Chapter 3 What Am I to You?

I was like a thief spying on someone else's happiness.

Wearing sunglasses, a mask, and a hat, I stood less than a meter away from James and listened as the man who had once whispered sweet nothings in my ear passionately declared his love for another woman.

And me? From beginning to end, I was nothing more than an outsider.

My fingertips trembled until they went numb. It felt as though someone had plunged a blunt knife straight into my heart, dragging and wrenching it through my flesh as scorching blood poured endlessly from the wound until there was nothing left.

My vision blurred with tears, and my entire body shook uncontrollably.

Just as Cleo was about to charge over and fight James to the death, I grabbed her.

Then, I called James.

I watched as James pulled out his phone and glanced at the caller ID. He looked at the girl who had just gotten off the carousel. Then he chose to hang up.

Once. Twice. Three times.

The girl walked over to him and asked, "Who is it?"

When she saw the caller ID, her face immediately fell.

"Why haven't you divorced her yet?" she complained with a pout. "If you keep refusing to divorce her, I'll always be the mistress who has to hide in the shadows. James, I don't want to be a mistress. I don't!"

Her voice rose sharply at the end.

I watched James reject my call again before coaxing her softly. "Okay, my little princess. How could you possibly be a mistress? You're the treasure closest to my heart."

"What is she then?"

James fell silent.

At the same time, my heart tightened.

She was right. What was I?

I held my breath.

Then, I heard James answer in an utterly indifferent tone. "I've been with her for ten years, so there aren't any feelings left between us. It's just responsibility tying us together. Plus, she lost her baby because of me, so I feel guilty."

Then, he continued, "I promise you. Before your birthday, I'll make our relationship official on your social media, okay?"

Hearing that, the girl smiled. Laughing, she threw her arms around James and planted a kiss on his cheek.

That sound landed like a heavy hammer against my heart, shattering the last bit of hope I still had for him.

After James left, he sent me a message on WhatsApp explaining, "Honey, I'm still busy. I'll call you back when I'm done."

I watched him put his phone away and follow the girl back to the hotel. Then, I watched as she posted another update, looking every bit like a real princess.

In the photo, she wore a crown and held out one hand. A man bent down and kissed the back of it.

Neither of their faces was visible, yet the sweetness practically overflowed from the screen.

Her caption read, "My crush promised to throw me the grandest birthday party ever and make me a real princess! I'm so happy!"

I stared at her post, and a mocking laugh escaped my lips.

Then, I took a photo at Resortworld and posted an update of my own.

"Ten years together, and in the end, you're still the one who stayed by my side through it all."

The accompanying photo was of me and Cleo.

Less than a minute later, James called.

"Honey, did you go to Sangland? Why didn't you tell me?" he asked anxiously.

He sounded tense.

When I did not answer, he grew even more anxious. His eyes kept darting around, as though terrified that our gazes might meet at any moment.

Still, he tested the waters.

"Didn't we agree that I'd take you to Resortworld? Why did you go without me?"

Hearing that, I found it ridiculous.

Back then, I had asked James no fewer than five times to take me to Resortworld. Every single time, he had found some excuse to brush me off. Every time, he left me with the same promise.

"We'll go next time. We'll go tomorrow."

James always said, "Honey, we have plenty of tomorrows. We have plenty of time ahead of us. I just want to earn more money while I'm still young so I can give us a secure life."

At that time, I believed him. I really thought he loved me.