Chapter 2

Tears soaked the blessed medallion hanging against my chest.

Before my first surgery, Carter had braved freezing blizzards to trek up the mountain trails to an old chapel just to get it blessed for me.

When he returned, his skin was cracked and bleeding from the bitter frost.

Seeing me cry, he had flashed a bright grin to cheer me up. "You used to say I was too soft. Do I look tough enough now?"

I had sobbed, nodding and shaking my head, trying to tell him that wasn't what I meant.

He had carefully avoided my surgical drainage tubes and pulled me gently into his arms.

"Summer, you're the woman I'm going to spend my life with. Taking care of you is my duty."

Yet now, all that devotion was given to Chloe.

My fingers tightened around the chain. Clenching my teeth, I ripped the medallion from my neck.

Closing my eyes with trembling hands, I tossed it straight into the trash can.

A flicker of pity crossed the doctor's eyes. He parted his lips to speak, but only sighed and turned away.

Carter, who had never broken a promise to me, broke his word for the first time.

Notifications flooded the family group chat on SnapChat with photos from the shoot.

Mom was the first to reply.

*Chloe looks stunning. Standing next to Carter, they look like a match made in heaven.*

Dad didn't lavish compliments, but wrote:

*Chloe is our daughter now too. Carter, if you ever mistreat her, you'll have to answer to me.*

Carter's mother chimed in instantly:

*Never! Carter is lucky to have a girl as wonderful as Chloe. He'll cherish her with everything he has.*

I threw my head back, staring at the ceiling.

It hurt.

God, it hurt so bad.

I couldn't tell if the pain was coming from my surgical wound or my shattered heart.

It was almost midnight when Carter finally came to pick me up.

He pushed the door open, bringing in a gust of cold air along with the sweet, cloying scent of women's perfume.

My stomach churned violently.

He paused, looking flustered. "Chloe sprayed some of her perfume on me during the shoot. If you don't like it, I'll go wash it off right now."

I buried my face under the blanket and said nothing.

Half an hour later, damp from the shower, Carter stood by my bed.

He smelled of the exact same body wash I used.

In the past, I would always curl into his chest after he showered, breathing in the scent that belonged solely to him.

Now, that scent was tainted.

"Summer, get up. Let's go home."

I didn't move.

He frowned, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice. "Stop acting out. Your parents and Chloe are waiting for you at the house."

Acting out?

A bitter, self-mocking smile touched my lips.

What right did I even have to act out anymore?

I avoided his outstretched hand, slowly pushing myself up from the bed.

"Let's go," I said flatly.

Stepping out the hospital doors, the winter chill sliced into my lungs like a blade.

A ragged cough tore from my throat, sending blinding agony through my fresh surgical wound.

Carter frowned, patting my back as he scolded me under his breath.

"Why are you only wearing a thin coat? Why didn't you wear the down jacket I bought you the other day?"

"Summer! Even if you're throwing a tantrum, you shouldn't gamble with your health!"

I pushed his hand away, fighting through the pounding pain in my chest.

"I'm not throwing a tantrum. You took that jacket away. This coat is the only thing I have left in the hospital."

Carter froze, his fingers curling inward.

He suddenly remembered that when the temperature dropped a few days ago, he had draped that exact down jacket over Chloe's shoulders.

"If you didn't have clothes, why didn't you tell me?" he muttered defensively.

I let out a faint scoff.

Tell him? How could I?

Every time I opened my mouth, he cut me off to drive Chloe somewhere or take her out to dinner.

The nurses had reminded him multiple times that I was dressed too lightly and that my compromised immune system couldn't handle a cold.

He had promised to bring warm clothes every single time, only to forget the moment he walked out the door.

Seeing my silence, he pulled off his own coat in frustration and draped it over me.

"We'll talk when we get home."

Carter was driving the SUV we had bought together.

Yet the passenger seat—my seat—now had a label stuck on it: *Chloe's Reserved Seat*.

Carter cleared his throat, offering a dry explanation. "Too many girls at the office were trying to hit on me, and since you were stuck in chemo, Chloe came up with this idea to keep them away."

My eyes flickered, but I didn't respond.

Watching the neon lights blur past the window, I spoke softly.

"Carter, I want to apply for that experimental clinical trial Dr. Miller mentioned."

"It's overseas. So... let's break up."