Chapter 2

Even with her mind made up, Charlotte still felt completely drained. When she got home, she barely managed to wash up before crawling under the blanket, staring blankly at the white wall. By the time Sean came home, he found her lying in bed, eyes red and lips pale. His chest tightened. He rushed over, pulled back the covers, and instinctively reached for her calf. He asked with tension in his voice."Charlotte, why are you crying? Is your leg hurting again?" Was she crying? It was only then that Charlotte realized her cheeks were wet. She touched her face, almost surprised. Pathetic. She had told herself not to cry. It took a while before she managed to steady her emotions and curl her lips into a faint smile. "It's nothing. I probably got caught in the rain earlier." Sean frowned. "You went out in this weather? You never listen to me, do you?" Years ago, she had thrown herself in front of a group of thugs to protect him, and her leg had been shattered. Though the bone had healed, the injury left her with pain every time it rained. Whenever it flared up, he would massage her leg gently, inch by inch, with quiet care and tenderness. He was doing it again now, muttering under his breath as his hands moved with practiced familiarity. However, Charlotte's gaze drifted to his fingers. On his right hand, the ring finger was bare. It should have held a silver band, one that matched hers. Those rings were bought with his first paycheck. He had knelt before her, promising to stay true to her for life. The ring had been simple, but his vow had felt so real, so moving. Since then, he had never taken it off except during surgery. Noticing her gaze, Sean frowned slightly, his tone suddenly nervous. "I must've forgotten it at the office today. I was too busy." Charlotte didn't call him out. The last thing she had heard earlier that day in the private room was Kylie's soft, coquettish voice. "You're mine now. I don't want you wearing that ring anymore." Silence filled the air. With Charlotte's eyes lowered, Sean couldn't see what was hidden behind them. Feeling guilty, he withdrew his hand and went into the bathroom. When he came out, she was already asleep. The room fell into a deep, heavy quiet. In the dark, Charlotte's eyes slowly opened. She thought of the days when they had shared a tiny one hundred-square-feet apartment. Back then, he would always hold her as they slept, her head tucked safely against his chest. Those days had been hard, but their laughter was warm, and their hearts were light. Now, even a large bed couldn't bridge the distance between them. The cold sheets made the divide painfully clear. The night grew darker. By dawn, Sean was already up. For once, he made breakfast, a rare excitement softening his usually distant expression. "I spoke to your physical therapist. He said the pain's normal on rainy days. You'll only need about three more sessions this month, and by the end of it, your leg will be fully healed." Charlotte replied casually, chewing her toast that tasted oddly bitter. As he was leaving, his phone rang. It was Kylie. "Kylie… I mean, Dr. Lundberg?" He caught himself mid-slip, glancing nervously out the window before straightening his expression. "Your car broke down? Stay right there, don't move. I'll come get you." He hung up, grabbed his umbrella, and said quickly, "Something urgent came up. I don't have time to send you today. Call a cab to the hospital." Before Charlotte could even respond, the door slammed shut. The rain outside hadn't stopped since last night. Her leg throbbed faintly beneath the covers. However, Sean no longer remembered that. His umbrella and his care were now reserved for the woman he truly loved.