Chapter 3

For a long time, I thought I was just stressed from work and working too hard. It wasn't until I mentioned my symptoms to the doctor during a routine company health check that I realized something might be wrong with me.

He immediately recommended that I get some tests done. That was when I finally found out about my disease.

I could no longer give Andrea the life she deserved. Still, we'd shared so many beautiful memories.

Back in college, Spencer was the guy everyone had a crush on. And Andrea was known as the prettiest woman in her department from the moment she stepped onto campus.

Andrea, Spencer, and I all grew up in the same residential neighborhood.

Ever since Spencer was a kid, he had been everyone's idea of the perfect child. He was good-looking and got along with just about anyone. As for me, I was just someone who wasn't very good with words.

Andrea was naturally cheerful, but whenever Spencer ignored her, she'd come hang out with me instead.

Since she was undeniably beautiful, I couldn't help being attracted to her. So every time she approached me, I gladly accepted all the warmth she showed me.

In our sophomore year, she confessed to me. I was over the moon and said yes right away.

It wasn't until later that I realized she'd come to me because Spencer, the guy she liked, had left the country with another woman right after they graduated.

She really was going through a rough time back then. So I stayed by her side the whole time, taking her to the best food spots off campus and to the aquarium to look at the fish.

Little by little, I helped her pull herself out of that dark place with all the care and support I gave her. That was why, even now, I still couldn't wrap my head around her running back to Spencer.

He was obviously a man who kept making promises to her but never followed through, someone who'd hurt her over and over again.

As I sat on my bed, replaying everything in my head, Tony's parting words came back to me.

It finally dawned on me that Andrea might have been lying to me. Otherwise, why would she take my bank card just to go on a business trip?

I picked up my phone and called Jason Lawson, Andrea's boss. He was one of my closest friends, and it was through my relationship with him that Andrea got her job in the first place.

Andrea wasn't even qualified for the job, so she wouldn't have gotten it without him. Jason picked up on the first ring, a grin already in his voice. "Well, look who's calling! What's the occasion?"

"Jason, does Andrea have a business trip lined up right now?"

"Nope. She took three days off. I figured you two had plans to travel together."

In that moment, I knew Andrea had lied. I just had no idea where she and Spencer had actually gone.

But the very next day, a forwarded post landed in my messages. It was from Tony.

The photo captured a breathtaking display of the aurora borealis across the sky. Andrea and Spencer had their faces pressed together, grinning happily at the camera.

The location tag showed Ivalor, and the caption read, "Let's be together for the rest of our lives."

After everything I'd seen, even the ache in my heart had started to fade into numbness. All that remained on my face was indifference.

Stone-faced, I bought a ticket to Ivalor. By the next day, I'd already landed.

I got lucky. After asking around for a bit with the photo, I managed to find the exact location. There was only one hotel nearby, too.

The front desk told me they couldn't give out guest information. With no other options, I sat by the entrance and waited.

About an hour later, I spotted Andrea in the hotel lobby. I called out to her from a distance. "Andrea!"

The moment Andrea heard my voice, she thought she'd imagined it. She stared at me in disbelief before finally realizing it was really me.