Chapter 2

2 I refused to lose my lover without a fight.

She didn't want to see me, so I camped outside her house, her office, day and night, abandoning my work.

I begged on my knees in front of strangers.

"Just tell me what you want! Just don't give up on me!"

I crawled to her, grabbing her hand.

I slapped myself, hard, again and again.

"Yell at me, hit me, whatever you want. It's my fault. You can beat me to death, I don't care. I just want you to believe me, just once. I never meant to betray you."

Riley's expression was complicated. She whispered, "You really love me that much, Cloud? You'd die without me?"

I nodded.

She had pulled me out of the darkest depths of my life, shared the simplest joys with me. She would snuggle in my arms, listening to my heartbeat, asking in her innocent voice, "Your heart is beating so fast. Is it because of me?"

Every memory of her was seared into my soul, making me ache with love just to hold her.

I loved her, without a doubt.

Riley smiled, sighing, "Okay, I forgive you this time. Who could resist such a pathetic display?"

She agreed to go ahead with the wedding as planned.

My phone buzzed nonstop. Josh kept sending me messages.

He sent videos, countless pictures.

One look and my blood turned to ice.

In the videos, the pictures, Riley Lowell and Josh were doing everything together.

The young boy and the beautiful woman, a perfect match.

They rode motorcycles and played video games, challenging themselves with extreme sports high above the city, their faces full of laughter and excitement.

One picture was from a Ferris wheel.

In the warm twilight, she had her arms around his neck, the atmosphere warm and romantic.

Josh said, "Sorry, Cloud, I'm just keeping your fiancee company. You're not mad, are you?

"Riley felt bad that I never got to go to an amusement park as a kid, so she took me to have some fun."

I shut off my phone, staring into space.

I knew that Riley loved parties and the glitz and glamour.

Most of the activities in those photos didn't interest her at all.

But even though she didn't care for them, she still went along with the boy's games.

When it came to me, I liked fishing and gardening, but she would say:

"Fishing? Gardening? You're getting old, those hobbies are so boring. I'm not doing that."

She gave her patience to him, something I never got.

The doorbell rang.

Riley pushed the door open.

"Why are the lights off?"

She turned on the light, snuggling into my arms, her hot breath on my neck, making me gag.

Riley was annoyed. "What is wrong with you?"

She let her friends trash me in the group chat, went out with that boy, and now she was asking me "what's wrong?"

I held up my phone, showing her the pictures and videos.

"Need an explanation?"

Riley glanced at them, not caring at all.

"That boy is like you used to be, all pathetic. I just spent some time with him, so why are you giving me that face?"

I clenched my fists, wanting to kill her boy toy!

She raised her eyebrows at me.

"Are you mad? What right do you have to be mad? You slept with my sister, and I didn't yell at you or hit you, did I?"

She seemed a little impatient. "Be good, don't make me upset."

I let go, defeated.

Right, I had no right to blame her.

After all, I was the one who betrayed her first.

She just got close to another boy, but I was caught red-handed by her and her friends.