Is this your first time?

Nathan: “Is it your first time?”

Still shaken by what he had just seen, Nathan shifted his gaze back to me.

Nathan: “Yeah, so what? Do you have a problem with virgins?”

He frowned and looked at me with an expression I couldn’t decipher.

Nathan: “Go on, tell me what you want. Money?”

After a long silence, he spoke again with the same indifference as before.

Me: “So every woman who sleeps with you asks for money, is that it?”

I felt insulted and glared at Nathan. Last night… I had only wanted to release everything I was feeling, and now I almost regretted doing something so stupid.

Me: “Do I look like a prostitute to you? We just answered a need. I don’t need your money. And now, we go back to being strangers. Period.”

That meant I didn’t want to say anything more to Nathan, and I quickly left the hotel. Once I arrived at Liliana’s place, she dragged me straight into my room.

Liliana: “Irène, you didn’t come home last night. Do you know how worried I was? I called you but you didn’t answer… So you were with Perry, right?”

Liliana raised her eyebrows and looked at me. She snapped her fingers, and I naturally understood what she meant.

Me: “You’re wrong. Yes, I slept with a man. But not Perry.”

Just hearing Perry’s name made me sick.

Liliana: “WHAT?! You slept with another guy? But… what happened?”

Liliana’s eyes widened, visibly shocked by what I said.

Looking at her shocked expression, I remembered the night I found Perry and Courtney together on the bed. Then I told Liliana everything.

Liliana: “What? He really did that? He’s such a piece of trash!”

After hearing the whole story, Liliana cursed Perry every way she could.

Liliana: “By the way, what are you going to do now? Today is your wedding day!” she asked anxiously, as if something had suddenly hit her.

Me: “The wedding is canceled,” I said coldly. I could clearly feel the pain in my chest as I whispered those words.

Liliana: “Smart decision. There’s no way you were going to marry that idiot.”

I had been looking forward to that wedding for so many years. I had personally arranged every detail. I had put endless effort into it, and now everything had gone up in smoke right before my eyes.

Me: “Liliana… I’m tired. I just want to sleep.”

Right now, I just wanted a good sleep to forget my problems for a moment.

It seemed like I slept for a long time. When I woke up, I heard voices in the living room. It sounded like Perry. I heard Liliana—she seemed to be arguing with him. When I opened the bedroom door, I saw Perry sitting on the couch and Liliana angrily standing beside him.

Liliana: “Irène, Perry called me over when he saw me.”

Me: “Perry, what are you doing here? You’re not welcome here. I want you to leave this house.”

I resisted the urge to ask him why he had betrayed me and pretended to be indifferent on purpose.

Perry: “Irène, what happened last night was…”

He stood up and walked toward me.

Liliana: “Oh, right, you want to explain HOW you were screwing her cousin in HER bed last night?”

Sarcasm dripped from Liliana’s voice. Meanwhile, I felt my anger rise again. After all, he was someone I had loved deeply. Every time I remembered that he had cheated on me and lied to me, I couldn’t help but feel hurt and humiliated.

Perry: “I know I messed up, Irène… but Courtney and I… we love each other. I…”

Perry’s mouth was open as if he wanted to continue, but I cut him off.

Me: “Stop! It’s over, Perry. You don’t have anything left to explain. Didn’t you say I was forcing you to marry me? Then let me tell you now—you don’t need to marry me anymore.”

He was the one who cheated and slept with my cousin. How could he have the nerve to tell me they were in love? What a joke! If they were truly in love, then what did he think I was for the past seven years?

The problem was that I was his girlfriend. And today was supposed to be our wedding day, yet he came to tell me they were in love. I couldn’t believe how shameless he was—the man I had loved for so many years.

Perry: “Irène, thank you…”

Maybe because of guilt, Perry spoke softly and seemed unsure of himself.

Thank you? Ha… Perry looked relieved. Seeing him like that made me suffocate. He was thanking me because I canceled the wedding. This was the man who once told me he loved me and wanted to make me happy for the rest of my life.

Me: “Get out! I don’t want to see you again!” I screamed, pointing toward the door.

Liliana: “Are you deaf? Get out!” Liliana hit Perry with a broom, furious.

After Perry left, I felt like all my strength had drained out of me, and I sat on the floor with empty eyes. Even if he was trash, he was still the man I had loved for seven years.

Liliana: “Irène, cry! You’ll feel better.”

Liliana came over and hugged me, her voice full of compassion.

Me: “Why should I cry? I won’t cry for such a shameless jerk. Don’t mention him again.”

Liliana: “Irène, I know you’re hurting. Cry. Let everything out. And afterward, we’ll start over. I’m here.”

Liliana held me tightly. I could hear her voice breaking as she spoke. She was my best friend. Seeing me like this must have hurt her too.

After crying for a long time, my eyes were swollen and burning. My head felt heavy, as if crying had drained all my energy. Then I went back to the bedroom and fell asleep again. I spent nearly the entire day and night in bed. Even in my dreams, I saw that bastard Perry desperately trying to sleep with Courtney on the bed.

Liliana came into my room to wake me up; she probably couldn’t stand seeing me torture myself anymore.

It was the third day since the breakup.

Liliana: “Come on. Get up and eat something.”

I pulled the blanket over my head, not wanting to talk. I had no appetite at all. For the last two days, I had barely eaten. Every time I closed my eyes, I could only think about Perry’s betrayal and lies.

Me: “I’m not hungry,” I mumbled.

I just wanted to lie in bed and do nothing. But Liliana had had enough. She yanked the blanket away and looked at me angrily.

Liliana: “That’s enough! Irène, when did you become so useless? Is he really worth destroying yourself?”

I stayed silent, but my heart still hurt. Even if he was trash, I had loved him for seven years. For seven years, I had given everything just to be with him forever. I thought marrying him was my path to happiness, but in the end, I had fallen into a bottomless pit.