Chapter 1

1

The night before our engagement, my boyfriend went behind my back to find his precious childhood sweetheart.

When I finally tracked him down at the dive bar, he was sobbing in her arms. "In our next life, let's make sure we don't miss each other again," he whimpered.

I stood there, my heart cold. "And what about me?" I asked quietly.

Bennett turned around, his face flickering with a moment of sheer panic. "Lyra, it's just a joke. Don't take it so seriously."

I let out a soft, sharp laugh. "Oh, don't mind me. I wouldn't want to break up such a tragic love story. Don't worry, I'll give you two my full blessing."

...

As I stepped out of the bar, the biting winter wind slapped my face.

Bennett didn't chase after me to explain. No phone call, not even a single text followed.

It made sense. I was always the one chasing him. When had he ever actually cared about how I felt?

I walked back into our apartment with a heavy heart, only to find a bouquet and a beautifully wrapped box on the table.

A pink card sat next to them. "To my former lover, I wish you a happy wedding."

It was signed by Jada Collins.

I laughed at the irony of it all.

Last year, for Bennett's birthday, I spent a fortune on a carefully selected gift for him. He didn't even bother to look at it.

"Lyra, do you really have nothing better to do than buy this flashy junk?" he had snapped.

"If you have this much free time, why don't you figure out how to get that promotion and raise this year?"

He had lectured me so harshly that I spent days reflecting on my own supposed failures.

But now I realized the truth. Who on earth doesn't like receiving gifts?

It was just that I wasn't Jada. I would never be enough to satisfy him.

He wasn't always like this. We used to be sweet, truly in love.

But ever since Jada returned from abroad six months ago, he became a different person. He grew colder and more distant by the day.

Jada claimed she had nowhere to stay. Bennett lied to me, taking two days off work just to run around and find her the perfect apartment.

Two months ago, Jada was rushed to the ER for a sudden stomach issue in the middle of the night. She called Bennett. I was worried about his safety, so I offered to drive him there myself.

But when I walked into that hospital room, I saw them. Their hands were tightly locked together.

Bennett claimed she didn't mean to grab him. He said she was just delirious from the pain.

If I hadn't seen the smirk of pure provocation in Jada's eyes, I might have actually believed his lies.

I reminded Bennett more than once to keep his distance from her.

At first, he would agree and try to explain himself.

But as time went on, he started losing his patience.

"I've explained this a thousand times. Why can't you just trust me?" he would yell.

"When did you become so incredibly petty?"

"If you're going to suspect me like this, we might as well just break up!"

When the fights got intense, he would slam the door and stay out all night.

But tonight, I didn't want to fight anymore.

I was just so tired.

My heart had finally given up.

After a quick shower, I went into the study to focus on work.

Around one in the morning, I heard the front door open.

A stumbling, drunk Bennett was being helped into the living room by Jada. She practically dropped him onto the sofa.

The moment she saw me, she started lecturing. "Lyra, what kind of girlfriend are you? You left him alone at the bar. Weren't you worried something would happen to him?"

I looked at her with a sneer, wondering who the hell she thought she was.

"He had you, didn't he? You're his precious bestie, his soulmate. With you by his side, I felt perfectly safe."

Jada's face instantly froze.