Chapter 2

Raymond's words stopped me cold.

Because at the very start, I hadn't been all that sincere about this relationship either.

I got together with Raymond only because I needed someone to help carry my exhaustion.

Someone who could give me a little emotional support, someone who'd bring me warmth the moment I needed it.

It was only after the breakup that I understood how much more terrifying the James family's power was than I'd ever imagined.

I used to think how alike we were. Only now did I see how wide the gap between us really was.

His scandals were splashed all over Metro City.

The woman on his arm went from an it-girl actress to a fresh-faced new model, then to some heiress.

I turned off my phone and wiped the dust from the frame beside my hand.

The face in it looked exactly like Raymond's.

That was the second reason I'd stayed with him.

The alarm on my phone went off, right on time.

Half an hour until my evening shift started.

I gathered my things and left.

After tonight's work, I'd hand in my resignation to the manager.

I'd only taken this part-time job to buy Raymond a new hearing aid.

But just last week, when I finally used the money I'd saved so long to give him the new one.

He'd looked over the packaging and taken it with a strange half-smile.

"You've worked so hard, baby."

Only now did I understand that odd expression on his face.

Everything I'd worn myself out doing was, to him, nothing but a one-woman circus, a fool loving no one but herself.

I'd barely changed into my uniform when a coworker shoved a tray into my hands.

"Bianca, my stomach's suddenly killing me. Can you take this up to VIP Room 666 for me?"

I walked into the room and saw that familiar hearing-aid box on the table.

The packaging had been torn open and left in a mess, the hearing aid tossed carelessly to one side.

Raymond sat at the table with a woman beside him.

A face I'd never once seen in any of the tabloids.

One hand toyed with the hearing aid, the other was wrapped around Natalie Fox's waist.

The group was talking and hadn't noticed me come in.

"A cheap hearing aid. How's that supposed to compare to the earpiece Natalie gave him?"

"The one you gave him? Raymond wore that for three whole years!"

They traded glances, eyes full of mockery.

"That girl worked herself half to death just to buy Raymond a hearing aid."

"She actually thought he wasn't answering her because the aid was broken."

"When really Raymond just couldn't be bothered with her, faking the whole hearing problem!"

Raymond looked up then, and our eyes met across the room.

His hand stayed where it was, at Natalie's waist.

"Now that Natalie's back, you're not going to keep pretending, are you, Raymond?"

"So what are you going to do with this hearing aid?"

Raymond's voice was flat.

"Throw it out."

He waved me over and tossed the hearing aid into my arms.

"Here. It's yours."

I didn't take it. I let it drop to the floor.

Raymond's friend recognized me, eyes flicking back and forth between me and him.

"You… aren't you…"

Raymond looked at the hearing aid on the floor and lazily lifted his eyes.

"That hearing aid cost thirteen grand. This part-time job pays you thirty an hour."

"And you're just going to leave it on the floor?"

Natalie covered her mouth and laughed from the side.

"Don't tell me she's got other income now and can't be bothered with pocket change like that?"

I looked at her coldly.

"You spread lies about me for no reason, I can sue you for defamation."

Natalie laughed louder.

"Lies?"

"Miss Sullivan, I'm not talking out of thin air."

Right in front of me, Natalie reached into Raymond's pocket and pulled out his phone.

"I'm sure no one here will have any trouble recognizing whose voice this is."