The Fiancé Who Stole My Life

perfect. But at our engagement dinner, I overheard their real plan: t

stress-induced episode." Garrison, believing their lies, ha

, Katia. He humiliated me at a party, forcing me to wear the same dress as her, then accused me o

strated, Garrison showed me faked evidence of my "crimes." He ca

estroy his family. He never saw that they wer

y, I finally understood. The man I loved was

a cold peace settled over me. I was fi

pte

a P

ged on a postcard. My stomach churned, a familiar knot of nerves tightening in my chest. Thi

asked, his voi

e like a dull ache, a heavy weight. Garrison always said I struggled with emotions

ered. "My family will l

did nothing. The heavy doors swung open, revealing a glittering foyer.

s leaning against a marble pillar, a picture of fragile beauty. Garrison' s face lit up, a brighter, more genui

voice filled with an adoratio

s younger sister. I knew she had a chronic illness, something serious, but Garrison rarely spoke about it. He envelop

"Corliss, this is Elna.

e. "It's so lovely to finally meet you, Elna. Garrison talks ab

welcoming. Maybe my worries were just my usual emotional awkwar

man, impeccably dressed. Her gaze was sharp, assessing. She embraced Garrison, th

th as silk. "Garrison has told us so mu

y dress, or my hair, but my health. I mumbled a thank yo

gently touching her daughter's arm. "So fragile. We' re hoping

nced at Garrison, but he was deep in conversation with Corliss,

," she murmured, almost to he

ningless chatter. But Mrs. Crawford' s words, her intense scrutiny of my health,

called "a quick catch-up." He squeezed my hand before leaving, but his eyes were al

to fetch my... heirloom brooch from the attic? I simply must have it for tonight." She gesture

ute puppet. Anything to escap

ulb flickering to life. As I searched for the brooch, a voice drifted up from below, clear and distinct. Garrison' s voice. And C

surprisingly strong, devoid of its usual fragility. "The doctors

tched. A mat

ate hope I' d never heard before. "But... Elna... I don't know how to tell her

her tone. "She' s always so blank. She won't understand the gravity, the beauty of this

What were they talking about? Then Corli

she'll be out of our lives, and you can finally marry someo

ney. My kidney. They weren't planning an engagement dinner. This was a "Hush-hush Party"

clicked into place, a horrifying puzzle. The dull ache in my chest intensified, tw

Elna, dear? Did you find it?" Mrs. Crawford'

r vent, the carved wooden box forgotten. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frant

les, the laughter, the clinking of glasses-they all felt distant, muffled. My mind

age from an unknown num

new their plan. The knot in my stomach tightened, th

umbled, clutching my stomach.

cker of concern in his eyes.

desperate to get away.

ly. I locked the door behind me, leaning against it, tremb

lna? Are you in there?" It was Corliss. Her voic

ear through the door. "Up in the atti

ad known all along. I stood frozen

ts usual delicate sweetness. Her eyes, so like Garrison's, were

about?" I stammered, m

ng her lips. "You heard us. And you know what? It' s tr

city. The cold-blooded plannin

nything. More than you. He will do anything for me. And if you don't cooperate... well, things will get very unpleasant for you

ything could. I felt a strange burning sensation behind my eyes, a feeling I rar

ntorted in pain. She sank to the floor, gasping for air. "

touched her. This was anoth

his face etched with alarm. He saw Corliss on the flo

ed?" he cried, rushin

o hurt me," Corliss whimpered, her voice weak

eyes now filled with a stony d

. The betrayal was a physical blow. H

l!" Mrs. Crawford suddenly appea

n't spare me another glance. He carried her out, his footsteps echoing down the grand

ilence deafening. My mind was a whirlwind of confu

followed their car to the hospital, a strange compulsion driving me. Fr

rawfords. "But she had a severe stress-induced episode. Her kidney function is rapidly declining.

their game. Their cruel, elabora

er eyes, whenever they met mine, held a malicious gleam. Garrison returned to the

e low and dangerous. "After everything Corli

" I said, my voice barely abo

ors confirmed her condition! Her kidney is failing, Eln

e dripping with venom. "And you, Elna, you are a perfect match. A r

in my mouth. "You want me to undergo major surg

chance for our family to be whole again. You have no idea what we've been through. All these

g unreadable in his eyes. Doubt? Guilt? It v

is voice flat. "Elna needs help. S

r own good, Elna," he said, his words devoid of any warmth. "Yo

ce that felt like a prison, a "behavioral correction facility." It was brutal. The days blurred into weeks, filled with harsh discipline, forced

to her? Why did she want to destroy me? The confusion gnawed at me, a constant, dull ache. Sometimes, the desp

ity, looking pristine and powerful, a stark contrast to my worn, hollowed-out self. Hope, a fragile

ful, with a confident, almost predatory air. My blood ran cold. It was Katia Smith. A girl from my p

oice strangely flat. "You're... well, you're back." He gestured towards Katia. "This is Ka

gleaming with triumph. A silent, cruel victory. Garrison's hand rested on

ope died, replaced by a profound, chilling emptiness. He had not c

ky during one of our first dates. "Elna, you're the

rything was over. My heart, which had just begun to stir