Chapter 2
No wonder he never took me to any events.
I stood with my back pressed against the cold wall, the chill sinking straight into my bones.
“Take Zoe to the party. I haven’t seen her in a while.”
The voice on the other end made my blood run cold.
It was Lila Bennett.
Lila Bennett–my best friend since childhood.
I’d assumed the “Lila” Caleb Lane mentioned was just someone with the same name.
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But it really was her.
A wave of nausea rose in my chest, so sharp I nearly choked on it.
Why was everyone lying to me?
That evening, we went to the party.
I followed behind Zane Cooper.
We hadn’t even stepped inside when his group of friends started heckling.
“Lila’s been waiting all night for you! You used to be so eager–what took you so long today?”
Then they saw me.
The room went quiet for a second, before the
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+ 5 Points
murmurs began–shameless, cruel.
“A blind woman? She has the nerve to show up here? What’s she even doing here?”
“Only reason she’s still around is because Lawyer Zane was kind enough to help her through the divorce, and now she is shamelessly clinging to him..”
“She probably cheated–that’s why she got beat. We all know how those women are.”
I stood frozen at the doorway, my still–healing eyes burning with pain.
Zane’s face was dark, but he said nothing.
Lila stepped forward. “Don’t talk about Zoe like that. Zoe was always lively, liked to joke around with guys–so what? That doesn’t mean she was being inappropriate.”
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It was only then that I realized-
Every time Lila spoke up for me, there were knives hidden in her words.
I’d been blind–not just in my eyes, but in my heart.
“She’s always been like this. Disgusting.”
“No wonder she got hit. I’d have beaten her to death too.”
Zane Cooper frowned, maybe out of embarrassment.
His voice was cold. “That’s enough.”
The moment Zane spoke, the room fell silent.
Lila’s face twisted with resentment.
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The shock must’ve been too much–I started feeling physically sick.
I used it as an excuse to step outside.
Zane didn’t bother to follow, just said, “Take it slow.”
I didn’t say a word.
It wasn’t until I got outside that I realized I’d left my phone behind.
When I went back, the party had already ended.
Everyone was gone–except Zane Cooper and Lila Bennett.
“I’m losing my mind seeing Zoe Parker’s face every day,” Zane was saying. “When can we
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finally be together for real? I just want you to be my wife. I want you so badly it’s driving me insane.”
And Lila answered, “Zane, you know I love you too. But until I’ve made it in my career, my dad won’t allow me to date or get married.”
Zane had clearly been drinking. He buried his face against her.
“I know. But I can’t wait anymore. The thought of someone else being my wife- anyone but you–makes me sick. But for you, I’ll do anything.”
I stood outside the door, listening.
Tears streamed silently down my cheeks.
I don’t know what came over me, but I made
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a noise on purpose as I entered the room.
They both jumped in shock.
I clenched my jaw, pretending I hadn’t heard a thing. Pretending I still couldn’t see.
“Is everyone gone? Where’s my phone?”
Only then did they remember–I was blind.
Lila mouthed to Zane: Zane, I know I’ve let you down. So I’ll make it up to you with my body. Want to try something thrilling?
Zane hesitated only a second before grabbing her and crushing his mouth to hers.
The room was soon filled with sounds I can’t even describe.
Right in front of me–they celebrated.
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Zane had never touched me with that kind of passion.
I always thought he was just indifferent to that sort of thing.
Turns out, he was just indifferent to me.
It felt like the universe was laughing at the woman I used to be.
As I walked out of the hotel, the front desk clerk gasped.
“Ma’am, your eyes… they’re bleeding!”
“Thank you. I’m fine.”
I wiped the tears from my cheeks, ignoring the dull ache in my chest, and pulled out my phone.
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I dialed the hospital.
“Hi. I need to schedule an abortion.”
If he hates me that much…
Then I won’t keep anything of his.
I’m done with you, Zane Cooper.
Three days before I was set to leave the country,
I had the surgery.
I refused the doctor’s suggestion to stay for observation.
Clutching my abdomen, I slowly walked out of the hospital-
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Lila Bennett was standing at the entrance, arms crossed, smirking.
“Lost the baby? What a shame. I was curious to see if Zane Cooper would’ve strangled that kid the moment it was born.”
I stared at her through furrowed brows. “You knew I could see all along.”
Last night–Lila did it on purpose.
She deliberately got close to Zane in front of
- me.
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