Chapter 3

In the video, Zoey watched a man who'd once refused to kneel even when his creditors threatened to chop off his hands.

Yet there he was, kneeling in the Hayes family's private chapel, shielding Summer with his body as he took the lashes meant for her.

Blood covered his back. Deep, crisscrossing wounds had torn through his skin, leaving him a horrifying sight.

With every crack of the whip, Zoey felt another stab of pain in her chest.

It hurt so much she could barely breathe.

By then, the assistant had parked the car.

He escorted her to Xavier's hospital room before leaving.

The door was slightly ajar, and Zoey could clearly hear Summer crying inside.

"Xavier, why are you so stupid? I abandoned you and went overseas back then. Shouldn't you hate me? Why did you come to stop my wedding? Why would you put yourself through all that just for me?"

Xavier lay in the hospital bed, his voice weak but filled with an unmistakable tenderness.

"When you first left, I did hate you. But as time went on, I realized I was actually glad you left. You were the girl I loved. I never wanted you to be stuck with me in some rundown apartment, eating nothing but cheap food every day, working so many part-time jobs that you'd pass out from low blood sugar. You weren't wrong to leave."

At his words, Summer broke down completely and threw herself into his arms.

"So you've forgiven me, haven't you? You stopped my wedding because you still can't let me go, right? And my parents said that if you wanted to take my punishment, you'd have to agree to marry me. You said yes because you wanted to, didn't you?"

Every question hit Zoey like a blow to the chest, leaving her numb.

Xavier had agreed to marry Summer?

Then she saw him nod.

And what little remained of Zoey's already battered heart finally shattered.

Her phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a clatter.

She stood frozen for what felt like an eternity before finally bending down to pick it up.

Then she turned to leave.

But just as she reached the stairwell, Summer came after her and grabbed her arm.

"Zoey James, I know you saw everything. Xavier never got over me. You spent seven years struggling alongside him, but all I had to do was set up a little scheme, and he came running to stop my wedding. He's only ever loved me. What makes you think you can compete with that?"

Only then did Zoey understand.

Summer's plan to marry Quinn had been nothing but a setup.

She'd done it all to make Xavier come and stop the wedding!

Perhaps her parents had been in on it too.

That would explain why they'd insisted on punishing Summer and used it to pressure Xavier into agreeing to marry her.

After all, Xavier was wealthy and successful again.

Of course the Hayes family wanted to restore their old engagement.

The more Zoey thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.

"He's given you his whole heart, and you still manipulate him like this? Don't you have any shame?"

Summer stared at her as though she'd just said something absurd.

"Manipulate him? What exactly have I manipulated him into doing? I never forced him to stop my wedding. I never forced him to take my punishment. And I certainly didn't force him to agree to marry me when my parents asked. He did all of that because he wanted to!

"He loves me so much he'd do absolutely anything for me. That's something you'll never have, no matter how long you live!"

Every word cut into Zoey, sending fresh waves of pain through her chest.

But she couldn't deny it.

Summer was right.

"Yes. He did it all willingly, and I respect his decision."

Zoey looked at her calmly.

"Don't worry. I've already decided to walk away. I wish you both happiness."