Chapter 2

Half an hour later, the taxi pulled up at the entrance of Rosewood Estate.

"Miss, you can't get in here," the driver said, leaning over. "The security guards at the gate don't miss a thing. If you're not an owner, there's no way you're getting inside."

I nodded and went straight to the grocery store by the back gate, grabbed two boxes of imported cherries.

In the guard booth, a young security guard was hunched over, playing a game on his phone.

"Hi," I said, waving the bag in my hand. "I'm here to deliver fruit to a resident. It's urgent, but my GPS took me to the wrong entrance. Can I get in through here?"

The guard didn't even look up, lazily replied, "You can't get in here. Go to the front gate."

I pressed, sounding urgent. "Can you make an exception? Mr. Shaw from Shaw Holdings called, and he's in a hurry for this delivery."

He immediately looked up, sizing me up skeptically. "You know Mr. Shaw? We always have to call the resident before letting anyone in. Let me call him first."

I hurried, "No, please don't! Mr. Shaw got back from a business trip and forgot to buy cherries for his wife, so he asked me to rush over and deliver them. If you call him, he'll realize I'm not supposed to be here."

The guard flashed me a knowing smile. "True enough, Mr. Shaw is famous for doting on his wife. He gives her the stars and the moon, whatever she wants. Alright, go on in. Don't take too long."

The gate swung open.

My heart was pounding, but I kept my expression neutral.

As soon as I was out of sight, I pulled up Julia's social media.

I tapped on each photo, enlarging it.

I was trying to spot any clues in the photos that would reveal which building she lived in.

As I scrolled through the photos, tears streamed down my face harder.

I hated feeling like this.

And I hated myself even more for acting like some gutter rat, spying on someone else's life.

I sniffled, locked my phone screen, and tried to pull myself together.

I was going back. When Edward got back, I would ask him everything. My love had always been straightforward and aboveboard. Even if we broke up, it should end openly, with dignity. Not like this, sneaking around in the shadows.

I turned to leave.

Suddenly, a sharp female voice called out behind me. "Edward, are you serious about that bitch?"

I froze in shock.

Almost on reflex, I ducked into the bushes by the roadside.

The night was dim, making it hard to see clearly.

Two people walked out from around the corner.

By the glow of the streetlight, Edward had his arm around Julia's shoulders, a smile on his face, but sounding helpless as he said, "What's gotten into you today? Why are you so jealous? I'm messing around with her, it's nothing serious."

Julia, dressed in a designer tweed suit, frowned in fury.

She spoke with a hint of a sob in her voice, "You've never even proposed to me, but you took her to Northern Lights Island to pop the question! Who does she think she is? Why her?"

Edward said, "Relax, I was fooling around with that girl. The title of Mrs. Shaw is yours and yours alone. You don't have to worry about that."

Julia let out a sarcastic snort, curling her lip in disdain, "Like I need your promise? She's some country bumpkin, thinking she can play out of her league and become somebody? Dump her. You have three days."

Edward paused, then joked, "You've never thrown a fit like this before. What's got you so worked up today?"

Julia stared him down, making sure he heard every word, "You proposed to her, and that pissed me off. Get this straight. If I'm not happy, Grant Group won't be happy either."

Edward hesitated for a second, then wrapped Julia in his arms without another word, "Alright, your wish is my command. Whatever you say, I'll obey."

"That's more like it," Julia replied smugly.

I shrank back into the shadows, watching them walk away, feeling like a total clown.

My heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

Tears poured down my face.

But I bit down hard on my lip, cursing myself to stay strong. Don't cry.

Memories flashed through my mind, one after another.

We'd only been together for a year and a half.

Edward had given me so much love and warmth that I'd never experienced before.

I loved flowers, so he bought a whole plot of land and planted a sea of blossoms for me.

He was obsessive about cleanliness, yet he would peel every shrimp for me, even at formal dinners.

He told me he loved me so much that he would give his life for me.

So when my father, desperate from gambling, pulled a knife and demanded money from me, Edward immediately stepped in without a second thought.

He shielded me, his voice low and steady, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

His fierce devotion and protection chased away the shadows in my heart bit by bit.

The Edward who pulled me out of the mire could not possibly be the same man standing before me now.