Chapter 2

I barely slept that night. My hotel room walls seemed to close in around me as I replayed Marcus's words over and over in my head. 'The girl in Switzerland.' 'That situation is being handled.' Each syllable cut deeper than the last, leaving wounds that bled into the early morning hours.

By dawn, shock had hardened into determination. I wouldn't be dismissed. I wouldn't be erased.

The Sterling Corporation headquarters towered above me, a monument to power and wealth that had once felt like part of my future. Now it loomed like a fortress I needed to breach. I clutched my father's dog tags through my blouse, drawing strength from the cool metal against my skin.

'You taught me to stand my ground,' I whispered to his memory as I pushed through the revolving doors into the marble lobby.

The security desk was manned by a stern-faced woman who assessed me with clinical efficiency. 'I need to see Marcus Sterling,' I announced, surprised by the steadiness in my voice.

'Do you have an appointment?' she asked, not bothering to check any schedule.

'No, but he'll want to see me. I'm Lily Chen.'

She didn't react to my name. Not even a flicker of recognition. Had Marcus erased me so completely that even his staff didn't know who I was?

After a brief call, I was escorted to a waiting area where Marcus's executive assistant, Claire, emerged with a practiced smile. I remembered her from video calls – always hovering in the background, always watching.

'Miss Chen,' she said, her voice honeyed with false warmth. 'What a surprise. Coffee?'

'I don't want coffee. I want to see Marcus.'

She gestured to a sleek leather chair. 'I'm afraid Mr. Sterling is in meetings all morning. Perhaps I could pass along a message?'

The way she said 'message' made it clear nothing would reach him. I was being managed, contained, like a minor inconvenience.

'Tell him his fiancée is here,' I said, my voice rising. 'Tell him I heard him yesterday talking about his wife and baby names and keeping me in Switzerland!'

Claire's smile never faltered, but her eyes hardened. 'I think there's been a misunderstanding. Mr. Sterling has been married to Mrs. Victoria Sterling for over a year now.'

'That's impossible. We've been talking every week. He's been writing me letters—'

'I'll be sure he knows you stopped by,' she interrupted, already guiding me toward the elevator. 'Perhaps you should speak with your doctors in Switzerland.'

Back in my hotel room, desperation clawed at me. I pulled out my laptop and began typing furiously, attaching photos of my recent sketches – the ones I'd told him about in our calls, the ones he'd praised.

*Marcus, I need to understand what's happening. These are the sketches I told you about last month. You said the use of negative space was brilliant. You said you couldn't wait to see them in person. Was that all a lie?*

I sent five more emails, each more urgent than the last. Hours passed before a single reply appeared.

*Lily, I'm concerned about your mental state. Our last communication was over a year ago when I explained we needed to end our relationship. Dr. Finch informed me your condition was improving, but these delusions suggest otherwise. I recommend resuming your treatment immediately. For both our sakes, please do not contact me again.*

The room spun around me. Delusions? End our relationship? We had spoken just last week about the apartment we would get when I returned. He had told me he loved me, that he was counting the days.

With trembling fingers, I dialed the Swiss clinic. After several transfers, Dr. Alistair Finch's clipped voice came through the line.

'Dr. Finch, this is Lily Chen. I need you to send me my medical records immediately.'

A pause. 'Miss Chen, I'm afraid that's not possible without proper authorization.'

'I'm the patient. I'm authorizing it.'

'U.S. privacy laws are quite complex,' he said smoothly. 'And doctor-patient confidentiality—'

'Stop it!' I shouted into the phone. 'You've been lying to me. Marcus has been lying to me. I want my real records!'

'I suggest you calm yourself, Miss Chen. This agitation is precisely what we've been treating.'

The call ended, leaving me in silence. I sank to the floor, my father's dog tags clutched in my fist. This wasn't just betrayal. This was conspiracy. They had stolen a year of my life, and they were trying to steal my sanity too.

But I wouldn't let them.

I looked down at my hands – artist's hands, steady despite everything. If they wanted to erase me, they'd have to try harder. Because the girl from Switzerland wasn't going to disappear quietly.