[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-26031368DDE4-16":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},16,6,"Chapter 6: A Breath Away from Happiness","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Julien was always perceptive; he’d long identified my weak spots. When he found out I was pregnant and planning to marry Drake, he made a desperate play. But he never saw it coming, me being willing to terminate Drake’s child.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Watching him break down, tears streaming down his face, I reached out and ruffled his hair. He was completely vulnerable with me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I decided to let bygones be bygones. Honestly, his past kindnesses outweighed the harm he’d caused. He’d just gone off the rails, that’s all.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After all, without him, I might have ended up dead or abandoned ages ago.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I remember after my mom got pregnant, my stepfather treated me worse and worse. When he’d hand me leftovers, even my mom would just watch, cold as ice.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But Julien? He’d sneak snacks from his own house for me every single day. Then, one day, my stepfather was unusually nice.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Except he abandoned me on the side of the highway on his way to pick up goods. I was just in second grade.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was Drake who found me, and brought me back to his place. My stepfather was totally against it when he found out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My mom talked him around though, saying it was fine since someone else was willing to take care of me now, so they didn't have to bother anymore. That’s how I got to stay.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">From then on, Drake became my shield. If anyone dared mock me for being parentless, he’d grab a stick and chase them off.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In college, when his first love looked down on him for being broke, I’d use my part-time job money to help him win her back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He was head-over-heels for his first love, but for my sake, he dumped her without a second thought.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His first love had told him that for them to have a future, he had to kick me out; otherwise, he’d have another mouth to feed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After he broke up with her, he didn’t date anyone else until I got my first love letter.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That’s when he realized he liked me, and that I’d been crushing on him for ages. So, we started dating in our senior year.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But once it came out that he was the heir to a mega-rich family, nobody believed he could have a loyal girlfriend.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Naturally, I became the trophy girlfriend everyone assumed he was keeping. But I didn't care. I knew he treated me differently than anyone else.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Cecilia, can we go back to how we used to be?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Drake's voice jolted me out of my thoughts.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I wanted that too, but I wasn't sure how much time I had left. I needed to get checked to find out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Drake, can you give me a few days to think about it?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Of course! If you say yes, I'll marry you on the spot,\" he said, his eyes practically shining.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I smiled and nodded. If only this cancer would just disappear. After all, the happiness right in front of me felt so within reach.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But alas, our meeting was destined for tragedy. A few days later, on a dread-filled afternoon, I got my test results.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The doctor explained that because my body was already weak, and I’d caught a chill during my pregnancy, not to mention the lack of rest after the abortion and all the emotional drama, the cancer cells had spread.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It had triggered other complications. In simple terms, I had two types of cancer.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I asked the doctor how much time I had left. He said, at most, a month.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Leaving the hospital, I stared up at the sky. Winter had arrived, and the biting wind stung my face.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Watching couples on the street, hands clasped, laughing warmly, a sharp pain shot through me. My happiness had been just a breath away.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dragging my feet, I made my way to the Alexander mansion. I had one month left. I just wanted to see him a few more times. Even a few extra days together would be something.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I pushed open the mansion doors. Drake's father, mother, and a woman who looked familiar were in the living room.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They spotted me and came forward with warm smiles. I’d actually lived with them when I was a kid.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After they’d told Drake he was the heir, they’d moved abroad.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Drake's mother took my hand warmly. \"Cecilia, you’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I just nodded politely and returned their greetings.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After some small talk, Drake's mother spoke up, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Cecilia, we heard some things about you while we were away. This time, we’d like to ask for your help.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I replied politely, \"Mrs. Alexander, please don’t be so formal. I wouldn’t be who I am without you. I just don’t know how I can possibly help.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She squeezed my hand. \"Cecilia, you’re so understanding, just like when you were little.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After saying that, she exchanged a look with Drake's father and pulled a bank card from her purse.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Cecilia, would you please leave Drake?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Honestly, even if they hadn’t asked, I was already planning to leave him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Alright.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I pushed the card back. The smiles that had just graced their faces froze.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I continued, \"Just let me stay with him for three more days, okay?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Their expressions clouded over.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The woman beside them stood up, her voice cutting. \"Three days? And then you’ll pull your usual tricks to keep him!\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272931117]