Chapter 2

Edward glanced back at me, his tone flat. "Do you understand music?"

All my anger reached its peak at that moment.

I let out a cold laugh and snapped, "Does it even matter if I understand? After all, you and I are just here to watch the person who plays music."

Edward's icy eyes flickered with emotion, his jaw tightening.

Even his tone couldn't hide how much he cared.

"Autumn, I don't care what you know. We're married now, so stop harassing other people."

It felt like someone had punched me right in the chest, and a heavy ache pressed down on me.

I hadn't done anything or asked a single question. How was I harassing anyone?

So that's what love did to him. It made him toss aside all his cool and rationality, and unable to even tell right from wrong anymore.

Suddenly, I just lost all interest.

All my urgency and recklessness from before felt laughable now.

Maybe realizing he'd gone too far, Edward let out a sigh and reached for my shoulder, trying to pull me into an embrace.

But then it hit me that the only reason he was being nice was because he was scared that I'd go after Sophia.

I couldn't help but feel how ironic it all was.

I turned away from him, keeping silent.

Edward's hand hung awkwardly in the air before he slowly pulled it back, his voice going ice-cold. "Sophia came from nothing. She gave up so much to become a world-famous pianist. I won't let anything tarnish her name."

His icy stare bore into me, demanding some kind of response.

After all these years of hearing nothing but his "okay," "fine," and "oh," it was almost jarring to hear him actually say so much. And all that just to warn me about the one he loved.

My hands clenched tight, nails digging into my palms.

"Autumn? Say something," Edward snapped, his voice rising, brows furrowed with obvious impatience.

I was about to speak, but just then, a text from Wendy flashed on my screen.

Wendy: [The Racing Committee just called. Mr. Grant is pulling his sponsorship. Did you two fight? If he pulls out now, you won't even be able to enter the final race.]

I forced myself to calm down and handed him my phone.

"When we got married, you promised to sponsor my races. So, what's this about pulling out now?"

Edward kept his eyes fixed straight ahead. "I'll start sponsoring you again after Sophia's performance. You've raced so many times already. Missing a couple won't kill you."

My brows knitted as I stared at him, completely stunned. "But this last race means everything to me."

Edward gave me a nonchalant sideways glance, his tone careless. "Seriously, what does that have to do with me? If you hadn't bumped into me tonight, what would you have done? That's the price for your recklessness. As my wife, you should know your place."

The heater was on full blast, filling the room with warmth.

But when I faced his eyes, I felt like the snow outside was slamming right into my chest.

We just stared at each other in heavy silence.

Just when he expected me to lash out, I simply lowered my head, surrendering to his words.

"Okay," I murmured.

Back then, my family was dead set against me racing, just because I was a woman. They tried to force me into marriage to make me give up.

But the very first time I met Edward, he was all for my racing dreams. He promised to back me up, invest in my career, and help me win the Grand Slam.

Over time, he'd sometimes squat down to tie my shoelaces and always make sure I had a pair of flats for events. And in bed, he'd always try to convince me to have a baby.

I got used to his calm, steady presence, and to the way he always kept count, exactly 100 thrusts in bed every time.

I thought that was just who he was.

I thought this was what love was supposed to be.

But now, looking back, it was just my own pathetic, one-sided fantasy.

Love or not, it didn't matter to me anymore.

But I wasn't about to throw away my pride and beg for something that was already lost.

If he's so in love with Sophia, then fine. Let him go to her.

Outside, the rain was pouring down in sheets, and Edward's phone wouldn't stop ringing.

"Sophie." His voice was so gentle.

"Edward, it's raining so hard, and my car can't make it. Can you come get me?" Sophia's voice was a mix of sweetness and panic.

Edward kept it short, his voice gentle as he spoke to Sophia, "Wait for me."

Then, without a hint of hesitation, Edward shot me a cold, commanding look. "Get out."