Chapter 1

I was lying on the ground after the car accident, unable to move, when Ian Shaw walked right past me with Enid Quinn.

"I already called the ambulance for her. Let's go, we need to celebrate your birthday," he said.

When the hospital needed a family member to sign for my surgery, I called him over and over, but he never picked up.

After I finally got out of the operating room, I saw Enid had updated her social media.

"Ian is the best man in the world. For my birthday, he took me to Paris for Fashion Week..."

In the photo, Ian was smiling happily at the camera, his eyes full of tenderness.

I didn't call to demand an explanation. I just quietly turned off my phone and focused on recovery.

Later, after I left for good, Ian went crazy trying to find me.

1.

The day I was discharged, I received the first phone call from Ian.

He ordered me around as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Yvonne, drive to the airport right now to pick up Enid and me."

I looked down at my leg, which was wrapped in a heavy cast, and spoke calmly.

"I can't go."

Ian immediately started shouting at me through the phone.

"Yvonne, you are making so many excuses just to avoid picking us up. When we got married, you said..."

I looked at the bags I needed to pack and interrupted him impatiently.

"I'm at the hospital. I don't have time to get you."

Ian didn't even stop to think before he snapped back.

"Can't you find a better lie? Suddenly you're in the hospital? Yvonne, you..."

His accusations stopped abruptly, as if he finally remembered my car accident.

I didn't bother asking why he forgot. I just asked if there was anything else.

Ian sounded a bit nervous now. "Were you in the hospital for that long? I thought you only had minor injuries."

I was busy worrying about how to move my things, so I brushed him off. "Yeah, it's fine."

"If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up. I need to pack."

I ended the call before he could react.

It took me ages to struggle downstairs with my bags. I had to wait thirty minutes for an Uber to get home.

When I pushed the door open, the first thing I saw was Ian holding Enid's leg with a look of pure heartbreak.

He was gently blowing on a scratch.

Even though I have perfect vision, I couldn't even see where the wound was.

Enid turned and saw me, immediately scrambling to stand up in a panic.

"Yvonne, I... I just accidentally tripped. I'll leave in a bit, please don't be mad."

Seeing her struggle, Ian glared at me with blame. He then spoke softly to Enid.

"Your leg is scratched and bleeding. I won't feel safe if you don't stay here!"

"You already promised me. You can't take it back now, you little rascal."

Enid's cheeks turned slightly red, but she still looked worried.

"But Yvonne is hurt too. Ian, you can't take care of so many people."

Ian didn't even look at me. He kept coaxing her.

"She's not like you. She's tough and thick-skinned. You're delicate. Any injury you have is a big deal."

Enid looked like she was considering it.

Ian frowned at me, his voice full of criticism.

"Yvonne, you won't be that petty, will you? Enid is hurt and just needs to stay for a couple of days."

I hadn't said a single word since I walked in, yet Enid had already managed to make everything my fault.

But I wasn't the same woman who would turn into a screaming maniac over her.

"Stay as long as you want," I said indifferently. "I don't mind."

A flash of surprise and dissatisfaction crossed Enid's eyes.

She was probably annoyed that she didn't trigger a fight between Ian and me.

What she didn't know was that I didn't care about Ian anymore, so why would I care who stayed in the house?

This house used to be our private space.

Now, it was just a place to sleep until I recovered.

Once my leg was better, I was moving out.

While Enid was planning her next move, I walked straight into the bedroom and shut the door.