Chapter 2

Skylar's POV

In my last life, I went. When I pushed open the door, he had Chloe pulled tightly into his lap on the leather sofa, kissing her. He looked up at me with a sneer: "Are you that desperate for a man? You’d even stoop to stealing your own sister's fiancé?"

I had fled in tears. Chloe snapped photos of my humiliating retreat and posted them all over group chats, turning me into the biggest laughingstock in our social circle.

I remembered every agonizing detail of that night.

I would still go this time, though. I would give them my congratulations straight to their faces, and then cut all ties forever.

I typed back a single word: *Okay.*

That evening, I pushed open the heavy door to the VIP lounge at Southern Heights.

Shawn was sitting in the middle of the plush sofa, Chloe snuggled comfortably against his chest.

The moment I walked in, Shawn tightened his arm around Chloe’s waist, leaning down to press a kiss into her hair.

He cast a cold glance my way. "Perfect timing. Let me formally introduce myself: I'm Chloe's fiancé. Next time you see me, remember your manners."

Chloe shrank further into his hold, her voice dripping with practiced innocence. "Shawn, don't be so harsh on Skylar. She... she probably just hasn't accepted it yet."

Shawn chuckled mockingly. "Accepted what? If she had an ounce of shame, she wouldn't keep throwing herself at me."

I spent six months nursing him at his bedside, and in his eyes, I was merely a girl with no shame.

I listened quietly and gave a simple nod. "Congratulations."

The private lounge fell dead silent.

The smirk on Shawn's face froze. "That's all you have to say?"

I looked straight at him. "It’s what I should have said earlier. I tried to tell you that outside your office building, but you refused to listen to a single word."

Shawn's face darkened instantly.

Chloe bit her lip, clutching his designer sleeve.

Shawn grabbed an elegant card from the glass table and tossed it carelessly at my feet. "Here's your wedding invitation."

In my last life, my hands had trembled so hard I couldn't even pick it up.

This time, I calmly bent down, scooped it up, slid it into my purse, and met Shawn's gaze. "I wish you both a happy marriage."

With that, I turned around to leave.

I heard Chloe pipe up behind me, "Shawn, let's head out too."

The three of us walked toward the club's main exit, one after the other, only to find chaos unfolding out front.

A drunk man was aggressively shoving one of the bouncers.

As the bouncer moved to grab him, the man whipped out a spring-loaded switchblade from his jacket and began slashing wildly.

Pedestrians screamed, scattering in every direction.

I had just taken a step down the concrete stairs when Chloe let out a piercing shriek.

Shawn instantly yanked Chloe behind him, wrapping her into a protective embrace.

And just like that, I was left completely stranded, standing face-to-face with the wildly swinging blade.

The cold edge carved a brutal line from my left shoulder down across my back. The pain was so blinding I couldn't even manage a scream. Warm blood erupted, soaking through my white dress in seconds.

The security guards swarmed forward, tackling the drunkard to the pavement. Someone shouted in a panic, "This girl is bleeding out! Call 911!"

My back slid down against the entryway pillar, leaving a horrific smear of crimson along the concrete.

My vision went black around the edges from the agony. I forced my eyes open and looked ahead.

Shawn was cradling a weeping Chloe, gently stroking her back. "It's okay, Chloe. You're safe. I'm right here."

During those six months, I ran to the burn ward every single day. He had sworn that the first thing he saw after the bandages were off would be me.

I foolishly believed that meant I held a place in his heart.

Now I saw the brutal truth. He only had one pair of hands, and when he reached out, his eyes were never on me.

I was never someone he intended to protect. I didn't need to ask myself that question a second time.

With the tiny shred of strength I had left, only one thought crossed my mind: *The flight needs to be booked as early as possible.*

I looked at the two of them, my lips twitching into a faint, bitter smile. Then my head fell to the side, and darkness swallowed me whole.