Chapter 2

I crouched down and quietly picked up the contract he'd crushed, my fingertips ice-cold.

Three years ago, Cheryl asked me to look after Luke, who was struggling with depression. Yes, we did sign a contract.

But back then Luke and I were complete strangers. I signed a contract——I took the money, and in return, I helped him through his treatment. There was nothing shameful about that.

Later the two of us grew close, and we decided to marry.

I'd kept that old contract on purpose, and drawn up a new one,not as a business agreement, but as a promise that I would spend the rest of my life with him.

I'd imagined that today, at the wedding, Cheryl would give it to us as a special gift, a reminder of how our story started with a contract and eventually turned into love.

But now, all of it had become a joke.

I didn't want to explain a single word more.I simply looked at Luke, my voice calm despite the ache in my chest.

"Mr. Henson, you're right. We were in a contract relationship from the start. The contract's over now, so I should go."

With that, I turned and walked toward the door.

"Nanette, you wouldn't dare."

For the first time, panic flashed across Luke's face.

"If you set one foot out that door today, don't ever think about coming back!"

My steps stopped, and and a dull ache slowly spread through my chest..

Luke, the one who had pushed me away, step by step, had always been you.

Luke’s mother Maureen Henson leaned against the door frame, and when she saw me stop, she rolled her eyes hard.

"Tsk. Can't bear to leave after all?"

"I said it a long time ago. Marriage has to be between equals."

"An orphan with no parents, clawing her way into the Henson family. What are you after if not the money?Stop pretending you're above it all.."

Ever since she returned, Maureen had never once thought much of me.

She doted on Eva instead, charmed by Eva’s sweet mouth and flattery, always waiting for the day she could replace me and make Eva her daughter-in-law.

A bitter laugh almost escaped me.

I lowered my eyes, a sneer tugging at my lips.

Where did she find the nerve to say I was after money?

Back when the Henson family was on the brink of bankruptcy, Maureen had made off with every cent in the house and run.

Mr. Henson had carried everything alone, worn himself down until illness took him.

And that was why Luke fell into severe depression.

Cheryl, afraid of setting him off, had never told him the truth about how his mother walked out.

Now that the Henson family had recovered. Maureen had returned after wasting away all the money she had taken, coming back to rely on the family she had abandoned..

The one who truly hungered for money was her.

But none of that was any of my concern anymore.

I stepped around her and walked straight out of the Henson house.

After a night's rest, I went to the hospital first thing the next morning and found the attending physician.

"Dr. Lambert, the two hundred thousand for the treatment has come through. Please, could you schedule my grandmother's last surgery."

Three years ago,Grandmother had been diagnosed with a heart condition . She needed one surgery a year, and the total cost came to six hundred thousand.

My grandmother and Cheryl were close friends. When they were young, my grandmother had once saved Cheryl's life.

When Cheryl found out about her condition, she wanted to simply hand over the money.

But my grandmother was stubborn and flatly refused.

At the time, I was studying psychology at university and had even given up a fully funded graduate opportunity abroad.

For two hundred thousand a year, I stayed to care for Luke and earn my grandmother's surgery money.

I'd planned to take her in for the surgery once the wedding was over. I never imagined it would end up like this.

Dr. Lambert looked troubled. He gazed at me and let out a sigh.

"Miss Pruitt, I'm truly sorry. There's no money left in your grandmother's account."

My mind went completely blank.

"That's not possible. The Hensons wired the money over first thing yesterday. How can it be gone?"

Dr. Lambert lowered his voice.

"This morning, Mr. Henson had someone withdraw the two hundred thousand straight out of the account."