Chapter 2

I sprinted to the corner of the neighborhood and hid in a spot the cameras couldn't see.

Then, I couldn't hold back anymore. I burst out in uncontrollable laughter.

I grabbed onto a tree by the roadside, laughing so hard I felt like a carefree kid who didn't care about anything.

I was finally free. I was a free man with 1.5 million dollars in my pocket!

Screw the icy queen CEO and her crush!

Orindal's beaches, Sunara's sunshine... I would be there soon.

I whipped out his phone and booked a first-class ticket to Orindal, leaving in just three hours.

I didn't need any luggage at all. I had money now. I could buy a whole new wardrobe after I landed.

I couldn't resist showing off a bit, so I sent Amber a text. [Goodbye. I did love you once. From now on, we're just strangers on different roads, never seeing each other again.]

After hitting send, I blocked her without a second thought. What a rush!

At the airport's VIP lounge, I kicked back with my legs up, sipping free champagne and feeling like I was on top of the world.

I was already dreaming up his new life.

First, I'd spend a month just chilling in Orindal, then head to Novara to catch the Northern Lights, and after that, take a hot air balloon ride over Zareb.

With 1.5 million dollars in my pocket, if I spent it wisely, I could live it up for eight or ten years, easy.

After that, I would find a quiet little town, buy myself a cozy house, open a small shop, and enjoy a peaceful retirement. Perfect!

And Amber... I couldn't say I didn't care about her after three years together.

She might've been an ice queen, but sometimes, she'd let a bit of softness slip through.

She remembered I hated cilantro, would quietly leave medicine on my desk when I caught a cold, and even bumped up my salary the day after I mouthed off to her.

But so what? Her beloved was back, and as the substitute, it was time for me to bow out with some dignity.

No way was I going to cling on shamelessly, waiting for her dream guy to show up and point at me, calling me a toad trying to eat swan meat.

I, Vincent Rivera, did have some self-respect. Not much, but when it mattered, I could still hold my head high.

"Attention passengers traveling to Orindal, your flight is now boarding." A sweet voice came over the speakers.

I was thrilled. My happy life was finally here!

I grabbed my bag, which just had a power bank and my passport inside. I threw on my sunglasses and swaggered toward the boarding gate like I didn't owe anyone a damn thing.

All the girls around were checking me out.

What could I say? I was good-looking, rich, and my vibe was absolutely on point.

Just as I was about to hand my boarding pass to the flight attendant, something unexpected happened.

"Stop right there!"

Suddenly, someone barked behind me.

I spun around, and my heart nearly stopped.

At the entrance to the airport hall, a bunch of muscle-bound guys in black suits and shades stormed in.

With that kind of presence, anyone would've thought some elite squad was about to bust a drug ring.

And the guy leading the pack? I'd recognize him anywhere, no matter what.

It was Carter Sandford, Amber's personal bodyguard and the leader of her security team.

Carter and his crew stormed toward me with an intimidating swagger, looking like they were ready to take me down.

The passengers scattered in fear, and airport security rushed over, looking nervous. But as soon as they spotted the Romero Group logo on Carter's crew, they backed off right away, not daring to mess with them.

I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what happened.

Did Amber have a second thought? Did she think 1.5 million dollars was way too much, and she wanted it back? Or maybe she had a change of heart and wanted to throw even more cash my way?

Before I could even figure things out, Carter and his crew had me boxed in.

He took off his shades, showing a face that had seen it all, and gave me a look that was hard to read.

"Mr. Rivera, come with us," he said.

I was stunned. "Go? Where to? I'm about to board!"

Carter sighed. "Ms. Romero sent us to 'invite' you back."

He really stressed the word "invite," and it definitely wasn't a friendly offer.

I was even more baffled. "Take me back? Didn't she tell me to get lost and never show my face again? She even threatened to break my legs! Wasn't I out of her life fast enough? Not far enough for her?"

Carter gave me a look and said, "Don't ask me. I'm just as clueless as you are.

"It's Ms. Romero's orders. She said if you dare get on that plane, she'll... she'll break one of your legs and have you hauled back."

What? Did I hear that right? This didn't make sense at all.

Shouldn't her dream guy come back already? I grabbed my cash, and that was the end of it, right?

Why did she send a whole crew to the airport to snatch me? What kind of script was this?

So whether I left or stayed, she would still break my leg? I guessed my leg's getting busted no matter what.

"Come on, Carter, did you really check with Ms. Romero? Maybe she's just hammered or something?" I made one last desperate attempt to talk my way out of this.