Chapter 3

Lamont pulled out his phone to buy the tickets. When he unlocked it, there were dozens of missed calls.

They were from me.

Lamont frowned, grumbled, and showed the phone to Lena.

“And you were so worried about her!

“Look at this! She’s got plenty of time to call me! Calling this many times in one night? I’m impressed!

“Good thing I turned my phone off last night. Otherwise, she’d have driven me crazy!”

Lena checked the screen and smiled sheepishly.

“The call log shows that Serena didn’t call after 5 a.m. She must’ve been rescued. Should we call to check in on her?”

“Definitely!

“You know what? She’s probably already snoring away in the hotel!

“She can’t even send a text to say she’s safe. She’s an adult, yet she doesn’t know her manners!”

Lamont rolled his eyes and dialed her number.

After ringing over a dozen times, the call disconnected automatically.

“How dare she not answer?”

Lamont grumbled, but his expression betrayed a hint of panic.

“Forget it. Let’s call the hotel and see if she’s returned.”

The hotel line connected quickly.

“Hello? Has the woman in Room 1401 returned yet?”

Lamont waited anxiously for the person on the other end to check.

“Well, Mr. Steward, there was indeed a lady who...”

Lamont hung up impatiently and flashed a smile at Lena.

“See? I told you she returned to the hotel to sleep!

“She’s perfectly fine! Yet, she had you worrying about her all this time! When I get back, I’m going to give her a piece of my mind!”

I let out a cold laugh.

Someone did go to the hotel in the early hours, but it was not me.

It was my best friend.

I asked her to go ahead and set it up to celebrate my wedding with Lamont.

I had meticulously created a short video. It captured every moment of our relationship.

I had even splurged on a custom ice sculpture. It was carved to resemble him and me.

I secretly used my savings to buy the car he loved. I intended it as a wedding gift.

I had envisioned him tearing up with emotion upon seeing the surprises I had planned for him.

However, reality dealt me a crushing blow.

Lena let out a sigh of relief.

“Now that we know that Serena is safe, I can finally relax and enjoy myself!

“Lamont, I want to eat that!”

Lena tugged Lamont along as they weaved through the stalls.

The ice sculpture placed in the hotel was slowly melting away.

At the sight of Lamont and Lena’s affectionate display, my heart grew icy.

In the evening, Lamont took Lena back to the hotel.

He swiped his key card to open the door, only to find the room empty.

All that remained was the ice sculpture and some floral decorations. The ice had melted, and the water pooled on the floor.

The flowers had also withered completely by that point.

“Serena? What the heck are you playing at? Get out here!”

No one answered.

Lamont tried calling me again, but my phone was off.

“Where did you go?”

Lamont frowned. Suddenly, a warm, soft body pressed against him.

Lena leaned in to look at his phone.

“Don’t worry, Lamont.

“If the front desk said Serena came back, she must be fine.

“She probably just stepped out for something.”

Lamont lowered his head to stare at his former lover’s face that was mere inches away from his. His ears flushed crimson.

Lena raised her hand and gently caressed Lamont’s cheek.

“Lamont, you still like me, right?

“Back then, I had no choice but to break up with you. Now, I want to ask you something. How about we…”

Lamont recoiled as if he was electrocuted.

Lena paused, and her eyes lowered in disappointment.

“Never mind, Lamont. After five years of dating, you and Serena are finally together. How could I...

“You two are a perfect match.”

Her words instantly provoked Lamont. He slammed his fist hard against the wall.

“Perfect match, my foot!

“She’s not right for me at all! All she cares about is her work, you know?

“Lena, Serena keeps saying how much she loves me, but every time she has to choose between me and her job, she always picks her job!”

“I watch her drink with male clients and stay out all night. Yet, I can’t do anything about it!

“Where do you think her success and status comes from? It’s all from sleeping her way to the top!

“Every time I bring this up, she argues with me. Seeing her makes me sick!”

I was shaking with rage.

I fought with him because he did not believe me. I had never done anything to betray him!

“A client of Serena’s asked to meet me the other day and gave me a USB drive.

“Do you know what was on it?

“It was freaking full of intimate photos of Serena with all kinds of men. She’s a shameless woman who stops at nothing for money and fame!”

I froze.

Over the years, I always kept a distance from the clients because I had a boyfriend.

To assure him, I had always been transparent about my chat records and bank statements. Yet, he still did not trust me!

I wanted to grab him by the collar and demand answers about those so-called “intimate photos.”

At that moment, Lena embraced Lamont who was emotionally distraught and comforted him gently.

Lamont, who was feeling vulnerable, did not resist either. He leaned onto her shoulder.

The next day, the housekeeper came to tidy the guest room.

Lamont had been watching TV while he held Lena close. His gaze fell on the bracelet on the housekeeper’s wrist, and he snapped back to reality.

He jumped to his feet and grabbed the cleaner’s wrist to inspect it. My initials were engraved on the inside of it.

“This isn’t yours! Where did you steal it from?!”

This bracelet was mine. It was a keepsake from my late mother. I treasured it and never let anyone touch it.

Back then, even when Lamont told me to take it off and let him see it, I refused without hesitation.

The cleaner shook her head frantically.

“I didn’t steal it!

“My son found it! He picked it up from a dead person’s hand while visiting Emerald Hills a few days ago!

“Seeing how valuable it was, I... I kept it for myself.”

Lamont’s eyes narrowed in fury.

“You’re lying!

“This belonged to my wife! To her, this bracelet was more precious than her own life. She never took it off!

“If it were lost, she’d never rest in…”

Lamont’s words died in his throat.

He was silent for a long moment before he found his voice again.

“What did you say? Found it in whose hands?”

He shook the housekeeper’s shoulders violently. Tears streamed down his face, and he was unable to utter another word.

“You’re lying to me!

“Tell me! You’re lying, aren’t you? You stole it from the guest room, right?”

It did not matter that Lamont refused to believe it. He knew that as long as I was alive, I would never part with that bracelet.