Chapter 2

2

The exam room fell into a deathly silence.

A long moment later, a sweet, sugary complaint broke the quiet. "Ugh, it's all your fault~ Now someone heard us…"

The man chuckled. "My fault? Who was the one biting me so boldly just now?"

"Oh, stop it!" The girl cut him off.

Whatever else was said, it was muffled, followed by the sound of the man's heavy footsteps as he rose to leave.

"Since you're blaming me," he said, his voice raspy, "I'll buy whatever you want at the auction tonight, my little treasure, hmm?"

With that, the door slammed shut.

Everly didn't know the rest, but she knew one thing: any piece of art at those auctions started at a million dollars. It was far beyond what a disgraced, penniless heir like him could afford, let alone buying whatever the girl wanted.

So… when exactly did Damon return to the Bennett family and regain his status as their golden prince?

Realizing this, Everly felt as if her heart had been blocked by something solid; even breathing became a struggle.

She dug her nails into her palms, her thin, frail body shivering until the nurse finished dressing her wounds.

"Try not to get the bandage wet when you go home. If anything feels off, come back right away."

Perhaps seeing how deathly pale she was, the nurse thought she was in pain and tried to distract her with the gossip from earlier.

"Those two are regulars here. The guy is the son of our hospital's biggest shareholder. He spoils his girlfriend rotten―she comes in for even the slightest discomfort. Don't mind them. You know how these rich guys are; one at home, a few on the side. Just treat it like a show."

Everly's breath hitched. She couldn't help but ask, "…They come here often?"

"All the time. You heard them yourself―they practically treat this place like a bedroom," the nurse complained while cleaning up. "These rich people today… they have so many twisted ways of having fun…"

Everly was no longer listening.

The image of Damon's countless missed appointments over the last two years flashed through her mind―

On her birthday, he'd claimed he had to work overtime and didn't come home all night;

On their wedding anniversary, he'd said he had to go on a business trip to the next city with his project manager, disappearing for over half a month;

And on his own birthday, she had spent two months preparing a surprise, even setting aside her shame to buy a piece of lingerie he'd once mentioned…

But that day, despite her shyness and excitement, he never showed up. All the messages she sent vanished into the void.

It wasn't until the next day that he came home reeking of alcohol, explaining that the company had a team-building event, he'd gotten too drunk, crashed at his manager's place, and forgotten to call.

Everything was becoming crystal clear in Everly's mind.

Back then, her heart and soul were centered on Damon. She gave him her absolute trust, never once doubting a word of his lies.

Looking at it now, he was either back with the Bennett family or busy entertaining his little mistress.

He really… had been playing her for a fool this entire time.

Everly couldn't help but laugh, her vision blurring with tears.

She didn't even know how she made it back to their rental apartment.

The place was filled with traces of her life with Damon.

The photo wall, the matching mugs, the little stuffed toys… All the past memories intertwined with the image of him kissing that girl in the hospital, squeezing Everly's heart until she felt like she might choke on the pain.

She took a deep breath and pulled out her phone, digging a number out of her blacklist.

In the dim light, she heard her own voice, eerily calm.

"Mr. Bennett, I intend to divorce Damon. Are you interested in making a deal?"

There was a long silence on the other end before he spoke. "Since you've brought this up, you must know Damon has already returned to the family. What leverage do you think you have to negotiate with me?"

Everly gripped her phone tighter. "I don't think you'd want the news of Damon's secret marriage to leak out right as the Bennett family is looking for a strategic alliance, would you?"

As expected, he relented instantly. "What do you want? Speak."

After getting the answer she wanted, Everly didn't feel much relief.

Because the "alliance" she mentioned was just a bluff…

She tried her hardest to control her emotions, keeping her voice from sounding too pathetic.

"I want a hundred million."