Chapter 2

2.

Right after sending the text, my phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts.

It was Nadia. Her demanding voice echoed from the other end.

“Come downstairs. We're going to Hayden's runway show tonight. Put on something decent.”

Before I could respond, she hung up.

Thinking I could finalize the divorce right after the show, I headed down.

When Nadia saw me, she handed over a half-used tube of ointment and asked casually, “Here. I brought the cream back. Did you put any on your scar?”

“I did. I'm fine now.”

I didn't take the tube that Hayden had already used. Nadia didn't care and tossed it aside.

“Good. You brought this on yourself by doing that revision surgery. You deserved the extra pain.”

My breath hitched for a moment. Then, I let out a faint smile. “Yeah, it was pretty painful.”

Back when my chest and neck were mangled by the fire, the healed skin was left uneven and lumpy.

Undergoing scar revision over such a large area was just as agonizing as the original burn.

The tissue peeling and skin grafting caused unbearable pain.

Yet, I never wanted Nadia to worry, so I never told her how much it hurt.

She never cared anyway. To her, I was just making trouble for myself.

As Nadia drove, she casually brought up Hayden's situation from earlier.

“Valerie King is such trash. Thank goodness Hayden exposed her true colors!”

“Hayden was really shaken up, so I stayed with him a bit longer. You don't mind, right?”

Looking down at my phone, I played along. “Yeah, she really is trash.”

“Why would I mind? You're his boss. It's only right that you spend time comforting him.”

Nadia gave me an unreadable look.

She said nothing, stopped the car, and checked a text from Hayden.

Then she hopped out to buy some snacks, returning with several cups of boba tea and pastries.

Noticing my gaze, she handed a cup to me. “Didn't forget yours.”

I stared at the boba milk tea and was about to say I didn't want it.

Nadia misunderstood, poked the straw in herself, and shoved it toward me.

“Stop being so dramatic for a guy. Just drink it.”

I forced myself to take a sip, but my stomach immediately churned, so I stopped.

When we reached the backstage area, Hayden immediately rushed over and hooked his arm around Nadia's, whining about how nervous he was.

Nadia lifted the bag in her hand, looking at him with tender affection.

“It's okay. I brought your favorite comfort snacks. Let's go eat inside.”

Watching them, the slight warmth that had lingered in my chest vanished completely.

It turned out Hayden was the one who ate snacks to calm his pre-show jitters.

The theme for tonight's runway was corporate chic, and the show hadn't started yet.

Nadia told me to wander around on my own, but my stomach ache intensified, and my vision blurred with dizziness.

Unable to hold out any longer, I tracked down the cozy pair.

My face was deathly pale. “Nadia, can you take me to the hospital?”

Annoyed by my interruption, Nadia's face darkened instantly. “What kind of stunt are you pulling now?”

“Hayden's runway debut is about to start! How could I possibly leave?”

The venue was located in the distant suburbs, and I was in no condition to drive.

I took a deep breath and tried to explain, “I think I have a fever, and my stomach feels like it's on fire...”

Hayden cut in with a hurt expression. “Nadia, it's fine. Take Gavin to the hospital first. I can handle it alone.”

Seeing that, Nadia held Hayden's hand sympathetically and yelled at me, “Gavin, have you no shame? You were totally fine at home all day, but the second we get here, you have a fever and stomach pain!”

I lacked the strength to fight her. “Fine. If you won't take me, I'll go myself.”

Bracing my aching body, I turned to walk away.

Nadia grabbed my arm tightly, her tone furious.

“Don't you dare leave! You're staying to watch this show!”

“If you walk away right now, we are getting a divorce!”

Enduring the sharp pain tearing through my body, I forced out the words, “Then let's divorce.”

She stared at me in disbelief, gripping my wrist hard. “Are you serious?”

“Gavin, don't you dare come crawling back on your knees begging me later!”

She violently shoved my arm away and dragged Hayden off.

Caught off balance by her push, I stumbled backward and plunged straight into the backstage pool.

Amidst the gasps of the crowd, I used the last ounce of my strength to call for help.

As my body sank deeper into the water, I watched Nadia and Hayden walking further and further away until my consciousness faded into darkness.