Chapter 2

In an instant, my whole body went cold.

My gaze was locked onto Lucas Thomas.

He casually stood up, his hands clasped and pressed onto Summer Hayes's chest.

"After artificial respiration, you need to apply pressure rhythmically..."

A mischief-maker laughed loudly.

"Summer, didn't you say CPR was pure?"

"Why are you blushing so much?"

Summer, lying on the ground, shot back.

"You'd blush too if Lucas touched you, wouldn't you be gutted if he hadn't?"

Amidst the uproarious laughter, Lucas didn't defend himself. Instead, he flashed a doting smile.

My fingers gripped the steering wheel, trembling uncontrollably.

I waited until dinner time to finally spot Summer.

She was giggling and playing around with her roommates, their laughter audible from afar.

"He invited you to dinner and you didn't go? Why are you playing innocent, Summer!"

"What do you know? Summer's just playing hard to get!"

Summer coughed, transparently trying to deny it.

"That's not true! I'm not close with him, don't spread rumors!"

I couldn't help but sneer.

Not close?

Not close enough to roll around in my bathroom, on my bed.

If they were close, would they invite me to watch them get a room?

I avoided the crowd and walked straight to a table opposite theirs.

My makeup, hair, and clothing - Summer knew at a glance I wasn't a student.

A flicker of nervousness crossed her eyes, then she smiled.

"Who are you? The cafeteria isn't crowded; we don't need to share a table, do we?"

I ignored her feigned ignorance and stated directly.

"Summer Hayes, you must know that Lucas Thomas is my husband, right?"

Lucas was thirty.

Most men his age were married, unless they were not interested in women or had a serious illness.

Not to mention, our wedding photo hung above our bed.

I refused to believe Summer was some innocent young girl.

Her roommates instantly fell silent.

Summer, however, maintained a clueless expression.

"Is there something I can help you with?"

Seeing that I didn't speak, she then feigned sudden realization.

"Did you perhaps see our CPR drill? You might not understand, but it was just a very legitimate exercise."

Who was she trying to mock with those words?

Did she think I was a jobless, clueless housewife?

I gave a soft laugh.

"You're in clinical medicine? As a senior, you must have taken 'Surgery.' Turn to the cardiovascular section. My name is on the editorial board.."

"I'm Dr. Ava Reed. Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery."

"I look forward to the day you intern in my department."

Summer's face paled.

My gaze fell on her wrist, where a stunning bracelet, smooth and shimmering, made from a beautiful, polished stone, gleamed softly.

"Nice bracelet," I said casually. "But that's my father's heirloom. I'd appreciate it if you'd return it."

Summer looked up in disbelief.

Her lips trembled, and her face flushed crimson.

In the end, I retrieved this old item, which I had once believed lost.

Four years ago, my father passed away after a serious illness.

Before he left, he pressed the bracelet into my hand.

"Ava, this bracelet is an ancient heirloom of our family."

"Lucas loves you enough. This bracelet is for you to pass down. Your dad will die without regret..."

At the time, Lucas's eyes were red, and he swore he would take good care of me.

But I had lost this bracelet and regretted it for a whole year.

I could barely eat or sleep.

Lucas comforted me, promising to buy me more beautiful jewelry.

I never imagined that he had already been messing around with Summer so early on.

Summer liked my bracelet, and he just gave it to her!

When I arrived home, I had just finished extracting the dash cam footage and was getting out of my car.

Lucas stormed over, his face filled with impatience.

"You went to the academy today?"

"Ava Reed, why didn't you talk to me directly? Why did you humiliate Summer in front of so many people?"

"Do you think you're acting like a normal adult?"