Chapter 2

They were in various states - some with mangled flesh and blood, others unconscious.

Those were the ones who truly needed every second counted, fighting to snatch life back from the jaws of death.

I pried Lanaya's fingers off me one by one, coldly uttering, and left without looking back.

Even from a distance, I could still hear her cursing at me.

I walked with a stony face to a corner out of her sight, and finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Although Lanaya and I only met through a blind date, I had genuinely grown to like her over these past few years together.

Shortly after, Lanaya called me again.

Her tone was panicked and flustered.

"Donavan, come to the hospital quickly, I urgently need money."

Hearing this, I thought she might have some injury I hadn't noticed, so I rushed to the hospital.

As soon as I got out of the car, I saw Lanaya looking around at the entrance.

"Lanaya, what's-"

Before I could finish my concerned question, Lanaya cut me off.

She pulled me urgently inside, talking hastily as we ran.

"Quick, you need to pay for Owen's admission, he needs to be hospitalized and I don't have enough money on me."

My feet suddenly felt nailed to the spot.

Lanaya realized she couldn't pull me along, stopped, and turned back impatiently."Donavan, what kind of stunt are you trying to pull now?"

Stunt?

Just because she doesn't love me, everything I've done since our marriage has been a 'stunt' in Lanaya's eyes.

Holding back the pain in my heart, I asked her, "You called me here just to pay Owen?"

"Yes."

"What else?"

"What other use could you possibly have?"

Lanaya replied without a moment's hesitation.

I came to my senses and shook off her hand, striding away.

Lanaya stomped her feet behind me, yelling, "Donavan, stop right there!"

"You haven't paid Owen yet. Pay him before you leave."

Now that I've calmed down from the initial panic of her call, I remembered that all the money at home was in Lanaya's hands.

Yet she claimed there was no money.

Was this deliberate humiliation, or...

"Lanaya, isn't all the money at home in your hands?"

When I brought up this topic, Lanaya's arrogance suddenly vanished.

She stammered for a long time, unable to utter a single word.

I had a bad feeling about this and gripped her wrist, pressing for answers.

Finally, Lanaya threw caution to the wind and directly placed the blame on me.

"It's all because of you."

Her voice dripped with accusation. "If you hadn't forgotten my birthday, would I have gone out to buy myself a gift?"

I froze, remembering the birthday present still nestled in my pocket, yet to be given.

But how could a single gift lead to being flat broke?

"What did you buy?" I eyed Lanaya suspiciously.

She lowered her head, speaking with clear irritation. "I bought a house."

"Are you satisfied now, Donavan? Can you pay me back now?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "He's your lover, not mine."

Then I walked out of the hospital, my face clouded over.

The sky had turned overcast at some point, looking as if it was about to pour down in torrents.

Just like my heart.

"