Chapter 2

2

I returned to the apartment I shared with Linnea.

The place that once felt so warm now felt as cold as a tomb.

I sat alone on the living room sofa, surrounded by the faint trace of her perfume.

We had dated for five years and lived together for three.

Yet, I had never once crossed the line with her.

When I graduated from college, my parents tried to force an arranged marriage on me.

I fiercely rebelled. Back then, I refused to let my love life become a corporate bargaining chip.

When I defied them, my mother cut me off without a dime.

I met Linnea while hunting for entry-level jobs.

Whenever I faced rejection, she cheered me on.

Eventually, we both found decent jobs and fell in love.

I saved up every penny I earned to put a down payment on a modest apartment, putting only her name on the deed.

She moved in with me, telling me she believed in saving herself for marriage.

I loved her and respected her, so I never pushed her boundaries.

Now, those dozens of nude portraits felt like needles piercing my eyes and heart.

They mocked every sacrifice and principle I had held onto for years.

Looking at the high-end gift bags stacked in the corner, I let out a dry laugh.

To help my mother warm up to Linnea, I had spent thousands selecting luxury items my mother liked so Linnea could present them as gifts.

When Linnea saw the designer bags, she had rolled her eyes.

"How much do you even make a month to waste money like this? Besides, your mother is just an ordinary housewife. Does she even know how to use luxury goods?"

Yet, for Gavin's birthday, she had spent ten thousand dollars on a Rolex without batting an eye.

When I questioned the extravagance, she had scoffed.

"I don't give cheap gifts. Gavin is a rising artist, and a luxury watch fits his status."

Only now did I realize that in her eyes, my family and I simply weren't worthy.

I loaded all the luxury gifts into my trunk and drove back to my family's private estate.

The moment my mother saw me, she greeted me with a radiant smile.

"Preston, come look. I picked out several wedding themes for you. Which one do you like?"

I glanced at the designer catalogs and lowered my eyes. "Whatever you think is best, Mom."

She nodded happily. "Alright, leave it to me."

As I turned toward the stairs, my mother called out, her voice cautious.

"Are things really over between you and that Linnea girl?"

I exhaled a long, heavy breath. "Yes. Completely."

"I told you she wasn't right for you. At least you cut your losses before it was too late."

In the past, I would have defended Linnea fiercely. Now, I didn't have the energy to utter a single word.

The woman I had defied the entire world for was currently walking a red carpet with someone else.

In my bedroom, I unlocked my phone.

A new Instagram post from Gavin popped up immediately.

"Surrounded by legends at tonight's gala. Thank you to my muse for staying by my side."

The attached picture showed Gavin kissing the back of Linnea's hand as she blushed, her eyes filled with adoration.

The comment section was overflowing with praise.

"Match made in heaven! A visionary artist and his gorgeous muse!"

Gavin replied in the comments: "Thanks everyone, but Linnea and I are just best friends. Don't get the wrong idea."

A pathetic attempt to hide what was in plain sight.

I gave the post a like and logged out.

A moment later, a friend request popped up on my screen.