Chapter 3 The Gift Meant for Her Went to Someone Else
After all these years, the man was still the same—dignified, aloof, and even more restrained and mature than before.
Five years ago, when Tracy had visited her uncle in the countryside, her uncle had saved a man who had slipped and fallen down a mountain. That unlucky man was none other than Sean Johnson.
Only later did she learn that his family was one of the most powerful in Northport.
The Johnsons—wealth, influence, power.
And Sean, the sole heir of the Johnson family, held the reins to nearly half the northern economy. A true crown prince.
Even the glow of headlights seemed to gild him in gold.
Hanging up the phone, Tracy smiled and greeted him politely. “It’s been a long time. How have you been?”
Sean only gave a faint reply. “Fine.”
Tracy pressed her lips together. Her cousin must have really made something of himself, to count Sean among his circle of friends.
Once in the car, Tracy sat in the back, stiff and proper, hands placed neatly on her knees.
Like a schoolgirl under her teacher’s gaze, she sat straight and motionless, afraid of making a wrong move.
He didn’t need to say a word—Sean’s presence filled the car with a quiet, suffocating pressure.
When they arrived at the hotel entrance, Tracy quickly thanked him and reached for the door.
Sean narrowed his eyes. Was she that afraid of him?
In the elevator, it was only the two of them. That same pressure thickened in the silence.
Sean spoke first. “How’s your uncle doing?”
Tracy froze. The humid air blurred her eyes with a faint sheen of water. “My uncle passed away half a year ago.”
She tried to keep her voice calm, but a trace of bitterness slipped through.
His death had come suddenly. She had grieved for a long time.
If not for her uncle, who had taken her and her mother in all those years ago, they might have ended up on the streets.
Sean’s gaze flickered with surprise. His eyes grew darker. Having spent the past few years abroad, he hadn’t known what had happened back home.
Regret shadowed his expression. He reached out and patted her head lightly. “My condolences.”
The gesture caught Tracy completely off guard. She stood stunned for several seconds before quickly bowing her head.
The elevator soon reached the third floor.
As they walked past a half-open private room, Tracy’s steps faltered. She stopped.
Sean followed her gaze inside. A group of people were gathered, cheering and teasing. On the table sat a large cake.
At the center, a man and woman stood with their backs to the door. The man was fastening a necklace around the woman’s neck.
The sight pierced Tracy’s chest. Her eyes stung, turning faintly red.
Sean looked down at her. “You know them?”
“Yeah.” Tracy steadied herself, forcing calm. “That man is my husband. The woman is his secret mistress—my half sister.”
The necklace Chandler was clasping around Yvonne Xander’s neck was a limited-edition piece he had reserved months in advance. He had told Tracy it was meant for her birthday.
But now, he was giving it to another woman.
How laughably cruel.
Family shame should be kept quiet, yet for years, Chandler had cheated several times. Everyone knew. Everyone whispered behind her back. She had long lost her dignity.
Besides, in one month, the divorce would be official. There was nothing left to hide.
Tracy swallowed down the bitterness, tore her gaze away, and walked toward another private room.
Sean’s dark eyes lingered on her back for a moment before he called out.
“Tracy.”
She turned to him.
“Your uncle may have passed, but I still owe him my life. I’ll grant you one wish,” Sean said, stepping closer, his voice low and steady above her head. “Anything you want.”
Tracy’s eyes lit up.
How incredible.
He’s really that good.
She gave him a sincere thank-you. “Alright… thank you, thank you.”
…
Inside the private room, Tracy greeted warmly, “Uncle Morgan, Aunt Lily, Jackson.”
Lily pulled Tracy to sit at her side. She looked at Tracy’s thinner frame, worry etched on her face. “You’ve lost so much weight. Have you been skipping meals because of work?”
Tracy touched her small face, at a loss for words.
She really did forget to eat when she worked. She would go hours without food, only realizing when the pain of hunger and acid gnawed at her stomach. She always carried antacids, popping one whenever the pain came.
If it hadn’t been for last week’s physical, she still wouldn’t know she had stomach cancer. She’d always assumed it was just chronic gastritis.
The doctor said her illness came not only from irregular eating but also from years of suppressed emotions. Her heart weighed down with too much bitterness.
Just like how Yvonne’s mother had once stolen her father, now Yvonne herself had taken her husband.
The irony was sharp.
And Tracy had nearly destroyed her own life over that pair of trash. How foolish.
Now, aside from her medication, she needed regular meals and a lighter heart.
Once she stopped caring about those two, even her darkest nights began to clear.
When Lily saw she hadn’t answered, she pressed gently, “Tracy, are you listening to me?”
Snapping back to herself, Tracy gave a small smile. “Yes, Lily. I’ve been eating properly. Maybe it’s just the hot weather and lighter clothes that make me look thinner.”
Morgan handed her a menu. “Tracy, order whatever you like. Don’t worry about saving Jackson money.”
“Today’s about celebrating his promotion.”
Tracy accepted the menu. “Congratulations, Jackson.”
Jackson grinned and nodded. “Don’t be polite. Order whatever you want.”
Tracy glanced at the menu and picked a few of the cheaper dishes.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
