Chapter 2

Axl didn't come home for three days straight.

I didn’t do what I used to, desperately calling him or begging for his forgiveness. Instead, I stayed silent, as if I had disappeared. Scrolling through Instagram, I glanced at photos of him and Rayne sharing their moments, and then I visited the hospital to discuss the possibility of an abortion.

Before I left, the doctor advised me that my condition might make it difficult to conceive. She suggested I give it some serious thought.

Axl showed up not long after I got back home. He smiled as he handed me a gift box.

"I found something special for you; you're gonna love it."

I looked at him, surprised, and opened the box. Inside was a tube of lipstick, but the label underneath clearly said it was a promotional freebie.

So, Axl's indifference ran so deep he didn't even bother hiding it? I placed the gift box on the coffee table and uttered a faint "thanks."

He frowned slightly, surprised at my reaction. In the past, even if he gave me something insignificant, like a leaf, I would cherish it.

"Keira, are you still upset?"

"The lipstick was picked out by Rayne and me together; she says all girls love this color."

I scoffed internally. Of course, it was a freebie because he was out shopping with Rayne. I didn't want to talk to him and was heading back to my room.

Suddenly, Axl grabbed my wrist.

"Rayne wants to invite you to dinner to sort out any misunderstandings."

"She’s a good person, so stop making things difficult for her. Just behave, and you'll be Mrs. Lane."

"Make sure to apologize to Rayne during dinner."

He dismissed my wishes as he pulled me out the door.

In Axl’s eyes, Rayne's opinions were gospel, while my feelings meant nothing.

In the parking lot, Rayne was already in the passenger seat. Seeing us approach, she pouted and complained to Axl:

"What took you so long? I was getting bored!"

Then, she turned to me with a bright smile:

"Thanks for the gorgeous diamond ring, Keira. I adore it!"

"Oh, by the way, I get car sick, so I have to sit in the passenger seat. You don’t mind, right?"

Rayne flaunted the diamond ring on her finger, her eyes gleaming with smugness. Before I could respond, Axl interjected:

"You're fine in the back seat; it’s always meant for you. What right does she have to mind?"

He then turned to me, his tone far harsher than before:

"Stop standing there like you’re lost. Get in the car! Keeping guests waiting isn’t polite!"

I had long gotten used to sitting in the back seat. Ever since Rayne showed up, the passenger seat was never mine. I had tried to claim it once, stubbornly insisting on sitting there. The result was being left alone on a country road in the middle of the night, with Axl driving away without a backward glance.

I had no interest in their flirting and climbed directly into the back seat. As soon as I settled, the strong scent of coffee filled the air.

My chest tightened immediately, and I quickly rolled down the window, sticking my head out for fresh air. Faint red spots appeared on the back of my hand.

I was about to ask Axl to open the door, but he ignored my condition and started the car. He didn’t forget to reprimand me:

"Roll the window up a bit; Rayne can’t catch a cold, can she?"

"You're tough as nails and can handle the cold, but Rayne is delicate!"

Silently, I raised the window, leaving a small crack. The aching pain quietly consumed me. Five years of devotion hadn’t swayed Axl one bit.

It suddenly clicked that what I thought was a happy life was a solo act. Given that, I had no reason to be trapped in an unsatisfying struggle for someone who wasn’t worth it.