Chapter 2

That meticulously prepared candlelight dinner ended in a suffocating, deathly silence.

I forced down the medium-rare steak, bloody and raw. The meat was tender, but in my mouth, it tasted like wax. The metallic tang of blood rose in my throat, mirroring the exact feeling I had for the man sitting across from me—pure nausea.

Late that night, the bedroom lights went out.

Julian wrapped his arms around me from behind. His warm breath dusted the nape of my neck as his hands wandered restlessly under the hem of my nightgown.

"Elara..." His voice was low and husky, thick with desire and an urgent need to possess, as if he needed to physically confirm that I still belonged to him.

In the past, I would have shied away in mock coyness, overjoyed, thinking this was proof of his love. But now, the image of him and Seraphina in his office replayed in my mind—disgusting and vile. I felt like my whole body was covered in spikes.

"I'm tired, Julian." I pushed his hands away cold, stiffened my body, turned my back to him, and pulled the duvet tight.

A suppressed sigh came from behind me, tinged with disappointment. Julian didn't force the issue. He just tucked me in, his arm still draped loosely over my waist. "Okay. Sleep. Goodnight."

Listening to his breathing even out, I opened my eyes in the darkness.

By the moonlight, I studied his sleeping profile—the face I had loved for three years. Now, it just looked like a stranger’s. A monster’s.

I quietly pulled out my phone, dimmed the brightness to the lowest setting, and opened an airline app.

Two one-way tickets to Zurich. One for me, one for my father in the nursing home.

The moment my finger hovered over "Confirm Payment," I didn't feel the relief I expected. My heart was pounding like a war drum.

Julian, the judgment day you’ve so carefully prepared will be the day I make my escape.

Early the next morning, Julian mysteriously drove me out to a private equestrian club on Long Island.

"Do you like it?" He pointed to the row of expensive thoroughbreds in the stable, his eyes full of doting affection. "I remember you said you loved riding before the Vance family went bankrupt. I booked the whole place today just to make you happy."

I looked at him and sneered internally. He was really investing a lot of capital to play the role of the "devoted fiancé."

Julian helped me mount the horse, his movements gentle and careful, as if I were a fragile treasure. I looked down at him from the saddle and suddenly asked:

"Julian, since we're getting engaged, when are we going to city hall to sign the marriage license?"

The smile on Julian's face froze. His eyes darted away, avoiding mine. He busied himself adjusting the reins, speaking in a casual, offhand tone.

"Elara, you know I don't believe in the institution of marriage. That piece of paper doesn't matter... as long as we're together, nothing can separate us."

He paused, then added, "Besides, at the engagement party in seven days, I'm going to give you the grandest promise in the world. That means so much more than a marriage certificate."

I didn't say a word. I just coldly pulled my hand out of his grip.

A promise? More like a promise to send me to hell.

Just then, a commotion broke out nearby.

Bodyguards were escorting two figures toward us. It was Seraphina in her wheelchair, and her shrewd-looking mother—Linda.

"Oh my, isn't that Elara?" Linda cried out with exaggerated surprise, her voice shrill. "Seraphina heard Julian brought you riding and insisted on coming to watch."

Seraphina was wearing a white lace dress with a cashmere blanket over her legs. Even in a wheelchair, she looked like a fragile, innocent little flower.

"Julian!" She called out sweetly, her gaze hooked onto him. "The doctor said being around animals is good for my mood. I want to pet Elara's horse too."

Julian glanced at me instinctively, frowning slightly. He seemed worried I'd be upset about them ruining the atmosphere. But he still walked over and pushed her wheelchair closer. "Careful. Don't get kicked."

Supported by Julian, Seraphina reached out a trembling hand, acting like a gust of wind could knock her over.

The moment Julian turned around to grab a carrot to feed the horse, Seraphina looked up at me. Those eyes, usually brimming with tears, flashed with a vicious, icy glare.

In a split second, a silver glint flashed in her hand. She jammed a long needle hidden between her fingers straight into the joint of my horse's leg!

Neigh—!

The horse screamed in agony and reared up on its hind legs, going berserk.

"Ah! Help!" Seraphina threw herself backward, landing heavily on the grass with a scream.

"Seraphina!"

Julian dropped the carrots and sprinted over like a madman. He didn't even spare a glance at me, dangling precariously from the saddle, fighting the reins of a panicked beast. He dove straight for Seraphina and pulled her tightly into his arms.

The horse bucked hard, throwing me off. My knees smashed onto the gravel, and blood instantly soaked through my pants.

Pain shot through my body, but my heart hurt far worse than my knees.

"Are you hurt? Do your legs hurt?" Julian checked Seraphina's legs frantically. The panic in his eyes was genuine.

"It hurts... Julian, I'm scared... Elara... she did it on purpose..." Seraphina shrank into his embrace, sobbing her heart out like a tragic heroine.

Once he confirmed Seraphina was "okay," Julian whipped his head around. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at me, looking like he wanted to tear me apart alive.

"Elara! Are you insane? You know she can't use her legs, why would you let the horse trample her?!"

I fought the pain to stand up, looking coldly at these two Oscar-worthy actors. "I didn't. She stabbed my horse with a needle."

"A needle?" Julian laughed in anger, pointing at Seraphina's trembling legs. "She can't even stand up! How could she stab your horse? Elara, just admit it. You're jealous! You're jealous that I care about her!"

He stepped toward me aggressively, raising his hand as if to slap me.

I didn't flinch. I just tilted my chin up stubbornly and stared him dead in the eye.

In that instant, Julian saw my pale face and the blood running down my legs. His hand froze in mid-air. The rage in his eyes cracked.

Was that... hesitation?

"Oh, Julian, don't blame Elara."

Just as Julian was stuck in the standoff, Linda stepped forward. She played the fake peacemaker, but her eyes were calculating.

"The child has always been competitive and proud. She probably misunderstood your friendship with Seraphina."

"Look, you two are getting engaged soon. It's not good for old best friends to be fighting like this." Linda rolled her eyes, hatching a plan. "In three days, Seraphina is hosting a private party on a yacht to celebrate her rehab progress. Why don't you let Elara come? It's the perfect chance for them to talk and clear up the misunderstanding."

Seraphina caught the cue immediately. She tugged at Julian's shirt, speaking timidly. "Yes, I want to make up with Elara... Elara, you'll come, right? I want to prove I don't have any bad intentions. I don't blame you for letting the horse step on me just now..."

I watched the mother-daughter duo sing their duet. I saw right through them.

Make up? Celebrate?

It was a trap. A carefully orchestrated setup to serve me an appetizer of humiliation before the main course at the engagement party, surrounded by their trashy social circle.

I looked at Julian, waiting for him to defend me.

If he loved me even a little, if he had even a shred of a brain, he should refuse this ridiculous proposal.

Julian frowned, clearly hesitating. He knew Seraphina's circle was hostile toward me.

But when he saw Seraphina's teary, hopeful eyes and those "crippled" legs, the scale in his heart tipped again.

Maybe he thought that making me suffer a little grievance and bowing my head to Seraphina was a form of "atonement."

After a few seconds of silence, he finally turned to me. His tone wasn't as violent, but it was cold enough to freeze my blood.

"Elara, since it's a misunderstanding, clear it up. Seraphina is being generous enough to forgive what just happened. You should learn to be the bigger person."

"You have to go to the party in three days. Stop being difficult."

With that, he bent down and scooped Seraphina up, carrying her gently toward the Rolls Royce, leaving me with nothing but a ruthless view of his back.

As Linda walked past me, she lowered her voice so only I could hear, letting out a scornful scoff.

"Little bitch. Since you refused to do this the easy way, you'll get the hard way. Just wait for the show in three days."

I stood there, watching the three of them leave like a happy little family.

The wind on Long Island was strong. It stung the open wounds on my knees.

I watched the luxury car disappear and curled my lips into a bitter smile.

Julian, you chose her after all.