Chapter 2

My father's voice came through the phone, laced with surprise.

"Why bring this up all of a sudden? Didn't Lucas say this project was guaranteed profit?"

"Listen to me. Pull the funding immediately." My grip tightened around the phone, my knuckles blanching. "And one more thing. If Lucas suggests mortgaging the Eastside land, do not agree to it."

"Did you have a fight with Lucas, Claire?" My father asked, his voice full of concern.

"No. Just trust me this once. I'll go back to the company tomorrow and check the accounts."

After hanging up, I glanced at the darkening sky outside.

The pregnancy test report in my bag had already been torn into pieces.

That life, which had once filled me with joy...

In my previous life, it had become the very blade he used to destroy me.

This time, I wouldn't even give his child the chance to be born.

At eleven that night, Lucas pushed open the bedroom door.

A faint trace of perfume clung to him.

It was Vanessa's favorite brand.

"Still awake?" he asked, slipping off his suit jacket as he walked to the bed.

"I was waiting for you." I closed the book in my hands.

He rubbed his brow.

"Didn't I tell you to rest early?"

"Long meeting?" I asked, my eyes fixed on the faint red mark at his collar.

"A few of the senior shareholders were difficult," he said with a sigh.

He lay down beside me and reached out to pull me into his arms.

I turned away, avoiding his arm.

"I think I'm coming down with something. Don't want to pass it to you."

Lucas's hand fell into empty space.

He went silent for a moment in the dark.

"Claire, you've been avoiding me all day."

"Have I?" I closed my eyes. "I'm just tired."

The room fell into a long, suffocating silence.

"Next week is our third anniversary," he said into the darkness. "What kind of gift do you want?"

"Anything from you is fine," I replied softly.

"Then don't forget to sign that proxy agreement tomorrow." He slipped into the real topic as if it meant nothing.

I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling.

"Sure. Have the lawyer bring it tomorrow."

Late at night.

Lucas thought I was asleep.

He slipped out of bed, phone in hand, and headed toward the balcony.

I opened my eyes, watching his back.

The sliding door to the balcony was left slightly ajar.

The night breeze carried his deliberately lowered voice into the room.

"Vanessa, don't start. Didn't I spend the whole afternoon with you today? That old bastard already agreed to mortgage the Eastside land. As soon as the funds come through, the Holloway family will be finished. Be good. Give me a few more days. Once the anniversary is over, I'll come clean with her."

His tone was just as gentle as when he coaxed me.

But beneath it, there was something rotten-something greedy enough to make my skin crawl.

Barefoot, I slipped out of bed, staying out of his line of sight as I made my way into the study.

The safe in the study was set to my birthday.

He had once used that detail to prove how deeply he loved me.

I entered the code and pulled open the heavy door.

Inside lay a thick stack of documents.