My heart has no moonlight

On her twenty-fifth birthday, Nicole received two “gifts.”

The first was Gregory—the man she had desperately pursued for five years—finally agreeing to become engaged to her.

The second was the meticulously planned, premeditated assault he had orchestrated.

She hadn’t known. Not until she tried to push open the door and found him, covered in fresh wounds, while those bloody truths stabbed into her already battered heart like a serrated blade.

“Greg, that was brilliant!”

“Not only did you teach that bitch a lesson for Judith, but now Nicole will be even more devoted to you!”

“Yeah, she’s probably still swooning over her knight in shining armor! Hahaha!”

The chorus of mocking laughter seemed to drill straight into Nicole’s skull. She bit down hard on her lip, fighting to keep silent, her hands and feet turning to ice.

“Tch, serves her right. Who told her to run and leave Judith behind when they were attacked seven years ago?”

“Exactly! A selfish, vicious woman like her deserves whatever she gets.”

Gregory’s eyes darkened. “Judith saved my life back then. Anyone who hurts her will pay tenfold.”

Nicole’s heart was being sliced to ribbons, then ground with salt, as she remembered his gentle, reassuring words just moments before he found her.

“Don’t be scared, Nicole. I’m here.”

So even that tenderness could be faked.

His acting was truly impeccable.

“Greg, aren’t you… worried you might be punishing the wrong person?”

Someone voiced a hesitant doubt. “The panic on Nicole’s face looked real…”

“What, you believe her nonsense? That *she* was the one who saved me?”

Gregory let out a cold snort. “Do you think someone who’s terrified of water would ever jump in to save anyone?”

Besides, when he’d opened his eyes, the first person he saw was Judith.

How could it possibly be wrong?

Hearing this, the girl managed a bitter smile.

The tears she’d been holding back could no longer be contained, falling in heavy, silent drops.

The man she loved most was the architect of her nightmare.

He, too, thought she deserved it.

But back then, it was Judith who had pushed her forward, telling her to run for help.

As the attackers closed in, Judith had shoved her ahead.

“You go first! I’ll hold them off!”

“Go get the police! I’ll wait for you!”

By the time Nicole returned with help, all she found was Judith curled on the ground, clothes torn, a picture of utter devastation.

Eighteen-year-old Judith lay unconscious in the hospital for three days. The first words she spoke upon waking were a tearful scream for Nicole to get out.

“Why did you leave me alone! Why!”

“I never want to see you again! I hate you!!”

Just like that, no one listened to Nicole’s side of the story. She became the family’s permanent sinner, condemned to spend her life atoning for Judith.

As the biological daughter who’d been brought home, Nicole became the only outsider in her own family.

No one believed her. Not even Gregory.

She used to doggedly follow him, trying to tell him she was the one who had saved him that day.

She would tirelessly recount every detail, hoping to see a flicker of doubt, a shred of belief in his eyes.

But for seven long years, nothing.

Perhaps the truth didn’t matter anymore.

She stood up and slowly walked back to the place they called home.

The moment she stepped inside, a glass vase shattered at her feet.

“Where the hell have you been, you shameless thing?!”

Her father didn’t even glance at her injuries, his voice sharp with accusation.

“Judith’s performance is about to start. Why aren’t you getting ready?”

Nicole pressed her lips together and walked into the dim, isolated recording booth without a word.

Yes, Judith had always dreamed of being a pop star. Unfortunately, she couldn’t carry a tune to save her life. Her parents, of course, would move heaven and earth to fulfill their precious daughter’s wish—by any means necessary.

So they came up with the idea of having Nicole lip-sync from the shadows.

“This is just part of your penance.”

“What you owe Judith, you can never repay in a lifetime!”

To ensure Nicole’s silence, they even spread the story that an accident had damaged her vocal cords, leaving her unable to speak.

Meanwhile, Judith, dressed like a princess, sat before the live-stream camera, performing her “hit songs” for millions of fans.

Wracked with physical and emotional pain, Nicole’s voice was unsteady. She faltered on several high notes, causing Judith to lose her composure on stream.

After the performance, Judith threw herself into the arms of Gregory, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, and sobbed inconsolably.

“If my sister doesn’t want to cooperate anymore, she could just tell me. She didn’t have to humiliate me in front of all my fans…”

“Greg… it hurts so much… *sob*…”

The man glanced at Nicole, then gathered Judith into his arms as if comforting a child, his voice soft.

“Don’t be scared, Judith. I’m here…”

Forced to kneel on the floor, Nicole watched it all unfold. Her heart had long since dried up, numb to any further pain.

“Sis… I heard Greg just got engaged to you today… I’m sorry…”

Judith sniffled softly, her eyes red like a rabbit’s. “I didn’t mean to… It’s just my skin hunger acting up again… I feel so awful…”

Gregory patted her back gently. “Judith, you’re too kind.”

“*She’s* the reason you’re sick. *She* should be the one apologizing.”

Nicole closed her eyes. After kneeling for three solid hours, everything finally became clear.

This marriage was off.

Gregory, she was done with him.