Chapter 2
Nathaniel leaned in as he always did to buckle her seat belt. Seeing her eyes red, he spoke softly, “The video was an accident. I’ll find someone to deal with it. You’re not in good shape today. I’ll take you home to rest first.”
Josephine pressed her lips together. Thinking of what he had said in the office, her tears flowed uncontrollably.
Nathaniel froze for a moment, then reached up to wipe her tears. As if remembering something, he opened the car door. “Wait for me a bit, I’ll go buy something.”
When the door closed, Josephine realized Nathaniel had taken the wrong phone.
His phone was sitting in the slot by the armrest. Without knowing why, Josephine picked it up and entered Dorothy’s birthday.
The phone unlocked. At the top of his chat list on WhatsApp, she saw Dorothy’s name.
In their most recent chat, Dorothy asked him to cut ties with Josephine before she came back.
Nathaniel replied, “Just a plaything. I was never with her.”
Josephine’s heart sank suddenly. Fighting the sting in her nose, she kept scrolling.
In the two years Dorothy was overseas, Nathaniel called her every night at eight o’clock.
That was the time he had said he had board meetings, when Josephine
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must not disturb him.
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On top of that, he transferred Dorothy tens of thousands every month–so
fast he didn’t even leave a note.
Dorothy was good at acting cute, often sending selfies to ask for praise. Nathaniel replied with pet emojis Josephine had never seen, telling her not to wear too little and to stay warm.
Looking at these chats, Josephine finally realized she had never really understood Nathaniel.
The gentle care he showed her was only a tiny piece of the love he had for Dorothy.
When Nathaniel came back to the car, there was now a box of morning- after pills in Josephine’s hand.
Nathaniel gently patted her head, his voice soft as ever. “Last night was too rushed; I didn’t prepare. Take this, just in case.”
Josephine’s fingers dug into the box, her lips bitten so hard they nearly bled.
If she hadn’t overheard him earlier, she might still believe he was truly thinking of her.
But now, she was wide awake.
When the car stopped in front of the villa, Nathaniel leaned in as usual to kiss her goodbye. But Josephine turned away, fumbling to unbuckle her seatbelt.
His eyes darkened. He pulled her into his arms.
“Still upset because of the video?”
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20 W
“The video wasn’t recorded by me. The hotel manager has already been fired.” Nathaniel tilted her chin up. “Josephine, I never wanted to hurt you, and I never will. Our anniversary is coming up soon. I’ll make it up to you then.”
A white lie disguised as kindness is often more hurtful than the truth.
Josephine’s nose stung. She pushed him away. “I’ll go inside first.”
She almost ran into the villa.
But the moment she stepped in, she bumped into Edward.
His face was dark. Before she could speak, he raised his hand and slapped her hard.
“Josephine, I really underestimated you. Date if you want, but to record that kind of shameless video? You’ve ruined my reputation!
“No wonder those people at your school targeted you. You’re so filthy you attract flies!”
After shouting, Edward threw a plane ticket at her.
“I booked you a flight in seven days. Go as far away as you can and never come back!”
Josephine picked up the ticket from the floor, her fingers trembling, as if it were a sentence declaring the world had abandoned her.
Edward thought she was disgraceful and wanted her gone.
Fine. She didn’t want to stay anyway.
“I’ll leave,” Josephine said flatly. “I will listen to you and never come back.”
Edward froze, thinking he had misheard.
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Back then, when he arranged for Dorothy to study abroad, he had urged Josephine to go too. But she refused, and after pressing her, he found out she was deeply in love.
He thought she would refuse again.
He never expected her to agree so quickly this time.
Only then did he ease a little, his voice cold.
“Dorothy is coming back this weekend. I’m hosting a party for her. You’ll
attend too.
“The video has already spread. If you don’t show up, it’ll only make the rumors worse.”
Josephine nodded. “Got it.”
***
Josephine asked the school for three days off.
In those three days, she packed up everything Nathaniel had given her and listed them online at the original price.
Three days later, Dorothy returned.
Edward held a party for her at the biggest hotel in New York, inviting all the big names in business.
Nathaniel was among them.
Josephine hadn’t expected to see him there. She turned to leave, but Nathaniel grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a quiet corner.
He pinned her to the wall, hands braced firmly on her sides, his hot breath brushing her ear.
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“You skipped school these past days, didn’t answer my messages, and even ignored our anniversary.
“Josephine, do you know how worried I was about you?”
Lateefa Khanam is a spirited writer who finds freedom in horse riding. She cherishes her mare and the newborn foal, calling them her little happy family.
