Chapter 2

After Brandon left with Chloe, he never came back. I handled my own discharge from the hospital, all by myself.

Once I’d packed everything, I returned to Brandon's family mansion.

The moment I opened the door, I saw Chloe stepping out of the bathroom, wrapped only in a towel.

"Oh, Riley, back so early?"

Chloe's voice wasn't loud, but it pierced my ears like a shriek.

"Riley, I'm so sorry, my clothes got dirty, so Brandon told me to wash up here!"

Chloe's face, flushed from the steam, showed a hint of shy seduction.

"Why are you telling her so much?"

Just then, Brandon emerged from the bedroom. His eyes, filled with affection, gazed at Chloe.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Sweetheart, you smell wonderful!"

Watching Brandon and Chloe's intimate display, my heart twisted in pain.

I couldn't help but clench my jaw, my hands trembling as I balled them into fists.

Once, his tenderness was exclusively mine. But now, all he had for me was hatred.

Suddenly, the dazzling necklace around Chloe's neck made my pupils constrict.

That "Sunrise Mountain" necklace, I had designed it myself, and Brandon had personally crafted it.

He’d given it to me as a wedding gift during our ceremony.

It was the beginning of our love story.

But now, Brandon had personally given it to someone else.

Fighting back the pain in my heart, I pulled the divorce papers from my bag.

"Brandon Hayes, let's get a divorce!"

Those words made Brandon freeze. He released Chloe and strode towards me.

His eyes, meeting my wounded gaze, flickered for a moment before hardening into an icy stare.

"Riley Maxwell, what did you say?"

"Brandon Hayes, let's get a divorce," I repeated, my voice steady.

For years, I had waited, waited for Brandon to regain his memory, waited for Brandon to say he loved me.

But now, I didn't want to wait anymore.

Love or not, the wounds I'd suffered could never truly heal.

"Heh, Riley Maxwell, divorce? Don't even think about it."

With that, Brandon seized my wrist, his grip like a vice.

His eyes were dark, unreadable, but his trembling hands betrayed his rage.

"Riley Maxwell, are you planning to divorce me to go find that ex-boyfriend of yours who's long dead?"

"Riley Maxwell, I'm telling you, it's impossible. You belong to Brandon Hayes in life, and you'll be his ghost in death. I'll keep you by my side just to torment you."

"Riley Maxwell, this is your retribution, you deserve it."

Then, Brandon lowered himself, kissing my lips with a frantic intensity.

Brandon's kiss was possessive, demanding, and brooked no refusal. I struggled for a long time, but couldn't break free from his embrace.

Suddenly, Brandon let out a cry of pain, then released me.

"Riley Maxwell, are you insane?"

Brandon wiped the blood from his lip, then glanced at the blood on my own. He frowned deeply.

"Brandon Hayes, I've left the divorce agreement here. I'll be staying at my studio during this time."

With that, I placed the divorce agreement on the table, then walked into the bedroom and retrieved my suitcase.

I didn't have much to pack, so I quickly finished. But as I was leaving the house, Brandon called out to me again.

"Riley Maxwell, dreaming of divorce? You wish."

Then, Brandon angrily picked up the divorce agreement from the table and tore it into shreds.

Watching the torn pieces of the agreement scatter across the floor felt like watching my own shattered heart, never to be whole again.

Without turning around, I simply said, "As you wish," then dragged my suitcase out of the mansion.