Chapter 2

Jane's POV

I don't know how I walked out of the jewelry store.

Outside, it had started raining. The autumn rain was freezing, cold enough to chill me to the bone.

I didn't bring an umbrella or call a car. I just walked aimlessly through the streets.

Rain washed over my face. I couldn't tell if what was on my face was tears or rainwater.

By the time I returned to our shared penthouse, the sky had gone completely dark.

The house was empty, with no lights on.

I didn't even change my clothes. I just curled up in the corner of the sofa.

I don't know how much time passed before I heard the sound of the password lock at the entrance.

The door opened, and the living room lights suddenly blazed on, making me close my eyes.

Tristan walked in carrying a chill.

Seeing me soaked through and huddled on the sofa, he froze for a moment, then quickly walked over, his brows knitted together.

"How did you end up like this? Why didn't you call me after getting caught in the rain?"

His tone carried reproach, but his movements were gentle as he grabbed a nearby towel and carefully dried my wet hair.

As he drew closer, a faint cold cedar scent hit me.

But I still keenly caught a trace of sweet bluebell fragrance mixed in.

That was Sarah's favorite perfume.

My stomach churned. Suppressing the nausea, I imperceptibly shrank back.

"My phone died."

My voice was hoarse.

Tristan sighed and touched my forehead to make sure I didn't have a fever, then relaxed slightly.

"The situation at the company was too complicated. I couldn't get away. Next time something like this happens, even if your phone is dead, find someone to borrow a phone and call me, okay?"

He looked at me with eyes full of tenderness, as if I were the most precious thing in his world.

I looked at this face so close to mine and suddenly felt it was very unfamiliar.

How could this man manage to put on such a devoted act toward me right after registering his marriage with another woman?

"Okay."

I lowered my eyes.

Tristan carried me into the bathroom, personally drew a hot bath for me, and brought clean pajamas.

"Take a hot bath so you don't catch a cold. Our wedding is next month. If you get sick, it'll break my heart."

Hearing the word "wedding," my heart felt like it was being stabbed with a needle.

I nodded and closed the bathroom door.

The warm water flowed over my body but couldn't warm my cold heart.

When I came out after bathing, Tristan had changed into loungewear and was sitting on the sofa reviewing documents.

Seeing me emerge, he beckoned.

"Come here. Take your cold medicine."

I walked over and took the medicine.

Tristan set down his documents and pulled me into his arms, resting his chin on the top of my head.

"Jane, I've already had the wedding invitations printed. Check if there are any friends you want to invite and give me the list."

My fingers gripping the cup couldn't help but tighten.

"No need. I don't have many friends."

Tristan kissed my temple.

"Then I'll just invite people from my side. I want everyone to know that you, Jane, are Tristan Fuller's one and only wife."

One and only wife.

I silently repeated those words in my mind, finding them utterly ironic.

I set down the cup and, using tiredness as an excuse, returned to the bedroom.

Lying in bed, I had just picked up my fully charged phone when the apartment doorbell suddenly rang.

This late at night, who could it be?

I put on a jacket and walked to the entrance, looking through the video doorbell to see a same-city courier standing outside.

"Ms. Jane? There's an express delivery for you."

I opened the door and signed for it. It was an exquisitely packaged black velvet gift box with no sender information.

I took the box back to the bedroom and opened it. Inside was no gift, only several freshly developed Polaroid photos and a handwritten card that smelled of bluebell perfume.

I picked up the top photo.

It was a wedding photo of Tristan and Sarah.

The second showed their interlocked fingers in close-up.

On the man's wrist was the watch I'd saved half a year's salary to buy, and on Sarah's ring finger was the brilliant diamond ring that Tristan had personally tried on my finger this morning at the jewelry store.

My gaze fell on the final handwritten card.

The handwriting was elegant, exuding haughty superiority.

"Miss Jane, thank you for taking care of Tristan for me these past five years. But it's time for Cinderella to wake from her dream. The only one who can help him in his career and deserves the title of Mrs. Fuller is me."

I stared at that card for a long time.

I knew that if Tristan wanted to hide this from me, he absolutely wouldn't allow Sarah to go public.

So Sarah used this method to thrust the knife directly in front of me.

I found it somewhat amusing.

Sarah was asserting her dominance, flaunting her victory to me.

But Sarah didn't know-I no longer wanted this man.

I threw the photos and card into the trash.

If Tristan wanted to put on a show, then I'd play along.

But I didn't plan to act with him until the finale.

I pulled up a number I hadn't contacted in five years and sent a text.

"Mrs. Fuller, does your previous offer still stand? I'm willing to take that thirty million and leave Tristan forever."