Chapter 2

Back when I still cared about Jacob, I was willing to fulfill each and every one of his requests. However, he had since given me a harsh wake-up call. Ever since Megan returned to the country, everything that he'd done had been for her. He seemed to have forgotten that I was the one he'd be spending the rest of his life with. Angered by my reply, Jacob barked, "What's that supposed to mean? Are you not willing to help? You'd better get this through your head. Megan is my closest friend—I won't marry you unless she's happy!" Then, he stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him. Feeling agitated, I headed downstairs and went for a jog in the park. I'd just done one lap around the area when I received a call from Zane. Upon thinking about how solemn he always looked, I hesitated for a moment before I answered the call. "Since we're about to get married, you practically belong to me now. Don't even think about running away. If you do, I'll make sure to hunt you down and drag you back!" Zane spat as soon as I picked up. When I didn't reply, he added, "Send me a copy of your identification documents. I'm going to register our marriage. I don't want you backing out on me later on." Zane was acting suspiciously. I could already imagine the countless ways he'd use our marriage to torment me. Ultimately, all I could utter in return was, "See you at the wedding, Mr. Smith." Right after I said that, Jacob appeared out of nowhere and yelled, "Are you inviting Zane Smith to our wedding? I won't allow it!" He glared at me and continued, "Didn't I tell you not to keep in touch with him, Olivia? He has ulterior motives. If you insist on inviting him to our wedding, don't blame me when things get ugly." Before I could say a single word, he was already issuing threats. Jacob had never liked Zane and had always been hostile toward him. When Jacob and I first got together, he'd get jealous and lash out at me because of how often Zane and I bantered over text. Afterward, I gradually distanced myself from Zane. I couldn't believe he claimed that Zane harbored ulterior motives toward me. I was just about to question him when Megan abruptly slumped against his neck. "Jacob… You're squeezing my fingers…" she whined. I hadn't even realized that they were taking a stroll while holding hands. Jacob awkwardly cleared his throat, but he made no effort to pull his hand away from her. Megan glanced at him with a loving expression before apologizing to me in a phony manner, "I'm sorry, Olivia. Jacob and I are familiarizing ourselves with the ceremony process for the wedding. I really hope you won't mind." She continued, "I won't expose you for hiring people to assault me and ruin my mother's grave. However, I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from hurting Jacob. You'll end up ruining your relationship." I didn't want to watch her put on an act. So, I turned to leave. "You sound like you're looking forward to it. In that case, I'll get someone to beat you up tonight before desecrating your mother's grave!" I snapped. Jacob slapped me hard across the face. Glaring viciously at me, he barked, "How can you be so evil, Olivia Robinson?" Evil? Me? He believed in Megan's lie without any hesitation. We'd been in a relationship for five years, yet he didn't trust me at all. I was enraged. Just as I was about to question Jacob, Megan stepped in front of him. "Please, Olivia," she begged. "I'll give Jacob back to you as soon as the wedding is over. Don't make things difficult for me. Stop hurting Jacob and the people around me." Then, she proceeded to kneel. Jacob hastily wrapped his arms around her waist and stopped her from doing so. Then, he glared at me and snarled, "Stop using your family background to pick on others, Olivia! You know how much I hate these things. If you still want me to marry you, I suggest you stop stirring up trouble!" He also warned me not to appear before them until the wedding ceremony. To my surprise, Jacob called me the following day. Once I picked up the call, he yelled, "Did you actually desecrate Mrs. Lawson's grave? I can't believe this, Olivia! I didn't think you'd do something like this." Feeling puzzled, I called my assistant and asked him to investigate the matter. Afterward, my assistant discovered something shocking—Megan's mother was alive.