Chapter 2

02

I didn't sleep at all that night.

Ever since I was a kid, I've had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds. Because of this, a younger Xavier had once spent a fortune custom-making a bed that was an exact replica of the one in my childhood home.

He just wanted me to be comfortable.

Maybe because I hadn't eaten or drank anything since yesterday, my chronic stomach issues flared up.

I clutched my abdomen, standing in the kitchen as I made myself a simple bowl of pasta.

I went to the bathroom for just a minute. When I came back, Gia was sitting in my spot.

She was eating the pasta I had made, one bite at a time.

Xavier was beside her, gently wiping the corner of her mouth.

"Is it that good? You little glutton! If you like it, I'll have Lyra make you another bowl."

Gia smiled and looked at my pale face. "Really? Xavier, I'm afraid Mrs. Hunt won't be willing."

Xavier followed her gaze and noticed the cold sweat on my forehead.

He rushed over, looking concerned.

"What's wrong, Lyra? Why are you so pale?"

I didn't want to show my weakness in front of them, so I pushed him away with all my strength.

"None of your business!"

Gia's eyes welled up with tears. "Mrs. Hunt, if you're angry, take it out on me! Don't be mean to Xavier!"

I tried to go back into the kitchen to find something else to eat. As I walked past Gia, she suddenly made a move as if she were handing the bowl back to me.

As our paths crossed, Gia suddenly fell straight to the floor. The scalding pasta water splashed all over both of us.

I hissed in pain and fell to the ground.

But Xavier's eyes turned red with rage. He rushed forward and shoved me aside with brute force.

My forehead slammed hard against the corner of the wall. The world began to spin.

Warm blood started trickling down the side of my face.

Xavier didn't even glance at me. He looked at Gia, who was beneath him.

Gia held her stomach and wailed, "Xavier, it hurts! Is our baby going to be okay!"

"Mrs. Hunt, if you hate me, you can hit me or scream at me, but why would you hurt my baby! He's innocent!"

Xavier turned to me, his gaze vicious.

"Lyra Lin, have I spoiled you too much? How can you be so evil? You wouldn't even spare a child!"

I leaned weakly against the wall and gave him a faint smile.

"You and Gia are the perfect match. A lying snake and a blind fool!"

My words successfully enraged him. He lunged at me.

He raised his hand and delivered a stinging slap to my face.

My cheek felt like it was on fire.

I clutched my face, trying to endure the piercing pain in my stomach and the tears that were about to fall.

The tears blurred my vision until I could barely see his face.

I couldn't reconcile this man, who looked like he wanted to tear me apart, with the one who had once promised me the world.

"Oh, so now you're crying? Why didn't you think about that when you were hurting someone? Why didn't you think about that when you were being so stubborn? Lyra, you've truly disappointed me!"

I watched with my own eyes as he swept Gia up in a bridal carry. Without a single backward glance, he rushed her toward the hospital.

He left me there, in the middle of a massive flare-up of my gastric issues.

Looking at his departing back, I suddenly remembered the girl who had eloped with him all those years ago, giving up everything.

The Xavier who said he wanted to be with me forever was just as determined back then.

And now, he was just as determined to hurt me for someone else.