He Faked His Death for My Trust Fund. So I Planned My Own Goodbye. Chapter 01

He Faked His Death for My Trust Fund. So I Planned My Own Goodbye. Chapter 01

Six months ago, I received a diagnosis at Halcyon Private Clinic.

The doctor said I might only have a year left.

I cried all night before finally forcing myself to break up with Julian Hayes.

“Forget about me. I’m leaving for Paris, my favorite city.”

He only sent one message back.

“If you leave like this, I’ll hate you.”

I blocked his number and every social media account he had.

Right before the plane took off, I suddenly fainted at the boarding gate and missed that chartered flight to Paris.

The next day, the news reported the plane had crashed. Official confirmation: no survivors.

After that, my health kept getting worse.

I lay pale in my hospital gown inside a ward at Halcyon Private Clinic.

“Cami, I feel like I don’t have much time left. I want to secretly see Julian one last time.”

Camille Lane’s gaze darkened.

“Julian is already dead. Didn’t you know?”

“When?”

“Half a year ago. He suddenly decided to go to Paris and got on that exact plane.”

“What did you say?”

My fingers tightened around my phone until they went stiff. It nearly slipped from my hand.

I even hoped I’d heard her wrong.

“Say that again. Who died?”

Camille’s voice carried deep regret.

“It’s true.”

“Julian loved you so much. When he heard you’d bought a ticket to Paris, he followed right after you.”

“Who knew you never actually went and stayed in the clinic for treatment instead.”

“But he died in that plane crash half a year ago.”

“He died during the year he loved you most.”

I cried until I collapsed onto the floor. I locked myself in the ward for three full days.

“I killed Julian!”

“I survived, but I got him killed…”

Camille kept knocking on the door, frantic.

“It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself like this.”

“Nobody could have predicted a plane crash like that.”

“You can’t say you killed him.”

Her voice cracked with tears through the door.

“Mina, I should’ve told you back then, but your condition was so bad.”

“I was scared that if you heard, you wouldn’t make it.”

I clutched Julian’s photo, crying so hard I couldn’t speak.

No wonder I hadn’t seen him once since the breakup.

Lying in that hospital bed, I’d blamed him over and over in my head.

How could he be so heartless?

How could he just accept the breakup without a single word?

Turns out he was already dead.

He died because of me.

If I hadn’t said I was going to Paris, if he hadn’t chased after me onto that plane…

He never would’ve been on it.

I sat in the cold wind, guilt pressing the breath from my lungs.

But Camille kept talking through the door.

“It’s not your fault, Mina. You can’t stay trapped in this forever.”

“If Julian were still here and knew the truth, he wouldn’t want you suffering like this.”

“He loved you so much. If he knew you pushed him away because you were sick, he’d forgive you.”

I could only smile bitterly.

“I won’t forgive myself.”

If not for that diagnosis…

We might already be married by now.

We’d have our own home.

Maybe even a kid.

But none of it happened.

Because of one sentence from me.

I lost the person I loved most.

“Cami, I want to check myself out.”

Camille froze, then immediately tried to stop me.

“No way. The doctor said your condition is too serious right now. You can’t leave the clinic.”

“Cami, you know me. When I make up my mind, nobody can stop me.”

Camille stared at me for a long moment, then sighed.

She knew what I was like.

Once I decided something, there was no turning back.

“Fine. I’ll talk to the doctor. But come back quick.”

I walked into the beauty counter at Ridgeway Galleria.

“Can you do a natural makeup look for me?”

The mirror showed a pale face staring back.

I’d been sick too long. There was no color left.

“Sure.” The consultant picked up her products. “Going on a date?”

“Going to see my boyfriend.”

Envy flickered in her eyes.

“He must be one lucky guy.”

I forced the corners of my mouth up.

But the smile felt painfully bitter.

After leaving the mall, I picked out the most beautiful white lilies and laid them in front of the memorial marker at St. Brigid’s Cemetery.

“Julian, I’m sorry. It’s been half a year, and I’m only now coming to see you.”

“Are you still mad at me for being so heartless?”

It’s okay if you are.

In this life, I’ve only ever loved Julian.

“It’s alright, Julian. It won’t be long before I come find you…”

“Mina Caldwell!”

“What are you doing here?”