Chapter 2

02.

I first met Luna at her eighteenth birthday gala.

She froze the moment she saw me. Then, she shyly asked if I would be her boyfriend.

I said yes. She moved in with me immediately, taking care of every detail of my life personally.

She loved seeing me in crisp white shirts, saying I looked like a dream.

I treated her like a queen. I bought her the latest designer shoes and bags before she even had to ask.

I dressed her up to be the sophisticated, powerful woman she was becoming.

We were so close that our parents were constantly pushing for a wedding. But Luna always stayed silent on the matter.

I knew the truth. I wasn't the one she truly loved.

Luna had a childhood sweetheart named Sylas who died in a shipwreck six years ago.

As it happened, I looked about seventy percent like him.

Sometimes, even I would get confused when I saw the photo she kept hidden under her pillow.

But I didn't care. As long as Luna stayed by my side, I was fine being a shadow.

Everything changed six months ago when Luka Thorne joined Luna's company.

Luna, who was usually cold and efficient, stared at his resume photo for a long time. She broke her own rules to hire him, despite his lack of an Ivy League degree.

Luka rose through the ranks at lightning speed. In just six months, he went from a junior clerk to her personal executive assistant.

She started coming home later and later. She often smelled of a man's cologne.

It was a scent I didn't recognize.

I began to panic and confronted her. She told me I was overthinking things.

A month ago, Luna said she was going to a conference with Luka. On the way back, they got into a horrific accident.

The flames were so high that even the firefighters hesitated. I soaked myself with a hose and ran into the inferno.

I dragged a semi-conscious Luna out of the wreckage.

Right before the final explosion, I pushed her as far as I could. I ended up with third-degree burns and a ruined face.

I thought Luna would at least feel some gratitude.

Instead, on the day of my reconstructive surgery, she used my yacht and the money I helped her earn to buy a luxury watch for Luka.