Part 1Repeated Suicide for Love

Rovan’s overseas business trip ended in disaster. The only one who returned was his twin brother, Adrian.

The grief was a physical blow. I collapsed, spitting blood.

Clutching my wedding photo with Rovan, I threw myself into the sea seven times, and seven times I was pulled back from the brink.

The eighth time I was rescued, I overheard Adrian arguing with my mother-in-law.

“Rovan, how long are you going to keep this up? Beth has tried to kill herself eight times because she thinks you’re dead. You have to tell her the truth!”

Adrian’s brow furrowed in refusal.

“No. My brother gave his life for me. I have to take care of his fiancée for him.”

“My sister-in-law is even more fragile than Beth. Once she’s pregnant and has something to live for, then I can safely admit that I’m Rovan.”

I froze, the biting cold of the seawater nothing compared to the ice flooding my veins.

I had nearly destroyed myself for him, yet in his heart, my life was worth less than a flicker of pity for his brother's fiancée.

If that was the case, I wanted no part of such a love.

…

My mother-in-law pleaded, her voice laced with desperation.

“But Beth is your wife! How can you stand to see her suffer like this? If this ever gets out, there will be no going back for either of you.”

“I can see that your heart truly belongs to Beth. I can’t let you throw away your future in a moment of misguided guilt.”

Her words were sincere, but he just shook his head.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I have a plan for Beth. I’ve already had the highest-grade amnesia drug sent from a top lab in Switzerland. Once she takes it, she won’t remember anything. She won’t try to kill herself anymore.”

“After I get my sister-in-law pregnant, I’ll give Beth the antidote and beg for her forgiveness.”

“She loves me so much. I know she’ll understand.”

My body went weak. I couldn’t listen anymore.

I stumbled back to my room, collapsing onto the bed.

The wedding photo of Rovan and me crashed to the floor. The glass frame shattered, just like my heart.

A few moments later, he walked in.

“Sister-in-law, I heard you tried to jump into the sea again. You look so pale. Are you feeling unwell?”

“My brother may be gone, but we are still family. I made you some herbal tea. Drink it, it will warm you up.”

I stared at the bowl in his hands, my eyes burning. “No, thank you. I just want to be alone.”

But he sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Don’t be difficult. My brother wouldn’t want to see you like this. You have to drink this.”

With that, he forced my jaw open and poured the liquid down my throat.

I choked, tears streaming down my face as I shoved him away.

He looked at the empty bowl, a sigh of relief escaping him.

He then scanned the room, his eyes landing on my diary. He expertly snatched it and tossed it into the lit fireplace. One by one, he gathered everything that held a shared memory between us and threw it into the flames.

I screamed, lunging to stop him, but he wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me back.

He looked at me, a flicker of pity in his eyes. “Don’t blame me, sister-in-law. This is the only way you can truly forget my brother and start a new life.”

“I’m doing this for your own good. I want you to live.”

He then pulled the wedding ring from my finger and tossed it into the fire.

I had worn that ring for seven years. He had it custom-made for me. It was my most treasured possession, the one thing I had left to remember him by.

Tears finally streamed down my face. I thrashed wildly, trying to kick over the fireplace screen.

The commotion woke my sister-in-law, Maya. She hurried over to see what was wrong. Her face fell when she saw me locked in Adrian’s embrace.

“Honey, what are you two doing? The smoke… it’s choking me.”

He immediately let me go. “Take the fire outside,” he ordered.

Then, without another glance, he led Maya away.

Three minutes later, I heard the sounds from their bedroom. Her moans, sweet and cloying.

“Oh, Adrian, you’re so rough…”

“Your sister-in-law is right outside. Aren’t you afraid she’ll hear?”