Chapter 2

"Hey, since Miss Palmer is fine, can you take me to the movies now? Oh, I really want to try out that new French place in the city center, people say it's amazing!"

I stood there in the wind, my nose and fingertips red from the cold.

As the engine blared to life, Scott said, "Since you're fine, then go home on your own, yeah? We've got plans."

Roanna smiled and waved her hand at me. "We'll head off then, Miss Palmer! Take care of your health and live a long life, alright?"

Then, the window rolled up, and they drove off, leaving me there all alone.

"Live a long life… Huh…?"

-

Mary invited me out to eat, and ironically, it was the French restaurant that Roanna had mentioned earlier.

The place was spacious and packed with people. Midway through the meal, I went to the restroom, only to bump straight into Roanna.

She stood there, huffing and puffing as she glared at me like an angry little rabbit. "Are you stalking us? You're trying to ruin my date with Scott, aren't you?!"

I only smiled softly. "Dates are for unmarried couples, Roanna. What you and Scott are doing is called sneaking around."

Roanna practically exploded with rage. "Y-You're just jealous of me! You're jealous that I'm young and pretty, and that I won his heart!

"Have you looked in the mirror lately? Your lips are purple, your eyes are dull, and even your heart is fake! How could someone like you be with him?"

Even now, I couldn't believe that Scott let her know about my artificial heart, just like that. He really did give her everything, even what he promised was mine—his heart.

Out of nowhere, Roanna stomped her foot as hard as she could, as if she was trying to crush me beneath her feet. However, her lambskin boots didn't have any grip, so she immediately slipped and fell on the polished floor.

"Ow!"

Scott immediately rushed over, and the moment I saw him, my heart started beating in overdrive.

I clutched my chest, forcing myself to take deep breaths in an effort to calm myself down.

Between the two women who stood there, his husband and his mistress, he hesitated for a moment before helping Roanna up from the floor.

He was frowning, but his voice was filled with concern. "How did you fall like that?"

In response, Roanna went limp and collapsed right into his arms, sniffling softly. "I found her stalking us, and I just wanted to tell her that it wasn't right, b-but she- She called me a dirty homewrecker!

"My feelings for you are real, and your feelings are the real deal too, right? I don't want to be a mistress!"

She buried herself in his chest, like she was sobbing her heart out. Meanwhile, I leaned against the wall, trying my hardest to calm my breathing.

Scott turned to me, voice sharp, "Did you really say that to her?"

In my pain, I couldn't even muster up a single word, so I just averted my gaze.

"Look at her! She can't even make excuses because of her guilty conscience! She bullied me so badly that I scraped my hand! It's all her fault!"

She was the one who fell flat all on her own, yet that somehow became my fault too.

Frowning, Scott ordered, "Well? Speak!"

He seemed to be waiting for some sort of explanation, but I couldn't say a single word—not that I would, even if I could.

His eyes glinted dangerously. "I never expected for you to sink this low, Wendy. What kind of person bullies a helpless young girl? If you've got a problem, take it out on me!"

At that moment, the restaurant manager noticed that something was happening and came towards us to check.

In response, Scott said, "I'm a premium member of your group, and I suspect this woman stalked us and followed us here. Is this how you protect your customers' privacy?"

This restaurant was one of the properties under the name of a renowned group, and their premium membership wasn't something that could be acquired with just money, requiring a referral from an existing member as well.

The manager immediately bowed deeply towards Scott. "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Harris. I will make sure this woman leaves our premises immediately."