Chapter 2

"I'm not going through with this surgery."

"Miss Watson, I'm glad you've come to your senses."

"Your body really can't handle this kind of trauma anymore."

I pushed open the consultation room door, only to run straight into a pair of people I had no desire to see.

Pierce was pushing a wheelchair, and sitting in it was the pale-faced Scarlett Sullivan.

Scarlett wore an oversized hospital gown.

Seeing me, she covered her mouth in exaggerated surprise and laughed lightly.

"Madison, what are you doing at the hospital? You look like... you've gained even more weight."

"That heirloom mermaid dress—I'm afraid you'll have even less chance of fitting into it now."

Pierce instinctively pulled the wheelchair back a step, positioning it protectively in front of Scarlett.

He frowned.

"Didn't I tell you to go to the gym for Pilates? Why are you at the hospital?"

"Even if you're going to slack off, there's a limit. The wedding is only days away."

I stared at his hand resting on the wheelchair armrest—long fingers, well-defined knuckles, beautiful.

Last night, those same hands had caressed the bruises on my hip bones.

He'd kissed that spot, coaxing me in a low voice: "Be good, just try a little harder, and then we'll get married."

Only now did I see clearly—that wasn't love. It was domestication.

Seeing my silence, Scarlett suddenly covered her forehead, her body going limp as she collapsed into Pierce's arms.

"Pierce, I'm so dizzy. Maybe the dialysis session was too long..."

Pierce immediately bent down and pulled her into his embrace.

"Don't be scared, the doctor will be here soon. Where does it hurt?"

After comforting Scarlett, he turned to look at me.

"Scarlett got upset after seeing the wedding dress design. Her emotions are unstable."

"The doctor said she can't handle any shocks. Don't hang around in front of her. Go home."

This was my fiancé.

While I was grinding my hip bones bloody trying to fit into that dress.

He was worrying about whether another woman might get upset from seeing a picture of a wedding dress.

A wave of nausea surged up from my stomach.

I didn't meekly leave as I usually would. Instead, I stepped forward.

I looked down at Scarlett's legs hidden beneath the blanket.

"Upset?"

"Is it because she'll be a cripple for the rest of her life and can never stand up?"

Scarlett's face went deathly pale, tears welling in her eyes.

Pierce straightened up abruptly.

"Madison! Do you even know what you're saying?!"

"Scarlett became like this saving me—what right do you have to mock her?"

His assistant came running over, sweating profusely.

"Mr. Pierce, there's an emergency at the company. The board members are all waiting..."

Pierce took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his eyes.

He looked at me.

"Go home and reflect. If you still can't fit into that dress tonight, don't expect to step through the doors of the Pierce family."

With that, he hurriedly pushed Scarlett away, not sparing me another glance.

Scarlett sat in her wheelchair, looking back at me with eyes full of provocation and smugness.

I stood there, watching them disappear down the corridor, and suddenly laughed.

Reflect?

I should definitely reflect.

Reflect on how I've lived like a joke for the past three years.