After 99 Times

“If the staff hadn’t mentioned you missed a meeting, I wouldn’t have even realized you were locked in the walk-in freezer.”

Zoey took a long time to process everything.

When she finally spoke, her face was blank. “Do you know who did it?”

Adrian hesitated, then gave a small nod.

Without another word, Zoey picked up her phone and started dialing 911.

Adrian panicked. He rushed over and hit the end call button, then pulled her into his arms.

His voice trembled with guilt.

“Zoey, please—don’t call the police. If you do, Claire’s future will be ruined.

“I’m the one who let her down. Don’t blame her. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I didn’t give her enough attention.

“If I’d just bought her a pair of earrings too, none of this would’ve happened.”

Zoey stared at him in disbelief. Her lips had gone pale.

“You really think this is about earrings?”

Adrian didn’t say a word. And that silence told her everything.

She had truly underestimated just how far Adrian’s blind devotion to Claire went.

Looking at the tubes in her arms, the bruises on her hands, Zoey let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

“Four left.”

Maybe he really did feel guilty, because for the next two days, Adrian stayed by her side, taking care of her like never before.

He even moved his work setup to the hospital.

He was so attentive he made sure her water was the perfect temperature before handing it to her.

Just before Zoey was about to be discharged, a doctor suddenly rushed into the room and called out to Adrian.

“Mr. Spencer? Are you related to Claire Spencer?”

Adrian looked confused but nodded. “Yeah.”

“She was just brought into the ER with self-inflicted injuries. She tried to slit her wrists. We just managed to stabilize her.”

The color drained from Adrian’s face. He didn’t say a word—just bolted out the door.

After that, Zoey never saw him again.

Not a single visit. Not even a text.

She told herself Claire must be in serious condition. That Adrian was too busy caring for her to even send a message.

When the day of her discharge finally came, Adrian still didn’t show.

She checked herself out alone, signing all the paperwork at the front desk.

But just as she was walking across the hospital lawn, she saw him.

Adrian was pushing Claire in a wheelchair, laughing—genuinely, from the heart. The sun shone down on them like something out of a picture book. They looked happy. Perfect.

A soft breeze swept past, blowing Adrian’s tie across Claire’s face. Her eyes narrowed slightly, filled with longing.

Zoey thought she was over it. But watching them like that still made her chest ache.

Claire spotted her first.

She whispered something to Adrian, and he nodded. Then he walked off toward the payment counter, leaving her alone.

Claire wheeled herself slowly toward Zoey, one push at a time.

She smiled, but her voice was venom.

“Such a shame. Even all that, and I still didn’t manage to kill you.”

Zoey said nothing. Claire’s smirk deepened.

“You probably don’t know this, but I hurt myself on purpose. I wanted to see who Adrian would pick. You or me. Turns out, it wasn’t even a contest.”

Zoey wasn’t surprised. She’d already guessed.

But what stung was knowing Adrian never once questioned it.

Even when the truth was obvious, he’d find a way to excuse her. Every time.

Zoey’s gaze dimmed, but her voice was strangely calm.

“You didn’t need to go that far. Adrian’s always chosen you.”

Claire’s tone turned icy.

“Don’t think I believe a word you say. Not unless you leave. And if you don’t—this won’t stop.”

Zoey answered quietly, “I will leave.”

Claire didn’t believe her. But Zoey didn’t care anymore.

She walked out of the hospital and flagged down a cab.

The breeze outside was light, and the view was beautiful. But Zoey couldn’t enjoy any of it.

She hadn’t expected Adrian to abandon her twice in such a short time.

Now that there were only three chances left on the contract, she felt oddly calm.

Maybe she had always known.

As long as Claire was an option, Adrian would never choose her.

This whole deal—this gamble—was doomed from the start.

And she’d lost.

Completely.