Chapter 1

My hand shook as I called Marielle, my heart pounding.

As long as she didn't answer, everything I'd just seen wasn't real.

A second later, Marielle—still holding the baby—pulled out her phone.

She clearly hesitated for a few seconds. Then she rejected the call.

My phone went silent at the exact same moment.

I was standing just around the corner behind them, close enough to hear every word.

"Honey, you're on baby duty tonight. I've been carrying Owen around all day. My arms are about to fall off."

Chase had always been proud. In all these years, hardly any woman had ever caught his eye, and this was the first time I'd seen him so attentive and gentle.

Marielle leaned in and kissed him on the lips, her voice sugary sweet. "My poor husband. Go home and get some rest."

Husband.

That one word shattered the last of my illusions.

The ring box in my hand seemed to burn, as if it were mocking me for how stupid I'd been all these years.

Chase had been secretly married for two years. He never once posted a picture of his wife, yet he was always telling me to break up with Marielle.

And every time I brought up marriage, Marielle always had some reason to put it off.

She said she didn't want to hold back my career. She told me to go after my dreams.

Only now did I understand. Her idea of "not holding me back" was marrying my best friend and having his child.

The moment their car pulled away, a message from Marielle came in.

The wording was serious, but every line was full of concern.

"I was in a meeting and couldn't pick up. Stop staying up so late to call me. It breaks my heart."

Five years of long-distance, and she still kept track of the time difference perfectly. Her lies were seamless.

On countless nights, Marielle had dragged herself out of bed in the small hours to video call me, and the background was always dark.

I'd hated that she was losing sleep for me, but she always patiently told me it didn't matter.

She'd always supported me in building my career abroad. She never once complained.

Thunder cracked across the sky. Resentment and humiliation surged through me until my eyes burned.

My phone rang. It was Chase.

"Weston, tomorrow's my son's first birthday. You're his godfather, so don't forget the gift!

"My wife and I loved what you sent when he was born."

Every word was another knife in my heart.

The rain kept drizzling down, as miserable as I felt.

Tomorrow was my tenth anniversary with Marielle. I'd planned to propose to her that day.

Back at the hotel, I called Marielle five more times. I wanted to hear her explain it herself.

She rejected all five calls in a row.

On the sixth try, she finally picked up, but this time she sounded impatient.

"Weston, I already told you to get some sleep. Whatever it is, it can wait."

My voice came out hoarse. "Tomorrow's our tenth anniversary. Isn't there anything you want to say?"

The line went instantly silent.

I waited.

I waited for her to admit that she'd married Chase. To explain why she'd lied to me for so long.

All I got was a flimsy excuse.

"I'm sorry, Weston. Work's been crazy lately, and I forgot our anniversary.

"I have to work late tomorrow too, so I can't video call. Next year, I promise I'll fly out and spend it with you."

Even now, she still couldn't come clean.

I didn't push her any further.

I just deleted my request to transfer back home and wrote a new application instead.

Marielle, there wouldn't be a next year for us.