Chapter 3

"I... I'll sign." I forced the words out. If I wanted to live, I had to give in. As soon as I agreed, Stellan's expression eased. He poured a cup of warm water, fed me my medicine, and gave me a piece of candy, as if he were being kind. I didn't care about his sudden mercy. The moment I caught my breath after taking the medicine, I rushed to the floor covered in shards. Grief surged up so hard that it hurt. With shaking hands, I picked up the torn pieces of the photo and carefully took a small bag from my suitcase to store them. My mother died when I was very young. Her congenital heart condition had flared up, and she didn't survive. Back then, my father was just starting out, building the company from scratch. He didn't have the money to treat my mother. After she was gone, he carried that guilt with him. Later, when the hospital confirmed I'd inherited the same heart condition, my father started working day and night. He only wanted me to have a healthy life. It was his way of making up for it. But life didn't go easy on him. After years of grinding himself down, my father died too. Before he passed, he asked someone he trusted at the company to look after me, offering shares and control of the company in exchange. That person was Stellan. And this was how he "looked after" me. Seeing how devastated I was, Stellan stood off to the side and made cold remarks. "It's just a photo. Is this really necessary?" I put the pieces away. When I looked at him again, there was nothing left in my eyes. "My mom didn't like taking photos, and my dad was always working. That was the only photo I had with both of them." He froze, then pressed his lips together. "You didn't say that before." I swept a flat look over him. I didn't want to argue. But he couldn't stand seeing me like that. He yanked me up and dragged me into the bedroom, then shoved me onto the bed. I kept my eyes down and didn't look at him. Stellan seemed to realize he'd gone too far. He reached for my cheek like he wanted to comfort me, but I slapped his hand away. His expression darkened, and he didn't try to coax me again. He just assumed I was throwing a fit. He shoved the property transfer agreement and a black pen back in front of me. "Sign it and I'll take you to get the photo restored." This time, I didn't try to reason with him. I quietly picked up the pen and signed my name. The way he broke me down and then pretended to comfort me was disgusting. If he'd spoken to me properly, I would've signed it anyway. I had already moved my assets overseas. What Stellan had now was nothing but an empty contract. I just hadn't expected him to go this far. Didn't he know a contract signed under threat didn't count? I didn't fully understand until he brought up the wedding. The calculation was obvious in his eyes, but he still acted like he loved me deeply. "We're getting married tomorrow. Why don't we register today? Then, you'll be my wife." I looked up at him and said plainly, "Is that so you can call what you just did a family issue?" "Are you still mad?" Stellan frowned. He didn't like me pushing back. "I was only worried because you weren't on my side. Once we register, my money is your money. Why are you acting like signing your name is going to kill you? "If you had cared about me, you wouldn't have sold the shares anonymously! We're supposed to be on the same side, but you hid assets behind my back. This is just a punishment." I wanted to argue, but he forced his hand through my hair, then cupped my face and stared at me like he was being sincere. "I wasn't really going to let you die. Besides, this was your fault." Hearing that, all the strength drained out of me. I lay back on the bed and didn't even feel like fighting anymore. How had I never seen how shameless he was? I still remembered when we first met. He treated me well, accompanying me to the hospital again and again. One time, he even went out in the rain to buy medicine for me. No matter how busy he was, he showed up the moment I called. And because my father valued him, I naturally trusted him too. But now, after learning about his affair with Raina, it felt like I had finally woken up. Stellan's attitude had gotten worse because I kept giving in. And his goal had been obvious the whole time. When Stellan saw me keeping silent, he finally lost his patience. "If you don't want to register now, then stay here until the wedding." I didn't understand what he meant. But when he walked out and locked the door, I got up from the bed and hurried over. I rattled the handle so hard that it clacked again and again. Panic burned in my chest. "Stellan! Are you locking me in because you're afraid I'll sue you? I won't sue you! Let me out!" If it got any later, I would miss my flight. I didn't want to waste time here. I didn't even want to keep pretending with him.