Chapter 1

On my birthday, the two childhood sweethearts who swore to spend their lives with me took me scuba diving. But halfway through, they abandoned me in the open sea, fully aware that I couldn't swim.

They left because their shared crush got a leg cramp on the beach, and they rushed ashore to drive him to the emergency room.

As my oxygen tank ran empty, a crushing weightlessness dragged me down. I nearly drowned in the dark waters.

Against all odds, I survived and crawled back to shore. I called their phones dozens of times, but neither of them answered.

When I finally dragged my battered body to find them, the three of them were huddled around a table, singing happy birthday to Ian's cat.

They had completely forgotten that the entire trip was planned to celebrate my birthday.

With a bitter smile, I pulled out my phone and called my father.

I told him I agreed to the billionaire arranged marriage he had set up for me.

1.

The doctor told me that prolonged pressure deep underwater and acute oxygen deprivation had severely crushed my internal organs.

I needed immediate surgery.

I let out a hollow laugh, staring at the white hospital ceiling. What a way to spend a birthday.

Just as I was about to schedule the operation, my phone buzzed with back-to-back calls from Kelsey and Brynn. Both of their voices carried the exact same impatient tone.

“Where the hell did you go? We came all the way back to find you, so why did you disappear?”

I kept my voice low and emotionless.

“I'm at the hospital.”

“Then call an Uber and get over to the restaurant right now. Didn't we say we'd celebrate your birthday? Ian has been starving for hours, waiting for you before taking a single bite.”

“Hurry up! If Ian's gastritis acts up because you made him wait, we won't let you off the hook!”

Listening to the dead dial tone, I felt colder than I had at the bottom of the sea.

They had left me in deep water knowing I couldn't swim, all to rush Ian to the ER for a simple muscle cramp.

They had plenty of time to throw a lavish party for his cat, yet never once remembered me.

Even after learning I was in the hospital, neither of them offered a single word of concern.

A sharp, stabbing pain ripped through my chest.

So this was what sixteen years of devotion amounted to.

I asked the doctor to prescribe some painkillers first and decided to schedule the surgery later.

When I arrived at the restaurant, Kelsey was piling food onto Ian's plate, while Brynn was spoon-feeding him dessert.

It was supposed to be my birthday, yet Ian sat right in the center seat, wearing a golden birthday crown like the star of the night.

Seeing me walk in, Ian hurriedly stood up and pretended to offer me his seat with an anxious look.

“Hayden, you're finally here! I'm so sorry. Kelsey and Brynn insisted I sit here, and even though I refused, they told me it was totally fine.”

His posture looked humble and timid, yet every word dripped with unspoken arrogance.

Kelsey clicked her tongue in annoyance, pulling him back down into the chair and soothing him gently.

“Ian, why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong!”

Then she turned to me, her face darkening with disgust.

“Hayden, what are you standing there for? There's an empty chair right over there. Are you really going to pick a fight with Ian over a seat?”

Brynn slammed her fork down on the table, backing Kelsey up immediately.

“Ian almost suffered another stomach attack waiting for you! We had to beg him just to get him to eat a few bites. Hayden, do you honestly feel proud of always dragging everyone down?”

I pressed a hand against the throbbing pain in my abdomen and swallowed the explanation that was on the tip of my tongue.

Forcing a weak smile, I quietly walked over to the empty chair in the far corner.

Watching Kelsey and Brynn pamper Ian, a bitter ache spread through my chest.

In the past, I was always the one taking care of them, making sure they ate well, yet they had never once served me a single dish.

I used to think it was just because they were younger and needed my protection.

I never realized they were entirely capable of loving someone gently; they just chose never to waste that love on me.

My hands trembled so violently under the table that I couldn't even grip my silverware.

Just then, a waiter rolled over a towering cake along with an enormous bouquet of roses, heading straight toward Ian.

The waiter smiled cheerfully and announced, “Happy birthday, Mr. Hayes! This is a special surprise arranged just for you by Ms. Kelsey and Ms. Brynn!”

Ian beamed with pure delight as he accepted the flowers, looking at the girls with wide, excited eyes.

“Is... is this really for me?”

Sitting in the dim corner, I lifted my head to look at Kelsey and Brynn.

Hesitation flickered across their faces for half a second when our eyes met, but they quickly turned to Ian and nodded with sweet smiles.

“Of course! It's a special surprise we prepared just for you!”

Holding the bouquet, Ian shot me a smug, triumphant smirk, flaunting the blatant favoritism he held over me.

Then he put on a troubled face and pretended to set the flowers aside, murmuring softly,

“Wait, today isn't my birthday. Never mind, girls. I know you love me, but we shouldn't break Hayden's heart over this.”

Kelsey and Brynn instantly scowled, glaring at me in unison.

“It's yours, Ian! The cake is yours too!”

“That's right! We haven't even cut a cake for your cat yet today. Let's take the cake back to the hotel suite and celebrate together with the kitty!”

Ian couldn't hide his smug grin any longer as he picked up the cake, turning to me with mock sympathy.

“Hayden, you probably shouldn't come with us. You're allergic to cat dander, and I'd hate for you to startle the cat and upset Kelsey and Brynn again.”

Kelsey and Brynn flanked Ian like devoted bodyguards, giggling as they walked out of the restaurant together.

I couldn't maintain my calm facade any longer.

My fork slipped from my fingers, clattering against the messy table.

Sixteen years of devotion officially died in that very moment.