Chapter 4

During the days I spent alone in the hotel, I completely emptied my mind and no longer thought about Zoey.

I thought I had finally let go of that absurd affection.

Until seven days later, when I ran into Zoey again at the hotel’s riding arena—along with Cameron.

“Sam, why are you here too?”

It was Cameron who called out to me. He looked surprised and then lifted his wrist as if showing off.

That diamond watch was dazzling, and the glint of it stung my heart once again.

I was right—this watch still ended up on Cameron’s wrist.

If that was the case, then what had Zoey wanted to explain to me back then?

I looked at Zoey. She was dressed elegantly and beautifully, holding Cameron’s arm as she spoke coolly.

“Cameron asked you a question. Why aren’t you answering?”

When Zoey asked me that question, my heart trembled, and I stared at her as if she were a stranger.

It took me a long moment to recover before I forced a smile. “Oh, my friend brought me here. I’m just wandering around.”

Zoey no longer paid me any attention and turned instead to fix Cameron’s collar with focus.

But Cameron looked at me with great interest and extended an invitation.

“Sam, can you ride? Go pick a horse and how about we have a race?”

Something in his gaze made me uneasy, so I raised my hand and refused.

“No, I don’t know how to ride.”

But I hadn’t expected Zoey to help Cameron persuade me, telling me not to be so inconsiderate and to listen to him.

I fell silent, staring at Zoey in disbelief.

In that moment, I finally realized—she had truly changed.

The old Zoey would have protected me in every way, never forcing me to do anything, much less making someone like me—who couldn’t even ride—get on a horse.

But now, just to please Cameron, she had changed far too much.

It seemed she genuinely liked him.

As long as my sister-in-law could be happy, what did it matter what happened to me?

I no longer refused and quietly nodded, following Cameron to pick a horse.

Because I had to wear protective gear, I handed my phone and bag to Zoey before leaving.

When we returned, Cameron went ahead to the arena, while Zoey pulled me aside with a strange expression.

“Your aunt just called.”

Hearing the word “aunt,” I tensed up immediately and blurted, “She didn’t say what she wanted with me, did she?”

“No. I said you weren’t here, and she said she’d contact you later.”

Seeing her shake her head, I let out a breath of relief.

Fortunately, she hadn’t found out in advance that I was planning to go abroad.

But the next second, she noticed the shift in my emotions and frowned. “What’s wrong? When did you start contacting your aunt again?”

“It’s nothing. Just half a month ago—my aunt suddenly reached out, saying my uncle wanted a few photos of my mom...”

I didn’t dare meet her eyes and lowered my head, brushing it off casually.

Luckily, she didn’t suspect anything. She relaxed and nodded. “Alright, go ahead. Don’t keep Cameron waiting.”

I answered softly and entered the arena, clumsily mounting the horse under the instructor’s guidance.

But before I could sit steady, Cameron suddenly raised his whip and struck my horse on the hindquarters.

My horse was startled and bolted uncontrollably. I missed the reins completely and lasted less than three seconds before falling off.

I fell onto the ground, landing flat on my chest. Even with the protective vest, pain shot through me so sharply I nearly blacked out.

Gasps filled the arena. Through the blur, I saw Zoey running toward me in a panic.

But when she reached us, she didn’t even look at me. Instead, she lifted Cameron in her arms with concern.

“What happened? Are you hurt?”

Cameron looked shaken and innocent as he shook his head. “I’m fine. I think I twisted my wrist. I didn’t expect Sam to really not know how to ride...”

Only then did Zoey spare me a glance. Seeing me unable to get up from the pain, she didn’t show the slightest distress. She ordered the nearby bodyguards to take me to the hospital, then left with Cameron.

At the hospital, X-rays showed that I had fractured three ribs.

Luckily, there was no injury to internal organs. The doctor strapped my chest and told me to go home to rest.

The bodyguards, without giving me a choice, sent me back to the Shaw residence.

Looking at the familiar surroundings, I thought I would never return again—yet somehow I was back.

But Zoey wasn’t home.

By then, it was already midnight.

Since I could hardly move, I had no choice but to stay for the night.

I lay on the sofa to rest, but the stabbing pain in my chest kept me from falling asleep.

I tossed and turned in agony until around three or four in the morning, when I finally drifted off.

Not long after, the villa’s front door opened—Zoey returned, drunk.

She turned on the lights and saw me lying on the sofa. With unfocused, drunken eyes, she staggered toward me.

She took off her shoes and collapsed into my arms.

One hand rested on my firm chest, the other circled my waist, as she lifted her face and kissed me...