Chapter 2

Justin started staying out every night for no reason, began accusing me of being dramatic, and stopped posting anything on social media.

I cried, begged him, clung to him, and even threatened to end my life.

He just watched me like it was entertainment, giving me a cold, indifferent smile. "Hannah, stop acting pathetic. Do you know what you are like right now? A damn annoying leech."

But Justin was nothing like that when he came to pick me up that day.

He said seeing me made him feel sorry for me, and that feeling made him want to protect me. He told me he wanted to give me a place to belong.

Justin took Erica to see the aurora, and then to watch penguins.

Even after all that, I still convinced myself he was just putting on an act. I hoped marriage would keep him by my side.

I was the one who pushed for the marriage. I tried every trick in the book to make our relationship look like a big deal.

I let the whole world know that the Lynn and Rowe families were planning a grand wedding.

The Rowe family played along, proposing an engagement ceremony to ride the wave of attention.

But I never imagined that, as a way to retaliate, Justin would actually bring Erica to the engagement ceremony.

They were exchanging glances and flirting where the elders couldn't see. They acted all lovey-dovey, holding hands whenever I wasn't looking.

I lost it. Like a madwoman, I flipped the big table right then and there, exposing their dirty secret for everyone to see.

But Justin stayed eerily calm, watching me have a meltdown without saying a word.

There was no real explanation, no sincere apology. All he said, in a flat voice, was, "Hannah, stop making a scene.

"Everyone here knows Erica and I have been close since we were kids. I just wanted my friend to witness our happiness. You're overreacting."

But that wasn't how it was at all. Soon, some of the elders started coming over, trying to calm me down. "Hannah, we know you care about Justin, but Erica and Justin grew up together.

"They're close like siblings. Maybe there's some misunderstanding?"

Another one said, "That's right, Hannah. Erica even came back from overseas to witness Justin's happiness, and now you're causing all this drama. How do you expect Justin to face Erica after all this?"

I felt my heart crash down like glass from a high-rise, every shard biting into me with bloody edges.

Their faces blurred in the haze of voices, leaving me lost and unfocused.

I even began to question if I was really the one who wrecked the whole engagement.

I was the type who went all in when I loved, and didn't hold back when I hated. Once I decided to let go, I would really let go and wouldn't regret it at all.

Since I'd picked Andrew, I had to make a clean break with Justin, once and for all.

That day, when I returned to the apartment to pack up, I happened to bump into Justin.

His face was red, and he smelled like he'd bathed in alcohol. The stench made me stagger back.

"You're back?" Justin said.

I ignored him, turned away, and kept packing, desperate to leave this toxic place as soon as possible.

Seeing that I didn't answer, Justin pulled me into his arms from behind.

I shivered in shock and struggled hard to break free.

But Justin was so drunk and strong that I couldn't break free at all. Justin murmured, "Honey, I missed you. I missed you so much."

His words sent a chill down my spine.

How could he pretend to be loving, like nothing ever happened after all that chaos?

I pushed Justin away with all my strength.

He held out his hands with a half-smile still on his lips.

Then he leaned in, his voice gentle and low, eyes glinting with a hint of heat. "Still mad at me?

"So, how do you want to punish me tonight? You decide."

With that, he tried to slip his hand under my clothes.

I shoved him away and landed a loud, stinging slap right across his face.

Justin grabbed his cheek, the booze seeming to evaporate in an instant. "Hannah, what the hell? If you leave a mark, how am I supposed to face anyone? Even if you're pissed, do you really have to go this far?"

I sneered, "Justin, so you do have some shame after all?"

"Hannah, I told you Erica is just a friend. If your mind's filthy, everything you see looks filthy," Justin shot back, clearly pissed.

"Erica's been completely shaken up because of you. Ever since the engagement, she's had a high fever and hasn't slept for days.

"You can throw your tantrums at me all you want, but your drama is hurting other people. Don't you feel any remorse?

"Hannah, maybe I've spoiled you so much that you forgot there are consequences for acting out."

Justin punched the doorframe in frustration, his eyes showing a hint of concern.

But I knew that concern wasn't for me.