When My Heart Turned Cold

Eight years of love. He quit smoking and drinking for me.

He even sent his childhood best friend abroad, just to beg for my forgiveness.

I thought I was the exception in his life. Until that sudden multi-car pileup.

At the critical moment of life and death, he yanked the steering wheel hard, keeping the passenger seat where Olivia sat in the safest angle.

He shielded her with his own body, leaving me trapped in the back seat, crushed inside the mangled car.

At that moment, floating bullet comments appeared in the air, telling me that I was just a vicious villainess, while Olivia was the reborn female lead.

Watching him carry Olivia away without once looking back, I finally realized that our eight years of devotion was nothing but a joke.

I wiped the blood from my face, threw my engagement ring into the snow, and turned to marry the man who would always put his body on the line to protect me.

The mountain pass was freezing, the wind cutting like a knife.

The moment the multi-car pileup happened, an out-of-control heavy truck slammed straight into our SUV.

Nicholas, in the driver's seat, made his most instinctive choice in that split second.

He spun the steering wheel hard to the left.

The car tail-spinned violently, exposing the back seatwhere I was sittingdirectly to the oncoming truck.

Meanwhile, he unbuckled his seatbelt and threw himself over the passenger seat, using his broad back to shield Olivia.

"CRASH"

The deafening roar shattered the silence of the snowy mountain.

The windows shattered instantly. Shards of glass rained down on me, stabbing deep into my arms and forehead.

The crushing weight came from all sides. I was pinned inside the mangled frame, the metallic taste of blood filling my throat.

It hurt. A gut-wrenching, agonizing pain.

But through the pain, my vision was terrifyingly clear.

I watched Nicholas kick open the warped door, carrying a completely unharmed Olivia in his arms as he stumbled out.

He didn't even look back at the back seat.

Not a single glance at his fiance of eight years, whom he had just personally pushed to the brink of death.

"Olivia, don't be scared. It's okay, I'm here."

His voice trembled with a mix of relief and sheer panic.

He had never used that tone with me.

Right then, a faint blue glow flickered in the air.

Lines of glowing text materialized out of nowhere, floating right above Nicholas and Olivia's heads like ghosts.

The reborn Olivia is brilliant!

She purposely damaged the brake pads to cause this accident, forcing Nicholas to choose in a life-or-death moment.

See? Nicholas's body is the most honest.

Subconsciously, he has always loved Olivia. Who does that toxic Catherine think she is?

Catherine always uses breakup threats to manipulate him. This time, he finally sees his true heart.

Next, Catherine will definitely throw a massive tantrum at the hospital, pushing Nicholas completely away and ruining her own reputation.

I stared blankly at the floating screen. Blood trickled down from my forehead, dripping onto my eyelashes and blurring my vision.

Reborn? Vicious Catherine?

Ignoring the agonizing pain, I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.

It was the written promise Nicholas had signed on his knees in front of both our families just two weeks ago, begging for my forgiveness for the ninth time.

Bold black ink on white paper: "I, Nicholas Vance, swear to never see Olivia again. If I break this vow, I will gladly accept any consequences."

At the time, his eyes were bloodshot. He held me tight, saying he would cut off everyone else just for me.

He said, "Catherine, you are the only exception in my life."

And I believed him.

I thought the playboy had finally changed. I thought our eight years of history had finally paid off.

But now, this written promise was soaked in my own blood.

The glaring crimson felt like a vicious slap to my face.

The sirens of the rescue team echoed from a distance.

As the hydraulic rescue tools cut open the deformed door, the paramedics carefully lifted me onto a stretcher.

When they wheeled me past Nicholas, he was kneeling in the snow, wrapping his heavy winter coat tightly around Olivia.

Olivia huddled in his chest, shivering. Yet, her eyes secretly darted toward me, flashing a smug, victorious smile.

Nicholas finally noticed me.

He saw my blood-covered face. He saw me strapped to the stretcher.

A flash of panic crossed his eyes. He instinctively tried to stand up.

"Nicholas, my head hurts so much... Am I going to die..."

Olivia cried out right on cue, clutching his coat.

Nicholas froze instantly and squatted back down.

He looked up at me, his brow furrowed with a touch of impatience and self-righteousness:

"Catherine, it happened so fast. Olivia was in the front seat. I couldn't just watch her die."

"Your injuries aren't that bad. Be mature for once. Don't start throwing a tantrum now."

*Be mature. Don't throw a tantrum.*

I looked at him, then at the floating comments: Nicholas chose Olivia as expected! Catherine got what she deserved!

It was laughably absurd.

I didn't cry. I didn't scream. I just let go of my hand.

The blood-stained promise slipped from my fingers, swept up by the cold wind, and landed right under Nicholass boots, crushed into the muddy snow.

"Okay," I said, my hoarse voice sounding incredibly clear against the howling wind. "I won't throw a tantrum."

The stretcher was pushed into the ambulance.

The moment the doors slammed shut, I closed my eyes, completely cutting off my eight years of foolish devotion.

The smell of disinfectant in the hospital was cold and sharp.

In the ER, the doctor was pulling glass shards from my forehead and arms with tweezers.

Every tug was excruciating, but I didn't even flinch.

Compared to the dead numbness in my heart, this physical pain was nothing.

Once bandaged, I sat alone on a plastic chair in the hallway, waiting for my concussion test results.

From the end of the hall, Nicholas rushed over.

He was still wearing his snow-dampened sweater, holding a thermos of soup.

Seeing the white gauze wrapped around my head, he paused, a fleeting look of guilt crossing his face.

But he quickly masked it, walking up to me and holding out the thermos.

"The doctor said it's just superficial cuts and a mild concussion. You just need a few days of rest."

He looked down at me, his tone softening slightly. "I had the chef make some creamy clam chowder. Drink it while its hot."

I didn't reach for it.

My eyes bypassed him, landing on the floating screen hovering behind his head.

Nicholas is still too soft-hearted. He actually brought Catherine soup.

Catherine will definitely use this to pick a fight, throw the soup, and scream at him.

The reborn Olivia already saw this coming. She had the chef add crushed peanutswhich Catherine is highly allergic tointo the soup.

The moment Catherine throws a fit, Nicholas will be completely disgusted by her.

I looked back and stared quietly at the thermos.

"Where is Olivia?" I asked.

Nicholas immediately frowned, his voice turning defensive.

"Shes traumatized. The doctor said she needs absolute peace and quiet."

"Catherine, do you really have to pick a fight over petty things right now? She almost died."

"So, she was the one who asked you to bring me this soup?" I looked him straight in the eyes.

Nicholas's eyes flickered, avoiding my gaze.

"I wanted to bring it. Olivia felt guilty, so she specifically asked the chef to add your favorite peanuts."

*My favorite peanuts.*

We had been together for eight years. And he had no idea I was severely allergic to peanuts.

Even a trace of it would give me hives and make it hard to breathe.

Back then, to accommodate his tastes, I had forced myself to swallow peanut butter sandwiches, sneaking allergy meds afterward.

He actually thought I loved them.

And Olivia, of course, knew the truth.

She had intentionally added peanuts to watch me make a fool of myself, to watch me go crazy.

Looking at Nicholas's facea face I used to adoreI felt nothing but cold detachment. He felt like a total stranger.

"I don't want it." My voice was flat. I didn't throw the thermos like the comments predicted. I just leaned back, putting distance between us.

Nicholas's face darkened.

"Catherine, are you done with this tantrum?" he muttered, his voice laced with annoyance at having his ego bruised.

"I've already swallowed my pride to come apologize. What else do you want?"

"The crash was an accident. It's human instinct to protect whoever is closest. Was I wrong?"

"You weren't wrong." I looked at him, my eyes as still as a stagnant pool. "Weighing the pros and cons, protecting the weak... you did the right thing."

He froze.

He was used to my hysterics, my tears, and my accusations.

My absolute calm made his heart skip a beat with sudden unease.

"You..." He opened his mouth, trying to find words.

Just then, his phone rang.

The custom ringtone was Olivia's voice: "Nicholas, pick up the phone~"

It sounded incredibly grating in the quiet hospital corridor.

Nicholas glanced at the screen and answered immediately.

"Olivia? What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" His voice instantly became tender and frantic.

Olivia's weak, tearful voice came through the line:

"Nicholas, I'm so scared in the ward alone... It's thundering outside. Can you come back and stay with me?"

Nicholas gripped his phone, shooting a quick look at me.

"I'm on my way."

He hung up, setting the thermos heavily on the empty seat next to me.

"Olivia is emotionally unstable. I need to go check on her. Drink the soup, and stop making me worry."

With that, he turned and walked off toward the VIP suites without a second thought.

The floating comments flashed frantically.

Catherine was abandoned again!

Nicholas chose Olivia after all. Catherine must be crying her eyes out in the hallway right now.

Serves her right for being so toxic.

Watching his back disappear around the corner, my lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.

I stood up, picked up the thermos, and walked to the trash can at the end of the hall.

With a flick of my wrist, I tossed the soup and the thermos straight into the bin.

A heavy thud.

Along with the eight years of my wasted youth, it was thrown into the trash.

I didn't look back as I walked out of the hospital.

The snow had stopped. Breathing in the icy air, my mind had never been clearer.

Three days later, I unlocked the door to our penthouse.

I had spent a whole year personally designing and supervising the renovation of this place.

Every corner, every piece of furniture held my highest hopes for our future marriage.

But now, the air was thick with the suffocating scent of cheap perfume.

A pair of rhinestone-studded heels sat carelessly kicked aside by the entryway.

A few lace bralettes were scattered across the leather sofa in the living room.

Nicholas was in loungewear, carrying two plates of sliced fruit out of the kitchen.

Seeing me at the door, he paused, his brow furrowing.

"Why didn't you tell me you were being discharged? I would have picked you up." He walked over, reaching for my bag.

I dodged his hand and walked straight toward the master bedroom.

"No need. I'm just here to pack my things."

Nicholass face immediately darkened. He strode over and grabbed my wrist.

"What kind of drama are you playing now? I was busy taking care of Olivia the past few days and couldn't visit. Do you have to act out like this just to get my attention?"

I stared coldly at his hand gripping my wrist, my gaze ice-cold.

"Let go."

My voice wasn't loud, but it carried an absolute, chilling finality.

Nicholas flinched under my gaze and instinctively let go.

"The heating in Olivias apartment broke, and shes too weak to handle the cold. I let her stay here for a few days."

He tried to explain, his tone dripping with self-righteous justification. "Cant you show a little basic compassion?"

I ignored him, walked into the bedroom, and pulled out my suitcase.

In the closet, my clothes had been shoved into a dusty corner, while most of the space was taken up by Olivia's dresses.

On the vanity, my expensive skincare products had been carelessly pushed aside to make room for her cluttered bottles.

I didn't touch anything she had contaminated. I only packed my documents, a few everyday outfits, and my most important personal belongings.

Light footsteps pattered from the living room.

Olivia stood at the bedroom doorway, barefoot, wearing my brand-new silk pajamas.

Those pajamas were custom-made for our honeymoon.

She had intentionally pulled the collar low, revealing a few suggestive red marks on her collarbone.

"Catherine, please don't blame Nicholas. I was just so scared, I begged him to bring me here."

Olivia looked at me with wide, innocent eyes, looking as if she were the victim.

Holding a glass of water, she slowly walked over to the vanity.

"Catherine, are you mad at me?"

As she spoke, she fake-stumbled, deliberately bumping against the edge of the vanity.

"CRASH"

The pendant sitting right in the center of the vanity was swept onto the floor along with her glass.

The sharp sound of shattering glass and jade echoed through the room.

The beautiful pendant was smashed to pieces.

That was the heirloom my grandmother had left me on her deathbed.

I had kept it safely on the vanity, terrified of losing it.

I stopped packing and stared fixedly at the shattered fragments.

The floating comments exploded again.

Brilliant! Destroying the things Catherine cares about most is the way to go!

Catherine will definitely hit her now. The moment she does, Nicholas will despise her forever.

Can't wait for the drama!

Hearing the noise, Nicholas rushed in.

Seeing the broken pieces on the floor, his frown deepened.

"Olivia didn't do it on purpose. Don't look at her like you want to murder her."

He instinctively shielded Olivia behind him, blocking my view.

"It's just a pendant. Its not worth much. Ill have my assistant bid on ten better ones at the auction house tomorrow to make it up to you."

With one careless sentence, he dismissed the emotional anchor I had cherished for twenty years as worthless junk.

Three years ago, to buy this penthouse, Nicholas had drunk himself to gastric bleeding while entertaining clients in a heavy rainstorm.

Clutching my hand from his hospital bed, his face pale, he had promised:

"Catherine, this home will only ever belong to you."

Back then, even a tiny frown from me would make him panic.

Now, he thought my precious treasure was just a cheap object that could be bought with cash.

I looked at him and suddenly laughed, tears stinging my eyes.

"Nicholas, you can't afford to replace this."

I zipped up my suitcase, lifted it, and walked out.

"Catherine! If you walk out that door today, don't ever think about coming back!" Nicholas roared in embarrassment and anger behind me.

I paused at the entryway, pulled out my house key, and quietly placed it on the shoe cabinet.

"The house is yours. Enjoy it."

I opened the door and stepped out into the freezing wind, never looking back.