Chapter 2

I hit the ground with a heavy thud.

Clarissa Farber, who was sitting in the passenger seat, jumped in fright. Through the car window, I saw panic flash across Sebastian's face before he quickly regained his composure.

Clarissa was the first to get out. She hurried over and crouched beside me, offering me a lightly scented tissue.

"Are you okay?"

She had a beautiful voice, and there was such innocence in her eyes that I couldn't help feeling ashamed of myself.

I looked up at Sebastian, tears streaming down my face. "Sebastian…"

Clarissa looked puzzled. "Do you know her?"

Sebastian showed no emotion as he replied coldly, "No, I don't."

After three years together, he was pretending that he didn't even know me. He didn't spare me another glance before turning his attention to Clarissa and coaxing her back into the car.

I remained on the pavement, watching as Clarissa grew upset with him and pulled her hand away when he tried to touch her.

Sebastian simply drew her into his arms and kissed her repeatedly.

Tears blurred my vision.

A few minutes later, he sent me a message.

"Don't you dare make a scene in front of her. Go get yourself a hotel room."

His words made my heart ache, and I couldn't hold back any longer. "Why did you lie to me?"

His response was just as heartless. "I already told you that you can break up with me if you want. Now, get out of here and stop embarrassing yourself."

Three years ago, I never would've imagined that this was how our relationship would end.

Back then, Sebastian and I had met online. We played video games and chatted together, with him telling me about his graduate research while I talked about my internship at an international trade company.

Later, I was hospitalized with pneumonia.

I was alone in my hospital room, hooked up to an IV, and my phone was almost out of battery. I managed to send Sebastian a message telling him that I was scared.

When I opened my eyes the following morning, he was sitting beside my hospital bed. He held my hand tightly, his palm covered in sweat.

"Annabeth, I'm just glad you're okay. Don't ever scare me like that again."

From that moment on, I knew he was the only man I wanted to love for the rest of my life.

After I was discharged, Sebastian stayed in the country for a month and took me traveling to all sorts of places. He'd never cooked before, but he started looking up recipes and learning how to make meals just for me.

On the day we had to say goodbye, we held each other tightly in the terminal, neither of us wanting to let go.

Sebastian lowered his head and cupped my face in his hands. "Wait for me. I'll be back to marry you," he promised.

Over the next three years, we video-called whenever we had time. Sometimes, even when he was busy, he'd leave his camera on so I could watch him work.

One New Year's Eve, I secretly bought a plane ticket and flew over to surprise him. I stood outside the arrivals gate, waiting for him to appear.

The moment Sebastian saw me, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

That night, he held me in his hotel bed as the bed creaked beneath us and fireworks exploded outside the window. He kissed my damp forehead and promised that I would be the only woman he'd ever love.

I believed him. Even when I occasionally couldn't get hold of him, I never suspected that he would lie to me or betray me.

Three months ago, he'd started using work as an excuse, taking longer and longer to reply to my messages. But I still hadn't questioned his loyalty.

I'd kept telling myself that he was just busy. Instead, I'd ended up hearing him tell me that he wanted to break up because there had been another woman in his life all along.

…

That evening, the doorbell rang at my hotel room.

I wiped the tears from my face, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

Then, without giving Sebastian a chance to speak, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.