Chapter 3

Like it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.

"Pregnant?"

"That would be perfect."

"Nina owes Vivian a life. She can pay it back with the baby."

"Once she gives birth, I'll cut the child's heart out right in front of her—"

His words hit me like a blade driving straight into my chest.

My thoughts spiraled. Tears streamed down my face as I pressed a hand to my stomach.

"The child has no father."

So it wouldn't affect the heart removal surgery.

The procedure took an hour. When it was done, I booked the heart removal surgery.

One week from now.

I walked out of the hospital, one hand pressed to my lower abdomen, breathing slowly and carefully.

I'd barely swallowed my pain medication when Ethan called.

"Nina. Golden Horse Club. Ten minutes."

"You know what happens if you're late."

I tucked the surgery paperwork into my bag and caught a cab.

The moment I walked in, a ball slammed into my face.

"Ethan, you called it — it really is Nina."

"Almost thought we hit the wrong person." Someone laughed and grabbed the ball back.

My nose throbbed. A thick, metallic taste filled my mouth.

Blood dripped onto the white carpet.

I wiped it away like it was nothing, then walked over to Ethan.

His bare chest was covered in bite marks and scratches. A girl was draped in his arms. He swirled his drink, glanced at me, and smirked.

"You showed up."

"I lost at cards again tonight. Drink this for me." He gestured to a case of beer.

I looked at Ethan and forced a smile.

Without hesitation, I grabbed a bottle and tipped it back.

The alcohol burned all the way down.

My vision blurred with the pain.

In under a minute, the bottle was gone. My stomach churned violently.

But I didn't stop. I wiped my mouth and reached for the next one.

My fingers touched the cold glass — and then my heart seized.

I gripped my palm hard, trying to breathe through it, and reached for the couch.

Someone kicked me to the floor.

Thud.

My head hit the ground hard. I nearly blacked out.

When I pulled myself back up, the room erupted in laughter.

Ethan sat at the center of it all, a faint smile on his lips.

"Enough."

The room went quiet.

He walked over to me, helped me to my feet, then reached into his jacket and pulled out the sapphire ring from the auction.

It caught the light — a deep, brilliant blue that filled the room with color.

Ethan looked at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he got down on one knee.

"Nina, will you marry me?"

I hadn't even processed it yet.

Then his mouth curved into a contemptuous smile.

"I bet you've played this moment in your head a thousand times."

"I bet you already know exactly how you'd cry when you said yes."

"Too bad, Nina. This ring isn't for you."

He turned and gestured to the girl beside him.

She wore a white sundress. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright and clear.

I knew who she was. She was the film school student he'd been keeping — Lily Smith.

"Lily. Give me your hand."

Ethan slipped the ring onto Lily's finger and laced his hand through hers.

He glanced at me sideways, his eyes full of contempt.

Then his other hand moved gently to Lily's neck, and he pulled her into a deep kiss.

The room erupted.

I pressed my hand to my heart and let my tears fall in the middle of the crowd.