Chapter 2

"Sophie," Felix said, his voice so low you couldn't tell what he was feeling. "Long time no see."

My mind just exploded.

Four years.

Four years ago, I was the one towering over him.

It was pouring that day. I was driving my BMW past the bus stop and spotted him standing in the rain, drenched from head to toe, his eyes glued to the direction the bus had just left.

I pulled over, rolled down my window, and teased, "Hey there, little guy, missed your bus? Where are you headed? Need a ride from your big sis?"

He turned to face me, guarded and cautious, looking just like a rain-soaked stray puppy.

Later, I learned he'd just come out of the hospital. His mom was gravely ill, and he was so broke he could barely scrape together bus fare.

I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, so I brought that stray puppy home.

I spent a year raising him, a year loving him, and then two years apart.

Now, he was the one standing tall, while I was the one on the ground.

Our roles had completely flipped.

"What's wrong?" Felix crouched down, leaning in close, his voice low and cold. "Don't you recognize me?"

I smelled that familiar cologne—the same one I picked out for him years ago.

My eyes started to sting, but I gritted my teeth and held it in.

"Yeah, I know you," I said, trying to get up. But my legs went weak, and I dropped right back down.

He didn't even try to help.

He just watched me.

"Sophie, weren't you rich?" Felix said, his voice flat and cold. "Who are you putting on this show for? What, kicked me to the curb two years ago, and now you're regretting it?"

My heart felt like someone had grabbed it and twisted it hard.

Two years ago, the day I broke up with him, he smashed everything in the house he could reach, pointed right at me, and yelled, "Sophie, don't you dare regret this!"

I didn't say a word. I just pushed the suitcase I'd packed right in front of him.

He just stood there, stunned.

"These are your things," I said. "Go."

He stared at me for a long time, his eyes bloodshot, like he could cry blood.

Finally, he grabbed the suitcase and walked out, slamming the door so hard the sound echoed through the whole building.

After that, we never crossed paths again.

Now he was asking if I was sorry.

I slowly got to my feet, steadying myself against the bus stop sign, and looked up at him.

"Once I'm done, I never go back," I said, my voice so calm it sounded like I was talking about someone else. "You? I'm already sick of you. Just go away."

His expression darkened.

The next second, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward the car.

"What are you doing!" I struggled, but there was no way I could get away from him.

"Didn't you tell me to get lost?" Felix shoved me into the passenger seat, slammed the door, then jumped in the driver's seat. "Alright, we'll get lost together."

The car shot forward with a roar.

I grabbed my wrist where he'd yanked me, then turned to look at him.

He stared straight ahead, jaw clenched, his whole face tense. I had no clue what he was thinking.

"Felix," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "what exactly are you trying to do?"

He didn't say a word.

The car sped through the night, streetlights flickering past the window, their glow dancing over his face.

After what felt like forever, he finally spoke.

His voice was so soft, it sounded like he was just talking to himself.

"I just wanted to see how low the woman who kicked me to the curb back then could sink," Felix muttered.

I closed my eyes.

My heart started hurting again.

It wasn't that kind of heartache — it was real, the kind of pain that came from an organ breaking down.

I quietly pressed my hand to my stomach, holding it tight.

Don't hurt, please — don't hurt right now.

Don't let him see it.

The car pulled up in front of a mansion.

I recognized this place.

Back when he first made it big, he said he wanted to buy this house and asked me what I thought of it.

I told him it looked great, and that when I got rich, I'd give it to him.

He ended up buying it himself.

I'd never been inside.

Felix got out, walked around to my side, and pulled the door open. "Get out."

I just sat there, unmoving.

He leaned in, getting right up in my face, his nose almost brushing mine.

"What's wrong?" Felix smiled, but his smile never reached his eyes. "Scared now? Weren't you all tough back then, Sophie?"

I stared into his eyes.

There was hate, bitterness, and something I just couldn't read.

"Scared of what?" I shoved him away and climbed out of the car myself. "Are you gonna devour me or what?"

He stood by the car, watching me, his expression hard to read.

After a pause, he said, "Go inside. It's cold out here."

I followed him inside.

The place was even more luxurious than I'd imagined. The crystal chandeliers were blinding, and the leather sofas were polished to a mirror shine.

Lined up at the entrance were trophies and snapshots of him grinning with A-list directors and celebrities.