After All My Love, I Let You Go

The year Elena Carter graduated from college, the Carter family went bankrupt overnight.

Her father was sent to prison, her mother suffered a stroke, and her fiancé Lucas Bennett couldn’t wait to cast her aside like a burden, rushing instead to marry her lifelong rival, Vivian Cole, in a grand, public spectacle.

The giant digital billboards of New York lit up with headlines celebrating their glamorous wedding, while Elena was cornered in a filthy alley by debt collectors, pressured to sell her body to pay off what her family owed.

Just as she was about to fight to the death, Adrian Shaw appeared out of nowhere. He paid off all her debts and summoned top specialists from around the world to perform surgery on her mother.

But her mother didn’t survive. Shortly afterward, Adrian proposed.

“Elena, from now on, I’ll be your family.”

And he kept his word. In Los Angeles high society, everyone knew that Elena Carter was the treasured jewel of Adrian Shaw.

Until three years later, when Elena was diagnosed with stomach cancer—and by accident, overheard her husband’s conversation with a friend:

“Adrian, when are you going to divorce Elena? She’s ruined goods. She doesn’t deserve you.”

“Even if you gave Vivian Cole her mother’s heart, it doesn’t mean you had to marry Elena.”

Adrian’s voice was bitter. “I know she was used up by those men. The thought alone disgusts me. But at the time Vivian hadn’t married Lucas Bennett yet. If I didn’t marry Elena, she would have gone crawling back to Lucas. For Vivian, I’d do anything.”

…

The cold words stabbed into Elena’s heart like a blade.

She stumbled forward a step.

Through the corner of the hallway, she saw her husband of three years standing by the window, his elegant features twisted with disgust—sharp and unfamiliar.

No wonder. No wonder he never mentioned a wedding ceremony, never touched her. All along, he thought she was dirty.

Even though she had told him herself she’d never lost her innocence.

Three years together—nothing but a cruel joke.

Elena didn’t remember how she got home. She sat on the sofa, numb, crying and laughing in turns until all her strength was gone, sitting like a lifeless log.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she heard the door open.

Adrian stepped in from the night. He noticed her figure in the dim living room and asked in surprise, “Elena? Why didn’t you turn on the light?”

Elena said nothing. She simply watched as he walked closer. “Sorry, something came up at work. I came home late.”

Adrian reached to flip on the switch.

With a soft click, the room flooded with light.

Elena blinked against the glare. When her eyes opened again, he was standing before her with a necklace in hand: a fine silver chain with a delicate pink diamond pendant.

“Your anniversary gift. Do you like it?” Adrian smiled down at her.

It was only then that he finally noticed her tears. “Elena, why are you crying? Is it because I didn’t spend our anniversary with you today?”

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, okay? Don’t cry—you’re breaking my heart.”

His voice was soft, his manner tender.

On any other day, Elena would have melted into his gentleness. But tonight she studied him carefully for the first time, and it was painfully easy to spot the distraction in his eyes.

How foolish she had been.

“I’m fine,” she rasped. “Just a little stomach pain.”

And it was true. Earlier that day, her test results had come back: late-stage stomach cancer, not much time left.

“What? Stomach pain?” Adrian panicked, moving to scoop her into his arms. “Why didn’t you say something sooner? I’ll take you to Memorial Hospital. You’re a doctor—you should know better!”

Before Elena could refuse, he was already dragging her out the door.

At the hospital, Adrian demanded the most comprehensive tests. While waiting, he tried to soothe her. “Don’t worry, Elena. It’ll be quick.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a small paper bag. He shook it playfully. “Here—fresh roasted chestnuts. After you finish the tests, if you cooperate nicely, I’ll reward you with these. They’re still warm. Hold them, they’ll keep your hands cozy. And no sneaking one early.”

The warmth seeped through the bag into her palms, but Elena still felt unbearably cold.

Throughout their marriage, Adrian had always remembered her love for roasted chestnuts. He often brought them home after work. While she cooked dinner, he peeled them one by one, popping them into her mouth with a smile. By the time dinner was ready, she was already half full. But he always made her finish a proper meal, coaxing her into eating until her cheeks regained color, until she looked healthier and even more radiant than before.

But those memories—laced with his calculations—were now twisted and hideous. Even the chestnuts in her hands had lost their flavor.

Elena cooperated with the exams in silence, but her mind spun with worry. She couldn’t let Adrian know about her cancer. How could she hide it?

Just as she was troubled by the thought, Adrian’s phone rang. After a few quick words, he turned to her. “Elena, something urgent came up at Shaw Corporation. I need to head over. Once you get the report, send me a photo immediately.”

He rushed off.

Elena froze where she stood, her mind replaying the voice she’d overheard through his phone.

“Adrian, my stomach hurts…”

It was Vivian Cole. Her sworn enemy.