Kaelen's heart gave a soft, painful lurch. He gripped the thin paper, the neat, formal text searing his eyes. "The two parties, due to incompatible personalities leading to the irretrievable breakdown of the marital relationship, can no longer continue to live together. With no possibility of reconciliation, the parties, on the basis of equality and voluntariness, agree to the following..."

Kaelen had known this day would come.

But at this moment, the pain was still so sharp it was hard to breathe.

Cassia spoke slowly, "Aidan and I are getting married."

Hearing this, Kaelen looked at her swollen belly, a bitter taste filling his mouth.

"Cassia, you are truly a cruel woman."

Cassia did not reply.

Kaelen felt his stomach clench, wave after wave of pain washing over him.

He gritted his teeth against it, picked up the pen beside the agreement, and in one fluid motion, signed his name at the bottom.

"I wish you happiness."

Hearing his words, Cassia's chest felt heavy.

"Don't blame me. Blame yourself."

Kaelen let out a bitter laugh. "Blame myself for what? For loving the wrong person? If so, then you're right."

His sarcastic tone erased the last of Cassia's guilt.

"You deserve this."

Kaelen said nothing more, just looked at her face, which now seemed so utterly alien to him.

Cassia couldn't stand his gaze. "After the baby is born, you will leave Port Sterling for good."

With that final command, she turned and left.

Not long after she was gone, the world tilted and went dark for Kaelen…

He tried to press the emergency call button, but he was in too much pain to even stand.

He had no choice. He called Cassia.

But the call went straight to voicemail.

Kaelen scrolled through his contacts. In the years he'd been married to Cassia, his friends and family had all drifted away.

The only person he could ask for help was Seraphina.

...

Half an hour later.

Seraphina stood numbly outside the operating room.

Her clothes were stained with Kaelen's blood, the stark contrast of red on her white shirt a glaring, painful sight.

A short while ago, she had received a call from him.

By the time she reached his room, he had already passed out, his head bleeding from where he had fallen.

She couldn't believe it. As Cassia Thorne's husband, Kaelen was on his deathbed, and there was no one, not a single person, there to care for him.

The minutes ticked by, one by one.

An hour later.

The doctor emerged from the operating room, his expression grim.

"Who is Kaelen Rivers' next of kin?"

"What's wrong?" Seraphina stood up, her heart leaping into her throat with a terrible premonition.

"He's in critical condition! We need to perform an emergency gastrectomy. Please sign the critical condition notice," the doctor said.

Seraphina's mind raced. "Okay, I'll call his family right now."

She used Kaelen's phone to call Cassia.

On the other side of town.

Cassia was at a bridal shop, personally trying on her wedding gown.

She saw it was another call from Kaelen and declined it.

Then, she took a photo of herself in the dress, an arm wrapped around Aidan, and sent it to him.

"Don't I look better than when I married you? And Aidan is much more handsome than you are."

Seraphina saw the photo and the text message, her brow furrowed in utter disbelief.

Cassia's husband was dying, and she was out trying on wedding dresses with another man?

But this was a matter of life and death. Seraphina didn't have time to think. She called Cassia again.

Seeing another call from Kaelen, Cassia's expression soured, but she finally answered.

"What do you want now?"

Her impatient tone made Seraphina's blood boil on Kaelen's behalf.

She fought back her anger. "Ms. Thorne, Kaelen is in surgery. We need a family member to sign the critical condition notice. You need to get here immediately."

Hearing Seraphina's voice on the other end, Cassia's brow knitted in irritation.

"Is he dead? Can't he call me himself?"

"Is he trying to trick me with this pathetic ploy just because I'm about to get married? Tell Kaelen my wedding is the day after tomorrow. He'd better be there."

With that, Cassia hung up.

When Seraphina tried to call back, the line was dead.

She had no other choice. She signed her own name on the critical condition notice.

Another hour passed.

The light above the operating room suddenly went out.

Seraphina rushed forward.

She saw the doctor walk out, his face etched with regret.

"I'm sorry. We couldn't save him…"

...

One day later.

Morning.

The grand ballroom of Port Sterling's largest hotel was a magnificent sight.

The thousand-square-meter space was decorated in a lavish, dreamlike fashion.

The city's elite were all in attendance.

Cassia, in a stunning custom-made gown, was the center of attention, looking more elegant than ever.

It was her second wedding, but she was restless, constantly checking her phone.

The ceremony was about to start. Why wasn't Kaelen here?

She tried calling him, but his phone was off.

Just then, Aidan, dressed in a Swiss-made custom suit, walked over to her.

"Cassia, what's wrong?"

She looked at him and forced a gentle smile. "Nothing."

Aidan's gaze fell on her phone screen, and a flicker of coldness passed through his eyes.

"Cassia, you're not still thinking about Kaelen Rivers, are you?"

Cassia let out a scornful laugh. "How could I be? I never liked him in the first place."

She handed her phone to her assistant.

Ten o'clock in the morning.

The wedding began on time.

Cassia and Aidan were exchanging rings when the grand doors of the hotel were pushed open from the outside.

All eyes turned to the entrance.

Cassia paused and looked over. She saw Seraphina Morrow, holding a black-and-white photograph, her eyes red as she walked in, step by step.

Cassia was confused.

"Ms. Morrow, I don't believe I invited you to my wedding. And where is Kaelen? Why isn't he here?"

As she spoke, her eyes finally focused on the photograph in Seraphina's arms. It was a funeral portrait of Kaelen.

Before Cassia could react, she heard Seraphina's words, each one a hammer blow.

"Kaelen isn't coming. He died on the operating table the day before yesterday. Today, I've brought his portrait to attend your wedding."