Chapter 2
I don’t remember when I fell asleep, but when I opened my eyes again, daylight was streaming. through the windows.
Rays of sunshine slipped through the gaps in the curtains, casting warm patches on the bedsheets. The gentle warmth felt like a mockery of my cold heart.
I heard the front door open and went to investigate. It was Nolan, clutching a pharmacy bag, his face
etched with exhaustion.
“Skylar got drunk last night,” he explained, gesturing toward her room. His voice carried a tenderness I’d never heard before. “I bought her some hangover pills.”
“Make her some rice porridge for when she wakes up,” he added, his eyes soft with concern. My heart clenched painfully. So Nolan could be gentle after all – just not with me. His tenderness, it seemed, was reserved exclusively for Skylar, while I was left to swallow my pills alone.
bitter
Nolan had always been terrible in the mornings. When we first moved in together, I didn’t know better and tried to wake him for breakfast. He hurled an ashtray at my head in response, leaving me bleeding profusely. While cleaning my wound, his face remained cold as he warned me never to do that again.
Yet here he was, rising early to buy medicine for Skylar. The stark contrast twisted the knife in my heart even deeper.
Fighting back tears, I prepared the porridge and added a couple of simple side dishes with eggs from the fridge.
At nine, Skylar emerged.
She wore a pink nightgown, her hair charmingly tousled, somehow looking ethereal even with bed
head.
Nolan took her hand, gently guiding her to the dining table.
Seeing the spread I’d prepared, he gave me an approving glance, as if my effort was nothing more. than expected.
Skylar’s laugh tinkled like wind chimes. “Oh Lily, you shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble! It’s all Nolan’s fault – I told him we could eat out, but he insisted, saying restaurant food wouldn’t be clean
enough.”
Her voice dripped with affection, her eyes full of adoration for Nolan.
My eyes burned as I stared into my bowl, not daring to look up at their domestic bliss. At the table, they existed in their own little bubble, whispering and giggling together. Skylar’s laughter rang out like silver bells, each note piercing my heart like tiny daggers.
After eating. Skylar rubbed her stomach contentedly and passed her half–finished glass of milk to
Nolan.
I almost called out to stop her. Nolan was a germaphobe – he never used anything others had
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But to my shock, he accepted the glass and took a sip without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Catching my stare. Nolan raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“It’s fine.” I forced a bitter smile, realizing that even perfectionist tendencies could be selective about their targets.
While I was clearing the dinner table, I noticed Nolan staring at Skylar with gentle determination in his eyes, trying to convince her to take her medicine.
Skylar pouted playfully, gently tugging at his arm with an adorable expression. “Nole,” she cooed in that sweet voice of hers, I’m really okay. I don’t need any medicine.”
Nolan tenderly pinched her cheek, his fingertips sending a visible shiver through her as they brushed against her skin.
“Come on, sweetheart,” he said softly. “You had quite a bit to drink last night. This will help you feel
better
Without waiting for further protest, he gently placed the pill between her lips, his finger lifting her chin ever so slightly to help her swallow.
Just after finally convincing Skylar to take the medicine, Nolan caught sight of the wound on my
hand. His brow furrowed with concern.
“Lily, leave the cleaning for now. Let me help you treat that wound.”
I glanced down at my injury, which looked even worse than it had last night. The split skin made my
stomach turn.
I nodded, trying to ignore the complicated emotions swirling in my chest.
Just as Nolan was about to fetch the first aid kit, Skylar suddenly clutched her head and let out a cry,
her body trembling slightly.
Nolan was instantly on alert, grabbing her hand. “Skylar, what’s wrong?” The worry in his voice was
palpable.
Skylar bit her lip, a flash of pain crossing her face before she forced it away. “Nolan, my head suddenly hurts so much.”
She managed a brave smile. “But I’m fine, really. Lily’s wound is more important. Help her first.” Nolan turned back to me with an apologetic look, his eyes reflecting both concern and helplessness.
“Don’t worry about me,” I said quietly. “I can treat it myself later.”
Nolan shot me a grateful look before scooping Skylar into his arms and rushing toward the door His movements were swift yet gentle, as if she were made of precious glass that might shatter t any
moment.
As she nestled in his arms, Skylar lifted her head and mouthed words meant only for me. “As if you’re worthy of competing with me.”
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I had never intended to compete with her for anything.
Not before, and certainly not now.
After they left. I hastily applied medicine to my wound, my mind scattered as I thought about everything else I needed to clean up.
When I entered my room, I found the decorative hand fan that had meant so much to me torn to
pieces, scattered across the floor like a silent message from Skylar.
My heart clenched painfully, but the feeling passed quickly.
It didn’t matter anymore anyway. I had no use for it now.
I swept the delicate pieces of the decorative wedding fan into the trash bin with one decisive motion. Then, one by one, I began pulling out all the carefully prepared wedding items. The vintage lace garter, the “Mr. & Mrs.” champagne flutes, the pearl–studded photo album – everything had to go. With each item I tossed away, a weight lifted from my chest. Liberation. Freedom. Every discarded piece of our almost–future was another chain breaking loose.
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