Chapter 2

“Wait for me. I’m heading over immediately!”

I heard Winnie’s hurried footsteps, and I rushed out of the kitchen with pain shooting through my heart.

“Winnie, lunch is almost ready. It’s your favorite—steak.”

However, she opened the door without looking back.

“You can have it first. Joe needs me more right now.”

It was winter, and I felt the cold wind piercing through my heart as well.

She was the girl I had loved all of my youth. But she had chosen her so-called childhood best friend, Joe, just like she always had.

This house belonged to the Smith family. After Winnie left, the butler and helper followed suit.

I finished cooking as if I was on autopilot and waited at the dining table until 12 p.m.. Then, my father called me.

“You’re twenty-five years old now. It’s time for you to take on the family business.”

I stared at the empty house. Our graduation photos were still hanging on the wall.

“Dad, I’ll be at the business succession ceremony in three days.”

Winnie had forgotten that the eighth test fell on my birthday.

I was the person who needed her more.

However, it no longer mattered. Since she wanted to marry Joe, I would wish them well.

Winnie was in a great mood when she returned.

“The doctors let Joe try the latest medication, and it worked wonderfully. Joe didn’t feel sick for an entire night!”

When she saw the table full of untouched food, her face fell.

“Didn’t I tell you that we had to be frugal? Why did you cook so much?

“My parents have stopped sending me money because you’ve constantly failed the tests. Joe still has ten sessions to go, and you’re here splurging. What about his medical bills?”

I frowned in response. “Why am I responsible for his medical bills, Winnie?”

Realizing that she had misspoken, she looked away awkwardly.

Immediately after, she threw herself into my embrace.

“Benjamin, Joe grew up with me. He can’t live without me, and I can’t ignore him.

“You’re my fiance, and we’re going to get married in the future. We’re a family. You understand me, don’t you?”

I lowered my head and looked at the face I had loved for many years. Unfortunately, I no longer felt the same.

“Winnie, do you really want to marry me?” I asked indifferently.

She stepped back in disbelief.

“What do you mean, Benjamin? Are you trying to blame me for this?

“You’re the one who messed up the tests. That’s why we haven’t been able to get married for the past three years!”

I calmly stared at her. “That’s right. It’s a miracle that Joe survived three years of terminal stage cancer.”

In the past, I had treated her like a princess. I would coddle and pander to her, so it was my first time being sarcastic.

She immediately got angry.

“What are you talking about? I spent twenty million dollars to save Joe’s life!

“Do you know how much pain he’s in? Why are you accusing a patient? You’re so intolerant. That’s why you failed the test eight times!”

I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Twenty million dollars. That was the fee I had paid for all eight aphrodisiacs!

“Winnie, you’ve been using the money for my tests to treat Joe’s illness?”

She became flustered when I exposed her.

Biting her lower lip, she decided to come clean. “What about it? This is a life we’re talking about. How can you compare a marriage and someone’s life? Can’t you tell which one’s more important?”

I stared at her intently.

“Since you used all the money I gave you for his medical bills, what did you inject me with?”

Winnie clenched her fist as she righteously said, “The aphrodisiac that didn’t quite work in the past. It’s not as potent, but I didn’t expect you to be so weak-willed. You still failed every single time.

“Benjamin, if you’re planning to marry me, you have to think of a way to pass the test. You shouldn’t be questioning me over such trivial matters when Joe’s life is on the line!”

I did not expect her to lie her way out at this point.

I forgot when Joe started becoming a huge part of our arguments.

She had forgotten our anniversary because Joe was suddenly in critical condition.

She had given away our newly renovated house to him because he needed a quiet space to rest.

Last year, I got injured and slipped into a coma from one of Smith Corporation’s projects. Yet, she accompanied Joe for a beach vacation because he threatened to kill himself.