Chapter 2

Two years ago, I was in a terrible car accident.

I had thrown myself in front of a speeding truck to save Audrey. I almost lost my life, and the trauma left me completely unable to drive.

Even now, there was a jagged, ten-inch scar running down my back.

She knew about my PTSD. She knew I couldn't drive. Yet, she had left me alone in the car on a busy road.

Her actions had already shown me the brutal truth. I was just the one refusing to see it.

Seeing my cold expression, Audrey sighed, her tone softening slightly.

She sat down next to me, pulled a brand-new tie from her designer bag, and handed it to me.

"The wedding is the day after tomorrow. I picked this out specifically for you. Want to try it on?"

She took out the red-and-black plaid tie and reached out to loop it around my neck. I put my hand up and pushed her away.

I had seen that tie in her back seat earlier today.

At the time, I actually thought it was a surprise for me—until I saw the handwritten card tucked inside the shopping bag.

[To my knight, Christian, who always protects me.]

It was signed: Love always, Audrey.

Why would I want a secondhand gift that another man didn't want?

Audrey didn’t expect me to reject it.

She frowned, her patience wearing thin. "Nathan, that's enough. You're getting upset over every little thing lately. Are you even a man?"

"So, in your eyes, these are just 'little things'?" I asked quietly.

Taking Christian to try on my custom wedding suit, letting the tailor mistake him for the groom.

Leaving me stranded in the middle of traffic, knowing I can't drive.

And now, offering me a tie that was meant for another man.

Audrey saw absolutely nothing wrong with her behavior. She looked at me high and mighty.

"Aren't they? The wedding is in two days, and you're choosing this exact moment to pick a fight. Is this still about my parents asking for that $300,000 marriage fund? “

“You made your mother sell your family ranch to get that money, and you're still holding a grudge, aren't you? Is that why you're giving me this attitude?"

When I proposed, Audrey's parents had suddenly demanded a $300,000 "marriage security fund" as a financial guarantee, claiming it was for our future security.

My parents were desperate to help us, especially since the demand came right after my expensive hospital stay from the car accident.

My mother had no choice but to sell our ancestral ranch.

They gave Audrey the full amount. Audrey took the money, claiming she would invest it in a joint startup under both our names. But to this day, I didn't even know where her office was located.

I kept my face expressionless and said softly, "Believe whatever you want."

With that, I walked into the bedroom.

Audrey followed me, her face dark with anger. But before she could speak, her phone rang.

It was Christian. She glanced at the screen, immediately turned on her heel, and headed for the door. She threw a cold remark over her shoulder.

"Take some time to think about your attitude!"

I didn't care anymore. I lay down on the bed and fell fast asleep.

The next morning, I was awakened by the clattering of plates from the kitchen.

I walked out to find a table loaded with a steaming, delicious breakfast spread.

Audrey was just untying her apron. She smiled warmly when she saw me.

"My parents just landed this morning, and the rest of my family is already at the hotel. I arranged for them to stay nearby."

"I made this breakfast just for you. Let's eat and go greet them together, okay?"

We had been together for five years, and I never knew Audrey could cook.

That was, until I saw the empty takeout boxes from a Michelin-starred restaurant in the trash can, and recalled the photo Christian had posted on Snapchat last night.

The dishes on our table were identical to the ones in his photo.

I chose not to swallow my pride this time.

As Audrey sat across from me with a bright smile, I looked her in the eyes.

"Don't you get tired of eating the exact same meal twice in a row?"