Chapter 3

The sports car sped off, and Matthew was rushed to the hospital.

He pushed me out of the way at the last second, and the black sports car slammed into his legs.

He broke both his legs, but he wasn't in any life-threatening danger.

Looking at Matthew lying in the hospital bed, both legs in casts, I felt strangely calm.

Before yesterday, if I'd seen him hurt like this, especially knowing it was because of me, I would've been eaten alive by guilt and regret.

If it were me before yesterday, I probably would've thrown myself onto him, sobbing uncontrollably, wishing I could take his pain instead.

But now, honestly, I was just relieved he pushed me out of the way, and I only ended up with a minor injury.

Matthew was still weak from the surgery, looking pale as a sheet.

His eyes, tired but gentle, found me. "Charlotte, I'm just glad you're okay."

Ignoring his concern, I asked, "Matthew, do you even remember what yesterday was?"

His voice was tinged with irritation. "Charlotte, I'm lying here with both legs broken for you. Can't you see what I've done for you?

"I'm the one stuck in this hospital bed, and if I hadn't pushed you out of the way, you'd be the one here instead. How can you be so cold? And you're still thinking about your damn birthday? Honestly, that's just selfish."

Evelyn gave me a disapproving glare. "That's right, Charlotte. Matthew got hurt because of you. He saved your life, and he's your fiancé. How could you talk to him like that?"

"Oh, so you do remember I'm supposed to be his future wife? For a second there, I thought you'd already set your sights on someone else," I shot back.

I looked at Matthew lying in the hospital bed. "Just tell me. What day was yesterday?"

Matthew let out a sigh, sounding defeated. "Yesterday was your birthday, alright? Charlotte, I just didn't spend your birthday with you. Do you have to keep harping on about it?

"I promise, next year I'll be there for your birthday. Will that make you happy?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "So let me ask you. What were you doing on my birthday last year? The year before? And the year before that?"

Matthew was at a loss for words.

Seeing him struggle, I started jogging his memory. "Last year, Lily said she wanted someone to watch the sunset with her, so you spent the whole day hiking with her, leaving me all alone at that romantic restaurant until it closed.

"The year before, you promised you'd be there for my birthday. I even decorated the yacht for us, but you bailed at the last minute to help Lily move, took my car, and left me stranded at the dock.

"And the year before that, when Lily came back from abroad, you and your friends took over my five-star hotel for a week-long party. You didn't even remember my birthday, and you still haven't paid the bill.

"I had to cover over 300 thousand dollars in expenses for you out of my own pocket."

I continued, "And this year? Let's not even talk about the others. You dressed up like you were being auctioned off for her photoshoot.

"Honestly, even a hooker would look classier than she did. If I posed like that with some random guy, how would you feel?"

Matthew's eyes burned with anger. "Charlotte, do you have to talk like that?

"Lily's photoshoot was about capturing her most beautiful self. It's art, about exploring her sensuality and confidence.

"Dressing like that is her way of understanding her body and breaking out of old stereotypes. If you don't get it, maybe just stop talking about things you don't understand."

He shot me a look full of contempt. "I'm doing this for art. You think it's trashy, but that's just because you have zero artistic taste, and honestly, you're just jealous, so you can't stand anyone else shining."

I sneered, "Oh, so what you're saying is, when my boyfriend bails on my birthday, I should just graciously forgive him and support him without a single complaint while he chases his so-called artistic pursuits?

"Is that what a good girlfriend is supposed to do?"

"That's exactly it. You'll have another birthday next year, but once Lily's youth is gone, she'll never get it back.

"She just wants to capture her most beautiful moment, and as her friend, I'm helping her fulfill that dream. What did I do wrong?" Matthew insisted.

I nodded, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "Yeah, you're absolutely right. Not a single thing wrong with that.

"If you're so obsessed with your precious art, go ahead. I won't stop you. Let's break up."