Chapter 2

2

"Lana? What are you thinking about? You aren't upset because Maya contacted me, are you?"

Silas suddenly pulled the car over. His voice snapped me out of my trance.

His eyes were full of concern, but the memory of my gruesome death left my back drenched in cold sweat.

I managed to pull myself together and smiled weakly.

"Silas, you should go see Maya. It sounds like a matter of life and death."

I saw a flash of surprise in his eyes. I didn't know what he was thinking.

Was he confused that I, who used to be so possessive, was suddenly being generous? Or was he just waiting for me to give him an excuse to run to her?

He still tried to play the part of the devoted husband by refusing to go.

I couldn't stand his hypocrisy anymore. My stomach turned. I suggested that I go to the hospital with him to see Maya.

He finally agreed. I noticed the tension leave his shoulders immediately.

Silas was right about one thing. I really did love him back then. But it's not like he ever said no to me.

He started as a low-level clerk in my father's company. If he hadn't married me, he never would have reached his current position.

My mother died early, leaving my father to raise me alone. Unfortunately, before I got married, my father was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

He never really liked Silas. But because I was so in love, he made Silas promise to protect me forever before he finally closed his eyes.

I thought Silas had at least some spark of genuine affection for me.

I was wrong. After I died in my last life, I realized he only wanted to drain my family's estate. He obsessed over Maya because he couldn't give her anything when they were young and in love.

Once he had everything through me, she was already gone.

From start to finish, I was nothing but a joke to him.

While I was replaying the past in my head, the car stopped. Silas looked a bit guilty, but he still tried to help me out of the car.

I subtly avoided his touch and gave a casual laugh.

"I'm only two months along. I'm not that fragile yet."

This was the first time I had ever rejected his touch. I used to cling to him constantly. Even the smallest physical contact used to make my day.

Silas froze for a second. Then he turned and rushed toward the hospital entrance. He moved so fast he seemed to forget I was even behind him.

His desperation betrayed his true feelings for Maya.

Even though I had resolved to let go, seeing him like this still stung.

By the time I walked into the room, Maya was already sobbing in Silas's arms.

"I thought I'd never see you again. Why did you have to marry someone else?"

She looked so fragile and pale. She was the picture of a tragic heroine. Even a stranger would have felt sorry for her.

She acted as if she hadn't been the one to marry another man herself.

Silas pressed his lips together and didn't answer. But his hands were busy rubbing her back to comfort her.

After Maya found out Silas and I were together, she married some guy out of spite. Six months ago, that man was sent to prison, and she found herself pregnant.

During that time, she sent Silas countless messages about her hardships. He acted like he didn't care, but he was secretly funneling my money to her.

I never cared about money, so I never checked his accounts. If he hadn't let it slip in my previous life, I would have been her personal ATM forever.

A nurse rushed in and bumped into me, nearly knocking me over.

"Are you the husband? Sign this consent form immediately. We need to start the procedure to save the patient."

Silas didn't correct the nurse. He grabbed the pen and signed his name without a second thought.

I stood by the door like a complete stranger.

In my last life, he had refused to sign anything to save me.

It was clear who actually mattered to him.

As they wheeled Maya away, she grabbed Silas's hand, her eyes red and tearful.

"Silas, I'm scared. Please stay with me."

He was about to agree when he finally noticed me standing there. The words died in his throat.

I just tilted my head and smiled.

"Go ahead. A life is on the line, after all."

With my permission, he didn't hesitate for another second. He followed her right into the surgical wing.

The room went silent. My mind finally started to clear.

If Maya's situation were truly that dire, she wouldn't have been able to wait for Silas to arrive.

I was done with these pathetic games.

A long time later, Maya was wheeled out. She was still clutching Silas's hand.

The nurse looked at them with envy.

"Your husband is so devoted. Most men run away when things get messy, but he didn't even blink. He stayed by your side the whole time."

The nurse's voice wasn't loud, but I heard every word.

Maya gave a shy, weak smile.

"Even though we lost the little soul today, having a man like him by my side is enough for me."

She then shifted her gaze to me. Her eyes were full of silent provocation and triumph.

She had every reason to feel smug. Silas might have married me, but his heart always belonged to her.

I didn't stay. I turned and walked away.

I decided to leave them to their touching little reunion.

Through the glass door, I saw Silas watching my back. He looked like he wanted to follow me, but then Maya called his name softly. He immediately turned all his attention back to her.

They went into her private room together.

I stood outside the hospital, shivering. I had forgotten my coat in the car.

And Silas, the man who used to obsess over every detail of my comfort, didn't even notice.