Chapter 2

"I need to talk to you," Michael cut her off.

She turned, meeting his icy blue gaze. His face was expressionless, his detachment cutting deeper than any knife.

"Rachel, Mandy is coming back. You need to move out tomorrow," he demanded.

Rachel's world tilted. James had been right after all. Swallowing hard, she finally found her voice. "What if I don't?" Her words were soft, barely a whisper, carrying the weight of years of silent suffering.

Michael frowned. This was the first time the usually obedient woman had opposed him. He said discontentedly, "Don't forget how you married me six years ago."

How could she forget? When Mandy had a car accident, it was Rachel who called 911 and donated the blood Mandy desperately needed. In gratitude, Michael had offered to grant her one wish. She had asked for the one thing she had always dreamed of – to be his wife, a wish rooted in a crush that dated back to high school.

Back in the day, the docs said Mandy was never gonna wake up. That's when Michael finally caved and married Rachel. But from the get-go, he was ice-cold to her.

Rachel squared her shoulders, locking eyes with him. "I'm your wife. Why should I move out just 'cause she's back?"

Michael's face went stone-cold, eyes blazing. "Why? 'Cause Mandy said you're the one who hit her with your car six years ago!"

Rachel's confusion turned into a bitter, almost crazy laugh. "If I said I didn't do it, would you even believe me?"

Michael stepped closer, pinning her against the wall. His icy blue eyes drilled into hers, full of contempt. "You think I'd believe you?"

Rachel stood her ground, but his venomous words stung. "You wicked woman, I wish I could make you feel all the pain Mandy went through!" he spat, his face a mask of fury.

Rachel was floored by his rage. Six years... wouldn't anyone develop feelings over time? But his heart was still a block of ice.

"I didn't do it!" Rachel protested, her voice shaking with pent-up emotion.

Michael scoffed, looking down at her like she was dirt. "You're smart; you know what to do."

And with that, he turned and left, leaving behind a silence colder than the winter air outside.

Rachel stared at her reflection in the mirror, pale and worn out. Was this really her? She used to be so proud, but this relationship had turned her into something so humble and broken. How pathetic.

After a long moment, she exhaled slowly, her resolve hardening. "Time to give up," she muttered to herself.

The next morning, Michael took Mandy to the hospital for a check-up.

Rachel stood in front of the mirror, ditched the apron she'd worn for six years, slipped into a white dress, and grabbed her suitcase.

James was lounging, watching TV. He looked up and said, "Hey! Where you going?"

Rachel shot him a cold glance, ignored him, and headed straight for the door.

Realizing she was serious, James scrambled after her, grabbing her suitcase. "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear me? Did you clean the room? Did you cook? Where are you going so early?"

The sixteen-year-old brat had never shown her any respect, and his demands had only gotten worse over the years.

Rachel pried his fingers off her suitcase one by one. "Listen, from now on, I'm not your servant," she said, her voice firm and unyielding.

James, taken aback, started yelling, "Mom! Mom, get over here! Rachel's bullying me!"

Emily appeared instantly, wielding a stick. Seeing the confrontation, her face twisted with rage. "You bitch, how dare you bully my son! I'll beat you to death!"

Emily had hit her before, and Rachel had taken it for Michael's sake. But not this time.

Rachel grabbed the stick out of Emily's hands and tossed it to the ground, her voice icy and controlled. "How dare you!" she challenged.

Emily, stunned, stepped back. When she recovered, she screamed, "Rachel, what are you doing? I'm gonna make my son divorce you!"

In the past, Rachel had avoided confrontation out of respect for Michael's grandma, Catherine, and to avoid Michael's disapproval. She had been scared. But now, she couldn't care less.

"Go ahead," she replied coldly.

Ignoring the shouting and curses behind her, Rachel dragged her suitcase out the door. Outside, a red Ferrari was waiting, and the handsome guy inside waved at her. "Rachel, get in."

Without a second glance back, Rachel climbed into the car, and they sped away.