Chapter 2

I rolled my suitcase right out of that apartment.

Once checked into a hotel room, I switched my phone off.

Exhaustion from the past week caught up with me, and I collapsed into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning, room service knocked on my door.

The attendant handed me my warm winter coat.

"Sent directly by Mr. Hayes," the attendant said politely.

"He mentioned it’s freezing outside and wanted to make sure you stay warm."

Bitterness welled up in my throat.

I powered on my phone. A text from Ethan immediately popped up:

Come back home once you've cooled down.

Stop making me worry, okay?

After I walked out, their party went on as if nothing had happened—in fact, they looked even more relaxed.

Serena had already posted a picture on her Instagram.

Ethan was grinning from ear to ear right beside her.

Worry?

I couldn't spot a single trace of it.

The comments were flooded with congratulations on their "new beginning."

Ethan hadn't corrected anyone. Instead, he had secretly tapped 'like.'

A wave of nausea washed over me.

My finger hovered over the block button.

Just then, a calendar notification chimed on my screen:

Reminder: Pick up your custom wedding gown today!

I froze, realizing I had almost forgotten.

The dress was a bespoke creation ordered three months ago, crafted by hand at an enormous expense.

After a brief hesitation, I got dressed and headed to the boutique.

I had poured my own savings and vision into that dress.

Even if the wedding was off, it was mine.

Yet when I stepped into the bridal salon, I saw Serena standing before the full-length mirror.

She was wearing my wedding gown.

Ethan stood beside her, his gaze overflowing with tender affection.

The moment her eyes met mine, Serena’s radiant smile vanished.

She froze.

My breath caught in my throat.

A month ago, Mr. Harrison, a prominent private collector in the city, had entrusted a century-old heirloom necklace to our studio for restoration.

That necklace was priceless. During its restoration, we barely dared to breathe around it.

And right now, it was draped across Serena’s neck.

Ethan noticed my horrified gaze fixed on the jewel.

He cleared his throat defensively.

"She just borrowed the dress for a few aesthetic photos."

"The necklace went well with the neckline."

Serena forced an awkward, apologetic smile.

She fumbled inside her designer purse and pulled out another crumpled IOU.

"I heard this necklace is a one-of-a-kind antique. I just wanted to borrow it for a few quick shots."

"You don't mind, do you, Anna?"

Looking at the two of them, pure fury ignited in my chest.

I smacked the paper out of her hand and pointed straight at her neck.

"Take it off. Right now."

Tears instantly welled in Serena’s eyes, painting a picture of helpless innocence.

"I'm sorry... I'll take it off right now."

Ethan’s expression darkened. He lunged forward, grabbing my wrist in a vice-like grip.

"You're out of line! It’s just a piece of jewelry!"

"She's just taking a few pictures!"

Ethan’s voice dripped with irritation.

He glared at me, as if I were the unreasonable bully making a scene over nothing.

If anything happened to that antique, no one in the room could afford the damages.

I didn't waste my breath arguing.

I reached out to take the necklace from her hands.

Her fingers were still hovering inches above mine when Serena suddenly let go.

My blood ran cold. I lunged forward on pure instinct.

Too late.

The heavy antique struck the marble floor with a sharp crack, snapping clean in half.

My heart stopped.

In that exact second, Serena burst into loud, theatrical sobs.

She leaped back, cowering behind Ethan.

"Anna! How could you drop it?!"

I looked up, catching the calculated gleam in her supposedly tear-filled eyes.

"Serena, you did that on purpose."

She knew I had an appointment to pick up my dress. She knew the extreme value of that necklace. She knew I would demand it back.

Trembling with rage, I raised my hand toward her face.

Before I could move an inch, Ethan caught my arm, his eyes blazing with sheer fury.

"You dropped it yourself, and now you want to hit Serena?"

"Aren't you a professional restorer? Can't you just fix it?"

He shoved me away with enough force that I stumbled backward, nearly losing my balance.

My heart shattered into pieces.

Ethan knew how many sleepless nights I had poured into restoring that heirloom. He had watched me research ancient soldering techniques at 3:00 AM, bringing me warm milk.

Even when he was exhausted, he used to stay by my side.

Those memories felt so close, yet entirely foreign.

The boutique fell dead silent.

A moment later, an assistant nervously approached, holding a framed picture.

It was our official engagement portrait.

Yet here I stood, facing him like an enemy.

"Take this home and find somewhere to hang it. I have places to be..." Ethan commanded, his tone dismissive as usual.

Home?

Back to the apartment he handed over to Serena?

A bitter smile touched my lips.

Just as my fingers grazed the heavy picture frame, I let go.

The frame smashed onto the floor, the glass shattering in an explosion of shards.

A stray sliver sliced right across Serena’s arm.

Blood dripped onto the pristine white silk of the bridal gown.

Before Ethan could open his mouth to scream at me, I scooped up the broken pieces of the necklace and walked out the door.

The wind outside was howling.

I never wanted to hear his voice again.