Chapter 3

When she said this, Cole didn't press further. Instead, he replied, "If work gets too exhausting, just stay home. It hurts me to see you working yourself to the bone. You know I can take care of you."

Jaycie shook her head, her words deliberate. "I'm not anyone's accessory."

Cole was taken aback. "What do you mean, accessory?"

Not wanting to answer, Jaycie changed the subject. "Why are you back so early today? Didn't you have work?"

"I've been so busy lately, and I haven't had time to spend with you. So today, I thought I'd make some time." His expression softened, and he was back to being the doting boyfriend she once knew. "What do you want to do? Dinner? A movie? Whatever you want, I'm all yours today."

The old Jaycie might have been touched. After all, she knew he was the heir to Benson Corp, and his workload was no joke. The fact that he was willing to set aside time for her would have been proof that she meant something to him.

But now, as she looked at him, she couldn't help but wonder—was he really busy with work, or was he busy preparing for a wedding? How could he sit here, telling her she was the only one he loved, while planning a future with someone else?

Still, she didn't call him out on his lies. After all, it was only a matter of days now. Soon, she would vanish from his life without a trace.

She shook her head, rejecting his suggestions. After a moment of thought, she asked, "How about we do a deep clean of the house? There's a lot of old stuff lying around that we don't need anymore."

Cole agreed, and together they began sorting through the clutter. But as they worked, it became clear that most of what Jaycie was tossing out were the matching couple items they'd bought together—mugs, accessories, clothes, even slippers. One by one, she threw them into the trash without hesitation.

As the pile of discarded memories grew, Cole's smile began to falter. By the time the last item hit the trash, his unease was impossible to hide. "Jaycie… do you know something?"

"Know what? Are you hiding something from me?" She raised an eyebrow, deflecting his question with one of her own.

He looked away, unable to meet her gaze. After a long silence, he still didn't answer directly. Instead, he grabbed her hand and said, "Jaycie, no matter what happens, just remember you're the one I love."

She gave a faint smile but said nothing more.

After the cleaning, Cole insisted on taking Jaycie out for a date. Not wanting to raise his suspicions, she didn't refuse. They had dinner, watched a movie, and then he drove them to an auction house.

As they were about to enter, a young woman approached them. She was in a chic Chanel-style suit and wore flawless makeup. Cole's expression flickered with discomfort, and Jaycie noticed immediately.

"What's wrong? Do you know her?"

Before he could answer, the woman stopped in front of them, smiling warmly. Cole quickly introduced her. "This is Eileen, the daughter of a family friend."

After a pause, he gestured to Jaycie. "And this is my girlfriend, Jaycie."

The stark difference in how he introduced them made Eileen's smile falter for a moment, but she quickly recovered and extended her hand to Jaycie. "I've heard so much about you. It's true what they say—you're stunning."

As they exchanged pleasantries, the same group of guys who had mocked Jaycie in Frutunian appeared. Out of her line of sight, they winked at Cole, making it clear that this "chance encounter" was anything but accidental.

Cole's anger simmered, but he couldn't make a scene without raising more questions. Frustrated, he swallowed his irritation and tried to keep the peace.

At the auction, Eileen was seated right next to Cole. Unlike her provocative messages, she was poised and knowledgeable in person. Discovering Cole's interest in ceramics, she engaged him in a lively discussion. Gradually, Cole's initial reluctance faded, and he found himself leaning closer to her.

It wasn't until Jaycie coughed softly that Cole remembered he'd been neglecting her. He quickly draped his jacket over her shoulders, his voice tender. "Are you cold? Is this better? I know this isn't your thing, but if you see something you like, just bid on it."

Before she could respond, the whispers from his friends behind them reached her ears. Though they tried to keep their voices low, the seats were close enough for Jaycie to hear every word.

"Cole's really good at saving face for Jaycie. Even if she were interested, she wouldn't know what to do. She probably doesn't even know how to raise a paddle, hahaha!"

"Yeah, this is probably her first time at an upscale auction. She's way out of her depth."