Chapter 2

Vanguard Tech was the result of years of hard work between Lucas and me. It was a testament to our entire journey. Now, he was dragging his affair right into the heart of it.

I walked past the reception desk as if nothing had happened.

Sophie, along with the others, greeted me. Around her neck was a ruby necklace with a pendant shaped like a swan that looked hauntingly familiar.

"Sophie, you're saying Mr. Bennett gave you that necklace? Really?"

A ripple of whispers spread behind me.

She tugged at the chain, a smug smile on her face.

"It was the top lot at last year's Belmont auction. How could it be fake? I'll be the lady of this place sooner or later. Just wait and see."

I hurried back to my office and went straight to the safe. Inside, the space where my ruby necklace should have been was empty.

I'd won that piece in an auction last year when Lucas accompanied me on a trip to Brenchfield. I loved its bold, dazzling red, which reminded me of myself and our relationship. I'd treasured it for so long, but now it was gone.

"Looking for something?"

Lucas had entered without me noticing. His arms slid around my waist from behind. The gesture that once felt tender, but now sent a cold ripple of disgust through me.

"I can't find my ruby necklace. I wanted to wear it to my birthday dinner tonight."

His eyes shifted slightly as he answered smoothly, "I sent it for cleaning. Wear the pink diamond one instead. It suits you better anyway."

Just before leaving work, I deliberately looped my arm through Lucas'. Then, we paraded past the front desk, announcing my birthday dinner plans loud enough for everyone to hear.

Through the reflection in the glass doors, I caught Sophie's resentful glance.

Shortly after we sat down at the restaurant, a message came through to my fake account.

"Lucas is at his rich girlfriend's birthday party again. He doesn't even like her. What should I do?"

The claim that he didn't like her made me watch Lucas more closely as he raised his glass to toast after toast with my friends and family. I caught a flicker of disgust in his eyes before he masked it.

A cold disbelief settled in my chest. Had everything he'd ever shown me been a transaction, utterly devoid of real feeling?

To test my theory, I sent Sophie another suggestion.

"Go on a hunger strike, saying you can't swallow a bite without him. See if he'll ditch his girlfriend to comfort you."

After downing another large glass of wine, Lucas' phone buzzed. He excused himself, citing a work emergency, and slipped out of the private room.

I followed him quietly to the restroom at the end of the hallway.

This man, who always pursued a high quality of life, was patiently trying to persuade Sophie to eat in this cramped and dirty place.

Seeing her victory-sign emoji on my phone, my mind immediately filled with Lucas' past promises.

"Every birthday from now on, you'll be the princess, and I'll be your knight. Let me take care of you."

The words echoed in my head, but the princess in his heart had long been replaced.

I couldn't take it anymore. I said goodbye to my relatives and friends and hurried out of the restaurant.

The autumn wind cut through my coat, and I shrank into myself.

The next moment, a figure skipped excitedly into a man's arms on the sidewalk. He wrapped her in his coat and helped her into the car.

"Miss, your trick worked. He ditched his girlfriend to take me to a fancy dinner."

I stared, straining to see through the gloom, until I recognized the car as Lucas'. It sped away before my eyes. He even had the nerve to leave me a message.

"Vee, an important client insists on meeting right now. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Meanwhile, the chat log from Sophie kept updating with his complaints.

"Does turning 30 really require this whole spectacle? It's just another attempt to use her family to control me."

"My career's finally taking off. Once I close this last major deal, I can finally free myself from the Cruise family's control for good."

"You're the only one who really gets me, darling. I need to see you."

A tear slid down my cheek, and the wind turned it to a cold sting.

Sophie sent me another message.

"Their five-year anniversary is coming up soon. What should I prepare in advance?"