Chapter 2

I froze when Stellan said that. He actually thought I was jealous. Jealous over what had just happened? Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised. With the way I'd humbled myself for him in the past, anyone watching would've said I was hopelessly in love with Stellan. But the truth was simpler than that. It didn't matter who my boyfriend was. As long as he was with me, I would treat him well. The moment I mentioned selling my shares, Raina, who'd been standing there, watching the whole mess like it was entertainment, suddenly looked rattled. "Ms. York, if you really can't stand seeing me around, I can quit. I'll disappear and never show up before Stellan again. Would that make you happy? Don't let jealousy take over your reason!" I felt genuinely confused. I could understand Stellan calling me jealous, but why was Raina saying it too? Before this, hadn't I already told her I had replaced the spouse's name on the wedding paperwork with hers? I had even had the wedding dress remade to match her measurements. She knew all of that. I barely had time to think before Stellan snatched my phone out of my hand and shoved it up in front of my face. His voice turned colder than I'd ever heard it. "Delete the broker's contact," he ordered. "Do it now and I'll forgive you. Otherwise, I'll call off the wedding!" I took my phone back from him and looked at him, my expression conflicted. He made it sound like I could never add the number back after I deleted it. But I couldn't afford to get worked up. My body wouldn't tolerate it. So, to keep him calm, I swallowed my irritation and did exactly as he said. When he saw how obedient I was, his tone softened. "Eliana, don't overthink it. If I didn't love you, why would I marry you? What you said today really hurt me." He paused for a moment, then added, "I'm going to stay somewhere else with Raina for a while. You can stay here and think about what you've done. And don't do this again." Raina followed him toward the door. Just before she left, she glanced back at me with a triumphant look. "Now, you finally know your place." The door creaked shut, leaving me standing there alone. I let out a sigh. After my father died, I should've understood this already. In this world, I could only count on myself. … After one night of rest, I contacted the broker again. The shares I held weren't insignificant. Other company shareholders had been eyeing them for years, and even people outside the company wanted in. It only took a few days before someone offered to buy at more than twice the market price. If I waited, I probably could push it higher. But I didn't want to wait. I didn't want to keep watching that adulterous couple flaunting their affair right in front of me. As soon as the money was deposited into my account, I paid the broker's fee and immediately began the process to leave the country. During the week I waited for the paperwork, I moved the funds overseas in batches. Stellan did exactly what he had threatened. To teach me a lesson, he didn't contact me once. Then came the day of departure. While packing, I took down the only family photo and put it in my suitcase. Just then, the door flew open under a violent kick. Stellan stormed in, fury rolling off him. He didn't even stop long enough to look at what I was doing before the accusations started pouring out. "Eliana, you've got a lot of nerve! I ignored you for one week, and you pulled a stunt like this? Do you have any idea how humiliating it was, begging and scraping everywhere just to raise money? "I thought the other shareholders were selling their shares together to corner me! I never thought it was you!" For a second, I was caught off guard. Then, it clicked. If Stellan wanted to keep his position as chairman, he needed the shares I held. If they landed in anyone else's hands, this company wouldn't be his to command anymore. Since I was leaving that day, I didn't want a screaming fight. So, I spoke as calmly as I could. "We're square. You got the company. Isn't that what you wanted? And I need that money for treatment." My condition was curable. Previously, I just thought my family's company was struggling and that Stellan had already sacrificed so much for me, so I didn't have the heart to ask him to come up with such a large sum to treat my illness. What I hadn't expected was that Stellan had long ago come to see everything I had as his. Even a stranger would've known not to provoke someone with a heart condition. But to get what he wanted, Stellan ignored my condition and grabbed the photo out of my hands. "You just reminded me of something, Eliana," he said coldly. Then, he slammed the frame to the floor. The glass shattered with a sharp crack. His expression remained cold as he crouched down and reached for the photo. My eyes went wide. That was the only photo I had of myself with my parents. I didn't even have time to think about my chest tightening. I grabbed his arm with both hands and clung to it, desperate to stop him. "Stellan! Are you out of your mind?" Stellan ignored my pleas and pulled out the property transfer agreement he had brought with him. He shoved them and a black pen toward me. "Sign!" When I didn't answer, he let out a cold laugh. "So, you won't listen unless I give you a lesson?" It wasn't that I didn't want to speak. My throat had tightened until it felt sealed. My breathing had turned shallow and hard. To teach me a lesson, Stellan tore the photo to pieces, venting his rage. I didn't even have time to grieve. My legs gave out, and I collapsed at his feet. My vision blurred, and consciousness faded as my thoughts broke apart. Survival instinct forced me to beg him, "My medicine... Give me my medicine..." He pressed the black pen into my hand. All I could hear was his cold reply. "Sign and you'll get your medicine."