Chapter 2

The moment I stepped into the corridor, the chilly air hit me. Even so, it did little to clear the heavy, dizzy feeling in my head from all that suffocating pollen.

In fact, I grew noticeably more uncomfortable because I was so worked up.

I steadied myself against the wall, coughing violently as tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I had allergic asthma and couldn't tolerate any sort of irritants.

Matt knew this, yet he didn't care. Whenever I coughed, he would frown in displeasure and order me to step away lest I ruin his mood.

My knees buckled, my heels twisting beneath me as I lost control and slid downward.

The pain I expected didn't come.

A pair of hands caught me firmly by the wrist. They were long, slender, and dry, carrying a faint scent of cedarwood.

"Take a deep breath. Don't panic." A cool yet gentle voice drifted from above my head.

Then, a glass of warm water and a pill appeared before my eyes.

"Loratadine. For your allergies," the voice explained.

I looked up through a blur of tears and took in the person in front of me.

It was Daniel Ziegler, the quiet one from the groomsmen group. He was the groom's cousin. Apparently, he had just returned from abroad and was a top cardiothoracic surgeon.

During the banquet earlier, he sat in the corner and kept to himself, his aloof, noble presence contrasting with the lively atmosphere.

"Thanks…" I took the items from him, my hands shaking.

Daniel didn't pull away. Instead, he rested his hand gently behind my back to help me catch my breath. His touch was gentlemanly and restrained, maintaining a respectful distance that offered the support I needed.

"Should I call a Lyft for you, Ms. Yale?"

I wondered how he knew my name.

However, before I could respond, hurried footsteps sounded behind me.

"Sienna!" a voice called out.

It was Matt. His expression dropped instantly when he noticed how close I was standing to Daniel. He didn't notice my distress as he charged over and pulled me away from him.

"Dr. Ziegler, don't bother yourself. She's with me." Matt stared at Daniel with an air of hostility.

Then, he turned toward me with a frown. "How are you coughing again? Also, why are you talking to him?"

I shook him away, staring at him coldly.

Matt paused. Then, he retrieved a velvet box from his pocket and stuffed it into my hands.

"Come on, enough with the tantrum. Claudia rejected this necklace, saying it's too old-fashioned. I remembered you told me this is your favorite brand. Take it.

"The blind date is just a way to keep my mom off my back. We'll talk about who gets to be my wife in the future. Be sensible, okay? Stop making me worry about you."

I stared at the box.

It was something Claudia had casually toyed with earlier, then discarded with contempt.

Seven years of loving him, and a year by his side. Yet, in the end, all I got was something that Claudia didn't want.

I suddenly felt disgusted. So, I tossed it straight into the trash can beside me.

"Matt," I said, my voice raspy and deliberate, "trash belongs in the trash can. That goes for the necklace… or you."

Matt stiffened.

I retracted my gaze and turned toward Daniel. "Dr. Ziegler, can you call me a Lyft?"

Daniel's eyes swept across the enraged Matt before landing on me. He nodded. "Sure. It's my pleasure."