Chapter 1

In the hospital room, Martin Waters struggled to stay upright as he gave his final confession.

He said, "Madeleine, I could've kept this secret forever, but I can't stand to see them separated anymore, and after I'm gone, Phoebe will have nothing. It was wrong of me to keep this from you all these years, but you loved me—and marrying me wasn't such a bad deal for you, was it?

That was when Phoebe Shaw finally stepped into the room.

She looked at me with a gaze full of pity, not guilt.

My adopted children stood quietly at her sides, both of them turning their faces away to avoid meeting my eyes.

Clearly, they had known the truth about their parentage for a long time.

Years ago, Martin insisted on remaining childfree, but later returned home with these two siblings, claiming they were orphans who'd lost their parents in an accident. He knew I adored children, and he said their story moved him, so we adopted them.

Back then, the boy was five, the girl three—soft, sweet, and lovable—and I poured every ounce of my love into raising them.

Now those same children I raised with everything I had didn't hesitate to choose their birth mother over me.

Phoebe reached for my hand and pleaded, "Madeleine, please let me stay. Martin doesn't have much time, and I want to care for him and be there with him at the end. After all the years we've lost."

I didn't reply; instead, I lifted my gaze and looked directly at the two children standing beside her.

Ramon Waters avoided my eyes and, after a long pause, finally said, "Mom, you don't have to worry about the company. Dad's already transferred everything to me, so you should take some time to rest."

Danika Waters quickly followed up with, "Mom, Phoebe and I will make sure Dad's taken care of."

The spacious hospital room suddenly felt cramped and suffocating because I was still standing in it.

I turned and walked out into the bustling hallway, where a video on someone's phone echoed loudly. "My entire life has been one big, pathetic joke."

Martin and I had known each other since we were kids—childhood sweethearts in the traditional sense.

I had loved him in secret for years, until he fell in love with Phoebe in college and I finally decided to move on.

But his parents had always looked down on Phoebe's background, and they forced the two of them apart.

During that time, Martin drank constantly and would call me just to vent about how shallow his parents were.

I sat beside him through those bitter, alcohol-soaked nights, until one day, completely out of the blue, he turned to me and said, "Madeleine, why don't we give this a shot?"

When I stared at him in disbelief, he went on, "I know you've always had feelings for me, so what do you say?"

I confirmed again and again that things were truly over between him and Phoebe, then, with my heart pounding, I agreed.

The joy of finally getting the man I had loved for so long kept me up all night, and I told everyone I knew.

We were a perfect match—same social background, shared history—and everyone thought it was a great love story.

Now I understand not everyone was happy about it; at the very least, Martin wasn't because what he ended up with was someone he didn't love.

At his funeral, Phoebe was inconsolable, sobbing like her heart was splitting in two.

Her children stayed by her side the entire time, whispering gently to comfort her, while not once noticing me curled up in the back, clutching my stomach in pain.

I had late-stage liver cancer, and I didn't have long left either.

I had been diagnosed six months ago, but I chose to keep it to myself so they wouldn't worry.

Now, looking at how things turned out, I was starting to think that if they'd known, they might've celebrated.

My best friend Kaia Mills, furious and heartbroken for me, said through gritted teeth, "Martin was a selfish bastard who wasted your entire life. And those two ungrateful brats should've been left on the street to fend for themselves."

It was funny how everyone could see that Martin owed me a lifetime, except for Martin himself.

As for the children, they were angrily demanding to know why I planned to donate all my assets.

They were outraged that just because they weren't biologically mine, I wasn't leaving them a cent.

Watching their furious faces, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Ramon started to speak again, but Phoebe quickly pulled him back.

With teary eyes, she tried to smooth things over. "Madeleine didn't mean it. She's just angry; of course she wouldn't actually cut you out, you're her children."

Kaia couldn't stay silent anymore and exploded, "How dare you still call her Mom—she's dying of cancer and all you care about is her will; you disgust me!"

Only then did I see a flicker of guilt on their faces.

Just then, the lawyer walked in, and that guilt vanished instantly, replaced by greedy anticipation as their eyes locked on the folder in his hands.

It was my will.

I didn't hesitate, and I signed it.

"I'm not leaving you anything. Kaia's right, you don't deserve it," I said.

When they saw the final decision, the three of them had no choice but to walk out in disappointment.

Just before leaving, Danika turned and spat, "My mom was right. The unloved one is always the third wheel; Madeleine, you ruined their lives, and cancer is what you deserve."

The pain surged again, and I dragged my exhausted body back to a house packed with memories.

So this was what all those years of 'happiness' really were—nothing but a delusion I clung to alone.

If I could live my life over again, I'd make damn sure I wasn't the punchline of someone else's story.