Chapter 2

“If she gets hooked, I’ll announce that she cheated on me. You’ll owe me a new fiancée then.”

Scarlett giggled sweetly, burying herself in his arms.

Everyone offered them congratulations.

Only I remained hidden in the corner, my heart shattered by the truth.

I returned to my hospital room, my phone ringing several times.

It was such a short distance, but with every step, the pain in my body felt like dancing on knife-edges, and cold sweat drenched me.

I gripped the bed rail, waiting for the worst of the pain to subside.

Just then, the hospital room door swung open.

Blake, phone in hand, rushed in with a worried expression and scooped me up into his arms.

His movements were too rough, tearing at my wounds.

The scent of roses made me nauseous.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls? Are you still mad at me?”

I closed my eyes, hesitantly clinging to his sleeve.

“Blake, do you only love me?”

He froze, not answering immediately.

“Are you overthinking things again? I told you, you’re the most important person in my heart.”

“I have things to do back at the lab. Be a good girl, don’t make me worry too much.”

He placed me on the bed. My face was pale as I begged him.

“I don’t like it here. I want to go home.”

Blake was still gentle with me, but I saw the deep-seated disgust in his eyes.

“Be a good girl. Our engagement party is in three days.”

“How can you attend looking like this? Rest up, don’t overthink.”

He was used to domineeringly arranging everything for me.

Just then, someone gently knocked on the door.

Almost instantly, Blake let go of my hand and eagerly opened the door.

Scarlett poked her head in, their eyes met, and they shared a knowing smile.

“Professor Donovan, is Amelia still throwing a fit? Don’t be childish, Amelia. Your health is most important.”

The girl who had once been so poorly dressed was now vibrant and charming, yet I felt nothing but utter repulsion.

I turned my head, but she actively leaned into Blake’s embrace, her voice filled with feigned disappointment.

“It seems I shouldn’t have come.”

“Amelia, I know you don’t like me. I can go back to my hometown and never bother you two again.”

I watched coldly as she cried, pressing herself against Blake.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

But Blake gently held her, his brow furrowed as he looked at me, his face disapproving.

“How long are you going to keep being so childish?”

“Scarlett works so hard, she’s so ambitious. It wasn’t easy for her to get out of her small town. How could you be so cruel as to ruin a girl’s life?”

So, it was okay for her to ruin my entire life?

I felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity.

Last time, the research I’d spent three months perfecting was stolen by him and given to Scarlett, who was about to graduate.

Not only did Scarlett get credit for the paper, but I also had to appease the other team members and take all the blame.

This year, on my birthday, I waited for him on the mountaintop as we’d agreed, to watch the sunrise together.

But it wasn't until I almost fell off the cliff that I saw on his Ins stories that he’d stayed up all night cooking soup for her because her stomach hurt.

Time and time again.

It seemed ever since Scarlett appeared, he always broke his promises.

I used to think that after more than a decade as childhood sweethearts, no one could ever come between us.

But that was just what *I* thought.

Blake didn’t wait for me to back down, and his face also hardened.

“It’s not always the weaker person who’s right, Amelia. You’ve truly disappointed me!”

He roughly yanked my leg.

A sharp, piercing pain, like a knife twisting in my flesh, tore through me the next second. I could barely speak.

“Call… call a doctor…”

My pale face made him want to touch me, but he didn’t dare.

Scarlett, though, grabbed his hand, looking at me disapprovingly.

“Amelia Vance is so lucky. Someone even spoils her when she’s faking it.”

“But I think this looks so bad, so immature.”

Blake’s concern instantly turned to contempt. He stared at me coldly.

“Amelia Vance, you look truly pathetic like this. Stop faking it!”

I felt myself getting wet beneath me, my strength completely drained. I reached out, trying desperately to press the call button beside the bed.

But as soon as my finger touched it, someone’s hand clamped over my mouth and nose.

“It’s nothing, just the patient in Bed 2 playing a prank. You don’t need to worry about her.”