Chapter 2

After ending the call, Megan returned to her bedroom and began sorting through everything Caspian had given her over the years. There was a clay figurine that looked like her, ticket stubs from the movies they had watched together, postcards from their trips, and even the wedding rings engraved with both of their names. After throwing all those once‑treasured items into the trash, she suddenly felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. When she walked back out, she saw Caspian and Arianna tangled together by the window of the study. She had witnessed the same scene in her previous life and had even sighed back then about how close her sister and brother-in-law seemed to be. Now that she knew the truth, the sight felt painfully ridiculous. It cut straight to her heart. Arianna caught sight of her, smirked provocatively, and moaned, "That's too much. I can't take it!" Caspian gripped her waist and thrust harder. "No. I only had you three times last week. I need to make up for it today." Megan stopped listening. She turned and went back to her room to pretend she was asleep. When Cedric quietly pushed the door open and saw her resting, he relaxed slightly and lay down on the other side of the bed. … The next morning, Megan went to a medical testing center with the eye drops and paid extra for expedited service. Two hours later, she received the report and read that long-term use could seriously damage her vision. She smiled bitterly. For the next two days, Caspian stayed with Arianna while pretending to be Cedric. Megan acted unaware and calmly handled all her preparations for leaving the country. The following afternoon, she returned to the villa and caught Arianna and Caspian kissing in the living room. Arianna shot her a subtle, provocative glance, though her face remained sweet and innocent. "Megan, Cedric planned a birthday party for me tonight. Why don't you come too?" Megan immediately declined. "I'll pass." It was her birthday too. Caspian had said he was on a work trip and had only asked his assistant to pick out a simple gift for her. Now that he was pretending to be Cedric, he was going all out to throw a birthday party for Arianna. Love and indifference really were that obvious. Arianna's eyes instantly welled up. She bit her lip and looked pitifully at Caspian. Caspian frowned and said, "Megan, Ari devoted 18 years to honoring your parents on your behalf. She invited you sincerely. Why would you reject her?" Hearing him say her name sent a cold wave of irony through her. "Today is my birthday too." Caspian, who was pretending to be Cedric, froze for a moment. But his expression quickly returned to indifference. "Didn't my brother give you an expensive necklace before he left on his trip? There's no need to be so petty, Megan. Don't ruin the mood." Megan felt her heart go still. She nodded lightly. "Fine. I'll go." … The birthday party was held on a luxury cruise ship. The already stunning vessel had been decorated from bow to stern. "My Love, Ari" was emblazoned across the ship's white hull. Caspian stayed by Arianna's side as they welcomed the guests. His gaze on her was filled with a tenderness so deep it seemed to consume him. When he saw Megan, he greeted her politely. Megan lowered her eyes, hiding the mockery in her gaze, and quietly slipped into a corner. Everything went smoothly until Arianna stepped onto the stage. Suddenly, the projector behind her flickered to life and played her private video, throwing the entire party into chaos. "Megan, I know you hate me," Arianna cried. "But today is my birthday, and everyone here is my friend. How could you do this to me?" Megan felt Caspian's cold stare bore into her and forced herself to stay calm. "It wasn't me. I didn't do it." Arianna collapsed into Caspian's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Megan, I saw you recording me. I reunited you with your parents, and I even stepped back from the engagement. What more do you want from me? If you hate me that much, fine. I'll end it. I won't stay here and be a burden to you." Before Megan could react, Arianna pushed away from Caspian and jumped into the ocean. Caspian's expression changed instantly. Without a second thought, he dove in after her.