Chapter 1

When I woke up, I was already in the hospital.

My best friend Charlotte Hayes had blown up my phone, but Cyrus did not call even once. When I checked his Instagram, I saw he had posted a new story — A collage of his date photos with Serena Claire.

The caption read, “My darling wants to keep a record of our love, so here it is.”

I thought my heart had stopped beating, but it still hurt when I saw the picture. My breathing caught in my chest, threatening to suffocate me.

I wanted to reply to the story and demand what he was doing, but I accidentally liked it instead.

Cyrus called almost instantly. “Do you spend every waking moment stalking me? Weren’t you on death’s door or something? Why are you checking my stories now?

“Serena just wanted to take some photos together. Don’t overreact again.”

I suppressed the hurt and pain. “Sure, you can go ahead and take all the photos you want.”

“Are you mad at me, Marilyn?” Serena interrupted right on time. “I was just joking. I didn’t think Cyrus would actually run away with me! I’m sorry, okay?”

Cyrus snorted. “Why apologize? I could always do that wedding again some other time. There’s no need to feel bad for someone so worthless.”

I was instantly speechless. There was nothing left to say.

After hanging up, I called Charlotte, who was overseas. “It’s just a minor injury. I’m awake now, so don’t worry.”

Charlotte was beside herself. “The doctor told me everything! Don’t pretend it was nothing!

“I knew Cyrus was no good. Take my advice and break up with him!”

“Sure,” I agreed immediately.

That finally calmed Charlotte down slightly. “You said you wanted to expand your career abroad, right? Is that still on the table?”

Not long ago, my boss had offered to send me to a branch company abroad for two years. It was a great learning opportunity with a high chance of a promotion. She said, “Someone as talented as you should widen your horizons.”

I had turned her down at the time because I was planning my wedding with Cyrus, and I did not fancy a long-distance relationship.

Looking back now, he was not worth it in the slightest.

After some hesitation, I called my boss. She sounded quite happy.

“You finally made up your mind! I left the slot open for you. You can leave next week!

“But what made you ditch your fiance?”

I came up with an excuse and then bought a flight ticket for next week. The rest of this week… would be my final goodbye.

Feelings of melancholy washed over me. Our six-year relationship had gone up in smoke.

Cyrus did not contact me at all for the next two days. Instead, he kept updating his story with pictures of his vacation with Serena. They leaned against each other, smiling brightly.

They looked like a proper couple in love.

I saved the pictures in a fit of self-loathing, using them as proof to remind me never to turn back.

In all the years I had dated Cyrus, he had never taken me out for a vacation even once. He kept saying he was too busy with work and had no time.

Now it seemed he simply did not want to go travelling with me.

I rubbed my aching wound, my tears flowing freely.

The next day, I left the hospital and went home to pack up my stuff, only to find my belongings utterly trashed. Everything I owned had been tossed out of my closet, and replaced with things I had never seen before.

My makeup had been thrown into a corner, and I found my other items in a trash heap on the balcony.

I hoped to tough it through the remaining few days, but Cyrus returned that very night… with Serena in tow.

When he saw me, he subtly let go of Serena's hand. “Serena has some issues at home, so she'll be staying at my place for a few days. You had better not make a fuss over it.”

I nodded. “Sure, she can stay as long as she likes.”

Cyrus raised a brow. “I hope that's what you really think. By the way, what happened to your grievous injury, huh? You look perfectly fine to me.”

My scar was not obvious, and he never took a good look at me anyway. That was why he did not notice anything amiss.

I did not want to argue with him, so I turned and went back to my room. After locking the door, I put on my earphones and listened to some music.

Even so, I could not drown out the sounds from next door. Serena laughed louder and louder, as if she purposely wanted me to hear her.

In the end, I had no choice but to take two painkillers, cover my head with my blanket, and force myself to sleep.

As I slept, I dreamed of the time Cyrus loved me the most.

He was an introvert. When we got together, I was the only girl in his life, and he showered me with all his affection.

His oaths of love were like shackles, tying me down. I truly believed we would be together forever.

However, I had to wake up from my dream eventually.

When I woke up the next day, Serena had left.

The pills made me dizzy. As I stumbled out of my room to get myself some water, I saw Cyrus heading out for the day.

He frowned at the exhaustion on my face. “Do you have to act sick over such a tiny thing? This time we had no choice. I won't bring her back next time.”

He did not know I had seen the woman's earring on the floor next to his bed, so he could lie with a straight face.

When I was fighting for my life at the hospital, he was enjoying his nights at home with Serena.

“I'm going to work. The floor is dirty, so don't forget to clean it,” he said coldly before leaving.

I blinked and then walked to the room he had shared with Serena numbly. Even though I had mentally prepared myself, I still cried uncontrollably when I saw the messy covers on the bed.

I used to hold to a strand of hope, believing that Cyrus would change his mind and come back to me if I just stayed patient. I thought we could go back to those sweet days.

That was why I set my pride aside and tolerated everything like a fool. I could not give up on our relationship so easily, not after so many years together.

Now, though, I only resented how blind I had been.

When I was cleaning up the bed, I even found some used tissues. I could not hold back the nausea anymore, so I ran to the washroom and gagged into the toilet.

It was only when my stomach hurt that I realized I had thrown up nothing but bile. I only felt better after tossing away all the sheets.

Just then, Serena reached out to me on Instagram with a DM. [Cyrus’ phone is out of battery, so he couldn't call you. He wants you to bring some documents to his office.]

I ignored her and her friend request. She had used that excuse to trick me many times before. There were only four days left until my flight, and I did not want to fall for her ploy again.

To my surprise, she tattled on me to Cyrus.

He scolded me as soon as he reached home. “I told you to bring me some documents. How dare you ignore me?!

“And here I thought you'd changed, but no, you're just as petty as ever! Your attitude from before was just an act!”

He looked at me with annoyance and disgust, as if I was not his girlfriend but a maid he could order around as he liked.

“Serena just asked you to bring me something. Not only did you refuse, you even straight-up ignored her!”

I took out my phone to explain, but he interrupted me. “Forget it, my breath is wasted on you. You just want me to make up for that wedding, right? We'll do it this weekend. Are you happy now?”

I was leaving that weekend.

While I was in the hospital, he took time off to go on a vacation with Serena. They took so many photos, that it almost felt like their honeymoon.

He was defiled now, but he still assumed I would compromise and take him back.

Now, however, I also could not be bothered to explain anymore.

“Make me some food, and pack up two portions. I'm taking the food over to Serena's.” Cyrus sat on the couch and started ordering me around again.

I did not cook for him at first, but I started learning when I found out about his enteritis because I could not stand to see him in pain.

Cyrus was so touched at the time. He held my hand and said I was only allowed to cook for him from now on.

That sentiment had long since been forgotten.

“I'm not feeling well, and I'll puke all over the kitchen if I cook now. Go buy your own lunch!” I looked at him coolly.

Cyrus thought I was picking a fight again, so he jumped to his feet to yell at me. When he saw how pale I was, he had to settle for kicking the table.

“Now you won't even cook for me? Who do you think you are? There are plenty of people lining up to serve me!

“Don't regret it later and come begging on your knees. I won't give you a second look!”

He stormed away, slamming the door shut behind him.