Chapter 2

2.

Zoe didn't get back until nearly midnight.

She walked straight into the bedroom, flipped on the light, and looked at me with an expectant face.

"I guess you didn't get enough sleep in those mountains. Get up and make me a bowl of pasta."

For the last two years, she had stopped caring about my feelings entirely.

She treated me like an employee she could bark orders at.

She seemed to have forgotten that I only went to that hellhole to save her reputation.

"I'm not doing it," I replied coldly.

Zoe clicked her tongue in annoyance and rubbed her temples.

"Cassian, give me a break. I've been working all day, and I'm exhausted."

I let out a dry laugh. It was always the same excuse.

Whenever I didn't do exactly what she wanted, she accused me of being unsupportive.

I used to be terrified when she acted like this.

Usually, it meant she was about to blow up or give me the silent treatment for weeks.

I used to beg for her forgiveness just to see a hint of a smile on her face.

But now, her anger didn't move me at all.

The room went silent for a moment before I spoke up.

"I saw the news about the engagement."

Zoe's eyes flickered, and she looked away for a second before sitting on the edge of the bed.

Her tone shifted instantly, becoming warm and manipulative.

She reached out and took my hand in hers.

"Cassian, the engagement is just for show. Xander brought in a lot of big contracts for the company these past three years."

"If I don't give him something in return, the other executives will lose faith in my leadership."

I didn't believe a single word coming out of her mouth.

I didn't believe she would gamble her entire future just to reward an employee.

"Is that so?" I asked, pulling my hand away from her grasp.

Zoe frowned for a split second before forcing another smile.

"Of course. The engagement is just a tactic to keep him at the company."

"Deep down, you're the only man I've ever loved."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a ring box, looking at me with feigned devotion.

"I've had this ring ready for three years. You've worked so hard for us, Cassian. Let's get married."

Looking into her eyes, I felt a flicker of doubt.

Maybe she really was trapped by her circumstances. Maybe I should try to understand.

I bit my lip and reached out my hand before my brain could tell me otherwise.

"Okay," I whispered.

Zoe quickly slid the ring onto my finger and kissed me on the lips.

"I'm going to go take a shower, babe. We can talk about the wedding plans in a bit."

After she disappeared into the bathroom, I noticed she had left her phone on the nightstand.

My rational mind told me to leave it alone.

But my heart was screaming for the truth about her and Xander.

I picked it up and entered her passcode, which was still our anniversary.

My hands were shaking as I opened her messages with Xander.

Xander: "The old man is going to make him come over tomorrow. If he doesn't show up because of today, your grandpa will kill you."

Zoe: "Don't worry. Once I get home, I'll just whisper a few sweet things and he'll be wrapped around my finger again. He's too scared to ever stand up to me."

Zoe: "I won a cheap ring in a raffle when we went out to dinner the other day. I'll give it to him. He'll be so happy he'll probably cry."

The words felt like physical daggers stabbing into my chest.

I couldn't breathe. My grip on the phone was so shaky I almost dropped it.

I didn't even have the courage to scroll up any further.

She never planned on proposing to me. The whole thing was a calculated lie.

She knew exactly how much I loved her, and she used that love to humiliate me.

She knew I would abandon my dignity just for a scrap of her affection.

I looked down at the ring. It was poorly made, the wrong size, and looked like something out of a vending machine.

I took it off and threw it into the trash can.

I was done. I would never believe another word she said.

My heart was finally, completely dead.