Chapter 2

When Sylvia got home, she started packing her things.

Halfway through, Nathaniel walked in.

“Sylvia, as soon as I finished up at work, I came straight back. Did you miss me?”

He held out a large bouquet of red roses with a bright smile.

“I got these just for you. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay with you till the end at the bridal shop earlier. Let me make it up to my sweetheart, alright?”

Looking at the slightly wilted roses, clearly suffering from lack of water, Sylvia almost laughed out loud in anger.

It was obvious that this was the same bouquet he had used at the proposal. He must have casually grabbed it on his way out.

So, in his eyes, she was only worth these discarded props from his grand display for someone else?

“What’s so funny?” Nathaniel asked, uneasy at the sight of her faint smile.

“Nothing.”

Sylvia took the bouquet, but her eyes caught a glimpse of something under the moonlight—bright red lipstick smudged on his collar.

It was glaringly obvious.

She raised her hand and pointed at his collar. “Your shirt’s dirty.”

Nathaniel glanced down and immediately noticed the lipstick stain, left behind when Vivian kissed him. His heart skipped a beat as he tried to explain.

“Oh, uh, I must have accidentally brushed up against something.”

“Hmm.” Sylvia didn’t call him out on it. “Take it off. I’ll wash it for you.”

“There’s no need. We have maids for that. I couldn’t possibly let you do it yourself.”

“They’re too careless. Let me take care of it.”

Thinking he’d dodged another bullet, Nathaniel leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her cheek.

“You’re the best, Sylvia.”

Sylvia took the shirt from him, her eyes lingering on the lipstick stain as she chuckled softly.

The best? No, he just thought she was the easiest to fool.

Perhaps she scrubbed too hard while washing it, and Nathaniel’s shirt ended up torn.

Nathaniel didn’t mind in the slightest. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and said softly, “It’s fine. If it’s ruined, just toss it. You can buy me a new one.”

He changed into another shirt, but the lingering scent of perfume on him was impossible to ignore.

Sylvia allowed a faint smile to curl her lips. “Don’t some things get better with age?”

“That’s true,” Nathaniel replied with a nod. “This shirt was actually really comfortable. Too bad you ruined it in the wash. I could’ve worn it a few more times. You know, I’m a very loyal man.”

A loyal man—loyal enough to hold on to the woman he loved five years ago, even after all that time apart.

But what about her? What did the five years she gave him mean?

Sylvia had never lacked admirers. From childhood through adulthood, she was always pursued by suitors.

After graduating from college, she applied for a job at Nathaniel’s company. The moment she laid eyes on him, he stole her heart.

But she was proud and stubborn, unwilling to take the initiative to chase after him.

Somehow, Nathaniel ended up falling for her, pursuing her with relentless determination. However, Sylvia played it cool at first, refusing to give him a straight answer.

Until one day, a fire broke out at the office.

As the alarm blared, everyone scrambled to escape.

Sylvia, frozen in fear, couldn’t move an inch.

It was Nathaniel who turned back and carried her out of the flames.

At that moment, Sylvia made up her mind to stay with Nathaniel forever.

For five whole years, she remembered every detail of the day they became a couple.

Nathaniel had sworn with absolute conviction, “Sylvia, I promise, you’re the only woman I’ll ever love in this lifetime.”

Looking at his solemn expression, Sylvia had wept as she warned him, “Nathaniel Sinclair, you’d better remember what you said today. Because if you ever betray me, I’ll marry another man and make you regret it for the rest of your life!”

Those vows still echoed in her ears, yet the man’s heart had already changed.

No, perhaps his heart had never belonged to her in the first place.

A stinging ache rose in her chest as Sylvia gripped the shirt tightly. She couldn’t hold back her tears any longer, and they spilled over.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Seeing her tears, Nathaniel panicked, hurriedly pulling out a tissue to wipe her face.

“I’m fine.”

Nathaniel had betrayed her first. Now, she would keep her word and marry another man.