Chapter 3

3.

This trip was supposed to be a relaxing birthday getaway, yet Kelsey and Brynn had abandoned me twice in a single day.

It truly was an unforgettable birthday.

Without telling them, I bought a one-way plane ticket and flew back home alone.

They were so thoroughly absorbed in Ian that five entire days passed without them even noticing my absence.

During those five days, I packed up all my belongings and booked an international flight.

My father had been calling non-stop, telling me the billionaire family on the other side had finalized the merger terms and was eagerly awaiting my arrival to plan the wedding.

Before leaving, I went to the company one last time to hand over my responsibilities.

Kelsey and Brynn were already back, sitting in the executive suite chatting and laughing with Ian.

The moment I pushed the door open, both of their smiles vanished, replaced by furious scowls.

“Where are your manners?! Why didn't you knock before coming in?!”

A mocking laugh escaped my lips.

This office used to be our shared creative space, but somewhere along the line, I had become an outsider who needed permission to enter.

“I―”

Before I could fire back, my eyes caught several used foil wrappers sitting at the top of the trash can.

A sudden wave of disgust and clarity washed over me, and I stared at the two women with a frigid sneer.

Noticing where I was looking, Kelsey and Brynn visibly panicked, their eyes shifting away with obvious guilt.

Kelsey was the first to break the tension, stepping forward with a sweet, familiar smile as she clung to my arm.

“Why did you leave the resort early without telling us? Were you mad because we went to play with Ian's cat and didn't bring you along? Oh, come on, don't be petty. Look at the gift we bought you!”

Brynn quickly caught on, rushing over to wrap her arms around my other side, her voice dripping with artificial warmth.

“We bought this specially for you! You've been talking about wanting it for ages, so we tracked it down. You'd better treasure it!”

They opened an elegant gift box, revealing a bottle of ultra-rare vintage reserve red wine.

Kelsey eagerly poured the deep crimson liquid into three glasses, her face glowing with excitement.

“Here, taste it! We tried buying this everywhere and failed, but Ian used his exclusive connections to secure this single bottle for you!”

Brynn nodded enthusiastically, her voice brimming with excitement.

“You really need to thank Ian properly. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't even have the privilege to smell this wine!”

My face instantly drained of all color.

Kelsey and Brynn were so busy flattering Ian that they completely forgot I had quit drinking alcohol two years ago to protect my liver.

More importantly, after they abandoned me underwater, the doctor explicitly warned me that alcohol would cause lethal hemorrhaging to my compressed internal organs.

Catching the smug glint in Ian's eyes, I suddenly remembered that he had seen my hospital medical chart on the restaurant table.

He was doing this on purpose, aiming to worsen my critical condition.

I slammed the wine glass onto the desk, my voice colder than ice.

“I can't drink this.”

Kelsey and Brynn's expressions instantly turned vicious. In a fit of rage, they splashed the red wine straight into my face.

“Hey! Don't be so ungrateful! Ian pulled countless strings just to get this bottle for you!”

“Why are you always so petty?! Just because we missed your stupid birthday, you hold a grudge against Ian and disrespect his gift?!”

Before I could even explain my medical condition, they unleashed a barrage of insults, every single word fiercely defending Ian.

I stayed completely silent, but Ian refused to let the drama end.

He squeezed out a few fake tears, lowering his head with a pathetic sigh.

“Kelsey, Brynn, please don't fight with Hayden because of me. It's all my fault for being so unlikable. I should just leave...”

Kelsey and Brynn immediately grabbed Ian's arms to stop him.

Turning back to me with hostile arrogance, they shoved another filled glass directly into my chest.

“You're drinking this today, whether you like it or not! If Ian gets sick from stress because of you, we will make your life hell!”

“Stop being so narrow-minded! Compared to Ian, you're absolute trash. Hayden, we've been sick and tired of you for a long time!”

Listening to their venomous words, a cold laugh tore from my throat.

So those were their true feelings. They had been disgusted by my presence all along.

I glared at them with burning contempt, snatched the glass, and downed the alcohol in one reckless gulp.

A searing, tearing agony instantly exploded across my chest and abdomen, but I forced a chilling smirk through the pain.

“Take a good look! It's empty! You love Ian so much? Great. Now you can devote your entire lives to him without ever having to fake a smile for me again!”

Kelsey and Brynn froze in shock, their eyes widening in utter disbelief as the color drained from their faces.

“What... what do you mean by that?! Explain yourself!”

I smashed the crystal glass onto the marble floor, shattering it into pieces, before glaring at the smug man cowering behind them.

“We are completely done! Never contact me again for the rest of your lives! Do you hear me?!”

%%%