Chapter 1

When Nanette Wood arrived at the Jewel Club, everyone there had already enjoyed several rounds of drinks. The spacious private room was buzzing with laughter and chatter.

Sterling Hanson, who was seated at the main table, wore a calm expression. Due to the alcohol, a faint flush adorned his cheeks. He had loosened a couple of buttons on his exquisite shirt, leaving the collar slightly open in a relaxed manner.

His usually icy gaze softened as he glanced down at the woman beside him.

After a moment, his eyes seemed to carry a hint of amusement as they swept over Nanette. They radiated an endless chill.

"Sterling, could you peel the shrimp for me?"

With a slightly indulgent look, Sterling accepted the shrimp that Isla Lynch handed him with his long, slender fingers.

Nanette's gaze involuntarily drifted to him. She had never seen him peel shrimp so delicately before. Although she was Sterling's wife of three years, she only saw him a few times each year.

Taking a deep breath, Nanette tried to calm herself. She should be used to this by now, right?

"Sterling, you never attended any of the past reunions. I didn't expect you to bring someone along today. You two seem close. When's the wedding?"

The words of Zeke Smith, their former class representative, sparked everyone's curiosity. They all turned to Sterling, waiting for his response.

At that moment, no one noticed Nanette standing at the doorway except Sterling. He remained silent, and his nonchalance caused Nanette to feel a pang in her heart.

It felt so ironic that her husband, whom she had not seen in months, was now sitting so closely beside Isla in such a setting.

"Hey, Nanette! Why'd you arrive so late?" Zeke saw her upon turning around and warmly invited her in.

Nanette's attendance today was a result of his special effort to get her here. He even visited her at the hospital.

"Sterling, do you remember? You two were the top students in our class back in the day."

Sterling glanced at Nanette with a sidelong look and a faint smile. He then casually draped his left arm around Isla.

Isla giggled softly in response, waving at Nanette as a greeting.

Nanette gritted her teeth, taking a moment to steady her breath. Her smile appeared polite yet distant. "It's been so many years. I barely remember."

Shooting a glance her way, Sterling said in a cold tone, "Yeah. I don't remember much either."

Even though she knew her place in his heart had diminished, hearing those words still stung deeply.

The atmosphere turned awkward as their hostility raised questions among the others present. How could two people, who had barely interacted during their time in school, be so impolite to one another now?

Zeke forced a laugh. "Well, it's normal not to remember things after so many years, but I promise you'll recall everything later."

Leaning slightly toward Nanette, he added, "You must be hungry, right? Hurry and eat something."

Nearby, a group of young men began to tease, "Zeke, you still haven't given up after all these years? I was wondering why you left an empty spot next to you. So, it turns out you were waiting for our school belle."

Laughter erupted in the private room. It was not a secret that Zeke had once pursued Nanette.

Ignoring the teasing from the others, Zeke courteously served food to Nanette while saying, "Eat more. You look thinner than when I last saw you."

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Nanette offered a light smile and replied, "Thank you, but I can serve myself."

"Nanette, I'd like to raise a toast to you!"

Just as she took a bite of her food, Isla sweetly held up her glass and gazed at her with a charming smile.

Before Nanette could respond, Zeke lifted his own glass. "She has a weak stomach. I'll drink on her behalf."

Isla's eyes, which were somewhat filled with disappointment, briefly scanned Nanette as she said, "Nanette, you're so lucky. You just got here, and someone's already looking out for you."

"It's just a drink, Zeke. Nanette isn't that fragile," a young man nearby chimed in, obviously trying to curry favor with Sterling.

Sterling simply sat there, dignified and aloof. He was quietly watching as others filled Nanette's glass, acting almost as if he were a detached observer.

Feeling awkward, Nanette stood up. "I really can't drink. I have..."

"Not even a sip? Do you hold no regard for your former classmates, Nanette?" Sterling suddenly spoke, and his disdainful tone caused an immediate hush in the room.

Nanette managed a bitter smile as her heart tightened. Was he truly forcing her to drink for Isla's sake?

When their eyes met, a wave of chill surged through Nanette. It felt as if her blood froze over at that moment.

"Sterling, Nanette has been having stomach issues since our schooling days. She can't handle alcohol. She has no choice but to reject Isla's toast," Zeke patiently explained.

Sterling smirked. "Zeke, if you want to play the hero, one drink hardly seems sincere."

"Sterling, that's a bit much..."

Nanette then grabbed Zeke's arm, taking a deep breath to steady herself before forcing a smile.

"I suppose it's rare for Mr. Hanson to attend our gatherings. Since the future Mrs. Hanson wants to give me a toast, it'd be ungracious of me not to drink."

She did not refuse to drink initially due to her stomach issue; it was because she was allergic to it. Even low-alcohol fruit wines could trigger rashes, so liquor was definitely out of the question.

Once, after mistakenly drinking a beverage that contained alcohol, she broke out in hives all over.

At that time, Sterling had been very concerned. He even took her to the hospital for an emergency visit in the middle of the night.

Could he truly have forgotten that?

Suppressing the pain in her heart, Nanette tilted her head back, finishing the contents of the glass without leaving even a drop left.

Sterling's hand, which was holding a glass, suddenly paused. A hint of annoyance flickered across his otherwise calm expression, and his lips trembled slightly.

The strong liquor burned Nanette's throat, but it could not compare to the chill rising from within her.

Nanette stared at Sterling, enunciating each word, "Are you satisfied now, Mr. Hanson?"

Sterling composed himself and glanced at Isla. "You ask her."

Isla looked at Nanette, her smile brightening. "Nanette, you're so cool. Well, I'll drink too."

She was just about to raise her hand when Sterling took the glass from her. "You can't drink. Why are you pretending to be tough?"

His voice was low, laced with anger and an undeniable authority.

Anyone could tell that although he was directing his words at Isla, they were truly meant for Nanette.

Isla looked down, feeling somewhat aggrieved. However, when she caught sight of Nanette's pale face, her eyes shone with smugness.

Nanette thought she had built a strong enough emotional fortitude, yet tonight, she felt deeply wounded.

He would tenderly care for his woman, while someone insignificant like her meant nothing to him. It felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on her chest. The sudden suffocation made her vision darken and left her gasping for air.

Zeke noticed her pallor and the stiffness in her demeanor. He anxiously asked, "Nanette, are you feeling unwell?"

Nanette clenched her hands tightly, only managing to say, "I'm sorry. I don't feel well. I might need to leave early."

At that moment, Sterling fixed his inscrutable gaze on the patch of red on her collarbone, and his eyes became filled with intensity.

It was a reaction to her alcohol allergy. It would often start from just below her neck and potentially spread throughout her body.

Her heart was already shattered by Sterling, but Nanette still longed to preserve the last shred of her dignity.

Hence, she declined Zeke's offer to walk her out. She stood tall as she left, determined not to appear too pitiful.

On that winter night in Saint Wis, the cold wind bit at her face like a knife.

Nanette pulled her coat collar tighter around her and hurried to find a pharmacy.

...

An hour later, she trudged into the old neighborhood. She started renting a place here not long ago.

The dim street lights flickered on and off, casting mottled shadows along the path home. The hallway lights had been broken for several days, and no one had bothered to fix them, leaving the area shrouded in darkness.

As she groped her way to her door, she rummaged through her bag for her keys. The rustling sound echoed loudly in the quiet corridor.

When she looked down, she spotted a tall man standing at the corner of the staircase. He had his back to her, and his fingertips glowed with flickering sparks.

Feeling a rush of panic, Nanette hurried to open the door as she felt her heart pounding out of her chest.

Just as she prepared to step inside, the man flicked away his cigarette and suddenly approached her.

"Hel—"

Before Nanette could finish her plea, she found herself pulled into a hard embrace.