Chapter 2

Andrew, Vivian, and I were high school classmates.

At that pricey private school, most students were either from elite families or straight-A students, but Vivian was different.

Her father used to be my dad's driver, but one day, while driving, he got into a car accident and passed away.

My parents thought it was really tragic that Vivian lost her dad, so they decided to cover her tuition all the way through college.

Vivian and I were never really close.

But she was always so careful around me, trying to win me over with that timid, helpless look, making it seem like I was the one bullying her.

I wasn't exactly a top student, so I decided to ask Andrew, the guy who always ranked first in our grade, for help with my studies.

He came from a poor family and was only able to attend our school because of a scholarship.

I asked him to tutor me, and Vivian came along for the sessions, too.

I always thought Andrew and Vivian were just casual friends, until one day a school bully started making dirty jokes about Vivian. Andrew totally lost it and beat the guy up so badly that he landed in the hospital.

The bully's family was pretty influential, and they threatened to get Andrew thrown in jail.

I had to pull some strings with my family to smooth things over and get Andrew out of trouble.

Meanwhile, I heard Vivian spent the whole day pleading with the principal for Andrew, actually pleading in the office the entire time.

Honestly, I did have a thing for Andrew back then.

Everyone would fall for a handsome, cool, straight-A guy like him.

But fighting over a guy with other girls just wasn't my style, so I dropped it.

After the SAT, Andrew and I both got into the same university, but Vivian didn't make it.

Later, Andrew told me he liked me.

I asked him, "Weren't you into Vivian?"

He looked down a bit and said, "I appreciate what she did for me, and I helped her out because we were both struggling. That's all there is to it, nothing more."

I agreed to be with him.

We started dating in our freshman year of college, and after graduation, he started working at my family's company.

We'd been together for nine years now.

He was the general manager of the company these days, and his achievements were obvious to everyone. Once my family gave their blessing, we finally decided to tie the knot.

But I never imagined Andrew would never really cut ties with Vivian, always keeping some lingering connection.

I was attractive enough.

I was prettier than Vivian, richer than her, and my body's way better too.

I was confused.

It was almost noon the next day, and the wedding was about to kick off.

Andrew made it, hurrying in at the last minute.

He had dark circles under his eyes, clearly having pulled an all-nighter, and he looked totally out of it.

I was standing in front of a huge mirror, admiring myself in my wedding dress.

The dress was pure white, but all this drama had already stained it in my eyes.

"Sorry, I'm late," Andrew said.

His apology was so half-hearted, and the look on his face said it all. It was like showing up was already doing me a favor.

I gave him a nonchalant smile and nudged him toward the changing room.

"Go change into your suit," I said.

Andrew shot me a surprised look. "Charlotte, you're not mad?"

I shrugged, my tone icy. "What's there to be mad about? Vivian's my friend. If she wants you for a night, I'm happy to let her borrow you."

My words dripped with indifference, and Andrew's frown tightened in obvious annoyance.

I let a smirk play on my lips. "Anyway, back in senior year, when you got locked up for that fight, it was Vivian who spent a whole day and night begging the principal to let you go. She's the one who saved your future."

Andrew instantly let go of his annoyance and echoed me, "Yeah, if it weren't for her, I wouldn't be where I am today.

"Besides, you pulled some strings back then to make sure she didn't get into college, and she's had a rough time ever since. So I'm being nice to her to atone for what you did.

"All she wants is just one night with me. How could I turn down such a humble request?

"After the wedding today, I'll end things with her for good. Charlotte, can you act like none of this ever happened?"

I narrowed my eyes, studying Andrew.

To him, Vivian was his holy salvation.

She was his goddess.

She was the last bit of innocence from his high school days.

If he ever learned it was me who saved him back then, not Vivian, I wonder how he'd react.

When I didn't say anything, Andrew looked at me with that earnest gaze and said, "Charlotte, I swear I'll love you for real from now on."

He still smelt like another woman, and he dared to talk about love.

I couldn't help but laugh, pissed off and amused all at once.

With a little smirk, I even helped smooth out his wrinkled clothes. He'd clearly rushed over. I said sweetly, "Alright, the wedding's about to start. Go change into your suit."

Andrew flashed me a grateful smile, then suddenly leaned down and planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you, Charlotte," he said.

As soon as he disappeared into the changing room, all the softness in my eyes faded, leaving only coldness.

I grabbed a wet wipe and scrubbed hard at the spot where he'd kissed me.

It was so filthy.

Andrew really thought I was crazy about him.

We'd been together for nine years, ever since freshman year.

He thought I couldn't live without him.

But honestly, a man who couldn't be loyal wasn't worth shit to me. I'd rather just get a dog.