Chapter 3

While I was still dazed, Karen walked in on her high heels, stepping into the room she hadn't once set foot in since we got married.

Cade lowered his head and apologized. "I'm sorry, Karen. I made sure everyone who was there kept quiet. I never thought Todd would leak it himself.

"Looks like tricking him with the fire this time made him really angry. He's willing to go down in flames as long as he takes you with him."

Only then did I understand. Someone had leaked what they'd done to me earlier that day, and they were blaming me for it.

Karen was about to lay into me when she suddenly noticed my swollen face. She froze, then turned on Cade. "You hit him?"

Why did she suddenly care?

The pain she had caused me was a hundred times worse than a few slaps.

Cade raised an eyebrow and shot back, "Are you feeling sorry for him, Karen?"

Karen looked at his face, which was so identical to her first love's, and gave a cold, haughty snort. "Don't hit him in the face next time. It looks bad."

My lowered eyes darkened.

So she was only worried about the company and her image.

If she didn't still care a little about what people would say, she wouldn't spare me a second glance even if I were beaten to death.

Karen looked down at me. "Todd, did you leak it?"

Of course I didn't.

But would she believe me if I said so?

Ever since Cade moved into the house, he had framed me over and over again.

No matter how I explained or tried to prove myself, even when I threw the evidence right in her face, she only ever believed Cade.

Just because he looked like her first love, she saw him through rose-colored glasses and was convinced everything was my fault.

Every time I explained myself, she hated me a little more.

I was tired of explaining by now. I just let out a quiet hum. "If you think it was me, then fine. It was me."

Hearing my answer, Karen seemed to finally have somewhere to let her emotions out. The corners of her eyes reddened, and she threw her purse at me. "What's this? You're not being stubborn this time? You're finally admitting you were wrong?

"Todd, if you had admitted your mistakes sooner, you wouldn't have had to suffer so much!"

She had a servant bring me ice for my face, though her tone stayed flat. "Once the swelling goes down, you're coming with me to a press conference. We'll show everyone how in love we are and put these rumors to rest."

Seeing that Karen wasn't going to punish me any further, and that her attitude had softened quite a bit, Cade tugged at her in confusion. "Karen, Todd caused our PR department a huge headache. You're just going to let him off that easily?"

In the past, Karen went along with almost everything he said. This time, though, she raised an eyebrow and brushed him off. "Didn't you already hit him? He's been punished. Just make sure it doesn't happen again."

For some reason, a spark of hope lit up inside me. I looked at her expectantly. "Karen, if I died, would you be sad?"

Karen frowned in irritation. "Todd, don't push your luck! If you died, I'd happily set off fireworks for a whole month to celebrate."

I gave a miserable smile.

I had let my imagination run away with me. She was still the same Karen who hated me to the bone.

The pain in my lungs spread through my entire body. I clenched my teeth to keep from groaning, yet deep down I felt a faint sense of relief.

That was fine. Her wish would come true soon enough.

Seeing the pain on my face, Karen shot me a sideways glance. "Wipe off that sallow makeup. I'm not falling for your sob story."

I froze.

She thought my sallow complexion was makeup. She had no idea I didn't have long to live.