Chapter 1

I tightened my grip on the phone, unable to believe that everything I'd shared with Sebastian Morris over the past few years had been a lie.

My hands trembled as I dialed his number. The phone rang twice before he hung up, but I immediately called again.

It wasn't until my 17th attempt that he finally answered.

"Anna, stop it."

Sebastian kept his voice low, but he couldn't hide his impatience. "She's on her period and isn't feeling well. I can't leave her alone. I need to take care of her."

My throat felt dry, and I had to swallow before I could force myself to speak.

Just then, a woman's voice came through the phone. "Sebastian, my heating pad's gone cold."

He immediately softened his tone. "Coming, baby. Give me a second."

He hung up before I could say another word.

Sebastian used to take care of me whenever I was on my period, too.

He would make me chamomile tea and place his warm hands over my lower abdomen. Whenever I complained about the cramps, he would pull me closer and murmur, "I'm right here."

Now, he was taking care of another woman.

I wanted to confront him and find out exactly what was going on, but when the car pulled up outside his apartment building, I couldn't bring myself to go upstairs.

I was terrified that everything I'd discovered was true and that I'd been the other woman all along.

Then, I saw Sebastian emerge from the building with his arm around a woman.

The wind blew a few strands of her bangs across her face, and he gently tucked them behind her ear. His movements were so tender and familiar that he'd clearly done it countless times before.

A neighbor passing by stopped to greet them.

"Mr. Morris, taking your girlfriend out for another walk, I see."

Sebastian smiled. "We're going to try on wedding dresses today."

The neighbor gave the woman a thumbs-up. "You're one lucky woman, Ms. Farber! Can't wait for the wedding!"

I staggered backward in disbelief, unable to summon the courage to approach them.

Meanwhile, Sebastian carefully helped the woman into his car without noticing me at all.

A sharp cramp spread through my lower abdomen, forcing me to crouch down. The neighbor who had just spoken to them noticed me and came over to help.

"Sebastian Morris…" I muttered. "Is he getting married?"

The neighbor didn't seem to notice that anything was wrong with me and smiled.

"That's right! Mr. Morris absolutely adores his girlfriend. They're such a lovely couple! No matter how busy he gets, he always makes time to come home and cook for her. They've even invited us to the wedding. We already received the invitation."

I listened in a daze, unable to get the image of Sebastian and that woman together out of my mind. It felt as if my heart had splintered.

I'd always known Sebastian was busy.

During our three years of long-distance dating, the time difference meant that we often had to wake up in the middle of the night just to talk or video call.

Even when he had dark circles under his eyes from exhaustion, he'd patiently reassure me, "Once things settle down at work, I'll come see you."

And he'd always kept his word.

Once, he'd worked late into the night for two weeks straight and ended up getting sick with a cold. Yet, he'd still rushed back to celebrate my birthday with me.

I hated seeing him exhaust himself like that. All I'd wanted was to put an end to our long-distance relationship so we could finally get married.

But Sebastian always told me that he wanted to wait until his career was more stable before we settled down together.

And so, I'd waited three years.

No matter how much I missed him, I never wanted to put any more pressure on him. Even when I found out I was pregnant, I'd decided to wait until the pregnancy was stable before coming to see him.

I'd wanted to tell him that we could put off the wedding if necessary. I was even willing to give up my job and start over so we could be together.

But he'd already promised to marry someone else.

The neighbor finally noticed how pale I was and asked, "By the way, who are you?"

I didn't answer. I simply walked away.

But as Sebastian's car approached the exit of the apartment complex, I threw caution to the wind and stepped right into its path.