Chapter 2

"No! Winter, run!" Cindy woke up in tears, only to find herself lying in her own bed at home. Her bloodstained clothes had been changed, and sitting by her bedside was Sylvan Leigh. Sylvan had been Cindy's college classmate. He'd harbored feelings for her for years, but Arthur's presence had always kept him from confessing. Instead, he'd quietly watched over her. Now, he clutched a crumpled test result in his hands, his eyes fixed on the words, reading them again and again. As a doctor, Sylvan knew exactly what the results meant. His eyes reddened, and his voice trembled as he asked, "You have stomach cancer?" Cindy emerged from her nightmare, gradually pulling herself together. She drew a deep breath, slowly brushing the tears from her face, and nodded. Sylvan sprang to his feet. "And you still went ahead and drank! This is about Arthur again, isn't it? Did he make you do it?" Cindy looked down, saying nothing. Sylvan didn't need her to answer. He could piece it together well enough. His heart felt like it had been sliced open. He immediately reached for Cindy's hand and said, "You can't keep living like this. You have to leave him, now, and get yourself to a hospital for treatment!" But Cindy pulled her hand back. She managed a weak smile. "It's not that big of a deal. Don't worry. I'll take care of myself." "Do you even realize this is cancer—" "I don't want to be hospitalized, Sylvan. Please, just let me decide for myself." Seeing the determination in her eyes, Sylvan knew there was no talking her out of it. He also knew that Winter's death five years ago had left a wound in her heart—one that would never fully heal. That was why she'd become Arthur's assistant, as if trying to make up for something. And that was why she never said no, no matter what Arthur put her through. Sylvan couldn't change her mind. He stayed to care for her through the night and didn't return to the hospital until early the next morning. Cindy, too, hurried off to work at the company. Today, she was supposed to accompany Arthur to a banquet. But she wasn't his date. She was only there in her role as his assistant. Annette, on the other hand, was his date. When Annette spotted Cindy, her face contorted in disdain. "Cindy, I must hand it to you. Your nerve is something else. Even now, you're still bold enough to follow Arthur around." Annette had been their high school classmate and had loved Arthur since they were kids. But she'd lost out to Cindy, who had nothing to her name. Annette had always been jealous of her, and now, as Arthur's fiancée, she finally had the free rein to torment her however she pleased. Cindy didn't argue or defend herself. She simply stood quietly to the side. Just then, Arthur walked over. Annette affectionately slipped her arm through his, murmuring, "Arthur." Arthur didn't resist her touch, but when his eyes landed on Cindy, his gaze turned cold. "Who said you could come into the banquet hall? Go wait outside." Winter had settled over Jorleston, and there was no warmth to be found outdoors, except for the biting wind slicing through the air. Still, Cindy simply nodded. "Alright." She turned and walked out of the banquet hall, stepping into an open garden with nothing overhead to shield her from the weather. Cindy stood in the biting cold, her thin, fragile frame shivering as the wind sliced through her. A server, unable to bear the sight, approached and asked if she'd like to wait in the lounge instead. Cindy silently shook her head. She stood in the cold until the sky darkened and the banquet finally ended. Annette emerged, draped in Arthur's coat. The two noticed that Cindy was still waiting outside. Arthur's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. His voice unexpectedly turned hoarse as he demanded, "Why are you still standing here? Move it." He took Annette's hand and led her away, with Cindy following quietly behind them. As they passed by the artificial lake in the garden, a sly smirk crossed Annette's face. She staggered forward, pretending she had been shoved. "Oh no! My bracelet fell into the lake!" she exclaimed. She spun around, her face flushed with anger, and glared at Cindy. "Why did you push me?" Cindy instinctively defended herself. "I didn't—" "Don't even try to lie!" Annette snapped. She clung to Arthur, her voice dripping with feigned distress. "Arthur, that was my favorite bracelet." Arthur's gaze shifted to Cindy. He stared at her for what felt like an eternity before speaking in a low, firm tone. "Jump in and get it back." He'd already decided she was guilty without giving her a chance to explain. Cindy's eyes fell on the lake, its surface gleaming with a bone-chilling cold. Still, she waded in without a word. The water wasn't deep, reaching just a little above her knees. But the winter water showed no mercy. Each step felt like treading on ice shards. Cindy, already frail, began to sway unsteadily as she scanned the area. Arthur, though, barely gave her a look before turning away, muttering, "Don't bother showing up for work tomorrow if you can't find it." With that, he left, taking Annette with him.