Chapter 2

2

I opened TikTok to pass the time, only for the algorithm to push a live stream directly to my feed.

It was Celeste and Gavin.

Gavin was holding up a brand-new iPhone to broadcast―a phone Celeste had bought using my credit card.

“Hey everyone, the girl behind me is my first love.”

“I finally fulfilled my lifelong dream of sailing the bay with her.”

Celeste was wearing the white wedding gown I had customized for our anniversary, holding him tightly on the deck.

Their fingers were intertwined as they shared a sweet, lingering kiss under the moonlight.

The comment section flooded with congratulations, wishing them a lifetime of happiness.

Some of their former college classmates even chimed in, praising their enduring love story.

My chest tightened as I swallowed the bitter rage rising in my throat, and I sent ten of the most expensive gift animations in the stream.

My username was “Loving Celeste.”

Gavin didn’t realize who it was at first and beamed at the camera.

“Thank you, ‘Loving Celeste,’ for the massive gifts! My princess and I will definitely be happy forever!”

Hearing that name, Celeste’s face froze in horror, and she quickly lunged forward to cut the stream.

Ha. So she still possessed a shred of shame after all.

I tossed my phone onto the nightstand, and just as I closed my eyes, Celeste called.

This time, her arrogant attitude was completely gone.

“Clayton, did you just watch the live stream?”

When I gave her a calm, affirmative answer, panic crept into her voice.

“Clayton, you know how sick Gavin is. Sailing with the person he loves was on his bucket list. I was just helping him fulfill a youthful regret.”

“Please don’t get the wrong idea. I’m heading back to the hotel to be with you soon.”

I let her hang up without arguing. My heart had already grown cold.

At midnight, Celeste returned to the hotel.

Instead of coming to our suite, she booked a separate room right next door.

If the charge hadn’t popped up on my credit card alert, I wouldn’t even have known.

Frustrated, I ran a hand through my hair and walked out into the hallway, stopping outside their door.

“Celeste, if that dean’s daughter hadn’t threatened my future back then, we never would have broken up.”

“Sigh, but look at my broken body now... marrying someone else was the right choice for you.”

Muffled sobs came from inside the room, followed by Celeste’s gentle murmurs of comfort.

A few pathetic tears from Gavin were all it took to convince her that his past betrayal had been an act of martyrdom.

“Gavin, if Clayton hadn’t used his family’s influence to pressure my parents, I wouldn’t have rushed into marriage either!”

I clenched my fists so hard my fingernails dug deep into my palms.

For five years, I had treated this woman like a queen, only for her to view our marriage as a cage I had forced her into.