The Fake Death, Escaping the Cruel Fiancé

A sudden car accident landed my fianc, Beckett Pierce, in the ICU for three days. He had supposedly risked his life to save mine.

I left work early to bring him dinner, but when I reached the hospital door, I heard him talking to his childhood sweetheart, Seraphina Sterling.

Don't worry, Sera, he said softly. "After this little performance, Natalie will love me more than ever."

"In a few weeks, I'll convince her to be your test subject. Once the trial is a success, your illness will finally be cured."

I stood in the hallway, my blood turning to ice.

It turned out that Beckett was only with me to save the woman he actually loved.

I turned around and dialed the number for a service that specialized in faking deaths.

1.

"Ms. Goodman, I understand your request," the voice on the phone said. "I must remind you that once your death is faked, all your original identity records will be erased. Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," I replied.

My voice was colder and more stable than it had ever been.

"Very well. Please come by tomorrow to sign the contract."

I hung up the phone, swallowing the bitterness as I listened to the laughter coming from inside the hospital room.

When I finally pushed the door open, the atmosphere froze instantly.

Beckett and Seraphina immediately let go of each other's hands.

"Natalie? What are you doing here so early?" Beckett asked, his voice shaking slightly.

"I was just helping Seraphina up. Don't get the wrong idea."

I forced the same smile I always wore, keeping my tone casual.

"I just got here. Work was quiet, so I brought you some dinner."

Beckett visibly relaxed, his expression melting into that familiar, fake tenderness.

"Natalie, you're already so busy at the office. You didn't have to come all this way just to feed me."

I suppressed a wave of nausea and smiled at him.

"It's no trouble at all. You're my fianc, after all."

Then, I shifted the conversation.

"Seraphina, what brings you here today? You seem to have a lot of free time."

Seraphina glanced at Beckett, looking conflicted.

She hesitated before speaking. "I had something important to discuss with Beckett."

I tilted my head, acting confused. "What kind of thing?"

Beckett raised his hand, signaling her to be quiet.

"It's too dangerous. I won't agree to it."

Seraphina looked indignant. "But it's for your own good! It could help with your recovery..."

"Seraphina, stop it. I said no."

I frowned, pressing them for more details.

Beckett gave me a weak, reassuring smile. He told me it was nothing to worry about.

I didn't believe him for a second.

Under my constant questioning, Seraphina ignored Beckett's warnings.

"Natalie, our lab is running a trial for a new blood disorder treatment. We're in the final stages."

"If it works, Beckett's condition could be cured for good."

I let my face light up with excitement.

"That's amazing! If you get better, Beckett, we can spend the rest of our lives together."

Beckett smiled gently at me. "Natalie, about that..."

Seraphina interrupted him, her voice urgent.

"Natalie, we need a specific type of test subject for this."

"Someone with a unique constitution... someone like you."

Beckett cut her off again. "Seraphina, shut up! I won't let Natalie do something so risky."

Seraphina finally went quiet, though she looked miserable.

I had always been different; my body healed much faster than a normal person's.

Watching Beckett's display of protective concern made my skin crawl.

If I hadn't overheard their conversation earlier, I would have been completely fooled by his acting.

They both watched me closely, waiting for my reaction.

I hid my burning hatred and closed my eyes, appearing to make a monumental decision.

"I'll do it. I'll be the test subject."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw them both breathe a secret sigh of relief.

Beckett immediately grabbed my hand, squeezing it tight.

"Natalie, no. I can't let you put yourself in danger for me."

"I'd rather have a short time with you than risk losing you."

My eyes welled up with fake tears.

"Beckett, you saved my life in that crash. I'd do anything for you."

"Please, don't try to stop me."

Beckett sighed, looking defeated.

"I know how stubborn you are. We'll talk about it later."

I nodded softly and excused myself to go to the restroom.

Through the cracked door, I saw Seraphina throw her arms around Beckett and kiss him passionately.

A sarcastic smile touched my lips.

Beckett, I hope you like the ending of the game we're playing.

2.

The next day, I slipped away to sign the contract with the faked-death agency.

The agent looked at me with a hint of surprise.

"Ms. Goodman, it's you. Your fianc is famous for saving you."

"Everyone thinks he's a hero. Why are you doing this?"

The news of Beckett saving me had gone viral on social media.

The internet called him the last romantic man on earth.

I gave a small, hollow laugh.

"I want to give him a surprise he'll never forget."

The agent seemed to understand, giving me a knowing smirk.

After finishing the paperwork, I went to my office and handed in my resignation.

My boss was shocked. "Natalie, why so sudden?"

I hesitated, then told her I was volunteering for a medical trial.

I explained that it was the only way to save my fianc.

My boss sighed and accepted the letter, but she urged me to think it over.

I smiled shyly.

"Beckett and I are getting married soon. Saving him is all I care about."

I packed my desk and went home to cook a nutritious meal for Beckett.

At the hospital, I told him I had quit my job.

Beckett wasn't expecting me to move so fast.

He put on a face full of guilt and heartbreak.

"Natalie, we should really talk about this more."

I shook my head firmly.

I opened the food containers, my smile sweet and unwavering.

"Beckett, you know my only wish is for you to be healthy."

When he tried to argue, I pressed my fingers against his lips.

"Don't say another word. Just eat."

A flash of genuine guilt flickered in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

I pretended not to notice.

I pulled out my phone and posted a message on social media.

"I'd do anything to save the man I love."

My account had become a diary of our life together.

After the accident, I had gained quite a following.

People started flooding the comments with questions.

I picked a regular follower and replied:

"I'm about to do something that might save my fianc's life."

Then, I turned off my phone.

I looked at Beckett as he ate his dinner.

I smiled.

I really hope you enjoy the parting gift I've prepared for you.

Every day after that, I brought him meals.

Once, he saw me posting and asked what I was writing.

I just smiled.

"I just want to document our days. Just in case the trial... you know."

I trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

That night, I overheard Beckett asking Seraphina if the trial was truly dangerous.

Seraphina paused for a long time.

"Every experiment carries some risk," she said coldly.

Beckett was silent for a few seconds before simply saying, "I understand."

On the day Beckett was discharged, I invited an insurance agent to our house.

Beckett watched as I took out a massive life insurance policy on myself.

After the agent left, I turned to Beckett.

"If anything happens to me, this money will pay for your ongoing treatments."

"It's my way of making sure you're taken care of, even if I'm not here."

Beckett looked at me, completely speechless.

He probably couldn't wrap his head around the fact that someone could love him this much.

I knew Seraphina was the love of his lifeDhis 'White Moonlight.'

But the living can never compete with the dead.

If she was his moonlight, I would become the 'Cinnabar Mole' on his heartDa mark he could never erase.

Over the next few days, I acted like I was settling my final affairs.

Beckett followed me around, looking like he wanted to say something.

Each time, I just smiled and told him:

"Beckett, this is the only thing I can do for you."

A week after his discharge, Seraphina showed up at our door.

She was practically vibrating with impatience.

"My supervisor approved it. The trial starts in five days."

"But you have to sign this waiver, Natalie. It proves you're participating of your own free will."

She pulled a document from her bag and slapped it on the table.

Before signing, I gave Beckett a look of pure devotion.

I picked up the pen, but as I started the final stroke of my name, Beckett grabbed my wrist.

"Natalie, let's wait. Let's think about this."

Seraphina's face darkened instantly.

I wasn't surprised by his hesitation.

After everything I'd done, even a monster would feel something.

I smiled at him and finished my signature without a pause.

I handed the paper to Seraphina and turned back to Beckett.

"Beckett, marrying you is my biggest dream. Can we have a wedding before the trial?"

Seraphina looked like she wanted to scream.

But Beckett agreed immediately.

I looked at these two people, both wearing masks of their own.

I hope you two stay this close after I "die."

3.

That night, Beckett and Seraphina had a massive blowout.

I heard Beckett shouting at her in a low, muffled voice.

"Natalie is doing this for you! You have no right to stop the wedding!"

In the end, Seraphina had to watch us stand at the altar.

The wedding took place the day before the trial.

It was rushed, but Beckett made sure every detail was perfect.

We invited all our mutual friends.

During the reception, I stood up with tears in my eyes to address the guests.

"I don't have many friends, but everyone here means the world to us."

"I won't say much, but please... take care of Beckett for me in the future."

The room went quiet, then erupted into whispers.

Our friends rushed over to ask me what I meant.

I gave them a bittersweet smile.

"I'm going to do something that might save him."

"Please don't ask for details. Let's just keep it as our little secret for now."

Because I phrased it that way, they stopped prying, but the curiosity remained.

A few of Beckett's friends knew about his history with Seraphina.

I had hidden cameras in the house and watched them confront him later.

They told him and Seraphina that they were being cruel and immoral.

I could see Beckett's resolve wavering.

He looked at Seraphina with uncertainty.

Seraphina, seeing her friends turn on her, became hysterical.

"I've been your friend for fifteen years! You're taking the side of some woman you just met?"

"And you, Beckett! Did you forget why you even approached her? You said you loved me!"

"Is it really that easy for Natalie to steal your heart just by playing the martyr?"

The room fell into a heavy silence.

When no one answered her, Seraphina started screaming.

"Fine! If that's how it is, I'll just go kill myself right now!"

She started smashing things, throwing a full-blown tantrum.

The friends had no choice but to try and calm her down.

I watched the monitor, seeing Seraphina finally quiet down after being coddled.

I let out a cold, triumphant laugh where they couldn't see me.

Soon, I would finally be free.

When Beckett came back to our room, he had a fresh hickey on his neck.

I scoffed internally.

Seraphina really couldn't wait, could she?

She was so desperate to mark her territory.

I didn't mention the mark. I acted like I didn't see it.

That night, Beckett held me tighter than ever.

I even teased him a little.

"You're holding me so tight. What will you do if something happens to me tomorrow?"

His body stiffened instantly.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Nothing will happen, Natalie. It's just a blood draw and some tests. It's like a regular check-up."

I buried my face in his chest and, for the first time, told him I was scared.

"I'm terrified I'll never see you again. Beckett, promise me you'll take care of yourself."

"I've labeled all your medications. Make sure you check them before you take them."

Before I could say anything else, he squeezed me until it hurt.

"Natalie..."

"Yes?" I whispered.

He didn't speak for a long time.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, he whispered, "Thank you."

I smiled into the darkness.

"If it wasn't for you, those other people would have taken me for their experiments long ago. If I can save you now, it's worth it."

"Now, let's sleep."

Early the next morning, Seraphina arrived with two men to pick me up.

Before leaving, I excused myself to the bathroom.

I took the pill the faked-death agency had provided.

Beckett came with us to the lab.

That's when I realized the entire facility was funded by the Pierce family.

Seraphina ran a series of tests and then led me into a private lab.

She held the blood report, her eyes wild with excitement.

"Beckett! Natalie's markers are a perfect match for the trial!"

Beckett didn't look happy at all.

He looked at me with a heavy, troubled expression.

Seraphina handed me a few pills, her face glowing.

"Natalie, take these."

Before Beckett could even raise a hand to stop me, I swallowed them.

Seconds later, a metallic, salty taste flooded my throat.

"Cough!"

The moment blood sprayed from my mouth, I saw Beckett's face pale with horror.

"Natalie! Natalie!"

I forced a final, weak smile at him.

Then, the world went black, and I collapsed.

"Natalie!"