“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.”

Adrian left in such a hurry that he didn't hear what Zoey said.

Zoey calculated how many chances were left in the contract—only two more.

Two more times, and then this contract, and everything between her and Adrian, would be over.

But when she thought about leaving him now, her chest didn’t ache anymore.

Instead… she felt relief.

She turned off the lamp beside her and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

—

The next morning, as Zoey walked downstairs, she was startled to find the dining table covered in a full spread of breakfast.

In the kitchen, Adrian stood smiling in an apron, stirring a pot of soup.

He looked up, voice warm.

“Zoey! Go wash up—breakfast’s ready. I made your favorite soup!”

For a moment, Zoey couldn’t believe her ears.

Adrian had been pampered since birth. He never lifted a finger. Meals were always prepared for him—there’s no way he’d ever set foot in a kitchen, let alone cook.

And yet here he was… cooking. For her.

No one had ever treated her like this.

She sat down and took a few bites, still stunned.

Then Claire came down the stairs.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the table.

“Adrian! You made this for me? You actually cooked for me? I’m so touched!”

Adrian froze, tugging off his apron as he stumbled over his words.

“No—Claire, this was for Zoey. You’ve got your own meal plan, remember? That’s why I didn’t make you any.”

Claire’s smile dropped in an instant.

When Adrian left for work later that morning, all the sweetness vanished from Claire’s face.

She finally snapped—grabbed the pot of soup and dumped it all over Zoey.

The boiling soup scalded her thigh, burning her skin raw.

“Who told you that you could eat what Adrian made?

“That’s mine.

“You don’t deserve any of it!”

She flung the rest of the food to the ground and stormed out of the villa.

Zoey quickly tore off her clothes and grabbed the first-aid kit, applying burn ointment to her leg.

She didn’t tell Adrian. There was no point.

She was leaving soon anyway, and even if she said something… he’d never believe her.

What she didn’t know—was that Claire had already spiked her water with sleeping pills.

The moment Zoey drank it, she blacked out.

When she opened her eyes again, flames were everywhere.

Smoke. Heat. Fire roaring at every corner.

She rubbed her eyes, thinking it was a dream—but the blaze only grew bigger.

The villa was on fire.

And she was trapped inside.

Panicked, she reached for her phone—only to find it gone.

That’s when she saw Claire, standing in the doorway, holding her phone.

Claire gave her a twisted smile.

Holding Adrian’s number on the screen, she said with a smirk, “Wanna guess who he’ll save this time?”

Zoey froze.

The fire hadn’t been an accident. Claire had set it on purpose.

Her blood ran cold.

“You’re out of your goddamn mind! Are you seriously ready to die over this?!

“Give me the phone! If we don’t call for help now, we’re both dead!”

But Claire ignored her.

Instead, she burst into tears and started wailing into the phone.

“Adrian! Help! The house is on fire! Zoey and I are trapped—please come quick!”

The second the call ended, the tears vanished.

She looked at Zoey with a manic calm.

“You shouldn’t have eaten what he made. That was mine.

“If it takes my death to prove how much Adrian loves me, then so be it.”

Zoey backed away, horrified.

“You’re insane, Claire.”

Minutes passed. The fire spread fast.

Zoey’s strength was fading. She curled into the corner, too weak to shout, unable to move.

And then—Adrian burst through the flames.

His voice was hoarse as he shouted Claire’s name over and over.

No reply.

He ran into the room—and saw both women huddled in opposite corners of the bedroom.

He rushed toward Claire first, instinctively wrapping her in his arms.

And then… he froze.

There was only time to save one of them.

The fire was growing too fast. Whoever he didn’t grab now might not make it.

Claire whimpered, “Adrian…”

That was all it took. His resolve snapped.

He picked her up and ran.

As they reached the door, he turned back.

“Zoey! Just hang on—I’ll come back for you!”

But those words—those same words—shattered something in Zoey for good.

The flames licked at her skin, but what chilled her more was the realization:

He had chosen Claire.

Again.

Every time Claire was there, she was the one left waiting.

Even when her life was on the line, Adrian didn’t hesitate.

She was never the priority.

Never the one who got picked.

Just the one left behind.

But it was okay.

After this… there’d only be one chance left.

One more, and then she’d be gone.

Smoke filled her lungs, fire closed in.

Her vision blurred—until she couldn’t fight it anymore.

And finally, she passed out in the flames.