Chapter 2 Chapter 2

I immediately ordered an online taxi as soon as I stepped out of Megan’s treatment room.

It didn’t take long for a car to stop in front of the hospital. I got in right away, followed by Rachel.

The whole way, I stayed silent. Beside me, Rachel looked confused and scared. Maybe she was afraid Fagan would be angry because she had taken me to meet Megan. Or maybe she was afraid I’d be angry because she hadn’t been honest with me.

“Relax. I won’t involve you in this matter,” I said coldly. I was a little disappointed in her.

I wouldn’t be that cruel—letting Rachel get scolded by Fagan. Everyone knew how strict my husband was with his relatives.

He never hesitated to punish them, even over small matters. In his family lineage, my husband was the eldest sibling. The first grandchild of the first child.

Besides that, Fagan was the heir and the largest shareholder of the family company.

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to lie to you. Brother Fagan forbade us from discussing that matter in front of you,” Rachel said with a pleading look.

I let out a heavy sigh. There was no point blaming Rachel. She was just following Fagan’s orders.

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

Even though I was annoyed, I couldn’t bring myself to scold her. Of all Fagan’s relatives and cousins, Rachel was the one closest to me. We were like sisters.

Maybe because our ages weren’t far apart. In four months, I would turn twenty. Meanwhile, in two months, Rachel would celebrate her nineteenth birthday.

If I hadn’t been forced to marry Fagan, maybe right now I’d be like Rachel—busy with college assignments.

After officially marrying Fagan, I had to quit college. Fagan forced me to follow him to live in the capital. He asked me to be a good wife. To become a housewife who stayed at home every day.

Thinking back on it now, what Megan said was true. I was too naïve. Playing the hero to help them, when in reality I was the sacrifice they offered.

Two years ago, to be exact, Fagan’s mother came to me in tears, asking me to become a replacement bride for Fagan—to protect the family’s good name.

“Only temporarily,” she said.

“The invitations have already been sent. Our family will be humiliated if the wedding is canceled. Please help me, Zura. I promise this marriage will only be pretend,” my mother-in-law said at the time.

And naïvely, I agreed. But in reality, that promise was never kept. The marriage that was supposed to be fake has lasted until this very moment.

And because of this marriage, I had to sacrifice my dreams of becoming a designer.

My mother-in-law was very persuasive. Two days after the wedding ceremony, she came to see my grandmother and my father, persuading them to officially register my marriage to Fagan.

She also convinced them that Fagan would be a good husband to me. And just like me, my grandmother and father were deceived by her persuasion.

Remembering all that made my chest feel tight.

Oh God… How stupid I was!!!

Over and over, I cursed myself.

Anger, frustration, and disappointment mixed together, crushing my chest and making my eyes burn.

I cried again.

“Zura…” Rachel hugged me from the side. She was crying too.

“Why are you crying too? Don’t be afraid! I won’t tell Fagan that you were the one who took me to meet Megan,” I repeated my earlier words. I thought she was crying because she was afraid of Fagan’s anger.

“I’m not afraid of being scolded by Brother Fagan. I’m on your side,” Rachel said seriously.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Sure. I’m ready to help you,” Rachel replied firmly.

I let out a long breath. “Thank you.”

“So, what’s your plan now?”

I sighed again, staring straight ahead at the busy road this afternoon.

“I’ll talk to Fagan first. I need to confirm the truth of Megan’s story.”

“Yes, you should confirm it with Brother Fagan first. It’s possible Megan is lying,” Rachel replied.

“Um…” Rachel seemed hesitant.

“What is it?”

“Don’t you think you should get your health checked first?”

“For what?” I frowned.

“Megan is dying. She’s HIV positive. Are you sure Fagan is clean?”

Thump—

My chest suddenly felt tight. Terrible images flashed through my mind. No… Dear God, please don’t…

“What about Ardiaz…?” I looked at Rachel, my heart pounding.

Rachel bit her lip. Her face grew tense.

“Please answer!” I begged, shaking her.

“Ardiaz is positive,” she said softly—but her words exploded in my chest like a bomb.

“Oh my God…”

My body instantly went weak.

“Ra, calm down,” Rachel hugged me.

Once again, I received a shock I never expected today. What sin had I committed yesterday? Why was I so unlucky today?

I clutched my head, which felt like it was about to split. Why did everything turn out like this?

I had truly been deceived. That whole family deceived me. They deliberately used me to cover up their family disgrace.

“Why are you only telling me now?” I pulled my hand away from Rachel. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I’m sorry,” Rachel looked at me fearfully. “I was afraid of Brother Fagan. He forbade everyone from discussing Brother Ardiaz in front of you. And about that illness—it’s a family disgrace. No one was allowed to leak it.”

“So that’s how it is…” I laughed bitterly. “This is truly outrageous,” I growled, clenching my fists.

“Zura, I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me,” Rachel pleaded. “Brother Fagan threatened to fire my older brother if I didn’t obey him. You know it yourself—Brother Fagan holds the most power. He owns the most shares.”

I sighed heavily. “Hmm… I understand. I don’t blame you.”

Honestly, I was disappointed in Rachel. But she was forced too. She had no choice but to obey Fagan.

I took another deep breath, trying to ease the tightness in my chest.

“I think you’re right. I should get my health checked first.”

“Yes. That’s the most important thing,” Rachel agreed. “How about we go to the hospital now?”

“Not now.” I glanced at my phone screen. “It’s already past two. In less than two hours, Fagan will be home. Maybe tomorrow.”

“I’ll take you,” Rachel said.

“Thank you.”

**

Half an hour later, the car stopped right in front of the house. Rachel wanted to come in, but I stopped her. I told her to go straight home. I needed time alone—to calm my heart and my mind.

For two years, I had been the wife of Fagan Alexander Zafier. I knew very well his character and behavior. Fagan was very intelligent. His ego was high. Most likely, he would deny Megan’s confession—even if it was true.

With heavy steps, I entered the house. The house Fagan had bought a year ago. This two-story house was quite luxurious. The yard was spacious and had a small garden. The air here was cool and fresh because it was located on the outskirts of the city.

We had been married for two years, but had only lived in this house for seven months. Several times, Fagan suggested moving, but my mother-in-law forbade it.

Only after I had a miscarriage were we finally allowed to move. She said a new place would bring new luck—hoping I could get pregnant again.

Wait—remembering that incident made me recall Rachel’s story.

Rachel said that day at the hospital, Ardiaz argued with Fagan. Ardiaz was angry because my husband arrived late at the hospital, which prevented the doctors from taking life-saving action since the surgery consent form hadn’t been signed. Because of that, I almost died from blood loss.

Back then, I thought maybe Fagan was stuck in traffic. Or the roads were too crowded, causing his delay.

But now… I started to think badly about my husband.

Could it be… Fagan?

My chest tightened again. I stopped walking and sat down at the dining table. My gaze fell on the wedding photo hanging on the main wall of the living room.

Its position was perfect—visible clearly from every angle. A wedding photo where I smiled at the camera while Fagan hugged me from behind.

Seeing it made my heart ache even more. I couldn’t possibly forget how grand my wedding to Fagan was two years ago.

Almost all the wealthy people in this city attended. The decorations were beautiful and luxurious. A wedding party that should have belonged to Megan.

Yes… That party wasn’t meant for me. It was for Megan—the woman I had met an hour ago. The woman from my husband’s past who had torn open the veil of lies that had been tightly hidden from me all this time.

I laughed bitterly… Feeling sorry for my own fate. How stupid and foolish I was—to ever think I was the luckiest woman in the world.

If only Sister Zeline hadn’t refused back then. Maybe now the position of Mrs. Fagan would have been hers.

But my older sister was smart and realistic. She didn’t want to sacrifice her life just to help others. So she firmly refused.

Unlike Sister Zeline, I was too naïve—easily softened by the tears of Fagan’s mother. Stupid!!

Thinking back, Ardiaz had also forbidden me back then.

“Don’t comply with my mother’s request. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself to cover up my family’s disgrace,” Ardiaz said at the time. But I ignored him.

Crash—

I flinched. A loud noise from the living room shattered my thoughts.

I turned my head, still sitting at the dining table, and looked toward the living room.

Someone walked in with a flushed face and a clenched jaw. Fagan stared at me sharply.

“Where have you been?” he asked in a raised voice that made me flinch.

“I asked you where you’ve been! Answer me!!” he barked.