Chapter 3
“Don’t! Victoria! Run!”
Tia Clark awoke with tears streaming down her face, only to find herself safely tucked in her own bed at home. The blood–stained clothes she had worn were gone, replaced by fresh ones. Sitting watchfully at her bedside. was Simon Lawrence.-
Simon, a college friend of Tia’s, had harbored feelings for her for years. But with Nathan in her life, he never dared to confess, choosing instead to quietly support her from the sidelines. At that moment, he held a crumpled lab report in his trembling hands, reading it over and over.
As a doctor, Simon knew all too well what the report signified.
His eyes filled with tears as he asked, voice quivering, “You have stomach cancer?”
Emerging from the depths of her nightmare, Tia slowly regained her composure. She took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and nodded silently.
Simon sprung to his feet, a mix of concern and frustration etched on his face. “And you still dare to drink? Was it Nathan again?”
Tia lowered her gaze, saying nothing. But Simon could guess well enough. His heart ached as he grabbed Tia’s hand urgently. “You can’t keep living like this. You need to leave him and get treatment immediately.”
Yet Tia pulled her hand away, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s not that serious. I’ll take care of myself, don’t worry.”
“Do you even understand? This is cancer…”
“I don’t want to be hospitalized, Simon. Please, let me make my own choices.”
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Simon knew he couldn’t change her mind. He also knew that Victoria’s death five years ago was a wound that hadn’t healed, a shadow that lingered over her life. It was why she became his personal assistant, burdened by guilt. No matter what Nathan did, she accepted it silently. Relenting, Simon stayed by her side through the night. It was only at dawn that he returned to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Tia hurried to work. Today, she was to accompany Nathan to a formal event, though not as his date, merely as an assistant. Sylvia, Nathan’s fiancée, was the one by his side.
Upon seeing Tia, Sylvia wore a look of disdain. “Tia Clark, I must admire your nerve, still clinging to Nathan like that.”
Sylvia was an old high school classmate who had always had a crush on Nathan. Losing him to the penniless Tia had fueled a long–standing jealousy. Now, as Nathan’s fiancée, she took every opportunity to torment Tia.
Tia didn’t respond, standing quietly aside.
Nathan approached, and Sylvia eagerly took his arm. “Nathan.”
He didn’t resist but his gaze turned cold when it landed on Tia. “What are you doing in the banquet hall? Wait outside.”
The city was deep into winter, and outside there was only the biting wind, no warmth to be found. Tia simply nodded, “Alright.”
She stepped into the open–air garden, where there wasn’t even a single tile to shield her from the elements. Standing in the cold wind, her frail figure trembled.
A server, taking pity on her, asked if she would prefer to wait in the lounge. Tia shook her head silently.
She remained there until the sky darkened and the event concluded.
Sylvia emerged, draped in Nathan’s coat, both of them spotting Tia still standing outside. Nathan’s throat
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Chapter 3
tightened, his voice unexpectedly hoarse. “Why are you still standing here? Let’s go.”
He led Sylvia away, and Tia followed at a distance. As they passed the garden’s artificial lake, Sylvia feigned a stumble, her lips curling into a smirk.
“Oh no! My bracelet fell into the lake,” she exclaimed, turning to Tia with feigned fury. “You pushed me!”
Instinctively, Tia started to defend herself, “I didn’t-”
“Stop making excuses!” Sylvia clung to Nathan, pouting, “Nathan, that was my favorite bracelet.”
Nathan’s eyes lingered on Tia, and after a tense pause, he said in a low voice, “Jump in and get it.”
Without question, he passed judgment.
Tia glanced at the lake, knowing its waters were icy cold. Still, she stepped into the freezing depths.
The water wasn’t deep, reaching just above her knees, but the chill pierced through her like a blade. Already weak, Tia soon began to shiver uncontrollably.
Nathan watched for a moment before turning away, leaving her with a single command, “If you can’t find it, don’t bother coming in tomorrow.”
With that, he and Sylvia walked away, leaving Tia to search alone in the numbing cold.
