Chapter 2

Carter let out a mock laugh, looking down at me with utter contempt.

"Chloe, aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill? It was just a tiny bite of crab meat."

"You're nothing but a broke college graduate. How could you possibly have some wealthy, powerful father?"

I stared at the man in front of me, unable to connect him with the sweet boy who had chased me so passionately in college.

My father had always told me that genuine love was hard to find when you were filthy rich. I was rebellious back then, and I wanted to prove him wrong. So, I hid my background, became a low-level clerk at a firm, and met Carter, who had joined the company at the same time.

Back then, he was thoughtful and attentive. He constantly praised how "independent and down-to-earth" I was. He used to say, "Chloe, you're not like those gold-digging girls."

Even after we got married, I kept the secret that my father was a billionaire. But right after the wedding, Carter showed his true colors. He didn't respect me at all.

He threw my phone onto the floor. "It was just a joke. Is it really that serious?"

Beside him, Mia was still glowing with excitement, acting coy. She walked over to me, wearing a fake, sugary smile. "Chloe, sweetie, please don't be mad at Carter. It's my fault, really. He only did it to make me laugh. He didn't mean any harm. Besides, you only took one tiny bite. What could possibly go wrong?"

Carter shot me an annoyed look. "Can you stop acting like a victim? A mild seafood allergy won't kill you, even without medicine. You'll be fine in a few minutes. Besides, if this little joke made Mia happy, why is it such a big deal? Mia is my best friend. Keeping her happy is my top priority."

That was always Carter's logic. The moment I made Mia even slightly uncomfortable, he would humiliate me without mercy.

My hands trembled as I fumbled through my coat pockets, trying to find my emergency medication, but they were completely empty.

Mia suddenly pulled my EpiPen out of her own pocket and tossed it right out of the window into the snow. "You probably don't even need this. Let me help you get rid of it, honey."

Carter chimed in immediately. "Exactly. It was just one bite. Stop being so fragile."

Looking at his self-righteous face, my vision went completely dark.

The other customers in the diner kept their heads down, eating quietly. No one wanted to get involved in a domestic dispute.

"Severe allergies... can cause anaphylactic shock... I will literally die!"

I used every bit of energy left in my body to scream those words.

But Mia just grabbed the edge of my sleeve, looking like she was about to cry. "Chloe, I know you don't like me, but you don't have to target me like this. You're putting on a whole show in public just to make me look bad."

"Enough!"

I couldn't take it anymore. I struggled to stand up, wanting to slap the smug look off her face. But Carter shoved me back down hard. "What the hell is wrong with you? Mia has a weak heart! Are you trying to kill her?"

Mia immediately clutched her chest, putting on a dramatic show of pain. "Carter, my chest hurts... I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have come on this trip with you guys."

"No, it's not your fault, Mia." Carter quickly held her, comforting her with a soft, gentle voice I hadn't heard in years. "She's just spoiled. She thinks the whole world revolves around her. Just ignore her."

I watched them holding each other like a perfect couple. My chest felt tighter, and breathing became almost impossible.

With a sudden burst of rage, I swept the plates of food off the table, sending them crashing to the floor.

"Carter! The moment we get back, we are getting a divorce!"