Chapter 2

2、

The weather had been terrible lately, and the earliest flight I could book was for tomorrow afternoon.

I spent the time getting rid of everything I couldn't take with me.

I knew in my heart that I would never set foot in this city again.

By midnight, Bennett still wasn't home, but Maddie's social media was updated.

【Your presence is better than any medicine in the world! I hope you can stay by my side forever!】

The photo showed two hands tightly intertwined.

On the woman's ring finger was the exact same ring that Bennett had tossed onto the table earlier.

I realized then that Maddie must have added me on social media today just for this reason.

She was playing a high-stakes game to mark her territory.

It was almost impressive that she had the energy to be this petty while being so sick.

She probably thought I was a pushover who would just cry in silence.

She had no idea that I was done being a victim.

I stared at the screen for a moment, then typed a comment under her post.

【I hope you two stay locked together forever!】

After posting the comment, I took a screenshot and dropped it into our main group chat with all our mutual friends.

The notifications started blowing up immediately.

【Cassie, what is going on here? Isn't that your wedding ring?】

I didn't hold back and replied directly to the group.

【Bennett and I are done. The wedding is off.】

The chat went silent for a few seconds before exploding into total chaos.

【Holy crap! You guys broke up? I don't believe in love anymore!】

【Don't be impulsive, Cassie! You guys have been together for years!】

Maddie was in that group, too.

She clearly didn't expect me to air our dirty laundry so publicly and involve everyone we knew.

She didn't dare say a word; instead, she panicked and deleted the post that was supposed to only be visible to me.

Then Bennett's name popped up in the chat.

【Cassie, I never agreed to a breakup!】

I didn't bother responding to him. I just left the group chat entirely.

A second later, my phone started buzzing with his call, which I promptly declined.

I turned the device off and went to sleep, feeling lighter than I had in years.

The next morning, I was rudely shaken awake by Bennett.

"Cassie, what the hell was that in the group chat? I told you, I'm not letting you go!"

I shoved his hands off my shoulders, my eyes full of irritation.

"It's a breakup, Bennett, not a divorce. I don't need your permission."

He stared at me for a long time, his expression shifting from anger to a weird kind of pity.

"Cassie, are you just jealous because I've been spending time with Maddie? Is that what this is?"

"You know she only got sick because of me. I promise I'll pull back once she's stable, so stop throwing a tantrum."

I remained completely unmoved.

"What you do with her is none of my business."

I climbed out of bed and walked straight to the bathroom, ignoring him.

When I came out, he had already set the table with a breakfast spread from my favorite bakery.

He acted as if the previous night's drama hadn't happened and gave me a charming smile.

"Come eat, honey. After breakfast, we'll stop by the hospital. Maddie wants to explain that post from last night."

"Then we'll go to the courthouse. I've already booked a romantic dinner for tonight."

I took a deep breath and looked him dead in the eye.

"Bennett, listen carefully. I am not going to the hospital, and I am definitely not marrying you."

Bennett slammed his fork onto the table, his face darkening with a sudden, sharp aggression.

"Cassie, don't think that because I spoil you, you can keep pushing me like this."

"If you stay obedient, I'll keep loving you. If not, I'll drag you to that courthouse myself."

The threat was out in the open now, and the rage I'd been suppressing finally boiled over.

"Stop the act, Bennett! You're not in love with me!"

"I know the truth. You only want me because my blood type matches Maddie's. You want to turn me into her personal donor!"

"Well, forget it. I'd rather die than give that woman a single drop of my blood."

Bennett froze for a split second, but he recovered his composure quickly.

He walked over to me, his gaze turning cold and clinical.

"Fine, since you know, I won't lie. Maddie needs regular transfusions to survive."

"The doctors said it won't hurt you to give a little every week. I'll make sure you have the best nutritionists and everything you want."

He said it so casually, as if he were asking me to donate some old clothes to charity.

I couldn't help myself; I swung my hand and slapped him as hard as I could.

"You want to harvest me like a lab rat? In your dreams, Bennett!"

Bennett had clearly never been hit before. He looked like he wanted to kill me.

"I really misjudged you, Cassie! You're a heartless bitch! It's just some blood, it won't kill you!"

I let out a harsh, mocking laugh.

"If it's so easy, why don't you give her yours, Mr. CEO?"

"Dammit, Cassie! If my blood worked, do you think I'd be wasting my time begging you?"

"You're going to help her, whether you like it or not!"

Before I could react, he stepped behind me and delivered a sharp blow to the back of my neck.

As the world started to go black, I managed to hit the emergency SOS button on my phone.