Chapter 2

I selfishly believed he still loved me.

But when Madison appeared, she shattered my illusion.

Felix stood up for her time and again, lowering his standards and treating her like a princess. He was like a king, capable of bestowing both pain and happiness. He cruelly transferred all his affection to Madison, leaving me in anguish.

He did not want a divorce because I was still his "one true love."

But he turned his "one true love" into something mundane and ordinary.

The admiration and passion he once had for me have completely faded away.

……

Felix did not come home all night.

I sat on the couch, thinking about how we ended up like this.

By noon, Felix finally returned, looking refreshed and energized. It was obvious he had spent a wonderful night with Madison.

He handed me a gift box.

Inside was a piece from a niche designer I had always liked. It wasn’t too expensive, but it was rare and hard to come by.

Felix clasped the necklace around my neck and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Lexie, I know you've wanted this for a long time, so I got it for you."

For a moment, I thought he still loved me.

I pressed my lips together and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked delicate and fragile, like a jasmine blossom.

Felix gazed at me with a mix of longing and a hint of guilt.

"Get dressed up. I want to make up for missing our anniversary."

I put on makeup and changed into a matching outfit.

Felix took me to a movie, followed by a candlelit dinner, and even arranged a spectacular fireworks display for me.

I was so happy.

We were just as sweet and loving as when we first got together, as if the last few years had never happened.

After Felix started flirting with other women, I lost all motivation to create.

But now, I finally felt inspired again.

When I walked into my studio, I was stunned to see my design drafts scattered all over the floor.

And there, on the desk, was another ring.

I already had one exactly like it on my finger, but this one was also a woman’s ring!

Everything that happened today flashed through my mind like a movie reel.

All the surprises, happiness, and affection were just lies.

Felix’s sudden attempts to make it up to me and his guilty look in his eyes were all because of Madison.

She had stolen my designs, and Felix was trying to make amends.

That brief moment of hope shattered in an instant.

……

I fought back tears and called Felix.

The phone rang for a long time before he finally answered.

"Lexie, what’s up?"

I demanded, "Felix, yesterday you said you were making up for our anniversary. Was it because Madison stole my designs?"

Felix was silent for a moment before he spoke.

"Lexie, I’ve already talked to her. It won’t happen again."

My heart sank.

I asked coldly, "She’s studying design. Doesn’t she know that copying and stealing work is the most disgraceful thing you can do?

"Is she so incapable that she has to rely on my designs?"

Suddenly, I heard soft sobbing on the other end of the line.

Madison was crying.

Between her sobs, she said, "I’m sorry, Felix. I was just under so much pressure, so I borrowed some of her work."

Felix sighed and said, "Apologize."

"I’m sorry," Madison choked out, her voice breaking.

I could hear Felix gently comforting her and it made my heart ache terribly.

"Lexie, tell me what you want. I’ll make it up to you," Felix pleaded softly. "If what Madison did gets out, it’ll cause a lot of trouble. So I hope you won’t say anything, okay?"

I could not stop the tears from falling.

It had been so long since he had spoken to me like this, and now he was doing it for Madison’s sake.

He used to love the light in my eyes when I was creating.

Now, he wanted me to give up my designs so his mistress could get the credit.

It felt like it was raining in my heart, and my tears dripped onto the scattered designs.