Chapter 1

On Valentine’s Day, famous magician Damian performed an intimate, private trick for his cute assistant.

He snapped his fingers, and a sparkling diamond ring appeared right in the palm of his hand.

He looked at her and asked, “Will you marry me?”

When I saw the video on the assistant’s TikTok, I let out a dry laugh that quickly turned into uncontrollable tears.

Because Damian was my boyfriend.

We had been together for seven long years.

Suddenly, a bone-deep exhaustion washed over me, so at our upcoming engagement party, I decided to perform a magic trick of my own.

I vanished from the stage into thin air.

Later, I heard he tore the entire city apart trying to find me.

1.

Tally posted a video on TikTok that had already racked up three million likes.

Her caption read: “A quick magic trick today: Poof, and I got a husband.”

In the video, Damian stood on the stage in his tailored tuxedo, smiling warmly as he tipped his top hat to the camera.

“Are you ready, my love?”

With a crisp snap of his fingers, a dazzling diamond ring materialized in his palm.

“Will you marry me?”

His deep eyes were brimming with tenderness and adoration.

Soft piano music swelled in the background.

The comment section was overflowing with envy.

“What a unique proposal! I’m so jealous!”

“And on Valentine’s Day, no less! Relationship goals!”

“Damian Cole, you sneaky bastard! Last year you claimed to be single, and now you’re suddenly engaged?!”

A freezing chill swept through my veins, and a bitter sneer formed on my lips.

Damian was my boyfriend.

We had been together for seven years, yet he always kept our relationship a secret, claiming going public would ruin his career.

Now, he was openly proposing to his assistant, Tally.

He even let her broadcast it across social media.

I used to scroll past stories of unfaithful partners, always thinking real life couldn't possibly be that cruel.

Now, the reality slapped me right in the face.

My laughter died, and tears pooled in my eyes.

My chest tightened with sharp spasms, and my hands trembled violently.

I unlocked my phone to message Damian, only to see the text I sent him at seven in the morning was still sitting there unanswered.

I had written: “It’s Valentine’s Day. I want to show you a magic trick tonight. Can you come home early?”

There was a time when we were inseparable, constantly texting each other whenever we were apart.

Now, my screen was an endless wall of unanswered messages.

He rarely replied, and when he did, it was just a cold “K.”

My heart sank into an abyss of exhaustion.

Somewhere along the way, our hearts had drifted worlds apart.