Chapter 1
The second I arrived in a new country, I stumbled on a viral post that had everyone online raging.
It read: [Just How Messy Are Long-Distance Relationships?]
The top comment was outrageously arrogant.
[Long-distance relationships? It's just a cover for a man to cheat.]
[His fiancée is flying in, all excited for Valentine's Day, but she definitely doesn't know he's sleeping with me at the moment.]
She even posted a photo of the guy sleeping soundly beside her.
[He lied to that idiot that he had to stay in the lab for some experiment, but he's actually here with me.]
[Naughty women always gain more love.]
My hand froze.
A message from Zane Mercer popped up at the top of my screen.
Zane: [I'm so sorry, honey. My advisor, Dr. Felix Curtis, dumped a new task on me. I have to stay up all night in the laboratory to experiment, so I can't pick you up.]
Trembling, I tapped on the photo in the post, zooming in on his sleeping face.
I kept enlarging it, desperate for any doubt.
I recognized the familiar watch instantly.
I gave it to him as an engagement gift.
The comments section was filled with hate and rage.
But she didn't care.
[What are you pretending to be with that holier-than-thou act? Is it gonna feed you or make your man stay?]
[Come on, we're all grown-ups. Who doesn't guys just love girls who are a little flirty!]
Then she posted another photo.
It was the new Valentine's Day limited edition necklace, the one I couldn't get for myself.
And the one around my neck was just the bonus that came with it.
[I just casually said that I wanted it.]
[He went straight to that rich girl, played the poor card, and bought custom jewelry for me with the cash she gave him.]
[To be honest, I almost feel bad for her. She spends so much money, but he only gives it his all with me in the end.]
My heart ached hard, as if someone had it in a vise.
When I gave him the expensive watch, the gift he handed back to me was nothing but this cheap silver necklace.
I immediately recognized it as a giveaway from my favorite luxury brand.
But that day, he felt guilty and took my hand.
He said, "Honey, I pulled three all-nighters, learning from a senior in the lab to make this for you.
"It's really not as valuable as your gift, but I crafted it myself.
"In the future, I would definitely afford the things you like! Trust me!"
I believed him.
I believed that he lowered his head because he genuinely felt guilty for letting me down.
I believed he made it by hand as a unique gift for me.
I believed him so deeply, I wore it every single day, never taking it off.
Every time my fingers touched the necklace, it felt like I was touching the warmth of his love.
But in the end, when he hung his head, he was just scheming to take my money.
He was checking if it was enough to blow it all on another girl, showering her with gifts.
I yanked the necklace off immediately.
The edge caught my skin, and a blood bead oozed out.
But I didn't feel a thing.
I had been with Zane for six years.
Even when he was at his most emotional, the most he'd do was press his forehead against my shoulder.
Panting heavily, he said he had to wait until we married.
On purpose, I unbuttoned my shirt to kiss him.
He froze in place, his ears burning red as he quickly fixed my collar.
But his fingers were too shaky to fasten the button.
Zane said, "Honey, I'm afraid I won't be able to marry you in the future. So I can't undo your buttons now."
That night, I buried my face in his chest, feeling that my life was worth it.
I clenched my fists tightly, the sting from the necklace's sharp edge snapping me out of it.
But without seeing it with my own eyes, I still couldn't believe it.
The driver drove the car downstairs to his school's laboratory.
The hallway was pitch dark, and the door handle was covered in a thin layer of dust.
It seemed that the whole building was mocking me for being so naive.
Just as I was about to leave, a delivery guy hurried over, wearing that greasy, knowing grin every guy recognizes.
He said, "Here you go! Your delivery. It must be pretty urgent. You paid extra money to get it here fast!"
The recipient was clear as day, which was Zane.
My heart skipped a beat, but I kept myself calm as I opened the package.
Inside was a black lace sex doll.
There were a few more things.
Some of them I couldn't even name.
My stomach twisted with nausea, as if something had rotted in his hands.
A flirty laughter suddenly came from the end of the hallway.
I quickly slipped into the empty room right next to me.
A woman said, "How bad are you! You came up with the idea to play around here!"
"It's your fault! You're the reason I can't get enough of this," Zane said.
His voice was deep, laced with a playful tone, but he had never used it when talking to me.
My heart shattered completely.