Chapter 2

The next morning, the real estate agent brought a prospective buyer for a property viewing.

Acara had not been home all night.

At around three o'clock in the morning, she posted a picture at a restaurant.

In the picture, I could see Levi leaning back in his chair, draped in her coat.

Meanwhile, Nylah was attending to a mild scratch on his finger while Mia was helping him with a maintenance quotation for his sports car.

There was a short caption on the post.

[It took all night, but we managed to please our little prince!]

Levi’s sports car was a birthday gift from Acara last year.

I swiped away, then arranged for the final box containing Acara’s belongings to be delivered to the headquarters of Grey Corporation.

Around ten in the morning, Levi sent a voice message into the family group chat.

“Zaire, are you still upset with me?

“Acara didn’t want me to drive home by myself last night, so she volunteered to stay with me.

"I tried to get her to go home to be with you, but she told me that you’re a grown man and will do just fine without her.”

After a brief pause, his tone became increasingly drastic.

“Please don’t get the wrong idea, Zaire.

“I only see Acara as family.

“If it does bother you, just tell me, and I’ll make sure to avoid bothering her in the future.”

Shortly after that, Acara sent a voice message.

“Levi, you don’t have to shrink yourself for him.”

Nylah chimed in, “Zaire just can’t handle the thought of someone getting more attention than him.”

Mia was even more straightforward.

“He’s a good-for-nothing who relies on both our families to keep up his reputation! What right does he have to control you?”

Just as I was about to exit the group chat, Acara sent me a private message.

It was a picture of a chestnut cake.

[I left this for you.]

When we went on our first date a decade ago, she had waited in line for two hours to get this same cake.

Whenever we argued in the past, I would always forgive her as soon as she came home with this cake.

This time, however, all I did was send her a brief reply.

[I’m good.]

She replied in an instant.

[That’s enough of your tantrum.

[I’m only doing this to help you save some face because you had the chance to marry me.

[You’re really testing my patience here. If you keep pushing your luck, I won’t let you step into my house even if you plead.]

Her following message revealed her true intention for texting me this whole time.

[Levi’s medicine is in the bedroom nightstand. Bring it to the hotel right now.]

The cake was never meant to console me.

It was just compensation for running an errand for Levi.

I did not reply.

Half an hour later, Nylah came calling.

“Where’s the medicine?”

I stated curtly, “There’s a pharmacy right below the hotel. Acara can buy it herself if she wants to.”

Nylah let out a laugh as if I had just told her a joke.

“She spent the whole night taking care of Levi, and you still expect her to run downstairs to the pharmacy?

“What else do you even do other than getting jealous and throwing childish tantrums?

“If Levi’s condition worsens because of this, I’m going to make you sit at our mother’s grave for forgiveness.”

I gripped my phone tightly. It felt as if a knife had been plunged into my chest.

Before Mom passed away, she held both of my sisters’ hands and asked them to take care of me.

However, ever since Levi moved into our family, they seemed to have conscientiously rewritten her final wish.

I was expected to oblige Levi’s every whim and to take care of him.

I had to share everything I had with him.

Otherwise, I was not a “real man”.

I insisted, “I’m not doing it.”

As soon as I said so, Nylah’s tone took a serious turn.

“Zaire, don’t push your luck.

“Without our family taking care of you and without Acara marrying you, you’re nothing!

“Levi is always pleasant and well-behaved, but you?

“You’re already thirty years old, but both of your sisters hardly respect you!”

After the call, Mia sent me texts.

[I’ve left your tie with the doorman.

[Also, make sure Levi’s shirt is properly ironed.

[His skin is sensitive, so there shouldn’t be any creases on the shirt.]

Then, I received texts from Levi, which contained a picture of him with an IV drip.

[Don’t listen to Mia. It’s fine even if my clothes are crinkled.

[Also, it’s fine if you don’t want to bring the medicine; I can handle it.]

I ordered a courier to deliver the medicine as well as the suit back to the family house.

That same afternoon, I returned my wedding ring and signed the property transfer agreement.

The same night, Acara’s ring was delivered back to her.

The first thing she did was to take a picture of the ring and send it to the group chat.

[Zaire, who do you think you are?

[I’ll take the ring back since it’s mine in the first place, but I’ll have you know that I will never let you put it on again, even if you begged!]

Levi texted in response.

[Is it because the ring wasn’t expensive enough?

[If this has something to do with Acara gifting me a sports car, I can give the car back to her.]

Acara immediately replied.

[No, Levi, that sports car is meant for you.

[Don’t bother, Zaire isn’t worth your time!]

After reading that last text, I exited the group chat, then signed the contract with my company for my overseas transfer.

Only two days left until my departure.