Chapter 2

Chloe's POV

The smell of disinfectant was overwhelming.

During the stitches, I didn't let the doctor use anesthesia.

The needle pierced my skin, pulling the thread through.

It hurt, but I didn't even flinch.

The young ER doctor kept glancing at me as if I were a monster who couldn't feel pain.

"The cut is deep. It almost nicked the nerve." The doctor cut the thread, his voice laced with suspicion. "How did this happen?"

"I was carving something, and the knife slipped," I replied flatly.

I wasn't lying.

To prepare a wedding gift for Liam, I had hand-carved a pair of obsidian cufflinks.

The stone was too hard. The carving knife slipped and went straight through my left hand.

Blood had splattered everywhere.

After bandaging the wound, I used my uninjured right hand to pull out my phone.

The screen lit up. No missed calls, no messages.

Liam had been completely unreachable for three whole days.

Our wedding was less than a month away.

I stood up, preparing to pay the bill.

A TV mounted on the ER wall was broadcasting the local news.

"Today's torrential rain has caused severe flooding across several areas of New York..."

The screen flashed to a live reporter on site.

My steps froze.

In the pouring rain on the screen, a man in a black suit held a massive black umbrella, shielding a petite woman tightly in his arms.

The rain soaked half of his shoulder, but he didn't seem to care.

He looked down at the woman in his arms. His gaze held a level of intensity and tenderness that I, after knowing him for seven years and loving him for three, had never once seen.

That was Liam.

The heir to the Hudson Group, proud, arrogant, and cold.

And the woman in his arms was someone I knew too.

Summer Evans.

A well-known digital reporter.

She had built a massive online following on Twitter and TikTok with her "never tells a lie" persona.

On screen, Summer was soaked, still clutching her camera. Her voice trembled, yet she sounded defiant. "Mr. Hudson, I was just doing my job. I don't need your pity."

Liam let out a low chuckle.

That laugh echoed through the TV speaker, stabbing right into my ears.

"I don't pity you," Liam's voice was deep and commanding. "I care about you."

The people watching TV in the lobby gasped.

"Who is that guy? He's so hot!"

"That's the CEO of Hudson Group! Oh my god, a billionaire and a reporter! So romantic!"

I stood there, staring at the screen.

The wound on my left hand suddenly throbbed violently.

It hurt so much my fingertips went numb.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Liam's number.

It rang for a long time, but no one answered.

I hung up and tried again.

This time, the call was instantly declined.

A second later, a text message popped up on SnapChat.

Liam: I'm busy. Stop annoying me.

I stared at the words and curled my lips.

Busy.

Busy holding an umbrella for another woman in the pouring rain.

I didn't reply. I turned and walked out of the hospital.

It was still raining.

I didn't use an umbrella. I just got straight into my car.

I placed the box containing the cufflinks on the passenger seat and started the engine.

Half an hour later, the car pulled up in front of a private lounge in Manhattan.

This was Liam's usual hangout spot.

I pushed the door open and walked straight inside.

The bouncers at the VIP entrance paled when they saw me, quickly stepping forward to block my path.

"Miss Vance, what are you doing here?"

"Move," my voice was quiet but dripping with ice.

"Mr. Hudson gave strict orders. He doesn't want to be disturbed today..." Sweat beaded on the bouncer's forehead.

I ignored him, shoved past his arm, and walked down the hallway to the private suite.

Bang!

I kicked the door open.

The laughter inside stopped instantly.

On the couch, Liam was gently drying Summer's wet hair with a towel.

Summer shrunk into his chest like a frightened little deer.

Several of Liam's wealthy friends sat around them, wearing smirks on their faces.

Seeing me, everyone froze.

Liam's hand paused, his brow instantly furrowing.

"What are you doing here?" His tone was filled with utter impatience.

I walked over.

I was soaked. Rain dripped from my hair, and my face was pale.

But my spine was perfectly straight.

"I came to deliver something." I handed him the box.

Liam didn't reach for it.

He glanced at my bandaged, bleeding left hand. His eyes didn't show a single flicker of concern.

"What could be so urgent that you had to bring it here now?"

"A wedding gift," I said, looking into his eyes. "I made it myself."

The room fell into a dead silence.

Summer peeked out from Liam's arms, staring at me.

"Miss Vance, please don't misunderstand. I got caught in the storm during an interview, and my gear broke. Mr. Hudson was just passing by and helped me out..."

"I didn't ask you," I cut her off, my eyes locked on Liam. "Take it."

"Just leave it on the table," Liam said coldly.

I didn't move.

My hand remained suspended in the air.

Summer bit her lip and reached out. "Miss Vance, let me help you put it..."

The moment her hand brushed the box, Liam suddenly lashed out, slapping the box away.

Clatter.

The box hit the floor, bursting open.

Two cufflinks rolled out.

On the pure black stone, my dried blood was still visible.

"Don't touch it," Liam pulled Summer behind him, glaring at me coldly. "Who knows if that thing is even clean."

I stared at the cufflinks on the floor.

I had pulled three consecutive all-nighters, carving them millimeter by millimeter.

Every cut held my hope for our upcoming marriage.

Now, they lay at someone else's feet like trash.