Chapter 2
“No! Sophia! Run!”
Evelyn woke up in tears, finding herself in her own bed.
Her bloodstained clothes had been changed, and Dr. Lucas Reed sat beside her bed – her former college classmate who had quietly loved her for years but never dared to express his feelings because of Issac.
Now, he held her crumpled medical report, reading it over and over.
Being a doctor, Lucas understood exactly what the test results meant.
His eyes reddened as he asked shakily, “You have stomach cancer?”
Evelyn, emerging from her nightmare, gradually regained composure. She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and nodded.
Lucas shot to his feet. “And you still drink alcohol?! Issac forced you again, didn’t he?”
Evelyn lowered her eyes in silence.
But Lucas already knew the answer.
His heart aching, he grabbed her hand. “You can’t go on like this. You must leave him and start treatment
immediately!”
But Evelyn pulled her hand away.
She forced a smile. “It’s not that serious. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself.”
“Don’t you understand this is cancer…”
“I don’t want to be hospitalized, Lucas. Please let me make my own decisions.”
Seeing her determination, Lucas knew he couldn’t convince her.
He also knew that Sophia’s death five years ago was a wound she couldn’t heal from.
That’s why she became Issac’s personal assistant as penance, why she never refused anything he demanded of her.
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Chapter 2
Unable to change her mind, Lucas stayed to care for her through the night, returning to the hospital early the next morning.
Evelyn hurried to work.
Today, she was to accompany Issac to a gala.
But not as his date- merely as his assistant.
Summer Hayes was his date.
Seeing Evelyn, Summer’s face filled with contempt. “Evelyn, I admire your thick skin, still hanging around Issac.”
Summer had been their high school classmate, harboring feelings for Issac since childhood.
Having lost to the penniless Evelyn back then, Summer had always been jealous. Now, as Issac’s fiancée, she could finally torment Evelyn freely.
Evelyn offered no defense, standing quietly to the side.
When Issac approached, Summer clung to his arm affectionately. “Issac.”
Issac didn’t resist her touch, but his eyes turned cold when they fell on Evelyn. “Who said you could enter the ballroom? Wait outside.”
Winter had settled over the city, and there was no heating outside – only bitter wind.
Evelyn simply nodded. “Alright.”
She walked out to an open garden that offered no shelter from the elements.
Evelyn stood in the biting wind, her thin frame shivering.
A concerned server asked if she’d like to wait in the break room.
Evelyn silently shook her head.
She stood there until nightfall, until the gala ended.
Summer emerged wearing Issac’s coat. They both saw Evelyn still standing outside.
His throat tightened, his voice unexpectedly hoarse: “Why are you still standing here? Get going.”
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Chapter 2
He left with Summer, Evelyn following behind.
As they passed the garden’s artificial lake, Summer’s lips curved into a smile. She stumbled forward, pretending to be pushed.
“Oh no! My bracelet fell into the lake!”
She turned to Evelyn in staged anger. “Why did you push me?”
Evelyn instinctively defended herself: “I didn’t…”
“Still lying!” Summer pouted at Issac. “Issac, that was my favorite bracelet.”
Issac’s gaze lingered on Evelyn for several long seconds before he said quietly: “Jump in and find it.”
No questions asked – he’d already condemned her.
Evelyn looked at the lake, feeling the bitter cold from just one glance.
But she silently entered the water.
The lake wasn’t deep, reaching just above her knees.
But the winter water was brutally cold, each step like walking on ice blades.
Already weak, Evelyn began to sway dangerously as she searched.
Issac watched for only a few seconds before turning away. “Find that bracelet, or clear out your desk in the morning,” he said coldly, leading Summer away.
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