Chapter 1

On the morning of her engagement, Claire Bennett felt no excitement, only a knot of dread tightening in her chest.

She couldn't be sure the ceremony would even finish.

Yet there was no turning back. Two prominent families were watching.

Sure enough, the instant the music started, Emily Wynn burst through the doors, her eyes wild, and slit her wrist in front of the guests.

When Claire saw Ethan Perry sprint towards Emily, she let out a slow, ragged breath.

So, this was how it ended.

*****

Outside the emergency room, everyone was frantic with worry, and they couldn't hold back from lashing out at Claire.

"We told you, no ceremony, no party, but you just had to go through with it! Now look what happened. If anything happens to Emily, how are you ever going to live with yourself?" Ethan's mother was beside herself with anxiety.

"I think she did it on purpose," Ethan's father cut in, his face tight with anger. He glared at Claire as if she were some monster. "She knew how fragile Emily is, yet she pushed for this engagement party anyway. Our family doesn't need a daughter-in-law with such a vicious heart."

Emily's parents, David and Mary Wynn, shot Claire venomous looks. It was clear that if anything happened to Emily, they'd make sure Claire paid the ultimate price.

But honestly, Claire had done nothing wrong.

Claire didn't bother to defend herself. She just stared blankly at the glowing sign above the ER and at Ethan, who was still keeping watch by the door.

She let out a quiet sigh and thought this was how it ended.

Someone called out, "The doctor's coming out!"

The emergency light flickered off, the doors slid open, and the doctor finally appeared. "She's okay. We pulled her through."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, including Claire.

Ethan walked over to Claire, took her hand, and gave her a tired smile. "Thank God she's okay."

If Emily had really gotten hurt, Ethan would never get over it, and neither would she.

After all, she was a kind person. She couldn't live with the thought that her love story might cost someone else their life.

At his parents' insistence, Ethan went with Emily to her hospital room.

Claire slumped down in the hospital corridor, her back pressed against the cold wall.

Her parents' words before they left echoed in her mind, making her feel suffocated.

Her mother, Wendy, gripped Claire's hand, worry written all over her face. "Claire, I know you have feelings for Ethan, but Emily is way too unstable.

"If she can go as far as slashing her wrist at your engagement party, who knows what she'll do next? If something really happens to her, could you ever forgive yourself?"

Her father, Robby, stood off to the side, his face stormy with anger. "The Perry Family's behavior today just proves they don't give a damn about us.

"They knew it was your engagement party, but they all just bailed, leaving you to handle this whole mess alone.

"We're not going to stoop to being in-laws with people like that. If you insist on staying with Ethan, then don't bother calling us your parents ever again."

Thinking about everything that happened, Claire finally knew what she had to do.

Soon, four people surrounded her, their presence heavy with tension.

Mary's eyes were swollen and red. "Claire, I know you're a good person, but you've seen it yourself. Emily is completely devoted to Ethan. If you keep seeing Ethan, who knows? Next time, she might not survive."

David looked at Claire with open hostility and said, "Emily and Ethan grew up together. We always thought they'd end up together.

"Ethan choosing you now is just a momentary impulse. Once he matures, he'll go back to Emily."

Ethan's mother, Sherry, looked at Claire, her eyes full of pleading as she said, "I'm sorry to ask this of you, but could you step aside and let Ethan be with Emily?

"I know my son. Even though he doesn't show it, I can tell he's hurting deep down. After all, they've been together since they were kids."

Ethan's father, Bob, was furious and said to his wife, "I never wanted them together in the first place. You have been indulging him too much. If you hadn't, none of this would have happened."

All four of them had one clear goal: to make Claire walk away from Ethan for good.

Claire and Ethan had been together for three years, but every time they got even a little close, Emily would spiral into another depressive episode.

Emily had overdosed on sleeping pills more than ten times, stood on the edge of the rooftop seven times, and tried to cut her wrists five times.

Every single time, Ethan was eaten up by guilt.

Their whole relationship felt like they were living undercover, sneaking around in the shadows, and Claire was just someone who could never step into the light.

After all the struggle, they finally got engaged, but Emily snapped again and tried to slit her wrist right in front of everyone.

Claire had fought for their relationship before, but every time, Ethan would swear on everything that it was the last time. He promised that no matter what Emily did from now on, he wouldn't get involved anymore.

But every single time, he'd be the first to drop everything and run to her.

This engagement party was Claire's way of giving Ethan one last shot.

Claire was exhausted. She didn't want to be part of their twisted life-or-death drama anymore.