Chapter 2

2

I was shocked when I saw who it was.

It was Harlow Sinclair, the girl my grandfather had arranged for me to marry since we were kids.

The night wind was picking up, and my soaked clothes made me shiver uncontrollably.

It was impossible to get an Uber out here, so I didn't hesitate to get in.

As soon as I sat down, she handed me a thick men's coat.

"It belongs to my assistant, Mark. You can wear it so you don't freeze."

The warmth hit me instantly, and I opened my mouth to thank her.

Suddenly, a massive ladder of fireworks lit up the night sky in the distance.

Right after, my phone buzzed with several notifications.

I looked down and saw several photos sent by Jude.

The pictures showed him and Waverly kissing passionately under the brilliant fireworks.

Looking at those lights that brightened half the harbor, Jude's name felt like a physical sting.

The Waverly who once said she would only ever design fireworks for me was gone.

She had broken every promise. She didn't love me anymore.

I stopped looking at the screen and turned to the woman beside me.

"Harlow, I accept the marriage. Let's do it."

Harlow looked away from the fireworks and didn't ask any questions.

She only asked, "Are you sure? Can you really let go of Waverly Winthrop?"

I looked down and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"I can. Just give me one week to settle things with her."

I wanted Waverly to see my happiness with her own eyes on my wedding day.

When I got home, my body took over. I walked toward the fridge out of habit.

My brain was screaming at me to eat, a hunger that felt like it would swallow me whole.

I grit my teeth and forced myself to walk straight to my bedroom instead.

Because of the cold and the seawater, I started running a fever in the middle of the night.

I took some medicine and fell into a heavy, feverish sleep.

The next day, my grandfather's butler called to say he was in the hospital.

Ignoring my own sickness, I dragged myself out of bed and headed to the garage.

From a distance, I heard intimate sounds coming from a familiar car.

I walked closer. Through the half-open front window, I saw them.

Jude and Waverly were wrapped around each other.

The car Waverly had gifted me suddenly felt filthy.

I froze in place, and my phone started ringing loudly.

Waverly noticed me and a flash of panic crossed her face.

She stepped out of the car, thinking I hadn't seen anything because my back was turned while answering the phone.

"Soren, what are you doing here? Where are you going?"

As she got closer, I smelled someone else's scent on her.

My stomach turned, and a wave of nausea hit me. I pushed her away.

I lunged for a nearby trash can and started gagging.

Seeing my pale face, Waverly's voice softened slightly.

"Is your disorder acting up again? Have you been seeing your doctor?"

I took two steps back to put distance between us and shook my head.

"I'm fine. Grandfather is in the hospital. I'm going to see him."

My grandfather didn't know I had broken up with her or about the plan with Harlow yet.

I didn't want any drama, so I didn't want her coming with me.

But she insisted, suddenly wanting to play the part of the perfect, caring girlfriend.

I had no choice but to let her drive me.

As soon as the car door opened, the smell of cigarette smoke mixed with perfume hit me.

My heart ached again.

When I first got sick, I used to smoke constantly to manage my anxiety.

But after we went public, Waverly said she hated the smell of smoke.

I quit immediately for her and never touched a cigarette again.

Yet here she was, putting up with the smell for another man.

Her favoritism was screaming in my face.

Jude was sitting in the passenger seat with no intention of moving.

I didn't say a word and just climbed into the back.

Halfway there, she got a call from Jude's talent manager.

Thirty minutes later, the car pulled up in front of a luxury hotel downtown.