When True Love Blossoms

Once we got home, Zachary barely had time to tell me to get some rest before making up an excuse about work and heading out.

If this had been before, I would've been touched—thinking he was so busy yet still took the time to bring me home, so considerate and caring.

But now, that kind of superficial concern felt unbearably fake.

Before I could dwell too long in my sorrow, Mom called.

"Honey, Thomas has agreed to the marriage. I always thought he was a good match, and look—he said yes right away.

"He wants both families to have dinner together the day after tomorrow and make it official. I know you like Zachary, but if he doesn't treat you right, just leave him. Okay?"

Tears streamed down my face in an instant. I forced myself to say "okay" through the lump in my throat.

Zachary, I wouldn't marry you anymore. After such a disgusting betrayal, the sooner things ended, the better.

Looking around my home, I suddenly realized—traces of Willow and him were everywhere. I just never noticed before.

The first time I brought Willow over, she already knew where my bedroom was before I even said anything.

She never once asked me for the Wi-Fi password—she was already connected.

And then there were all those identical bags and makeup items we had.

Some were gifts from Zachary, supposedly to bribe his future sister-in-law, and some she bought herself, claiming that sisters should use the same stuff.

I couldn't stay here anymore.

Everything in this place—every decoration, every item—stabbed at me like knives.

I floored the gas pedal and drove straight to the villa at Halcyon Gardens.

The villa was one of Zachary's properties.

From afar, I could already hear noise coming from the courtyard.

Willow and Zachary were both there.

Work emergency, huh? What a great excuse.

Rage surged through me. So he left me alone despite knowing I wasn't feeling well—just to come see Willow?

How many times had he lied to me over the past three years?

Through the fence, I could see them by the pool.

Zachary's close friends were there too—the people who were supposed to be our groomsmen and bridesmaids.

Zachary looked drunk, eyes unfocused, half-lying on Willow while biting her neck. The people around them cheered teasingly.

"Zachary, come on now. We know Yvonne has the title, but Willow's the real deal!"

"Exactly! Look at how pretty and sensible Willow is!"

"If it weren't for Yvonne forcing him into marriage just because of her family's status, who would even want her with her stuck-up attitude?"

One of the groomsmen popped open a champagne bottle and laughed heartily as Willow playfully shoved both him and Zachary into the pool.

"She's my sister! You guys better not badmouth her in front of me!"

Zachary resurfaced, water dripping down his body as he pinned Willow down and kissed her.

Everyone kept laughing and teasing. It was obvious that Willow pulled this kind of joke often. She never took me seriously.

The groomsman in the water slicked back his hair and brought me up again. "Zachary, you're getting married to Yvonne next week. Don't you think kissing her sister today is a bit much?"

"Haha, come on. If we don't say anything, even if he sleeps with Willow tonight, Yvonne wouldn't know a thing."

Zachary finally ended that passionate kiss, letting Willow help towel him off.

Someone then asked, "Zachary, are you going back home tonight?"

Willow crouched in front of him, looking up with big, pitiful eyes.

Zachary patted her head like she was a pet dog.

"Yvonne loves Willow more than anything. Now that Willow's pregnant, of course I'm staying to take care of her."

Then, he picked up his phone and fiddled with it casually before grinning at the others.

"Alright, phone's off. Now nothing can ruin the mood."

I was just about to lose control and completely break down when my phone buzzed.

It was a message from Zachary.

"Darling, I have to work overtime tonight. I miss you so much.

"We're getting married in just a few days. I'll finish everything up soon so I can take you on our honeymoon."

I had no idea how many times I drove around the riverside highway in Santerra City. The sky had already begun to turn bright with the first light of dawn.

I thought about so many things.

Willow wasn't my biological sister.

Her mother used to work as a housekeeper in our home. She passed away suddenly from a severe illness, and no one could reach any of Willow's other relatives.

She was just a little three-year-old back then, always chasing after me and calling me "Eve".

Eventually, my parents just decided to raise her. They thought she could be a companion for me.

We grew up together with the children from the Hiltons, and over time, I had come to see her as my real family.

So, I never imagined—not once—that the two of them would betray me. That my little sister was now pregnant with my fiancé's baby.

As I drove with nowhere to go, lost in uncertainty, my phone rang.

It was the hospital.

"Ms. Langley, your premarital medical checkup results are in. You are currently five weeks pregnant."

It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck me. This baby had come at the worst possible time. I couldn't bring it into a world like this.

I returned home to get my ID, preparing to have an abortion. But when I walked in, Zachary was sitting on the couch.

Seeing me, his eyes lit up with joy.

"Yvonne, where did you go? I've been waiting forever. I finished working late and came straight home to wait for you.

"I didn't sleep all night, and I even brought your favorite cake."

If he truly loved me, he would've noticed the bed was still perfectly made.

I looked worn out and exhausted, like someone who had been out all night. Compared to him, I was the one who looked like they'd been working overtime.

He pulled me down to sit with him on the couch and cut a slice of cake for me.

"We're getting married next week. Today marks exactly one week before our wedding."

The way he looked at me, so full of emotion and attention—it was nothing short of ironic. But maybe this was a fitting end. A perfect close to a rotten chapter.

The cake touched my tongue—cheap cream, greasy and cloying, sticking to the roof of my mouth. Just like this relationship—cheap and sickening.

Suddenly, I couldn't breathe. Cold sweat broke out all over my body, and it felt like something was lodged in my throat. Red rashes began to break out across my hands and body.

Zachary panicked and quickly apologized.

"Yvonne, I'm sorry! I forgot you're allergic to peanuts! I'll take you to the hospital right now!"

He grabbed the car keys and was about to rush out, but at that moment, a call came through.

"Zachary, my stomach really hurts. I think something's wrong with the baby. Can you come check on us?"

Zachary froze.

After a moment of hesitation, he leaned toward me and said softly, "Yvonne, the project data is all messed up. I'll call you a ride. Just go to the hospital yourself, okay?"

My face was ashen, the severe allergic reaction twisting my stomach into knots. I was quickly losing strength.

"Zachary, save me. Take me to the hospital..."

Then, from the phone, Willow's voice suddenly grew louder. "Zachary, I'm bleeding!"

Zachary didn't hesitate anymore. He looked at me once, dropped a quick "I called you a car," and disappeared from sight.

Two silent tears slid down my cheeks.

I wanted to live. I had to!

I would never let that vile pair keep humiliating me—openly or in the shadows—ever again.