The Trials of Love

I pushed away the busybodies in front of me and frantically found Vivian.

"Vivian, why are you allowing your friends to spread such lies online? I don't care about myself, but what did my mom do? Why does she have to bear such slander even after her death?"

However, Vivian was playing with her manicured nails. She looked indifferent.

"Well, you guys did do those filthy things, didn't you? What? You dare to do it but don't dare to let people talk about it? Adrian loving you is the biggest blessing of your life.

"As his friends, we have to help him vet you. After all, you're just a poor woman from the slums. Who knows what your true intentions are?"

The glass in my hand shattered from my grip, and blood dripped through my fingers. But I felt nothing.

Just as I was about to say something more, Adrian interrupted me. "Enough, Camilla. Stop making a scene. Vi is just looking out for me. We're going to get married anyway. It's just a six-month delay. As long as you admit your mistake, everything can go back to normal."

After saying this, Adrian had someone bring a first aid kit. He took out a bandage and looked at me with a hint of concern. "Your hand is bleeding. Come here. Let me wrap it up for you."

I looked up at him. "You think I'm just putting on an act too?"

Adrian didn't answer, but his silence said everything.

I finally understood, and I nodded slightly. "Since this is how you see me, then from today onward, we'll go our separate ways. Adrian, this wedding is off."

I turned to leave, but Vivian called after me. "Wait, if you're leaving, then return the ring Adrian gave you."

She pointed at the ring on my finger.

Adrian custom-made this for me. His so-called "true love tests" had started half a year ago and had lasted until now.

During that time, I endured endless torment, and there were moments when I wanted to give up. But the last time I brought up breaking up, he lost his temper completely and smashed everything in his house before storming out in a rage.

The next morning, he rushed back home. His eyes were red as he held me tightly and apologized.

At the same time, he took a ring out of a jewelry box and comforted me softly. "This is your wedding ring in advance. We'll be able to get married soon. As long as you make it through all the tests, I'll belong to you forever, hmm?"

I softened and didn't insist on breaking up.

But I never expected that decision would drag my mother and me into this mess.

Thinking of this, I didn't hesitate at all. I yanked the ring off my finger and tossed it onto the sand.

"Here you go. From now on, we owe each other nothing."

Adrian's face darkened. But I didn't care and left without looking back.

On the way, he called me repeatedly, but I didn't answer.

I just held my mother's lifeless body tightly, wanting to cry but unable to shed a single tear.

When I returned to my hometown, I wanted to cremate and bury her immediately.

However, not a single crematorium was willing to accept her, and no one would issue a death certificate.

Even when I knelt on the ground and begged, they answered me with cold indifference.

"Mr. Lawson has instructed us not to accept her."

"The Lawson family is preparing for a wedding. There can't be a funeral. It's bad luck."

I had no choice but to call Adrian.

But Vivian was the one who answered, and she mocked me mercilessly. "You really have no shame. You dumped him, and now you're calling to harass Adrian again? Give up. I'm the only one who'll end up with Adrian.

"Those so-called 'true love tests' were just something I made up to fool him. I originally wanted to scare you off, but you just had to hold on until now. You even dragged your own mother into this."

Vivian hung up with a wildly arrogant laugh. When I called back, the number was already disconnected.

I clenched my fists and threw my phone hard against the wall.

Back in my hometown, I set up a simple mourning hall and placed my mother in a coffin.

After the seventh day had passed, I was preparing to bury her when an unexpected guest arrived.

Adrian stormed in with a terrible expression.

"Camilla, first you buy a coffin, then you hold a funeral. When will you be done? The last incident already disgraced the Lawson family, and now you're doing something that will make people gossip again. Don't think you can do whatever you want just because I've been indulging you!"

His face was full of pain and disappointment as if I had let down his deep love.

"Don't disturb my mother's peace. Whatever you have to say, wait until after she's buried. You're not welcome here," I said simply.

I had never spoken to Adrian this way before, and he stood frozen in place.

After a long moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Enough! How long do you plan to keep up this act? Do you think I'm a child?"

I only repeated my words calmly. "Please leave."

Adrian let out a furious laugh. His eyes were glistening with tears.

He nodded bleakly. "Fine. You say your mother is in this coffin, right? Men, take this coffin away!"

The bodyguards he brought swarmed forward and lifted the coffin.

The edge of the coffin barely caught on the window railing. With one push, it would fall.

"What are you doing?" I struggled desperately. But they held me down firmly and rendered me immobile.

Then, Adrian uttered, "Since you insist on lying to me, I'll give you one final true love test. Do you choose this coffin, or do you choose to marry me? You can only pick one."

I stared at Adrian in disbelief, unable to comprehend that he could do something so absurd.

"Put it back! My mother is in there! If you really throw it down, I will never forgive you!"

Adrian's temper flared instantly.

"You won't even choose me over a fake coffin? Camilla, you're truly heartless. I declare that you have failed your final true love test. Now watch me marry Vivian. As for this thing…"

Adrian glanced at the coffin and sneered, "Throw it down! Just looking at it annoys me!"

His men let go, and the coffin plummeted from the high-rise building, crashing onto the ground and shattering to pieces.