Chapter 4

The next morning I lay curled up in the hotel bed, jolted awake by my phone.

"Good morning, Mr. Barnes. The birthday cake you ordered will be ready for pickup at three this afternoon. Also, that ring you had us hide in the false layer... would you like us to double-check that it's secured?"

I held the phone, and for a moment the world tilted.

It was my birthday.

I had rehearsed it a thousand times in my head. Candles flickering, me cutting into the slice that hid the ring, smiling as I asked her:

"Violet Fox, I'm giving you myself and the rest of my life. Will you take them?"

Back then I'd thought, if she wouldn't propose to me, then I would.

What difference did it make who asked first?

As long as the ending was us.

But now, all of it suddenly felt as absurd as some farce.

"Cancel it."

"Throw out the cake and the ring."

I hung up, and the phone buzzed again.

A message from Grant, with a video attached.

【Max, I don't think you know this yet, but that malpractice attack that ruined you all those years ago wasn't an accident.】

My fingertip trembled as I opened the video.

On screen, Violet swirled a glass in her hand, her voice coming through clearly:

"That fake attack was a nice touch. Convincing enough."

"His right hand was basically finished after that. Otherwise, with a temper like his, do you really think he'd have been content to stay by my side as my chef?"

"Violet, you're brilliant."

Another voice, agreeing.

"One staged attack, and he can't leave you, and he's so grateful he thinks you saved him. That's a bargain, all right."

The video cut off there.

I stared at the screen.

That attack had ruined the right hand I'd been so proud of.

All those nights I'd wept, gone hollow with despair, then found hope again because of three words from her: I'll take care of you.

It turned out she had planned all of it.

Right after, a second message popped up:

【Oh, right. That overseas treatment plan the director set up for you three years ago? Violet already "turned it down" for you long ago. She said if you got healed, you'd fly off on her.】

I stared at the line, lifted a hand to cover my mouth, and a strangled sound broke from my throat.

She had dragged me down from the clouds, ground me into the mud, then held out her hand with false tenderness so I would grab it and be grateful.

And then she'd told me: "See? I'm the only one who wants you."

And I had loved her, seriously, for eight whole years.

The phone buzzed again.

【Max, I was never the pathetic one here.】

I flagged down a car to the hospital.

The director sighed. "Max, it was your partner, Ms. Fox, who came in and signed off on the reply. She said you were emotionally unstable, that you wanted to recover quietly here at home. She also said... that you'd accepted things as they were, and didn't want to put yourself through it anymore."

I closed my eyes for a moment.

So it really was all true.

"And if I want to go now?"

I opened my eyes. "Is there still time?"

The director took a folder from his drawer and handed it to me. "I'll make the calls for you."

"Max, your talent shouldn't be buried here. As long as there's a sliver of hope, you shouldn't give it up."

I held the folder against my chest and pushed the door open, walking out.

When the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors slid open, two people were standing outside.

Grant saw me and his eyes curved into a smile. "Max, you're at the hospital too?"

"Max? What are you doing here?"

Violet's eyelids lifted, then she frowned.

"Don't tell me you followed me all the way here. Can you not come up with something new?"

I said nothing.

Grant leaned in closer to Violet's side.

"Max, Violet's pregnant. It's mine."

The corridor went quiet for a beat.

Violet didn't deny it. She just watched me, waiting for me to fall apart, to cry and rage, to ask her why with red-rimmed eyes the way I had countless times before.

But I only looked at them, still.

I tugged the corner of my mouth into something faint, and my voice came out light.

"Congratulations."

"Wishing you two a lock-tight forever."

Violet clearly hadn't expected that reaction. The composure on her face finally cracked.

"Max, you..."

She took an instinctive step forward.

But I had already turned, brushing past her shoulder.

"Violet." I didn't look back. "We're done."

By the time I reached the airport, my phone buzzed.

A message from Violet:

【Maxie, I didn't forget it's your birthday today. I booked a restaurant for tonight. We need to talk this through properly.】

How long had it been since she'd called me that.

Before, every time we fought in silence, all she had to do was say Maxie and I'd soften and come back.

She knew better than anyone what that name meant to me, so even now, at this point, she was still reaching for it.

I powered off the phone, shoved it to the bottom of my bag, and walked into the security line.

Every birthday from now on, I'd spend on my own.