Chapter 2

During those dark days, Pearson had countless times snatched sharp objects from my hands, encouraging me to overcome my emotions and move toward a new life.

Ivy stayed by my side constantly, eating and sleeping with me, using her gentle voice to untangle all my emotional knots.

They healed me, and I loved them too.

So when Pearson said he needed money to start a business, I sold my mother's bracelet without a second thought.

When Ivy accidentally caused a counseling incident, I took all the blame without hesitation.

But now I learned it was just a game the rich played with me.

And my role was the clown.

Ivy choked out, "Zoe, I know this is hard to accept right now. I can apologize to you."

"It's just that we already registered our marriage today. If you can forgive me, I can give you the wedding ceremony! I'll even be your bridesmaid!"

Give?

I laughed bitterly. "No need. Unlike you two, I find a fake wedding disgusting."

Pearson gripped my wrist hard, confused. "Zoe Harper, what exactly do you have to feel wronged about? Ivy and I lowered ourselves to squeeze into that rental eating noodles with you. We acted out love and friendship for you. Didn't you enjoy it yourself?"

"Ivy was even afraid your wedding would be embarrassing, so she coaxed me into doing it a few more times before I agreed to the fake ceremony. We're giving you a way out. Don't be ungrateful."

I shook off his hand and said word by word, "I don't need fake feelings!"

I took off the diamond ring from my finger and threw it at Pearson.

I went downstairs to the lobby. Outside the hotel entrance, a large crowd had gathered, noisy and chaotic.

"Didn't they say someone was suicidal? Why did the emergency responders leave?"

"I heard a female psychologist made a wrong diagnosis. She actually came to catch someone cheating!"

"I hate homewreckers the most. When we beat up the mistress, I'll help."

Ivy had been chasing after me, but seeing this scene, she stumbled back a few steps.

Someone in the crowd immediately said, "I just went upstairs to look. The homewrecker is one of them!"

Ivy hid behind Pearson, anxiously refuting, "It's not me. I already registered my marriage with Pearson. Zoe, help me explain."

In an instant, everyone's eyes locked onto me.

"Isn't that Zoe Harper from the news? The psychological counselor? The news reported she seduced a client who had a wife!"

"That's her! During counseling, she even advised my wife to divorce me!"

"How can a homewrecker be qualified to counsel others?"

The accusations rushing at me made my heart tighten.

Seducing a client was the boundary violation Ivy caused during her counseling internship. I was afraid she'd get in trouble, so I took the blame.

Counselors rarely give advice, but when Ivy was playing with my phone, she jokingly advised clients seeking help to break up or divorce.

Watching the crowd close in, I could only try to buy time waiting for security. "This is all a misunderstanding. Actually, actually..."

But Pearson cut me off urgently. "Zoe Harper, you did all these things yourself. Who are you trying to slander? You have depression to begin with. You got married at 18 and ran away. With someone like you, nothing you do would be surprising!"

As soon as he spoke, everyone's gaze became both curious and contemptuous.

My heart raced and I gasped for air, trembling as I hugged myself.

When I used to be too afraid to sleep, Pearson stayed by my bedside with a baseball bat for several nights.

When I cried all night because of depression, Pearson held me and patiently told me over and over that it wasn't my fault.

What I once thought was light had now become a piercing blade.

Pearson's words enraged the crowd. An extreme man raised his mineral water bottle and threw it hard at me, but it missed and flew toward Ivy instead.

Ivy grabbed me and used me as a shield.

The rough plastic instantly sliced across half my face. Blood flowed with the sharp pain.

At the sight of blood, the onlookers screamed in panic. "There's blood! Someone's killing people! Everyone run!"

The crowd scattered. In the pushing and shoving, a strong force hit me. I was pushed down the steps.

My abdomen slammed hard into a ground pillar. The pain made my vision go dark.

I used all my strength to call for help, but when security arrived, they were stopped by Pearson.

Watching Pearson and security protect Ivy as they left, I smiled bitterly and closed my eyes, letting my consciousness sink into the abyss.