Chapter 2

2.

I looked at her fuming face and let out a dry, humorless chuckle.

Clara seemed to have completely forgotten that I had just undergone an appendectomy and was still frail.

She glared at me coldly and said, “How about you make me some breakfast? I might consider forgiving you today and let you sleep in my bed tonight.”

I slammed her bag onto the floor and asked coldly, “Do you even remember what you promised me yesterday?”

Clara paused, looking slightly confused.

Yesterday was my discharge day from the hospital, and she called early in the morning telling me to wait for her.

Yet I waited until evening without seeing a single trace of her.

It poured rain all day in Chicago, and none of my dozen phone calls to her were answered.

Seeing her frown in silence, I smiled faintly. “Forget it, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Even though I had anticipated this, a sharp pang still shot through my chest.

After thinking for a moment, Clara grabbed my wrist with a guilty expression.

“Something urgent came up at the company yesterday. That’s why I forgot to pick you up.”

I wrenched my hand away from her grip and remained silent.

Her tone grew impatient. “Lucas, I was just too busy and forgot for a moment! It’s not like you couldn’t call an Uber outside the hospital. I work so hard for us, can’t you show a little understanding?”

Ever since I handed the company over to her, she scolded me like this every time I asked why she drank so much or came home so late.

“I work overtime and put in effort for the company’s sake! Why can’t you be sensible for once?!”

It seemed that from that point on, in her eyes, I was merely a useless bum who understood nothing.

I stood up silently, rolled over two large packed suitcases, and pushed them toward her.

“Clara, we’re done.”

Clara stared at me in shock. “Lucas, do you have any idea what you’re saying?”

Sensing the cold rage radiating from me, Clara lowered her tone, losing all of her previous arrogance.

She wrapped her arm around mine and asked, “Do you know what day today is? All the invitations have already been sent out.”

In the past, I dreaded making Clara angry.

Whenever she threw a tantrum, she would curse, slam the door, vanish for days, and ignore all my messages.

Now, my heart remained entirely unbothered.

I looked at her placidly. “Aren’t you already wearing matching couple rings with Derek? Isn’t it better if I just step aside for the two of you?”

“Just reimburse me for the wedding reception costs later.”

A flicker of panic flashed across Clara’s eyes. She had always cared deeply about her public reputation.

She quickly explained, “That was just a promotional ad Derek took on! He does freelance social media work, you know that!”

I pointed at her left hand and let out a scornful scoff.

“Before you lie, at least do your homework. What sponsor gives away a six-figure custom diamond ring just for a quick promotion?”

Clara’s fingers rubbed against the hem of her shirt repeatedly.

That was her nervous habit.

The moment I called her out, she hurriedly pulled off the ring and tugged at my wrist appeasingly.

“I was in such a rush that I forgot to take it off. I’ll return it to him when I see him at the wedding tonight.”

Irritated, I asked, “You invited him?”

Clara nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Of course. I invited all my close friends.”

When we were finalizing the guest list, I had crossed out Derek’s name, which led to a bitter argument between us.

She still went behind my back and did whatever she pleased.

She never took a single word of mine to heart.