Chapter 2

Many residents had posted videos saying that Building Eleven was on fire.

The blaze was so fierce that even after the firefighters arrived, it took more than three hours to bring it under control.

Claire’s hand trembled as she slowly scrolled through the messages.

Only after she saw one resident say that the fire had started in the equipment room beside Building Eleven did the knot in her chest finally loosen.

I gave a bitter laugh.

Claire probably still didn’t know that, in order to destroy the evidence, the criminals had carried my body into the equipment room.

The room was packed with miscellaneous items, so setting it on fire would make my body difficult to identify.

“How come? You don’t look so good.”

Claire shook her head and said she was fine.

She refreshed her Snapchat page several times, and her face grew uglier with every passing second.

The connection between Claire and me had almost never been broken.

She must have been wondering why I could call her but hadn’t sent her even a single message now.

“Are you waiting for Alex to contact you?”

“Did you two fight because of me?”

Ethan looked somewhat aggrieved. “The trophy and certificate in my hands should technically belong to him. I can understand Alex being angry. Why don’t I go apologize to him?”

“Apologize for what? None of this matters to him anymore. You don’t need to feel guilty. I know Alex better than anyone. He’ll come begging me within three days.”

Ethan opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace, whispering a thank-you into her ear.

The sight pierced my eyes.

A faint smile lifted Claire’s lips. “You don’t have to thank me. By the way, to celebrate your award tonight, I prepared a surprise for you.”

During all the years I had been with Claire, I had prepared something for her every anniversary and birthday.

She never bothered with any of it.

She wouldn’t even buy me a cake.

I had always thought she was forgetful, that she simply didn’t remember, or that she was too busy to find the time.

I made excuses for her again and again.

Now I understood.

She simply didn’t care about me. She had never thought I was worth spending time on.

Claire took Ethan to an empty field and covered his eyes.

The instant she removed the blindfold, fireworks exploded across the sky.

Ethan was so moved that his eyes turned red.

He turned around and pulled Claire tightly into his arms. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“Honestly, I don’t even know how to express my gratitude!”

Claire held his face in both hands and gently wiped the tears from his cheeks.

“You idiot. I’ll prepare many, many more surprises for you in the future.”

They stared into each other’s eyes.

Ethan lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers in a light kiss.

“Claire, divorce Alex and be with me.”

“You’ve done so much for me. Alex may love you, but he must resent you now. I don’t want you to suffer with him.”

“I love you. I care about you. I can give you everything I have. In Alex’s eyes, you’ll never be as important as his career, but I’m different. Claire, will you give me a chance?”

Ethan stared at her without moving, his eyes burning with passion.

I knew his confession had shaken her.

At that moment, I was like a joke, watching my wife show affection to another man.

It felt as though something had been ripped out of my chest.

All the beautiful memories Claire and I had shared collapsed inside me in an instant.

Before Claire could answer, her phone suddenly rang.

It was my mother calling.

Claire frowned. She clearly didn’t want to answer, but out of respect for her elder, she had no choice but to pick up.

When she put the phone to her ear, her voice was filled with impatience. “Mom, what is it? I’m working overtime. I’m busy.”

She lied without the slightest hesitation, and she still had one arm wrapped around Ethan.

“Claire, the police just called me and said there was a fire in your apartment complex!”

“I know,” Claire replied indifferently. “If that’s all, I’m hanging up.”

My mother immediately began crying in panic. “They said they found a body at the scene. It looks like Alex!”