Chapter 2
His hand froze behind my back. After a moment, he said slowly, “Of course not. You’re the one I love most. I’d never
hurt you.
“Get some rest. I’ve got things to take care of.”
I grabbed the hem of his shirt, looking up at him, desperate. “My birthday’s the day after tomorrow. Let me go home, please. I don’t want to stay here.”
He smiled as he pried my fingers off him. There was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.
“You just had a miscarriage. No one at home can take care of you.
“Be good. We’ll celebrate here. I promise it’ll be more special than ever.”
His tone left no room for argument.
Just as the tension thickened, the sound of heels echoed from the doorway. William adjusted his glasses—a subtle tell he used when something or someone grabbed his attention.
A moment later, Sharon walked in with a sweet smile. “Marcella, why are you trying to leave all of a sudden? Is there something wrong with the arrangements I made?”
I frowned at her flawless, innocent face, a surge of disgust twisting in my gut. She immediately dropped her gaze, her eyes turning red, her voice laced with guilt.
“I’m sorry, Marcella. Please don’t be mad.
“You’ve had so many miscarriages-it’s all my fault. I’ll kneel and apologize right now!”
She was right.
I said nothing as she actually bent her knees.
Seeing I wasn’t stopping her, William grabbed her wrist, his voice sharp.
“That’s enough! Sharon’s just a secretary. Why do you always have a problem with her?
“She already said sorry. What more do you want?!”
I gave a cold laugh. The irony was suffocating.
Last year, on our anniversary, Sharon got in a car accident. He didn’t hesitate-he sped straight to the hospital, run- ning over a few pedestrians along the way. I was the one who had to pay them off and apologize on his behalf.
On New Year’s Eve, I waited all night on the rooftop for the blue fireworks he promised me. But all I got was a text,
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16:09
Chapter 2
“Sharon has cramps. I need to stay with her.”
And then there were all those “coincidences”.
When I really thought about it, he’d spent more time with Sharon than he ever did with me.
288 Vouchers
I’d been stupid enough to believe that what we had-our history, our bond-would be enough. That no matter how hard she tried, he’d never betray me.
Looking back now, I was a damn fool.
Seeing me silent, William’s face darkened.
“Marcella, don’t think just because you had a miscarriage, the world has to revolve around you.”
I opened my mouth to fire back-but pain ripped through my stomach, sharp and brutal.
I clutched the blanket, drenched in cold sweat, ears ringing like a bomb had gone off.
“It hurts… Get a doctor. Now.”
Seeing my face twist in pain, William finally shoved Sharon aside and knelt down, panicked.
Sharon rubbed her wrist and blinked slowly.
“Oh, I get it! You’re faking it-playing hard to get so Mr. Garnier will feel bad, right?
“You’re so smart, Marcella. Unlike me-I don’t even know how to seduce a man.”
The moment she said that, William stood up and took two steps back like I’d disgusted him.
“Marcella, when did you become this manipulative?”
I couldn’t even talk. The pain had drained every ounce of strength from me. With trembling hands, I reached for my phone on the nightstand. Just as my fingers brushed it, William snatched it away.
“Enough. Stop the act. Think about what you’ve done. I’ll check on you tomorrow.” He left with Sharon and locked the door on his way out.
Everything blurred before my eyes. I pounded on the window in despair, praying someone-anyone-would notice. But no matter how loudly I screamed, no one answered.
Just before I blacked out, the door was kicked open.
I was in a hospital when I opened my eyes.
“You’re awake?” A young nurse sat beside me. “The doctor said you overdosed on painkillers. It caused a perforation in your stomach.”
I nodded, my voice hoarse. “Who brought me in?”
I laughed right after asking. Even now, I hoped it was William.
“A man named Mr. Lucian,” she said, gesturing. “He is tall and handsome!”
