Chapter 2 His Lover

But these were never what she wanted. Xena glanced over the stack of property deeds scattered across the table. "What I really want is a marriage certificate with Mr. Barnum. Can that be arranged?" Her unexpected remark took William, who was always composed, off guard. For a moment, he blinked in surprise, clearly at a loss for words. With a soft chuckle, she waved her hand dismissively. "I'm joking," she said, letting the humor slip from her face almost as quickly as it appeared. He adjusted his glasses, resuming his formal tone. "Miss Wheeler, is the offer insufficient?" She offered a thin, self-deprecating smile. Even William, a personal assistant, seemed to assume that her connection to Philip was driven by money. How could she expect anything different from the others who knew of their relationship? This apartment, with its lavish furnishings, had been purchased beside the Barnum Group building solely for Philip's convenience. Sending William over to finalize these arrangements was likely just his way of preventing any further entanglements. After all, wasn't it money that brought her to her knees in that cold parking lot three years ago, begging Philip to take her in, even if only for a single night? She cast a detached glance across the various asset certificates, her expression unreadable. "Then please, do me the favor of passing along my gratitude to Mr. Barnum," she replied, her voice as cool as her gaze. Yet she didn't miss the way his eyes lingered, assessing her with that knowing look. Her chest tightened with bitterness, a slow ache spreading within. Her eyes drifted across the room, tracing the lines of the apartment's opulent decors. They landed on a small object resting on the cabinet near the television wall. If she were to take anything from this arrangement, she would at least take the one item that truly mattered to her. She extended her hand, pointing toward the violin resting in a vintage, Archenland-style cabinet. "By the way, let Mr. Barnum know that I'll leave the apartment behind. But I'm taking that with me." This violin, crafted from rare Drezilian wood and worth over 300,000 dollars, had been a gift from Philip himself. He had bought it casually, almost as an afterthought, during a high-profile auction he had invited her to attend by his side. Over the past three years, for countless nights, she had played song after song on that instrument. The lingering sound of music in the room created an intimate atmosphere, leading them to be swept away by passion. In another time, perhaps in ancient days, she might have been a dedicated court musician, her talents reserved exclusively for him. As the memories flooded back, she couldn't help but chuckle at herself, a touch of self-deprecation coloring her thoughts. Despite the apartment being filled with poignant recollections, it was the violin that held a deeper significance for her. Determined to move forward, she began to pack her belongings swiftly. Finally, she carefully nestled the violin into its protective case. Under the watchful eye of William, she lifted her luggage and made her way toward the front door. Material possessions had never held much importance for her. Philip's generous gift of an unlimited debit card could have allowed her to adorn herself with countless luxury items, filling a room with opulence if she so desired. Yet, after three years of living together, her luggage remained as light as when she had first arrived. The only heavy thing she bore was the heaviness in her heart. After she got into the backseat of a cab, the kind-hearted driver caught sight of the redness in her eyes through the rearview mirror. Sensing her distress, he quietly turned up the volume of a beautiful, soothing melody. … Meanwhile, back at the president's office of Barnum Group. William relayed every conversation, ensuring that nothing was left unsaid. With all the details laid out before him, Philip glanced up from his computer. Leaning back in his sleek chair, his demeanor was cool and detached as he addressed William. "Is that all?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for elaboration. William nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, Boss. Judging by how Miss Wheeler accepted everything without hesitation, it doesn't look like she's after anything from you—" "Enough. You may go." Philip cut him off sharply, his tone as cold as the expression he wore. Without looking up, he returned to his work. William kept silent and tactfully left the office. … Meanwhile, a cab pulled up at the front gate of Prima Heights Mansion Residential Complex. Xena stepped out, pulling her suitcase onto the curb, and found Building 2, the home of her best friend, Ezra Kelly. Their friendship had been steadfast since junior high, a sisterhood tested and proven through the years. When the Wheeler Family had fallen into ruin, and Xena had been forced to sell her virginity to Philip to save them, Ezra had been her rock, saying, 'No matter what happens, I'll be here for you.' Xena pressed the doorbell and waited for a while. Moments later, the door was hurriedly opened, and there was Ezra. Her slightly mischievous and alluring eyes widened with surprise as they took in the sight of her friend before softening with understanding. "Xena!" Ezra's face lit up as she quickly grabbed Xena's suitcase and stepped aside, beckoning her inside. "Xena, what do you feel like eating tonight?" After closing the door, she didn't ask Xena what had happened. She simply asked her what she wanted to eat while naturally opening the suitcase and neatly putting away the clothes inside. "I'd really love some of your braised mushroom chicken tonight," Xena replied, a hint of longing in her voice. "Of course," Ezra responded with a reassuring smile. "I'll have it ready for you." When she was finished, she handed Xena a set of comfortable lounge clothes and nudged her toward the bathroom. "You reek of that man's cologne. Go take a hot shower and wash it all off. After that, get some rest." After taking a shower, Xena climbed into Ezra's bed and sank into the plush mattress. The gentle scent of pinewood incense, lit by Ezra, drifted through the room, filling every corner. Its soothing aroma clouded Xena's senses, carrying her into a deep, heavy sleep. It was the rich, savory smell of braised chicken with mushrooms that finally roused her. It had been so long since the two friends had sat down together for a real meal. Ezra lifted a piece of chicken and placed it into Xena's bowl. "So, it's over with Philip?" Xena lowered her gaze, focused on her bowl, and gave a simple reply, "It's over." Ezra looked at her best friend, watching as she pretended to be unaffected. Her heart ached for her. "If it hurts, just let it out," she said softly, her voice laced with compassion. Xena tried to chew her food, but each bite was a struggle. Before long, silent tears welled up in her eyes, then spilled over, falling into her bowl and soaking the rice. Ezra set down her chopsticks, moving to sit beside Xena. She wrapped her arms around her tightly. "You still have me," she coaxed. Leaning against her friend's shoulder, Xena took a shaky breath. "I'll be okay," she whispered, her voice barely holding. "It'll get better soon." But Ezra knew that Xena's heartache couldn't just fade away. She also knew better than anyone about Xena pouring everything into loving Philip in the past three years. In those three years, Xena had managed an art center left by her mother, Melody Brose. Not only that, but she had also taken on multiple jobs, endlessly working, all to pay off the debt to Philip. She wanted to offset the impression in his mind that she would sell her virginity for three million. Yet, when she finally saved enough, and when the art center was flourishing, her heart still met an inevitable end. She and Philip had parted ways. A sudden ringing broke through their quiet moment. She pulled her phone from her pocket. The call was from Samantha Holmes, a partner at the Arts Center. They were both alumni of the Academy of Arts. When she saw who was calling, Ezra looked over at Xena and gave her a small smile, motioning that she would take the call. "Hello, Sam." On the other end, Samantha's voice was direct but familiar as she explained she needed Xena to come by the Arts Center. It sounded like something urgent had come up. After hanging up, she glanced at the table, where most of the dishes lay untouched. "Ezra, I have to head over to the Arts Center." Ezra gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "If she's calling you now, it must be important. Go ahead, don't keep her waiting." Xena quickly changed her clothes, and as she bent down to slip on her shoes, Ezra held out her car keys. "Take my car; it'll get you there faster." With a small shake of her head, Xena raised her own keys, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "I've got my own," she replied, lifting the key to a Mercedes S-Class sedan. It was one of the many things she had accepted from Philip, along with the apartment and the other assets he had left her. … When she finally reached the Melody Arts Center, she noticed the ashtray sitting in front of Samantha, nearly overflowing with cigarette butts. Samantha stubbed out her current cigarette as soon as Xena arrived. "Sam, what's going on?" Xena settled into the chair opposite her. For the first time, she noticed the dark circles beneath Samantha's eyes. Xena couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.