Chapter 2

I took a cab to urgent care alone.

While sitting there with an IV needle stuck in the back of my hand, my phone buzzed. It was a Snap from Julian.

In the picture, Evelyn's blouse was unbuttoned, and she was touching up her lipstick in front of a mirror. Dark red hickeys were clearly visible along her neck.

Then came his sickening, innocent apology:

"I'm so sorry, Nathan! I had no idea you were still waiting for Evelyn in the car. It's my fault for being careless and holding her up."

"Then again, my pieces are closing the gala tonight. If they got lost, the whole company would take a hit, so you can't blame Evelyn for being anxious."

Fake humility, dripping with smugness. I couldn't even stomach a reply.

I blocked him without a second thought.

I stared down at my right hand, looking at the missing pinky finger. I knew Julian was trying to get under my skin.

After all, I was no longer the brilliant prodigy who took the design world by storm three years ago.

Back then, Evelyn had played dirty on a business deal, provoking ruthless retaliation from her rivals.

I forfeited the World Jewelry Design Championship—a prestigious competition held only once every ten years—and rushed to her side.

To save her life from those thugs, I lost my pinky. They chopped it clean off.

The trauma crushed me. My mentor disowned me in fury and heartbreak over my squandered future.

From that day on, I stepped away from the spotlight and faded into the shadows.

Six months ago, I mentioned wanting to return to work, wanting to create one final, definitive swan-song collection.

Evelyn only sneered.

"You're past your prime, Nathan. What do you know about modern trends? Nobody's going to buy whatever outdated crap you sketch."

"This company exists to make a profit, not to indulge your midlife vanity projects."

Not wanting to burden her, I drew the sketches in secret and hired an artisan workshop out of my own pocket.

I wanted to give her that pink diamond ring on our eighth anniversary.

And what did I get in return?

She stole the ring, let Julian drop to his knee with it in front of the world, and basked in the online applause claiming it was his creation.

And then, she brought me a piece of rusted junk to mock me.

Eight long years. This was where it ended.

By the time the IV finished and I got back to the house, Evelyn strode in right behind me.

She slammed her car keys onto the credenza and launched into an immediate tirade.

"Didn't I tell you to wait in the car? What is wrong with you?

Leaving whenever you please, smashing my window... if anything got stolen, can you even afford to replace it?"

"Running around with a fever—are you trying to get yourself killed?"

With that, she dug a box of cold medicine from her purse and tossed it on the table.

"I spent ages looking for you at the clinic and couldn't find you. Here, take these."

I had been sitting in plain sight in the urgent care waiting bay for two hours. She hadn't stepped foot inside.

"Looking for me" was just another casual lie.

Saying nothing, I picked up the box, only to notice the seal had already been broken.

As I slid the blister packs out, a pink heart-shaped sticky note fluttered into my palm.

Written on it was: Get well soon, my brilliant designer Julian!

Signed: From Evelyn, the girl who loves you most in the world.

My fingers paused. Not a single ripple stirred in my chest. I just smiled faintly.

"Thanks."