Chapter 1

After sending the message, my fingers shook so badly I almost dropped the phone. Inside the room, their conversation kept going.

“Is this fair to Briar?” Gladys’s voice trembled, laced with a rare hint of guilt. “If it weren’t for the unborn baby, she might’ve ended it all. Watching her so lost, barely eating and living—it’s heartbreaking.”

Elliot signed, as though the weight of his lies was finally pressing down.

“But Carmilla’s only got six months left,” he said, voice tight. “It’s her last wish, Mom. I can’t just walk away.”

“And Briar?” Gladys pushed. “She’s carrying your child.”

“I’ll make it up to her in the future.” he said. “ Don’t worry,mom.”

My heart felt like it was being crushed, the pain instantly radiating through my entire body until I could barely breathe.

I stumbled back to my bedroom, knees buckling beneath me as I crumpled onto the floor.

My phone vibrated. Conor.

“What’s going on, Briar? Is everything okay? Elliot’s… he’s dead, right?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, tears poured down, hot and blinding. The world knew Elliot Sterling was dead.

But I knew better.

I understood Conor's confusion. Even I couldn't have imagined Elliot would fake his death, let alone that he'd do it for another bitch.

Though I said nothing, my brother seemed to sense my emotional state. After a long pause, he spoke softly.

"The day after tomorrow evening. I'll send a plane to pick you up then.I’ll take care of everything else."

After hanging up, I remained frozen in position, still holding the phone.

Just then, a gentle knock came at the door. Standing outside was Elliot's "older brother"

Or rather, Elliot Sterling himself—holding a glass of warm milk.

"Hey, Briar, what’s going on? Why are you sitting on the floor like that? Have you been crying? You... you must be missing Elliot, huh?"

During the weeks since Elliot had returned as his supposed brother, he'd been incredibly kind to me, seemingly treating me as his deceased brother's widow.

Countless times when facing his concern, I'd felt lost my mind.Gladys always attributed this o grief over losing Elliot.

I discreetly locked my phone screen and forced a smile.

"It's nothing.The baby kicked me and I lost my balance for a moment."

Elliot visibly relaxed, setting down the milk before carefully helping me up from the floor.

"That little troublemaker.Wait until he's born—his uncle will teach him."

"Come on.Here some milk for you. Drink it and take a break. Elliot wouldn't hope for this situation."

Hearing him mention his own name, I finally couldn't hold back anymore. I looked directly into his eyes and deliberately asked

"Tell me the truth. Are you Elliot Sterling"

Chapter 2

Elliot froze for a moment, then laughed softly as he gently brushed my hair.

“Briar, you’re exhausted,” he said, his tone dripping with fake concern. “Why would you think I’m Elliot? That’s crazy.”

"Tomorrow’s your prenatal checkup. I’ll take you. You need rest.That's my brother's only bloodline in the world. I'm going to make damn sure that baby arrives safely."

I lowered my eyes, unable to stomach the fake concern in his gaze.

"Just go. I’m exhausted."

Only after the door clicked shut did the tears I'd been holding back all evening finally come flooding out.

Elliot and I met at a college party.He fell for me at the freshman party.and pursued me.

Two years after graduation, he gave me the most extravagant proposal.

I still remember that night—the fireworks reflected in his eyes,but his eyes even more brighter than the fireworks.

While planning our wedding, I discovered I was pregnant. Elliot had been overjoyed.

“Perfect timing,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to mine. “Our baby came for celebrating our wedding. Briar, dear,I'm the happiest man alive right now.”

I still can't wrap my head around it. Six years together, and he throws it all away,faking his own death just to bail on our wedding.

Early the next morning, Elliot knocked on my door.

“Briar?Time for your prenatal checkup. You ready?”

But just as we were about to leave, Carmilla's voice called from behind us.

“Elliot, baby, I’m not feeling well.Could you stay with me today?”

At the sound of her voice, Elliot didn't even glance my way before rushing to her side.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? You should be resting.”

Then he turned to me with a quick glance.

“Sorry, Briar,my wife’s not feeling well. James will drive you to the hospital.”

“James is outside, he’ll take you. I already called to Dr. Wilson. He's waitting for you. Just go straight over there.”

I closed my eyes, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill.

When I opened them again, I didn't miss the fleeting look of satisfaction on Carmilla's face.

Without a word, I nodded and walked out, closing the door behind me with a dull thud.My hand unconsciously stroked my belly as heavy tears finally fell.

James got me to the hospital on time, and I completed all the scheduled tests.

Elliot had previously instructed both the driver and doctor—if I didn't show up, he would become suspicious.

I sat in the hospital waiting area, staring at the blurry ultrasound picture. Just a tiny blob on the grainy black-and-white image.

The doctor had pointed at it, smiling "See that? That's your little one."

But I couldn't bear my kid has a father who kept a side piece!

I wiped my face with my sleeve and made a quick call to schedule an appointment at another hospital.

This was the Sterling family's private hospital—if I had the procedure here, Elliot would definitely find out.

I texted James: 'Just going to grab some coffee and take a walk. You can go ahead and leave.'

Waiting until his black sedan pulled away,I hurried to the curb and went to another hospital.

My phone buzzed just as I was signing the consent form for the abortion. A video message from an unknown number.

The video was thirty minutes. In this video, Elliot did no-holds-barred sex which I'd never seen Elliot out of control like this.

For six years, he had been Mr. Considerate in bed, and he worried that I would get hurt if he was too rough.

Turns out he wasn't naturally restrained in bed. Who can meet his appetite is someone else.

I forced myself watch the video, torturing myself with every second of seeing a side of Elliot I never knew.

I don't know how long I sat there before a nurse approached me.

"Ms. Briar? Are you alright? It's time for your procedure."

Chapter 3

I couldn't stop crying as I watched the video, even my hand holding the phone couldn't stop shaking.

The worst part? I still loved that bastard. Even after everything.

I couldn't just delete him like a bad Instagram post.Six years. Six goddamn years. Loving Elliot was like breathing—it just came naturally, even now.

Everyone always said Elliot was obsessed with me, but they never saw how I'd saved every movie ticket stub from our dates or how I'd memorized his coffee order by our third date.

Six years together....and only now.

Remembering the rapid little heartbeat I'd heard during the check, I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath.Give the last chance for my baby and Elliot.

Then I called him.

"Elliot, can you come to the hospital? I… we need to talk."

His voice came through weirdly breathless. "I'm kind of in the middle of something. Just Uber home and we'll talk there, okay?"

"Oh god, Elliot, harder…",with a soft moan the call disconnected, leaving just the dial tone.

I'm not a kid, I knew exactly what he was doing.

I looked up at the nurse hovering nearby.

"Well,let’s do it."

It was after dark when I got home. The second I stepped through the door,Elliot came striding toward me.

"James said you went around. What'd you buy?"

Then he clocked my puffy eyes.

"What’s wrong? Briar.Did you cry?what happened? About Elliot?Oh,The baby you're carrying belongs to Elliot,at least a comfort "

"What was this thing you wanted to talk about me?"

I stared at his face—that perfect jawline, those eyes that still made my crazy.

The same eyes I'd just watched in vedio from Carmilla.

"Never mind,” I said, forcing a weak smile. “Just checking if you needed anything."

He practically deflated with relief.

"You should get some rest,” he said, “You look… rough."

I just nodded and bolted for my bedroom.

I fell asleep almost instantly, my dreams taking me back to college—freshman Elliot with his floppy hair and that vintage Nirvana t-shirt.

"Briar Collins, I've had a crush on you since day one. Will you date with me?"

"Don’t worry, I’ll treat you right."

Maybe it was the golden sunset making everything magical, or maybe it was the sincerity in his eyes that I couldn't resist.

Somehow, I ended up saying yes.

I woke up to sunlight streaming through the blinds. First decent night's sleep I'd had since learning of his "death."

I was still sitting dazed in bed when my door was opened and Carmilla came in.

"Wanna know why I sent that video? Still think Elliot’s some doting brother and I’m just your sister-in-law?"