Chapter 2

"What's the big deal with Liam? What do you have to be so upset about? If he wasn't Cole's rival, he's... well, alright, I guess, outside of racing."

Chloe's cold voice drifted in from outside the hospital room, and for a moment, I was disoriented.

My head throbbed, making it feel like a hallucination.

"Is that so? If you were married to a man you didn't love for seven years, wouldn't you be upset?"

Seraphina shot back, clearly annoyed.

Chloe seemed to fall silent for a second, then her tone shifted, a hint of triumph in her voice: "That's why I married Cole, isn't it?"

I closed my eyes, my heart sinking.

How could Seraphina even say that? For seven years, what exactly did she feel was so 'wrong' for her?

Just because she didn't love me, every aspect of her life was apparently a sacrifice.

Seraphina's next words were filled with fury:

"Without me, could you have married him so smoothly?! I only married Liam back then because I sensed he was out to ruin Cole, to get back at him, so I sacrificed myself!"

She claimed she couldn't bear for anything to happen to Cole, that sacrificing herself to ease the conflict was better than me doing something drastic.

I let out a bitter laugh, a dull, throbbing pain spreading through my chest.

Seraphina didn't realize I was awake and continued, saying my expression back then really looked like I was desperate, and that the years she'd spent with me had been utterly repulsive.

"As for sabotaging the brakes this time, do you still not get it? I couldn't let Liam shatter Cole's record, his legacy!"

At her words, not only was I stunned, but even Chloe took a sharp breath. "You're truly..."

"Enough! Just go. But I'll tell you this too: even though I married Liam, I'll never give up on Cole!"

Seraphina urged Chloe to leave, her final sentence filled with bitter resentment.

But I felt only an utter shattering inside. Seven years of marriage, and this was the result.

The redemption I'd once believed in with all my heart, it was all just a scheme.

"…Liam? You're awake? When did you wake up? Are you still uncomfortable anywhere?"

After Chloe left, Seraphina pushed the door open and met my eyes.

Her face immediately tightened, feigning concern.

I pushed away her hand as she reached to touch my forehead, my voice cold.

"I really don't understand why, every time I compete against Cole, something goes wrong."

"Maybe… it's just a coincidence, fate's work, who can say?"

Seraphina wasn't bothered by me pushing her away, just responded hesitantly.

"That's quite a coincidence."

I scoffed, my gaze drifting to the dark night outside the window, feeling as if my dreams had set with the sun.

"Maybe Cole has a lot of fans who don't like to see their idol's record broken? Your brakes definitely had an issue; the event organizers are investigating."

Seeing my low mood, Seraphina thought for a long time before offering those few words of comfort.

I closed my eyes, a subtle, bitter laugh welling inside.

"Seraphina, what about you? Do you treat him like an idol too?"

"I..."

Seraphina froze, stammering for a long time, unable to deny it.

Finally, she just threw caution to the wind, frowning at me.

"Liam, what are you implying? Are you actually suspicious of me? I'm your wife!"

"I just asked casually, why are you getting so worked up?"

I watched her calmly, like a cornered cat. Seraphina's face was pale, and after a long moment, she scoffed.

"You're just not good enough, and you're here doubting everyone. Is it so hard to admit you're not good enough anymore? Stop using Cole for cheap stunts and making a spectacle of yourself!"

Watching her grow more agitated with every word, her face contorting into something almost monstrous, I finally believed everything I'd just overheard.

Seraphina had never loved me. These seven years, utterly meaningless.

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