Chapter 7

Only then did Zoe stop sobbing. "Then you have to promise me three things."

Quentin's voice was cold, though he couldn't quite hide his affection. "All right. Tell me."

"First, you can't go see Lauren for the next few days. You have to stay with me."

"All right."

"Second, I have a ball coming up. You have to go with me as my boyfriend!"

"All right."

"Third, I want you to propose to me. Put a diamond ring on my finger yourself and tell me you'll love me forever."

Quentin fell silent.

Zoe began to cry again. "I'm not asking you to mean it. I know you won't leave Lauren. I just want the man I love to propose to me once, even if it's only pretend. Is that too much to ask?"

Her tears wore down the last of his resistance.

After a long pause, Lauren heard his low, tender voice.

"All right. Whatever you want. Come here and let me kiss you."

Soon, the two of them were kissing deeply in the hospital room again.

Lauren knew what would happen next.

She turned away, trembling, and left without a word.

Quentin didn't visit over the next few days.

He only sent occasional messages saying he was away on business.

Lauren didn't reply to a single one, and he showed no sign of concern.

Before, he would have known something was wrong and hurried to see her.

Now, all he cared about was staying with Zoe.

Sometimes, when a nurse took Lauren for tests, she overheard the nurse chatting with a doctor about hospital gossip.

"I heard some mysterious big shot reserved the entire sixth floor for a girl. No one's allowed up there without permission!"

"People have been delivering luxury gifts and jewelry up there for days. Whoever she is, she's one lucky girl."

Lauren listened quietly. She opened the photos Zoe sent her over the past few days.

They showed a whole row of Hermès handbags, matching sets of jewelry, and purplish hickeys on Zoe's skin.

A message from Quentin arrived a moment later.

"Lauren, you're being discharged this afternoon. Shall I send my secretary to pick you up? I still have some business to take care of overseas. I won't be back until the day after tomorrow."

Overseas?

Was the sixth floor of Harmon Hospital now considered foreign territory?

Lauren stared at the message until she smiled through her tears.

Then she looked at the calendar on the table.

It was December 17.

Only three days remained until she was free for good.

With three days left, Lauren went to the psychiatric hospital to see Hugh Ingram.

She hadn't seen him in three years. He looked much older, his hair completely white and his eyes clouded. He didn't even recognize his own daughter.

She watched through the window as the man whose betrayal cost her a childhood with her mother sat before her.

She couldn't help asking, "Do you regret it?"

Hugh didn't understand the question.

He shook his head, then nodded.

Lauren knew she wouldn't get an answer.

She looked at him one last time and left.

As soon as Lauren stepped outside, she saw Quentin waiting for her.

He hurried over, draped his coat around her shoulders, and tucked her hand into his pocket to warm it.

"Sweetheart, what made you come here today? Why didn't you call me? It's so cold. What if you'd gotten chilled?"

Lauren looked straight at him, her face expressionless.

"I dreamed about my mother last night. I came here for her, to see how a betrayer ends up."

Alarm flashed across Quentin's eyes, and he swallowed hard.

He quickly composed himself and smiled at her. "Now that you've seen him, let's go home. I bought you lots of presents on my trip overseas. You can tell me if you like them."

They got into the car and left.

When they arrived home, Zoe was coming downstairs with a suitcase.

She gave Lauren a sweet smile and handed her a gift box.

"Lauren, I'm moving out. I'm sorry for imposing on you these past few days. I picked this out especially for you while you were in the hospital. I'm sure you'll love it."

She put a pointed emphasis on the last sentence.

Before Lauren could reply, Quentin took Zoe's suitcase.

He looked at Lauren. "Let me take her home. Her brother would be upset if I didn't. I'll come back and keep you company afterward, all right?"

Lauren said nothing.

She watched them walk away.

Only after the car disappeared from sight did she slowly open Zoe's gift.

She barely lifted the lid before a strong, musky smell drifted out.

Her hand stopped for a few seconds.

Then she took the lid off.

The box was filled with used condoms.

One, two, three... thirty-six...

During the days she spent in the hospital, Quentin and Zoe slept together thirty-six times!

Lauren thought it should hurt.

But she only laughed until tears came to her eyes.

As snow swirled outside the window, she closed the box and placed it in Quentin's study.

She left it where he would see it the moment he came home.