I was drifting in and out of consciousness, too tired to make sense of his words. Just before I fell completely asleep, I felt a gentle touch on my neck, right where Steven had bitten me, followed by a low, cold voice.
“This time, I won’t let you go…”
When I woke up again, it was daylight, and the flight attendants were serving meals.
The shock of the previous day had left me utterly drained. I wasn’t hungry at all. I took a few sips of water and fell back asleep.
I was fully awake when the plane landed. My phone was dead, so Horace took me to buy a new one. I picked the latest Vexel model with the largest memory. He offered to pay, but I used Steven’s credit card instead.
Horace’s handsome face darkened, and I couldn’t figure out what was bothering him.
“Steven has plenty of money. No need to be frugal on his behalf.”
I had thought the divorce would be quick and clean, but it had turned into a messy ordeal.
Still, once he was back, we could finally end it and divide our assets. If I didn’t take advantage of his money now, I’d lose my chance.
With that in mind, I bought a few new outfits for myself, Uncle Julian, and Rachel. I also got Horace a handsome blue tie that made him look even more dashing. “It looks great on you. So handsome.”
Horace just laughed, his tone wry. “Steven would have a fit if he knew you were using his card to buy me gifts.”
That was probably true.
Steven seemed to despise Horace. It was strange. The events of our past life hadn’t happened this time around—Horace hadn’t beaten him up or humiliated him. So why did he still hate him so much?
I didn’t care. The angrier Steven got, the happier I was. An idea struck me. “I never asked—you said you wanted to get into the entertainment industry. How’s that going?”
Horace ruffled my hair, a faint smile on his lips. “It’s a secret. I’ll tell you when everything is settled.”
The calls had started after my plane took off, one every few minutes. Thirty missed calls. I couldn’t believe it. I never thought I’d see the day when Steven would call me that many times.
That kind of frantic, desperate calling was something only I would have done in my past life, when I was madly in love with him and consumed by insecurity.
I frowned, puzzled, but decided to ignore it.
Steven wasn’t the type to be insecure. He was probably just furious that I had left with Horace. He was likely worried I would embarrass him by cheating on him.
At the hospital, Horace and I arrived at the worst possible time. I never would have imagined that Mary would track down Uncle Julian and, mistaking him for my lover, start berating him.
Mary’s insults were always vicious and dripping with sarcasm. “I never would have thought a sick old man with a beard like yours could seduce anyone. What on earth does she see in you?”
***

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