Chapter 4

"It's nothing. Yara has work, so she has to go." Margo looked down, avoiding Huxton's stare.

Yara looked like she wanted to say something, but held back. Instead, she shot Huxton a death glare.

"Margo, call me if you need anything."

Once she left, Huxton walked over to the bed.

"There were too many people. I didn't see you—"

"It's fine." Margo cut him off and reached for the water on her nightstand.

As she sat up, her hospital gown slipped, revealing a nasty burn below her collarbone.

Huxton's eyes widened. "How'd you get hurt this bad? They told me you only had mild smoke inhalation."

Margo glanced down and pulled her gown back into place.

"It's nothing serious."

Huxton frowned. "I didn't know it was this bad. I thought you just passed out from the smoke."

Margo gave a bitter little smile.

'How would he know?

'All he ever saw was Jayla. Why would he notice how badly I was hurt?'

She said nothing and took a sip of water.

"I'll take care of you for the next few days," Huxton suddenly said.

"No need." Margo shook her head. "You've got work. Don't worry about me."

Huxton opened his mouth, but his phone rang.

"Huxton..." Jayla's teary voice came through. "My hand hurts so bad... The doctor says it might be infected..."

Huxton hesitated.

Margo gave him a faint smile. "Go."

"I..." He tightened his grip on the phone, frowning. "I'm not great at taking care of people anyway. I'll hire someone for you."

Margo nodded. "Okay."

The second Huxton left, the room went quiet again.

Margo stared at the ceiling and let out a bitter laugh.

'He said he'd take care of me. But one call from Jayla, and he was gone.

'Just like the fire. He ran straight to her without even looking back.'

Margo slowly closed her eyes, her chest aching so badly she could barely breathe.

'Some promises just aren't worth believing.'

***

Huxton came to pick her up himself on the day she was discharged.

"There's an auction tonight. Come with me."

He handed her a new cashmere coat.

Margo shook her head. "No, thanks..."

"Still mad?" Huxton frowned, clearly thinking she was upset with him. "I really didn't see you that day. The second I realized you hadn't made it out, I sent people back in for you."

Margo opened her mouth, then stopped.

In the end, she took the coat.

Only after getting into the car did she realize Jayla was already inside.

"Jayla wanted to go, so she's coming too," Huxton said casually.

Margo said nothing and quietly took the back seat.

The whole drive, Jayla talked nonstop—childhood stories, studying abroad, everything.

Huxton didn't say much, but talking to her came easy.

Margo stared out the window at the blur of scenery, silent like she didn't belong there.

At the auction, Huxton bought anything Jayla so much as looked at and handed it straight to her.

People quickly started whispering.

"Isn't that Huxton Dunne? Damn, he really spoils his date."

"I heard his girlfriend took care of him for three years. No wonder he treats her like a princess."

"Wait, that's not Margo Myer, is it? Isn't she the one who dumped him before...?"

Someone had mistaken Jayla for Margo.

Huxton paused.

Then, like he'd only just remembered Margo was there, he turned to her.

"What do you want?"

Just then, a sapphire necklace came up for auction, glowing deep blue under the lights.

Margo looked at it for a second.

Huxton raised his paddle.

"One million."

"This necklace has a pretty romantic story," Jayla suddenly said. "A foreign king gave it to his queen as a symbol of love. Loyalty. Forever."

She glanced at Margo. "Sounds perfect for Ms. Myer."

Huxton's hand paused.

But once he won the necklace, he handed it straight to Jayla. "It suits you better."

Jayla gave a fake little hesitation. "Are you sure? Wasn't Ms. Myer the one who wanted it?"

"I'll get her something else." Huxton looked at Margo. "What do you want?"

Margo lowered her eyes, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

'He couldn't give me a symbol of loyalty.

'But he could give it to Jayla.'

'Guess the difference between being loved and not being loved couldn't be any clearer.'

"No, thanks," she said softly.