Chapter 3

Samuel started packing when he got home. He didn't plan to take a single thing Scarlett had given him—no accessories, no clothes, no watches. He didn't need them, and he sure as hell didn't want them anymore.

After he put all his important documents into the suitcase, a glint on his ring finger caught his eye. It was a pure, blood-red ruby ring, a symbol of blazing, everlasting love. To this day, Scarlett's words when she proposed remained vivid in his memory.

"Sam, marry me. I'll love you for the rest of my life, until the day I die."

But she hadn't loved him for a lifetime. She'd lied to him for a lifetime. She'd destroyed their love and treated his devotion like trash.

Without hesitation, Samuel tossed the ring he'd never taken off since the day he put it on straight into the trash. If she didn't love him, then he didn't want her anymore either.

Once everything was packed, Alex Bronson, Samuel's assistant, arrived. "Mr. Pierce, this is the birthday present I helped you buy for your cousin."

Samuel froze for a second, then remembered Julian's birthday was tomorrow. He glanced at the beautifully wrapped gift box, took it, and threw it into the trash.

Alex was taken aback. "Mr. Pierce, should I buy another one?"

Every year on Julian's birthday, Samuel always told Alex to prepare a gift. He'd never expected that all he would get in return was betrayal.

Suppressing the disgust churning in his chest, Samuel said, "Don't bother. You don't have to prepare anything from now on."

Alex was confused, but he could only accept the order and leave.

That night, just like she said, Scarlett didn't come home.

The next day, when Samuel arrived at his office, the first thing he did was call in his secretary, Greg Smith. "I'll handle the overseas market myself. Pull Larry off that assignment."

Greg didn't respond for a moment. Earlier, when everyone suggested Samuel handle the overseas market himself, he'd flat-out refused. Now, he'd changed his mind.

After another look from Samuel, Greg hurriedly nodded. "G-Got it, Mr. Pierce."

Before, Samuel had refused to go because he hadn't wanted to be separated from Scarlett. But now that reason was gone, and there was no point in staying.

Around noon, Julian texted again to remind him about his birthday party that night. Samuel ignored it as if he hadn't seen it. He had no intention of attending.

In the end, though, he still went because Scarlett showed up when he got off work. The moment he got into the car, she noticed his empty hands and asked in displeasure, "Where's your present? Julian's really looking forward to what you're giving him."

The fact that this was the first thing she noticed made Samuel let out a low, humorless laugh. "Is he, now?"

It was the first time he had spoken to her in that tone. She paused, thrown, something in her chest twisting uncomfortably, but she said nothing else.

When they arrived at the venue, Scarlett pulled a neatly wrapped gift box from the trunk and shoved it into Samuel's arms. She said, "Just say this is from you. It's Julian's birthday. Don't ruin his mood."

Samuel felt a bitter sting spread through his chest as he held the box. For the first time, he realized how far she was willing to go to cater to someone else's feelings.

Julian was waiting at the entrance in a sharp, tailored suit. The moment he saw them, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over. "Sam!"

When he reached them, Scarlett shot him a mock-chiding look. "You look way too handsome tonight. Try acting a little more dignified, would you?"

Julian looked a little embarrassed. "Scarlett…"

Samuel felt his heart being cut open as he watched them put on a show right in front of him.

Julian, oblivious, slung an arm around Samuel's shoulders and steered him inside, chattering happily. "Come on, Sam. Don't you think this place looks amazing?"

The banquet hall was done up in over-the-top luxury—opulent drapes, glittering chandeliers, and more fresh flowers than Samuel had ever seen in one place.

Julian's voice rang with pride. "My wife did all of this. I told her she didn't need to go so far, but she insisted. She said my birthday was a huge deal and that we had to have a grand celebration…"

Samuel's eyelashes trembled. In his last life, Scarlett had said those exact same words to him for 40 years. It turned out that nothing she'd given him had ever been one of a kind. He hadn't been special at all. He'd just been getting the leftovers.

The guests' whispers drifted clearly to his ears.

"Who on earth is Mr. Julian's wife? Even when Mr. Samuel had a birthday, Ms. Bennett never put on anything like this. I'm dying to know which big shot Mr. Julian married…"

Samuel instinctively glanced at Scarlett, only to see her lips curved in a soft smile, her eyes tender as she gazed at Julian.

That look was so obvious. How had he never caught it before?