Chapter 2

I stood there rigidly, feeling like everyone's gaze was piercing into my body like needles.

That rich guy they mentioned was my childhood friend.

After my family went bankrupt, he was the only one who didn't look at me differently.

I had gone to him to ask if he could help Alexander find an easier, more respectable job.

"Hurry up and crawl! Bark like a dog!" Those spoiled rich kids were used to toying with people for fun.

Seeing me frozen in place, Alexander viciously kicked my knee. I felt a sharp pain in my bones.

My head hit the coffee table hard.

Blood spilled everywhere.

"How disgusting!" Alexander saw that I stubbornly refused to move and gave up his malicious gaze.

Scarlett extended her high-heeled foot and ground it into my hand.

The pain made me break out in a cold sweat, but I clenched my teeth to avoid making a sound.

Alexander finally lost patience. He carelessly tossed a wad of cash into my shirt collar and had someone throw me out of the room.

I quickly treated my wounds and stumbled home.

Looking at the simple, familiar furnishings in my rented apartment, I felt dazed.

Just this morning when Alexander left, he had kissed me and said he would love me forever.

Now, coming back here, it felt like the beautiful world had shattered, revealing dark fangs.

I started packing my things. Late into the night, the door opened and Alexander walked in.

"Baby, I'm done with work. Look, I bought your favorite cake with my bonus."

I noticed the obvious signs that someone had tampered with the cake, and silently avoided his embrace.

He kept rambling about how much he had sweated and been bullied by others just to buy this cake for me.

I glanced at my phone and saw Scarlett's new post on Instagram.

The photo showed the same cake, but she had many pieces spread out on the floor.

The caption read, [Craving cake... The one who loves me will always bring what I want right away... (heart emoji)]

As I listened to Alexander's words, I looked straight into his eyes.

"Alex, do you really love me?"

Alexander was taken aback for a moment, then quickly put on his trademark pitiful expression and tried to hug me.

"I love Olivia, I'll love Olivia forever."

I looked at him, remembering what he had said at the karaoke bar not long ago... "When the time comes, I'll make up an excuse about needing money, and she might even let you all have your way with her!"

"Just looking at her face makes me want to vomit!"

I couldn't help but tremble and stepped back, bumping into the table.

The wad of cash he had stuffed into my shirt fell out.

Alexander's almond-shaped eyes narrowed dangerously, once again looking like the young master from earlier.

"Well, well, Olivia! So you really have hooked up with some rich guy. How shameless can you be?"

"How did I end up with such a slut!"

Seeing his expression, I felt like I'd been struck by lightning.

He raised his hand as if to slap me.

I flinched and stumbled into the bedroom.

He followed me in and saw the luggage I had packed all over the floor.

He paused for a moment, then folded his arms and blocked the door, his mouth curving into a deep sneer, his eyes sinister.

"Planning to elope with someone else, are you? Do you look down on me that much? Is it just because I don't have money?"

I wanted to explain.

He slammed the door shut.

Alexander also cut off the power to the room.

He knew full well that I had claustrophobia.