Chapter 2

It was a gift for our fourth anniversary.

Now, it was draped loosely over Alice's shoulders.

She wrapped the blazer tighter around herself, her hands tucked deep into the sleeves.

Only her slender, pale knuckles peeked out from the oversized sleeves.

I stood at the doorway. Before I knew it, my fingers clenched tight, nails biting into my palm.

Caleb looked up. His tapping on the desk stopped abruptly.

Our eyes met. His brows knitted slightly, and there was a subtle annoyance in his eyes at being interrupted.

Alice turned to look at me, following his gaze. Her eyes grew teary in an instant.

She didn't take off the blazer. Instead, she instinctively stepped back, half-hiding behind Caleb.

"Ms. Hartley." Alice's voice trembled, barely above a whisper.

"I was really cold during my night shift, so Dr. Maxwell lent me his blazer," Alice explained, her words stumbling out.

Her fingertips kneaded wrinkles into the expensive fabric. "I'm sorry, Ms. Hartley, I didn't know you'd be here right now. I'll take it off."

Her hands moved slowly as she tried to undo the buttons. Her fingers were shaking so badly she could barely manage the buttons.

The family members sitting by the IV drip all turned to look at me.

Their eyes lingered on my designer coat.

Someone in the corner muttered, "It's just a jacket. Did she have to overreact like that?"

Caleb dropped his pen onto the desk. The pen landed with a sharp click.

"Maeve, don't start anything right now," Caleb said, his tone full of patronizing tolerance. "Alice has a fever, and the AC's out. It's just a blazer."

He said it so casually, telling me that I shouldn't be worried and bother with being equals.

All he had to do was dole out a little pity and get his ego stroked for playing the savior.

I kept quiet and headed straight for Alice, my steps purposeful.

Alice bit her lip, her eyes flicking to Caleb with a desperate plea for help.

I reached out and gripped the cold fabric. My fingertips pressed against the raised embroidery on the lining.

"Take it off," I said quietly.

Alice's eyes brimmed with tears, but she was rooted to the spot, unable to move.

Caleb stood up and stepped in front of her. "Come on, Maeve, it's just a blazer," he said.

He looked down at me, disappointment clear in his eyes.

He said, "You've got a closet full of designer stuff, so what if you lose one? Alice can't even bring herself to buy a warm coat, and she's shivering. Can't you see that?"

I gave him a cold, mocking smile.

It was the first time in four years I'd ever smiled at him like that.

"Caleb, this blazer cost me 27,000 dollars to have custom-made. It's not some charity handout for you to pass around," I said.

I sidestepped him, grabbed the lapel of the blazer, and yanked it off Alice's shoulders.

The blazer fell away from her shoulders.

Alice stumbled a step back, tears streaming down her face.

I held the blazer in my hand.

The cloying scent of cheap perfume was overwhelming.

Now it felt tainted.

I folded the blazer and draped it over my arm.

"My things, my rules. I decide who gets to wear them," I said.

Caleb's jaw tightened.

His voice was low, laced with sarcasm. "You're so selfish, Maeve. All you ever do is show off your money and act like you're better than everyone else. Is that all you know how to do?"

I didn't say a word.

After four years of chasing between cities for Caleb, I felt even more worthless than Alice's cheap perfume hanging in the air.

I turned and headed for the exit.

I kept my back ramrod straight, refusing to show any weakness.

I didn't even look at Caleb or at Alice, who was crying her eyes out.

Behind me, people muttered under their breath, calling me a cold-hearted rich girl.

I pushed the door open.

The cool wind after the rain slipped inside my collar, making me shiver.

Caleb's voice called after me. There was a sharp impatience in his tone. "Wait a second."

I stopped in my tracks.

He said, "Take your car keys. And since you took the blazer back, buy a normal one tomorrow and give it to Alice to make up for it."

He said it like he expected me to go along with it. "After all, you're the one who made her cry."

I clenched the doorknob tightly.

My knuckles went pale, the chill from the metal biting right through to my bones.

I turned around.

Caleb was pulling out a tissue, gently wiping the tears from Alice's face.

He looked up and stared me down, not budging an inch.

He said, "It's just a blazer. Alice is cold, that's all."

I didn't bother responding. I opened the passenger door and got in.

Mike Daly handed me a tissue.

"Here, Ms. Hartley. Wipe off the rain," he said.

His eyes stayed fixed on the steering wheel, not even glancing outside.

I took the tissue from him.

The window rolled up, sealing off everything outside, including Caleb.

The windshield wipers swept back and forth, clearing the rain.

The street outside blurred into a hazy gray.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

The screen lit up. It was an email from the overseas HQ popped up, telling me I was being transferred.

I tapped the confirm button.

The car turned at the intersection, and for a split second, I felt a faint sense of weightlessness.