Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Watching his eyes fill with manufactured tears, I spoke coldly.

"I want to end things right now."

"Since you think all I care about is your money and gifts, you won't have to waste your energy buying me anything ever again."

I brushed past him and walked toward the exit.

Miles scrambled to his feet and grabbed my wrist.

"Selena, are you really that mad at me?"

"Please don't walk away. You are terrifying me right now. I cannot survive without you!"

His voice cracked with sorrow, but a second later, his vicious inner voice struck me like a slap to the face.

【Annoying bitch, what kind of drama is she pulling now?!】

【If you are so brave, take off everything I bought you before you walk out. Leaving draped in luxury jewelry just proves you're still after my money!】

My entire body stiffened.

I looked down at myself.

It was true. From head to toe, everything I wore had been bought by him.

Behind me, Miles continued to sob.

Yet his silent thoughts assaulted me relentlessly.

【Dumbfounded, aren't you? Realizing you've been living on my dime the whole time.】

【Looking at all that wealth, there is no way you'll actually leave. Without me, who the hell would ever spend a dime on you?】

Once, these clothes and jewels were proof of his devotion.

Now, they were weaponized as evidence of my greed.

"Then take it all back," I said quietly.

Without hesitation, I stripped off the designer gown and kicked off my heels.

Miles stared at me in disbelief.

"Selena, stop this!"

"How could I let you walk out like this? I know I screwed up, but please don't punish me this way."

【What kind of new trick is this?!】

【So damn dramatic. If you really have the guts, just walk out naked. Putting on a show like this is just your way of begging me to stop you!】

Those silent words crushed the breath out of my lungs.

My firm determination to walk away was nothing more than cheap manipulation in his eyes.

Seeing my eyes turn red, he sighed and took off his suit jacket, draping it over my shoulders.

"Alright, baby. Punish me however you want, but don't take it out on yourself, okay?"

【I knew it. She was just putting on a performance. Look who broke character first!】

I said nothing. I threw his jacket to the floor and walked out barefoot.

Miles's expression darkened instantly.

"Selena, you were never this unreasonable before."

Watching my retreating figure, he took a deep, frustrated breath.

"Fine. Let's take some space to cool off. I know you will come to your senses eventually."

【Does she really think she is still the untouchable, proud heiress of the Reed family?】

【Your family went bankrupt, and you were ruined by all those thugs. I was the only one willing to take in damaged goods like you.】

【How could I ever marry a woman that dirty? You should be grateful, you pathetic bitch!】

My footsteps faltered, and tears finally spilled over.

Our family's bankruptcy, my parents going to prison, and being locked in a dark basement for days by my family's ruthless rival―those memories were thorns embedded deep in my soul.

They tormented me on every lonely night I spent missing my parents.

Back then, Miles had charged in all alone to save me.

Seeing my torn clothes and the brutal bites left by guard dogs, his eyes had burned with fury as he dealt with every single attacker and beast.

I wept and told him that no one had touched me inappropriately, that they only tore my clothes to humiliate and destroy me.

Miles had held me tight, whispering again and again.

"I believe you."

"Don't be afraid. Come home with me."

"Say yes to being mine, and I will protect you for the rest of your life."

Only then did I accept his confession.

Yet all of that was in the past now.

He had no idea that my parents had just been released from prison.

They decided to move to America and start a new life.

I had already agreed to leave with them.

My flight was scheduled for tomorrow.