Chapter 2

Gabriel's POV

I turned around and saw Joanna slipping the wedding ring she'd originally chosen for me onto Ashton's finger.

"Don't worry. Gabriel's never worn it."

I couldn't remember exactly when things had started changing, but at some point, Joanna had begun buying Ashton an identical version of everything she gave me.

I'd argued with her and cried over it, unable to understand why my fiancée insisted on treating my body double the same as me.

But after being ignored time and again, I'd gradually stopped fighting for her attention.

Now, I realized she'd even ordered two identical wedding rings.

I looked down, slipped the ring off my finger, and casually tossed it into the trash.

I had no interest in something she could just as easily give to another man.

From behind the locked dressing room door came the faint sounds of women cheering and gushing over how handsome Ashton looked.

Even the styling team Joanna had personally traveled to Pember to book for me was now attending exclusively to him.

Meanwhile, I had to make do with the mirror in the men's restroom to fix my ridiculous hairstyle.

I'd gotten it specifically to please Joanna because, at least from behind, it made me look a lot like Ashton.

The scratches on my arm were still bleeding, and I was anxious to get to the hospital to have them treated.

As I approached the entrance, Frederick Greene, the butler, came over to greet me.

"Mr. Fuller, Ms. Stiles asked me to take you to the hospital to have those cuts looked at."

Apparently, Joanna hadn't forgotten about my blood clotting disorder.

My first instinct was to refuse. The last thing I wanted was another favor from her.

Unfortunately, the weather in Yewton was unpredictable in June, and it started raining before I could make up my mind.

Frederick bowed slightly and urged me into the car again. "Mr. Fuller, a little rain won't hurt you, but we really shouldn't risk those cuts getting infected."

I'd barely settled into my seat when Joanna appeared behind me and ordered coldly, "Get out. You're in the way."

She was carefully supporting Ashton, who had a small cut on his forehead.

The moment he saw me, Ashton immediately struggled to get out of her embrace.

He bowed his head apologetically and said, "I can't make Mr. Fuller give up his seat for me. That wouldn't be right. There's a clinic down the road. I can get there on my own."

Then, he stole a frightened glance at me, trembling so badly that he could barely stand still.

But I hadn't done a thing to him.

Joanna immediately softened her voice to reassure him. "Don't be scared. I'm right here, and as long as I'm around, no one's going to push you around."

Then, she turned to me and snapped, "Ashton wouldn't have gotten hurt if you hadn't insisted on having those stupid crystal decorations at the wedding!"

Her gaze fell on my injured arm, and she added with contempt, "Why do you have to be so fragile?"

Those familiar words stopped me cold.

Years ago, when I'd saved Joanna's life, I'd been covered in blood. Because of my clotting disorder, the bleeding had gone on for a frighteningly long time without stopping.

Seeing how terrified she was, with tears streaming down her face, I'd tried to comfort her despite my condition.

"I'm okay. Please don't cry."

But the bleeding hadn't stopped.

Joanna had held me tightly, her eyes red as she asked in bewilderment, "Why do you have to be so fragile?"

Then, she'd turned on Ashton, looking as though she wanted to kill him for failing at the one responsibility he'd been given—protecting me.

Back then, she'd asked that question because she was terrified of losing me. Now, she was using those same words to mock me for being weak and getting in her way.

I pressed my lips together, struggling against the sting in my eyes as I forced myself back to the present.

Then, I climbed out of the car, exposing myself to the pouring rain.

"There. Am I out of your way now?"

Frederick, who'd watched us grow up, couldn't bear to see me treated this way.

"Mr. Fuller has had health problems since he was a boy. Couldn't we just take them both to the hospital?" he suggested.

Joanna looked at me and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

But her tone turned cold a moment later. "Well, you brought it on yourself."

She flung an umbrella onto the ground as though I should be grateful for even that much.

I tilted my head back slightly, letting my tears mingle with the rain as they silently rolled down my cheeks.

When Joanna noticed how red my eyes had become, some of her anger faded, and an unfamiliar emotion flickered across her face.

"Forget it. Just get back in the car—"

But before she could finish, Ashton cried out in pain, drawing her attention back to him.

I glanced down at my phone and saw an incoming call from Serena Cahill, who was calling to check in.

"I'm about to board the plane," she said, unable to hide her excitement. "Gabriel, get ready, because I'm coming to marry you!"