Chapter 3

Through the half-open door, I saw Audrey and Marty leaning intimately against each other. They were laughing and chatting, and Audrey even affectionately ruffled his hair.

In that moment, I felt as though I'd been stabbed in the heart. That tenderness had once belonged to me alone.

Marty leaned closer to Audrey and held his phone up in front of her.

"Audrey, isn't this bag gorgeous? It's only 50,000 dollars. That's practically pocket change for you, right?"

Audrey smiled and playfully pinched his cheek. "Go ahead and buy it. If you like it, get it."

The sight was painful to watch.

Back at the hospital, I hadn't even been able to scrape together 20,000 dollars for Mom's emergency treatment. Yet, here Audrey was, casually buying Marty luxury goods.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door.

The laughter in the office came to an abrupt halt.

Audrey visibly stiffened when she saw me. Then, she stood up, her face showing clear irritation at being interrupted.

"Leonard, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the hospital taking care of Mrs. Landry right now?"

I let out a cold laugh. Apparently, she couldn't even be bothered to keep up the act anymore.

"What's the matter? Did I interrupt your precious little moment together?"

An awkward expression immediately crossed Audrey's face. She instinctively pushed Marty out of her arms and hurried to explain, "It's not what it looks like. Let me explain."

I glanced at the expensive watch on Marty's wrist and the impeccably tailored, costly suit he was wearing, then let out a contemptuous scoff.

Audrey walked over and pulled me aside.

"All of this is part of my plan to build him up just to bring him crashing down," she said in a hushed tone. "I'm only giving him these things to make him lower his guard. Leonard, you have to believe me.

"I'm really doing all of this to avenge you. Don't worry, this little game will be over soon. When the time comes, I'll make sure he falls hard. Just give me two more days. At the awards ceremony, I promise I'll ruin his reputation completely."

Her gaze was as unwavering as ever, carrying a certainty that made it almost impossible to doubt her.

But this time, I looked straight at her and replied coldly, "Do you seriously think I'd still believe you?"

Audrey's confident expression suddenly froze.

I'd never talked back to her before, and she looked slightly stunned, as though she'd never expected me to.

But she quickly regained her usual air of superiority.

"Leonard Landry, are you done with this nonsense? Everything I'm doing is to get back at Marty for you!" she said, a trace of impatience creeping into her voice.

I stared at her face, so familiar yet so utterly strange, and suddenly found the whole situation laughable.

Before I could respond, however, she took a deep breath and pressed a business card into my hand.

"Alright, enough of this nonsense. Go to this place and pick up two of Marty's favorite cronuts."

I gripped the business card tightly, anger surging through me so fiercely that I was momentarily speechless.

Noticing my reaction, Audrey softened her tone. "Leonard, I promise I'll see my plan through to the very end."

Just then, Marty's teasing voice floated over. "Audrey, what's taking you so long? Come back already."

The moment Audrey heard him, she immediately turned to go back to his side.

I called out to stop her, intending to tell her I was resigning and ending our relationship.

But she didn't even bother turning around.

"Whatever it is, we can talk about it when you get back. Now hurry up and bring Marty his favorite cronuts!"

By then, she was already back in Marty's arms.

Only then did I notice Marty was wearing the heirloom gold locket Mom had given Audrey as her future daughter-in-law.

Audrey had actually given something so precious away to someone else without a second thought.

Noticing how intensely I was staring at his neck, Marty flashed me a smug smile.

"Leonard, I asked Audrey to give me this gold locket because of how beautiful it is. You don't mind, do you?"

As I remembered Mom, who had only just passed away, rage surged within me.

"Give it back!" I roared.

Beside him, Audrey immediately raised her voice as well. "Leonard, it's just a gold locket! Why are you losing your mind over it?"