Chapter 1

In the private lounge, no one noticed I was already standing at the door.

Suddenly, someone brought me up. “Evelyn, it’s been three years now. What are you going to do about Jace?”

Evelyn Gates brushed a strand of hair from her temple and answered nonchalantly, “It’s been three years already, so what’s the rush? I’ll deal with him after I marry Cole.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“Honestly, Jace is such a pathetic lapdog. I bet when he sees Evelyn again after all this time, he’ll be shocked stupid!”

“I heard he’s been living like a wreck these past three years. It figures. Without Evelyn, his life is pure trash.”

The room was filled with a drunken kind of cheer, but beneath it all, no one could hide the sharp edge of mockery in their words.

I was about to leave when someone spotted me and shouted, “Jace?”

In an instant, every pair of eyes turned toward me. The loudest one from earlier scratched his head awkwardly, scrambling to smooth things over.

“Jace, Evelyn being alive… We didn’t tell you because she lost her memory. We were worried it might hit you too hard.”

I shot them a look of pure disgust.

Before I could even speak, Evelyn swept her gaze over me from head to toe.

“So you’re my ex-fiancé? Why do you look so broke and shabby now? They say your whole life’s gone downhill without me. I guess that’s true, huh?”

She was still as arrogant and spoiled as ever. However, I no longer had the patience I once did. Now, I felt nothing but endless disgust.

I stayed silent, and Evelyn didn’t seem bothered. Lounging lazily in Cole Anderson’s arms, she traced circles across his chest with her finger.

Cole caught her hand and held it, his smile laced with challenge as his eyes locked onto mine.

“Jace, it’s been three years. How did you end up like this? No wonder Evelyn forgot about you. Who’d remember someone like this?”

My brows furrowed, fists clenching on instinct. Their shameless display made me sick to my stomach.

Evelyn, however, thought I was just hurt by their show of affection. Smugness lit her face.

“Don’t be so jealous. If you still want to be with me, you’ll have to get used to this arrangement. Don’t worry, I’ll still give you one day a week to wait on me.”

As soon as she finished, the others crowded around me, jeering with malicious delight.

“See, Jace? Evelyn still has feelings for you. Even with her memory gone, she’s keeping you in her life—one day a week!”

“Just take good care of Evelyn and Cole, and you’ll live better than you do now. Look at you, all ragged and poor. Haven’t you had enough of this miserable life? You should grab the chance while you can!”

Cole leaned back on the sofa, his legs stretched lazily over the coffee table, and Evelyn nestled snug in his arms.