Chapter 2

I looked down and realized there was a cut across the back of my hand. I had no idea when I'd gotten it.

When I didn't answer, Samuel let out a soft sigh and pulled me into his arms.

"Alright, that's enough. You've hit me, so you should be over it by now. Stop crying.

"Besides, I never intended to stay married to her. It's just a piece of paper. I'll divorce her soon enough.

"Jessie grew up being spoiled. She's fun to fool around with, but actually living with her? Just keeping her happy would wear me out."

He paused and softened his voice.

"But you're different, Regina.

"You never cause me any trouble. Being with you doesn't take so much effort. You'll make a good wife.

"Come next month, we'll get remarried. Your mom has always wanted to see you married, right? I'll even give you a grand wedding–"

Before he could finish, his phone buzzed again.

One glance at the screen, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Jessie wants a cake from that bakery on the west side of town. They're about to close, so I need to hurry.

"If I don't get it, she'll make my life miserable tonight."

He looked at me, hesitated for a fraction of a second, and grabbed his car keys before leaving.

The moment I heard him mention my mother, it felt like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over my head.

I could hear the threat behind his words.

Back when Mom was hospitalized, Samuel had paid the staggering medical bills without hesitation.

Even now, the ongoing treatment costs were far beyond what my monthly salary could cover.

The thought of this made me laugh bitterly.

Maybe a woman like me with nowhere else to turn was exactly why Samuel felt free to cheat without consequences.

As the door slammed shut, I finally collapsed onto the floor.

My gaze swept across the wrecked living room, and I suddenly had a flashback to what happened a year ago.

It was the night of my birthday party. Jessie had linked her arm through mine. Her eyes lit up.

"Regina, I've got a huge surprise for you tonight!"

She blinked mischievously. She looked exactly like she had when we were sixteen and running from the dean after sneakily eating ice cream.

I spent the entire evening looking forward to it.

It wasn't until the cake toppled over, and I saw two intertwined figures behind it. My mind went blank.

Jessie calmly draped Samuel's jacket around her shoulders and raised an eyebrow at me.

"Happy Birthday, Regina!

"This is the surprise I prepared for you. Do you like it?"

More than a decade of friendship collapsed into ruins alongside that cake.

I jolted awake from the nightmare.

Seeing Samuel sitting beside my bed left me dazed for a moment.

Before I could gather my thoughts, he pressed a bowl of soup into my hands. "Regina, I made this myself. Try it and tell me what you think."

I stared at him. I thought I was hallucinating. "Did you make it?"

He nodded and immediately scooped up a spoonful before bringing it close to my mouth.

"Yeah. I got the cake too late this afternoon, so Jessie punished me by making me cook soup for her."

He smiled. "She always comes up with the strangest ideas. I don't even know how to cook."

Although I'd already calmed down, my nose still stung unexpectedly.

I never would have imagined that this pampered rich kid, who had never lifted a finger around the house, would one day step into a kitchen for someone else.

Lost in thought, I accidentally choked on the soup.

His brows furrowed instantly. "What's wrong? Is it too salty?"

He lowered his head and took a sip himself. That was when his phone rang.

"Stay where you are. Don't move. I'll be right there!"

I didn't know what was said on the other end, but his expression changed immediately. When he left in a hurry, he bumped into me hard enough to make me stumble.

"Jessie twisted her ankle. The family doctor isn't available. Go buy some medicine and bring it to the villa on the west side. Hurry up."

I stared blankly at him as he left. After coming back to my senses, I laughed at myself. I then grabbed an umbrella and headed out.

I didn't know how I managed to buy the medicine and make it to the villa.

The moment I pushed the door open, I froze in place.

A pair of stockings had been left dangling on the stair railing.

I heard intimate sounds coming from upstairs.

Seeing this scene again shattered every bit of confidence I had left.

I let out a gut-wrenching scream before clutching my head and collapsing onto the floor.

Apparently irritated by the interruption, Jessie muttered, "What a mood killer."

Moments later, I heard hurried footsteps. Samuel came downstairs with his clothes in disarray. A bright lipstick mark was still visible on his neck.

"What were you screaming for? You've seen this enough times by now, haven't you?

"Just give me the medicine. Jessie's ankle still hurts–"

Suddenly, he stopped talking. His eyes widened in shock. "Regina! What's wrong?"

When I heard the panic in his voice, I looked down.

Rainwater mixed with my blood was trickling down my body. A dark red pool of liquid had already formed on the floor.

As the world began spinning around me, I saw Samuel lunging toward me.