Chapter 2

Don't let the CEO title fool you. Back in college, Damien was broke, living on cheap meals. Someone like Enya? She wouldn't have glanced his way.

He chased her for three years, no pride left. Only when he gave up did he notice the one who'd stayed—me.

The night Enya left the country, he got wasted just to keep himself from chasing her.

My chest ached. I kept wiping my tears, over and over.

What did he say back then?

"Sadie, Enya's a thorn in my heart. Pulling it out hurts, but once it's gone, it's gone. You're my future."

For the next five years, he kept that promise.

His world was just work and me.

Everyone said Damien was a workaholic, but no deal—no matter how big—came before Sadie Somerset.

But now?

One call. One soft, flirty plea.

No hesitation—he shoved that thorn right back into his own heart.

***

The next day, Damien didn't wake up until almost noon. Yeah—he clearly hadn't held back with Enya.

When he saw me slumped on the couch, out of it, guilt flickered in his eyes. He rushed over and pulled me in.

"Honey, I'm really sorry. Enya came back to recover. Her heart's not in great shape. We were classmates. She asked for help—I couldn't just ignore her, right?"

His chin rested on my head, his voice careful.

And just like that, the hickey on his collarbone was right there.

At the same time, the comments in front of me went wild again—

[Guys! I checked this time—the cadaver donor looks exactly like Enya!]

[Too bad the school keeps donor identities locked down. We can't get a name!]

[And what Damien just said is terrifying—the donor died after a failed heart transplant!]

The rest was all guesses. Reading it felt like stumbling through cold fog. I couldn't even focus on Damien.

That set him off. He grabbed my face and made me look at him.

"Honey, you're not mad, right? The ceremony didn't finish, but I still married you. Don't worry, I only love you."

For a second, the man I'd loved for years felt... disgusting.

Rotten. Inside and out.

Just then, his phone rang in his pocket.

Damien—still waiting for my forgiveness—lost focus instantly.

He checked the time. Whatever patience he had left? Gone.

He let me go and headed back to the bedroom. A while later, he came out in the shirt he used to wear when he chased Enya—the one he'd shoved to the back of the closet after she left. Now it was freshly ironed.

Didn't even match his current style. And yet, he looked way too pleased wearing it.

I didn't ask for a hug like I used to. He didn't even notice.

He got dressed, said something came up at the company, and left like he couldn't wait.

I stared at the empty space and let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

Didn't matter if that woman was really Enya or not.

I was done.

They could have each other.

I told my parents my decision. They backed me up, no hesitation.

Luckily, we'd planned to register on Valentine's Day. So yeah—we had the ceremony, but nothing legal yet. Maybe that was fate.

I was done with him.

But I was curious.

When the timing felt right, I took a cab to Enya's studio.

Fourteenth floor. Left turn. Third door. Same place she used to share with classmates before going abroad.

The door was locked. Floor-to-ceiling windows, curtains drawn tight.

Faint candlelight leaked through the gap. In the middle of the day, the room stayed dim.

I shifted slightly, trying to get a clearer view.

Enya lay stretched across the couch, bare skin traced by flickering candlelight.

Her gaze hooked Damien, and just like that, he was gone. The whole room felt thick—sweet, suffocating.

At the same time, the med student from earlier started freaking out in the comments—

[Waaah... guys, this pose—it looks even more like her!]