Chapter 3

I stared fixedly at Suzanne. Honestly, I just felt tired. Even anger felt unnecessary.

I crouched down and opened the suitcase. There wasn't much inside. After spending five whole years waiting for Suzanne, all I took with me when I left were a few changes of clothes.

Nathan was determined to humiliate me. He didn't even bother to bend down. Instead, he raised his foot and used his sneaker to kick through my clothes, pushing them around and stomping on everything until they were scattered all over the floor.

Only after he had thoroughly ruined them did he finally seem satisfied.

He put an arm around Suzanne, his expression scornful. "All done. Guess you didn't take anything after all. Now hurry up and leave. You're getting in our way. Suzy didn't sleep at all last night. She must be exhausted from worrying about the company. We need to get some rest."

I looked at the clothes scattered around me. Most of them were no longer wearable. Even the suitcase had been kicked around and stomped on. There was no point trying to pack everything up again.

Turning to Denise, I said, "I can't use any of this anymore. Could you please have someone clean it up?"

She gave me a sympathetic look and agreed.

Just as I was about to walk out the door, Suzanne suddenly called after me, "Calvin!"

I stopped, but didn't turn around.

"Apologize to me for kicking the ring, and I'll make Nathan move out. Otherwise, if you dare walk out that door today, I'll tell the hospital to stop your mother's treatments and medication. In fact, I won't even donate my bone marrow to her anymore!"

Mom's death certificate was still in my briefcase. To me, Suzanne's threats now sounded almost comical.

I turned around and met her eyes. She was leaning over the second-floor railing, her face flushed with anger.

Honestly, I didn't know what she was so angry about. She looked like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. She'd already gotten everything she wanted, yet she still insisted on tormenting me.

"You disgust me," I spat out before marching out the door with my back straight.

Suzanne's eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe what she just heard. She was even more shocked by the unmistakable flash of abhorrence she spotted in my eyes. Her heart began pounding, and panic slowly crept over her.

Standing beside her, Nathan tried to appease her by saying, "Calvin went too far! How could he say something like that to you? You look so pale. Did you not get enough rest? Let me help you back to the bedroom.

"Actually, I've always been meaning to tell you something. Phoebe was never my fiancee. All those things the paparazzi have been saying online are just rumors.

"When I was little, my family did jokingly suggest that Phoebe and I should get married, but no one ever took it seriously. That woman has always had plenty of men around her, and who knows who her child's father is? She just wanted to pin it on me. You believe me, right, Suzy? You're the one I love."

An indescribable frustration settled over Suzanne, and she had no way to vent it. Looking at Nathan's attractive face, she allowed him to lead her into the master bedroom.

But just before their lips met, she closed her eyes. What appeared before her was the sight of me walking out of the house without the slightest hesitation.

As well as the look of abhorrence in my eyes when I said she disgusted me.

Suzanne's eyes flew open, and she pushed Nathan's arm away. Her tone was dismissive as she said, "You can rest by yourself. I've got things to do."

She'd only taken a few steps before turning back toward Nathan, whose eyes were filled with anticipation.

"Move back out. You shouldn't be staying in this villa."

She hurried downstairs, ignoring the sounds of Nathan angrily smashing things inside the master bedroom upstairs.

After grabbing her keys, she headed straight for the garage. As she hurried past Denise, who was carrying my suitcase away to throw it out, she stopped and said, "Don't throw it out."

Denise nodded.

"This isn't the first time I've brought someone back to the house. Since he's always had a good temper, it's not a big deal this time either, right?" Suzanne asked.

When Denise's only response was a blank, clueless expression, Suzanne turned away and headed for her car.

As she drove off, she attempted to reassure herself by saying, "I'm just pissed that he tried to ask for a breakup. I know he loves me. His mother is still in the hospital, and that watch his father left him is still up for auction.

"Surely he wouldn't be able to just walk away from everything. I just need to appease him. Everything will be fine once I placate him…"