Chapter 3

Tracy's Cartier necklace had come with the full boutique velvet gift box and a certificate of authenticity. The diamond-cut facets sparkled brilliantly, and it was very obvious that it was a genuine item purchased directly from the store.

The one in front of me now, however, was a delicate bracelet probably given away as a free gift for spending over the threshold price at the store. The plating was flimsy, there was no certificate, and one could tell at a glance that it was merely a promotional freebie.

"Forget it," I said, looking at Aiden. "This compensation is too much and too expensive for me. I can't afford to take it. You should just save it for someone who truly deserves it instead."

Aiden froze for a moment, caught off guard by my words.

In our five years together, no matter how many conflicts or grievances arose between us, I had never acted this cold with him before. Every time after we argued, I would always cave and yield to him the moment he softened his tone with me, silently moving past the issue to reconcile with him.

I used to believe that love could overcome every obstacle and see us through the storms of life, but now, it seemed that I had simply overestimated the relationship.

"Colleen Wright! What do you mean by that?"

He was just about to grab my hand when the doorbell rang just then.

It was pouring outside, and Tracy appeared at the door with a paper bag in her hand, standing at the door completely soaked to the bone.

"Dr. Foley, my place flooded, and I've got no other place to go. Can I crash at your place for the night?"

She looked right past me as though I weren't even there, her gaze looking directly at Aiden.

After receiving a silent nod of assent from him, she walked straight over to the shoe cabinet and slipped on my pink rabbit slippers.

Those slippers were a gift that my best friend had knitted for me for my birthday last year, making every single stitch by hand. And I usually couldn't even bear to wear them myself.

"Take them off!" I exclaimed, pointing at the slippers on her feet. "These slippers are mine. Take them off at once! Immediately!"

"What do you think you're doing?" Aiden yelled at me, slapping my pointing finger away and shielding Tracy behind him. "It's pouring outside, and her place is flooded. Can't you be a little less heartless?

"It's just a pair of slippers! It's not even anything expensive. Would it kill you for her to wear them for a while?"

His slap made my injured hand throb with stinging pain.

Tracy feigned being timid as she bent down to slip off the slippers, speaking in a soft, gentle voice, "Please don't be mad, Mrs. Foley. It's my fault for not knowing my place. I'll take them off right away."

She said it in a guilty and submissive tone, but she made no movement whatsoever to take the slippers off. She didn't even hesitate as she pointed to the master bedroom and spoke with an air of entitlement, "I'll just stay in this room tonight, Dr. Foley. I have a frail body, and this room has really good lighting."

Then, while speaking, she took the pack of yogurt she'd brought with her and stuffed the containers into the fridge.

"This is a fresh batch, better than the last one I brought. You can just help yourself to some if you want, Dr. Foley. There's no need to be shy."

Then, she sauntered into the bedroom and pulled out a silk duvet from under the bed with practiced ease, as though this place belonged to her.

I stared at Aiden.

"How many times has this happened?"

He averted his gaze.

I continued, "You know that I have hereditary diabetes, and we never keep any sugary snacks or drinks in the apartment! And why are you letting her come and go in our home just as she pleases?"

It had to be during all those times when I was working overtime at the office or away on trips overnight.

Aiden rubbed the bridge of his nose and looked exasperated.

"That's enough of making a fuss, Colleen! Tracy is just a kid! What could possibly be going on between me and her?

"She's just new to the department and unfamiliar with the protocols and hospital equipment. I was mentoring her through the night, and since it was getting very late, I didn't want her to go back alone.

"Besides, just because you can't eat sugar doesn't mean you have the right to ban everyone else in the house from eating it. Don't you think that's a little too harsh and demanding of you?"

I couldn't believe my ears.

In the past, when my blood sugar spiked, causing me to faint, he'd gripped my hand tightly and made an oath, promising that he would ban every single sugary food or drink from our home for as long as I lived and that my health would always come first.

And yet, now, he was letting Tracy stuff our entire fridge with sugary yogurt.

"That's enough, Colleen," he said, adopting a conciliatory tone as he reached out to put his arm around my shoulder, trying to defuse the tension.

However, I stepped aside and dodged it.

"Let's break up, Aiden Foley."