Chapter 1

Melanie Lloyd walked out of the city hall like a shell of herself, dazed and unsteady. It wasn't until she collapsed into the back seat of a cab that the tears she had been holding in finally fell.

Four years ago, her half-sister, Yasmin Lloyd, ran off on her wedding day. To preserve the Lloyds' and the Fullers' reputations, Melanie had married Zachary Fuller in place of Yasmin.

At first, Zachary had been cold and distant toward Melanie. Yet, she never once complained. Instead, she managed every part of his life with meticulous care.

Little by little, her steady presence chipped away at his defenses.

Zachary began to let Melanie rearrange his schedule. He'd also listen to her awful puns with great patience and even let her organize confidential work documents.

As time went on, he only treated her better. He gave her a black card with no spending limit and took her to every award-winning restaurant in town.

Even if she had a craving for peanut brittle late at night, Zachary would drive halfway across the city just to get it for her. Then, he'd hand it over, pinch her cheek, and say with a helpless smile, "You really are the greediest little thing."

Melanie had thought she'd finally won him over.

However, Yasmin returned to the country two months ago with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

That night, their father, Charles Lloyd, called a family meeting.

With a grave expression, he said to Melanie, "Yasmin's cancer is in the late stages. She has at most six months left to live. Her biggest regret is not marrying Zachary. So for now, you'll step aside. Once the wedding is over and Yasmin is gone, he'll still be yours."

"Yasmin's your sister. Please just give in this once," Melanie's stepmother, Susan Jakeman, pleaded.

Yasmin, too, sobbed uncontrollably. "This is my only wish before I die. Please let me have him."

Melanie could hardly believe her ears. In the next instant, her eyes burned with unshed tears.

"Back then, you forced me into this marriage like a puppet, and now you want him to marry Yasmin? What do you people take me for? I won't agree to this!" she snapped, each word laced with fury and pain.

But Charles ignored Melanie's protests. He locked her in her room and said she wouldn't be allowed out until she relented.

On the third day of her confinement, she heard that Zachary had smashed a glass in front of Charles, furious.

On the 13th day, a news alert popped up on her phone. It read, "Zachary Fuller Declares That His Wife Can Only Ever Be Melanie Lloyd."

On the 28th day, Zachary pulled the plug on every business partnership he had with the Lloyds. It was his way of forcing them to return Melanie.

A month later, the locked door finally opened.

Melanie's eyes filled with tears as she thought about everything Zachary had done for her lately. Without even stopping to put on her shoes, she stumbled straight into his arms.

But the next second, she heard his hoarse voice. "Mel, I'm sorry. Your parents were adamant. They even begged me. For the sake of both our families, I have no choice but to go through with this charade with Yasmin.

"But don't worry. It's only a fake marriage. You'll always be the woman I call my wife."

Almost immediately, Melanie felt her heart plummet into an endless abyss, and her chest ached with each intake of breath.

She froze for a moment before reaching up to gently cup his hollowed face. Blinking back tears, she reassured him, "You've already done more than enough."

Later, Melanie stood by and watched as Zachary slipped a diamond ring onto Yasmin's finger in front of a crowd. He even threw her an extravagant wedding.

After that, he treated Melanie just as kindly as before.

However, he began spending more and more time with Yasmin. It started with occasional visits. Then, he stopped coming home for days at a time.

When Melanie got upset, Zachary explained patiently, "I don't love her. I just want to be there for her through the end as a friend."

She believed him, but the truth blindsided her.

…

By the time the car pulled up outside Fuller Group, Melanie had composed herself. She clutched the fake marriage certificate tightly in her hand.

As soon as she reached the top floor, she came face-to-face with Zachary's assistant, Kevin Stone.

He looked visibly uneasy the moment he saw her.

"Mrs. Fuller, what brings you here?" asked Kevin.

"I need to see Zachary."

Kevin replied, "Mr. Fuller is in a meeting at the moment. He's not—"

But Melanie simply brushed past him and headed straight for Zachary's office.

Just as she reached for the door handle, she heard Yasmin's voice from inside.

"Zachary, look me in the eyes and tell me the truth," she said, one hand tugging at his tie while the other was pressed to his chest. "Have you ever truly gotten over me?"

Zachary's Adam's apple bobbed, and her touch made his breath hitch. Still, his voice was cold as he answered, "You're imagining things."

"Am I?" Yasmin chuckled. "Didn't you fake a marriage with Melanie just to wait for me? Now that I've returned, you rushed to register our marriage.

"And those things you wrote in your journal… You said the only reason you let Melanie marry you in my place was to force me to come ba—"

Before she could finish, Zachary suddenly grabbed the back of her neck, silencing her with a kiss that bordered on violence.

His gaze was searing, and every word came through clenched teeth. "Yes, I never got over you. So tell me, Yasmin. How do you plan to repay what you owe me?"

Just outside the door, Melanie stood frozen to the ground. It was as if she had been doused in ice water, leaving her body numb.

She remembered how, just days ago, Zachary had pulled her into his arms, kissed the top of her head, and whispered, "Yasmin's nothing but a distant past. You're the only one who matters to me now."

What a cruel joke. As it turned out, his love was nothing but a well-polished lie.

Their marriage had been a farce from the very beginning.

Melanie closed her eyes slowly, refusing to let the tears fall.

If this was the choice Zachary came to, then so be it. She would let him go and allow him to fly free with the woman he truly loved.

Chapter 2

Melanie stepped into the elevator in a daze. By the time she snapped back to her senses, it had already stopped at the basement level.

An eager intern came up to her and asked, "You're here for Ms. Yasmin Lloyd's exhibit, right? Please follow me."

That was when Melanie realized she hadn't pressed a button. Before she knew it, she was mindlessly following the intern into the gallery.

The intern strolled behind her, explaining with enthusiasm, "This entire exhibit was sponsored by Mr. Fuller. After this, the pieces are heading on a national tour."

Right then, Melanie's gaze settled on one of the oil paintings.

The painting showed a man's bare back, with clearly defined muscles and a distinct scar just above his waist.

She had traced the scar in the dark more times than she could count. Naturally, she knew exactly who the man in the painting was.

Turns out, Yasmin had painted many portraits of Zachary. The dates marked in the bottom right corner of each piece were as clear as they were cruel.

The one painted on June 20th captured Zachary in the kitchen, his back bathed in warm light as he cooked. That was the third day of Melanie's confinement.

She had gone on a hunger strike and passed out from gastric pain. Yet, he was in another home, preparing a lovely meal for Yasmin.

The piece dated July 1st showed a pair of slender, well-defined hands folding a silk nightgown embroidered with irises. The wedding band on his finger gleamed with a cold light.

It had been Melanie's 14th day of being locked away. She had cut herself with a razor in protest, blood soaking half the bed. In stark contrast, Zachary had been folding Yasmin's delicate clothes.

In the July 15th painting, Zachary walked along a shaded path, umbrella in hand. At the edge of the canvas, Melanie could make out their interlaced fingers.

She had been locked away for 28 days by then. Charles had chained her to the bed, forcing her to let go of Zachary. Burning with fever, she lay curled into a ball on the sweat-soaked sheets. Meanwhile, Zachary strolled leisurely under the soft morning light, hand in hand with Yasmin.

Every painting cut deeper than the last. As it turned out, he hadn't been fighting for Madeline at all during that dark month. Instead, he had been with Yasmin the entire time.

The shattered glass, the public declaration of love, and the canceled deals with Lloyd Group had been nothing more than a smokescreen.

Melanie clenched her fists so tightly that her nails sank into her palms. But still she felt nothing.

She couldn't bear to look any longer. Thus, she turned and walked out of the gallery.

…

Then, she headed back to the Lloyd residence to collect her mother's belongings.

But the moment she walked in, Charles tossed her a plane ticket.

"Susan and I talked it over. We want Yasmin to stay with Zachary until she passes. This flight leaves in ten days. You should take a trip and clear your mind a little."

Melanie clutched the ticket tightly, her lips pressed into a tight line. She knew Charles just wanted her out of the way so Zachary and Yasmin could have the place to themselves.

After all, the only way they could be alone without guilt was if she left.

"Mel, please don't take it the wrong way. We just want Yasmin to spend her final days in peace," said Susan.

Her eyes were red-rimmed as she spoke, but Melanie had heard this same speech too many times to care.

"Got it. I'll go on that trip," Melanie replied flatly. She was done with Zachary and the Lloyds, too.

Charles hadn't expected Melanie to agree so easily. Still, he assumed she was finally done resisting. His tone softened as he added, "We've arranged a farewell party for Yasmin in three days. Don't forget to come."

"Okay."

…

Back home, Melanie took out a box and started packing everything tied to Zachary. There were the matching mugs he gave her for her birthday, ticket stubs from their first movie date, and the photo booth strip she had made him pose for.

She was almost done when she heard the front door open. Zachary was home.

Seeing the box packed with items from their shared memories, he felt his chest tighten.

He rushed over, then asked, "Mel, what are you doing?"

Chapter 3

Melanie's head hung low. Without looking up, she said, "Yasmin's moving in, right? I thought I'd clear my stuff before she gets here. There's no point in upsetting her."

Zachary grabbed her wrist, and with one swift pull, drew her into his arms.

"You're still mad at me, aren't you?" he asked.

"No."

"Melanie, you're really bad at lying."

Zachary tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "I've told you more than once. We're just putting on a show. If I'd actually wanted to marry her, I would've brought her back four years ago."

Melanie looked him straight in the eye. Then, out of nowhere, she smiled. "Zachary, you know better than anyone who you truly want to marry."

Her voice was soft, yet every word was crystal clear.

Before she could say more, Zachary's phone rang sharply, drowning out her voice.

He glanced at the screen, then hurriedly answered. After a few brief words into the phone, he muttered something to her about a work emergency and hurried out the door.

Melanie stared at his retreating figure. At that moment, she realized that it didn't matter anymore whether she confronted him or not.

Some relationships were like candy left out too long. They looked shiny on the outside, but inside, they had long gone stale. You could force yourself to hold on, but in the end, all you'd taste was disappointment.

…

Not long after Zachary left, Melanie received a WhatsApp message from Yasmin.

It was a photo. In it, Zachary was down on one knee, holding Yasmin's foot as he clasped an anklet with a horseshoe charm around it.

Suddenly, Melanie was taken back to the time she had dragged him to a summer fair. She had spent ages at a booth, sifting through handmade jewelry and chatting with the vendor about charms and what they meant.

When she finally turned around, Zachary was a few steps away, checking his watch. The irritation on his face was obvious.

"You actually believe in that kind of crap?" he had asked.

Melanie was lost in thought when another message from Yasmin popped up.

Yasmin: "I told Zachary I wasn't feeling well, and he went straight to that shop that sells good luck charms. He bought me this anklet."

Yasmin: "Has he ever done anything like that for you?"

Yasmin: "Wake up, Melanie. He never loved you."

Melanie's grip tightened around her phone. The glow from the screen lit up her face, and whatever warmth that was left in her eyes all but disappeared.

It was true. Zachary had never loved her. And from now on, she wasn't going to waste another second hoping he ever would.

…

For the next two days, Zachary didn't come home. It wasn't until the third day that Melanie saw him again—at Yasmin's farewell party.

He arrived in a tailored black suit, guiding Yasmin's wheelchair through the crowd. She looked pale and weak as she sat with a blanket over her legs.

The moment she tilted her head slightly, Zachary leaned down to ask if she was okay.

Right then, Melanie's lips curled into a mocking smile. He had claimed it was all just an act, but the way he looked at Yasmin hadn't changed in four years. It still held the same tenderness.

The ceremony began shortly after.

Charles stepped forward and announced Yasmin's condition to the guests. Then, tears welled in his eyes as he continued, "My daughter's life has been both a tragedy and a blessing. Though her days are numbered, she's surrounded by a loving family and a man who's always been there for her."

Moments later, a video began to play. It was a slideshow of Yasmin's life, from childhood to adulthood.

There she was as a toddler, surrounded by her parents at her first birthday party. At ten, Charles guided her hands across piano keys. At 18, the whole family stood proudly beside her at her graduation ceremony.

But in every picture, Melanie was just a blurry figure in the background. She had been nothing but a silent witness to an unfolding joy that never belonged to her.

Then, the images shifted. Now, it was Zachary by Yasmin's side.

He stood there with flowers in hand when she won a competition. He proudly posed as her muse while she painted. Finally, he held her close on their wedding day.

From school uniforms to tailored suits, the years passed in a blur. Yet, the tenderness in his eyes never once wavered.

The crowd sat quietly, overcome with emotion.

Without warning, the screen glitched. The slideshow vanished, and in its place was a black background with red text.

It read, "Yasmin Lloyd, bitches like you belong in hell! You stole my husband. Just like your mother, you're nothing but a man-stealing whore! I curse you to rot in hell. You'll never know peace!"

For a few seconds, the room was deathly silent.

Then, chaos erupted.

Chapter 4

Everyone turned to look at Melanie in unison.

She stood frozen to the spot. Before she could even process what had happened, Susan's panicked scream tore through the room.

"Yasmin!"

Yasmin had fainted from shock after seeing the slurs on the screen.

In an instant, Zachary's expression changed drastically. He scooped Yasmin into his arms and hurried toward the infirmary.

Melanie's mind went blank. Suddenly, a slap cracked across her cheek, jolting her back to reality.

Charles' eyes blazed with fury, veins bulging at his temples as he roared, "What kind of monster did I raise? Your sister's sick, and you still have the nerve to curse her to death?"

Melanie stumbled back, bumping into the champagne tower behind her. It toppled over with a crash, and liquor spilled across the floor.

She collapsed onto the shards, gritting her teeth against the pain.

"It wasn't me!" she cried.

"Shut up!" Charles barked. "I've always known you hated how we treat Yasmin better. But she's dying! Is it so hard to show her a little sympathy?"

Then, he turned to someone and ordered, "Take her away and lock her up!"

…

Just like that, Melanie was thrown into a pitch-black room. She had been afraid of the dark since she was a child. Worse still, she was claustrophobic.

The door slammed shut, and her chest instantly tightened. It felt like the darkness was closing in from all sides, choking the air out of her lungs.

She pounded on the door with all her strength, leaving a bloodied mess on the wooden panels.

"Open up! Please, let me out! I'm begging you!"

But outside, there was only silence.

Her strength slowly ebbed away. She slid to the floor and gasped for air as her vision blurred.

Melanie had no idea how much time had passed. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, the door creaked open.

Upon seeing the streak of light, she dragged herself toward it. In the next second, a bucket of warm, foul-smelling liquid came crashing down on her.

Then came a second bucket, and a third.

Melanie choked so hard that she could barely breathe.

Through the haze, she barely made out a familiar figure standing in the doorway. It was Zachary.

He stood at the threshold between light and shadow, coldly watching as his men doused her again and again. Yet, he didn't tell them to stop.

Only after the last bucket was emptied did he finally step forward. He crouched before her and gently wiped her face with a silk handkerchief.

"Yasmin woke up," Zachary said, his voice icy. "She didn't blame you for cursing her. She even begged me to show you mercy. She said you were just possessed and not truly evil. So, I had this prepared. It's meant to drive out evil."

After a pause, he added, "But for it to work, you'll have to soak in it for three full days and nights."

A flash of terror crossed Melanie's face. She grabbed Zachary's arm and pleaded, "I didn't curse her. You have to believe me."

Yet, he simply pried her fingers off, one by one. His movement was slow, deliberate, and cruel.

"You did something wrong. Actions have consequences, Melanie. Even a child knows that."

The warmth of his touch faded from Melanie's fingertips. She parted her lips, but all that came out was a broken plea. "Please… don't leave me here. I'm scared of the dark."

"And what about Yasmin?" Zachary glared at her. "Did it ever occur to you that she might be scared when you cursed her?"

At that moment, Melanie slipped into a daze. She remembered a stormy night when the power had gone out. She had curled up in a corner, trembling in fear.

It was Zachary who had lit candles to fill the room with light. Then, he held her close, his touch gentle as he whispered, "Don't be scared, Mel. I'm here."

But now, that very same man was shoving her into the abyss.

Suddenly, a searing pain tore through Melanie's lower abdomen. She instinctively clutched her stomach just as warmth began to spread between her legs.

Realizing she might be losing the baby, she clutched Zachary's pant leg with trembling hands. Her voice cracked as she begged, "Zachary, my stomach hurts. I think I'm having a miscarriage. Please… take me to the hospital."

He paused before frowning slightly. "You're not even pregnant. How could you possibly be having a miscarriage?"

Pain clouded Melanie's vision.

"I am. I'm carrying your—"

"That's enough!"

Clearly, Zachary didn't believe a word she said. "I'll come back for you in three days."

And with that, he turned and walked away.

A sob escaped Melanie's throat, raw and helpless like a wounded animal. Her fingers dug desperately into the ground, but she still couldn't stop him from leaving.

Her trembling hands grasped at empty air. A beat later, they fell limp.

She lay motionless in a pool of her own blood. Right before everything faded, a wry smile tugged at her lips.

This time, she saw Zachary for who he truly was.

Chapter 5

When Melanie came to, she was lying in a hospital bed.

"You're finally awake."

The doctor, Fiona Parker, gave her a pitying look as she sighed. "You had a miscarriage and lost a dangerous amount of blood. If they had gotten you here even a few minutes later, not even a miracle would've saved you."

According to Fiona, it was a maid delivering Melanie breakfast the next morning who found her unconscious. She had barely made it out alive.

Fiona continued, "Your family is unbelievable. How could they treat you like this? Your husband, in particular, wouldn't answer a single call. When he shows up, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."

"Doctor," Melanie interrupted, clutching the sheets tightly. "Don't tell him about the pregnancy."

Zachary wouldn't believe her anyway. He had already stopped caring about her.

Besides, she had no intention of being tangled up with him ever again.

Fiona looked like she wanted to say something else. But in the end, she just shook her head and walked away.

…

Zachary never once showed up while Melanie was hospitalized. However, he was all over Yasmin's Instagram feed.

On the first day, Yasmin posted a close-up image of a bowl of chicken soup, captioned, "Ten years later, and it's still my favorite comfort food."

On the second day, it was a photo of Zachary asleep, slouched on the edge of her bed. She wrote, "Had another nightmare last night. Thank goodness you're the first thing I see when I wake up."

Suddenly, Melanie remembered how Zachary used to make her chicken soup when she was sick. When she had a fever, he sat by her bed the same way, holding her hand and never letting go.

Only then did the truth dawn on Melanie. That tenderness was never hers to begin with. All along, Zachary had just been loving someone else through her.

…

On the day Melanie was discharged, Zachary finally called. "Something came up at the office. I've sent the driver to pick you up."

Even then, Melanie didn't ask questions or lose her temper.

"Okay," she replied calmly.

As soon as the call ended, she placed a hand on her flat stomach.

To her, Zachary was now just another name in her contacts—one she'd be deleting soon. She had long since stopped expecting anything from him.

…

When Melanie got home, the first thing she saw was Yasmin standing in the living room. With a paintbrush in hand, she was painting all over the wall.

Her wedding portrait with Zachary and all their old Polaroids were scattered across the floor, streaked with bright paint.

Right then, Yasmin looked up with a smile. "Mel, you're back? This wall looked a little boring, so I thought I'd give it a makeover. You don't mind, do you?"

Melanie glanced at the mess and replied flatly, "Do whatever you want."

This house had stopped feeling like home a long time ago. Soon, it wouldn't be hers any longer.

At that moment, Zachary emerged from the kitchen with a plate of freshly cut fruit.

As Melanie headed for the stairs, he stepped in front of her, saying, "Yasmin's trying to make peace. Is this really how you're going to respond?"

"What do you want me to do? Should I get on my knees and thank her for wrecking my photos?"

A flicker of fatigue crossed Melanie's pale face as she spoke.

Almost immediately, Yasmin stepped in to defuse the tension. "Don't blame her, Zachary. Melanie didn't mean what she said."

"She didn't mean it? Then why would she say something so vicious?"

Then, Zachary turned to Melanie, his gaze colder than ever. "Melanie, you've let me down."

But she didn't have the strength to argue. She was still weak from the procedure, after all.

Without another word, she pushed past him and stormed upstairs.

…

Melanie had barely settled into bed when the door swung open.

Yasmin stood at the doorway. The softness in her expression had completely vanished, replaced by undisguised scorn.

"It hurts seeing Zachary defend me like that, doesn't it?" she asked, her lips curling into a taunting smile. "I told you. He was only toying with you. I didn't think you'd be dumb enough to believe it was real."

Melanie rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head. She couldn't be bothered to deal with Yasmin.

However, Yasmin wasn't done. She marched up to the bed, relentless. "Do you even know what people are saying about you? That you spent four years in bed with your brother-in-law and still walked away with nothing.

"Even the hookers who charge by the hour are worth more than you. Face it, Melanie. Our family doesn't need you, and Zachary doesn't want you. You're just like your mother. You two are nothing but burdens!"

Melanie snapped the moment Yasmin brought up her deceased mother. Her head jerked up, her gaze cutting straight through the latter.

"You seem awfully rattled. Are you scared he might've fallen for me over these past four years?" she retorted.

Yasmin froze momentarily, then let out a chuckle.

She shot Melanie a look of contempt. "Fall for you? If he actually loved you, do you think I'd be standing here right now humiliating you?"

Moments later, the door slammed behind her.

Melanie, on the other hand, clutched the sheets as a chill spread through her limbs.

Luckily, she'd be leaving soon. By then, she'd never have to stomach their cruelty again.