Chapter 2

Liam and Marcus's faces instantly darkened.

"Eleanor, don't make such a jinxed joke."

I chuckled lightly, my voice remarkably sincere. "I'm not joking."

Marcus, still thinking I was throwing a tantrum, frowned slightly. "Liam and I are protecting you so well right now. Who would dare touch you? What could possibly happen?"

"Where did you go yesterday? Why did you come back so late?" Liam, sensing something amiss, pressed me.

My eyelashes fluttered. I was about to speak when my phone rang.

Seeing it was Chloe, Marcus quickly answered.

Soon, her voice, thick with tears, came through.

"Mr. Evans, I've tried everything to make Miss Evans happy, but she still can't stand me. Since that's the case, I have no choice but to leave. My resignation notice is on your desk. I'm going back home today. Goodbye."

Hearing this, both men couldn't sit still and rushed out to the company.

Watching their hurried figures disappear through the doorway, I gave a self-deprecating smile and quietly returned to my room.

I packed up all my belongings, sorting them and then discarding them one by one into the trash.

Gifts Marcus had bought me, couple's keepsakes from Liam, photos of the three of us...

I left nothing behind.

After a day of tidying, by evening, Liam and Marcus returned with Chloe.

The moment they saw me, their faces hardened, and they began to scold me.

"Eleanor, why did you instruct someone to vandalize Chloe's place? She has nowhere to stay and was forced to resign! If Liam and I hadn't gone to great lengths to persuade her to come back, she would have truly left."

"How much more trouble do you intend to cause? You used to be so obedient and sensible. How did you become so jealous after Chloe appeared?"

Had *I* changed?

Or was it them?

Looking at their indignant faces, my eyes held a deep weariness.

I no longer wanted to make futile explanations.

My silence, to them, was an admission of guilt.

Marcus, suppressing his anger, said coldly, "Chloe's apartment is uninhabitable because of you, so she'll be staying with us for a while."

"Since you caused this, as punishment, you'll give your room to Chloe. It's the best one."

I glanced at him, having no desire to argue. I simply placed my key on the table, without delay.

It worked out perfectly, anyway. I was leaving soon.

Next, Liam frowned and added, "Chloe has a pollen allergy, so no more fresh flowers in the house."

I gave him a look, then called the housekeeper, instructing him to uproot the entire rose garden in the backyard overnight.

Liam had planted that vast rose garden because I loved roses. Now, I was planning to break up with him anyway, and those symbols of our love were already slated for removal.

Even after all this, the two men weren't satisfied. They continued, "Chloe is a light sleeper and can't stand any noise. Whiskers is too loud; you can't let her out anymore."

Whiskers was the cat they'd given me years ago to cheer me up, and she'd been my companion for so long.

Two hours later, staff from the pet agency arrived, and I sent my cat of five years into foster care.

Seeing my compliant attitude, agreeing to every demand, Liam and Marcus sensed something was off.

I offered no explanation and went upstairs alone.

Looking at the empty new room, I felt a strange sense of relief.

I was leaving soon anyway; these things were meant to be cleared out.

I didn't want to leave any trace of myself behind.

Late at night, a continuous knocking broke the silence.

Waking up, I opened the door to see Chloe.

She held up her arm, revealing a glistening sapphire pendant on her wrist, her face radiating triumph.

"Miss Evans, Mr. Evans gave me this this morning, but I don't know much about antique jewelry. Can you tell me what you think of its quality? How much is it worth?"

During this period of waiting to leave, I wanted no interaction with her. So, the moment I opened the door and saw her, I immediately intended to close it.

But that pendant made my eyes widen in shock.

It was my parents' last memento to Marcus and me!

Why would Marcus give it to an outsider?!

"How could he possibly give you this pendant? Give it back!"

My expression changed drastically, and I instinctively reached out to take the pendant back.

Seeing me reach, Chloe's face broke into a triumphant smile, and she turned and ran.

I chased after her, about to call out, when I saw her give me a smug smile, then deliberately threw her arms out and tumbled down the stairs.

A loud thud instantly alerted Liam and Marcus, who were discussing work in the study.

Both men were horrified to see Chloe lying unconscious in a pool of blood.

Liam rushed downstairs, scooped her into his arms. "Chloe! Wake up, wake up!"

Marcus, even more enraged, grabbed my hand, demanding sharply, "I knew you were just feigning obedience yesterday! The moment our backs were turned, you tried every way to bully Chloe! Eleanor, you disappoint me so much!"

Chloe's injuries were severe and couldn't be delayed. Both men quickly drove her to the hospital, but not before forcefully dragging me along, demanding I apologize to Chloe immediately.

Just as Chloe was wheeled into the operating room, a nurse rushed out anxiously.

"The patient has lost too much blood. Who here has Rh-negative blood?"

Almost instantly, Marcus and Liam grabbed my hands. "She does!"

My chest tightened with suppressed rage, and I violently yanked my hands away. "I won't donate! Why should I donate blood to her? Her fall was entirely her own doing!"

Both men were furious.

Marcus took off the sapphire pendant, held it high, and threatened, "Eleanor, you won't go? Then I'll smash this pendant! Consider it an apology to Chloe!"

"If you don't go, and anything happens to Chloe, we'll call off the engagement!"

They spoke in unison, unleashing their anger for a woman who had framed me.

I felt like a lightning bolt had hit me.

My chest felt tight with suppressed rage, a burning ache that threatened to explode.

I stared fixedly at Marcus, choking out, "So, Mom and Dad's heirloom, you really gave it to her?"

Then, I looked at Liam, my eyes terrifyingly red. "So, in your heart, all these years of our relationship mean less than Chloe?"

My words stunned both men. Before they could speak, I violently snatched the pendant from Marcus's hand, enunciating each word:

"Remember this. This is the 96th time."

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