Chapter 2
"Sydney!" Zane's voice snapped me back to reality.
Ever since my family went bankrupt, my childhood frenemy had done a total one-eighty.
He became incredibly protective. He insisted on picking me up from work every single day.
If I said no, he would just quietly trail behind me to make sure I got home safe.
I eventually gave up fighting him and accepted his help.
I just made him wait under the streetlamp at the end of my block.
I got off early today and completely forgot to text him. He probably got tired of waiting and guessed I would be here.
Zane pushed his way through the crowd and casually adjusted my collar.
"Why didn't you tell me you got off early? I've been looking all over for you," he grumbled playfully. "Good thing I'm a genius and knew you would end up here."
His complaints faded the second he noticed the couple standing in front of us. "Sydney, who are these guys?"
I opened my mouth, but the familiar name was hard to say. I forced a bitter smile and took a sharp breath. "This is Cole Carter."
Cole watched Zane's casual touches. A faint frown formed between his brows.
"You really can't go five minutes without a guy, can you?" Cole sneered. "What happened? I thought you got your wish and married the CEO of Sterling Corp. Did he toss you out with the trash?"
Cole finally recognized the guy standing next to me.
A harsh laugh escaped his lips. "Well, if it isn't the heir to Caldwell Trading. I should have known. After all these years, Sydney, you still have a thing for rich boys. You are just as gold-digging as ever."
Zane bristled at the insult. "You jerk."
I quickly grabbed his arm and linked mine through his to hold him back.
Cole was married now. The past was history. There was no point in dragging it all back up.
"Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Carter," I said coolly. "I happen to like Zane exactly the way he is. I wouldn't look twice at anyone else."
Catching my subtle look, Zane instantly played along. "Richard Sterling missed out, and that is his loss.
"Sydney and I have been together for five years. I know exactly what kind of woman she is. You should just focus on your own wife."
Cole's jaw clenched so tight I could hear his teeth grinding.
His eyes darkened. He spun around and stormed off with Gemma in tow.
He was acting just like a petty child.
A sharp pain suddenly flared in my stomach. My knees finally buckled.
"Sydney, did you seriously never tell him you saved his life?" Zane asked. He sounded genuinely concerned as he caught me.
I watched Cole disappear into the crowd. A crushing wave of sorrow washed over me.
Cole had no idea. He didn't know the terrible price I paid to get the money that saved his life.
After a year of struggling in the city, our lives had finally started to look up.
We didn't have to share a sketchy apartment with roommates anymore.
We could actually afford cabs, and we stopped checking the price tags on our groceries.
Just when I thought our future was bright, Cole got terribly sick.
The doctors said his poor diet over the years had led to stomach cancer. His only shot at a cure was a complete gastrectomy.
The medical bills and recovery were going to cost at least 70 grand. We were doing better, but we certainly didn't have that kind of cash.
I was at my wit's end. Then my family's housekeeper tracked me down. He said my aunt wanted to make a deal.
*****
I forced myself to stand and let Zane walk me home.
Once I was in bed, I tossed and turned. I couldn't sleep at all.
Against my better judgment, I opened his social media again.
We blocked each other's numbers after the breakup. This was my only window into his world.
I watched him climb from a complete nobody to a superstar with millions of followers.
Sometimes I felt pathetic. We broke up years ago, but I still couldn't stop checking up on him.
I even used a burner account to lurk in his fan groups.
His wedding announcement was still the number one trending topic.
The likes and comments had reached an astronomical number.
Even legendary music producer Callum Pierce left a comment. [A match made in heaven.]
A match made in heaven. People used to say the exact same thing about us.
When he was dying in that hospital bed, my aunt gave me two choices.