My heart has no moonlight

“How are your injuries?”

The next morning, Nicole stepped out of her room and nearly collided with Gregory, who was just leaving Judith’s.

“Why do you care?”

Caught off guard by her sharp tone, he replied patiently, “Judith had a flare-up last night. I was worried she’d cry herself sick, so I stayed with her.” He paused, then added, “I only see her as a sister. Don’t overthink it.”

“How could I dare?” She let out a cold laugh, gesturing toward the door behind her. “My fiancé walks out of another woman’s room in the morning and tells me not to overthink it?”

His expression darkened. “Enough with the attitude. If you hadn’t deliberately humiliated her during her livestream last night, would she have cried so hard? Ever since that incident, she’s suffered from severe touch deprivation. As her older sister, can’t you be more understanding?”

“Don’t forget who put her in this state in the first place.”

He shoved past her roughly and headed downstairs to make breakfast for Judith himself.

Nicole wanted to ask him then and there: If he loved Judith so deeply, why had he agreed to their engagement? Was it to humiliate her further, or was it simply his father’s command?

She pushed the thoughts aside. Instead, she went to the Gregorys’ home and formally requested to call off the engagement in front of his parents.

The elder couple exchanged a puzzled look. “What’s wrong, dear? Weren’t you always the one most smitten with that boy? Why call it off just a day after the engagement?”

“It’s my own failing. Seven years trailing after him, and I still couldn’t make him like me.” She lifted her head, forcing a strained smile. “Let’s just end it. I don’t want to make things difficult for him.”

Seeing the tears welling in her eyes, the Gregorys understood. As longtime friends of her family, they’d heard whispers about the tension between Nicole and Judith. But looking at Nicole now, they found it hard to believe she was the villain their son painted her to be.

The problem was, their son wouldn’t listen. He was utterly convinced Judith was his savior from all those years ago.

But Judith was, after all, just an adopted daughter. They could never allow their son to marry someone of such questionable standing. Nicole was, without a doubt, the best choice.

“Uncle, Aunt, I’d like to be the one to tell him about calling off the engagement. Is that alright?”

“Of course, dear. We’ll follow your lead.”

After leaving the Gregorys, Nicole arrived at a discreet door of a certain agency.

“Hello, can you issue a false death certificate here?”

She produced a bank card, her gaze resolute. “I need to erase all my identities in Rivermouth and fabricate a fatal accident.”

…

By the time she finished at the agency, it was already afternoon. The agent told her she had one month to prepare everything.

Lost in thought, Nicole’s phone rang—Gregory.

“Where are you? Judith has a livestream performance tonight. I need you back here.”

He hung up before she could reply.

He was always like this. Only Judith mattered.

When Nicole returned home, she saw it immediately—the pink crystal necklace she’d wanted for so long, now draped around Judith’s neck. She’d hinted and begged for ages, but he’d always “forgotten” to buy it. Now, it sat effortlessly on someone else.

Of course. She was always the one left unchosen, unfavored.

“I just mentioned it in passing. I never thought Gregory would actually get it for me.” Judith lowered her head shyly. “Gregory, you really shouldn’t spoil me like this.”

Noticing Nicole’s pale face, Gregory’s voice turned stern. “Nicole, just bear with it a little longer. Once I help Judith complete all ninety-nine items on her wish list, her touch deprivation will be completely cured. Only then can I marry you with a clear conscience.” He softened slightly. “You’re the older sister. You should yield to your younger sister, okay?”

From the day she was brought back to her family at age thirteen, Nicole had been yielding to Judith for twelve years. Their social set treated Judith as if she were the real daughter. Whatever Judith wanted, she got with ease. A mere crystal necklace was nothing.

Nicole took a deep breath and met his eyes directly.

“Gregory, I don’t want to sing anymore.”