Chapter 2

I steadied my breath, pushed Jay away with resolve, and said, "I'm fine. It's just my period. Rest will do."

Jay gave a knowing smile. "Then I'll make you some warm milk. Drink it, and get a good night's sleep."

He bent down, carried me to the bed, and sighed with a helpless smile. "You never know how to take care of yourself. What will you do without me?"

I smiled. "Without you, I'll live just fine."

He froze, then pinched my cheek a little harder than usual. "Heartless girl. How could you live well without me? You should say, 'I'll stay by your side forever and never leave.' Understand?"

With that, he turned and headed downstairs, smiling as if my words had been a joke.

Only I knew every word I said was the truth.

I had chased Jay for five years and hidden our relationship for two. The first year, he treated me with indifference. Only in the last year had our feelings grown seemingly inseparable.

He began making me breakfast. He coaxed me awake in the mornings. He kissed me when I pouted.

We looked like a couple in the throes of young love, and I truly believed he had started to care for me.

Until the car crash. Until today, when I finally heard the truth with my own ears.

I realized then that all of his affection had been nothing but an act. Every gesture, every touch, had been a performance.

The one he truly loved was Julia, the fake heiress who had stolen my identity for more than a decade.

His pretense of loving me was only to stop me from being with Billy Sikes.

After all, Julia had feelings for Billy, while Billy had feelings for me.

Watching Jay busy himself in the kitchen, I let out a hollow laugh.

Since the miscarriage, I often felt a dull, dragging pain in my abdomen. At night, the ache grew so sharp it left me drenched in cold sweat.

Jay was always the first to notice. He would rub my stomach and ask, "Cramps again?"

Instinctively, I pushed his hand away.

Seeing my pallor, he touched my forehead. "You've got a fever. You can't just lie at home. I'll take you to the hospital."

In the hospital corridor, we unexpectedly ran into Julia.

She stood alone, struggling to hop forward, steadying herself against the wall.

Jay's expression changed instantly. Without thinking, he shook off my hand and strode quickly toward her.

Catching her arm, his voice was urgent. "Didn't the doctor tell you to rest at home? Why are you here again? Did something happen?"

Julia cast me a glance before looking back at him. She gave a weak smile. "This morning I wasn't careful and twisted my ankle again. But… why are you here with Emma?"

Jay faltered, as if only then remembering he had abandoned me moments ago. He turned back, eyes flickering.

"I heard Emma wasn't well, so I came to check on her."

Our relationship had never been public. Only a handful of his closest friends knew about us.

Julia looked at me again, her gaze tinged with disdain, though her voice remained gentle.

"Emma suffered a lot before she was found. Her health's never been good. She often falls ill. You should take better care of her. Go on, get her checked. I'll go collect my medicine."

Leaning heavily on the railing, she limped away, her steps slow and difficult.

Without a second thought, Jay swept her up into his arms. "I'll take you there first."