Chapter 2

02

At the entrance of the resort, the entire racing team was hovering around Liana.

"This way, Mrs. Jaxen."

"You're so gorgeous, Liana. Jaxen is one lucky bastard!"

I stood at the back, holding the heavy gear bags like a ghost.

Someone shoved a pile of wet towels into my arms without looking.

"Jaxen's assistant―don't just stand there. Get these to the back, pronto."

Liana turned around and handed me a heavy designer shopping bag.

"Hey, could you take this in too? It's getting a bit heavy for me."

I didn't say a word. I just took the bags and walked toward the staff area.

Jaxen's voice drifted over the mountain breeze. "That's right. If you need anything done, just tell Lyra. Don't tire yourself out, babe."

I paused for a second but didn't look back.

He used to be different.

I remembered the time he sprained his ankle but insisted on carrying me all the way back to the hotel because I looked tired.

He told me he didn't feel any pain as long as I was okay.

Back then, he would have fought the whole world to make sure I wasn't disrespected.

Now, I was just a nameless servant to him.

I followed the instructions and took the aromatherapy oils and towels to the VIP spa suite.

The door wasn't locked. I pushed it open slightly.

Steam filled the room.

I was about to drop the items and leave when I heard the sound of splashing water and heavy breathing.

Liana was leaning against the edge of the pool, her wet hair clinging to her neck.

Jaxen was behind her, his head buried in her shoulder.

"Jaxen... stop... someone might hear..."

"Let them."

His voice was thick with lust.

"We got engaged today."

"Everyone knows you're my woman now. Why should I care who hears?"

She giggled and let out a soft moan. "You're such a bad boy..."

I stood behind the door, my teeth chattering.

The air smelled like chlorine and that distinct, musky scent of sex. A thin, white film floated on the surface of the water.

It made my stomach turn.

I closed the door silently and went back to my room.

Half an hour later, there was a knock at my door.

"Lyra."

It was Jaxen.

He walked in like he owned the place, showing zero guilt for what he'd just been doing.

"The pool is free now. I left the water in there for you. It's at the temperature you like. Want to go for a soak?"

I looked at him. My face was a blank slate.

The scent of Liana's perfume was still clinging to his skin.

"You should have let her enjoy it," I said coldly. "I can't get that smell out of my head."

He stood there for a moment, as if wanting to explain, but then he just shrugged and left.

I looked at the folder on the coffee table. It was the investment portfolio I'd spent months preparing for him.

Beside it, his phone lit up. He'd forgotten it.

The screen was still open on a banking app.

A transfer of five million dollars had just been completed. The recipient: Liana.

The memo read: "A gift for your dreams."

I stared at those zeros until my eyes hurt.

He had given her his entire championship bonus.

I started to shake.

He had forgotten how Nana and I had sacrificed everything for his racing career.

I had worked three jobs during college, sleeping less than three hours a night to pay for his training. I barely graduated because of him.

Nana, at nearly seventy, had refused to retire. She cleaned floors and gardened in the freezing winter just to save a few extra bucks.

"It'll be worth it when Jaxen makes it big," she used to say.

We skipped meals so he could have protein. We wore old coats so he could have the best tires.

When he was eighteen, he told me that his first big check would go toward our wedding.

Now he was twenty-eight, and he gave it all to a girl who had only shown up when he started winning.