**Chapter 2**
reborn. But I didn’t let any emotion show on my face.
It dawned on me then. Blair had also be l
W
I clenched my fists, my voice filled with
mad!”
anger
nd disbelief. “You actually believe Blair’s nonsense about the end of the world? You’ve all gone
“Dad’s company landed several big projects thanks to my foresight!” Blair sauntered down the stairs, head held high. “All the money we earned, Dad used to buy an entire warehouse of common medicines. These will be more valuable than gold in the apocalypse.”
Her eyes were scornful. She glided into Julian’s s arms, her fingers tracing his flat stomach.
“I might as well tell you the truth: I’m carrying Julian’s child. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll serve me well. In the apocalypse, I might even spare you a bowl of rice.”
My cold gaze flickered between their faces. It seemed they had been illicitly involved long before the supposed apocalypse.
Julian suddenly felt a prickle on his skin. “Cassie, we’ve been married for three years, and you haven’t given me a child. I’m an only son; you have to consider carrying on my family name.”
Only son? Please. This backwoods bumpkin acts like he’s heir to a kingdom.
I scoffed, pulling off the simple band from my finger and dropping it
Julian’s feet.
“Since you put it that way, I certainly need to consider your royal lineage. And since Blair says it’s only two months, we should hurry and finalize our divorce before the world ends.”
Julian stared intently at the wedding ring I had discarded
So
carelessly, his brows deeply furrowed.
Our family backgrounds were vastly different. After he graduated from college, I willingly gave up everything to help him start his business. We huddled together in a cramped, damp basement for warmth. To earn money, I worked five jobs a day, my hands in icy water washing dishes during the bitter winter, my fingers aching and itching.
He used the first money he ever earned to buy me that ring–a simple silver band with only a tiny chip of a diamond embedded in it.
Later, he succeeded in his venture, and I, with my top–tier qualifications, secured a position at a leading medical research institute. Yet, I still cherished that ring as if it were priceless.
My reaction clearly caught him off guard. Julian could no longer maintain his gentle facade, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.
“Cassandra, don’t throw a tantrum! At a time like this, we need to stick together as a family to get through this hardship. In fact, tomorrow, hurry up and ask all your friends and colleagues to lend you some money. You’re well–connected; borrowing a few million shouldn’t be an issue!”
I sneered, too disgusted to entertain his absurd words, and walked straight upstairs to rest.
To my shock, when I woke up the next day, my room door was wide open, and the entire wardrobe, which held all my gold and silver jewelry and designer bags, was gone.
I bit down hard on my lower lip, my voice sharp as I demanded to know where my things had gone.
He acted completely unconcerned. “You were sleeping soundly, I didn’t want to wake you. Those jewels and bags were useless anyway. Selling them meant we could buy a few more sacks of rice.”
I could barely contain my rage. “What about the gold ring under my pillow? That was my mother’s only keepsake!”
Julian’s voice faltered, then he sighed. “Cassandra, your mother passed away so many years ago. But you still have your father, Blair is your blood, and I’m your family too. Can’t you make a sacrifice for your loved ones?”
His entitled tone tore through what little sanity I had left. I suddenly burst out laughing, but large tears streamed down my face.
His breath hitched. He wanted to say something more, but I pushed him out of the room.
I collapsed amidst the chaos, tears flowing uncontrollably, a helpless smile playing on my lips.
