Chapter 3
In the end, it was the butler who couldn’t bear it anymore and called for an ambulance on my behalf.
When Leame to it was already the next day.
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
When I came to, it was already the next day.
The room was empty.
There was just one message from James on my phone:
“Sorry, I thought you were faking it… I’m taking Sophie to her prenatal checkup today. I’ll come see you tomorrow.””
I called the butler and asked him to send my essential documents back to the Johnson estate.
That place–I would never step foot in again.
A nurse came in holding my CT scan, looking hesitant.
“Dr. Johnson, it’s just a mild concussion, but we’d like to keep you under observation. I heard you got married yesterday… What happened?”
Chapter 3
I gave a light laugh.
“Got hit by a mad dog.”
Wasn’t that the truth?
+ 5 Points
The way James shielded Sophia–he looked every bit like a rabid dog guarding its food.
I pushed down the sharp pain in my chest and texted my parents to let them know I was safe.
Scrolling through my social media feed, I saw Sophia’s latest post–a nine–photo collage.
Eight of them were sweet shots with James from the wedding. The one in the center was a bouquet of dewy red roses.
Caption:
“To love someone isn’t just about words. Watch what he does.”
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+ 5 Points
I gave it a like–from the bottom of my heart.
Her words were a slap to the face, reminding me just how deeply James loved her.
She loved red roses. For the past two years, James had sent her a bouquet every single week–rain or shine.
They video–called every day. To him, it was “just chatting with an old friend.”
Every New Year’s, he flew to France because she’d be “lonely”
On Valentine’s Day, she got chocolates.
Independence Day? Custom fireworks.
Christmas? Limited–edition lipsticks.
Never once did he miss a holiday.
When I confronted him, he always had that condescending tone:
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
“Olivia, marriage doesn’t erase responsibility. She and I will be connected for life. It has nothing to do with love.”
But tell me what kind of man would
shoulder such a burden… if there wasn’t
love?
A few minutes later, Sophia sent me a voice recording.
I tapped it open. Her tearful voice came through:
“Jimmy, don’t divorce me, please… You still love me. Why did you agree to this marriage?”
James sighed softly.
“Grandpa gave me an ultimatum. He owes the Johnsons a life debt. I had to marry Olivia to repay it.”
“He despises unpaid debts. If not me, it
Chapter 3
Sophia asked timidly,
“Then… do you like Olivia?”
+ 5 Points
There was a long, suffocating silence before James finally answered, voice cold and steady:
“No.”
Pain knotted in my chest like a blade twisting.
Truthfully, I’d always suspected he had no feelings for me.
But whenever I asked, he’d stare at me with that unfamiliar gaze and say:
“Olivia, can’t you feel how I treat you? Do I really have to spell it out? Fine–listen closely. You’re the love of my life.”
Now I realize-“love of his life” was probably just a hollow, neutral term to him.
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
Suddenly, my phone buzzed again. I answered, and Matthew Lewis’s eager, nervous voice came through:
“Olivia! The wedding prep’s already
underway. We agreed–one week! You better
not back out!”
Before I could respond, he added threateningly.
“If you dare back out, I’ll move into your hospital and hire you as my private physician. You’ll be too busy to ever marry anyone else!”
I rolled my eyes.
“Mr. Lewis, you’ve been full of empty threats since we were kids. Name one you actually followed through on.”
“Miss Johnson, you’ve had a smart mouth since childhood. Once we’re married, we’ll see who puts who in their place!”
Chapter 3
“You’re welcome to try!”
“Oh, I will!”
“Hmph!”
“Hmph!”
+ 5 Points
We hung up at the same time–then I couldn’t help laughing.
The Johnsons and the Lewises were family friends. Matthew was basically my childhood playmate.
Whenever we met, it was either bickering or outright fighting.
When we were eighteen, he suddenly
confessed his feelings. I thought he was
joking and flatly rejected him.
Turns out he was serious–and from that day on, he never stopped chasing me.
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
The day I got engaged to James, he showed up with red eyes and said:
“Olivia, a great guy like me–you’ll never have again.”
And yesterday, this so–called “great guy” actually tried to crash my wedding.
Just thinking about it made me smile.
Maybe… marrying someone who knew me inside and out, someone who could still
make me laugh–might not be such a bad idea?
Bang!
The hospital door was violently kicked open.
James burst in, eyes bloodshot, and yanked my wrist.
“Olivia! How dare you snitch to Grandpa?! Now he’s trying to force Sophie to leave the
