Chapter 1

Claude's POV

The entire room fell silent as soon as the words were out of my mouth.

One of our team members suddenly chuckled and quipped, "Come on, Claude. Everyone here knows that you've had a crush on Katie for years. Why does your congratulations sound so forced now that Captain got her instead?

"There's no point being jealous. You can't ever beat him anyway," he added with another chuckle.

The team then burst into knowing chuckles. They thought that my cold expression was simply because I was jealous of Ian Bradford because of my crush on Katie Terrell.

Ian's grip on the wine glass tightened until his knuckles turned white. Then, he patted the empty seat next to him.

"Stop making a fuss and come sit here, Claude Manning."

In the past, the spot next to him was always only reserved for me. But now, Katie was seated next to him too.

I didn't move toward him. Instead, I just went straight over to my elder brother, Cale Manning, and sat down next to him.

Ian's eyes turned dark.

Cale smiled and tried to ease the tension in the air. "Ian, we all know that you've been treating Claude as your close younger brother all this while. But since you've already got Katie now, shouldn't you give him some space to feel heartbroken? Be careful in case Katie gets jealous."

Katie looped her hand through Ian's arm, holding on to him tightly.

Ian burst out laughing. "I just didn't want Katie to leave the world with any regrets. This marriage will end after a month. Also, if I really wanted to marry her, why would I have waited until now?"

Cale and the others obviously refused to believe him. They kept bringing up stories of how down and depressed he'd become in the first six months after Katie went abroad. Ian had even admitted that he would keep waiting for her until she came back to him.

Everyone in the room agreed that Ian had indeed said such a thing in the past.

I just lowered my head and continued drinking my glass of alcohol, feeling my chest tightening with excruciating pain.

I had been with Ian ever since I was 19 years old.

I wanted to make our relationship public when we turned 22, but Ian stopped me, saying that coming out of the closet now would gravely affect our positions on the team. He was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle the stress.

When I turned 23, he told me we would go public as soon as I turned 24 years old.

I turned 24 today. And yet, the only thing waiting for me at the end was their marriage certificate.

Katie looked at me smugly and said, "Ian and I are really married now, Claude. I like the necklace you're wearing. Can you give it to me as a wedding gift?"

My fingers clenched.

The necklace was my 19th birthday gift from Ian. It was also a token of our love. I'd never taken it off in the five years we'd been together.

When Cale saw that I remained silent, he said, "Claude, Ian's been waiting for Katie for years. You should just give them your blessing."

I looked at Ian. He didn't say a word. Then, Katie crawled into his lap and gave him a watery, beseeching look.

"I really like that necklace, Ian. Can't you buy me an exact same one too? That way, I can die happy."

Ian slid his arms around her waist and smiled lightly. "It's just a worthless necklace. Claude, give her the necklace since she wants it so much. I'll get you something better to make it up to you."

I suddenly didn't know what to say anymore.

I had grown up by his side ever since I was 19 years old. We'd witnessed each other's tears and laughter throughout the years.

They represented five years of my love and sincerity toward him, but now, he just thought it was a worthless thing.

I removed the necklace emotionlessly and tossed it onto the table.

"You're right, Captain. It's just worthless trash. You can have it."