The next morning, Zoey got ready for work like she always did.

Just as she was about to leave, Adrian wrapped his arms tightly around her from behind.

While holding her close, he opened an elegant gift box in his hands—inside was a pair of dazzling earrings, sparkling under the light.

He gently picked them up and carefully fastened them onto Zoey’s ears, his touch light, almost reverent, like she was something rare and fragile.

“I’ve been spending all my time with Claire these past few days,” he murmured. “I know I’ve been neglecting you… please don’t take it to heart.”

Zoey forced a faint smile. “Okay.”

Maybe it was because she was getting ready to leave—for good—that she found herself being unusually generous.

After he put the earrings on her, she said goodbye and headed out the door.

But as she left, she had the strange feeling someone was watching her.

She brushed it off and drove to the office, just like always.

During her usual walk-through of the company’s cold storage area, Zoey was startled to see someone who absolutely shouldn’t have been there—Claire.

Claire stormed toward her, grabbed her arm, and yanked her inside the cold room. Her voice was low, but wild.

“What the hell did you do to Adrian? Huh?! Even I’ve never gotten a gift from him, so why would he give you earrings like those?!”

Zoey stayed calm. “It’s just a pair of earrings. If you want them, I’ll give them to you.”

But Claire wasn’t listening. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she suddenly lunged, clawing at Zoey’s ears.

The earring hooks tore at Zoey’s earlobes, sending a sharp jolt of pain through her. Her ears turned red and swollen in seconds, with streaks of blood seeping out before the earrings were finally ripped off.

Claire clutched them in her fist, her voice shaking with venom.

“Why is it always you? Why do you get to take everything away from me so easily? I was here first! Adrian belongs to me! If I see you trying to seduce him again, I swear, I’ll kill you.”

Zoey opened her mouth to speak, but Claire suddenly kicked her hard, knocking her to the ground.

As Claire stormed off, Zoey’s heart dropped.

She knew exactly what Claire was about to do.

“No!” Zoey screamed after her, panic rising in her throat.

But the door slammed shut.

No matter how hard she pounded on it, no one came.

She yelled for help until her voice went hoarse, but the thick, insulated walls swallowed every sound.

Ten minutes passed. Her fingers felt frozen solid, like ice was growing under her skin.

Twenty minutes passed. Her body started to shut down. She couldn’t speak anymore—her jaw just wouldn’t move.

Her temperature kept dropping. Curling up on the floor, Zoey squeezed her eyes shut.

There was only one key to the walk-in freezer, and Claire had it.

Which meant Zoey’s chances of getting out alive were close to zero.

She truly hadn't expected Claire's obsession to reach such a disturbing level.

All over a pair of earrings—just earrings—and Claire had tried to kill her.

An hour passed. Zoey’s body had gone numb. She couldn’t even lift her arms anymore.

Her vision dimmed.

And then, just as everything was going dark—

She felt a pair of strong arms grab her.

---

The next time Zoey opened her eyes, it was already the following day.

Blinding white walls came into view first. Then the sharp sting of disinfectant hit her nose.

She was… in a hospital?

She wasn’t dead?

Before she could react, someone pulled her into a firm embrace.

“Zoey, you’re awake! Thank God—how are you feeling?”

“If the staff hadn’t mentioned you missed a meeting, I wouldn’t have even realized you were locked in the walk-in freezer.”

Zoey took a long time to process everything.

When she finally spoke, her face was blank. “Do you know who did it?”

Adrian hesitated, then gave a small nod.

Without another word, Zoey picked up her phone and started dialing 911.

Adrian panicked. He rushed over and hit the end call button, then pulled her into his arms.

His voice trembled with guilt.

“Zoey, please—don’t call the police. If you do, Claire’s future will be ruined.

“I’m the one who let her down. Don’t blame her. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I didn’t give her enough attention.

“If I’d just bought her a pair of earrings too, none of this would’ve happened.”

Zoey stared at him in disbelief. Her lips had gone pale.

“You really think this is about earrings?”

Adrian didn’t say a word. And that silence told her everything.

She had truly underestimated just how far Adrian’s blind devotion to Claire went.

Looking at the tubes in her arms, the bruises on her hands, Zoey let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

“Four left.”

Maybe he really did feel guilty, because for the next two days, Adrian stayed by her side, taking care of her like never before.

He even moved his work setup to the hospital.

He was so attentive he made sure her water was the perfect temperature before handing it to her.

Just before Zoey was about to be discharged, a doctor suddenly rushed into the room and called out to Adrian.

“Mr. Spencer? Are you related to Claire Spencer?”

Adrian looked confused but nodded. “Yeah.”

“She was just brought into the ER with self-inflicted injuries. She tried to slit her wrists. We just managed to stabilize her.”

The color drained from Adrian’s face. He didn’t say a word—just bolted out the door.

After that, Zoey never saw him again.

Not a single visit. Not even a text.

She told herself Claire must be in serious condition. That Adrian was too busy caring for her to even send a message.

When the day of her discharge finally came, Adrian still didn’t show.

She checked herself out alone, signing all the paperwork at the front desk.

But just as she was walking across the hospital lawn, she saw him.

Adrian was pushing Claire in a wheelchair, laughing—genuinely, from the heart. The sun shone down on them like something out of a picture book. They looked happy. Perfect.

A soft breeze swept past, blowing Adrian’s tie across Claire’s face. Her eyes narrowed slightly, filled with longing.

Zoey thought she was over it. But watching them like that still made her chest ache.

Claire spotted her first.

She whispered something to Adrian, and he nodded. Then he walked off toward the payment counter, leaving her alone.

Claire wheeled herself slowly toward Zoey, one push at a time.

She smiled, but her voice was venom.

“Such a shame. Even all that, and I still didn’t manage to kill you.”

Zoey said nothing. Claire’s smirk deepened.

“You probably don’t know this, but I hurt myself on purpose. I wanted to see who Adrian would pick. You or me. Turns out, it wasn’t even a contest.”

Zoey wasn’t surprised. She’d already guessed.

But what stung was knowing Adrian never once questioned it.

Even when the truth was obvious, he’d find a way to excuse her. Every time.

Zoey’s gaze dimmed, but her voice was strangely calm.

“You didn’t need to go that far. Adrian’s always chosen you.”

Claire’s tone turned icy.

“Don’t think I believe a word you say. Not unless you leave. And if you don’t—this won’t stop.”

Zoey answered quietly, “I will leave.”

Claire didn’t believe her. But Zoey didn’t care anymore.

She walked out of the hospital and flagged down a cab.

The breeze outside was light, and the view was beautiful. But Zoey couldn’t enjoy any of it.

She hadn’t expected Adrian to abandon her twice in such a short time.

Now that there were only three chances left on the contract, she felt oddly calm.

Maybe she had always known.

As long as Claire was an option, Adrian would never choose her.

This whole deal—this gamble—was doomed from the start.

And she’d lost.

Completely.

After Claire was discharged, Adrian drove her back to the villa.

It wasn’t until he saw Zoey sitting alone in the kitchen eating cup noodles that he remembered she existed.

He frowned, clearly guilty.

“Zoey, when did you get out of the hospital? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were busy with Claire,” she said lightly. “Didn’t want to bother you.”

That hit Adrian harder. Guilt flooded his face as he pulled out his phone and started transferring money.

“Claire’s situation put you through a lot… here, take this and buy something nourishing, okay?”

Zoey glanced at her phone. Fifty thousand.

Of course. Whenever it came to Claire, Adrian’s generosity knew no limits.

But she didn’t accept the payment. Instead, she just kept eating her noodles without a word.

Right then, Claire walked in with a few takeout containers in hand.

“Adrian, I picked up the meal you ordered! Come eat with me, quick!”

Zoey looked up. The logo on the boxes caught her eye—it was from the most expensive restaurant in the city, where a single meal could cost tens of thousands.

So Adrian had really gone all out for Claire’s health.

He glanced at Zoey, then looked away awkwardly.

“I didn’t know you were discharged, so… I only ordered for Claire.”

Then he quickly added, “I’ll call the restaurant now. I’ll set up a meal plan for you too.”

Zoey stopped him, her tone calm, almost routine.

“No need. Cup noodles are fine.”

After all, it wasn’t the first time Adrian had forgotten her.

And if it happened again… so what?

He opened his mouth to say something else, but Claire called for him again, and his attention shifted instantly.

He sighed. “Cup noodles aren’t good for you. Don’t eat them too often, okay?”

Zoey didn’t answer. She just finished her noodles and quietly went upstairs.

That night, Adrian crawled into bed beside her, trying to be gentle.

He wrapped his arm around her and leaned in close, his voice low and coaxing.

“Zoey…”

As he spoke, his hand slid under the covers toward her.

But this time, Zoey stopped him. Her expression was indifferent, distant.

Adrian looked confused.

Zoey gave a bitter smile. “Don’t bother. You’ll just get pulled away by Claire again soon anyway.”

Adrian hurried to reassure her, swearing that this time would be different—when his phone rang.

It was THAT ringtone.

“Adrian, it’s storming outside,” Claire sobbed through the phone. “I’m so scared. Can you come stay with me?”

Before the call even ended, Adrian was already throwing on his clothes.

“Don’t be scared, I’m coming right now!”

He turned to Zoey, rushing to explain, “Claire’s always been terrified of thunderstorms, I just—”

But Zoey cut him off.

“I get it. Go.”

He paused, staring at her.

There was something strange in her tone. She wasn’t angry. She didn’t try to stop him.

For the first time… she didn’t ask him to stay.

That should’ve meant something. But his mind was already on Claire.

“Don’t wait up,” he said, slipping out the door.

Zoey stared at his retreating back, then said quietly, “I wasn’t planning to.

And from now on… no one ever will.”