Chapter 6
11
Josephine lowered her lashes. She had seen Peter take Camila to the amusement park before, watching him patiently pose for pictures with her repeatedly, never once showing annoyance.
This wasn’t about comparing herself to Camila.
She just had a childhood wish to one day go to an amusement park with Peter.
This fourth request was her way of fulfilling a dream for the little girl she used to be.
Although Peter followed her around physically, his mind was clearly somewhere else.
His eyes never left his phone. Josephine had to call him four or five times before he finally looked up to take a photo of her.
As night fell and the lights began to flicker on, Peter urged her to leave thrice, but she ignored him each time.
Until the lights of the Ferris wheel glowed in the distance.
She pointed at it with hopeful eyes.
“Just one last ride, then we can go.”
Peter paused, stunned by the light in her expression.
After a long silence, he pressed his lips together and said coldly, “Josephine, even if we reach the top of that Ferris wheel, I still won’t fall in love with you.”
11
Seconds ticked by in silence.
Josephine blinked fast, trying to hide the sting in her eyes. Then she turned her head away.
“Geez, who said anything about that? I’ve just never been on one before, that’s all.”
Suddenly, his phone rang, shattering the moment.
Camila was on the other end, and her voice laced with panic.
Peter didn’t even look back as he walked off this time, not even bothering to offer an apology.
When the Ferris wheel finally rose to its highest point, Josephine looked out over the city’s sparkling lights below.
Tears silently rolled down her cheeks.
She whispered to herself. “Happy birthday, Josephine.”
After that night, Josephine was rushed to the hospital with a high fever.
The steady beeping of machines filled the room, but to her ears, it was as if everything had gone quiet.
In her blurred state, she thought she saw Peter standing at her bedside.
But even as he looked at her pale and fragile form, there was not a trace of compassion in his eyes.
He curled his lips into a mocking smile.
“Serves you right. Bad people always get what they deserve in the end.
“Go ahead and die already, would you? Then I won’t have to do your
stupid final request.”
In the dream, Josephine was shaking with rage, her teeth grinding in frustration. But her heart felt like it had been soaked in sour, bitter, aching lemon juice.
With all the strength she had left, she forced her eyes open.
But the person she had hoped to see wasn’t there.
“Thank God, you’re finally awake. Do you even know how long you were out?”
Josephine had always been strong–willed, while everyone else chased Vanity.
Now that the Sinclair family had fallen from grace, Peter had never gotten along with her.
Everyone knew he’d be the first to show up to watch her crash and burn.
The others had picked their sides carly and made it clear that they wanted nothing to do with her.
The only person still by her side was the nurse who’d been quietly looking after her all this time.
Hearing her words, Josephine quickly looked up in a panic.
“What day is it?”
Tania Clark thought she was worried about how little time she had left.
Hiding the emotion in her face, she gently tried to comfort her.
“It’s the 28th. Josephine…”
Chapter
“Where’s my wig?”
Josephine cut her off.
Tania froze for a second.
“Here, I kept it for you.”
Josephine reached out with trembling fingers and took it from her.
Her eyes were lowered, her expression unreadable.
“Tania, while I was unconscious, did anyone come to see me?”
Her voice was quiet, cautious. She clutched the wig tightly in her hands.
Tania’s heart ached at the sight of her like this.
But she didn’t want to lie.
“Josephine, Peter never came.”
After she spoke, Tania quickly turned away and blinked back her tears.
Not only had he not come.
He hadn’t even taken her calls or responded to the hints she dropped.
“Coma? Don’t be ridiculous. Of all people, Josephine wouldn’t fall into a
coma.
“I’m busy. I don’t have time for her games. Unless it’s that final thing she wants. I’m not agreeing to anything. Tell her to quit wasting my time.”
Chapter 7
