I Missed His Cheat, I Curse His Fate

Chapter 2

The silence of the early morning was broken by the faint beep of the villa's door lock at 3 a.m.

With a rush of cold air, Sean stepped inside, his suit carrying the lingering scent of the rose perfume that Serena favored.

"Why's the heating off?" he questioned, casually tossing his coat onto the sofa as his eyes adjusted to the dim room and found me.

"Aren't you supposed to be in Glacialand?" I responded without meeting his gaze. "What brings you back?"

Sean's eyes flickered with guilt, then he walked over and looked at me gently.

"Assistant Lin said you weren't feeling well, so I rushed back."

"But Sarah, you need to understand."

I looked at the man in front of me. His eyes were as tender as ever—and yet, they felt like a stranger's.

He was planning a wedding for another woman, and he wanted me to "understand"?

"Fine."

I replied flatly and turned to go back to my room.

But he caught my wrist. "Sarah, I've never denied you your rightful place. Tomorrow is my grandmother's birthday banquet. You'll be attending with me. Keep your composure. You'll always be Mrs. Lewis."

I pulled away, my attention caught by the briefcase on the sofa, slightly ajar and revealing a set of design sketches.

I unfolded the paper, revealing a mermaid-style wedding gown embellished with pearls along the hem. 

That gown—the one I'd had custom-made by a designer for my own wedding. At the bottom corner was inscribed:

For Serena Quinn.

"What's this?" I demanded, holding the paper out.

A subtle change crossed Sean's features. "Serena loved that design. Pick another style. I'll ensure the designer crafts an even better one for you. Her health is delicate. She can't be displeased."

I didn't care anymore. The wedding was hers. The dress meant nothing now.

"Fine," I replied, setting the blueprints back.

Seeing how calm I was, Sean froze. He knew how long I'd prepared for that wedding. He'd expected tears, rage—anything but this quiet acceptance.

"Sarah, you—"

I didn't want to hear another excuse. "I'm tired," I said, and walked out.

The following evening, the Lewis family's ancestral mansion was aglow with lights. I strolled beside Sean, clad in an elegant black evening dress.

Serena sat across from us, adorned with a pink diamond necklace identical to the one I had been gifted the previous day. The only difference was hers bore a discreet engraving:

L&Q.

Midway through the meal, Serena suddenly screamed, clutching her neck as angry red welts rapidly spread across her skin.

"Crushed peanuts... in my soup...!"

Tears trickling down her cheeks, Serena accused, "Sarah, I know you're not fond of me, but how could you sneak peanut powder into my soup?"

An uneasy silence settled over the room. All the elders directed their gaze at me.

Sean's demeanor instantly chilled. He strode over and pulled Serena into his arms.

"It wasn't me," I asserted, my voice calm.

Sean seized the untouched bowl of seafood soup in front of me and slammed it onto the table.

"If you didn't add the peanuts, then eat the soup to prove it. Go ahead, eat it, and I'll accept your word."

I suffered from a severe seafood allergy, risking a dangerous reaction at the slightest exposure. Sean was perfectly aware of that, having once replaced every seafood item in the villa to ensure I wouldn't accidentally ingest any.

Gripping the tablecloth with white-knuckled intensity, I insisted, "I'm allergic to seafood."

Sean's voice cut through the tension like ice.

"Cut the act," he demanded, unwavering. "This soup's special, no seafood at all. You're just dodging the fact that you added peanuts. Now eat it."

I locked eyes with his unyielding gaze, betraying nothing. 

Seven years together, and this was what he thought of me.

I stared at him, picked up the bowl, and drained it in one go.

"Satisfied?"

For a second, panic crossed Sean's face. He'd only wanted me to admit I was wrong.

Then my throat closed up. My airways swelled.

I collapsed to the ground, clutching my neck, gasping for air.

"Sarah!"

My vision went dark. The last thing I saw was his panicked figure rushing toward me.

But Serena's screams pierced the chaos. "Sean, I'm terrified! I can't breathe!"

She pressed her hands to her chest, collapsing back into her chair in panic.

Desperate, I reached for Sean, my voice a strangled whisper. "Help..."

Sean didn't look back at me. He scooped up the screaming Serena and carried her out.

"Sarah, Serena's health is fragile. I'll take her first."

"Get the car, now! To the hospital!" 

Ignoring my plight, he carried her out, with urgency in his every step.

I lay there on the icy floor, watching the lights above meld into a dizzying swirl. Darkness swallowed me whole.

When I finally came to, the first thing to greet me were the sterile white walls of a hospital room.

The doctor stood at the end of the hospital bed, clutching a chart. "Ms. Nelson, there's more to your condition than just an allergic reaction. Last night's test results are back."

Handing me the report, the physician delivered the news. "It's advanced gastric cancer. It's spread extensively. You might have a month left, at most."

The hospital room door creaked open, revealing Leon, who approached with a bouquet in hand. "Ma'am, Serena has been discharged. Mr. Lewis is staying home with her, he can't get away. He asked me to bring you this fruit basket."

"Okay. Tell him I said thank you."

I accepted the fruit basket, only to toss them into the trash without a second thought.