Chapter 1 He Wouldn't Make It Past Next February

The door burst open, and Elena Harvey froze at the sight of two tangled bodies on the sofa.

During the ride over, she had pictured herself surprising her boyfriend, Jerald Martin, with the news that their two years apart were finally behind them. She expected he would be over the moon.

However, what she walked in on was nothing close to joy.

Her hands curled into tight fists as she realized the pair on the couch were far too lost in each other to notice her presence.

Choking back the bitter taste rising in her throat, she pulled out her phone and switched on the camera.

As they moved, the woman on the sofa caught Elena's gaze and let out a shrill scream.

Jerald jumped upright, fumbling for a blanket to throw over them, dragging the woman behind him in a rush.

He demanded, "What are you doing here? Why would you come back?"

With fury blazing in her eyes, Elena replied, "Moments like these deserve to be caught on camera."

Ignoring the woman hiding behind him, Jerald wrapped the blanket tighter around his waist and lunged off the sofa, reaching for Elena's phone.

"Come any closer, and this video goes public," Elena warned, her finger hovering.

Certain she was bluffing, Jerald advanced anyway.

Elena's thumb tapped send before he even reached her.

Jerald froze, disbelief written all over his face.

The girlfriend he thought he knew-the gentle, forgiving one-was gone, replaced by someone merciless.

"Are you trying to ruin yourself, Elena Harvey?" Jerald shouted, veins straining across his forehead.

Raising the screen for him to see, Elena said coldly, "The police are already on their way."

Jerald's face twisted in disbelief. "You..."

When he caught the unshaken look on her face, his hand jabbed toward her. "Fine. You win!"

Elena stood tall, her face set in stone. "Two years down the drain for someone like you. Honestly, trash would have more value."

...

Elena left Jerald's house behind and went straight to her friend, Mina Jones.

For the next five days, Mina's every word was a curse thrown at Jerald's name.

Early that morning, Mina caught sight of Elena staring at her phone with a shadowed look. Sliding beside Elena, she wrapped her arms around her friend. "That bastard isn't worth a single tear."

A slow shake of the head came from Elena. "I'm not crying over him. What bothers me now is the marriage proposal my father set up."

"You're kidding me."

For weeks, Elena's father, Wilbur Harvey, had been calling her home to hash out a marriage deal he thought was golden.

According to him, the man came from a wealthy family, stood tall and attractive, and was his parents' only child.

If Elena agreed, the man's family promised a wedding gift worth millions. Should she conceive within two months, another hundred million would be hers. Once a child was born, she wouldn't need to worry about money in her entire life.

Mina slapped her thigh and let out a bitter laugh. "Only your stepmother could cook up something like that. If this deal was so wonderful, she would have pushed her own daughter in first. Don't fall for it."

Elena asked, "Are you saying there's something else to this?"

"There's truth in the offer, but the biggest detail is missing."

"What are you talking about?"

"His name's Greyson Wilson," Mina explained. "He's rich, sharp, easy on the eyes. Honestly, every woman in the city once dreamed of marrying him. Some would have settled for a single night."

"Greyson Wilson..." The name tumbled from Elena's lips. "I feel like I've heard it before."

Mina gave a sharp snort. "Of course it does. Everyone in this city knows who he is. But here's the catch. Last year it came out that he has a terminal illness. His girlfriend took off for another country once she got the news. He wouldn't make it past next February. So marrying him is basically signing up to be a widow."

Pieces clicked into place for Elena.

Mina's mouth twisted in a smirk. "That stepmother of yours is ready to marry you off and cash in on your misery."

"I could always remarry once he's gone."

Mina nearly choked on air. "Hold on, you can't be serious. The man's practically dying already. Picture what he must look like right now. And don't fool yourself-he only wants a wife so he can leave an heir behind. Choosing to marry him at this point is downright disturbing!"

Elena replied thoughtfully, "Still, the conditions are hard to ignore. And when he passes, everything he owns becomes mine. With that, I'd have both wealth and freedom. People dream of such a life but never reach it."

Mina blinked in disbelief. "Are you completely out of your mind?"

"I'm not," Elena said seriously. "I've thought it over carefully. Love is nothing but a phantom-people talk about it, but it rarely shows up. It's not worth wasting years chasing it. In the end, don't we all work ourselves to the bone for money and freedom? If life hands me a shortcut, why shouldn't I take it?"

Mina let out a laugh she didn't mean. "I hate to admit it, but that almost makes sense."

A faint smile touched Elena's lips. "That's because it's the truth."

...

Later that night, Jerald managed to get through to Elena by borrowing another person's phone, his voice dripping with venom as he cursed her out.

Even after she hung up and blocked the number, he called again and again from different numbers, until she switched her phone off in frustration.

By the time Elena powered it back on the next morning, her screen flooded with messages. Most were from Jerald, each one nastier than the last.

In their group chat, he stirred chaos with lies. Despite the fact that they had never even shared a bed, he accused her of having a fake chest and painted her as promiscuous while parading himself as the victim.

Drawing in a long breath, Elena refused to give Jerald the satisfaction of a reply.

She already knew what kind of man he was, and wasting another second on him would be beneath her.

Instead, she called her father and told him she would accept the arrangement.

Together, they visited the Wilson family, though Greyson himself was nowhere to be found. Instead, his parents welcomed them.

The moment they heard Elena had agreed, their joy spilled out without restraint.

Her only condition was clear-she wanted the marriage registered immediately.

She explained that legality mattered more to her than ceremony.

A wedding was unnecessary in her eyes.

The Wilsons accepted without protest, anxious she might change her mind if they hesitated.

Everything was settled swiftly, and Greyson's father, Trevor Wilson, used his influence to make sure the paperwork was completed without delay.

That was the first time Elena saw Greyson's picture.

Mina hadn't exaggerated-his features were arresting, and his eyes seemed to hold a depth that could pull anyone in.

If not for the shadow of his illness, a man like him would never have crossed her path, let alone become her husband.

When the certificate was placed in Elena's hands, not even a trace of doubt flickered inside her.

Greyson's mother, Sallie Wilson, pressed a bank card into Elena's hand, insisting that although there would be no grand wedding, the bride should still receive her gift. There was also a generous living allowance.

Their generosity was overwhelming, and the card seemed heavy with more than just money.

Elena didn't refuse. She accepted it with quiet composure.

Her eyes drifted back to the certificate, pausing over the name "Greyson Wilson." She couldn't help but wonder what he would think once he knew.

...

Walking out of the mansion, Elena caught sight of Wilbur's grin stretching wide. He looked utterly satisfied.

"You must've gotten a fair share out of the Wilsons, didn't you?" she asked.

Wilbur stiffened, caught off guard, his smile faltering. "What makes you say that?"

"There's no point pretending." Elena stopped in her tracks and turned to him. "If there wasn't something in it for you, you wouldn't have bothered with me at all."

A flicker of shame crossed his expression. "Elena..."

She lifted her hand, cutting him off before he could string together another excuse.

Her steps carried her forward as she said in a steady voice, "This is where it ends. Don't reach out to me again."

...

News of Elena's marriage to Greyson spread fast, and Mina could hardly believe it was true.

Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about it.

"Your dad's cruel, throwing you into this pit knowing exactly what it is. Elena, how could you agree so easily? If you weren't married yet, you could've walked away. Now that you've tied yourself to him, what if he's a pervert and tortures you?"

Mina's distress was written all over her, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Elena's heart softened at her friend's worry. Offering a small smile, she said, "Don't worry. I've got the certificate, but I've no intention of showing my face to him anytime soon."

Mina blinked in shock.

With a sly gleam in her eye, Elena revealed her scheme.

"You said yourself he wouldn't make it past next February. That gives him less than three months. I'll stay hidden until he's too frail to do anything."

For a moment, her plan seemed foolproof. Life, however, had other ideas.

Barely a few days passed, and someone appeared at her door.

"Mrs. Wilson, your husband wants to see you."