Chapter 2

02

Collateral? Is that all I was to him?

All those years of growing up together, and I foolishly believed he genuinely cared about me. I thought he had finally realized my worth.

No wonder he didn't even make my father sign a promissory note when he transferred the money. He had merely remarked that I would make a very suitable wife.

Now I finally understood. He never truly loved me; he simply bought an obedient wife to keep at home.

That way, he could maintain his reputation as a loyal savior while continuing to fool around without consequences.

It was time for me to wake up.

The sweet, radiant boy in his school uniform who used to give me rides on his bike and share his umbrella in the rain was long gone.

Thunder rumbled across the sky.

Right on cue, the heavens opened up, drenching the pavement just as my heart broke. I had no umbrella, leaving me stranded under the awning.

Behind me, those obnoxious laughs drifted out again.

"Look, Zack, she hasn't even left! All that talk about breaking up was just bluffing."

"Exactly. Her family has nothing left. If it weren't for you, they'd be sleeping on the streets. She's so ungrateful. It's just some cake frosting; it's not like she lost an arm."

Jenna spoke up with fake sweetness once more. "Don't be so harsh. She's already suffered enough. It's my fault for bringing up work and ruining the mood. Zack, Shannon must be heartbroken. Please go make it up to her."

Zack crossed his arms with total indifference. "She hasn't apologized to you yet. Stop defending her."

A cab pulled up to the curb, and the driver rolled down his window with a friendly grin. "Need a ride, miss?"

I looked up at him, but the sight of my swollen, grotesque face scared him so badly that he stepped on the gas and sped away.

The crowd behind me burst into even louder mockery.

"Hahaha! Did you see the driver's face? Shannon scared the hell out of him!"

"Who wouldn't be terrified of a monster like that?"

Tears burned in my eyes while my skin grew hotter and tighter by the second.

Zack pushed the glass door open with a smug smirk. "Come apologize to Jenna, and I'll drive you home. You won't catch a ride in this weather."

I stood my ground, my posture rigid. "I don't need your ride."

He walked up behind me and rested a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Shannon, that's enough. You spent years crushing on me just to become my girlfriend. Now that you have what you wanted, learn to be grateful."

He added, "You need to give me face in front of my friends. Keep pushing this, and I'll cut you off for good."

My chest seized up as my voice shook with disbelief. "You knew all along that I loved you, yet you still used my feelings to humiliate me?"

Zack pinched my swollen cheek with a wicked grin. "Humiliate you? It was just a joke. If you're this fragile, no wonder you don't have any friends."

No friends?

I had no interest in his fake entourage, but I used to have genuine, wonderful friends.

After we started dating, he banned me from socializing or texting anyone in private.

He forced me to delete my contacts until my entire world revolved around him and my parents.

I had severed ties with everyone just to be his dutiful little girlfriend.

And now, he had the audacity to claim I had no friends?

Jenna hurried out under an umbrella. "Zack, don't catch a cold. Shannon, please don't be stubborn. Let's go inside and talk. You don't have to apologize to me anymore, okay?"

I shoved her arm away. "Save your fake sympathy!"

Weakened by the allergic attack, I barely used any strength. Yet Jenna stumbled backward dramatically and splashed right into a muddy puddle by the planter.

"Ah! Shannon, how could you..." Jenna whined, completely soaked.

I rolled my eyes. "Even a trash bag has less drama than you. I barely touched you."

Zack lunged forward and shoved me hard, sending me crashing onto the wet asphalt.

He rushed over to help Jenna up with tender concern, then glared down at me with pure venom.

"Shannon Cole, you refuse to apologize and now you're putting your hands on people? Fine. Today, I'm going to teach you what happens when you disobey me!"

I scrambled out of the path of a speeding delivery scooter and pushed myself up, turning to leave.

Zack yelled after me, "Shannon! Every bite of food your family eats and the roof over your heads belongs to me! Don't you dare walk away!"

My feet froze in place as helpless tears spilled down my cheeks.

Falling out of love was easy, but how was I supposed to pay back the millions we owed him?

I couldn't let my parents suffer because of my pride.

Seeing me stop, Zack signaled one of his buddies to bring out an entire jar of peanut butter.

"Get on your knees and apologize, or eat this whole jar. Pick one."