Chapter 4

The moment the contract with Mr. Harrison was finalized, I would tear off the mask and destroy Brandon once and for all.

After being discharged, my colleagues realized it was my birthday and ordered me a bowl of vegetarian longevity noodles.

"Happy birthday, Natalie! Wishing you health and peace forever!"

Halfway through the bowl, my throat began to tighten. A violent allergic reaction flared up again.

Seafood broth. Gasping for air, I demanded weakly,

"Who changed my order?!"

Chloe timidly raised her hand. "I did!"

Shaking with pure fury, I wheezed, "You knew I was rushed to the ER for a severe seafood allergy! Why the hell did you change it again?!"

Chloe looked at Brandon with wide, innocent eyes.

"Bunny did it on purpose! I know Big Sister is allergic, so I wanted her to be exposed to it more! The internet calls it desensitization therapy!"

"Big Sister, don't be mad! Isn't Bunny super smart?"

I didn't have the breath to reply. Chaos erupted as my colleagues rushed me back to the hospital, loudly condemning Chloe for her lethal stupidity.

Chloe burst into tears. "Bunny was just trying to help her! Why is everyone blaming Bunny? Today is a bullied bunny!"

A couple of theatrical tears rolled down her cheeks.

Unable to take it anymore, I grabbed the remaining bowl of noodles to hurl it in her face, but Brandon stepped in front of her, knocking the scalding broth back over me.

"Get to the hospital already! Stop embarrassing yourself here!"

Later, lying alone in the emergency ward, tears quietly soaked my pillow.

I thought about everything we had been through. The Brandon from our early days versus the monster standing before me now.

Even knowing what he had become, a tiny, foolish part of me had still hoped he might snap out of it.

Not anymore.

The Natalie Lewis who loved him with all her heart was officially dead.

I decided to avoid Chloe entirely, retreating to my apartment after being discharged to recuperate.

Instead, Brandon brought Chloe right to my doorstep.

Seeing them walk in, my expression hardened into stone.

"I hid in my own home. Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"Bunny said someone was stalking her! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for a young girl to live alone? As a woman, you should show some empathy!"

I rolled my eyes. "Then put her in a hotel."

Chloe whimpered softly, "Big Sister, Bunny would be all alone in a hotel room. Bunny is scared."

"If Big Sister really doesn't want to see Bunny, Bunny will just leave..."

The waterworks started again.

Brandon’s heart melted. He caught her arm, glaring at me.

"I bought this place! I decide who gets to stay here!"

I found it laughable.

"When I lived in a damp basement with you, you swore that everything you owned would belong to both of us."

A flicker of awkwardness crossed his face, but he quickly masked it, taking Chloe’s hand and leading her toward the master bedroom.

"You're actually putting an outsider in our master bedroom?"

Brandon didn't even look back. "Bunny has sensitive nerves. She needs a soundproof room to sleep."

I laughed bitterly. "And my chronic insomnia doesn't matter? Brandon, I'm pregnant."

He stopped, looked at me, and let out an indifferent, "Oh."

"So what?" The heavy slam of the bedroom door was his only answer.

A few minutes later, Brandon tossed all my clothes and luggage out into the hallway.

Just as I finished packing my bags to leave this toxic nightmare, Brandon blocked the doorway.