Chapter 2

2

I didn't understand why Pierce was acting like this was such a big deal.

Aren't exes supposed to stay out of each other's lives as if they were dead? Why would I keep him on my phone?

Besides, my daughter's father, Silas Thorne, might look like a sophisticated gentleman, but he was actually a massive jealous type.

If he found out I still had my ex-fiancé's number, I wouldn't be able to walk the next morning.

"Didn't you say you wanted us to never have anything to do with each other again?" I asked.

Pierce's face darkened. He opened his checkbook again with a cold, frustrated motion.

I quickly stopped him.

"Mr. Sterling, put the checkbook away. We ended things years ago. I don't need your charity or your compensation."

"As for these cufflinks, I told you―they aren't for you."

Pierce's anger finally boiled over. He slammed the checkbook shut with a loud thud.

"Daphne, don't push your luck. I'm only being nice because of our families' history. Do you think I actually want to look at you?"

"My birthday is tomorrow. You bid a fortune for these today right in front of me. Who else would they be for?"

"Don't tell me you have a boyfriend who just happens to share my birthday!"

I actually froze for a second.

It was a ridiculous coincidence. Silas and Pierce's birthdays were only one day apart.

But to Pierce and Celine, my silence looked like I had been caught in a lie.

"Some people still think they're high-society royalty. They don't realize a fallen bird is lower than a chicken!"

Celine's voice was dripping with contempt.

She seemed to have forgotten that when people used to call her a gold-digging peasant, I was the one who stood up for her.

Pierce and I were childhood friends. Celine was just a poor student the Sterling family sponsored.

Because of the gap in our status, Pierce's parents never approved of her.

Celine knew that. When Pierce's mother offered her five million dollars to go study abroad, she took the money without a second thought.

I never told Pierce the truth. I stayed by his side during his darkest days after she left.

I knew feelings couldn't be forced, so I never expected him to love me back.

But then, he was the one who went to our parents and proposed to me.

The night before the wedding, I asked him if he was sure. I told him we could cancel it if he had doubts.

He held me then, his voice firm.

"Daphne, I've thought about it. My parents are right. You and I are the perfect match."

Match. Not love. He said we were a good fit.

Even with that answer, I was happy. I believed that if I tried hard enough, "fit" would eventually turn into "love."

But then Celine got into a car accident. He didn't even care that I was pregnant with his child. He drove us off that cliff.

Before everything went black, I heard him whisper in my ear.

"Daphne, if it wasn't for you, Celine and I would be together. If there's a next life, please just let me go."

My love for him turned to ashes in that moment.

When I was reborn, I did everything I could to avoid him.

I managed to stay hidden for eight years, yet here we were.