Chapter 2

I sat on the couch, listening to Zack’s frantic voice through the bedroom door.

"Lily, don't do anything stupid! I’m coming over right now..."

His voice was filled with panic.

My phone on the coffee table buzzed.

"The private jet route has been approved for Monday morning. Are you ready to come home?"

It was Julian, my childhood friend who had waited for me for ten years and whom I had deliberately pushed away.

Looking at the words on the screen, my eyes grew hot.

"Yes. And please help me draft a stock transfer agreement."

The next morning, Zack was gone.

I went to the office as usual.

This was the company I had helped Zack build from scratch during his early startup days.

But the moment I pushed the door open, I froze.

My desk, which used to be piled with draft designs, was gone. It had been replaced by a pink couch.

The architectural layouts on the wall were gone, replaced by several abstract paintings.

There was even an aromatherapy diffuser in the corner.

Zack was standing by the window on a phone call. Seeing me walk in, he hung up quickly.

"Why are you here?"

I pointed at the empty room.

"Where are my blueprints?"

Zack walked over.

"I had them moved to the storage room."

"Lily needs a place to relax. The doctor said a healing space would be good for her depression."

"So you turned my office into her therapy room?"

Zack patted my shoulder.

"You’re going to be a stay-at-home wife after we sign the marriage papers next week anyway. Why do you still need an office?"

"Just find an empty desk outside to work."

"I’ve always loved how sensible and cooperative you are, Chloe."

Back when the company first started, in order to finish the designs for him, I pulled all-nighters for three months straight, which left me with severe wrist tendonitis.

Back then, he held me with red eyes, promising he would give me the best office in the future.

Now, to please Lily, he had erased every trace of my hard work.

"Today is my follow-up appointment for my tendonitis."

"Can you come with me?"

Zack glanced at his watch.

"No, Lily gets depressed on cloudy days. I promised to take her to the beach."

"Your wrist isn't a big deal. Can't you just take an Uber to the clinic yourself?"

In the afternoon, I sat alone in the clinic waiting area.

My phone buzzed with a notification.

Lily had posted a beach photo on Instagram.

It showed her hand wearing the custom diamond ring, with Zack’s back in the background.

The caption read: "When you’re truly chosen, even a ring that doesn’t fit perfectly feels like pure devotion. Perfectly pampered."

I gave the post a thumbs-up, then opened my contacts and messaged the buyer.

"I agree to the transfer. Market price. The faster, the better."

Half an hour later, it was my turn for the wrist injection treatment.

As the needle pierced my joint cavity, the sharp pain made me break out in a cold sweat.

The doctor frowned and warned me.

"Don't move, try to hold on."

Right then, a chaotic noise came from the clinic hallway.

"Doctor! Get a doctor out here right now!"

Zack rushed into the lobby, carrying Lily in his arms, pacing frantically.

Lily snuggled in his chest, tears still hanging from her eyes.

Her big toe was slightly red from rubbing against the sand.

There wasn't even a drop of blood.

Lily looked up and saw me.

She shrank further into Zack’s arms, letting out a dramatic gasp.

"Zack, Chloe is here."

"I think my anxiety is acting up again. I can’t breathe..."

Zack whipped his head toward me.

He looked at the needle in my wrist, his face darkening as he stepped in front of Lily to block my view.

"Chloe, go wait in the car. Don't make a scene here."