Chapter 2

After being discharged, I took a cab to Lara's company.

Standing outside the building I had worked in for six years, I felt like a complete stranger.

The receptionist stopped me, refusing to believe I was the company's vice president. My name wasn't even in the system.

In just two months, Lara had erased every trace of me, including the six years of my life I had poured into her company.

I had no choice but to call her, but she didn't pick up.

Instead, a video call came through from Hayden.

He was smirking. "Sorry, man. Lara and I are a little busy right now. We won't be able to come down and get you."

"I know you just got out of the hospital, but the media has been all over us. Lara doesn't want me to get hurt, so she's not letting any strangers in. I guess your info got deleted by mistake."

"I'll give the front desk a call. They'll make an exception for you."

A few minutes later, the receptionist was all smiles, fawning over Hayden and emphasizing that Mr. Vance had given the order to let me in.

I stood there for a moment, stunned.

It was laughable. A man with no talent, no experience, was suddenly "Mr. Vance."

The door to Lara's office was ajar. When I pushed it open, I saw Hayden, shirtless, sitting on the sofa, giving me a little smile.

Lara was next to him, wearing nothing but a man's shirt, her neck covered in hickies. The air was thick with a post-coital intimacy.

Seeing me, alive and well, a flicker of panic crossed her face.

I looked away, a bitter taste in my mouth.

I placed my resignation letter on her desk. "Lara," I asked softly, "are you disappointed that I'm not dead?"

Her face hardened. "What are you talking about? You fainted, I took you to the hospital. You're fine. I don't have to worry anymore."

Seeing my silence, she assumed it was about Hayden.

"Julian," she continued, "Hayden is just as capable as you are, and he's much better with people. My parents like him. They want me to learn from him. He's a better fit for this position than you are."

"Lara, you didn't tell him we're getting engaged?"

Hayden cut her off, handing me an invitation. The names of the bride and groom were printed in bold script.

Lara opened her mouth, as if to explain, but then said nothing, just watching me in silence.

I looked at her and nodded. "I see."

I didn't argue. I didn't demand an explanation. I just pointed to the letter on her desk.

"I've submitted my resignation. HR will be in touch. All my work has been handed over."

"I'm done being the VP. Give the job to your precious Hayden."

She was clearly not expecting that. Her expression went blank.

I turned and walked out, ignoring the stunned looks from both of them.

The pain in my body was a constant, throbbing reminder, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

I could still see it so clearly: me, proposing to her in front of the world, and her, so desperate to make things official with Hayden that she would use a car crash to shut me up for good.

She thought she was so clever, but after all our years together, how could I not know it was her?

My love for her died the moment she chose to throw me away.

As I was lost in thought, Lara caught up to me, the resignation letter in her hand. Her voice was sharp.

"Julian, what the hell is wrong with you? Where are you going to go? What are you going to do?"

When I didn't answer, her tone softened, a practiced, gentle persuasion.

"There's nothing going on between Hayden and me. You're overthinking it. You just... you scared me when you proposed."

"Don't worry. The next time you propose to me in public, I'll say yes."

She was about to say more.

But Hayden's voice came from the office. "Lara, you haven't even showered yet. We have a meeting soon. You can't go all sticky."

His eyes met mine, a smug, triumphant smile on his face.

"Oh, you're still here."

"Sorry about that. Lara and I have been together every day. I almost forgot you were still her boyfriend. But we're getting married now, so... you don't really have a say, do you?"

I just stared at him, then pulled my hand from Lara's grasp and walked out of the company without a word.