Chapter 2

When I bolted out of the bridal boutique, David called after me.

"Vivi, where are you going?"

The cup of soup had gone soft and misshapen in my grip, broth seeping out from under the lid, scalding my palm red.

The wedding countdown on my phone was still ticking down.

But David's love balance had only twenty-three hours left.

Which meant that before the wedding even started, whatever he felt for me would hit zero.

The rider account "Old Rob" had been deactivated three months ago.

Three years back, on my birthday, I'd worked until one in the morning.

【Mild spice, no cilantro. It's my birthday, please hurry.】

【Got it. I tucked a candle in the bag. Even a stranger can wish you a happy birthday.】

The candle was only thumb-length, pulled off some little cake from a convenience store.

Two years ago, I'd left Old Rob a one-star because the food spilled.

【The soup spilled everywhere. Bad review.】

【Rider: I'm sorry.】

【Me: Just leave it at the door.】

【Rider: Your stomach's bad. Don't eat anything cold.】

【Me: How do you know my stomach's bad?】

【Rider: You always order congee, always note no ice. Just a guess.】

When I opened the door that day, the hallway was already empty.

Now, looking again, there was half a hand showing in the corner of the order photo.

"You're looking for Old Rob?"

"Yes. What's his real name?"

"Can't just hand that out."

"He delivered 127 orders to me."

"So you're Little Swanson?"

"You know me?"

"He brought you up a lot."

"Said you were a real pain to order for. No scallions, no cilantro, only half a spoon of chili. When you were in a bad mood you'd order three milk teas and only drink one after they arrived."

"Where is he now?"

"Quit."

"Can you give me his phone number?"

"Hold on."

"That's strange. The number he registered is dead now."

"His address?"

"19 Haven Alley, South Side."

I pulled it up on the map right away.

Less than ten minutes after I drove off, a black van suddenly closed in from the right and slammed into me.

It forced me to a stop. Two men got out and yanked at my door.

"Ms. Swanson, Mr. Abbott sent us to bring you back."

"Which Mr. Abbott?"

"Your fiancé."

"Tell him to come himself."

"The wedding's almost here. Don't throw a tantrum."

The man started prying at my door.

I picked up my phone and opened the livestream.

"Pull it again."

"There are over four hundred people in my stream right now. The whole wedding planning team is watching. Go ahead, tell everyone who told you to run my car off the road."

The man stepped back. The other one started making a call.

Not long after, David's call came through.

"Turn off the livestream."

"So you admit you sent them?"

"I was afraid you'd get worked up and something would happen to you."

"So you rammed me first?"

"They just tapped your car lightly."

"When your brother was a kid and you pushed him down the stairs, was that a light tap too?"

The instant the van rammed me, a scene had flashed into my head out of nowhere.

A young David standing at the top of the stairs.

A boy half a head taller than him tumbling down.

The web of his hand split open on broken glass, blood spreading across the floor.

The boy lifted his face.

His features were a blur.

But there was a line of words above his head.

【Last true words: Vivi, don't look back.】

"David, is your brother really dead?"

Beep.

The call had been cut off.