Chapter 2

At ten o’clock that night, Tyler handed me a paper box and said, “Here, the necklace I promised you.”

I opened it to find a lusterless necklace made of tiny diamond chips. The label showing a price tag of two hundred and ninety-nine dollars hadn’t even been removed.

Summer leaned over and covered her mouth as she chuckled. “Lea, that necklace is perfect for you. It’s so simple and practical, unlike mine, which is way too heavy and makes my neck ache.”

I calmly closed the paper box. “Yeah, that’s fine. It really would be a waste to give something so nice to me.”

Tyler’s brow furrowed, and he looked at me skeptically. “Why are you speaking in riddles today?”

Clearly displeased, Tyler continued in his usual condescending tone, “Summer has been frail since she was a kid. What’s wrong with me looking after her a little more? Do you have to be jealous of her over a necklace?”

I didn’t even have the energy to argue back, so I just looked at him coldly. Why was it that whether I made a scene or stayed quiet, it was always my fault?

He took a step forward, his gaze passing over me and landing on my half-open bedroom door. Inside sat my suitcase, half-packed, with my transfer confirmation letter to Suisse resting on top.

“Why are you packing a suitcase?” Tyler’s face darkened. “Lea Spencer, are you playing the running-away-from-home trick again?”

He strode over, wanting to get a closer look, but I stood in his way, my expression remaining completely unbothered.

“There’s an international project coming up in a few days. I need to go on a business trip.”

Tyler stopped in his tracks, still skeptical, his frown deepening.

“We’re about to get married, and you’re still this busy? Can you even do your job? If it’s too much, just quit after the wedding. I can afford to support you. Then, you can just stay at home and raise our future kids.”

Before the words had fully left his mouth, Summer suddenly cried out softly and clutched her chest as she collapsed limply toward the floor.

“Ah!”

Tyler’s expression shifted. He spun around and rushed over to catch her. In his panic, his elbow slammed hard into my shoulder, and I stumbled back, the paper box slipping from my hand.

Summer also knocked into a nearby picture frame on her way down, and glass shattered across the floor. It was the first photo of Tyler and me together from seven years ago, a piece that used to hold immense meaning. Now, however, I thought it had shattered right on cue.

“Summer! What’s wrong?” Tyler was in such a panic that he didn’t even notice he was stepping on the broken glass.

“Tyler, my chest hurts. I can’t breathe…” Summer said, leaning weakly in his arms.

Tyler picked her up in one swift motion and lectured her with concern, “I told you you shouldn’t overexert yourself when you’re not feeling well! Why do you always have to push yourself?”

I saw how worried Tyler was and found the whole scene ironic. Last month, I had worked nonstop until a high fever triggered myocarditis, leaving me curled up in bed from the crippling pain, yet Tyler didn’t even check in on me.

He simply remarked, “Why are you so weak? Just stay hydrated, and you’ll be fine.”

Now, all Summer did was take a couple of big breaths, and he reacted as if she was about to die.

Summer leaned against his chest and looked at me weakly. “Tyler, I’ve decided on the wedding favors and the officiant’s schedule according to my preferences… You won’t be mad at that, would you, Lea?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Tyler took it upon himself to answer on my behalf. “What would she be mad about? You fell sick working yourself to the bone for her wedding. She should be thanking you instead.”

Looking at his self-righteous expression, I instantly lost all desire to say anything more.

A smug smile played on Summer’s lips, but she made herself sound even more pitiable. “Lea, please don’t get the wrong idea. I only see Tyler as a brother. A long time ago, Tyler even said he’d marry me when we grew up. Planning this wedding is just my way of making a childhood dream come true.”

Tyler’s eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately lowered his head to stop her. “Stop talking now. Save your strength. I’m taking you to the hospital right away!”

With that, he picked Summer up and charged out the door without looking back.

The door slammed shut. In the vast house that was supposed to be our home, I was left all alone. Swallowing the bitterness rising in my throat, I grabbed my suitcase and left.

A heavy rainstorm was pouring outside in the dead of night. Dragging my suitcase, I had just made it to the intersection when an out-of-control van suddenly slammed into me from the side.

Excruciating pain instantly tore through my entire body as I was thrown onto the puddle-filled ground. Immediately after, a sharp, cramping spasm surged through my lower abdomen, and warm liquid began flowing down between my thighs.

Blood stained the rainwater red, and my vision began to blur. Trembling, I fumbled out my phone and dialed Tyler’s number. The phone rang for a long time before it was finally picked up.

“Tyler…”

I was trembling so hard from the pain that my voice was barely audible.

“I got into a car accident… I’m bleeding so much… Please, come…”