Chapter 2

"Vera!"

Eric roared. He shot up from his wheelchair!

He moved with explosive speed—nothing like a man who had been "paralyzed" for two years! He lunged forward, wrapping his arms fiercely around my waist from behind, dragging me away from the ledge!

My chest heaved, tears streaming down my face.

"Let me go! Eric, let me go!"

I thrashed wildly against him, staring in absolute despair as the muddy water swallowed the last gleam of my mother's ring. The freezing rain and boiling tears blurred my vision.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?! You're going to risk your life over a cheap ring?!" Eric yelled, his voice laced with a hint of panic, but mostly dripping with annoyance at my "hysteria."

A cheap ring?

That was the only token my mother left me! Thrown away like trash by his beloved Lily!

In that instant, the screaming anger, the grief, the humiliation—it all flatlined into a chilling, absolute silence.

I stopped fighting. I let my arms drop, letting him hold me.

"We're done."

My voice was perfectly calm. Eric's body stiffened, then he let out a scoff, as if he'd heard a joke.

"Vera, stop throwing a tantrum! I know you're mad about the ring. I'll have Lily write you a check! We can—"

"I'm not throwing a tantrum."

I cut him off, prying his fingers off my waist one by one.

I turned around and looked him dead in the eye. Looking at his face now just made my stomach turn.

"Eric, aren't you tired of playing this poverty simulator? My mother's ring is gone, and so is every last drop of feeling I ever had for you. How much longer are you going to try and gaslight me?"

His eyes darted nervously. Instantly, he slipped on that familiar, pathetic mask of the helpless victim.

"Vera, what are you talking about? My legs really were crushed! I've just... been doing physical therapy, and they've gotten better... Are you really abandoning me? You've always despised me, you've been looking for an excuse to dump me, haven't you?!"

He was actually trying to use his "disability" to guilt-trip me into feeling pity.

Watching his masterful performance, I only found it pathetic.

I didn't explain, nor did I have the energy to waste another syllable on him.

I just bent down and picked up the empty, stained delivery box.

Without sparing another glance at him or the gloating rich kids on the terrace, I turned and walked out into the pouring rain.

Behind me, Lily's cloying voice echoed.

"Eric, the truth is out. Who cares? Don't tell me you're actually sad over a bottom-feeder. No way, the heir to the Crawford family actually fell for a delivery girl?"

I didn't stick around to hear his answer.

I just pulled out my phone and called my regional manager to quit.

Since we broke up, there was no need to keep this job.

The manager was shocked. "Vera? What happened? You were doing so well, why quit so suddenly? Don't you need the money for your boyfriend's medical bills?"

"He's cured," I said, my lips curling into a bitter smile. "Completely cured."

"Thank God! That's wonderful!" the manager beamed. "You never gave up on him. I'm sure he'll treat you ten times better now!"

Ten times better?

I sneered silently.

Eric was the one who had introduced me to this grueling, weather-beaten delivery job, wasn't he? He called it "experiencing life," but in reality, he just wanted to watch me suffer humiliation to avenge his precious Lily.

Thankfully, it was all over.

The next day, having packed my life into a few suitcases, I arrived at Manhattan's most luxurious establishment: the Sterling Plaza Hotel.

Dragging my heavy luggage, I walked into the gleaming, opulent lobby.

My appearance was entirely out of place, instantly drawing countless strange looks.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is. If it isn't our hardworking little delivery girl, Vera?"

That sharp, vile voice, familiar enough to make me gag, rang out behind me.

Lily Sutton.