Chapter 01

The morning sun filtered through the white curtains, painting the room in light golden tones. Still, Phoenix's October heat was sweltering; Dry waves stuck to the skin before it even reached noon. Chloe woke up early, as usual, to prepare breakfast for three people. But that day, the weight of the routine seemed lighter. It was as if all the previous years had been nothing but rehearsals. That day, she felt ready to play the leading role in her life. The morning sun filtered through the white curtains, painting the bedroom in pale golden tones. Still, Phoenix's October heat was suffocating; dry waves clung to the skin before noon even arrived. Chloe had woken up early, as always, to prepare breakfast for three people. But that day, the weight of routine felt lighter.

It was as if all the previous years had been nothing but rehearsal. That day, she felt ready to play the leading role in her life.

Chloe had been in love with her boyfriend since she met him in high school five years ago. A year later, they were already dating and making plans for the future. Leonidas always said that when Chloe turned twenty, he would ask her to marry him.

And here she was; her twentieth birthday had finally come.

That thought made her smile. She twirled her feet, sliding across the cold floor while smiling and dancing in the empty kitchen.

“You’re so happy today.” Josephine walked into the kitchen, staring at her with suspicion. “Some special event?”

“I feel… more mature today,” she said, but Josephine raised her eyebrows, indifferent. “Why hasn’t Megan gotten up yet?”

“Megan isn’t home.” Chloe stopped what she was doing and looked at her stepmother. “She’s busy with the wedding preparations.”

“Ah, right.” Chloe had almost forgotten Megan was getting married the next day.

No one seemed to remember it was her birthday. Everyone was caught up in their problems. Chloe hadn’t expected anything from her stepmother, but her half-sister should at least have been there to congratulate her.

Chloe’s mother had died nearly a decade earlier. Two years later, her father married Josephine. Since then, she and Megan, her new half-sister, had grown up as friends, confidants, and true sisters, despite sharing no blood ties.

“Why is my coffee taking so long?” Josephine’s impatience burst into her ears.

Trying to hide her frustration, Chloe set the table, served her stepmother, and left the kitchen. Her heart raced when she grabbed her phone. No notifications.

Not a single message wishing her a happy birthday. Then, the phone buzzed. A text from Leonidas:

“Let’s have dinner tonight. Meet me at my place.”

Chloe smiled. Maybe this was the moment. Perhaps he really was going to propose.

The day dragged on until night finally came. Chloe never imagined she would spend her birthday so lonely, locked up at home, completely forgotten by everyone.

She climbed the stairs in silence, grabbed her purse, and left the house. She could hardly wait to receive her birthday present. Twenty minutes later, she arrived at his place.

Wanting to surprise him, she opened the door with the spare key he had given her. But her smile vanished as soon as she stepped inside. No candles. No flowers. No music.

Leonidas sat on the couch, and there wasn’t a single table set for a romantic dinner. When he saw her, he stood and stared. His expression is unreadable.

“I think we should break up.” He said it so quickly she barely managed to breathe.

“What did you say?” She blinked, her voice barely a whisper. “Is this a joke?”

He looked at her from across the room and exhaled sharply. Chloe thought Leonidas was only saying that to scare her. Nobody threw away three years of dating for no reason.

“I’m not joking,” his tone cut like a knife. “I should have done this earlier. I’m sorry, Chloe.”

“Do you remember what day it is?” Her voice rose slightly as she looked around. “Do you remember what you said you’d do when I turned twenty?”

Leonidas didn’t remember, just like no one else had remembered her birthday. He stared at her, confused and silent, trying to recall her words. After a few seconds of silence, when she realized he wouldn’t remember, she went on.

“I thought you’d propose to me today,” she said, disoriented, her tears already blurring her vision. “But I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

“I never wanted to propose to you.” His words hit her like a slap. “If I truly loved you, don’t you think I would’ve married you already?”

Chloe stopped breathing. Hearing him say that made her entire world collapse. She had dedicated three years of her life to the only man she had ever loved, only to see him walk away without any explanation.

“We can still make this work,” she rushed to say, desperate to reverse the situation.

“We can’t, because I don’t want to change anything.” His voice was bitter as he took a step away from her. “Leave the key on the table when you go.”

Leonidas turned his back on her and went into the bedroom, closing the door. Chloe stood frozen, staring at the scene. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but no words came out. She should have demanded an explanation, but her mind went blank. At last, she dragged herself out, leaving the keys on the table, her trembling hands fumbling with the doorknob before finally stepping outside.

None of it made sense, but she would rather not search for reasons. Phoenix’s dry air burned her eyes and throat, and not even her tears eased the sting. She wandered for hours, considering going home, until her phone finally lit up with a new notification. Hoping it was Leonidas, regretful, she checked the screen and froze at the message:

“Please, Chloe, I need your help. I’m at the bar where I first met Megan.”

She sighed in disappointment, blocked the phone, and shoved it into her purse. She walked a few more steps before finally entering the bustling bar. Cutting through the crowd of unfamiliar faces, she spotted one she knew well.

At the counter in front of the bar, she found Ruan, her brother-in-law.