While I Slept Through Nights, They Raved In Flames

Chapter 1

The cruise ship's ballroom was dazzlingly bright.

On stage, Alexander Brown held the microphone, his voice reaching every corner of the hall. "Tonight, I'm announcing a major decision. Though Chloe is an adopted daughter, she will, as an exception, receive half of the family trust fund shares."

A wave of thunderous applause erupted below. Everyone rushed forward to congratulate Chloe Romanov.

Several socialites deliberately cut me off.

"So what if she's the real heiress? Mr. Brown only has eyes for Chloe."

"Exactly. She's always acting so stone-faced. She can't hold a candle to Chloe."

Chloe covered her lips, eyes turning red as she leaned into Alexander's arms.

"Alexander, this is too much. Olivia is the real heiress. She'll be upset if she finds out."

Alexander slid an arm around her waist.

"Don't worry about her. You've earned this."

I stood in the corner as the system's cold, mechanical voice timed perfectly in my mind.

"Countdown: 48 hours."

At the same moment, a violent surge churned deep in my lungs. The metallic taste of blood flooded my throat and could no longer be held back. I covered my mouth and turned away, quickly leaving the ballroom.

I couldn't spit blood here. Alexander had already warned me. Tonight belonged to Chloe. I wasn't to steal the spotlight or ruin the atmosphere with any pathetic display of illness.

I staggered up to the cruise ship's top deck. The cold wind slapped my face. With trembling hands, I pulled a bottle of pills from my pocket, tipped out a few white tablets, and swallowed them dry without water.

The pain was unbearable. It felt like my organs were being torn and twisted apart. I could only clutch the railing to stay upright, gasping for breath.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the stairwell, followed by Chloe's tearful voice.

"It really dropped on the top deck. Alexander, that was the hairpin you personally bought for me at the auction. What am I going to do now that it's gone?"

"Don't cry. I'll help you find it."

Alexander led a group of people onto the deck. I turned my head, barely able to stand upright from the pain. The moment I saw him approach, I instinctively reached out with my hand.

He was here. If he came just a step closer, he would notice the cold sweat on my face, he would catch the scent of blood on me.

Would he help me then?

Alexander halted. Three meters away from me. A distance he clearly chose, careful, deliberate, far enough that even the edge of his coat wouldn't touch me. He looked down at me, cold and detached.

"What are you doing here?" he asked flatly.

I opened my mouth, my voice barely steady, "Alexander, I'm not feeling well."

He gave a short, mocking laugh. "Not feeling well? You were perfectly fine downstairs. The moment Chloe brought up the hairpin, you rushed to the railing and started putting on a show?"

His eyes dropped to my hands clutching the rail. "What now? Another stunt to jump overboard and steal Chloe's thunder?"

A wave of laughter spread through the crowd.

Chloe slipped behind Alexander, her voice soft and trembling. "Olivia, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked for the shares. Please come down, alright? It's windy up here. You might fall."

She spun around and clutched Alexander's sleeve. "Don't blame Olivia. She just hasn't come to terms with it yet. I don't want the hairpin anymore. Let's leave."

Alexander held Chloe's hand even tighter. "Why wouldn't you want it? It belongs to you."

He turned his gaze back to me. "Olivia, cut out those cheap little stunts. Even if you dropped dead here, I wouldn't so much as glance your way."

The words hit my chest like a blunt force. I forced down the fresh rush of blood climbing my throat.

"I really am unwell," I said.

"Enough!" he cut me off harshly. "I'm done listening to that excuse. Last time you claimed you were dying, the hospital report said malnutrition. What is it now? Terminal cancer? Do you really take me for a fool?"

I said nothing. That old diagnosis had been switched by a doctor Chloe bribed. I had explained it over and over, but he never believed me. Only Chloe's tears carried weight with him.

I released the railing and turned away.

"Stop right there," Alexander's voice rang out behind me.

He glanced back at his assistant, Harper, and gave a command, "Clear the upper deck. Get her out of here. Don't let any outsiders ruin Chloe's mood while she's searching."

Harper stepped in front of me at once and made a polite gesture. "Ms. Romanov, please leave."

Outsider. I was his officially engaged fiancée, the real heiress to the Romanov family. Yet I had been reduced to an "outsider" disturbing Chloe's search for a hairpin.

Alexander took out his phone and called security directly. "Cancel all of Olivia's access rights on this ship immediately. She is to be allowed nowhere except a cargo cabin in the lower hold."

The deck went dead silent. Every pair of eyes fixed on me.

That was a suppression order issued personally by the head of the top financial conglomerate. On this cruise ship, I had been reduced to a prisoner without even a name.

Chloe softly caught his wrist. "Alexander, this is going too far. The lower hold is in awful shape. It even leaks. Olivia won't be able to handle it."

"What exactly can't she handle? She's been drifting all over the place for years. She belongs back in the lower hold," Alexander replied.

He flicked his hand as if brushing away something trivial. "Take her down."

Two security guards stepped in and seized my arms from both sides. Their grip was rough, jarring deep into my lungs like tearing nerves.

Agony surged through me so violently I couldn't even cry out, my vision dimming at the edges. Just like that, I was hauled down the stairs in front of everyone.

I cast one final glance toward the upper deck. Alexander had already looked away, gently smoothing Chloe's windblown hair. His movements were tender.

"Forget the hairpin. I'll send a whole box of replacements to your room tomorrow. Whatever you want, you'll have it," he soothed her.

Their close figures faded farther and farther from my sight. I didn't fight back. I let them throw me into the lower hold, reeking of damp rot and fish.

The door slammed shut with a heavy lock. I collapsed onto the cold, wet metal floor and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The system notification rang in my head. Blood spread across the ground as I let out a faint, twisted smile.

There were only 48 hours left. That was good. I would finally get to die.