Chapter 2
876 Words
"I still have work to do. Since everyone thinks my presence is ruining the mood, I'll leave first."
I grabbed my suitcase and turned to walk away.
A figure stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
Jason placed his hand over mine, his brows furrowing as he let out a cold laugh.
"So you're done pretending, huh? How much do you charge? I'll pay. Will you stay with me for one night?"
The sound of my slap echoed through the room.
"It was you two who set this whole thing up and humiliated me with a fake proposal. I didn't even bother making a scene, and now you're the one who won't let it go?"
Everyone around us sucked in a sharp breath.
Jason pressed his tongue against his burning cheek, a trace of anger hidden in his eyes.
"It's Valentine's Day. You're in such a hurry to leave... Is it really work, or is there another man waiting for you?"
I raised my hand again.
But this time, he caught my left wrist before I could strike.
"What? Feeling guilty?"
I swung my free right hand at him.
"You're shameless."
The entire room fell silent.
Jason laughed out of pure anger.
"Aren't independent women like you supposed to be good at weighing pros and cons? I'm paying you to spend Valentine's Day with me. You get nothing but benefits. How can you not even do this simple math?"
I laughed too.
"Then tell me, how much are you planning to pay to buy one night with me? My time is charged by the minute."
Jason pulled a black card from his pocket.
"Make me happy, and this card is yours."
I gave a bitter smile.
Nine years. He still didn't understand me.
If I had really been someone who cared about money and luxury...
I never would have chosen my career over staying by his side back then.
All I had to do was keep him happy. During the years when I had the most potential, how many black cards could he have given me if I had wanted them?
But unfortunately, I, Zoe Shaw, knew myself better than anyone.
Given the difference between my family's background and the Lawrence family... if I didn't work hard to improve myself, it was only a matter of time before his family forced us apart.
By then, trying to build a career and fight for my own place would have been too late.
So instead of waiting for that day to come, I chose to make myself shine from the very beginning.
Maybe someday in the future, Jason would be the one who wasn't good enough for me.
I just never expected that no matter what choice I made... our relationship would still end up breaking apart.
Fine.
Rather than dragging this out endlessly, it was better to settle everything tonight.
I loosened my grip and let him take my suitcase.
Sitting down on the couch, I pointed at the wheel.
"Don't waste such a perfectly good prop. Let's play this."
"How do we play?"
Jason didn't sit beside me. Instead, he walked over and sat next to Chloe.
I didn't call him out on it. My eyes fell on the blank sections still left on the wheel.
"There's still space left, isn't there? Add a few more fun challenges. Whoever the wheel lands on has to do it. No backing out once you lose."
I looked at Chloe.
"The $1.39 chocolate ring was your idea, wasn't it?"
Jason was worth hundreds of millions. Even the things that slipped through his fingers could have been worth my entire year's salary.
During our nine years together, Chloe had always been our relationship advisor.
She had planned our confessions, anniversaries, Valentine's Days... And now, even our proposal.
Since she loved making the decisions so much, tonight I would let her decide everything.
"You come up with the rest. Whatever you write, I'll accept."
Chloe's expression stiffened.
"Zoe, do you think I was trying to ruin your relationship?"
She pulled a thick red envelope out of her bag.
"I really didn't mean anything by it. I only wanted you and Jason to be happy. I prepared this bridesmaid gift for you myself. I've brought it with me every Valentine's Day. But Jason was the one who didn't want to marry you. What could I have done?"
I looked at the bright red envelope in her hand.
Chloe and I had shared a dorm room in college. We had slept under the same blanket and shared a single cup of instant noodles.
When I needed emergency surgery, she was the one who signed the paperwork for me.
When she was hospitalized, I stayed by her side, taking care of her and watching over her through the night.
We had seen each other at our lowest and most helpless moments.
What we had was far beyond ordinary friendship.
We once promised that when either of us got married, we would stand by each other's side as family and give each other a generous wedding gift.
My heart softened for a moment.
Had I really been overthinking everything?
I took the envelope from her hand. But the moment I opened it, I froze.
- Writer
