Chapter 2

His words sent a wave of humiliation crashing over me. Shivering, I looked up into his cold, dark eyes.

To my shock, he didn't shove me away. Instead, he tilted his head down, bringing the faint smell of whiskey with him, and kissed me.

The soft heat against my lips froze me in place.

His gaze seemed less icy for a second, catching the light in a bright, shimmering haze—yet his eyes held no reflection of me.

After that night, Lucas and I became an item.

Even though I knew it was only because Vivian had left.

Vivian had set his entire world on fire and burned it to ashes. With his home destroyed, he didn't care who he was with anymore.

When I woke up the next morning, my alarm had been ringing for a long time. I didn't even hear it until Lucas nudged me to turn it off.

I remembered my doctor telling me that with late-stage lung cancer, my severe coughing and potential brain metastases could cause sudden bouts of temporary deafness and ringing in my ears.

Lucas was awake now. He glanced at me with a smirk that felt like a slap.

"Sleeping like an angel now just because I didn't throw you a party?"

Usually, I would sneak closer after he fell asleep, gently slipping my arms around his waist from behind.

By morning, my arm or leg would always be draped over him, only to be shoved off with annoyance.

Not today.

I gave him a faint smile and said nothing.

Lucas turned his head, watching me quietly for a moment.

"Did you have another nightmare about me cheating?"

I was always so insecure. I frequently dreamed about Lucas being with someone else in every possible way.

Whenever I woke from those dreams, I would be unusually quiet and distant for a while.

The sudden realization that I was dying—that the days I had left to hold him were running out—made a lump form in my throat.

I turned over and buried my face into his chest. "I dreamed about the plains of Montana."

"Can we go together? Please?"

He knew how much I loved that place. Ever since college, I had talked about it constantly, memorizing every travel route and scenic overlook.

Lucas pulled away and said indifferently, "Go by yourself. I don't have time."

My eyes fell in disappointment. I managed a weak, "Okay."

Maybe he noticed that I didn't try to wrap my arms back around him after he pushed me away.

He shifted slightly closer and murmured,"Maybe later. When things settle down."

I silently counted the days I had left. It might still be enough.

So, I nodded.

In truth, I hadn't dreamed of the plains. I had dreamed of the old Lucas.

The Lucas from middle school, who took off his jacket and tied it around my waist when I got my first period, running to the convenience store with bright red cheeks to buy me pads.

The Lucas from high school, who stayed late after class to wait for me, beating up the bullies who mocked me for coming from a broken home.

And the Lucas who held me as I cried until I nearly passed out after Mom died on those open plains, whispering:

"Don't be scared, Layla. Besides my parents, nobody in this world matters to me more than you."

Those memories of how good he used to be to me played on a loop in my head.

He was completely different from the Lucas who met Vivian.

After Lucas left for the office, he called me in the afternoon, asking me to drop off some files he’d left on the desk at home.

When I arrived at his company, I ran straight into an all-too-familiar face.

Vivian.

She looked at me, seemingly reading the shock on my face, and smiled with effortless composure.

"Hey Layla. I'm Mr. Vance’s executive assistant now."

I froze. Secret dinners weren't enough? He had to keep her by his side so he could see her every single day?

I confronted Lucas in his office, but he just tossed me a dismissive glance.

"What do you have to be so bothered about?"

Of course I was bothered.

I knew better than anyone how deeply he loved Vivian.