Chapter 1

When the plane malfunctioned, Liam and I were both on board.

In the tense atmosphere, everyone was writing their final messages.

I gripped Liam’s hand tightly but caught a glimpse of him sending his message to my best friend, Riley.

Liam pressed his lips together and, after a long pause, finally explained, “Don't get the wrong idea. She’s the person we trust most, isn’t she?”

Fortunately, it was a false alarm.

I stepped off the plane on shaky legs and immediately called Riley.

“Since he left all his assets to you, I might as well give him to you too.”

On the other end of the line, Riley sounded frantic.

“Nora, what are you talking about?

I just saw the news about the plane malfunction.

Are you okay?

I’m on my way to the airport right now.

Wait for me!”

She quickly hung up.

Liam walked beside me, saying helplessly, “Your parents and mine are getting older.

I didn’t want to worry them, so I sent it to Riley instead!

Alright, I apologize!”

Liam pulled my hand and kissed my face.

“Don’t be angry anymore.

When Riley sees me, she’s definitely going to scold me.

Can you bear to watch her lecture me?”

My heart felt blocked.

I walked away without a word.

Liam chased after me, apologizing.

When we reached the entrance, I saw Riley getting out of her car.

The anxiety in her eyes didn’t seem fake.

But I could see clearly—the first person she looked at was Liam.

Then she rushed over to me and gave me a big hug before punching Liam’s shoulder.

“You jerk!

Why would you send a final message like that?

You scared me to death!”

Liam smiled.

“Nothing happened, didn’t it?

Besides, if something did happen, I trust you could handle everything for us!

Nora’s still jealous of me!”

He joked playfully.

Riley rolled her eyes at him and pulled me to the car.

I noticed how naturally they talked and joked together, without any sense of avoiding suspicion.

When we got home, I made an excuse about being too tired and went back to the bedroom to rest.

Lying in bed, I couldn’t fall asleep.

I’d known Liam for eight years.

We’d just returned from our honeymoon.

I thought I understood him well.

But earlier, when the plane malfunctioned and we faced life or death, I only thought about being with him forever.

Yet Liam, with trembling hands, typed a few lines and sent them to Riley.

He said it was a final message.

But under the fear of death, my senses were heightened.

I clearly saw those few lines he sent to Riley.

All assets go to her.

I dug my nails into my palm.

Then I heard a voice from outside: “Nora, I’m walking Riley downstairs.

I’ll be right back.”

I quietly got up and came to the living room.

I noticed he’d left his phone behind.

In an instant, impulse took over.

I walked over, entered the password, and opened his phone.

I checked several apps but found nothing.

Was I overthinking this?

I thought it over, then with trembling hands clicked on settings and switched accounts.

Sure enough, I accessed his alternate account.

I didn’t even need to enter a password, probably because he used it frequently.

Here, I saw his chat history with Riley.

The earliest messages dated back eight years.

Back then, I had just met Liam.

Riley had known Liam before that.

“You’re one lucky guy to know the most beautiful girl at our school.

Nora’s pretty aloof—not everyone can catch her eye!”

“Let’s take Nora to the badminton court today.

She loves playing badminton!

Don’t say I don’t help you out—just make sure you perform well!”

“See how good I am to you?

Nora’s my best friend.

If you dare betray her, I’ll be the first one who won’t let you get away with it!”

Later, their chats evolved from helping him pursue me, to playing sports and dating, and even to sex!

From initial reluctance, to growing guilt, to excitement and passion.

In just twenty minutes, I quickly skimmed through everything, photographing the information I needed, then exited and locked the screen.

Then I opened my phone.

At the parking space below, the two of them were hugging, briefly holding hands and touching each other, looking exactly like reluctant lovers saying goodbye.

I took a deep breath.

Something inside my heart completely collapsed.