Chapter 1

Anastasia slammed her laptop shut, her knuckles cracking in the sudden silence. Eight hours of typing had left her exhausted, but sleep wasn't an option tonight. She had somewhere to be.

After a quick shower, she threw on a bright yellow gown, hoping it might lift her spirits. She grabbed her purse and car keys and dashed out the door, speeding towards the restaurant where she was meeting her fiancé.

An hour passed. Anastasia tapped her foot impatiently, her eyes darting between the door and her phone. Twelve unanswered calls to Williams. Each one sent her deeper into a spiral of anxiety.

She felt the crazy stares around. Swallowing a soft gulp, she hid into the corner, so the dim light would protect her from their gazes.

She called Williams once again. She softly bit her lower lips when she was sent over to the voicemail again.

"Anna_" the very familiar voice she had been waiting for finally resounded.

Anastasia's face lit up. She sat up immediately, and every bone in her smiled again. She forgot the humiliation she had felt a few minutes ago.

She grabbed her camera and stood up. "Williams," she called out with a sweet smile and took a quick capture of him walking towards her.

Williams let out a soft chuckle and ruffled his curly brown hair. His smile never reached his deep blue eyes. 

He reached Anastasia and handed the bouquet he held over to her. He took his seat almost immediately, not giving her the chance to kiss him.

Anastasia closed her innocent eyes and took her seat before him. She admired the flowers and fished the note out.

She flashed him a wide smile when she saw the note. Williams nodded at her smile. For some reason, his eyes turned cold.

Trying to look demure, Anastasia fixed the note back into the flower and placed the flower on the desk.

Williams smiled at her. "You can read the note." He took a sip from the glass of wine Anastasia ordered earlier.

Anastasia nodded. She mustered a smile and picked out the note again. Opening the customized envelope, the brows of her eyes furrowed when she saw a wedding card.

She met his eyes and forced out a smile. Trusting Williams and the love they shared, she uncovered the card and read through it.

A thousand needles pierced her heart immediately, and her hands began to tremble. It looked like a joke. No, this should be an innocent joke.

"You fixed a wedding date for us already?" She forced a shaky smile, trying so hard to downplay the obvious.

Williams raised a brow at her and dropped his glass on the table. He sat up and stared at her with squinted brows.

"Are you blind? Or have you simply forgotten how your name is spelled?" He dragged the card from Anastasia and stared at it to make sure he gave her the right card before throwing it back at her.

His jawline hardened. "I'm getting married to your sister two days from now," he dropped the bombshell.

That wasn't funny, but Anastasia laughed until she almost cried. 

She continued laughing to the point the people in the restaurant tilted their heads toward her.

Her laugh died down gradually, and fear filled her eyes. "I know my sister and I are twins. However, you mistook us to be the same person. She's Kathryn and I'm Anastasia." 

Her eyelashes flickered violently when Williams said nothing but fixed his cold stares on her. She immediately picked up her glass of wine, to keep her hand busy.

Her hands won't stop trembling.

She let out a soft laugh and pushed her wine glass away. "Talk to me, Williams. Says something,"

She has never been at the receiving end of Williams' cold glare. This was her first time, and it strangled her.

"I'm getting married to your sister two days from now," he repeated his words from earlier.

Anastasia's hands began to tremble. Her whole body joined afterward. She trembled so badly that she had to clutch the table for support.

Tears began to roll down her eyes. She immediately wiped them off and fixed her eyes on Williams. "Did I do something wrong?"

He didn't flinch for once, and it scared her. The Williams she knew had never sat down so unbothered while watching her cry.

She racked her brain, trying to understand why this happened. She can't remember having a major argument with him.

She spent a lifetime giving him her heart. Anastasia had hoped to be loved by him forever. She had the best time falling in love with him.

She has loved him since she was 16. She had the best time giving him her heart. What changed?

Clearing her throat, Anastasia tried to have a conversation. She needed to know why. She deserves an apology, even if she doesn't want to ask because of a scene. "Is this the reason why you laughed at my dreams and rolled your eyes at my jokes?"

Williams traced the rim of his wine glass. "I guess I just miss the way your sister kisses." he let out a small laugh at the end, obviously enjoying himself.

"Where's my sister?" 

Her sister's hate was understandable. Not William's sudden hate and switch.

Williams shrugged his shoulders lightly. "Preparing for our wedding." he ran a hand through his hair and smiled warmly. "I'll do you the favor of thinking about you from time to time. At least, whenever I'm lonely."

Anastasia's tears rolled down. "Williams_" she sniffed. "Don't you think this is too sudden? We can fix this. Please. Please don't leave me," she begged pathetically, repeatedly choking on her tears.

She went on. "I survived living because you were with me…" She fell to her knees and desperately crawled over to Williams. "Please_"

She was cut off when Williams poured the wine his glass held on her. From the center of her head down to her face.

He drew his leg back to himself. "Remember this moment." he leaned towards her, gripped her chin, and forced her to look at him. "I'm your hero. I always will be."

Picking up her camera, Williams took multiple snaps of her pathetic situation. He shoved the camera into her hand.

Anastasia pushed away from him. She sobbed painfully, not minding the occupants of the restaurant.

William stood up from his seat. He straightened his suit and nodded softly like a gentleman. "This will be the highlight of that day. Perhaps a hobo as pathetic as you are would want to kiss you." he left the restaurant afterward.

Anastasia stared at the flowers and the wedding card on the floor. Her heart tightened, and she knew she was dying. Death by a thousand cuts.