Chapter 4

I opened my mouth, then glanced at Ryan. He just said:

"You sit in the back. It's roomier."

I knew better than to argue and just moved to the back seat.

The whole way, they talked and laughed, discussing work matters, and I couldn't get a word in.

When we arrived, Ryan didn't even wait for me.

My heart ached, but I couldn't show it.

"Is that the boss's fiancée?"

"I heard the boss was penniless back then and worked hard for five years to pay for her cancer treatment!"

"The boss is such a good guy!"

"What good is being a good guy? He's still with Bree…"

Smack. Someone slapped the person who'd let the words slip out.

I pretended not to hear, smiling and greeting them.

But my heart felt as if something was clenching it, hurting so much.

"Chloe, my dress zipper seems to be stuck. Can you help me pull it up?"

Bree led me to a corner. In the dim light, I tried to pull up the zipper.

But Bree kept moving around so much that the zipper accidentally snapped off.

"Chloe! What's wrong with you?!"

"How am I supposed to face anyone like this?!"

Bree's crying and shouting drew Ryan over. He subtly glanced at me in the corner, his eyes showing anger.

I didn't dare look up, quietly defending myself.

"I didn't do it on purpose. The light was too dim, and she kept moving, so I…"

"Forget it."

Ryan cut me off, took Bree's hand, and walked away.

In the dim corner, I felt like a forgotten toy, covered in a thick layer of dust.

【Ryan, you're so annoying!】

【I'm really mad. I'm punishing you by not making you lunch for a week.】

Those damned memories flooded Ryan's mind.

He remembered his idiotic self, and angrily punched the wall in frustration.

Ryan couldn't bear to read anymore. Those notes were like a manual of his jerk-like behavior, every word tearing at his heart.

He took out his phone and called me again, but there was still no answer.

"Chloe, where are you?"

"I'll come pick you up. Okay?"

"It's going to rain soon, I'm so worried about you…"

He sent several voice messages, but half an hour later, there was still no reply.

Ryan turned and looked at the stack of letters beside him.

He couldn't resist and opened another one.

The first line made him break down.

【Ryan, last month I lied and told you I was hospitalized for pneumonia. Actually, we lost our baby.】