Chapter 2

Torres called me.

He said casually, "Vivian, I told you to take all your stuff away. What do you mean by burning down my villa? Is this because you're jealous?"

He had countless villas, so naturally he wouldn't care about that one.

I remained silent.

"Tonight is Anna's welcome party. She said she wants to see you walk in a fashion show. I've already sent a driver to pick you up. Get changed and come over right away."

Just as I was about to refuse, he hung up.

The driver arrived at my hospital room door just in time. "These are the clothes Torres prepared for you. Please come with me."

In his hands was the latest model of bikini.

I froze.

I remembered three years ago—to scrape together money for my mom's treatment, I worked part-time as a car model and bikini brand model.

What's more, some bosses would specifically request me for photo shoots. For a few measly dollars, I had to endure their contemptuous and greedy gazes.

That lasted until I accepted Torres's help.

"From now on, you belong to me. Don't go showing yourself off or doing any more modeling."

Now, just because of one sentence from Anna, he'd shattered the illusion of his love for me that I'd held for years...

I was about to refuse when I received a message from Torres:

[Only my friend can perform your mother's surgery. If you don't want her to have an accident, behave and do as you're told.]

At the party, I wore the newest bikini in the freezing cold weather, shivering all over, my hands and feet stiff.

Below the stage, Torres had his arm around Anna, playfully tapping her nose, looking at me like I was a pet.

"Does it look good?"

She showed a satisfied smile. "It looks great."

Torres's friends also cast greedy glances at me, joking, "We really have Anna to thank for the chance to see Vivian like this!"

"Exactly! Torres has been protecting her so tightly. If we looked at her twice, his expression alone would eat us alive!"

Torres laughed carelessly.

"When did that happen? Vivian and I are just friends. The only person I've ever loved is Anna."

He pulled her closer into his embrace.

Anna scoffed too. "My sister still doesn't have a boyfriend! If you guys like her, go ahead and pursue her!"

A barely noticeable flash of discomfort crossed Torres's face, but it vanished instantly.

He also laughed along. "Right, if you like her, go pursue her."

I ran a fever for three days and nights. My consciousness drifted in and out.

I grabbed my phone and weakly called Torres.

"Hello? *cough cough* Can you take me to the hospital?"

His impatient voice came through. "Vivian, what tricks are you playing now? Such a hassle."

"What's wrong, Torres?"

Anna asked from the other end.

Torres replied casually, "Nothing. Spam call. Keep picking out dresses. Your solo dance performance is coming up soon. Don't get distracted."

He hung up, and I passed out.

I don't know how long passed before someone gently picked me up, murmuring, "What's going on? Can't live without me?"

"To the hospital."

Torres instructed.

The driver laughed. "Torres, you still can't let go of Vivian, can you? You seem pretty anxious to me."

Torres's sharp brows furrowed.

"Don't talk nonsense. Anna said she wants to move into this house. I came ahead to arrange for someone to clean it. I was worried about dust, and I didn't expect Vivian to be here too. Now not only do we need to clean thoroughly, but we also need to deep clean everything from inside out and throw away everything that should be thrown away. I'm worried Anna might be a germaphobe."

I opened my eyes slightly and watched him, his expression cold, chin resting on his hand, lost in thought as he looked out the window.

I found it hard to reconcile him with the Torres from before.

He seemed to see through my thoughts and said in a low voice, "Are you wondering why I'm different from before?"

He sneered. "Ha, don't forget—you're the one who told me to treat you as Anna. I'm just doing what you asked."

"I didn't expect you'd fall so deep yourself and trap yourself."

My pupils constricted.

Those initial words became a bullet, piercing through my forehead...