Chapter 3
Zoe said nothing, only pressed against his warm chest, with bitterness and pain twisting inside her.
How could he act so perfectly?
Had she not witnessed him with another woman, she might have believed him after such an elaborate performance.
But there were no "what-ifs" in life.
Jarin--once unfaithful, forever untrustworthy.
Her unusual composure must have stirred a faint sense of danger in him. Over the next few days, Jarin canceled all work commitments and stayed home with her.
To cheer her up, luxury goods and designer dresses flooded the manor like a river.
Yet no matter how much he gave her, she did not smile once.
Until one day, he covered her eyes mysteriously and led her to the tallest tower in the city center.
When his hands fell away, she saw a carefully arranged candlelit dinner.
Once, such a surprise would have delighted and moved her deeply. Now she only sat silently in the chair he pulled out for her, eating quietly as he recalled their past.
"Zoe, do you remember? I proposed to you right here. I planned it for half a year, with a global live broadcast. Do you remember what I did when you said yes?"
Zoe paused mid-cut. "You cried."
Jarin's lips lifted into a soft, tender smile. "Yes. I cried."
How deeply must a man love to weep in front of the whole world when marrying the girl he adored?
Hearing him speak of the past, she could not pretend to feel nothing. Once, he had truly loved her.
But things had changed. The man before her was no longer the Jarin who had sworn to love only her forever.
Lost in thought, a jade pendant necklace suddenly appeared before her eyes--identical to the jewelry auctioned at Sotheby's for hundreds of millions.
She looked up, staring straight into his eyes, brimming with affection.
"This pendant is called Zoe's Heart. The moment I saw it, I knew it was meant for you. I love the meaning: devoted to Zoe. It promises I will love you for a lifetime."
She stared at him, stunned--when Lynn stepped forward.
Smiling politely, she greeted Zoe first, then approached Jarin respectfully. "Mr. Voss, everything you requested is ready."
He nodded and snapped his fingers.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fireworks burst into the sky one after another, blooming brilliantly in the night. Lynn turned to Zoe, her tone admiring. "Mrs. Voss, these fireworks will burn all day and night. Mr. Voss prepared this surprise just for you, knowing you love fireworks."
The fireworks were romantic, and she loved them.
But fireworks fade quickly. So does love.
A breeze blew, knocking her napkin to the floor. She bent to pick it up--and from the corner of her eye, beneath the lifted tablecloth, she saw a pair of legs in sheer stockings gently brushing against Jarin's suit pants.
Only three people were present. If it was not her, the identity of the person touching him was obvious.
What made her catch her breath was that Jarin did not pull away. Instead, as Lynn began to retreat, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her ankle roughly.
His distinct, bony hand stood out against her black stockings, caressing her ankle gently, making her shiver.
Unsatisfied, his hand slid upward along her calf.
Just before it disappeared under her skirt, Jarin stood up.
His expression remained unchanged, still deeply loving--only tinged with apology. "Darling, I'm sorry. I have to take an urgent call. Wait here for me. I'll be right back."
With that, he left directly.
Shortly after, Lynn followed.
Watching their retreating figures, Zoe did not stay as he had told her. She followed them too.
Finally, she stopped at the stairwell leading to the rooftop.
Not far away, Jarin held Lynn in his arms, kissing her fiercely.