Chapter 2

When I woke again, I was lying in the ship’s medical center.

The nurse looked relieved when she saw me open my eyes.

“Ms. Bennett, your temperature was almost 104 degrees. You were also standing in the rain.”

“If you had arrived any later, you could have developed pneumonia.”

I pushed myself up against the pillows.

“Who brought me here?”

“A man.”

The nurse adjusted my IV.

“He stayed with you for most of the night. He left after your fever came down.”

“What was his name?”

The door suddenly opened.

Adrian walked in.

Vivian followed him.

She was wearing Adrian’s suit jacket over her dress. Her face was pale, and several dark marks covered her neck.

I did not need to ask what had happened.

Adrian stopped beside my bed.

He did not ask why I had collapsed.

He immediately accused me.

“Did you send the reporters to Suite 1908 this morning?”

I stared at him.

“What reporters?”

His expression turned cold.

“Vivian said you told her where I was.”

“You sent her to my room and arranged for reporters to wait outside. You wanted to destroy her reputation.”

I almost laughed.

“I only gave Vivian the room number.”

“You should ask her how the reporters found out.”

Vivian’s eyes filled with tears.

“Claire, I know you love Adrian.”

“I only went to check on him because I was worried. I never expected anything to happen.”

“You have every right to be angry with me, but you should not have called the reporters.”

She sounded hurt, but she still acted as though she were trying to protect me.

Adrian immediately stepped in front of her.

“Vivian is still trying to defend you, and all you can do is blame her.”

I stopped explaining.

In my previous life, I had saved him.

He had accused me of drugging him and calling the reporters.

In this life, I had never entered Suite 1908.

He still believed everything was part of my plan.

Nothing I did would ever make him trust me.

“The reporters already took the pictures,” I said. “What are you going to do now?”

Adrian frowned.

He clearly had not expected me to sound so calm.

After a brief silence, he answered me.

“I will take responsibility for Vivian.”

I had expected those words, but a dull pain still spread through my chest.

In my previous life, I had slept with him and been photographed outside his room.

When he married me, he acted as though I had ruined his life.

Now the woman in that room was Vivian.

He was offering to take responsibility without anyone forcing him.

I nodded.

“Then congratulations.”

Adrian narrowed his eyes.

“What are you planning now, Claire?”

“I am not planning anything.”

“Stop pretending.” He gave a cold laugh. “You have used this act before. You pull away because you expect me to chase you.”

I leaned back against the pillows, exhausted.

“Believe whatever you want.”

By the time the ship reached port, the photos had spread through every wealthy family in our circle.

That afternoon, Adrian personally drove Vivian back to the Bennett house.

When I arrived home, I heard him speaking to my parents.

“I will take responsibility for what happened last night. With your approval, Vivian and I will get engaged in three weeks.”

Vivian lowered her head.

“Isn’t that too soon?”

“The reporters already published the photos.” Adrian took her hand. “I will not let people keep talking about you.”

Her eyes turned red.

“But Claire has loved you for years. I cannot take the man she loves.”

Adrian saw me standing in the doorway.

He spoke without hesitation.

“Claire, I have never loved you.”

“If you keep chasing me, you will only waste more of your life.”

“All right,” I said quietly.

His expression changed for a second.

I continued before he could speak.

“I will not interfere with either of you again.”

“I hope you will be happy together.”

My mother looked surprised.

“Have you really moved on?”

“Yes,” I answered calmly. “I have.”

My father remained silent for a moment before nodding.

“If you are prepared to take responsibility, we will begin planning the engagement.”

Adrian watched me for a long time.

He seemed to be waiting for me to reveal what I was really planning.

I ignored him.

The next morning, I went to Cole Group as usual.

I entered Adrian’s office and placed my resignation letter on his desk.

He glanced at it.

“What is this?”

“My resignation.”

Adrian leaned back in his chair. A faint smile appeared on his face.

“Are you quitting because I am getting engaged to Vivian?”

“No.”

“Then why are you causing trouble?”

“I am not causing trouble.”

I met his eyes.

“I want a different job.”

I had worked as Adrian’s assistant for five years.

I had chosen that job because I wanted to stay close to him.

I had no reason to stay anymore.

Adrian tossed the resignation letter back onto the desk.

“Do you think quitting will make me ask you to stay?”

“No.”

I removed my employee badge and placed it on top of the letter.

“I do not need you to ask me.”

The smile disappeared from his face.

“Think carefully, Claire.”

“Once you leave Cole Group, you will not be able to return whenever you feel like it.”

“I will not come back.”

I turned and left.

I finished the entire handover process that day.

I cleared my desk, closed my company email, and signed out of every work account.

I did not leave behind a single personal item.

The next morning, Adrian stepped out of the elevator.

Out of habit, he held his coat toward the right.

No one took it.

He turned his head.

My old desk was empty.

A woman he did not recognize quickly stood up.

“Mr. Cole, I am your new assistant.”

“Would you like me to confirm today’s schedule with you?”

Adrian did not answer.

His eyes remained on the empty desk for several seconds.

Then he looked away.

He was certain I was only waiting for him to give in.

He believed that within a few days, I would return on my own.

I always had before.