Chapter 2

2: 2

The next day, I took a cab alone to the bridal shop downtown.

The wedding had been set for the following month. Since there was no longer any reason to hold it, the formalwear had to go back too.

The moment I stepped inside, I heard a familiar voice coming from the VIP fitting room.

I followed the sound and found the door left ajar.

Through the gap, I saw Herbert standing in front of the floor-length mirror, wearing my groom's suit.

I'd spent half a year settling on that suit.

From the curve of the collar to every custom cuff link on the sleeves, I had gone over each detail with the designer again and again.

The day of the fitting, Grace had a meeting come up and didn't show.

Afterward I sent her the photos, and three hours later she wrote back one word: "Nice."

Yet now she stood behind Herbert, patiently straightening the hidden clasp at his waist.

Herbert turned and laughed at his own reflection in the mirror.

"Grace, it's a little tight through the waist."

"Then again, Lambert never works out, and his shoulders are on the narrow side. He probably couldn't fill this out anyway."

Grace studied him in the mirror and actually nodded, in earnest.

"True. It really does hang better on your frame."

"Have them alter the size, and you can wear it to the dinner next week."

I pushed the door open.

It banged against the wall, and they both turned at once.

Grace let go of him fast and stepped back half a pace, already explaining.

"I was afraid you were still sulking over last night and wouldn't come try it on, so I had Herbert wear it first to check the fit."

I looked at the suit on Herbert, and my stomach turned.

"No need to try anything."

"I don't want this suit anymore. Return it."

The smile on Herbert's face faded a little.

He smoothed the hem and walked toward me. "Lambert, don't be angry, I'll change out of it right now—"

When he reached my side, Herbert suddenly seized my wrist, let himself fall backward, and at the same time shoved me hard toward the floor mirror behind me.

"Lambert, why did you push me?"

Caught completely off guard, I stumbled back two steps.

My back slammed into the mirror, and the glass shattered with a sharp crack.

Cracks spread fast across it, and a jagged shard sliced open my arm.

Blood ran down my skin and dripped, drop by drop, onto the snow-white carpet.

Grace rushed over first.

But only to pull Herbert to her and shield him against her chest.

"Herbert, are you hurt?"

She checked him over, and once she was sure he was fine, she turned to me where I stood.

Her eyes swept over my bleeding arm, and her brows drew tight.

"Lambert, have you lost your mind?"

"Herbert was doing you a favor, trying it on for you. Why would you push him?"

She stood between him and me, and never once reached out a hand toward me.

The pain in my arm slowly gave way to numbness.

Bracing myself against the wall, I stepped around the glass on the floor and steadied myself.

"There are cameras in this shop. If you want to know who pushed who, go check them yourself."

Grace froze for a second.

Herbert clutched at her sleeve and said softly, "Let it go. It's all my fault."

I didn't stay to hear more. I turned and left.

The moment I was out the door, my stomach clenched.

The cut on my arm was still bleeding. I managed a few steps before everything started to blur white.

As my body lost its balance, someone caught me in time.

"Mr. Henson, careful."

I looked up and recognized her as Sophia James of James Group.

She handed me a handkerchief and turned to instruct the assistant behind her. "The nearest hospital."

When she looked back at me, her tone was certain.

"If Delgado Group isn't worth any more of your effort, James Group would welcome the man who was truly behind it all, anytime."

The pain left me cold all over, but my mind was strangely clear.

I took the handkerchief and closed my hand around it.

"All right. I'll start tomorrow."