Chapter 2

Camden had been invited to the wedding too.

He was seated at the very front while wearing his favorite suit. He watched as the woman who once only had eyes for him walked toward another man.

Camden's eyes turned from gloomy to despair as he tested the ring on his finger.

When no one was looking, he quietly removed our wedding ring.

That was when Lynn and his eyes met.

Boiling emotions seemed to be hidden in their eyes. They had so much to say to each other.

Camden burst out with a laugh. "Why are you crying on your wedding day, Miss Gardner?"

Lynn hugged Camden right in front of the groom. He must be feeling just as awkward as I did.

Why was their love so disgusting? They treated everyone else but them like clowns they could make fun of and laugh at.

Lynn quickly released him.

She looked at Camden and said, "You will always be my best friend."

Best friend. Two words from her were enough to put a distance between them.

Camden still could not tell her what was in his heart.

The wedding was grand but long.

When Lynn held the groom's hand and swore to be together forever and never be apart, Camden trembled with anger.

His hands clenched hard. His fingers were about to dig into his skin, and yet, he refused to relax his hands.

Our wedding photo was still set as his cell's background picture. He lowered his eyes to glance at his cell and saw my message for help.

He swiped the message away and ignored it.

That was about right. Anything I did would always be wrong in his eyes.

When Lynn's wedding ceremony was over, Camden drank glass after glass of red wine during the wedding dinner. Everyone tried to stop him from drinking any more.

"Stop drinking. You'll only make Lynn uncomfortable. No one knows what happened back then. Why not find a chance to talk to Lynn about it?"

"That's right. You have more than ten years' worth of relationship with Lynn. You even punished Peyton Lang for more than five years for Lynn's sake. How can she treat you this way?"

I was punished for five straight years.

Everyone knew that his love for me was actually a facade for torturing and punishing me. I was the only one who did not know this.

I watched as Camden lowered his head to hide his teary eyes while raising his glass to toast the newlyweds. I was a little happy to see him this way.

It had been five years. Nothing I did could trigger any emotion from him.

Yet, a small gesture of toasting was enough to break him down.

Camden called my number when he was leaving. Of course, no one picked up.

His minion, Quentin, scoffed. "Who is she to lose her temper and give you a hard time? We should teach her a lesson, Camden.“

Camden listened to him and booked a hotel room to spend the night. He blocked my number right away.

He grunted coldly. "Lynn and I wouldn't have ended up this way if it weren't for her. What right does she have to lose her temper? She comes begging for my forgiveness every time she does something like this. I'm the one who always has a hold over her."

If I had not thought I was the one who caused Lynn's death, I would never have given in to him. I never would have sacrificed my dignity and future on a man who did not love me.

There was a sneaky look on Quentin's face as he said to Camden, "Since you're having a bad day because of Peyton, let's play a trick on her. We're bored, anyway."

Even as a soul, I was still filled with disgust for Quentin.

My deepest memory in the past five years was Quentin tricking me into a bar by claiming that Camden was drunk there. I was almost violated.

When I told Camden about it, he said I was exaggerating, and that Quentin was just playing a joke on me.

Since then, Camden became closer to Quentin. Every time I saw Quentin at a gathering, he would always mention Lynn. Whenever he praised her, he would force me to have a drink.

"If not for our dear Dr. Lang's superb medical skills, our Lynn wouldn't have suffered such a horrible death…"

"Dr. Lang only took her place by Camden's side because Lynn died. Everyone is aware of that. Let's not expose Dr. Lang so blatantly in her face."

I was accused of intentionally causing Lynn's death.

All Camden did was judge me from his high horse.

Although I was proud of my medical skills, repeated challenges eroded my confidence and enjoyment in the field.

My retreat became my fear. Everyone was sure that I had killed Lynn.

All I got from five years of physical and mental torture was the greatest swindle in the world.

Camden gave Quentin an unfathomable smile when he heard Quentin's suggestion, and he called my number.

It rang for a long time, but no one picked up. Camden frowned.

Quentin fanned the flames at his side. "Peyton is getting too much. She's rejecting your calls now, Camden."

Since we got together, I have never hung up on Camden before. This time, Camden had lost his cool from anger.

He repeatedly called me, but his calls were disconnected each time. Camden finally canceled all my cards following Quentin's encouragement.

"That's right, Camden. She needs to learn her lesson."