Chapter 1

"Ms. Tessier, are you sure you wish to donate all of your organs?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

After uttering those words, Cindy Tessier managed a faint smile, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

The doctor was taken aback and tried to convince her again. "Even though the cancer is in its later stages, aggressive treatment in the hospital could still offer a chance to prolong your life."

Cindy's smile grew, and without hesitation, she shook her head. "No, Doctor, death is something I await every day. I'm probably down to my last month. I'll let the hospital know when it's getting close. Just make sure all my organs go to someone who needs them. Thank you."

With that, she rose to her feet, a smile on her face, and walked away.

The doctor watched her leave with a look of astonishment. In all his years of practice, he'd never encountered a patient so determined to face death.

No sooner had Cindy stepped out of the hospital than her phone rang. It was Arthur Forsyth.

His voice, cool and slightly husky, came through the line. "Where'd you go today? You took the day off."

Cindy's grip on the phone tightened just a fraction.

"I've got a cold," she replied, sidestepping the truth.

It was clear the man on the other end wasn't asking out of genuine concern.

"Get over to Eclipsion Club, Room 314. Now," he said.

Without a single word of protest, Cindy made her way there immediately. Upon entering the private room, she found it was packed with Arthur's business associates.

"Ms. Tessier, you've finally arrived. We've heard so much about you. They say you can down a thousand glasses without feeling a buzz."

"Word is, you've sealed plenty of deals over drinks. You'll have to prove your skills tonight."

"See these 99 glasses on the table? Finish them all, and the deal is yours!"

Arthur sat on the couch nearby with an unreadable smile.

"Don't let me down," he said, his tone indifferent.

All eyes were fixed on Cindy, the air thick with anticipation. She didn't refuse.

She smiled as she picked up the first glass and said, "I'll do my best then."

One glass followed another, and the searing pain in her stomach flared up almost immediately. For someone battling stomach cancer, it was ten times worse.

Cindy's face turned pale, her hands shaking uncontrollably. But she didn't stop. She kept drinking, glass after glass.

Arthur observed her from start to finish, his gaze cold and detached.

At last, Cindy downed the final glass, the 99th, under the stunned stares of everyone.

The private room erupted in applause, with voices calling out, "Unbelievable! You're amazing!"

Cindy's forehead glistened with a sheen of cold sweat as she managed a strained smile.

The business partner, clearly intrigued, remarked, "Ms. Tessier, you're wasting your potential with Mr. Forsyth. Look at how he's running you ragged, without a second thought for your well-being. Why not come work for me instead?"

Cindy smiled and politely turned him down. "I appreciate the offer, but Mr. Forsyth has always been good to me."

"I'll triple your salary!"

Still, Cindy held firm, shaking her head.

The room buzzed with confusion. "Why won't you leave?"

Her smile faltered as she answered, "I stay because I have a debt to repay."

Thinking she must owe money to Forsyth Group, the business partner let out a resigned sigh and dropped the matter.

In the end, the deal went through smoothly. As the group began to disperse, the sky outside had already grown dark.

The driver came to pick them up from a short distance away, and Cindy slid smoothly into the passenger seat. Arthur didn't like her sitting beside him.

The car stopped in front of Cindy's apartment building, and she murmured a "thank you" before stepping out, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. She was so tired that she didn't even notice Arthur following her.

He watched as she stumbled forward, his gaze darkening with an intensity that was hard to decipher.

Cindy remained oblivious as she made her way upstairs, even as she reached her door and stopped to fish out her keys.

Out of nowhere, a hand clamped around her wrist, spinning her around and pinning her against the wall.

The sound-activated light in the hallway flickered on just as Arthur gripped her chin and kissed her. The kiss was fierce and relentless, leaving Cindy breathless and overwhelmed.

When Arthur finally pulled back, his eyes were red with emotion, his voice shaking, despite it being him who had initiated the kiss.

"Why do you keep doing this?" he demanded. "Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you? Why don't you just leave when people give you the chance, Cindy? Why won't you go?"

Cindy gasped for breath, struggling to calm her emotions. "I'm staying to make up for what I've done."

Her words set Arthur off again. He slammed his fist into the wall, his glare sharp enough to pierce through her with sheer hatred.

"Why don't you just drop dead then? Go on, do it!" he yelled.

Cindy gave a bitter smile. Her life already hung by a thread, as if he'd gotten his wish. She was on the verge of speaking when Arthur's phone rang. She glanced down and caught the name on the screen.

Annette Sommer. His fiancée.

Arthur's breathing grew heavier when he saw her name. He turned away as if gathering himself. When he finally answered the call, his voice eased into something deep and tender, the polished version of himself slipping effortlessly into place.

"Ann."

Whatever was said on the other end of the line brought a subtle shift to his expression. The next moment, he released Cindy without a word, turned, and walked away.

Cindy leaned against the wall, her eyes fixed on his retreating figure until he was out of sight. Only then did she finally give in to the overwhelming urge, bolting through the door and into the bathroom, where she vomited violently.

She heaved until the room felt like it was spinning. After what seemed like forever, she finally lifted her head and saw the toilet bowl smeared with vivid streaks of blood.

Numbly, Cindy pressed the flush button. She tried to get herself up, but her body, exhausted and weak, failed her, and she crumpled into unconsciousness.

She dreamed of a time back in college, strolling under the shade of the sycamore trees with Arthur and Winter Forsyth.

Winter tugged at her arm, whining playfully, "Cindy, there's a mixer this weekend between our department and the law school. You've got to come with me, okay?"

Arthur's face clouded over, and he pulled Cindy closer. "Winter, did I say you could borrow my girlfriend?"

"Arthur, you're so possessive!"

Those were such beautiful days.

Cindy had been an orphan since she was a child. During her school years, she'd met Winter, and the two had immediately clicked, becoming inseparable friends.

Arthur, Winter's older brother, was the untouchable figure at school. He was aloof, refined, and seemingly indifferent to women. He received countless love letters every day, but would disregard them without a second thought.

At first, Cindy was too intimidated to even speak to him. But somehow, he kept showing up in her life. He'd help her organize her notes, join her at the library, and walk her home.

One day, when Cindy forgot her umbrella, Arthur showed up in the downpour to get her.

Standing under the same umbrella, she finally gathered the courage to ask, "Arthur, are you only this nice to me because of Winter?"

He backed her up against a wall, his face clouded over. "Cindy, you really don't get it, do you? Let me spell it out for you. This is why I treat you the way I do."

Then, he cradled the back of her head and kissed her.

From that day on, they were a couple. That was, until five years ago, the night before their wedding, when Cindy and Winter went to see a movie.

It was well into the night when they turned down a narrow alley and ran into a group of drunk thugs. The men were clearly wasted, their words laced with crude and vulgar insults.

They backed Cindy and Winter into a dead end, leaving them no escape. Both women, young and unprepared for this, trembled with fear.

In the end, Winter mustered all her strength to fend off the thugs, shouting, "Cindy, run!"

Cindy knew they stood no chance against the drunken mob, so she bolted. She ran to the street on the other side to seek help. But when she returned with help, the alley was unnervingly quiet.

The drunk men were gone, leaving only a scene of destruction behind. Winter lay still on the ground, bloodied and violated in ways no one should ever be. She wasn't breathing anymore.

When Arthur arrived, he was met with the horrifying sight of Winter's body. The extent of her suffering was unmistakable. His mind went blank.

He gripped Cindy's hand, his voice quivering with anguish and despair as he cried out, "Why did you run? Why did you leave her alone? Cindy, why did you run?"

Cindy couldn't answer. She hated herself more than anyone ever could.

In the end, the Forsyth family couldn't bring themselves to forgive her. She had lost her closest friend, and the man she loved more than anything now saw her as an enemy.

But now, at last, death was near. Soon, Cindy would have the chance to beg Winter's forgiveness in the afterlife. And Arthur would finally be free.

Chapter 2

"No! Winter, run!"

Cindy woke up in tears, only to find herself lying in her own bed at home. Her bloodstained clothes had been changed, and sitting by her bedside was Sylvan Leigh.

Sylvan had been Cindy's college classmate. He'd harbored feelings for her for years, but Arthur's presence had always kept him from confessing. Instead, he'd quietly watched over her.

Now, he clutched a crumpled test result in his hands, his eyes fixed on the words, reading them again and again. As a doctor, Sylvan knew exactly what the results meant.

His eyes reddened, and his voice trembled as he asked, "You have stomach cancer?"

Cindy emerged from her nightmare, gradually pulling herself together. She drew a deep breath, slowly brushing the tears from her face, and nodded.

Sylvan sprang to his feet. "And you still went ahead and drank! This is about Arthur again, isn't it? Did he make you do it?"

Cindy looked down, saying nothing.

Sylvan didn't need her to answer. He could piece it together well enough. His heart felt like it had been sliced open.

He immediately reached for Cindy's hand and said, "You can't keep living like this. You have to leave him, now, and get yourself to a hospital for treatment!"

But Cindy pulled her hand back.

She managed a weak smile. "It's not that big of a deal. Don't worry. I'll take care of myself."

"Do you even realize this is cancer—"

"I don't want to be hospitalized, Sylvan. Please, just let me decide for myself."

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Sylvan knew there was no talking her out of it. He also knew that Winter's death five years ago had left a wound in her heart—one that would never fully heal.

That was why she'd become Arthur's assistant, as if trying to make up for something. And that was why she never said no, no matter what Arthur put her through.

Sylvan couldn't change her mind. He stayed to care for her through the night and didn't return to the hospital until early the next morning.

Cindy, too, hurried off to work at the company. Today, she was supposed to accompany Arthur to a banquet. But she wasn't his date. She was only there in her role as his assistant.

Annette, on the other hand, was his date.

When Annette spotted Cindy, her face contorted in disdain. "Cindy, I must hand it to you. Your nerve is something else. Even now, you're still bold enough to follow Arthur around."

Annette had been their high school classmate and had loved Arthur since they were kids. But she'd lost out to Cindy, who had nothing to her name.

Annette had always been jealous of her, and now, as Arthur's fiancée, she finally had the free rein to torment her however she pleased.

Cindy didn't argue or defend herself. She simply stood quietly to the side.

Just then, Arthur walked over.

Annette affectionately slipped her arm through his, murmuring, "Arthur."

Arthur didn't resist her touch, but when his eyes landed on Cindy, his gaze turned cold. "Who said you could come into the banquet hall? Go wait outside."

Winter had settled over Jorleston, and there was no warmth to be found outdoors, except for the biting wind slicing through the air.

Still, Cindy simply nodded. "Alright."

She turned and walked out of the banquet hall, stepping into an open garden with nothing overhead to shield her from the weather.

Cindy stood in the biting cold, her thin, fragile frame shivering as the wind sliced through her.

A server, unable to bear the sight, approached and asked if she'd like to wait in the lounge instead.

Cindy silently shook her head. She stood in the cold until the sky darkened and the banquet finally ended.

Annette emerged, draped in Arthur's coat. The two noticed that Cindy was still waiting outside. Arthur's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

His voice unexpectedly turned hoarse as he demanded, "Why are you still standing here? Move it."

He took Annette's hand and led her away, with Cindy following quietly behind them.

As they passed by the artificial lake in the garden, a sly smirk crossed Annette's face. She staggered forward, pretending she had been shoved.

"Oh no! My bracelet fell into the lake!" she exclaimed.

She spun around, her face flushed with anger, and glared at Cindy. "Why did you push me?"

Cindy instinctively defended herself. "I didn't—"

"Don't even try to lie!" Annette snapped.

She clung to Arthur, her voice dripping with feigned distress. "Arthur, that was my favorite bracelet."

Arthur's gaze shifted to Cindy.

He stared at her for what felt like an eternity before speaking in a low, firm tone. "Jump in and get it back."

He'd already decided she was guilty without giving her a chance to explain.

Cindy's eyes fell on the lake, its surface gleaming with a bone-chilling cold. Still, she waded in without a word. The water wasn't deep, reaching just a little above her knees.

But the winter water showed no mercy. Each step felt like treading on ice shards. Cindy, already frail, began to sway unsteadily as she scanned the area.

Arthur, though, barely gave her a look before turning away, muttering, "Don't bother showing up for work tomorrow if you can't find it."

With that, he left, taking Annette with him.

Chapter 3

Cindy stood alone in the lake, an ineffable desolation welling up within her. She'd spent the entire night hunched over, searching, until she finally found the bracelet.

As dawn broke, she straightened up, shivering, her body numb and marked with purple from the cold. But she didn't care about the pain. Clutching the bracelet, she hurried back to the Forsyth Group building.

Annette was in Arthur's office. She took the bracelet, giving it a quick, dismissive look.

"It's covered in mud. It's totally ruined. I don't even want it anymore!" she snapped, breaking the bracelet in two and tossing it into the trash.

Arthur barely glanced at it, his voice cool and detached. "Just throw it away if you don't like it. I'll get you a new one."

Annette flashed him a sugary smile. "You're so nice to me."

Cindy walked out, looking disheveled.

The employees in the CEO's office had long grown accustomed to seeing her like this. Over the years, she had endured more than her fair share of hardships. None of them could understand why she still insisted on staying.

Cindy didn't even take a single day off. She simply popped two cold pills and went along with Arthur on his inspection tour as usual.

By the time the tour wrapped up, it was already evening. Annette showed up, asking Arthur to join her for dinner.

"Cindy, why don't you come with us?" she suggested eagerly.

It wasn't until the dishes arrived that Cindy realized why she'd been invited. The table was laden with spicy dishes, and the only dessert was mango ice cream, made from a fruit she was allergic to.

In the past, Arthur would have carefully picked out even the tiniest speck of chili from her food. Now, it seemed, he had forgotten all about that.

He didn't spare Cindy a single look, his attention fixed entirely on helping Annette with her water and food.

Annette deliberately turned to Cindy and asked, "Why aren't you eating, Cindy?"

Arthur finally looked up, a hint of coldness flickering in his expression. "Why are you even sitting here if you're not eating?"

Cindy had no choice but to pick up her fork and spear a hot wing, bringing it to her lips. Once the meal was over, Arthur left with Annette.

Cindy went home alone, her forehead slick with sweat from the spice, her stomach churning with searing pain. She lay on her bed, numb, her eyes dry, no matter how much it hurt.

The suffering she'd endured over the years was her penance to Winter. Each ounce of pain eased the weight of the guilt pressing down on her, letting her breathe just a little easier.

The agony blurred her thoughts, yet a faint, desolate smile lingered on her face.

…

A few more days went by. Without proper treatment and with her stomach constantly irritated by alcohol, Cindy's health had taken a turn for the worse.

Still, each time, she simply tossed back two pills and forced herself to push through the pain.

It was the weekend. Cindy lay on the couch, her body in so much pain she couldn't bring herself to move.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Arthur.

"Ann wants a chicken pot pie from Crusty Comforts. Go get one for her."

As Arthur's assistant, Cindy had never known what it meant to have a day off. Whenever he demanded something, she was expected to jump to it without question.

But today, the pain was so intense she couldn't even muster the strength to stand.

"Could you ask your other assistant, Mr. Ackerman, to go today? I—"

Before she could finish, Arthur cut her off coldly. "Cindy, when did I ever give you the right to decide?"

Her breath hitched, and no words came out.

"You can go, or you can disappear for good."

With that, Arthur hung up without another word.

Cindy had no choice but to force herself up, biting back the pain as she staggered out the door.

Crusty Comforts, known for its chicken pot pie, was tucked away on a remote street but drew huge crowds. Cindy waited in line for three long hours before finally securing a pie.

She hurried to Arthur's place and handed the pie to Annette, whose expression hardened.

"Who told you to add spicy seasonings?" she snapped.

Struggling to breathe through the pain, Cindy answered, "I thought you liked spicy food."

Annette dumped it without a second thought. "I don't like spicy food anymore."

Arthur's gaze darkened as he turned to Cindy and ordered, "Go get another one."

Once again, Cindy rushed out the door.

The second time she returned with the pie, Annette complained that it contained celery.

Arthur, acting as though he didn't notice she was deliberately making things difficult for Cindy, said flatly, "Go get another one."

And so, Cindy made the trip back and forth several times.

By the time she returned with the final pie, night had fallen. She clutched the carefully wrapped chicken pot pie, her steps shaky as she hurried back.

The pain in her stomach was excruciating, and her legs felt as though they might give way at any moment. Her mind was foggy, and she barely registered the road ahead.

Suddenly, a sharp honk pierced the air. A van sped toward her, slamming into her with a sickening crash!

Cindy was thrown to the ground, rolling several times from the impact. The force was so great that she could no longer hold back. A rush of blood poured from her mouth.

The chicken pot pie lay spilled on the ground, its scent wafted to her nose. Everything before her eyes dissolved into a blurry haze, like static on an old TV screen.

Was she finally going to die? Would she finally get to see Winter again?

A single tear of relief slipped from the corner of her eye. Then, darkness swallowed her whole.

…

When Sylvan saw the person being wheeled in on the emergency stretcher at the hospital, his heart lurched. It was Cindy!

"Cindy! Cindy!"

He called her name repeatedly, but the figure on the stretcher gave no response. She was still vomiting blood.

Even the chief physician was alarmed. "Could it be an organ rupture?"

Sylvan's face twisted with fear as he said, "She has stomach cancer!"

The doctor's expression shifted instantly. He quickly instructed the team to rush Cindy into the operating room for emergency treatment.

Several hours later, the surgery ended, but it had only managed to stop the bleeding from her car accident injuries. Every monitor in the room screamed the same truth—her life was slipping away!

Sylvan, frantic, turned to the professor. "What's happening to her, Professor?"

The professor shook his head. "Her body had already been weakened by late-stage stomach cancer, and the car accident led to her organs failing ahead of time."

Cindy lay unconscious on the hospital bed, coughing up blood as she murmured a name over and over, "Arthur… Arthur…"

She looked as though she might take her last breath at any moment.

Sylvan's eyes burned red as he clutched her hand, his voice breaking with tears. "Cindy, hold on. Please, just hold on. I'll get him to come see you. Just wait a little longer. Just a little longer!"

His hands shook as he pulled out her phone and dialed Arthur's number.

The call connected, and a cold voice came through. "Cindy, did you get so lost buying a chicken pot pie that you can't find your way back?"

Sylvan clenched his fists, muttering, "It's me, Sylvan."

There was silence on the other end, followed by a low, tense voice after a few seconds. "Why do you have her phone?"

Sylvan's eyes were fixed on the heart monitor. The line was nearly flat.

His voice trembled as he emphasized each word. "Come to the hospital and see Cindy one last time."

Chapter 4

Arthur went quiet on the other end of the line.

It was hard to tell how long the silence stretched before he scoffed. "Sylvan, did Cindy tell you to go along with her little charade?"

Sylvan was seething, his voice broke with emotion as he shouted, "Cindy—"

But before he could get another word out, a frail hand tugged at him. He glanced down and saw Cindy, who had been out cold just moments before, now awake.

With visible effort, she shook her head, her lips moving soundlessly. "Don't let him come."

Just then, the heart monitor beside her started to tick upward, slow but steady.

Arthur's raspy voice crackled through the phone. "What's wrong with her?"

But Sylvan had no time to explain. Relief flooded him as he watched the numbers climb on the monitor. He hung up the phone and bolted out the door to find the professor.

After a thorough examination, the doctor removed his mask, sweat glistening on his face, and exhaled deeply. "Her vitals are leveling out. Get her to the observation room, now!"

With that, Cindy was wheeled away, the doors of the observation room closing behind her.

On the other end, after Sylvan hung up on him, Arthur stared at his phone for a long time.

Annette noticed how distracted he was—again, because of Cindy—and a flicker of envy and resentment crossed her eyes.

"Arthur, they're obviously conspiring to deceive you. Cindy's just trying to get your attention. Hasn't she gotten tired of these mind games after all these years?"

She reached for his hand as she spoke, but he stood abruptly, leaving her grasping at air.

"I've got work to finish. You should head back for now," Arthur said quietly.

Annette had been sure she'd finally get to stay the night, but now, frustration and anger boiled inside her. Reluctantly, she had no choice but to leave.

Alone in his study, Arthur sat in front of his computer. His thoughts were a jumbled mess. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't concentrate.

Finally, he dialed his other assistant, Kevin Ackerman.

"Get me Cindy's location now," he directed, hearing the quiver in his voice.

Kevin assured him he'd take care of it.

A little over ten minutes later, he called back. "Mr. Forsyth, Ms. Tessier was in a car accident a few hours ago. She's at Luminova Hospital, but she's stable now."

Arthur held his phone, his silence stretching on for what felt like forever.

The stillness lasted so long that Kevin couldn't help but ask, "Do you... want to go see her?"

The pause dragged on until Arthur finally said, "Don't let her know I asked about her."

Startled, Kevin agreed anyway. Then, the call ended abruptly.

Arthur said nothing more. That night, the light in his study remained on, glowing through the hours until dawn.

…

The next day, Cindy's spirits had improved slightly in the hospital.

Sylvan, who hadn't left her side, spoke with a note of desperation in his voice. "Cindy, you can't put this off any longer. You need to be admitted and start chemotherapy immediately. Otherwise, you're not going to make it much longer!"

But Cindy just smiled and shook her head. "That's fine. I've been looking forward to that day for a while now."

Sylvan was utterly stunned.

A sharp pain shot through his chest, and his voice shook as he asked, "Do you really have to punish yourself like this?"

"Death isn't a punishment for me. Sylvan, thank you for staying by my side all these years. If you truly care about me, let me make this choice on my own, please."

Five years ago, her soul had already died. Now, it was finally her body's turn.

A few days later, despite Sylvan's protests, Cindy was determined to leave the hospital. All because Winter's death anniversary had come around.

Cindy carried a bouquet of lilies as she made her way to the cemetery. She stood before the tombstone, her eyes fixed on the black-and-white photo of Winter—so young and beautiful.

Winter had been vibrant and kind, but her life had been cut short, frozen forever on that day.

"Winter, you probably don't want to see me, do you? All these years, I've dreamed of you every night. And in those dreams, I keep telling you how sorry I am. I wish I could go back to that day. If I could, I'd never have run away."

She sank to the ground, leaning against the tombstone, just like she used to when they'd sit together and share secrets.

"Do you know? I'll be with you soon. But I'm scared. I'm scared that you'll hate seeing me. I'm scared you'll hate me, too..."

As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks.

The biting wind cut through the cemetery. Cindy traced her fingers over Winter's photo, a wave of indescribable pain rising in her chest.

Her voice cracked with emotion as she said, "I'll come for you, whether you hate me or not. We promised we'd be best friends forever."

Chapter 5

Cindy lingered in the cemetery for a long time. Just as she turned to leave, her footsteps came to an abrupt halt at the sight of a group of people heading her way.

Arthur noticed her right away. It was the first time they'd laid eyes on each other since Cindy's car accident. His eyes darkened as they fell on the lilies resting before Winter's grave.

The next moment, his mother, Monica Barlow, standing beside him, caught sight of Cindy. She charged forward, seized Cindy, and struck her in a fit of rage.

"Who said you could come here? Get out! Leave now!" Monica bellowed.

The force of the slap left Cindy reeling. She stumbled back.

"Mrs. Forsyth, I only came to see—"

"Shut up!" Monica roared, cutting her off. "You have no right to be here. Winter's dead because of you. Now go!"

Cindy's left cheek burned, the skin already swelling and reddening. She bit back the pain, too afraid to speak another word.

Stephen Forsyth, Arthur's father, quickly stepped in to restrain Monica. "Cindy! Just go. Don't ever come back!"

But Monica wasn't having it. Her gaze landed on the lilies lying on the ground, and she wrenched herself free from Stephen's hold. She grabbed the flowers and flung them at Cindy with everything she had, her sobs tearing through the air like a storm.

"Don't you show up here acting like you care! If you hadn't run off that night and had stayed to help Winter, she wouldn't have died the way she did!

"Five drunk men. You left her defenseless against five drunk men. Not a single part of her lower body was left unscathed when she died!"

Monica's hatred for Cindy burned fiercely.

Deep down, everyone knew that if Cindy hadn't run, the two of them might've both ended up suffering the same fate.

But Winter's death had been too devastating. It had left everyone drowning in grief and fury, their judgment clouded. They couldn't forgive Cindy for not letting Winter go first that night.

They made sure those men would rot behind bars for the rest of their lives. And as for Cindy, they wanted her to carry the weight of her guilt forever.

Monica continued to strike her, her blows relentless as she wept. "My sweet Winter was so young and kind-hearted. Why did you run? Why did you leave her there all by herself..."

In the end, she shoved Cindy with a desperate cry. "Why did Winter have to die? Why couldn't it have been you instead?"

Cindy stumbled back from the force, her head slamming against the edge of another gravestone. Blood instantly spilled across her forehead.

Arthur clenched his fists. The moment Cindy got back on her feet, he gripped her arm tightly.

"Mom, don't get worked up in front of Winter. I'll make her leave right now."

Without another word, he hauled her out of the cemetery. Once outside, he shoved her away roughly.

Arthur's eyes were shadowed with emotion as he hissed through gritted teeth, "Are you trying to get yourself killed? I told you never to come back here."

His eyes burned with rage, but something else simmered beneath it.

Bitterness rose in Cindy's chest as she said, "I wanted to see Winter..."

Arthur's voice was cold and cutting. "You don't deserve to."

Without another word, he spun on his heel and marched back into the cemetery, signaling to the bodyguards nearby to drive her away.

His words—"You don't deserve to"—stabbed her straight in the heart.

Cindy staggered away, tears pouring down her cheeks as she made her way down the road. But then, Winter's voice echoed in her ears, bright and crisp.

"Cindy, this bracelet's for you, and this one's mine. We're best friends for life. You'd better not leave me behind."

"Cindy, I caught Arthur looking at diamond rings yesterday. I bet he's going to pop the question soon."

"Once he's watching you like a hawk, it'll be harder for me to steal you away. Let's catch a movie tonight, okay?"

"Cindy, run! Just run!"

Cindy's face was already streaked with tears.

"Winter, do you have any idea how much I regret not stepping in front of you that day, not letting you go first? It wouldn't have shattered so many hearts if I had been the one to die," she thought.

For someone like her, with no family, being gone would've just meant being gone. Maybe Arthur would've loved her forever if she had died back then. Maybe they never would have ended up like they were today.

The more Cindy dwelt on it, the deeper the pain sank its claws into her. In the end, she couldn't hold herself together any longer. Her emotions broke loose, and she dropped to the ground, crying her heart out.