Chapter 3

To my dad and I, the necklace was a souvenir of the time we had spent with my mom.

I saw Anton's pupils constrict for a moment, but in the next breath, he draped his arm around Skylar's shoulder. His voice was cold and distant as he said, "Since it's so important, why didn't you get it from the auction?"

My gaze fell to his hand. There was still a faint tan line on his ring finger.

"I don't have that kind of money," I admitted.

"That's your problem." Anton looked at me, his eyes as hard as stone. "If you had agreed to divorce me earlier, the compensation would have been enough to buy that necklace."

His words struck me like a dagger, twisting deep into my heart.

"So, you're helping Skylar get it just to force me into a divorce?" I asked, each word tasting like poison on my tongue. "Anton, how could you do this to me?"

"I have no feelings for you anymore, Erica," he replied.

...

That day, I left without the necklace.

Anton's last question echoed through my thoughts like a haunting refrain as I sat on the couch, staring at the coffee table and the paintings that adorned our living room. Each piece was a testament to the dreams we once shared.

'How could he suddenly fall for someone else?' I refused to believe it.

Even though Anton paraded Skylar around like a trophy, and everyone who knew us whispered about his newfound love, I couldn't bring myself to sign those divorce papers.

I wasn't ready to give up on us.

My eyes drifted to our photo on the table, and for a moment, I was transported back to when we first met.

We were just kids in high school. I was a studious overachiever, but he was a rebellious troublemaker who sat behind me, tugging at my braid.

I'd turn around, ready to scold him, but he'd just hand me a note.

[Erica, I like you. Do you want to give it a try?]

From that day forward, he was there every morning, waiting at my doorstep and walking me to and from school.

My parents found out first, and then word reached his parents.

Our families even have dinner together because of it.

"You're still students. You shouldn't be dating," said his mother. "You don't want to ruin Erica's future."

Anton nodded, agreeing outwardly, but under the table, his hand found mine.

...

In our senior year, my mother died suddenly in a car accident.

The vehicle was engulfed in flames, leaving nothing but charred remains.

My father aged overnight, his business crumbling under the weight of his grief. I was devastated and diagnosed with depression.

I couldn't go to school, and Anton took time off to be with me.

He patted my head and held me. "Erica, don't be sad. You still have your dad, and you still have me."

With his support, I slowly began to heal, managing to take the college entrance exam, though my scores suffered from the trauma.

To stay by my side, Anton gave up a better school, choosing a university in the same city.

I told him he was being foolish, but he just smiled, taking my hand in his. "What if you get noticed by another guy at college? I can't go to another city."

It was the first time he'd said something so sweet, making me blush and my heart race.

I gathered my courage and asked, "What do you see me as?"

Anton was taken aback, his ears turning red.

"Isn't my intention clear enough?"