Chapter 2

I suddenly shouted, "Wait."

Charles frowned and looked at me. "It's already swollen. I need to examine it carefully."

That felt absolutely unreal.

Before we got married, when Charles chased me, he was all hormones and impulse, always trying to drag me to a hotel. I was coy then, thinking, we're getting married soon. He could hold off.

He could barely stand it before the wedding, yet after we were married, he didn't touch me for a whole year. Not even once.

It was just ridiculous.

Thinking about the cold violence I suffered back then made me even less willing to have anything to do with him.

I shoved him away, climbed off the exam table, and blurted, "I just remembered I have plans with my boyfriend. I'm leaving."

With that, I stormed out of the hospital like a gust of wind.

I'd barely crouched on the curb to catch my breath when my phone buzzed.

I checked it. Of course, Mike had sent a voice message on WhatsApp.

He said, "Sophie, call me anytime if you need me."

[Screw you,] I typed reflexively into the chat, then suddenly glanced back.

Charles was walking by with several doctors from his department. He glanced sideways and peeked at my phone.

I quickly deleted what I'd written and switched to a voice message instead. "Okay. I'll text you tonight. Hialten Hotel. Don't be late."

After I sent it, I strutted like a proud peacock and flagged down a taxi.

Once inside the cab, I hurriedly recalled the voice message, but Mike had already opened it.

He replied instantly, "Okay, Sophie. I'll be waiting."

I froze.

Panicked to explain, I called him back.

The phone rang once, and he cut me off.

I was stunned for a moment.

I called again, and he hung up.

Wasn't he even going to give me a chance to make excuses?

I was about to call again when he sent a photo.

Clearly, he wanted to tempt me.

His face wasn't in the picture, but his eight-pack and obliques were crystal clear.

My heart raced.

Damn, I kind of wanted him.

After all, the one thing I'd always liked about Charles was his perfect body.

Mike was even better-looking than Charles.

I heard myself swallow.

Then Mike sent another voice message. "Sophie, let me be your boyfriend. Don't go after other men, okay?"

Night fell. It was 8:55 PM.

I arrived early at the Hialten Hotel lobby and had even put on a little makeup.

I wanted to know, at the very least, who had exhausted me like that last night.

The attendant smiled politely. "Are you Miss Quinn?"

"Yes, that's me," I said.

"Please show your passport to register, and then follow me," he said.

I nodded and took a deep breath.

Feeling like someone about to open a grand prize, I followed the attendant to Room 1808 at the Hialten Hotel.

Just as I was about to swipe my card, my phone vibrated.

It was Mike on WhatsApp: [Sophie, are you there? Close your eyes before you walk in. I've got a surprise.]

He knew how to be romantic.

I opened the door and shut my eyes.

A clean, intoxicating scent and the soft strains of a waltz washed over me.

"Sophie, take three steps forward, then crouch down and feel around." Mike's voice crooned, deeper and more resonant than the waltz.

I crouched and fumbled forward, my hand landing on a rectangular box.

"Now take two more steps and crouch again," he instructed.

This time, my fingers brushed something rectangular.

"One more step, then leap to the right," he said.

Leap?

I almost refused, but at the last second, I decided, what the heck.

I squared my shoulders, turned right, and lunged.

And I landed on nothing.

I opened my eyes in shock. Mike wasn't there. The king-size bed was empty except for me and a stuffed animal.

Mike's voice came from the plush toy, pre-recorded. "Sophie, do you like my surprise? I spent the whole afternoon setting this up just to make you happy."

I picked up the two things I'd felt earlier. It was a box of medicine and a necklace.

The necklace was from my favorite brand, one I'd been waiting for Charles to finally buy me.

Now I didn't expect a thing from him anymore. I just wanted to punch him.

Half amused, half stung, I listened as Mike sent a voice message on WhatsApp. His tone was hoarse, a little tired.

Half amused, half stung, I listened as Mike sent a voice message on WhatsApp. His tone was hoarse, a little tired. "Sorry, Sophie. We were supposed to meet at nine, have dinner, and use the telescope I brought to look at the stars."

"Cut to the point," I said.

"I can't get away right now. Also, are you still in pain?" he asked.

I froze.

"I know you're not feeling well. I bought you some medicine. Please take it later," he added.

I glanced at the pills tossed on the bedside table. The label read: reduces swelling and relieves pain.

I wanted to see him in person, so I asked when he could be there.

[Twelve-fifteen,] he replied.

Like Charles, he paid attention to details.

I decided to wait.

I lay down on the bed and, without meaning to, fell asleep instantly.

When I woke up, someone was beside me, breathing shallowly.

My heart thudded wildly. I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand to light the screen.

The person beside me woke up, pressed my hand, and leaned against me. Then he began to kiss me, gently.

Then he began to kiss me, gently.