Chapter 2

Audrey's POV

Today marked our third wedding anniversary.

It was also the day I was handed my death sentence: late-stage gastric cancer. Three months, the doctor said.

I clutched the thin report in my pocket, its sharp edges digging painfully into my palm. My stomach twisted in a familiar spasm, so intense that cold sweat beaded on my forehead.

It was 9:30 PM.

Two and a half hours had passed since our seven o'clock reservation.

I'd sent him dozens of texts and called him five times. No answer.

I told myself he was probably just busy.

Julian was the CEO of Sterling Corp, constantly swamped with work. Being busy was his default. Over the past three years, I'd grown used to waiting.

But a voice deep inside mocked me: Audrey, stop deluding yourself.

Today, Chloe was back.

The woman Julian held precious in his heart, the one he'd loved for ten whole years - his precious first love.

And me? I was just a mere stand-in, a convenient pawn he used to appease his grandfather when he was at his lowest.

My stomach clenched, harder this time. With trembling hands, I fumbled out two painkillers and dry-swallowed them. The bitterness did nothing to calm the storm raging inside.

Just then, my phone screen finally lit up.

It was Julian.

I almost instantly hit "accept."

"Julian, are you done with work? I'm still at the restaurant."

"Who told you to wait?"

His voice on the other end was devoid of warmth, impatiently cutting me off. "Audrey, can you stop being so childish? I have something extremely important going on today."

Extremely important...

I heard a soft, fragile voice in the background, laced with tears: "Darling, I'm so sorry, did I interrupt something? I just got back, and I'm a little scared."

It was Chloe.

So, his "extremely important" business was comforting his precious Chloe.

"It's fine."

Julian's voice instantly softened, a tenderness I'd never heard from him, a warmth that had always been denied to me. "Don't be scared. I'm right here."

It was a tenderness that felt like a knife, plunging straight into my heart and twisting brutally.

I asked, "Julian, are you... coming back tonight?"

It was our wedding anniversary. Even for just a second, I wanted to see him.

The phone line went silent for a few seconds, then came an even deeper impatience. "Audrey, are you done making a scene?"

"Chloe just got back to the country; she's not feeling well. I need to be with her."

"Just take a cab home yourself. Don't make a spectacle of yourself here."

A spectacle.

My hopeful waiting, in his eyes, was nothing but an embarrassment.

The rain outside intensified. The restaurant played soothing music, but I heard nothing but Julian's cold words, a spectacle.

The pain in my stomach surged again, like countless needles piercing me. My vision blurred from the agony, and breathing became a struggle.

"Julian..." I gasped, using my last ounce of strength. "My stomach hurts."

I hoped he'd hear the vulnerability in my voice, hoped for even a second of concern.

However, all I got was a cold scoff.

"Audrey, what new game are you playing? Playing the victim won't work on me."

"If you love acting so much, why don't you go win an Oscar?"

Beep... beep...

The call was ruthlessly disconnected.

I stood frozen.

The rain outside blurred the entire world.

Five years of loving him, three years married.

In his heart, I was nothing more than a manipulative, insatiably greedy woman.

Yet, I couldn't shed a single tear.

I paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant.

The cold rain instantly drenched me, chilling me to the bone. I shivered uncontrollably.

I didn't call a cab. I walked step by painful step down the deserted street.

By the time I reached the villa, I was soaked through.

The living room lights were blazing.

I pushed open the door. Julian sat on the sofa, his face grim. On the coffee table in front of him lay a stack of documents.

Seeing me enter, he didn't even lift his eyelids, just commanded in his usual tone, "Come here."

I stiffly moved my feet, each step like walking on razor blades.

He finally deigned to look up. His deep eyes held nothing but raw, unconcealed disgust.

"You're tracking water everywhere. It's filthy."

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

He seemed too lazy to hear my explanation, directly tossing the documents in front of me.

Divorce Settlement.

"Chloe's back," Julian's voice was flat, as if stating something entirely unrelated to him. "We're getting a divorce."

I lowered my head, staring at those bold words. The sharp pain in my stomach strangely vanished.

So, this was his three-year anniversary gift to me.

Divorce papers.