Chapter 1

In the fourth year of my relationship with Xander Ross, I secretly prepared an engagement ring, planning to propose to him on his birthday. However, outside the private room, I overheard his conversation with friends.

"You mean Ariah Gibson? I've never loved her these past four years. She just made it easy, so why not take advantage?"

"She's dull and boring, nowhere near as captivating as Adelina."

To please Adelina Bishop, he once forced wine down my throat, knowing full well I was on antibiotics. With my heart shattered, I decided it was time to end things. As I left, his friends were still making bets.

"How long before Ariah comes crawling back for a reconciliation?"

Xander scoffed, "Not more than three days."

...

Cartier had just released a new line of diamond rings with the slogan "Love Only One for a Lifetime." I waited for hours at their boutique to get a set engraved with mine and my boyfriend's names.

By the time I arrived at the karaoke bar, the party was in full swing, everyone laughing and chatting, the atmosphere lively. I heard Xander's voice through the door, with a slight edge of mockery, "I never loved her in these four years. She was easy to get; who turns down a free gift?"

My hand froze on the door handle.

I stood there, stunned, listening to every word. Laughter and teasing echoed from inside the room. "Really? She was the knockout of our college, and with a body like that? You never caved?"

"Pathetic!" Xander took a lazy drag of his cigarette. "True love isn't about looks or body. It's a meeting of minds."

Another guy laughed knowingly, "You say you don't love her, but how come you spent four years sharing a bed with her?"

Xander sighed lightly, "Back then, Adelina was focused on her studies and kept brushing me off. If I'd known she liked me, Ariah wouldn't have stood a chance."

"My body can be with any woman, but my soul belongs only to Adelina."

The room erupted in cheers.

The warmth that filled my heart gradually turned cold, inch by inch. The sharp edges of the jewelry box in my hand dug into my skin, drawing blood. In that moment, the "Love Only One for a Lifetime" rings were nothing but a cruel joke. Despite the laughter and banter from the room, I was trembling all over, unable to process anything else.

It wasn't until someone walked by that I jolted back to my senses, fleeing the scene in a panic.

That night, I didn't celebrate Xander's birthday. I stumbled back to my place. When Xander called, I was staring blankly at our photo album. It held all our moments together—him feeding me spiced honey cake on my birthday, taking me to see the fields in Tuscany, comforting me when I was sick, and the times when he kissed me passionately...

So many past memories, captured beautifully, yet I failed to realize I was merely filling the void for someone who was hollow inside.

He said he never loved me these four years. So what were all those tender moments, those intimate times, worth?

What did that make me?

My heart ached terribly as I realized my four-year-long love had reduced me to such a humble position.

"Ariah, why aren't you here yet?" Xander's voice came through the phone.

I tried hard to suppress the lump in my throat, "I have a fever. You guys enjoy yourselves."

In truth, I'd been sick for days, and walking back from the bar in the cold wind had worsened it. So it wasn't exactly a lie.

There was a brief pause. "Are you at home? I'll come back and take you to the hospital."

Just as my heart, which had sunk to the bottom, began to warm up again, thinking maybe he did care after all, I heard the uproar from the room, "Oh, Adelina's here! After four years, she finally decided to come back!"

"That's right, I just finished my thesis defense today," a sweet and gentle voice chimed in. "I barely made it in time for Xander's birthday."

"Come on, let's toast to him."

I hesitated, "Xander, I'm at..."

"Ariah," Xander cut me off, "If you're not feeling well, drink some water and get some rest. I won't be home tonight."

Before I could utter a word of agreement, the call ended abruptly and impatiently.

I chuckled to myself, the warmth I felt just moments ago once again replaced by a chilling void. My resolve to leave was solidified in that very moment.