Part 2From Heartbreak to Triumph

I remained silent, my eyes fixed on Maxwell.

I couldn't believe this was the man I had loved for three years.

I used to think that even if Maxwell didn't love me enough, as long as I loved him, it would be enough.

I foolishly believed that, maybe one day, he would be moved by my devotion.

But now, everything was mocking how naive I had been.

"The soup I made today didn't turn out great, so I drank it myself."

I smiled as I picked up the lightest bag and walked quickly out of the room, leaving first.

"Come on, get your things, let's go home."

I didn't want to carry all of his luggage like a servant, which I had done every time before.

The atmosphere on the way home was tense. Maxwell was still angry with me.

But I wasn't planning on soothing him. I needed time to calm my own emotions.

As soon as we arrived home, Maxwell's other good friend, Dorian Everhart, showed up.

He came in, grinning, holding a cat in his arms.

I had always been allergic to cat fur, and I instinctively recoiled, covering my nose.

"Maxwell, didn't you tell them I'm allergic to cats?!"

Frowning, I kept my eyes on the Ragdoll cat in Dorian's arms, not daring to relax for a second.

When I was a child, I didn't know I was allergic to cats. I once held a neighbor's cat and ended up in the hospital for an entire week.

"Adeline, why are you being so dramatic?"

Maxwell hadn't spoken yet, but Dorian was already rolling his eyes at me.

"This is Eleanor's Ragdoll cat. She brought it from abroad, it was really expensive. I begged for a while before she let me hold it for a few days."

"Adeline, don't be so unreasonable."

Maxwell had been dissatisfied with my attitude for a while now, feeling embarrassed in front of his friends. Now, he finally had the chance to vent.

His expression darkened terribly.

"It's just a cat. It's not going to kill you."

He no longer even pretended to hide his disdain for me. He took the cat from Dorian and shoved it toward me.

"Don't be ridiculous. What's the big deal with a cat?"

Maxwell knew full well how severe my allergic reaction could be, yet he still treated me with such indifference.

I tried to avoid the cat, but Maxwell kept pushing it closer.

The cat, startled and in pain from being held too tightly, screeched and lunged toward me uncontrollably.

Even though I reacted as quickly as I could, its claws scratched my neck, and I inhaled a mouthful of cat fur.

Within half a minute, I began struggling to breathe. My heart raced, and a cold sweat broke out all over my body.

"Call... call an ambulance..."

Maxwell sneered. "Adeline, stop pretending."

Dorian noticed my face turning pale and spoke up, his voice urgent.

"Maxwell, Adeline's not faking it! We need to call 911!"

As they hesitated, I collapsed heavily to the ground.

Just before I lost consciousness, I saw Maxwell's panicked face and heard Dorian and George scrambling to call an ambulance.

When I woke up, I was alone in a dark hospital room.

Because of their so-called "playful teasing", I almost went into shock and was rushed to the hospital.

And now, none of them were here with me.

A nurse walked in, turned on the lights, and replaced the IV medication.

"You're extremely allergic to cat fur. You absolutely cannot be around cats again."

I gave a wry smile and asked, "Do you know when those three guys left?"

"The three boys?"

The nurse furrowed her brow, looking surprised.

"They left once they saw you weren't in danger. They didn't stay."

She seemed incredulous.

"Were they not just strangers to you?"

I forced a smile.

"One of them is my boyfriend. But not for long."

I checked my phone, and Maxwell's message popped up on WhatsApp.

[We went out for dinner. If you're fine, just go home on your own.]

George had posted on his Instagram twenty minutes earlier.

[Reunion with old friends, so happy!]

The picture showed the four of them, with Maxwell gazing lovingly at the girl beside him.

Their eyes were full of affection, and Maxwell's admiration for her was plain to see.

Looking at that photo, I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. The pain in my chest felt suffocating.

At this point, I couldn't deceive myself any longer.

The one Maxwell truly loved was Eleanor.

If Eleanor was willing to come back to him, I would lose all value to him.

Chapter