Chapter 2

Once the ringing faded, Leon announced in a loud, clear voice, "Starting today, feel free to like the photo of Vanessa and me. Once we hit a thousand likes, I'll call off the arranged marriage and marry Vanessa."

As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed Vanessa's hand and walked out without looking back. As they passed me, Vanessa gave me an unabashedly victorious look.

After they left, the people in the room quickly scattered.

Someone gloated, "Who were you trying to fool by acting so generous? Look where that got you. It's too late to regret it now."

A close colleague whispered, "Audrey, your pride won't do you any good. Go apologize while you still can. Are you really going to just stand there and watch Mr. Mercer act on impulse—"

It wasn't as if I didn't understand what Leon was doing; he was trying to push me to back down again. However, this time, I refused to give in no matter what.

The noisy room emptied in the blink of an eye, leaving only me behind. I picked up the remaining liquor on the table and downed it in one gulp. It burned all the way down my throat and into my stomach, and my eyes welled with tears.

After nearly 20 years together, our bond had fallen apart that easily.

Maybe it was for the best. I planned to accept my family's plans and travel thousands of miles to Eldoria for a new marriage alliance that would open the door to a new partnership. With that much distance between us, Leon would never be able to find me.

Before I even realized it, tears were rolling down my face.

…

When I got home, I opened my suitcase and started packing.

Leon and I had grown up together. We had spent most of our lives side by side. There were too many things to pack, and every single item carried memories.

There was a faded red paper flower, the first prize Leon had received in kindergarten. Back then, he had run over to me on his little legs and carefully placed it in my palm. "Audrey, the best things should go to you!"

There was also a yellowed photograph taken after his first wet dream, when his face was still flushed red.

Back then, he never paid attention during health class and convinced himself he was dying. He came running to me to deliver his "last words", telling me to find a boyfriend who wasn't as handsome as him after he was gone.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Once I figured out what had actually happened, I went to a convenience store to buy him a change of underwear and a health booklet. I stayed with him as we went through the instructions one by one to figure out what to do.

I teased him for not paying attention in class, and he got so flustered that he bit my arm. Strangely, I didn't feel any pain at all. If anything, a quiet warmth spread through me.

Later on, we naturally got together. Since we ended up attending different universities, we spent four years in a long-distance relationship. Over those years, I kept a thick stack of tickets marking all 120360 miles I had traveled just to see him.

Back then, I was all he cared about. He traveled long distances just to see me and never once complained about being exhausted.

Then my fingers brushed against a small box. Inside lay a pair of plain matching rings we had made together.

After graduation, I returned to this city without hesitation for him. On that day, he pulled me along to have those rings made.

He slid the ring onto my finger and grinned. "Audrey, once you wear this, you're stuck with me for life. Don't even think about running away."

Back then, we both believed that a sincere promise made in that moment could last forever. Neither of us expected that he would be the first to let go.