Chapter 2

I thought about it.

Probably when he completely shed the label of "the driver's son" and transformed into CEO Chase.

He started having endless business dinners, and when he came home, his clothes reeked of cheap perfume.

Facing my questioning eyes, he smiled and explained: "It's from a business partner's perfume. Honey, don't overthink it."

I believed him.

He used clumsy excuses to repeatedly consume my unconditional trust.

Until he gained complete control, he stopped pretending.

And I, foolishly immersed in the prison of love Adrian Chase had woven for me.

Unable to break free.

The first time I caught him cheating was at the surprise birthday party I'd prepared for him.

The party was on a yacht. Everyone waited until exhausted, but the guest of honor never showed up.

I had no choice but to have someone check his location and discovered he was working overtime at the company.

The whole way there, I complained in my heart about him not taking care of himself.

When I pushed open the office door, I was still holding the cake I'd made myself.

But on his office desk sat the remains of a candlelit dinner.

Intimate clothing was scattered on the floor.

Most ridiculous of all, two bodyguards stood outside his lounge.

When I kicked the door open, Adrian Chase's face showed no panic.

He gently covered the person beneath him with a blanket, then casually draped a bathrobe over himself.

When he looked up at me, he was as cold as a block of ice.

"Close the door. If you have no shame, she does."

His calmness made me look like a clown.

I rushed forward like crazy to drag out the homewrecker.

But I was slapped dizzy by a bodyguard beside Adrian Chase.

In the chaos, I finally saw clearly who was lying in the bed.

It was the little nurse who had changed his dressings after he collapsed in the hospital.

The little nurse was scared to tears: "Ma'am, please don't misunderstand. I just came to bring Mr. Chase some liver-protecting medicine today. I never meant to interfere with your marriage."

"We had some drinks, and in our confusion, we..."

Adrian Chase pressed his lips together, his cold eyes fixed on me.

"Jade, I'm warning you, don't lay a finger on her."

So he'd been cheating this early on.

The so-called flowers of love were just random compensation to his wife after he'd had his fun outside.

From then on.

At business dinners, as wine flowed freely, the women around him changed too.

He no longer cared about my feelings, no longer cared about anything about me.

It seemed only the fame and fortune in business and different women keeping him company in pleasure.

Could truly make him feel the meaning of life.

I gradually grew numb in the sense of loss.

Until one day, I no longer expected him to appear before me.

I ignored Bianca Cole's mockery.

I went upstairs to get my passport and some ID documents, then came back down.

When I came downstairs, I saw Bianca Cole going through the purse I'd left on the sofa.

I caught my breath and immediately rushed forward to snatch the bag back.

Bianca Cole spread her hands and rolled her eyes.

"There's nothing valuable anyway. What are you so nervous about?"

I felt for the hospital examination report at the bottom of my bag and breathed a sigh of relief.

Bianca Cole walked up to me and suddenly smiled.

"You're pregnant, aren't you?"

"I saw the vitamin pills in your bag."

"You know, right? Adrian Chase hates kids the most. If he finds out you're pregnant, he definitely won't let you keep this baby."

"I advise you to get rid of it early, otherwise..."

Just then, Adrian Chase came back.

Adrian Chase glanced at me, his tone casual: "What fell?"

I smiled and stuffed the documents back into my bag: "Nothing."

Adrian Chase was silent for a moment. As I was about to leave, he took out two cards and held them before me.

"The presidential suite at Cloud Court Hotel---you can stay there for now."

"This card has ten million on it. Use it for now."

"Yesterday... I really was busy."

Busy? Busy buying chestnut cake for Bianca Cole counts as busy?

At this moment, I only found the man before me utterly disgusting.

I smiled gently.

The next second, a slap landed on Adrian Chase's face.

I shook my numb palm, the smile on my face unchanged.

"Adrian Chase, you're disgusting."

"A driver's son who, by chance, rose to power, and now you've forgotten how you used to beg me to help you through hard times?"

I'd never said such hurtful words to him before.

Adrian Chase didn't strike back, but his face darkened suddenly.

But before Adrian Chase could react, Bianca Cole grabbed an ashtray and smashed it at my head.

Warm blood flowed down from my temple.

My head spun.

The living room lights suddenly became blinding, making me almost unable to stand.

Mrs. Hudson rushed forward to support me.

She anxiously shouted at Adrian Chase: "Adrian! Don't you know that Jade, she..."