Chapter 2

Even though I couldn’t see Ellie, I could easily picture the smug, taunting look on her face.

If this were the past, I would have rushed over immediately, eager to bend over backward to please Yaron.

Now, I just found it all incredibly dull.

I let out a contemptuous scoff, lifted my gaze to the distance, and replied nonchalantly, “What does it have to do with me if he’s mad?”

“Megan!”

Before I could say another word, Yaron’s furious voice erupted from the other end of the call. I heard the sound of him snatching the phone away, followed by a chilling, sinister laugh.

“Do you have a death wish? I told you to get over here. So get over here. Now!

“If I don’t see you in ten minutes, you’ll face the cons—”

Before he could finish his threat, I hung up. Without hesitation, I deleted and blocked his number—along with every other way he could contact me.

Only after doing that did I toss my phone onto the passenger seat, grip the Ferrari’s steering wheel with one hand, and drive out of the Hayes family’s mansion grounds.

…

My parents fully supported my decision to go abroad for further studies. They knew I had stayed in the city all these years solely because of Yaron.

Now that I was finally willing to let go of my obsession, they couldn’t be happier.

Within a week, I handled all the necessary paperwork and arrangements. I even contacted a real estate agent overseas—after all, I had no idea when I’d be back in the city again.

Once everything was settled, I took advantage of the weekend to have dinner with my parents.

“A toast to our dearest daughter. May she have a wonderful time abroad and achieve great things!”

As my dad’s warm voice rang out, I smiled, lifted my glass alongside my mom, and clinked it with theirs.

Over the years, they had worried endlessly about my relationship with Yaron. No matter how many foolish, reckless things I had done, they had always been there to catch me when I fell.

After dinner, my mom went to pick up a custom-made dress she had ordered, and my dad went with her. As I watched them leave, I reached for my phone to call a designated driver.

That was when Bryan Lane, a mutual friend of Yaron’s and mine, came strolling over with a cheeky grin. He casually threw an arm around my shoulders.

“Megan, what are you doing here? Did you find out it’s my birthday today and decide to wait here just for me?”

“I—”

Before I could get a word out, he grabbed my wrist and started dragging me upstairs.

“What, you’re not even gonna show up for my birthday? Don’t embarrass me like that.”

Within moments, I found myself pulled into a private room.

The first thing I saw was Yaron, lounging on the couch with a lazy smile as he held Ellie in his arms.

As soon as I stepped inside, all eyes turned to me, filled with curiosity and amusement. After all, who in this room didn’t know about the tangled mess between me, Yaron, and Ellie?

I took a deep breath, suppressing the anger rising in my chest, and turned to Bryan with a cold stare.

“What’s your deal? Trying to make me a joke for everyone’s entertainment?

“You sure you want to risk your family’s business partnership with ours?”

Bryan instantly fell silent. I was known for having a good temper—he hadn’t expected me to snap like that.

Without waiting for an explanation, I shot him a glare and turned to leave.

Just then, a deep voice sounded from the private room.

“Megan, you’re not even going to say hello before leaving?”

I looked over to see Yaron lounging back against the couch, his eyes half-narrowed as he gazed at me with a casual air.

As soon as he spoke, Ellie got up with a sickly sweet smile, sauntering over like a snake. She grabbed my arm and pulled me further into the room.

“Miss Stone, Yaron lost his temper because you didn’t listen to him last time. You’d better not upset him again this time.”

I was forced into the room.

Bryan let out an awkward laugh, then walked over and pushed me down onto the couch beside Yaron.

“Megan, come on, I just wanted everyone to hang out. No need to get so worked up, right?

“You don’t have to threaten me over a business deal.”

As he said this, he turned to look at Yaron. “Yaron, you should really keep her in check.”

Yaron didn’t respond immediately. His gaze was fixed on me like a sharp, unwavering predator sizing up its prey.

After a long pause, Yaron asked, “You’ve been drinking?”

Ever since I donated a kidney to him years ago, my health had never been the same. That was why I never touched alcohol, no matter the occasion.

But tonight, I had been in a good mood. I had allowed myself a little.

Only to have him catch me.