Chapter 2

That night, stomach cramps dragged me out of a nightmare.

Cold sweat drenched my nightgown, and I curled up on the bed, every breath a painful effort.

I fumbled for painkillers on the nightstand, but found nothing.

Then I remembered, Mrs. Davies had long since taken away all the household medicines, claiming Briar couldn’t stand the smell of them.

The huge villa felt empty.

They were probably all gathered in Briar’s room, fawning over her.

I struggled to get up and went to the hospital myself.

In the emergency room, the doctor looked at my medical records, his brow furrowed.

“How did you get into this state again? Didn’t I tell you to take care of yourself?”

He looked up at me, his tone full of reproach:

“Wasn’t Mr. Vance watching you? Last time he came, he specifically emphasized that I must help you get well.”

I felt a little dazed.

The first time my stomach issues flared up was also here.

Kalan had rushed me into the emergency room, his eyes red with worry, clutching the doctor’s hand, asking again and again what to do.

After being discharged, he took away all my work documents, personally cooked porridge for me.

Every few days, he would come to the hospital, pulling the doctor aside to discuss my diet.

Back then, he really loved me.

But that love… it just faded away.

Maybe I was too busy, too busy to pay attention to anyone’s emotions.

I still remember the last time Kalan and I argued.

It was when I hadn’t slept for three days and nights for a project.

And missed the trip I had promised Kalan.

He was furious with me for the first time.

He accused me of being a cold-blooded monster who only cared about work, and that I hadn’t fulfilled my duties as a wife.

I was a bit lost then.

I was just trying to be like my mother, wanting them to have a better life. What was wrong with that?

Supporting two companies was busy and exhausting.

Everything left no room for me to think.

By the time I came back to my senses, everything had become like this.

My phone vibrated, pulling me out of my memories.

It was a message from Kalan.

“Dad and I took Briar on a vacation to relax. Transfer six million over from the company account.”

I replied with a simple ‘Okay,’ just like before.

Then I messaged the finance department, giving them an unlimited spending limit for their expenses.

It wouldn’t be my company anymore anyway, and whether the cash flow broke wouldn’t be my concern.

The doctor was still nagging beside me:

“You need to follow doctor’s orders, don’t neglect your health like this again.”

I nodded definitively: “Alright, doctor, I won’t anymore.”

From now on, I would only live for myself.