The Love I Buried,My Terminal Secret

For seven years, I was in a committed relationship with Liam. Then, I decided to marry him at any cost. My family found out, probably because someone tipped them off. When my parents were starting out, they got mixed up with some pretty shady people on the wrong side of the law. They were obsessed with climbing the social ladder, and they wanted to use me as a bargaining chip for a marriage alliance with a wealthy family. When guilt-tripping me about "raising me" didn't work, they threatened Liam’s life. As if that wasn’t enough, I was diagnosed with a terminal illness around the same time. I caved. I blocked Liam on everything and cut all ties. Three years later, I was dying, wasting away in a cheap rental in the slums. I never expected to run into Liam again. He was a successful entrepreneur now, his arm wrapped around his beautiful, elegant fiancée. He looked at me and said, "Chloe, the only thing that could make me happier than my upcoming wedding to Avery is attending your funeral." I forced a bitter laugh, gripping my medicine in my hand. With red-rimmed eyes, I looked at him. "My love, as you wish. I really am going to die." During a livestream interview, a reporter asked Liam, "Mr. Liam, you started with nothing and achieved all of this. Who are you most grateful to?" Everyone’s eyes turned to Avery, the elegant beauty standing by his side. Just as everyone expected Liam to say her name, he curled his lips into a cold smile and said, "Chloe." The room fell deathly silent. Liam quickly clarified, "Chloe was my first love. We were together for seven years." "Back then, I was just a broke guy trying to start a business, and the family she came from was already well-established. To earn their approval, I worked myself to the bone. I drank until I ruined my stomach. But in the end? Chloe dumped me without a second thought." "So, I’m very grateful to her. If she hadn't been so shallow and ruthless, I never would have found the true love of my life, Avery." He took Avery’s hand, knelt down, and presented a ring. "Darling, will you marry me?" The next day, the #1 trending topic in the city wasn’t Liam’s high-profile engagement. It was: "Chloe: The Gold-Digging Trash Who Got What She Deserved." My background, my current state, everything was dug up. The photo in the article was of me, bald and emaciated, maliciously edited to look even worse. The comments were flooded with hate. Even at the hospital, people pointed fingers at me. They said my family deserved to go bankrupt, and that a piece of trash like me deserved to die of a terminal illness. It wasn't hard to guess that Liam was pulling the strings behind the scenes. In the three years since we broke up, his love had curdled into hate. My parents' bankruptcy was his handiwork. I didn't have money for treatment, so my condition deteriorated rapidly. I was surviving on the cheapest painkillers. Walking was a struggle, so I kept my head down, shuffling slowly through the hospital lobby. Suddenly, I was hit by someone. I fell to the floor, and a woman’s sharp gasp echoed in my ears. "Are you blind?" "Do you have any idea how much this bag costs—wait? Chloe?" I looked up. It was Avery. Her coffee had spilled all over her designer bag. The anger in her eyes quickly shifted to amusement and mockery. "Well, if it isn't our local celebrity! Look at you. Even if we sold you for parts, you couldn't pay for this bag. Tell you what—wipe it clean, and I won't hold it against you. How about that?" I struggled to get up. "You ran into me." She narrowed her eyes and smiled. "What? Realized Liam was a rising star and now you're regretting it? Can't stand seeing us together, so you’re trying to scam me?" She leaned in, whispering right by my ear, "You pathetic wretch. You looked down on him and dumped him first! Liam has never been able to let that go, so I’m here to teach you a lesson for him!" She grabbed my hand, trying to force me to wipe her bag. But before I could touch it, the rest of the steaming coffee in her cup splashed onto my hand. I instinctively recoiled, knocking the cup over, and the rest of the hot coffee splashed all over Avery. Before I could process what happened, a heavy slap landed on my face. "Chloe, stay away from my fiancée!" I was knocked to the ground, clutching my swollen cheek. I looked up in a daze to see Liam standing in front of Avery, shielding her. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart."Liam, it looks like Chloe is really desperate. She must have hit me on purpose just to get close to you." "Even though she ditched you back then for money, she’s sick now and her fiancé dumped her. She’s hit rock bottom. She must be truly sorry." "Since she’s so pathetic, should we—" Before Avery could finish, Liam cut her off with a sneer. "I’m usually charitable, but some things are just rotten to the core. They don't deserve..." I couldn't hear the rest. In my haze of suffocation, I remembered a party back in freshman year. I’d gotten drunk and almost hit by a car. Liam, who had been far away, rushed over like a gust of wind, pushing me out of the way and saving my life. He gave up a chance to study abroad on a scholarship and spent an entire winter delivering food, his hands chapped and frozen, just to buy me a birthday present. After we got together, to convince my parents, he quit a job that paid a six-figure salary to start his own business. For four years, he didn't take a single day off. He drank until his stomach was ruined... But now, he hated me with every fiber of his being. His words felt like knives stabbing into me. "Still lying there? What, hoping for pity? Hoping I’ll feel bad for you?" "Chloe, for me, the only thing better than my wedding to Avery is attending your funeral." His eyes were full of malice and mockery, waiting for me to react, to humiliate me further. But the intense emotional turmoil seemed to worsen my condition. I couldn't even say a word, and I didn't have the strength to look up at Liam again. I just leaned against the wall, navigating around them, and started shuffling toward the door. Winter had arrived; snow was starting to fall in the night sky. I gritted my teeth, hurrying as fast as I could, but I missed the last bus. I couldn't walk all the way back, and I couldn't afford a taxi. As I was agonizing over what to do, Liam’s luxury car screeched to a halt in front of me. "Get in. I'll take you back." He rolled down the window and shook his wedding pre-marital check-up report. "Avery and I are engaged. I’m in a good mood today, so I won't hold it against you." The cold wind made my head swim. I felt like I could faint at any moment, so I didn't think twice and pulled open the back door. I saw a dog cage on the seat, containing a purebred puppy. Liam laughed out loud. "What are you waiting for? Get in. You were willing to debase yourself to suck up to rich people to get married into wealth, why can't you suck up to me now?" "Bark twice, and I’ll cover your medical expenses for the year. How about that?" I trembled violently. A chill washed over my entire body. "Liam..." His laughter turned cold. "What? Annoyed? Three years ago, you humiliated me far worse than this!" "I’m not asking you to kneel, I’m not asking you to cry. You won't even bark twice to please me? Miss this chance, and you can just wait to die. I could make your family go bankrupt; I can also make sure you can't buy a single pill!" I suddenly understood. Liam had come prepared to settle the score for three years ago. That day, he had drunk until he had a perforated stomach. He’d landed a million-dollar contract but didn't even care about his health; he rushed to celebrate with me. But when he arrived, he saw my house full of guests. I was in the middle of a rowdy crowd, taking a celebratory drink with the man I was supposed to marry. He rushed over, insane, to question me, and my dad slapped him to the ground. His eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse: "Chloe, you swore you’d never marry anyone but me. What is this?" He collapsed on the floor, begging me, saying his business was finally picking up, telling me to leave with him. Everyone laughed at him like he was a joke. The insults rained down on us. I felt like my heart was breaking. But I had no choice. I had to use every ounce of strength to keep my expression cold. "I don't want to keep fighting with my family because of you. That’s it, Liam. I’m too tired." Every time I thought of that scene, tears would stream down my face uncontrollably. By the time I realized it, the tears were falling like rain. I couldn't wipe them away. My vision blurred, and I didn't notice the car coming from the other direction. When the screeching horn blared, it was too late to dodge. In that split second, Liam threw himself out of the driver's seat and shielded me. The car smashed into the door, stopping just inches from Liam's body. "Huff... huff..." I was gasping for air, still in shock. "Is this a dream?" "Why would Liam risk his life to save me?"The driver apologized profusely for the icy roads. Liam just swore at him to get lost, then grabbed my arm and threw me into the snow. Avery finally got out of the car, crying as she checked Liam for injuries. Only after realizing Liam was unhurt did she wipe her eyes and lash out, "You’re so stupid! Liam, she dumped you years ago and wanted nothing to do with you! Why would you risk your life for her?" The freezing snow on the ground made me realize this wasn't a dream. I stared blankly at Liam, waiting for an answer. "Avery, you misunderstood." He had already regained his composure, hugging Avery and soothing her. "I don't care about her. I just didn't want her to die. I still need her to watch me marry you. I want her to rot in that hospital bed, filled with despair and regret. The longer she suffers, the happier I’ll be." Avery calmed down, and Liam looked coldly back at me. "Did you hear that? The only chance you have to survive is to make me happy." "I’ve already looked into you. Your bank account probably doesn't even have enough for a cab ride home. All those wealthy families you were desperate to marry now treat you like garbage." "Chloe, who else can you rely on besides me?" "Yeah. Who else could I rely on?" When they found out I was terminally ill, the man my parents set me up with immediately backed out. Then my parents decided I was useless and kicked me out. Not to mention they were bankrupt, but even if they had money, they wouldn't spend a dime on me. These three years, I didn't even know how I’d made it through. I’d thought that if Liam was rid of a burden like me, without the threat of my parents, he’d be better off—and every time I thought of that, I’d smile. But now, even though I’d hidden the truth from Liam, and even though I understood his hatred, the heartbreak was destroying my obsession with him. I suddenly felt… nothing. I didn't care what Liam said or did to me anymore. I just climbed up and started walking back the way I came. The whistling wind carried Avery and Liam's conversation. "How can you let her walk back like that? She might freeze to death on the way." Liam’s laugh was dismissive. "Don't worry about her. She’s faking it." "The only reason she showed up in front of us today is because she’s out of options and wants my pity. She probably thinks I still care about her like I used to and that I’ll take pity on her and see her through her final days. She’s so good at acting. She fooled me for seven years, made me think she was a good woman..." I couldn't help but smile bitterly. Liam’s memory of me was completely twisted. Otherwise, I couldn't understand how he could say I fooled him. Those seven years we were together were a struggle. My parents only cared about profit. When I was a kid, they were so busy with business they completely ignored me, leading to a high fever that left me with a chronic illness. I’ve been on meds ever since. Later, to force me to leave Liam, they cut off my cards right after I graduated and kicked me out of the house. My salary was barely enough to survive, let alone buy medication. I was often in so much pain I couldn't sleep. I’d mend Liam’s clothes to distract myself from the pain. I still remember when he saw the little cartoon bear patch I’d sewn on the hem of his first real suit. He was so moved, he said he’d wear that suit for the rest of his life. Later, I got this terminal illness, which probably had something to do with those hard years. Then, when Liam’s company started to show promise, and we were past the hard times, I decided I’d marry him regardless of what my parents thought. But then they made a bad business decision, and their company was in a massive crisis. Someone leaked the secret. My parents, desperate to turn things around, turned on me completely. They threatened me: leave Liam, marry into wealth to pay their debts, or they’d kill Liam. Now, I didn't have the heart to blame anyone. Just staying alive took every ounce of my energy. It was a miracle my body had even made it home. I opened the door to my cramped, narrow rental, and the lights were on. My parents were there, after all this time. Their first words made it hard to breathe: "Chloe, we’ve decided to agree to your marriage to Liam."I laughed. They’d ruined my life, tore Liam and me apart, and now that I was dying, they said they agreed? They hadn't checked on me once in three years. I hated them more than anyone. So, when Liam used his connections to speed up their bankruptcy, I actually felt a sense of relief. They deserved it. Still, I didn't expect them to have the nerve to show their faces. "Chloe, don't look at us like that. Your mother and I did it for your own good." "Back then, who knew Liam was a rising star? The safest bet was to marry into a good family and never worry again. It wasn't our fault you got sick and couldn't close the deal." "Now that Liam has made it, if you want to live, you have to rely on him. He loved you so deeply back then. If you play your cards right, you might have a chance." I was so angry I laughed. "Play my cards right? If you’d read the news, you’d know Liam wants me dead. He wants our whole family dead!" "Mom, Dad, if you hadn't interfered back then, Liam and I would have been married years ago. He wouldn't hate you, he wouldn't have bankrupted you, he might even have helped you turn things around." "Now that you have nothing, you’re backed into a corner and want to beg him for help?" "Don't dream of it! Even if I could help you, I wouldn't. Get out! Get out of here!" Any familial bond had evaporated three years ago. Even though they still had ties to shady people, I wasn't afraid of them anymore. I was dying. I had nothing to lose. Liam had become someone they couldn't touch. I grabbed a broom and swung it with all my might to drive them out. My father grabbed it. A hypocritical, businessman’s smile hung on his face, and his tone softened. "Chloe, there’s something you don't know. Actually, someone tipped us off that you and Liam were planning to get married, which is why I hardened my heart and used Liam’s life to threaten you into leaving him." "Guess who it was?" "It was Liam’s current fiancée, Avery!" "If it weren't for Avery, you and Liam would have just gone ahead and married. No matter how mad I was, I couldn't have stopped you. Avery ruined your relationship. Are you willing to let her marry him?" Seeing me freeze with the broom, my mother quickly stepped in. "If Liam still has feelings for you, just get close to him. See how long you can live, and get some money for our family." "If he hates you, that works too. Sacrifice a little and let him blow off some steam. He’ll give you something for it, right? The more he hates you, the more he cares. Either way, getting some money out of him is better than dying alone in this dump because you can't afford meds, right?" My heart sank. I didn't know if I should cry or laugh. I’d still underestimated how low my parents could go. I was a dying daughter, and they still wanted to use me as a tool. But those words couldn't touch me. They thought I’d broken up with Liam only because of their threats. They wanted to use my hatred for the whistleblower, Avery, to make me grovel to Liam so they could profit. But in reality, the fundamental reason I’d broken up with Liam was my illness. I didn't want to drag him down. Just as I was about to tell them so they'd give up, the old wooden door was kicked open. Liam’s eyes were bloodshot, fixed on me. "Chloe." "Did you... have a reason for leaving me back then?"