Chapter 15

Chapter 15

As Dylan slowly revealed the truth, terror filled my eyes. Because he’d been hot and cold toward me, and my love had gone unrequited, I’d hallucinated another man—his brother. This imaginary man had been attentive and caring, taking Dylan’s place. But he’d never existed. All the things I’d thought Ethan had done were actually done by Dylan. Even though he hadn’t loved me, he’d still fulfilled his duties as a husband.

I’d been mentally ill. And now he was suffering too: his unwavering love had been a joke, and the woman he’d treated so coldly was the girl from his memories.

When he saw the photo I’d taken of his back that day at Cambridge—standing in the wind—he broke down completely, sobbing and repeating "I’m sorry."

After I was discharged from the hospital, Dylan changed. He muttered to himself constantly, even hit himself. I knew he’d lost his mind.

We started going to the same sanatorium where my mother had stayed.

The doctor said not to stimulate him, but I did it anyway, from time to time. The doctor said not to rely too much on medication and to provide emotional support, but I made sure he took his pills on time—sometimes even increasing the dose.

I didn’t stop until he was truly insane.

Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief. It had all started after Luna’s last visit to me. She’d realized her death hadn’t been natural, but she’d had no way to investigate, so she’d turned to me for help. Sure enough, Dylan had received a large sum of money, which he’d used to expand his company and grow his business empire.

Perhaps emboldened by his success, he’d turned on me. When I’d realized Ethan didn’t really exist—and that Dylan hadn’t stopped me from hallucinating—I’d made up my mind to take revenge.

My frequent trips to the sanatorium hadn’t been to treat my mother. They’d been for me: my mother had taken me there to get treatment before she died. She’d had cancer, just like Luna. How could she have prolonged her life? She’d just been worried about her only daughter.

But I’d never told anyone that.

I’d pretended to be mentally ill. I’d pretended to have shared countless stories with Ethan. I’d made Dylan believe I was crazy.

Only then could I have the chance to drug him. Living with a mentally ill person had been torture for him, but he’d had to pretend otherwise. Every time I saw him act this way, I felt sick. The love at first sight I’d felt all those years ago had long faded. Now that he’d been cruel to me, I’d be cruel to him too.

The baby had been innocent, and I’d regretted losing it. But in the hospital room, when Dylan had realized I’d been the girl at Cambridge—not Luna—his reaction hadn’t seemed fake. But after all these years, I couldn’t tell if he’d been pretending or not.

I couldn’t let my guard down. Otherwise, I’d be the one to die.

Finally, thanks to my taunts and the medication, he’d been admitted to a mental asylum before me. I’d pretended to be distraught, clutching the director’s hand and sobbing, saying, "Please take good care of him." But in my heart, I’d thought: Don’t let him get better.

After that, I traveled abroad from time to time to relax. After all, I’d been mentally unwell before. I’d visit him occasionally—to monitor him, really. He’d always look at me and 傻笑，muttering "Nian Nian" and "Sui Sui." I’d 冷笑 to myself: So he still remembered our names.

Not long after that visit, I received news that he’d jumped from a building. At that moment, I was holding the insurance policy I’d bought for him.

Before leaving the country, I visited Luna’s grave and poured her a cup of wine.

I’d leave this place, taking that money with me. I’d gotten my revenge and lived my dream. The boy I’d loved all those years ago was long gone, and I was no longer that hardworking girl from Cambridge.

Time takes more than just years. Even though my sister and I had never lived together, our names had still been so similar. I only hoped that from now on, every day of my life would be free of Dylan Harrison—and free of Luna Parker.

I am Sophia Bennett.