Chapter 2

Meredith took a long breath, swallowing the bitterness clawing up her throat as she turned to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The sun blazed. Traffic flowed. Borevia stretched wide beneath her, looking to her like nothing had changed.

But she remembered the start—one crammed office, the only place they could afford after she sold her one piece of property to help Alden.

Now, he owned the whole floor.

She flashed back to the day they signed the lease. Same sunshine.

"How about Alderith, Alderith and Partners?" she'd asked, mixing both their names.

"Name it whatever you want," he'd said, blank as ever. "You decide."

She'd thrown herself into his arms, giddy—only for him to pull her back, fingers pressing into her cheeks. "I don't like being hugged."

She'd just laughed and hugged him harder. "Too bad. I'm hugging you anyway."

Back then, she'd looked him dead in the eye and promised she'd help him become the best lawyer in Borevia.

He told her he didn't care—that her happiness mattered more.

She kept her word.

He hadn't.

***

Meredith had way too much stuff at the office.

Even after packing for hours, she still wasn't close to done.

She'd been the one running things behind the scenes from day one—planning, fixing, cleaning up after Alden.

The firm's name was his, but her blood, sweat, and tears built it.

People kept sneaking glances as she boxed up her life, but no one said a word.

Everyone knew what went down at the wedding.

But Alden was still the boss.

And unless they were ready to walk, nobody was about to start whispering.

Meredith had just sealed the last box and was about to call the movers when her phone buzzed.

Sharon. Alden's mom.

She paused, jaw tight, then picked up.

"Hello, is this Ms. Martinez?"

It was Dorota, Sharon's housekeeper. She sounded rattled.

"Mr. Ashford isn't answering. His mother had a sudden health scare. They rushed her to the hospital. Can you come?"

"I'm on my way."

***

By the time Meredith got to the hospital, Sharon was perched on the bed, casually eating an apple Dorota had peeled.

The second Meredith stepped in, Sharon's face tightened—half worry, half fury.

"Meredith, what's going on with you and Alden? A wedding isn't some joke! Canceling the day off—do you know how humiliating that looks?"

Meredith's forehead broke into a light sweat. If Sharon had the energy to yell, she probably wasn't dying—just stressed out from the wedding drama.

"Sharon, please don't work yourself up."

"How can I not?" Sharon's chest heaved. "Alden's reckless! Why didn't you stop him from doing something so stupid?"

Meredith took a slow breath. "Vicky jumped off the roof during the ceremony."

"What?" Sharon went ghost-pale. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine. Alden already took her to the hospital."

Sharon clutched her chest, letting out a shaky breath. "Thank God. That scared me."

Once she understood the situation, Sharon finally chilled out. She kept telling Meredith to clean up the wedding mess and not make things harder for Alden.

All that yelling wiped her out. She dozed off soon after.

"Ms. Martinez, thanks for coming. I'll handle it from here—feel free to head back to work," Dorota said gently.

Meredith glanced at Sharon, now sleeping as if nothing had happened. "From now on, if anything comes up with her, don't call me. I—"

Dorota cut in fast, sounding guilty. "Please don't be upset. Don't take what Madam Ashford said to heart. That's just how she talks. Ms. Beech grew up with her, so of course she leans her way. But she really does care about you too..."

Meredith gave a small, bitter smile. Even the housekeeper could see Sharon clearly picked a side.

"I'm not mad at Sharon. But Alden and I are done. His life's not my problem anymore. If anything happens, call him."

Meredith turned away, ignoring Dorota's stunned look.

Then she spotted them—Alden and Vicky, standing nearby.

Her eyes locked with his. That face... flawless. Always had been.

Right. If it weren't for that face, she wouldn't have fallen so hard.

"Why aren't you dealing with the fallout?" Alden asked, frowning. "Everyone's calling me."

A slow, hollow ache bloomed in her chest. He really didn't care.

It felt to Meredith like he just wanted someone to mop up the mess. Like she was his maid.

And she'd been stupid enough to think that meant something.

Still, they'd had good memories—ones she clung to, the reason she held on so long.

But now... that was done.

"Meredith, I'm really sorry," Vicky said flatly, like she was reading off a script. "I ruined your wedding with Alden."

Then she slipped her arm through his, voice all soft and sugary. "Alden, see? I said sorry. Don't be mad at me anymore..."

"Okay," he said, stone-faced.

Vicky lit up, throwing Meredith a smug little look.

Meredith stared back, ice-cold.

Same old moves. She'd seen Vicky play this game too many times.

Back then, Meredith would've thrown down. Now? Not worth it.

"I still need to finish packing," she said. "I'm out."

She brushed past him—then felt a hand clamp around her wrist.

She turned. Met his eyes.

"We need to—" he started, but before he could finish, Vicky sagged against him and collapsed.

He caught her fast, panic flashing across his face. "What's wrong?"

"I... I'm dizzy. I probably waited too long for a transfusion..."

At that word—transfusion—Meredith flinched.

Vicky had a blood disorder. Rare type—RH-negative. Same as hers.

The first time, Meredith donated, thinking Vicky was Alden's cousin. After that? Just to make him smile.

She'd been such an idiot—treating the girl Alden cared about like someone she should protect. She didn't even know how many times she'd bled for Vicky.

Alden turned to her, zero hesitation. "Meredith, get ready. Give Vicky a transfusion."

Meredith almost laughed.

At this point, she wasn't sure if Alden had dated her for love—or just to lock down a personal blood bank.

"No," she snapped.

Alden frowned. "Vicky's condition is serious. If she doesn't get blood soon, she could die."

"Then let her die."