Chapter 3

He spent ages trying to calm her down.

Eventually, Aubrey settled, clinging to Samuel and sobbing so hard her tears soaked his shirt.

"Samuel, I keep thinking about that day. I lost control. I really just wanted to explain to Michelle. Maybe I should go apologize. She hasn't shown up in days; she must be furious with me."

Samuel looked distracted. "It's fine. I checked. She only got a cut on her forehead. Michelle won't be mad, not when you're sick and vulnerable."

Aubrey looked anxious, her hands twisting in her lap. "What if she calls the police? I don't want to go to jail. I'd rather die than be locked up."

Seeing her distress, Samuel hugged her tighter, his voice soft with reassurance. "Don't be scared, I'm here for you.

"Michelle's always been lenient with girls. She won't press charges. Besides, I made her sign a settlement agreement. She won't bother you, I promise."

Aubrey smiled, patting her chest in relief and snuggling deeper into his arms.

Samuel looked down at her, then gently pushed her away. "Aubrey, once Michelle and I are married, you can't act like this—cuddling, being so clingy. It won't look good; Michelle will get upset."

Aubrey froze, her face twisting with anger that she tried to hide behind a mask of hurt.

Samuel didn't notice, but I saw the raw, bitter resentment clearly.

After a moment, she spoke in a mournful voice, "It's my fault. I'm just used to having you around. I'm sorry."

Samuel sighed, pulling her back into a loose hug, "It's not your fault. Don't worry, I'll talk to Michelle. I'll make her understand."

A jumble of emotions filled my chest.

Samuel was always like this, putting Aubrey first, no matter what.

I followed him out of the ward, where two nurses were chatting quietly by the nurses' station.

One nurse said, shaking her head in admiration, "Mr. Evans is so good to his girlfriend. She didn't even get a scratch, just a little scare, and he called in every doctor in the hospital to check on her. That's love."

"I heard he set up that huge flower archway for her, too. They'll probably get married soon. Can you imagine how grand the wedding will be? It'll be the talk of the city."

The other said, "Speaking of that archway... it blocked an ambulance carrying a car crash victim. The helicopter got her to the hospital, but she died when they wheeled her in. If they'd gotten here ten minutes earlier, she could have lived... such a tragedy."

When Samuel walked by, his expression icy and distant, the nurses exchanged nervous glances.

They mustered up the courage to greet him, "Mr. Evans..."

Samuel's expression was unreadable, his face a blank slate. Just as the nurses braced for a scolding, he said flatly, "She's not my fiancée."

He paused, a small, faint smile on his face. "My fiancée is Michelle Stone. She's an excellent lawyer. One of the best."

A sharp pain stabbed my chest, so intense it took my breath away.

Back when Samuel and I first got engaged, he'd treated me horribly.

He hated me because his mother had forced me on him, and he resented every second of it. He ignored me, dumped the most difficult, high-stakes cases on me, and let his admirers pick on me without a second thought.

When I was locked in a small storage room, doused with a bucket of ice water, and ended up in the hospital with a high fever, he was in Iceland with Aubrey, watching the aurora.

When I was followed by a homeless man after work, terrified and calling him for help, he was with Aubrey abroad, staring at endless fields of lavender.

Samuel had given Aubrey all the beauty in the world.

All he'd left me was chaos, heartache, and neglect.

Once, I'd thought all misunderstandings could be fixed.

He'd been my idol for years, the boy I'd admired from afar.

I loved him, wanted to melt the ice in his heart, to show him what real love felt like.

After a night of drinking, we'd slept together.

He was frustrated at first, but he still stepped up and took responsibility. Just when things between us were finally starting to look up, everything ended so abruptly with my death.

I loved him, but I couldn't stand his hot-and-cold behavior, couldn't stand Aubrey's constant meddling, couldn't stand being second-best.

How ridiculous. The affirmation I'd craved so badly in life, the one I'd waited years to hear, now felt like a cruel, twisted joke.

Samuel ignored the nurses, striding out of the hospital and heading straight to his company.

His assistant lit up when he saw him, hurrying over, only to be cut off by Samuel's sharp order. "Get Michelle here. Now."

The assistant froze, his face paling. "Ms. Stone—"

Before the assistant could finish, Samuel rubbed his temples, his patience wearing thin. "Tell her to stop being dramatic. It's just a cut. No need to throw a fit.

"Aubrey's been feeling guilty about accidentally hurting her; tell Michelle to come cheer her up.

"Doesn't she want to marry me anymore? If she does, she needs to grow up, make Aubrey happy, and stop being jealous of Aubrey. It's childish and annoying."

I watched the shock spread across the assistant's face.

He stared at Samuel, his lips trembling, unable to find the words.

"Well? Hurry up and call her. I don't have all day," Samuel snapped.

With that, he walked away, his steps sharp with anger, his jaw clenched.

I floated behind him, following him to what I'd once thought was our apartment for the wedding, the one I'd decorated with my own hands, every detail chosen with love.

He took a deep breath and pushed the door open, relief washing over his face when he saw my clothes and makeup still in place.

A small, relaxed smile crossed his lips.