Chapter 2

Today was the first time James asked me for time off.

"Chloe, I have something to do today. I need to go out, so I won't be able to have dinner with you," he said calmly over the phone, with no hint of anything unusual.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Chloe, I may be your husband in name, but I'm still a person. Can't I have my own private space?"

"You don't deserve it," I said coldly.

"If you don't listen, I can send you back to those men."

My tone was icy. He immediately deflated on the other end of the line.

In this life, I still saved him, but I had no hopes for him.

I only kept him by my side to torment him.

He sighed and answered, "I'm going to see my mother."

"Is that so? You'd better not be lying to me."

When I rescued him back then, he begged me like an obedient puppy.

"I'll do anything you want," he had said.

An idea came to me, and I raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Marry me, so my family stops pressuring me."

He agreed.

I used money to rescue his brother,

And at the same time, I bought him for myself.

To the outside world, I claimed he was my husband.

In private, he was just a dog by my bedside.

His enemies still wouldn't let him go, so he had no choice but to rely on me to stay alive.

This time, I once again bound him to me with a contract.

The agreement stated that we would each get what we needed, and after five years when things blew over, I would set him free.

For these five years, he never left my side for a moment.

Whether as a husband or a bedmate, he was impeccable.

At dinner time, James wasn't there. The housekeeper made my favorite dishes.

I picked up my chopsticks but had no appetite.

"Miss, this is the cake Mr. Sullivan asked me to give you before he left. He waited in line for hours to buy it," the housekeeper said, bringing over a slice of cake. It was my favorite flavor, very hard to get.

I took a bite with my fork, then tossed it straight into the trash.

Suddenly, I felt a bit lost.

Today was my birthday.

Thinking back to my past life, it was the same desolate scene.

That day, he had gone to see his first love, Olivia.

As I was lost in thought, my phone suddenly rang.

"Hello," I answered.

An arrogant female voice came from the other end.