Chapter 2
Perhaps out of gratitude, I learned cooking and nursing, often going to Charlie’s house to take care of his parents.
Rumors outside became more and more malicious.
They said I was Charlie’s simp, already acting like a servant before even marrying him.
But thinking about my mother, I endured it.
To vent my frustrations, I secretly started practicing racing, achieving some success.
Later, when my mother passed away due to an old illness, and my father remarried, my position at home became more and more insignificant.
It seemed like, besides Charlie, there was no one left to rely on.
But now, he told me he liked someone else.
For him, I was just a naive memory from his youth, far inferior to the fleeting excitement of a few days.
I thought I would cry, but not a single tear fell. I just silently took the engagement gift from the safe.
It was a beautifully crafted antique hairpin, symbolizing the status of a wife, following the marriage vow.
And I had given him a double–sided carved jade pendant my mother had given me, symbolizing virtue and warmth like jade. It was the only thing my mother had left me.
I arranged to meet Charlie later. Since we had canceled the engagement, the gift should naturally be returned.
After midnight, Charlie updated his social media.
He and Joanne were tightly hugging, their hands making a heart shape.
Charlie wrote, “I may not have much skill, but on Valentine’s Day, I got the person I liked.”
It turned out, his rush to cancel the engagement was to announce it on Valentine’s Day.
I liked the post.
Since he liked her so much, let him lock it down.
A few minutes later, a message popped up on my phone.
Daniel Ryan: “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
I stared at the name, my brain stalling for a few seconds. I never expected him to be the first to say those words to
- me.
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Chapter 2
Everyone said Daniel had a distinguished identity, untouchable.
And I was just someone he had met a few times through racing.
Maybe it was a mistake.
But then, the next second, he sent another message.
“You deserve better.”
Before I could process Daniel’s words, I was overwhelmed by a flood of rumors.
Almost everyone around me was gossiping about how I was dumped by Charlie.
My father scolded me in the morning, and even my stepmother mocked me for being useless.
I found it amusing. I didn’t know when it started, but being the one let down had become something to be ashamed
- of.
Later, many people started sending me private messages.
“I heard Charlie found a new girlfriend? Hahaha, especially on Valentine’s Day. I don’t know how to comfort you.”
“You’re not losing out, at least you learned how to serve someone, right, Isla?”
“He’s just being stubborn. If you beg him, he might change his mind. If not, just cry and cause a scene, maybe that’ll
work.”
I ignored their mockery, blocking and deleting them one by one.
All I wanted now was my mother’s keepsake.
I packed the hairpin and the voice recorder into a box.
At the agreed time, I arrived at the designated location.
But when I got there, I realized I had been deceived.
A large table of people, all of whom were Charlie’s friends from back home.
He and Joanne were sitting in the middle, chatting and laughing with everyone.
When the door opened, all eyes turned toward me.
Charlie explained, “Joanne said she wanted to meet some of my friends, so I invited them along. Hope you don’t
mind.”
Someone eagerly tried to make me feel comfortable, quickly finding me a seat.
“Ah, Isla’s here! Come on, come on, we’ve been waiting for you.”
the Cloud Palace
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Chapter 2
I didn’t sit down, placing the box for the hairpin on the table.
“Here’s your thing back. What about mine?”
Charlie paused for a few seconds and clicked his tongue. “Ah, I forgot.”
“Then please mail it to me as soon as possible. I have other things to do.”
“Isla, don’t go yet! If you leave now, everyone will think I’m the mistress.”
She frowned slightly, looking innocent.
I smiled, “Aren’t you?”
The room went quiet suddenly, and Joanne’s face turned ugly.
Charlie looked at me with displeasure. “Sit down, Isla. I’ll call the driver and have him deliver your things.”
During the wait for Charlie’s driver to bring the items, everyone’s excitement returned to how it was before.
Charlie was right–Joanne really knew how to make a scene. She spoke confidently and was clearly the center of
attention.
Someone asked, “Joanne, I heard you were a racing babe when you were abroad? Tell us about it!”
She was even more eager to talk now.
While I was drinking tea, she went on about racing rules, techniques, and how familiar she seemed with the industry.
“You know, I love the racetrack! It’s not just the thrill of adrenaline, but also meeting so many outstanding and handsome drivers.”
