Chapter 4 Face-To-Face With Ewan

The apartment walls were so thin that I could hear Natalie's hearty laughter from the other room every so often.

I had completely lost any desire to dig deeper into what was going on, so I returned to my room and focused on dealing with my work.

My supervisor called to ask about the details, and I answered each question in detail. "Yes, understood. The plane ticket's been booked."

It wasn't until I hung up that I noticed Natalie standing in the doorway. She anxiously pressed me for an explanation, asking, "Why did you buy a plane ticket? Where are you going?"

I quirked a brow at her and walked out of the room, casually making up an excuse. "I bought it for my supervisor."

Only then did Natalie sigh in relief. "I misunderstood you. I thought you were leaving. Of course… I was just being silly. We've been together for seven years, and our relationship has always been so good. How could you possibly leave me here alone?"

Natalie slipped her arm through mine, her smile sweet and radiant. For a moment there, that smile on her face brought me back to the memories we had created together back when we were in college.

There had been a time when simply thinking about the happy memories of us walking beneath the dogwood trees on campus had been enough to make me forget all my pain.

However, that was no longer the case.

Now, I only felt sick to my guts whenever I thought about how my relationship with Natalie had been a lie from the very beginning, about how I had only ever been a substitute for Ewan.

Were those moments when she had seemed genuinely moved because of me, or because seeing this familiar face had made her think of someone else? The answer was obvious in hindsight.

It had never been because of me.

Natalie tugged and coaxed me back toward the bedroom, but I no longer wanted to be anyone's substitute. So, I coldly refused. "I still have work to finish."

Her coquettish smile immediately slipped from her face. "Sylvan, you know what I'm implying, and you still want to work?"

I didn't even spare her a glance as I sat down at the dining table and opened my laptop. "Of course. Work comes first. Isn't that what you've always been preaching?

"You've been telling me over and over that we had to work hard, make money, and get away from here someday. Remember?"

Natalie was left speechless by my blunt retort. In the end, she could only stomp her foot before storming back to the bedroom to sleep.

…

Natalie left for work early the next morning.

Perhaps it was because my supervisor was aware of my upcoming assignment away from town, so he had given me some time off to pack. The company had also advanced me part of my relocation allowance so that I could make proper arrangements.

I went to the mall intending to buy myself a few decent outfits, but I happened to bump into Natalie purchasing a watch for Ewan when I passed a luxury boutique.

Natalie walked out of the store right after paying and ran straight into me. She strode over and lowered her voice. "You didn't go to work today? What are you doing here?"

"I came out to take care of something for my supervisor."

Natalie smiled. "Same here. That guy is one of our company's major clients, so I came to entertain him on my supervisor's behalf."

A major client? More like fiancé.

"Is that so?" I glanced at the shopping bag in her hand. "Did you use the money I saved?"

Natalie froze before awkwardly changing the subject. "Of course not. You barely earn anything… I mean, the gift was charged to the company."

She and I had always belonged to two completely different worlds. In her eyes, the money I had painstakingly saved wasn't even enough to buy this watch.

How ridiculous.

Ewan exchanged a glance with the people around him, and someone immediately stepped forward with a mocking laugh. "Natalie, is this your boyfriend? Why is he dressed like some country bumpkin?"

"Don't say that. What do you mean 'looks like'? He is one."

"Natalie, since we're already at the mall, why don't you buy your boyfriend a couple of clothes that actually fit him? He looks so shabby. Are you really going to bring someone like this out in public?"

Natalie didn't say a single word in my defense. She merely shook her head and said, "The important thing is that he has clothes to wear. Why does he need to look good? Let's focus on work."

She tried to pull them away, but he stepped forward and stopped in front of me. It was actually the first time I had ever come face-to-face with him.