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.

When Zoey woke up again, that same familiar smell of disinfectant filled the air.

But this time, something was different—Adrian wasn’t sitting at her bedside.

He was in the bed next to hers.

The moment he saw her open her eyes, he rasped, voice hoarse with concern, “Zoey… are you okay?”

It took Zoey a long time to piece everything together.

After Adrian carried Claire out of the burning house, he ignored her protests and ran back in to save Zoey.

He inhaled too much smoke and ended up hospitalized alongside her.

Zoey listened quietly. But her expression didn’t change.

Calmly, she said, “Claire started the fire. She drugged my drink.”

Then she turned her head toward Adrian, who was hooked up to an IV.

“This time… you’re not going to defend her again, are you?”

Adrian bit his lip.

“She already confessed everything to me.”

Then, almost desperately, he added, “But I didn’t let it slide this time. I really punished her.”

Zoey asked flatly, “What did you do?”

“Claire’s never been patient, so I made her handwrite ‘I’m sorry’ a hundred times. To show you she’s truly remorseful.”

He handed her a page filled with Claire’s handwriting.

Zoey stared at it… then let out a cold, bitter laugh.

She’d nearly died. Adrian had landed in the hospital because of her.

And Claire’s punishment?

A handwritten apology.

But this time, Zoey didn’t argue.

She just turned her back to him and didn’t say another word.

Adrian was discharged first since his injuries were milder.

When Zoey was finally allowed to leave the hospital, she got into a cab headed for Adrian’s other villa.

She gave the driver the address, but he didn’t say a word. Something felt off.

Before she could react, a cloth was shoved over her mouth—everything went black.

When she came to, she and Claire were tied up near the ocean.

Claire was whispering lines to the hired “kidnapper,” telling him what to say.

Then she noticed Zoey waking up.

Her voice was raspy but full of scorn.

“I really underestimated you. Adrian was already safe, but he still went back into the fire to get you. What the hell do you have that I don’t?”

Zoey took a slow breath.

After everything, she knew by now—Claire couldn’t be judged by normal standards.

She kept her voice even.

“Adrian has always loved you. He saved me because he didn’t want to feel guilty, that’s all.”

“No,” Claire snapped. “I don’t believe words. I believe what I see.

“I need to see him choose me. Over and over again. That’s the only way I’ll ever feel secure.”

Just as she finished, Adrian’s car pulled up.

He jumped out, frantic, but the “kidnapper” held a knife to Claire.

“Don’t come any closer,” he shouted. “One more step and she’s dead!”

Adrian froze. “Okay. I won’t move. Just don’t do anything rash.”

Claire burst into fake tears. “Adrian, I’m scared! Help me!”

“Don’t be afraid, Claire. I’m here!” Adrian called back, panic thick in his voice.

Zoey, meanwhile, stayed completely silent. Not a single word.

The kidnapper turned and said bluntly, “Only one of them leaves. The other gets fed to the sharks. Choose.”

Adrian’s voice cracked.

“I choose both! You want money? I’ll give you whatever you want!”

But the kidnapper shouted back, “Last time. Choose. One.”

He dragged Claire closer to the water, and Adrian instinctively shouted, “Claire! I choose Claire!”

The words barely left his mouth before Claire’s eyes lit up.

She even cast Zoey a triumphant look, smug and unbothered.

Zoey just smiled.

A peaceful, free kind of smile.

This was the final time.

She was finally free.

Before anyone could push her, Zoey stepped back herself and let her body fall into the sea.

Splash!

Adrian’s face went pale.

“No! Zoey!”

He collapsed to his knees, reaching out in helpless despair.

—

When Zoey woke up again, she found herself in the hospital. Again.

She laughed under her breath.

Two hospital stays in just a few days. Both because of the same man.

Adrian clutched her hand tightly, like he was afraid to lose her again.

Before she could speak, he said with a grim face, “Claire went way too far this time. I’ve punished her—she’s not allowed to leave her room for a week. She needs to learn.”

Zoey didn’t say anything.

Because by now, she truly didn’t care anymore.

The contract was over.

She was leaving the country for good—just like she agreed.

Adrian thought she was just too weak to respond.

He stood and said gently, “I’m going to take care of the bill. Stay here and rest.”

Zoey nodded.

The moment he stepped out, she picked up her phone and dialed Linda’s number.

“The contract’s done. I’ll be leaving the country as promised.”

“Alright,” Linda replied. “You’ve done enough, Zoey. I never thought Adrian would be so hopelessly blind over that girl.”

Zoey hung up and let out a long, steady breath.

Then she booked the earliest flight out of the country.

She got dressed, stepped out of the hospital, and took a cab straight to the airport.

Just before boarding, she snapped her mobile sim card in half and tossed it in a trash bin.

Only after settling into her seat did she finally exhale.

Freedom.

At last, no one could hurt her again.

From this moment on, she wasn’t someone’s second choice.

She was just Zoey.

The sun rose outside the window, soft golden light spilling through the clouds.

And for the first time in a long while, her world… felt bright.