Chapter 2

Julian's face darkened instantly.

"Only a wife who is loved by her husband has the right to throw tantrums."

"Do you really think you have the right to show me attitude?"

I gripped the blanket tightly, forcing a smile that looked more painful than crying.

This man always knew exactly where to stab me to make it hurt the most.

He was right. I had no right.

But why would a dying person need money anyway?

The hospital TV suddenly began broadcasting the morning news.

*“Billionaire's Wife Jumps into the River; Ivy League Mistress Successfully Forces Her Hand.”*

Julian frowned deeply and quickly pulled out his phone.

I, on the other hand, was amused by the dramatic headline. I stared at the photo of my half-drowned self with a bitter smile.

Seeing my reaction, Julian raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with contempt.

"So this was your plan all along."

"You put on a big show of jumping into the river just so you could leak it to the press and drag Lily’s name through the mud, didn't you?"

"Hailey, risking your life just for a little petty revenge... you really are disgusting to the core."

He stormed out of the hospital room.

I realized my heart didn't even hurt anymore.

With only seven days left, I didn't want to waste my energy on sadness.

I texted Chloe and asked her to meet me at the coffee shop where Julian and I had first met.

I wanted everything to end right where it started.

Chloe took my hands in hers, her eyes turning red.

"Hailey, how did you lose so much weight in just six months of marriage? Come back to California with me. Let's get out of New York. Stop letting the Vance family abuse you."

I shook my head and quietly explained everything to her—the System, my mother, and my impending departure.

She sat in shocked silence for several minutes, but in the end, she chose to believe me.

Suddenly, Chloe’s eyes flared with pure rage.

I followed her gaze. Right next door, a trendy new coffee shop was celebrating its grand opening.

The owner was Lily. And Julian was standing right beside her, looking at her with a softness I hadn’t seen in years.

I should have been used to this.

Last week it was a boutique, the week before that a pet shop. As long as Lily wanted it, Julian would fund it.

But... why did it have to be this specific spot?

"That homewrecker is still going around calling you a gold digger! What about her? I’m going to go give them a piece of my mind!"

I ran after Chloe, trying to stop her.

But it was too late. Julian had already pushed Chloe back roughly.

"Hailey, control your crazy dog of a friend!"

Hearing him call my only friend a dog made something inside me snap.

Before I even realized what I was doing, my hand swung out and slapped Julian hard across the face.

The entire street went dead silent. Only the palm of my hand felt burning hot.

"You're just a parasite living off Julian's money! How dare you hit him?" Lily shrieked, pointing a finger at my face. Her loud voice quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.

The anger radiating off Julian was suffocating. Chloe immediately shielded me behind her.

"Do you have any idea that your wife has severe anxiety and clinical depression? It’s all because of you and your little mistress! You almost drowned her yesterday, and now you want to hit her too?"

I grabbed Chloe’s arm, wanting to leave.

But as I turned, my wrist was grabbed in a crushing grip.

"Hailey, is she telling the truth?" Julian’s voice sounded strange, his throat bobbing.

Suddenly, Lily let out a soft chuckle and walked up to me with an air of fake sweetness.

"What a coincidence. I actually majored in psychology. Why don't I give you a quick assessment, Hailey?"

Chloe shoved her away. "Get lost. No one cares about your fake diagnostics."

Julian looked at Lily, his expression softening instantly.

"Lily has a master's degree in psychology from Columbia. She earned her way to where she is. You can trust her professional opinion."

How pathetic. Why would I ever trust his mistress?

Lily tilted her head, putting on a worried expression.

"But... the most defining symptom of severe depression is losing the will to live and a lack of desire."

"Hailey has such a strong survival instinct. And more than anything, she loves money. That completely contradicts the diagnosis..."

Julian let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Hailey would rather lose her life than her money. Depression? What a joke."

"You're pretty clever, Hailey. Getting your friend to put on this little drama. I almost fell for it."

"Playing the proud, tragic victim in the hospital, and now this. You sure work hard just to get my attention."

My face remained completely blank, but Chloe looked like she was about to explode with rage.

Julian wrapped an arm around Lily's waist, looking down at us with pure disdain.

"You and your friend should really learn from Lily. She has her own dreams and a real career. Stop spending all your time scheming. A woman should have some self-respect."

He led Lily to his sports car, and they sped away, leaving behind a cloud of exhaust.

Chloe screamed curses at the retreating car.

I sighed softly. "It's fine, Chloe. I'm leaving anyway. There's no point in arguing with them."

Chloe burst into tears and threw her arms around me.

"I promise you, Hailey... once you're gone, that bastard is going to regret this for the rest of his miserable life."