Chapter 2

Winston returned at 8:00 pm. He brought the strawberry cake Kayla loved the most.

He walked in, spreading his arms wide toward her.

Kayla was on the couch.

"Kay, I'm home."

Winston wrapped her in his arms, pressing his face into her neck and inhaling deeply as if he couldn't get enough of her scent.

Suddenly, he lifted his head. "You're not feeling well, are you?"

Winston had a keen sense. He must've picked up on the faint trace of hospital antiseptic on her.

Kayla gave a slight smile. "It's nothing. I caught a cold, so I went to the hospital for some medicine. It's nothing serious."

Winston headed straight for the kitchen. It didn't take long before he returned, holding a warm cup of ginger tea with honey he'd made himself.

"I should've looked after you better," he said, looking at her with a broken heart. "It's gotten chilly, and I didn't do enough to look after you."

Then, he looked over his shoulder and told the butler to stoke the fireplace.

Kayla took a few small sips of the tea and set it down. She wasn't in the mood for it.

Winston pulled out a small box, almost as if he were offering her something precious. Inside lay a beautifully crafted white gold, diamond-studded barrette, its shine catching the light.

"Let me put this on you." He carefully slid the barrette into her hair, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before pulling her into a passionate hug. "I knew it. It fits you perfectly."

Kayla noticed a bright kiss mark on the inside of his collar. She didn't bring it up or question him.

Instead, she looked up at him. "I've got a gift for you, too."

"Really?" Winston's eyes sparkled like a kid who'd been promised candy.

Kayla hummed and nodded. "Not today, but in a few days. I want it to be a surprise."

Winston buried his face in her shoulder again and nodded. "Sure, Kay—whatever you say."

Kayla glanced at her handbag and gave a wry smile. Her diagnosis report lay quietly inside.

"Winston, I hope you'll like this surprise when the time comes," she thought.

Winston was already dressed for work when Kayla woke up the next morning.

She knitted her brow, rubbing her eyes. She'd been sleeping longer each day since her diagnosis. Perhaps someday, she'd fall asleep and never wake up again.

Winston was completely oblivious.

Noticing she was awake, he leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. "Sorry, did I wake you? Go back to sleep if you're still tired. I'll tell everyone not to bother you. I'm off to work now. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

After Winston left, Kayla got out of bed to freshen up.

The memory of the kiss mark she'd seen on him last night made her stomach turn. She rubbed the spot on her forehead where he'd just kissed her until her skin turned red.

While having breakfast, Kayla checked the news on her phone, as she always did. Entertainment news wasn't really her thing, but one headline grabbed her attention—it was about Tiffany and a new drama.

Tiffany was not famous or had any notable roles, yet she landed the lead role over several other top actresses.

The Facebook community roasted her, accusing her of shamelessly using her connections to get ahead.

Tiffany wasn't backing down. She put up a gutsy post. "Yeah, my man's loaded and got my back. Anyone got an issue with that?"

She posted a picture of an extravagantly dressed man putting a diamond necklace around her neck. The diamonds shone brilliantly. The man's face was hidden, but his hands had defined knuckles.

Kayla knew it was Winston as soon as she saw the watch he was wearing. It was the one she gave him for his birthday last year. She frowned a little and suddenly lost her appetite.

After breakfast, Kayla decided not to call the driver. Instead, she took a cab alone to Southhill, home to the largest cemetery in Amethyst City.

Her parents were long gone, and with no family left, she had to handle her final resting place.

A cemetery staff greeted her and handed her a hot cup of coffee. "No problem. We have plenty of plots available. If you don't mind me asking, Ms. Greenfield, is this for an older relative?"

Kayla shook her head. "No, it's for me."

The staff froze in disbelief.

Kayla ended up selecting a plot with great sun exposure. The winters in Amethyst City were brutal, and she didn't want to be stuck shivering underground when she was gone.