Chapter 3

I returned to the apartment to grab my passport and documents after the overseas project's list of members was released.

Thomas still hadn't come back or called me. It was as if he was waiting for me to yield first. However, I had no plans to go along with his whims this time.

I opened the drawer to look for my passport and came across a stack of ticket stubs and itineraries. I originally planned to just tidy them up, but my plan flew out the window when I saw a particular plane ticket.

I still clearly remembered the departure date.

I'd been running a high fever at the time. When I video-called Thomas, he told me that he was on a business trip and was so swamped with work that he didn't even have time to eat.

Worried that he would develop stomach issues if he continued to go hungry, I had specially ordered a food delivery for him.

However, at that moment, I could clearly see the other name on the paper. The person who had gone on the business trip with him was none other than Lydia.

My fingers froze over the paper, and I stood rooted to the spot.

A long time passed before I finally navigated to Lydia's social media account. I then began to scroll through her previous posts. When I finally reached that particular date, I saw a photo of them together.

They were in a foreign country. The streets were packed, and the lights were glowing.

Thomas and Lydia were sporting the same scarves as they stood next to each other, looking like a perfectly normal couple.

Lydia was smiling brightly while Thomas stood next to her and looked down at her. His tender expression made me feel as if I was looking at a stranger.

The caption read, "Thank you for checking off an item on my bucket list with me."

I suddenly recalled that I had once told Thomas that I wanted to travel too as I stared at the caption.

We were curled up on the couch at the time, watching a variety show. I had casually told him that we could plan a trip together once his work slowed down.

Thomas didn't even bother looking up from his phone when he said, "It's a hassle to apply for leave. I don't see the need to trouble myself over something like this."

I had told myself at the time that he was just too busy.

Only then did I realize that it wasn't that Thomas didn't feel the need to go on a trip with me. He just didn't think that I was worth the effort.

…

That night, Emily sent me the list of members for the overseas project.

I frowned when I saw Cory Wyatt's name.

Cory had a tendency to speak out of line when he was talking to me, but I shut him down every single time.

In the past, he still held back a little because he knew that I had a boyfriend. However, he had grown bolder recently. It was likely that he had figured out that my relationship with Thomas was on the rocks.

For the past few days, I would always find him waiting for me outside the office after I finished work. He would ask to send me home, claiming that it was on the way.

I ignored him every single time.

…

One night, I noticed Cory following me again after I left the office. When I picked up the pace, he would quicken his footsteps as well.

I turned and headed into the underground parking lot, wanting to lose him by using the other exit. What I didn't expect was for him to follow me into the parking lot.

My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately dialed Thomas' number. My first and second calls were ignored. He directly rejected the call when I called him for the third time.

My palms were sweating profusely as I hastily sent a message to him.

"I'm being stalked by Cory."

However, my message was also totally ignored.

The sounds of Cory's footsteps were getting closer.

Disgust roiled in my stomach when he called my name from behind me.

"Drop the act, Riley. I know that you've been dumped."

I ignored Cory and continued walking. However, he caught up to me in just a few steps and blocked my path.

"I know that you were pretending to be aloof in the past because you didn't want him to find out. But he doesn't want you anymore, so it's also pointless for you to keep up the act."

I whirled around and tried to make a break for it, but Cory grabbed my wrist and stopped me in my tracks.

My phone clattered to the ground. The screen was still displaying my unanswered calls to Thomas.

I frantically thrashed around. My voice was trembling when I said, "Let go of me."

Instead, Cory started dragging me toward a corner, asking, "Why not consider getting together with me? I'll definitely treat you better than him."

My knee slammed against the car door. The pain was so overwhelming that my leg was beginning to turn numb.

Just as Cory was about to pin me against the wall, a fierce voice cut through the air.

"Stop!"

I whipped my head up.

Emily rushed onto the scene with a team of security guards, who pinned Cory on the ground within seconds.

My knees buckled, and I crumpled to the ground.

Emily hurried over to my side and helped me up to my feet. Her voice was steady when she said, "Don't be scared, Riley. The police will be here soon."

Later, I found out that Emily already had an inkling that there was something strange about Cory. When I didn't reply to my messages that day after work, she decided to check the surveillance cameras. Realizing that something was amiss, she swiftly led a team of security guards to look for me.

I was still shaking violently even after the police took Cory away. I kept thanking Emily over and over again when we were on the way to the hospital.

Emily held my hand and simply said, "It's not your fault."

I looked down, allowing the tears to spill down my cheeks.

A notification popped up on my phone, informing me that Thomas and Lydia had updated their social media accounts.

They had taken a photo at one of the locations in the movie. They had even written down their wishes and hung them up on the wishing board.

"I hope that I get to experience this feeling with you every year."

Their words made me sick.