Chapter 2
The wind cut like a knife as I stood downstairs outside the apartment building, totally lost.
Alex pulled me into his arms in worry, his fingers shaking uncontrollably.
He tried to kiss me, but his lips touched the paint that had already dried on my skin.
He grabbed my hand tightly, his eyes red. "Who did this to you?"
I quietly slipped my hand free and looked at the anxious man in front of me.
His worry wasn't fake.
He just didn't love me that much anymore.
"I did it by accident. I'm fine." I answered.
Alex scooped me up in his arms, and the moment we got inside, he carefully took off my dirty clothes.
He ran hot water for me and gently washed the grime off my body.
I curled up in the tub and suddenly remembered the past.
Back then, Alex had been at the end of his rope and couldn't even afford paint.
I stood in the cold wind handing out flyers in a miniskirt and nearly got dragged into an alley by a drunk man.
The second I got paid, I bought the art supplies Alex needed, but I couldn't even bring myself to buy a bandage for myself.
One night I came down with a high fever, and Alex insisted on selling blood to pay for my treatment.
I held him tight, crying and smiling at the same time as I told him I was fine.
We survived days that hard, so how had Alex stopped loving me?
When Alex reached for a towel, he accidentally knocked over my bag.
My pregnancy test report fluttered to the floor. My heart leaped into my throat, and I tore it to pieces before he could see it.
Alex frowned in confusion.
I panicked and buried myself in his arms, speaking softly. "A love letter from one of your fans. She asked me to pass it on to you."
A fond chuckle came from above me, and Alex gently rubbed my hair. "Come on, jealous girl. You know you're the only one I love."
Only when I saw he wasn't suspicious did I finally breathe again.
The next morning, Alex left early because he was busy with the art exhibition.
I ignored the lovingly prepared breakfast on the table and booked an abortion.
At the same time, my phone sent me a livestream alert.
Alex was livestreaming his new art exhibition online.
A girl leaned against his shoulder with a bright smile and greeted the viewers.
"Hi everyone, I'm Emily Kerr, and Mr. Foster's..." she said sweetly.
She didn't finish the sentence. Instead, she glanced shyly at Alex.
My tears started falling without warning.
In ten years together, Alex had never once let me appear on camera with him.
He said he was worried haters might hurt me, worried ugly rumors would upset me.
But the truth was, he'd been saving that spot beside him for someone else.
The viewers greeted Emily enthusiastically.
[Hi there, Emily.]
The screen was already flooded with endless congratulations.
Emily blushed bright red and gave a coy little explanation. "I'm just Mr. Foster's biggest fan, not his girlfriend."
Then I recognized those charming eyes hidden behind the flood of comments.
Alex tightened his grip on Emily's hand, showing off their matching rings as he looked into the camera.
"She's my girlfriend." he said.
My chest tightened, and I bit so hard on the inside of my cheek that I tasted blood.
The livestream went on, introducing the works Alex had created over the years.
The roses and thorns he painted to cheer me up, the star-filled sky he painted when he confessed his feelings to me...
Every single painting was proof that Alex had once loved me.
Suddenly, the camera turned toward a black curtain in the corner, and Emily spoke with a grin. "This is Mr. Foster's newest piece, and it's also his proposal gift to me."
Panic rose in me for no reason as I watched her yank the curtain away.
At the center of the canvas lay a pale naked body, with a glaring red mark on the outer thigh.
My stomach churned, and I started shaking so badly I nearly threw up.
Alex had painted me naked just to amuse his new lover.
The livestream got shut down, but plenty of people had already posted screenshots to online forums.