was... so stupid.

I threw my head back and laughed madly, letting the torrential rain ruthlessly pound my face.

My phone rang suddenly. It was Grandma's caregiver.

"Rosie, come quick! Your grandma isn't going to make it!"

My head buzzed, instantly going blank, my limbs going weak.

On pure instinct, I scrambled up from the ground and rushed to the roadside to flag down a car.

But every car just flashed their lights frantically, honking long and driving past.

Just as I was about to run to the hospital, a Range Rover stopped.

A rugged-looking man asked my destination. Not caring about safety, I quickly got in.

When I reached the hospital, the doctor had already issued a critical condition notice.

"Respiratory failure. Resuscitation would be meaningless. Spend some quality time with her."

I fell to my knees, trembling as I grasped Grandma's hand.

Grandma smiled with effort.

"Rosie... don't cry... I'm sorry. Grandma still couldn't hold on until your wedding..."

I shook my head forcefully. I couldn't speak. I couldn't control my anguished sobs.

Grandma's gaze searched the room with difficulty.

"Where's Ethan... Grandma wants to see him..."

"Okay."

I pulled out my phone, dialing Ethan's number over and over.

The calls were hung up repeatedly. I quickly sent messages.

"Ethan, Grandma's heart is failing. She can't hold on. Please come to the hospital quickly. Grandma wants to see you one last time."

"Ethan, Grandma is waiting for you. Just one visit. Can you come?"

"Ethan, please..."

My trembling hands rapidly tapped the keyboard, tears falling one by one onto the phone screen.

In that moment, lies and deception didn't matter. As long as Ethan could come, as long as Grandma could pass peacefully, nothing else mattered.

But there was no word from Ethan.

I stopped, forced out a smile with all my strength, and held Grandma's hand trying to comfort her.

"Grandma, Ethan is probably tied up with something. Don't worry. Our relationship is great. We're getting married next week."

"Grandma, I'll be very happy... Please don't worry..."

The hand clasped in mine suddenly tightened. Grandma stared at me intently.

"Rosie... live well... be happy..."

Her hand went limp. In her final look at me, there was worry...

I looked at my palm, then collapsed to my knees crying my heart out.

That night, I handled Grandma's funeral arrangements according to protocol, and still didn't receive any reply from Ethan.

During a waiting period, I unblocked Vivian's contact from my blacklist and clicked into her Instagram.

"Originally planned to come back early and create a surprise, but I'm the one who got surprised!"

The background photo was at the airport. Ethan wore a mascot costume, holding flowers, his sweaty head poking out, smiling, his eyes gentle.

There was also a photo of the two of them together. She smiled sweetly. Ethan's face was turned toward her, his gaze tender.

Disheartened, I turned off the screen.

The next afternoon, carrying Grandma's urn back to the hospital, two things happened.

First, I fell down the stairs in my dazed state. The baby in my belly was gone. I needed to come back for a follow-up in three days.

Second, I submitted an application to Doctors Without Borders.

My supervisor looked at me in surprise.

"Aren't you getting married soon?"

I was silent for a moment.

"Not anymore. I need to leave. The sooner the better!"

Looking at me, my supervisor said nothing more.

"You just made the registration deadline. Take these few days off to prepare."

"One week from now, gather at the hospital to depart."

"Okay."

One week from now. Exactly the time of my wedding with Ethan.

I wouldn't just leave that day. I'd also give them a gift on that day they'd never forget.