Chapter 2

Janice's POV

The test results from the domestic hospital matched those from overseas. I had only one month left.

I wasn't surprised by the outcome, but Zayne looked at me with concern. "Janice, your condition… Are we really still going on the trip?" he asked.

I didn't hesitate and gave a slight nod. With only one month remaining, I needed to say my goodbyes properly.

I took Zayne to the hillside estate where Jason and I used to spend part of every holiday. In addition to the usual estate amenities, the property even had a golf course.

Zayne received a call and stepped away to handle work, leaving me seated by the course to enjoy the sun.

Seeing the familiar scene I hadn't visited in so long, I couldn't help but remember how Jason and I used to compete here on every visit. The loser had to serve as the other's caddie for a day.

Jason was highly skilled at golf, but he always let me win. The man who was decisive and commanding in the outside world always smiled gently before me and indulged my every whim.

A golf ball landed near my feet and snapped me back to the present.

To my surprise, it was Jason who walked over. "My bad. I hit it off target. Why didn't you move? Are you here to sunbathe?"

But how could he have hit it off target? I looked away and didn't respond.

Freya hurried over, linked her arm through Jason's, and smiled brightly at me. "Ms. Moyer, what a coincidence. We met again.

"Are you here for our engagement party? Oh, that's my oversight. You declined our wedding invitation, so I assumed you wouldn't attend the engagement party either."

Jason patted Freya's hand. "It's not your fault. Some people are just strange. They refuse an invitation when it's offered, but they show up when they're not invited. How ridiculous."

I hadn't expected them to hold their engagement party there and was about to leave.

Freya stopped me. "Ms. Moyer, since you're here, why don't you come with us to see some old friends?"

I clutched the blanket around me. "No, thank you. I only came for a stroll. I had no idea you were holding your engagement party here today."

Jason scoffed. "Is it that you didn't know or that you don't have the nerve to see your old friends? Last time we met, you said you had a cold. This time, you claim that you've sprained your ankle, yet here you are at the golf course.

"Janice Moyer, have your lying skills really gone downhill? Or is all this constant misfortune and illness just karma catching up with you?"

Each word he uttered felt like a knife, repeatedly tearing open my wounds that had long since begun to heal.

My already pale face turned even more ashen. Zayne finished his call and hurried over to stand in front of me. "Mr. Thorne, Janice never wronged you—"

Fearing that Zayne might say too much, I tried to reach out and stop him. But my body betrayed me, and I fell forward.

Fortunately, Zayne reacted quickly. He caught me around the waist and carefully set me back into the wheelchair.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Jason take two hurried steps toward me. But once I was seated, his expression returned to its usual detachment. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, someone interrupted him.

"Janice Moyer! It really is you!" a familiar male voice rang out.

I looked up and saw Shawn Torres, Jason's best friend. He walked over with a golden retriever, glaring at me with contempt.

He said, "You didn't contact any of us after you came back to the country. Is it because things are going so badly for you that you're too embarrassed to face us?

"Come to think of it, we should thank you for heartlessly leaving Jason all those years ago. Otherwise, he and Freya wouldn't be living their dream life now with just the two of them and their dog."

The golden retriever seemed to understand Shawn. Once he finished speaking, the dog trotted over to Freya and Jason, nuzzling their legs affectionately.

Jason lowered his gaze and bent down to pat the dog's head. He loved dogs, but I was allergic to dog fur, so he had never mentioned keeping one before. It truly was best for him that we separated.

Seeing that I remained silent, Shawn stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Back then, Jason waited for you in the snow for three days and nights, ignoring his own injuries just to beg you to stay. In the end, you left the country without a word.

"If it wasn't for Freya, he would have ended up disabled for life!"

Shawn stood up for his best friend, brimming with anger. "Janice Moyer, why did you have to come back now, just when Jason is at his happiest? Can't you stand to see him doing well?"

I didn't have the energy to deal with the encounter. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and I longed to get away as soon as possible. Just as I was about to speak, a dark figure lunged at me.