Chapter 2

"Will you let him go now?"

Fiona's face was deathly pale, cold sweat beading across her forehead, but she forced herself to stay on her feet.

"Let him go and take me instead. Whatever you want to do to me... even if you want my life, fine."

The kidnapper burst into crazed laughter.

"So you really do love him that much! Then I have even more reason to kill him. I want you to know exactly what it feels like to lose everything!"

Just as the kidnapper raised the knife to strike Xavier, the soldiers lying in wait rushed in and quickly subdued the attacker.

Xavier immediately tore free of his restraints and rushed to Fiona.

"Fiona Spencer! Are you insane?" His voice choked with emotion. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You could've died!"

Weakly, Fiona raised a hand and gently wiped away his tears.

"Don't cry. It doesn't hurt."

"You're bleeding this much and you're telling me it doesn't hurt?"

Angry and frantic, Xavier suddenly snatched the bloody dagger off the floor and slashed it across his own arm.

Blood immediately poured from the wound.

"What are you doing?!"

Fiona's expression changed instantly. She grabbed his wrist.

Xavier stared at her through tear-filled eyes, his voice breaking.

"What about now? Does it hurt now?"

He pointed at his chest.

"Fiona, when I see you hurt, it hurts here too. Just as much as it hurts you. So from now on, even if you're only doing it for me, don't ever risk your life like that again."

Fiona stared at the ugly gash on his arm, then at the determination in his eyes.

Her own eyes reddened.

She pulled him tightly into her arms.

"Okay," she said hoarsely. "From now on, I'll take better care of myself."

An ambulance arrived soon after, and the paramedics carried Fiona away on a stretcher.

From beginning to end, no one noticed Joe standing in the shadows behind the warehouse, his face drained of all color.

He felt as if every ounce of strength had left his body.

What exactly was going on between Fiona and Xavier?

The way she'd looked at him.

The way she hadn't hesitated to stab herself for him.

The way he'd cut his own arm for her.

There was something between them, something so deep and intense that no one else could possibly come between them.

Questions and terrible possibilities raced through Joe's mind until he thought he might lose it.

Then a shadow fell over him.

Joe looked up.

Xavier was standing in front of him.

Without warning, Xavier swung his fist straight into Joe's face.

Joe's head snapped to the side.

His cheek burned.

Rage exploded through him.

Joe Kingston had never been the type to let anyone hit him and walk away.

Without thinking, he raised his fist to hit Xavier back.

"Go ahead!" Xavier lifted his chin and closed his eyes, as though he didn't care whether he lived or died. His voice shook with hatred. "Hit me! Kill me if you want! Your family already ruined Fiona's life and mine. We can never be together in this lifetime anyway, so I don't even want to live anymore!"

Joe's raised fist trembled.

Then stopped in midair.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in his face and the far worse pain tearing through his chest, he stared at Xavier.

"What exactly is your relationship with Fiona?"

Xavier looked at him with a bitter, mocking smile.

Then he told Joe everything.

Two years ago, Xavier and Fiona had been deeply in love. They'd even reached the point of discussing marriage.

Then Xavier was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder.

The only thing keeping him alive was an extremely expensive imported medication that was nearly impossible to obtain.

And in all of Hemsouth City, Joe's father was the only person with the connections to get it.

Desperate to save Xavier, Fiona went to Joe's father for help.

But Joe's father had a condition.

He had a son, Joe Kingston, who was reckless, spoiled, and completely out of control. He needed someone who could rein him in.

If Fiona agreed to marry Joe and have his children, he would get her the medication.

So Fiona married Joe.

And in doing so, she gave up any chance of ever being with Xavier.

The truth hit Joe like a bombshell.

He bit down so hard on his lower lip that the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

So that was it.

No wonder Fiona had refused to give up on marrying him no matter how badly he behaved or how hard he tried to drive her away.

No wonder after they got married, she indulged him in almost everything, yet when it came to sex, she was unusually persistent, wanting him almost every night.

All the patience and love he thought she'd given him had never really been for him at all.

She'd only been enduring it for another man.

The humiliation and heartbreak nearly tore him apart.

Joe stared at Xavier, his eyes cold as ice.

"If even one word of what you just told me is a lie, I swear I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life."

He paused, something broken yet resolute entering his voice.

"But if it's true... then I'll make this right. For both of you."

With that, he turned away and headed straight back to the Kingston estate.

The moment he walked in, he found his charming, womanizing father seated at the dinner table with his sweet, soft-spoken stepmother and several of his father's beloved children from other women.

They were enjoying dinner together like one big happy family.

"George Kingston!"

Joe called his father by his full name, his voice ice-cold.

"I need to ask you something."

His father's face darkened. He set down his fork.

"Watch your mouth! You've been married to Fiona all this time, and you still haven't learned an ounce of composure from her? Am I not even your father anymore? You can't even call me Dad? You're getting more out of control by the day!"

Joe stared at him with bloodshot eyes and said nothing.

Then he strode forward, grabbed the heavy tablecloth with both hands, and yanked.

Everything crashed to the floor.

Plates and glasses shattered. Food and drinks splattered everywhere, sending his stepmother and the other children screaming in shock.

Joe stood in the middle of the wreckage, staring straight at his father.

"Are you ready to talk to me now?"