Chapter 2

"Evelyn, I've been meaning to talk to you about the dealership."

Ryan's voice pulled me back to reality.

Only the two of us were left in the hospital room. He smiled, carefully placed the glass jar, and reached out to take my hand.

"She just graduated, and it was her birthday. It was just a little gift. My CEO wife isn't jealous, is she?"

He spoke nonchalantly, as if the car dealership he'd given away was a mere insignificant plush toy.

I turned my body, avoiding his touch.

"You like women like that?"

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

Ryan's face shifted slightly. He rubbed his temple.

"I didn't tell you because I was worried you'd overthink things."

"Chloe and I are innocent, we…"

"I don't care."

I interrupted him indifferently.

"I may not have caught you red-handed in the act, but I, Evelyn, don't tolerate any dirt in my eye. Ryan, you'd better put away any inappropriate thoughts, don't force me to tear things apart."

Ryan looked up, staring at me in disbelief.

"You don't trust me?"

I looked down at him, my eyes calm and still. My silence was the most direct answer.

He was about to say more when his phone by the bed rang at just the right moment.

The name "Chloe" on the screen was particularly jarring.

Ryan hesitated before answering the call. Chloe's soft, frail voice immediately floated through the speaker.

"Ryan, is Evelyn giving you a hard time? Even if she's angry, don't argue with her, okay?"

"I made some soup, but I'm afraid Evelyn will misunderstand, so I won't bring it to you myself."

In two sentences, she managed to appear well-behaved and considerate, while subtly hinting at her closeness to Ryan.

I stood still.

Ryan glanced at my expression and hung up the phone.

I sneered inwardly, too tired to continue this charade with him, and turned to walk out of the hospital room.

"Evelyn!"

Ryan quickly called out to me.

"Are you really mad?"

"I promise I'll stay far away from her, and never contact her again. Please don't be so cold to me, okay?"

"My leg hurts…"

I tilted my head slightly, my voice devoid of any warmth.

"If your leg hurts, call a doctor. I have things to do at the company. Get some rest."

Walking out of the hospital, the cold wind on my face slightly quelled the anger simmering within me.

I pulled out my phone and called my assistant.

"Look into Chloe thoroughly. I suspect she was involved in the previous brake failure incident."

After my last car maintenance, the brakes failed midway, and I swerved into a median strip, narrowly avoiding a major accident.

That evening, the regional manager of a high-end jewelry store, sent by Ryan, personally delivered dozens of priceless jewelry pieces for me to choose from.

"Ryan is truly good to you, Ms. Harper. Such doting affection, it's truly enviable."

I scanned the jewelry, finding it only ironic.

"Don't you know that on the night a man cheats, he'll repeatedly tell his wife 'I love you' to alleviate his guilt?"

Ryan thought I was just throwing a tantrum, like those socialite wives who, upon discovering their husband's infidelity, would cry, make a scene, and finally accept jewelry and designer bags to smooth things over.

But he forgot who I was. Evelyn Harper.

The sole heir of the Harper family. I took over the family business at eighteen and dominated on Wall Street by twenty-two.

At twenty-five, I returned home and entered a business marriage with him, not because I couldn't live without him, but because of our families' long-standing friendship,

And because he promised me lifelong devotion and fidelity.

How ridiculous.

In just five short years, he had completely forgotten those vows.