Chapter 2

2

The screen was dark, but the screams of the crowd still echoed in my ears.

Millions of people had just witnessed their love. They were crying for them, cheering for them, moved by them.

And I, the actual fiancée, was nothing but a ghost in their story.

Zane didn't come back until the morning of New Year's Day.

I was in the kitchen helping my parents make breakfast.

My parents had gone to bed early the night before and missed the rooftop drama. They were still worried about him.

"Zane, did you get everything settled at the office?" my dad asked kindly.

Zane glanced at me, probably thinking I had lied to cover for him.

"Yes, sir," Zane replied. "I'm so sorry I couldn't stay for the countdown."

My dad waved it off. "Don't worry about it. Career comes first for a young man. But you need to take care of yourself. No matter how big the emergency, you should've put on shoes and a coat."

My mom was already in the bathroom starting a hot shower. "Zane, you must be frozen. Go take a hot bath. I'll make you some ginger tea to ward off a cold."

My dad added, "Breakfast is almost ready. Once you're warm, come eat."

I'm an only child. My parents treated Zane like a son entirely because of me.

They believed that if they were extra good to him, he would be extra good to me.

Watching them bustle around for him made my heart ache.

If they had seen that video on the news, how devastated would they be?

Why did I choose this man?

Not only was I stuck in a mess, but I was dragging my innocent parents down with me.

Zane sat down next to me and whispered, "Did you sleep okay?"

"Fine," I said coldly.

"Vivian... her husband took the kid away. She was all alone on New Year's Eve and got depressed. She spiraled."

I let out a sharp laugh. "Are you a doctor now? Can you cure depression with your presence?"

Zane's face darkened with annoyance. "She's my best friend. Was I supposed to just let her jump?"

"Let me ask you something. Do you need to kiss your 'best friend' to stop her from jumping?"

Zane's expression shifted instantly. "She was having a mental breakdown! She wasn't stable. If I had rejected her, she would've done something even more drastic!"

"There were air cushions, SWAT teams, and negotiators right there, Zane. Even if she slipped, they would've caught her. Did you really have to make out with her?"

Zane snapped, pointing a finger at me. "Those are all 'maybes'! If the cops missed her, or the cushion didn't work, she'd be dead. Do you want me to watch her die?"

"But you already had her in your arms!" I shouted back, tears finally stinging my eyes. "You're a grown man. You could've pulled her to safety. There were plenty of people there to help!"

Zane looked at me with a cold, alien stare. "Haley, when did you become so selfish and heartless?"

I laughed, a jagged, broken sound. "I'm the heartless one?"

Zane stood up and slammed his hand on the table.

"Think about what matters more: a meaningless kiss or a human life. Get your priorities straight."

He walked out and slammed the door so hard the walls vibrated.

The entire house seemed to hum with the force of his anger.