Chapter 1 Lies Chapter 1 Lies To pay for my vegetative fiance's medical bills , I was carrying a water jug wup to the 24th floor , utterly exhausted . +5 Free Coins And then , out of nowhere , Jericho Simpson - the man who was supposed to be lying in a hospital bed - appeared around the corner , looking perfectly well . I ran right into him , and in that instant , I felt a chilling shock . My body began to tremble uncontrollably . " What are you doing here ? " Jericho's eyes landed on me . I caught the flicker of panic in his eyes , but it vanished in a heartbeat . " You look filthy . Why are you dressed like that ? " His tone dripped with disdain and disgust . I glanced down at myself - my hair was a sweaty , tangled mess , my clothes were worn and stretched out , and my hands were covered in calluses from endless hard labor . " I'm sorry ... " I said automatically , like I was dealing with a difficult drunk at the bar . Even though I'd done nothing wrong . Jericho pinched his nose in disgust . " What's that smell on you ? Ugh , gross . Can you just stay away from me ?! " I shrank back . Three years without seeing him , and his first reaction wasn't relief or excitement - it was disgust . I felt my blood turn cold . After a long silence , I finally managed to speak . " Jericho , I thought you were still in the hospital . Why- " " I was discharged ages ago , " he interrupted coldly . I panicked . " When ? Why didn't anyone tell me ? " Jericho looked me straight in the eye , wearing this smug , justified expression . " How else could I test your love if I didn't fake being in a coma ?! " My mind went blank . I collapsed onto the ground . So that's it .... I just sat there in a daze , my eyes empty . Jericho was in a car accident three years ago and ended up in a vegetative state . He was an orphan with no parents to care for him . Even though I was just a penniless college graduate at the time , I took on his astronomical medical bills . If it could keep him alive , I was ready to do whatever it took . For three years , I did every job I could get my hands on , working five jobs at once and sleeping three hours a day . During the day , I hauled bricks at construction sites . At night , I worked at a bar . On weekends , I juggled tutoring , waiting tables , and even delivering water . For three years , I endured unimaginable hardship . My hands were covered with thick calluses and frostbite scars . 1/2 +5 Free Coins P Chapter 1 Lies I even broke my left leg once at a construction site . O Yet , I didn't dare ask for compensation , terrified of being fired . 0 I couldn't even bring myself to spend money on a hospital , so I just went to a small clinic to have my leg set . Even now , rainy weather makes my leg ache like hell . There were moments when I felt like I was seconds away from dropping dead . I wanted to quit so many times , but the thought of Jericho kept me pushing forward . Everything I did was for him . I would've gladly given my life if it meant saving his . But now , it was as if the universe smacked me across the face - Jericho was never in a coma . He'd woken up long ago , and I'd suffered for nothing for three years . Could you think of anything more absurd ? I looked at his face - sharper , more striking - as my tears wouldn't stop falling . Jericho scowled , staring down at me with zero intention of helping me up . " Stop crying . I have a meeting . Clean yourself up , " he said coldly , and then walked straight into the conference room . From behind the heavy glass , I heard them fawning over him . Calling him a financial rising star , a brilliant young talent . Next to him stood a woman with perfect makeup . I recognized her instantly - Talia Langdon , the campus beauty who'd been trailing Jericho since university . It seemed Jericho's life hadn't changed one bit , with or without me . Everything I gave up for him had been nothing but a one - sided act . " Jericho , you put me through hell with your lies . "