Chapter 3

Zachary was still keeping his relationship with Yasmine a secret, just like he always did in the past. "We're having a party inside. Come in and join us!" Queenie invited them warmly. Yasmine didn't want to join, but Zachary had already nodded and agreed to it. Lights flickered in the dim private room as deafening music played in the background. Yasmine caught everyone's attention as soon as she got in. She was born with beautiful looks. Today, she wore a body-hugging dress that accentuated her slender waist and smooth skin. Several guys immediately surrounded her to ask for her number. If it had been in the past, Yasmine wouldn't have given them her number. But today, she grinned and agreed to all their requests. Zachary sat in a corner with a deep frown, his eyes fixated on her. Queenie looked slightly upset as she asked coyly, "Did you forget that it's supposed to be a welcome party for me today?" Only then did everyone try to ease the situation. "Let's play some games! Yeah!" Soon, they spun a bottle, which pointed at Queenie in the end. "The one who loses has to kiss someone of the opposite sex," someone teased. Queenie swept her gaze across Zachary, but in the end, she pointed at the man next to him. "Let's go with him." Just when she was about to kiss the man, Zachary kicked the coffee table over. As the glass shattered into pieces, he gripped Queenie's wrist and strode out of the room. Dead silence filled the entire private room. Yasmine grabbed her bag and stood up with a smile. "I have something to deal with, so I have to go." As she exited the room, she could hear an argument around the corner of the corridor. "What did you mean?" Zachary sounded like he was suppressing his anger. "I was there, yet you wanted to kiss another man. What did that night mean to you? What am I to you? A backup?" Queenie replied aggrievedly, "I only wanted to confirm if you still cared about me…" "Confirm?" The veins on Zachary's forehead were bulging. "Queenie York, I'm dying to get back together with you. Do you think I don't care about you?" Queenie's voice became soft. "Don't be mad. I didn't mean that. I mean… We can get back together, but it's been so long. I'm afraid that you don't love me as much as you did before. So, you have to promise me three things." Zachary had always acted as he wished, but when Queenie made such an unreasonable request, he still gritted his teeth and gave in. "What is it? Tell me." "First," Queenie paused, then continued, "I want you to break a rib and make it into a necklace for me." Yasmine froze. She wondered if that was how the young couples were these days. Zachary couldn't possibly agree to such a ridiculous request, right? The next instant, Zachary turned to leave. Yasmine followed him out and saw him get into the car right away. Then, he put the pedal to the metal and crashed right into the tree at the roadside. A loud bang echoed, and the world seemed to come to a halt for a second. Then, screams, the sound of someone calling the police, and an ambulance's siren filled the air. When the paramedic dragged Zachary out of the dented car, he used his last ounce of strength to force his words out. "My rib is broken… Take it out… during the surgery." Standing somewhere far away, Yasmine watched everything in silence. Suddenly, she laughed. Maybe he really loved Queenie. It might be better that way. After she left, Zachary and Queenie could finally be together.