Chapter 2

"Ms. Hayes, your 'fake death' protocol has been activated. In seven days, everything will proceed as planned."

Hearing the voice of the covert agency staff on the phone, I let out a long breath.

In seven days, I would vanish completely from Caleb Caldwell's world.

I hung up and circled the date seven days from now on my calendar in red.

The vivid crimson seemed to mock me for my foolishness over the past year and a half.

When Caleb returned with a cake, I was still staring blankly at the calendar.

He set the cake down, wrapping his arms around me as he always did, asking tenderly, "What are you doing? You look so lost in thought."

Feeling his warm chest against my back, a bitter sadness welled up inside me.

Married for five years, remarried for one. I never knew Caleb was such a brilliant actor.

So good that he made me believe he had truly let go of Serena and fallen in love with me.

That he truly couldn't live without me, which was why he relentlessly pursued me for six months after our divorce, determined to remarry.

I shook my head. "Nothing much, just thinking."

His gaze fell on the circled date on the calendar. "Is seven days from now an important day?"

"Yes." I suppressed the bitterness in my heart, hinting, "It's the day I'll give you a surprise."

Caleb stroked my hair affectionately. "I'll look forward to it, then."

"But let's not worry about seven days from now. Layla, do you remember what day today is? It's our one-year remarriage anniversary. I made this chocolate cake myself. Come on, try it."

My heart lurched as I looked at the cake he held out.

I remembered Serena's birthday party earlier today, someone laughing as they asked what 'fun' Serena had planned for me.

She had casually scooped a handful of dirt from a flowerpot and sprinkled it onto a cake, laughing, "I'm happy today, so I'll let Layla off easy. I'll just live-stream her eating dirt."

And now, Caleb had actually brought back *that exact cake with dirt*, trying to pass it off as chocolate.

My heart stung as if pierced by needles.

After a long moment, I managed to whisper, "My stomach isn't feeling well. I don't want anything sweet."

Caleb's smile faded slightly. "Your stomach's bothering you again?"

"Come on, Layla. This cake is my effort, after all. Just one bite, then I'll make you some stomach-soothing soup, okay?"

He scooped up a mouthful from the area with the most dirt and brought it to my lips.

I met his eyes, searching for a hint of guilt from his deception.

But there was none.

His gaze was sincere, as if he genuinely didn't want me to disappoint his efforts.

Forcing back the wrenching pain in my chest, I nodded slightly.

"Okay, I'll eat it."

The dirt-filled cake landed in my mouth, grinding painfully against my gums.

I knew that a hidden camera, somewhere unseen, was recording my humiliating moment of eating dirt.

Serena, watching the live-stream, must have been utterly delighted.

Caleb, satisfied, put the cake down and went to make me the stomach-soothing soup.

Watching him disappear into the kitchen, a chill spread through my heart.

Caleb knew my stomach condition was severe, yet to please Serena, he didn't hesitate to make me eat a cake filled with dirt.

He truly had no love left for me.

I didn't get to drink the soup Caleb was making. Instead, I was rushed to the hospital for a stomach pump due to severe stomach cramps.

As my consciousness faded, I heard a gentle voice coaxing me, "Hang in there, Layla. The pain will be gone soon."

I couldn't tell if I was dreaming, but when I awoke, I saw Caleb asleep, slumped beside my hospital bed.

His face was drawn with exhaustion, looking like he'd been taking care of me for a long time.

His phone vibrated continuously in his hand.

I picked it up and opened it, seeing his friends' messages in their SnapChat group:

"Caleb, Layla eating dirt today was hilarious! I've rewatched the video ten times!"

"Right? But why were you in such a hurry to send Layla to the hospital, Caleb? Did you feel bad?"

Caleb had replied below:

"Don't joke around. It wouldn't be good if Serena saw that."

"I was just playing the role perfectly. If I don't soothe her now, how will I trick her into cooperating next time?"

So, it was all an act again.

I forced a bitter smile and put the phone back.

Caleb woke up soon after, sighing in relief when he saw I was okay. "I'm so sorry, Layla. It was my fault. I shouldn't have pushed you to eat that cake."

I said nothing, just looked at him silently.

My gaze made him a little uncomfortable. He quickly grabbed his jacket and stood up. "Work things. I need to go back and handle them. I'll come see you later."

The moment the door closed, I shut my eyes, and tears finally streamed down my face.

Caleb, six more days.