Chapter 2

2

I walked out of the lounge with fast strides, the noise behind me fading away.

It felt like a massive weight had finally been lifted from my shoulders.

Maybe I should have ended things a long time ago.

In the eight years I spent with Lydia, we were never equals.

She came from a wealthy, elite family, while I was just a scholarship kid who fought his way out of a blue-collar town.

Her parents looked down on me, believing I wasn't worthy of their beautiful daughter.

Lydia did nothing but complain, blaming me for not having enough talent to give her the lifestyle she craved.

No matter how hard I worked on my startup, she only grew colder.

But I held onto a sliver of hope, thinking my devotion could eventually melt her heart.

When the fire broke out, I didn't hesitate to wrap her in a blanket and carry her out, ignoring the flames searing my skin.

The fire licked my flesh, the pain making every step an agony.

The moment I rushed out of the inferno with her in my arms, I thought I saw it.

She looked at me with such deep emotion and gratitude.

As my consciousness faded, I saw her crying while cupping my face.

In that second, I believed I had finally reached her. I thought dying for her would be worth it.

I never imagined it was all just a one-sided fantasy.

Lydia was willing to humiliate me at our own wedding just so Jaxon could snatch her away.

I pushed open the door to her family mansion, where her father was sitting on the sofa sipping tea.

"You're running around looking like that? You'll scare the neighbors," he said.

He gave me a cold, disgusted look.

"I look like this because of who? Whose daughter did I save?" I asked.

His face darkened. "My family owes you, but our Lydia is the one taking the loss by marrying you now."

"I've already arranged for the best plastic surgeon at the private hospital tomorrow."

"He'll make you look like your old self so you're at least presentable enough for my daughter."

I took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "I broke up with Lydia, sir."

"You choose right before the wedding to pull this? You're trying to make the Linley family a laughingstock?!"

He roared in fury, standing up to face me.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You're just a lucky brat from the gutter."

"If Lydia didn't pity you, you wouldn't even be allowed to step foot on our carpet."

"I'm telling you, you don't have the right to break up with her!"

I looked him straight in his angry eyes.

"I was punching above my weight. I'm leaving now. Is that enough?!"

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm.

"You think you can just walk away? What about Lydia? What about our reputation? Can you pay for the damages?"

I shook his hand off and laughed bitterly.

"Damages? You mean the money for the party, or the eight years your daughter spent looking down on me?"

"Get out! Get out right now! Don't you dare set foot in this house again!"

I tried to smirk, but the movement pulled at the scars on my face.

I reached for the umbrella by the door, but he snatched it away. "You don't touch anything that belongs to the Linleys."

I knew he was trying to make me crawl back. There was a storm outside, and my burns couldn't handle the rain.

But I had no strength left to argue with him.

For eight years, I had been humble and submissive for the sake of this relationship.

I wasn't going to bow down anymore.

I stepped out into the gale, letting the freezing rain swallow me whole.

The Linley estate was in a gated community on a hill; there were no Ubers available at this hour.

I curled up under a tree by the road, hoping the rain would let up.

The downpour intensified, and my body temperature began to spike uncontrollably.

My vision started to flicker with black spots.

Eight years of love had ended in this pathetic, sodden mess.

"I guess I lost the bet after all…"

My consciousness blurred, and I collapsed backward as the roar of the rain filled my ears.