The Liberating Death,Finding New Love

"Evelyn,let's get a divorce.You've worked hard all these years as Zafrielle's stand-in."

When I rushed into the hospital room,clutching the tear-soaked accident diagnosis report in my trembling hands,Joshua Sinclair was holding Zafrielle Solace's waist with his uninjured right hand.His voice was cold and merciless as he threw those words at me.Bloodstains on the cast around his arm hadn't even dried yet,but he still pulled back his sleeve from my grasp with obvious disgust.

That night,I called my stepbrother,Shawn Sutherland—the man who had secretly loved me for over a decade yet remained single."Shawn,I've made up my mind about what you mentioned before.The fake death,let's go through with it.One month from now,we'll start the plan."

Shawn's voice lit up with joy over the phone."You've finally decided to leave that shameless man,?"

Choking on my tears,I whispered,"Yeah,finally."

Years ago,my adoptive mother cared too much about public opinion and refused to let me be with Shawn.Instead,she forced me to marry Joshua.To him,I was just a stand-in for his first love.But wasn't he also just a stand-in for someone else?

From now on,I will be Sierra Salvatore.In one month,the name Evelyn Sutherland would disappear from this world forever—as the wife of Joshua.

——

Before the accident, Joshua had already booked a grand birthday banquet for me at the most luxurious hotel in Yverton. Our friends and family had all gathered to celebrate. However, as the lights dimmed, the sounds echoing through the banquet hall were not of well-wishes but rather the blush-inducing groans of Joshua and Zafrielle.

I froze for a moment, then quickly came to my senses. Stepping before the crowd, I flung open the door to the adjacent private room. Seeing the two of them entwined on the luxurious sofa sent a sharp, stabbing pain through my heart.

Joshua, drenched in sweat, lifted his head. The moment his eyes met mine, his gaze turned sharp and cold. I shut the door and turned to face the crowd, now staring at me with curiosity and glee. My expression remained unreadable. "Sorry, everyone, but it looks like this birthday party won't be happening after all."

Everyone left reluctantly. Joshua and Zafrielle emerged, slowly putting their clothes back on. I gazed at the man in his tailored suit, his face a mask of coldness. My left hand instinctively rubbed the unique diamond ring on my right middle finger, a ring he had designed for me five years ago. My heart clenched.

He raised his hand and whacked my face without warning. The stinging pain was immediate. Before I could speak, he pulled the petite Zafrielle into his arms, his voice filled with anger. "I told you to behave! And now you pull this stunt? Evelyn, let me tell you, no matter what tricks you play, this divorce is happening!"

"You even ruined the birthday banquet I arranged for Zafrielle! I'll have the lawyer send the divorce papers as soon as we return." Afterward, he wrapped his arm around Zafrielle and walked away without a glance.

Zafrielle glanced at me, her eyes filled with triumph and undisguised gloating. She was reveling in her victory, finally snatching Joshua away from me. Or rather, making me return him to her. Either way, it amounted to the same thing.

Shawn stepped forward from behind me, gently patting my shoulder. His voice was soft. "Don't be sad."

I forced a smile, a hint of bitterness in my voice. "I'm not sad. Maybe I should be grateful for that car accident. Even though it changed him, it also revealed the truth."

Two in the morning. Joshua arranged a second party to appease Zafrielle for her ruined birthday celebration. He gathered a group of friends and took her to a nightclub, generously covering the entire night's expenses. I saw it all on Zafrielle's social media.

In the photos, she looked like a pampered canary, nestled in his arms, her expression soft and content. Joshua really did love her.

However, the doctor called me anxiously. "Mrs. Sinclair, happy birthday. I just wanted to remind you, Mr. Sinclair's body hasn't fully recovered. He shouldn't be staying up too late and he absolutely must take his medication. If he doesn't, it could be life-threatening."

I glanced at the pills on the table at home, my heart sinking. "Okay," I replied.

Hanging up, I changed my clothes and prepared to take the medicine to Joshua. Five years ago, when we were first married, I had a weak stomach and suffered from gastric bleeding due to overwork. Joshua had put his work aside, setting multiple alarms daily and driving across the city to ensure I took my medicine.

I could understand that he loved someone other than me now, but I couldn't accept his death. I drove to the nightclub. The door to the private room was slightly ajar. Joshua, with Zafrielle in his arms, was surrounded by their friends.

"Cheers, Joshua! You finally got the girl of your dreams."

"Exactly! We all saw how hard you chased after Zafrielle back then."

"If it weren't for Evelyn's schemes, things wouldn't have turned out … "

When my name was mentioned, the air in the room turned ice-cold. Joshua's expression darkened instantly. When they realized their mistake, the others immediately fell silent.

I clenched my jaw, took a deep breath and stepped inside with a blank expression. Everyone stared at me in surprise while Joshua's face twisted with undisguised disgust. I placed the medicine on the table, my movements sharp and efficient. The dim light cast long shadows from my eyelashes. "This is your medicine. The doctor said you have to take it, or it could be life-threatening."

After that, I turned to leave. Joshua's voice suddenly boomed, his words hitting me like a slap. "Evelyn, don't think I'll forgive you just because you're playing the innocent, pitiful wife. I was blind to your true nature for so long. Zafrielle and I are the ones who belong together."

I didn't reply, didn't even turn around. My steps didn't falter and I left without looking back. I could let them be together, but not through divorce. Through death, that would be my final act. My way of ending this relationship, this marriage.

In one month, I would say my final goodbye to this world.

Chapter 2

I woke up to find Joshua sitting on the living room sofa. I had no idea when he'd gotten back. I pretended not to see him and poured myself a glass of water.

"Here's the divorce agreement. Sign it." Joshua grabbed my wrist, pressing my hand onto the table without warmth. The bold words "Divorce Agreement" on the document were blinding. I yanked my hand away forcefully and looked up at him. Even though my heart had turned to stone, my eyes still burned with unshed tears.

I averted my gaze, my voice trembling. "Joshua, do you still remember what you told me on our wedding day five years ago?"

He let out a cold laugh, his tone cutting like ice. "You know I lost my memory. What's the point of asking?"

My hands trembled slightly. I glanced at the agreement, then slowly reached for the pen. Why was I moving so slowly? Time had passed too fast. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hold onto this five-year marriage.

Joshua thought I was stalling for time, so he frowned and looked furious. He grabbed my arm roughly and snapped, "Stop wasting time. I told you, I only love Zafrielle. Whether you sign it or not, this marriage is over."

He flung my hand away as if my touch disgusted him. I lost my balance. My elbow scraped against the table's edge before I stumbled backwards in panic.

Joshua watched coldly, making no move to help me. I panicked, trying to grab something to steady myself, but I grasped at the air and landed hard on the floor. My diamond ring scraped across my thigh, leaving a long, deep cut.

Blood gushed out instantly and pain followed a second later. I looked up at him, searching for even a flicker of concern in his eyes. There was none.

Yet before the accident, he had been the kind of man who would take over all the household chores just because I got a tiny cut while washing dishes. I bit my lower lip so hard it nearly bled. As the blood trickled down my leg, I couldn't understand—how could a person change so much overnight?

"Drop the act, Evelyn! Whether you sign or not, I'll take this to court. One more thing!" Joshua glared at my blood-soaked ring, his eyes cold. He yanked it off my finger, making me gasp in pain.

"This ring was meant for Zafrielle. You don't deserve it." Then, he threw the blood-stained ring straight into the trash.

I instinctively clutched my chest. At that moment, I couldn't tell which hurt more, my heart, leg, or hand. I sat in a daze as the nurse at the hospital bandaged my wound.

The blood on my hand hadn't even been wiped clean when a familiar voice pierced my ears. "Joshua, thank you. I really love this ring." It was Zafrielle.

Joshua reached out and ruffled her hair, his voice tender, just like the man he used to be. "Zafrielle, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for making you wait so long."

"It's okay, Joshua. As long as I have you. Sadly, I'll never be able to wear the unique ring you designed for me. I still like this one, though."

My heart clenched. I thought of the ring Joshua had thrown in the trash. Five years ago, he'd said it was designed for me. Had it all been a lie? Had I really stolen Joshua from her?

Joshua pulled Zafrielle into his arms and whispered with deep remorse, "I'm sorry. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

I bit down on my lip until it lost all color. Then, I ran. I was afraid that if I stayed a second longer, I would collapse. In the bathroom, I scrubbed my hands over and over until the blood was finally gone. I didn't know when Zafrielle appeared.

She leaned against the door with her arms folded, looking at me smugly. "Evelyn, give up. It's useless. Joshua has always loved me. Did you think he really loved you? He couldn't have me, so he used you as a substitute! You stole five years of my happiness. Be grateful you're getting away with it. The one who isn't loved is the real homewrecker."

I stared at her, her beautiful face twisted with malice. Without a word, I walked past her.

My indifference seemed to provoke her. "Evelyn, you shameless woman!, what are you acting so high and mighty for? You're just a cheap woman no one wants!"

I stopped, turned around and slapped her hard on the face. All the anger from the morning surged through me.

Zafrielle staggered back, clutching her cheek. Her elbow knocked a cup off the sink, spilling hot water onto her hand. Then, she cried out in pain.

I saw Joshua standing nearby, his face cold as ice. As he carried Zafrielle away, he leaned in close and spat a word into my ear. "Disgusting."

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palm, barely keeping myself upright. I couldn't believe it. The man who used to shower me with affection, who kissed me every night and whispered, "I love you," was now calling me disgusting.

Chapter 3

In the coffee shop, I had just signed the fake death agreement Shawn handed me when Joshua's mother called. "Evelyn, you need to come back right away. I have something important to tell you."

My mother-in-law's tone was urgent. I didn't ask for details. After hanging up, I got ready to leave.

Shawn grabbed my arm, his face full of concern. "Evelyn, you've been exhausted lately. If you want, I can arrange for the fake death earlier."

I hesitated for a moment before shaking my head. "No need. Let's stick to the original plan."

There were 20 days left. That day happened to be the fifth anniversary of my marriage to Joshua. It seemed fitting for Evelyn's life to end on that day.

I drove straight to the Sinclair Family's residence. As soon as I walked in, I saw my mother-in-law arguing with Zafrielle in the living room. When she spotted me, her eyes lit up and she immediately called out, "Evelyn! You're finally here! This woman says Joshua wants to divorce you. Tell me, is it true?"

I frowned and looked coldly at Zafrielle. Her eyes were filled with arrogance and provocation. She didn't even flinch. Instead, she smirked and said, "Of course it's true. Auntie, I'll be your daughter-in-law from now on. Joshua loves me."

My mother-in-law clutched my hand tightly, her grip so strong it made my wrist ache. She looked at me desperately. "Evelyn, she's lying, right? Joshua loves you, doesn't he?"

"Mom, I … " I lowered my head, unsure what to say. For the past five years, my mother-in-law had treated me well. Of course, Joshua was also very good to me before.

Before the accident, no matter how hard I racked my brain, I never would have imagined that one day he'd treat me like this.

"Auntie, I told you, Joshua wants to divorce her. Don't worry, I'll take good care of you in the future." Zafrielle took my mother-in-law's arm, making herself at home.

"Let go of me! Stop talking nonsense! Joshua isn't that kind of person!" My mother-in-law yanked her hand away, her voice trembling with rage.

Zafrielle only looked more smug. "Joshua is crazy about me. He can't live without me."

"That's a lie!" My mother-in-law shouted, then suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed. Zafrielle froze, momentarily panicked. Then, as if afraid of getting involved, she quietly stepped back.

My mother-in-law has a heart condition and I was so nervous that my hands were shaking when I called 911. When I finished the call, I realized Zafrielle had slipped away. The paramedics arrived, but they couldn't save her despite their efforts. "I'm sorry for your loss," one of them said.

My phone slipped from my hand and fell to the floor. Joshua rushed in and Zafrielle was in his arms, crying as if she were the most devastated person in the world. Before his mother's body had even cooled, he slapped me across the face without a word. My head rang and I tasted the bitter tang of blood in my mouth. I looked up at him, my eyes filled with confusion.

"Zafrielle told me everything. You're the one who angered my mom to death! Evelyn, how could you be so cruel? Even if you don't want to divorce me, how could you come here and cause trouble? She had a heart condition, didn't you know that?"

Joshua's accusations felt like a cruel joke. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Zafrielle. She seemed guilty and avoided my gaze, lowering her head. My cheek burned; Joshua's slap had been forceful and it hurt. So hurt that the pain numbed my heart. At that moment, I truly wished Evelyn would die. I even wondered if Joshua would kick my corpse if I were the one who had died today. Did he really hate me that much?

"I don't want to argue with you in front of Mom. Don't worry, I'll sign the divorce papers after the funeral." How did I say those words?

Each one felt like a needle stabbing into me, but Joshua was like a beast smelling blood. His eyes were red with fury as he pointed at me and roared, "You have no right to attend my mother's funeral! You killed her!"

Tears slipped down my face, but he only wanted to hurt me more. "Get lost! You're not welcome here! With you around, my mom won't rest in peace!"

I curled my lips into a bitter smile, grabbed my coat and turned to leave. Before stepping out, I glanced back at him and Zafrielle. The whole world felt eerily quiet. I said, "Joshua, I had nothing to do with Mom's death. It was Zafrielle who provoked her. I know you won't believe me, but I still had to say it."

After saying that, I turned around and walked away very quickly. I was afraid of hearing anything I couldn't bear from Joshua again.

Just as the doctor said, the car accident had severely damaged his nerves. He was now a simple-minded creature, blindly believing Zafrielle. Her words were gospel to him and anything I said was just a calculated scheme.

Chapter 4

Joshua hadn't come home for days. He was probably busy with his mother's funeral. I saw Zafrielle's social media posts – fragmented images of him and her, looking fragile. It was like a scene from a movie, so beautiful. I laughed bitterly and tapped Zafrielle's profile, selecting "blocked." I was choosing to exit their movie.

I started packing at home, removing all the reminders of the happy times Joshua and I had shared from my world. Gifts I'd given him, gifts he'd given me – I packed them all up, ready to throw them away. Those memories meant nothing to Joshua anymore. If he saw them, he'd probably feel disgusted.

The door burst open with a bang. Joshua stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. He walked straight toward me and grabbed my throat. "Evelyn! How long are you going to keep harassing me? Isn't killing my mother enough for you?"

I managed a weak smile, my eyes stinging and tried to pull away. Joshua looked down and saw a heart-shaped pendant in my hand. It was a gift he'd given me for our first wedding anniversary. The pendant was filled with crimson liquid, which was Joshua's heart blood that he put in to prove his love for me. He once held this pendant and told me, "I will love you forever, until the day I die."

He let go of me, frowning slightly and picked up the pendant. His reaction was strange. I couldn't help but ask, "Do you remember?"

Joshua clenched the pendant, a low groan escaping him. "Evelyn, what trick are you playing now? Why does my heart hurt so much when I see this?"

I suddenly laughed, laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face. So, even if a person loses their memories, their body will still remember. His heart still ached. I held my sore throat and said mockingly, "Joshua, even your heart knows how to lie?"

"What do you mean?" Joshua stared at me coldly. Just then, his phone rang. It was Zafrielle.

"Joshua, my stomach feels a little uncomfortable. When are you coming back?"

"I'll be right there."

As she spoke, Zafrielle caught sight of the pendant in his hand. Her voice suddenly sharpened. "Joshua, that pendant ... that pendant … "

"What is it?" Joshua asked, his voice tense.

"Joshua, don't you remember? That pendant, I gave it to you. The blood inside is mine."

I staggered, barely catching myself on the wall. Joshua glanced at me blankly and said, "Zafrielle, I'm on my way!"

He hung up and turned to me, his eyes filled with cold disgust. "Evelyn, just how many of my memories with Zafrielle have you stolen? How can a woman be as vicious as you?"

He looked at me one last time, his eyes bloodshot with hatred. "You're faking your stomach pain too, aren't you? Evelyn, just stop. I won't fall for your tricks again."

He slammed the door shut, the sound echoing through the house. I couldn't hold on any longer. I slid down the wall, the pain overwhelming me and blacked out. The stomach disease that had not occurred for several years under Joshua's gentle care acted up again without any warning. Just like Joshua's love, it came and went as it pleased.

Chapter 5

Five days left. I went to see the fake death agency's preparation of my "corpse." I imagined how Joshua would react five days from now when he saw my lifeless body in the morgue. He'd probably be happy. Finally, get rid of me. He could live peacefully with Zafrielle, no longer burdened by my presence.

As I exited the building and waited for Shawn's car, I saw Joshua and Zafrielle drinking inside a bar across the street with a group of his fair-weather friends. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows across the road, Joshua suddenly lifted his head and locked eyes with me.

His friends noticed me, too. They exchanged a few words in hushed voices. Then, one of them stood up and walked toward me. It was Tommy, Joshua's old college friend. "Well, well, what a coincidence," he sneered. His eyes scanned me with ill-concealed malice, his tone slightly contemptuous. "Did you follow Joshua here on purpose? Pretending to run into him by accident?"

I ignored him and glanced at my watch.

"Come on, it's been a while, hasn't it? Gotta say, you've really matured. You've gotten sexier even. Now that you and Joshua are divorced, how about giving me a shot? I don't mind. To be honest, I've always liked you. You're way wilder than any of my exes." His words got filthier by the second and he actually reached out to grab my waist.

I quickly dodged, but he wasn't about to back off. When I looked up, I saw Joshua and Zafrielle watching the scene with amusement. Their lips curved into faint smiles, their eyes filled with detached amusement—like they were watching a circus act. "Get lost! Touch me again and I'll make you regret it!" I snapped, trying to shake him off.

However, Tommy's smile grew even more brazen. He tried to pull me into his arms, his other hand wandering over my body. "Cheap woman, stop pretending! We all know how dirty you are in private! How else could you have tricked Joshua?"

My blood boiled. I bit my lip hard and raised my hand to slap him with all my might. Unfortunately, before my arm could fall, he grabbed it. The disparity in strength between a man and a woman was painfully obvious at that moment.

Tommy leaned in close, his voice laced with mockery. "Come on, Evelyn, drop the act. You're not expecting Joshua to swoop in and save you, are you? Let me tell you something—he's the one who told me to mess with you. He's got his dream girl in his arms now. You? He couldn't care less."

Laughter erupted from the bar. Joshua raised his glass, took a slow sip and watched. At that moment, I meant less to him than to a stranger.

I felt a sense of disorientation, as if Joshua hugging another woman across the glass window was a completely different person from the one who used to cherish me. A wave of embarrassment and helplessness washed over me. Tommy's ugly face was about to come closer again, so a sleek Maybach pulled up to the curb.

Shawn stepped out, dressed in a long black trench coat. Without a word, he yanked me behind him and swung a brutal punch at Tommy. Punch after punch, Tommy's nose and mouth were bleeding. His face was now black and blue.

Joshua and his friends rushed over, but Shawn didn't glance at them. He pulled me into the car and sped off. Through the rearview mirror, I saw Joshua grabbing Tommy and saying something. I thought I saw him shove Tommy right before we turned the corner. It must've been my imagination. Even if they did argue, it had nothing to do with me.

Chapter 6

It was the final day before I was to fake my death. The doctor called me again today. He said that Joshua, who had an appointment for a follow-up checkup, was nowhere to be found. I was packing my belongings, purging our home of every item that held memories of Joshua and me. My voice was as cold as ice as I spoke into the phone. "Dr. Carl, I'm sorry. I can't reach him either. You'll have to find another solution."

"Mrs. Sinclair, I know you're upset with your husband. But come on, no fight between a married couple lasts forever! Life is what truly matters! Mr. Sinclair barely survived that accident. Please, talk to him."

My throat tightened and Dr Carl continued before I could respond, "Oh and Mrs. Sinclair, the hospital has something that was recovered from Mr. Sinclair's car after the accident. You should come see it; I think it will help you understand how much he truly loves you."

He paused, then added, "He really does love you, you know."

After hanging up, I couldn't help but let out a cynical laugh. Joshua loved me? He had made it abundantly clear that his past affections were a facade.

The love he had shown me was meant for Zafrielle all along. It was my own shamelessness that had stood in the way of their genuine love. Despite my resentment, I decided to go to the hospital. I had already erased all traces of my past, even the things that once belonged to Evelyn. So, I needed to deal with whatever item Joshua had left behind at the hospital, which Dr. Carl mentioned.

I didn't want Joshua to have anything left to remember me by, not even after I was gone. If he never loved me, then there was no need to leave behind anything he could use to mourn me.

When I arrived at the hospital, Dr. Carl handed me a box before returning to his next task. Inside the box was a thick notebook. Its pages were filled with our memories, from the day we married five years ago until now. He had meticulously recorded my every like and dislike, casual remarks I had made, things I had wanted to do and the surprises he had carefully planned.

As I flipped through the pages, tears streamed down my face. It was the love that the past Joshua had shown me. After much hesitation, I couldn't bring myself to throw the notebook away. I was pathetic, clinging to the remnants of a love I knew to be false.

"Why are you here?" I never thought I would meet Joshua again with Zafrielle at the corner of the hospital corridor.

His eyes were hostile, as if I were some villain. I instinctively stepped back, my palms sweating as I gripped the notebook. "Don't worry, I'm not following you. I-I have a stomachache and came to get some medicine."

Joshua scoffed, "Hmph! You better not be!"

As I turned to leave, I couldn't resist glancing back at him. "I ran into Dr. Carl earlier. He couldn't reach you. You have a follow-up appointment today, don't forget."

"Stop trying to bother me! Evelyn, you're wasting your time! No matter how you pretend, I won't ever love you." Joshua's words were infuriating, but I suppressed the urge to argue with him. I reminded him that whether or not he went was his own decision.

"Wait." Zafrielle's voice stopped me.

I turned around, impatience evident in my expression. "What is it?"

She smiled innocently, pointing at the notebook in my hand. "Evelyn, what's that?"

"None of your business," I snapped, trying to act nonchalant.

Zafrielle tugged on Joshua's arm, swaying playfully. "Joshua, I think I've seen that before. Isn't it yours?"

Joshua followed her gaze, making me feel a surge of panic. Fortunately, she didn't dwell on it; he couldn't even bear to speak to me anymore. He casually put his arm around her, his voice filled with affection. "It's alright, Zafrielle. Let the past stay in the past. I'll make it up to you."

I turned and walked away, not wanting to spend another second in their presence. At the faked death agency, Shawn sat across from me. His face was worried as he saw the notebook lying on the table. I stared at the final confirmation paper, my emotions in turmoil.

"Evelyn, if you're having second thoughts, then … " Shawn started.

I looked up at him, my eyes filled with determination and signed my name on the contract. "It's okay, Shawn, I've made up my mind. I have one more request, though."

"What is it?"

"I want this notebook to be given to Joshua as my final memento after I 'die'." I had changed my mind; I wanted him to see how fake he had been. Our marriage wasn't one-sided and he had played a role just as cunning as mine.

Shawn studied me for a moment. He had no idea what was inside the notebook, but he eventually nodded. "Alright."

I smiled. Shawn had always been the same. He never turned me down, no matter what I asked. The agency staff began to call Joshua, informing him of my death. Evelyn was about to bid farewell to this world forever and Sierra's life was about to begin.