Chapter 2

When I woke up, I was in a hospital room. My heart was still beating. I was still alive.

The door pushed open, and Vivian walked in holding an insulated food container.

She took my hand, her eyes swimming with tenderness and worry.

"Julian, you terrified me."

"I made your favorite seafood chowder. Let me feed you a little."

I stared at her, an ache settling deep in my chest.

The one who loved seafood chowder was Scott.

I was deathly allergic to shellfish.

Meeting my flat, hollow stare, Vivian's hand paused imperceptibly.

"Julian? Are... are you still mad at me?"

"I'm so sorry. Yesterday afternoon was all my fault. My mind was foggy again, and I mistook Scott for you."

Her face brimmed with regret, tears welling in her eyes.

In the past, my heart would have ached for her, and I would have pulled her into my arms to comfort her.

Now, watching her clumsy performance only felt pathetic.

"I'm firing him right now. I'll make sure he's thrown out of the company forever."

With that, she immediately dialed her secretary.

I watched her silently, not a ripple in my heart.

She had pulled this stunt before. And what happened?

She fired him in the morning and rehired him by the afternoon.

It was exhausting just watching her.

Lying there, a chill settled into my bones. I couldn't stop myself from asking:

"Vivian, do you still love me? Are you hiding anything from me?"

She stiffened for a second, then leaned down to gently brush her lips against mine, her voice resolute:

"Of course I love you. If I didn't, my memory wouldn't have snapped back in time to rush you here. But Julian... why would you think I'm keeping secrets from you?"

Hearing the subtle caution in her voice, I offered a faint, hollow smile.

"Nothing. Just asking."

"Come on, we've been married for ten years. Stop overthinking and get some rest."

"I promise I'll stick to my treatments. I won't ever forget you again."

She tucked my blanket in, turned, and left the room.

I closed my eyes in utter exhaustion.

Ten years of devotion couldn't hold a candle to a cheap thrill.

Since she didn't value what we had, this marriage was truly over.

By the time the morning sun washed over the room, I stood by the window to catch some warmth.

On a bench downstairs, Vivian was wrapped in Scott's arms, kissing him passionately.

The man she swore to fire hadn't even stayed gone until noon before she brought him right back.

It didn't matter. In five days, I would be leaving for good.

...

A bucket of ice-cold water shocked me awake.

As I opened my stinging eyes, I was met with Vivian's ferocious glare.

"What is your problem, you pathetic old man?!"

"You pissed my husband off so badly his heart condition flared up! Do you know he almost didn't make it in the ER?"

"It looks like you won't learn until someone beats some sense into you."

Two burly bodyguards stepped into the room, holding stun batons.

Before I could react, they dragged me roughly out of bed.

I glanced out the window; the evening sun was glowing golden. It was already late afternoon.

They dragged me down the hall and forced me onto my knees before Scott.

"Don't be scared, babe," Vivian said gently to Scott. "I'm going to have them beat him black and blue so you feel better."

Before the words completely left her mouth, a baton slammed into my ribs. A bloodcurdling scream tore from my throat as violent convulsions wracked my body.

How could I have forgotten?

Back when I simply gave Scott a mild verbal warning at the office, Vivian had fired me on the spot.

She had even ordered guards to keep me kneeling in Scott's office for an entire day before she finally let it go.

Currents of electricity ripped through my flesh, jolting straight into my failing heart. Agony flared in every nerve.

I couldn't take it anymore. Broken and desperate, I wept and begged on the cold tiles.

"Vivian, I was wrong! I shouldn't have provoked him! I didn't know he had a heart condition! I'm sorry, please... please let me go!"

Clutching my chest, I crawled toward her feet.

She kicked me aside with disgust, the sharp point of her high heel grinding hard against my fingers.

"Still lying! Everyone in the company knows my husband has a weak heart and can't be stressed. How could you not know?"

A sharp, tearing agony exploded inside my chest again. Suddenly, I didn't want to fight it anymore.

The woman who once loved me with all her soul was now watching me gasp for air like a dying stray on the floor.

My vision darkened, and my pulse slowed to a crawl. Just when I thought they would beat me to death right there, Vivian finally raised a hand.

"That's enough for today. Try something like this again, and I won't let you off so easily!"

With that, she turned and walked away with her men, leaving me splayed out across the freezing floor.

Passersby looked down at me with contempt and open ridicule.

"Serves him right! An old homewrecker trying to break up a sweet couple. He knew the guy had a weak heart and still picked a fight—pure evil."

"Those two are such a gorgeous match, too. I heard she just found out she's pregnant."