Chapter 2

Zachary had been so preoccupied lately that my birthday slipped his mind completely.

I tried to convince myself it didn't bother me anymore—I was over it.

Then, out of the blue, he attempted to make amends by purchasing tickets to a Broadway show I adored.

It was an incredibly popular production, with seats almost impossible to come by. I'd failed to secure any myself, so when Zachary offered me one of his two tickets, I accepted.

On the evening of the performance, I waited for him to arrive.

And waited some more.

Instead of Zachary showing up, I noticed a post from Aria on social media, showing off two tickets to the exact same musical. Her caption stated: "Spontaneous night out at the theater. It's wonderful to have someone who's always there for you, no matter what."

While their faces weren't visible, I instantly recognized the hand in the image.

That distinctive scar—it belonged to Zachary, from an incident years ago when he'd been injured while protecting me.

In that moment, I felt utterly foolish.

As I stood outside in the downpour, concerned something might have happened to him, Zachary was inside, enjoying premium seats with his assistant.

Icy raindrops pelted my face, drenching my clothes. The cold seeped into my bones, but my heart felt even more frozen than my body.

My phone vibrated with a message from my mother.

She informed me that the wedding was scheduled for two weeks from now. If I thought it was too soon, we could delay it.

I shook my head, even though she couldn't see me, and responded, "No need. Let's stick to the plan."

The heavy rainfall had brought the city to a standstill. Traffic was chaotic, and hailing a taxi proved impossible, no matter how long I waited.

At last, Zachary called. His tone was nonchalant, as if everything was fine.

"Why aren't you at home?"

I kept my voice steady, devoid of any emotion. "I'm at the Broadway Theater."

There was a brief silence, as if he'd just recalled something. Then he said, "I'm sorry. An urgent matter came up this afternoon, and I couldn't make it. Stay put—I'll come get you."

I didn't argue, but I knew he wouldn't show up.

And I was correct.

Shortly after, Aria updated her social media again: "He didn't want me risking a cold in the rain, so he made ginger tea especially for me. A man who cooks is so attractive. Can't wait to be his wife!"

The photo showcased Zachary's back as he stood at the stove, preparing food.

I gazed at the post for a moment, then calmly closed the app.

The rain left me with a fever and a severe cold.

I used this as an excuse to move out of the main bedroom, claiming I didn't want to pass the illness to Zachary. I relocated to the guest room instead.

For once, he actually stayed home from work to take care of me.

But I couldn't bear it.

"It's just a cold," I said, maintaining a neutral tone. "I'm a grown woman. I can look after myself. You should return to work."

He frowned and studied me for a long moment.

"You used to want me around most when you were ill. What's changed?"

I lowered my gaze, concealing the emotions in my eyes, and forced a small smile.

"I was childish back then. I'm not like that anymore."

Zachary's expression creased with worry. "Natalie, is everything okay?"

"I'm fine. Please, go on."

He didn't seem convinced, but after observing me for a while, he finally sighed.

"Okay. Call me if you need anything."

As soon as he left, I exhaled deeply and fell into a deep slumber.

When I awoke, I found another message from my mother.

This time, it contained the finalized wedding arrangements.

She'd also sent images of more than a dozen wedding gowns, asking me to choose one.

I scrolled through the pictures absent-mindedly, zooming in to examine them more closely.

I was so engrossed in the task that I didn't notice Zachary enter until he grabbed my phone and tossed it aside.

"Why are you looking at wedding dresses?" he demanded, his face clouded with annoyance.

For a moment, I thought he'd figured it out—that I was planning my own wedding.

I was about to confess when his next words stopped me in my tracks.

"Natalie, is this your way of pressuring me to marry you?

I told you I'd marry you eventually. You don't need to resort to such desperate tactics—it's beneath you."