Chapter 1

Sylvia's POV

I was just about to leave when someone slapped the table and exclaimed, "Don't leave yet, Sylvia! There's still one more round. Let's make things a little more exciting. We're going to look through everyone's chats to see who texts whom the most."

My best friend, Natalia Williams, pushed her phone across the table with a smile and said, "Sure. I don't have anything to hide."

Silence descended upon the private room in an instant when the results were revealed.

The person my boyfriend, Aiden Ramsey, texted the most wasn't me.

It was Natalia.

Someone let out an awkward laugh and said, "Well… It looks like Aiden and Natalia text each other quite often."

Natalia blinked and said casually, "We can't help it. Sylvia's too mature and tends to solve all her problems by herself. Aiden needs someone to lend him an ear when he's under a lot of pressure."

She seemed to accidentally tap on her chat with Aiden as she spoke, displaying one of their conversations on the screen.

"Sylvia's asking about the wedding arrangements again. She's taking this way too seriously," Aiden said.

"She's too worried about everything," Natalia replied. "Unlike me. Getting married should be a happy occasion."

Aiden sent a smiling emoji. "That's why I said that it's easier to talk to you than her."

I flexed my fingers slightly.

Natalia scrolled through the chat, revealing another conversation.

"Sylvia's wearing that white dress again today," Aiden said. "Does she think that she looks good in white?"

Natalia sent a laughing emoji. "Don't talk about her like that. But I agree. I don't think it suits her. Her looks are just too plain."

"You're right," Aiden replied. "It would look better on you."

Everyone in the private room had fallen silent by then.

I stood rooted to the spot. It felt like something was stuck in my throat. Bitterness spread through my chest, making it difficult for me to breathe.

It turned out that, from Aiden's perspective, my cautious anticipation and nervousness when I was trying on the wedding dresses were just reasons for him and Natalia to ridicule me.

Natalia approached me and held my arm affectionately, saying, "Don't be mad, Sylvia. I'll definitely beat Aiden up on your behalf if he talks about these things with anyone else. It's different with me because I'm your best friend."

She tilted her head and looked at me. "Isn't it good that I can keep an eye on him for you?" she asked in a soft, coy voice.

I looked at Natalia's hand that was resting on my arm. There was a thin bracelet around her wrist.

A few days ago, Aiden had snapped a photo of the same bracelet when he was away for a business trip, asking me if it looked good.

I had stared at the photo for a long time before excitedly answering, "It's beautiful."

I had assumed that he was going to give me the bracelet as a surprise. I had even planned to pretend to be oblivious when he returned so I could ask him if he had bought any presents for me.

However, the surprise never came even after a few days had passed. Instead, the bracelet had turned up around Natalia's wrist.

I slowly retracted my arm.

Natalia's eyes immediately reddened. "Do you not trust me, Sylvia?" she asked.

Aiden finally frowned. "We're just playing a game, Sylvia. Don't be so sensitive."

Upon hearing his words, I suddenly felt it was pointless for me to be upset.