Chapter 1

A fractured bone from a car crash sent me straight to the emergency room.

Right before being wheeled into the operating room, I called Jonas in tears, begging him to come see me.

He snapped coldly through the receiver, "Stop bothering me, I am tied up at the operating table."

Then I heard a woman soft giggle on the other end, and my heart turned to ice.

After surgery, I saw a post on Maya social media feed.

"Working the night shift, and my boyfriend brought me takeout after doing surgeries all day, just to watch the stars with me. I am truly the luckiest girl alive!"

The attached photo showed two people on the hospital rooftop, locked in a passionate kiss.

I left a comment right beneath Maya post:

"When a man brings you midnight snacks and watches the stars with you, you should marry him!"

I had chased after Jonas for seven long years. It was finally time to give up.

......

On the day I was discharged, Jonas finally showed up.

He did not ask how I got hurt, nor did he explain his disappearance over the past few days.

He simply packed my bags in silence and drove me home.

Once in the car, he stole cautious glances at me.

Seeing my calm expression, he began babbling about the bizarre cases he had encountered at the hospital lately.

He was rarely this talkative.

I gave half-hearted replies, growing drowsy under the drone of his voice.

A sudden screech of the brakes jolted me awake.

Before I could catch my breath, his angry reprimand hit my ears.

"What kind of mood are you in now?"

"I have been trying my best to humor you, so give it a rest already!"

His face was flushed with irritation, his tone dripping with impatience.

In the past, whenever he neglected me, I would make a fuss to get his attention, only to receive his harsh scolding.

Now that I was quiet and calm, he was still furious.

I turned my head and looked at him indifferently.

"I am not throwing a fit."

He deflated like a punctured tire, looking somewhat hurt.

"You never used to zone out when I was talking to you."

If this were before, my heart would have softened immediately, and I would have hugged him to reassure him.

Now, I had no desire to do that.

I smiled faintly and said nothing.

Jonas pulled a small box from behind him, revealing a gold bracelet inside.

He looked at me tenderly. "Work was crazy at the hospital lately, and I neglected you. That was my fault."

"I went to the store specifically to pick out this gold bracelet for you."

Staring at the bracelet, I felt a sharp sting in my chest.

This bracelet was merely a promotional gift that came with an Hermès handbag.

It was not even real gold.

Just two days ago, I saw Maya bragging about her new designer bag on social media.

"My boyfriend felt bad about how hard I work, so he spoiled me with this! But this complimentary gift is so tacky. What vibrant young girl would wear a cheap copper-plated bracelet?"

What bitter irony.

In our seven years together, I had never dared let him buy me anything expensive.

He came from a poor background, and getting through medical school had been an uphill battle.

His residency had been exhausting, with endless surgeries and unreasonable patients around the clock.

I felt for him, so I never spent his hard-earned money and instead bought him expensive sneakers and collectibles.

He used to say, "Sadie, why are you so silly? How is there anyone as selfless as you in this world?"

"Once I start making good money, I will spoil you with all the gifts you could ever want and make everyone envy you."

Back then, I was moved to tears, believing I had found the rarest love on earth.

Little did I know that he did buy lavish gifts, just never for me.

They were all for Maya.

I only ever deserved the free leftovers.

"Sadie, what is wrong? Do you not like it?"