Chapter 3
The next day, I found Charlotte had deleted the video.
Even weirder, Edward ordered me breakfast and had it delivered to my office.
Looking at that mango cake, I scoffed and tossed it straight in the trash.
I told Edward about my mango allergy on day one.
But he never cared.
Yet he always remembered that Charlotte was allergic to pollen.
Pretty obvious who you love—and who you don't.
But now, none of it mattered to me.
But in the days that followed, Edward did a total 180.
Out of nowhere, he started texting me first.
Edward: [Hey, the forecast says it's gonna pour tonight. Want me to pick you up?]
[I grabbed your favorite dessert and had it sent to your office. Don't forget to sign for it.]
[Got you a luxury wig—promise no one will notice on the big day.]
He sent me more messages in a few days than he had in the past six months.
He even brought up getting our marriage license.
Two months ago, on our anniversary, I'd tried talking to him about it.
But Edward was just buried in his phone, annoyed. "I've got work. Don't bother me with this trivial stuff. Are you really that desperate to get married?"
These days, I was swamped preparing to join the expedition team—a million things to sort out.
Wrapping up my job, organizing documents and IDs, packing—I barely had time to breathe.
I couldn't care less about his nonsense anymore.
Then, Edward suddenly appeared downstairs at my office.
Without a word, he grabbed my hand and hauled me to his car.
I didn't want my coworkers watching the drama, so I went along.
It was time to lay everything out with him anyway.
He marched me straight into a hotel banquet room.
The room was already full when we walked in.
Most of them were the same people who'd been teasing in Charlotte's video comments.
They all looked at me with disdain.
And of course, Charlotte was there.
She said, "Zoe, I'm sorry for shaving your head. It was really an accident. I feel so bad. Can you please forgive me?"
Her eyes were watery, and she put on her most sincere face, all about apologizing.
She even claimed she'd picked out a special gift for me.
"Since you're bald now, it's easy to catch a cold in this weather. So I got you a hat—Hermès!"
It was a light green knitted hat, eye-catching.
The room went silent for a moment, then someone snickered. "Wait, Charlie, is that the same as the matching ones you and Eddie have?"
The mocking stares directed at me sharpened.
Charlotte suddenly put on her teary-eyed act, like she'd just realized. "I was only thinking about making it up to you, and I didn't even consider that. Zoe, I promise I wasn't trying to embarrass you. You have to believe me!"
She blinked those red, watery eyes, defending herself pitifully.
But I saw right through her—behind the fake innocence was pure glee and a challenge.
Classic Charlotte. Her go-to trick.
She wanted me to blow up so Edward could jump in and put me in my place.
But honestly, I couldn't care less anymore.
"Thanks, I love it." I met Charlotte's shocked look with an easy smile and accepted the gift.
A six-grand Hermès hat. If I flipped it on a resale app for half the price, I'd come out ahead.
Edward was in disbelief.
He grabbed my arm, almost frantic. "After what Charlie did to you, Zoe, why aren't you angry?
"Why aren't you freaking out and blowing up at me like you always used to?"
I gave him a calm smile. "Why would you even think that?
"Whatever her intentions, she was just being nice."
Funny how he used to say I was jealous and petty, always making a fuss over nothing.
Now I'd learned to let things slide, and he was sulking?
"Fine, Zoe. Keep pretending!" Edward snapped.
He shot up, yanked the bracelet off his wrist, and slipped it onto Charlotte's hand without hesitation.
I froze for a second.
Wait. That bracelet. That was the one I gave Edward.
A year ago, he worked himself to collapse and had to be rushed to the hospital.
The doctors kept issuing critical alerts.
Everyone was sure he'd never come back to us.
But I refused to give up.
I climbed all nine thousand steps, kneeling and praying on every single one until my knees were raw and bleeding—just to get that good luck bracelet for him.
The night I tied it around Edward's wrist, he miraculously woke up.
But I pushed myself so hard that I ended up with a heart condition and nearly died.
When Edward learned what I'd gone through, he held me tight and promised he'd always be good to me. From that moment on, he never took that bracelet off.
But now, right in front of everyone, he gave away the bracelet I'd risked my life for—to Charlotte.
Someone recognized it instantly.
"Wait, isn't that the peace bracelet from Whispering Church?"
"You can only get one if you kneel and pray on every single step."
"Charlie, you really are Eddie's true love! Talk about a public display of affection—totally caught us off guard!"
I was still right there, but it was like I didn't exist.
They just kept pushing it, getting more over the top.
Like they wanted to rub salt in my wounds.
Edward gave me a deliberate look.
I blinked, forcing a smile. "Childhood sweethearts. You two really are perfect for each other."
The moment the words left my mouth, Edward whipped around to stare at me, shock and unease in his eyes.
Charlotte, though, grinned.
She slowly pulled her lips into a smirk, eyes brimming with provocation.
"Don't be mad at Eddie, Zoe. He's just worried about me. I'm not trying to rub it in, but we've been close since we were kids—something you'll never have with him..."
"Shut up! Give that bracelet to me!" Edward roared, his frantic outburst shattering Charlotte's smug show.
Everyone froze in shock.
Even I was speechless.
It was Edward—absolutely furious.
Edward, who'd always bent over backwards for Charlotte, was actually snapping at her.
Charlotte's voice shook. "E-Eddie?"
She recoiled, her eyes reddening at once.
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
Edward's voice softened immediately. "Charlie, I didn't mean to snap at you.
"It's just that this bracelet... It's too old and worn out for you. I'll get you something fancier, something that truly suits you."
While comforting her softly, he swiftly slipped the bracelet off Charlotte's wrist and put it back on his own.
He even swung it right in front of me, rubbing it in.
I just smiled politely and focused on my food.
Once I joined the Expedition Team, I'd have to say goodbye to all these delicacies.
I might as well treat myself while I still could.
My complete indifference instantly darkened Edward's once-again softened expression.
Charlotte's face fell, too.
She pressed her lips together, gaze flickering, then suddenly offered a toast. "Zoe, I'm honestly trying to apologize. You're not going to turn me down, are you?"
She got up and raised her glass.