Chapter 3

Lexi was taken aback, but it didn't come as a surprise. Jeremy had always liked Tricia. It wasn't unexpected that he'd go this far for her. If this had been her old self, she would've taken it to heart. But now, she simply said calmly, "Sure." She was leaving soon anyway. Sooner or later, the photos would've been burned. Jeremy froze for a moment. He'd only said that out of frustration, upset that she wasn't giving him a way out. Wasn't she always the one who cherished those things most? Why did she agree so easily this time? Lexi called a maid to take down the framed photo from the wall and had it burned in the garden. Tricia had just returned from abroad and wasn't used to living alone, so Jeremy had invited her to stay at their house for a while. Lexi just agreed steadily. She even had the guest room next to Jeremy's prepared for Tricia, while she moved her own things to a room downstairs. As she was packing, Jeremy's voice came from behind her. "Lexi, don't throw a tantrum. I know you're jealous, but Tricia is just staying with us for a short while. "You don't like sleeping alone. Do you think you'll get used to being downstairs by yourself? "It was my mistake that I didn't think it through and asked you to burn the photo. If it upsets you, I'll make time to retake them with you later." He walked over and was about to hug her from behind when she dodged him. She turned to look at him. Truth be told, he had treated her pretty well these past three years—so well that she'd started to believe they could go on like this forever. But the second Tricia appeared, he changed and always prioritized her without hesitation. Lexi did love him, but she wanted to be the only one, not someone on the receiving end of his leftovers. "I'm not throwing a tantrum. You've been working late a lot lately. Sleeping alone might actually help me get better rest." Jeremy wasn't exactly known for his patience. He'd already softened his tone this much, and yet she was still acting indifferent. His face fell. "Whatever," he said coldly. "By the way, what was that document you asked me to sign this afternoon?" She replied, "That's the third anniversary gift I prepared for you. You'll find out what it is when the time comes." His expression softened slightly after that. He knew she minded Tricia being around. But Tricia had just come back from overseas, and he was just helping out as a friend. Once Tricia's apartment renovation was done in a few months, everything would go back to normal, and he'd settle down with her again. "Alright. It's getting late. You should go get some rest." He thought she would hug him before she left, but instead, she walked past him without a second glance. He felt like she had changed somehow, but he couldn't put his finger on what exactly was different. At midnight, Lexi was already asleep when she was yanked out of bed and dragged upstairs by Jeremy. He threw her against the wall so hard it knocked the breath out of her, pain shooting through her as her vision darkened. His cold, condemning voice echoed above her. "Lexi, I know you're jealous of Tricia, but that doesn't give you the right to drug her!" Her head spun as she looked up to see Tricia lying in bed with flushed cheeks, panting heavily, and clinging to Jeremy. "I didn't! I didn't do it!" Just as she tried to explain, Tricia began sobbing. "Lexi, I only drank the milk you gave me earlier and didn't have anything else." Something clicked in Lexi's head, and she snapped to attention, staring fixedly at Tricia. "You asked for that milk, and I drank it too. Why am I fine then? And what would I gain by drugging you? Tricia, if you're going to frame someone, at least put in some effort!" She hadn't done it, and she wasn't going to admit to something she didn't do. Right after she spoke, Tricia cried even harder. "Fine. Whatever you say must be the truth. If you say I staged it all myself, then there's nothing more for me to say." Lexi's face turned pale with rage. It was like punching a pillow. Jeremy started yelling at her again, "Enough, Lexi! This isn't the first time you've pulled something like this. You know exactly what you did three years ago. Someone with a record like yours doesn't deserve my trust!" Just like that, he'd sentenced her. Lexi stared at him and said through gritted teeth, "Let me say it again. I did not drug you three years ago." Back then, she'd heard he was out drinking and went to find him because she was worried. In the end, he had been drugged, and since she did have feelings for him, the two ended up spending a reckless night together. But ever since then, he always thought she was the one who drugged him. That incident had become a wall between them that neither could climb over. "Jeremy, I don't feel good… Please help me…" Tricia clung to him, rubbing herself against him, her shirt nearly falling off. Jeremy frowned and pushed her away before she suddenly grabbed a knife from the drawer and slashed her arm. "I know this is hard on both of you. I'll take care of it myself. You don't have to worry about me. Just leave." Blood trickled down her pale arm, staining the sheets bright red. He clenched his fists, yanked the knife out of her hand, and said, "I'll help you."