Chapter 1

[Let’s break up. You can’t give me the life I want.]

When Ruth Lockton received the message, she had just made her wish for her 23rd birthday.

“I want to get married this year.”

She stared at the message on the screen and scowled, then sank into deep contemplation.

She had been in a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend for three years, and it was true that she did not do her duties as his girlfriend, but she was never stingy when it came to giving him money.

Weren’t they fine?

Why did he suddenly want to break up?

Ruth could not wrap her head around it. Hence, she packed her bags and booked the earliest flight back home.

When she arrived at her apartment, it was already 11:00 pm.

Ruth wanted to give her boyfriend a surprise, so she did not press on the doorbell. She searched through her messages with him for a long time until she found the password for the lock.

After keying in the password and opening the door, she picked up her luggage and tip-toed upstairs. When she reached the second floor, she heard people speaking in her room. Their voices were perfectly audible.

“They say that you can never forget your first love. Are you sure you can bear breaking up with her?”

“What on earth are you saying? I’ve always loved you, Luna! If it weren’t for her money, I would have never entered a relationship with no sex like this with her!”

“Ew! You’re horrible!”

“Horrible? But you like me, don’t you?”

“...”

The giggles and voices changed after that.

Ruth clenched her fists and went to the room.

The door was not shut tight, so she could see the debauchery inside. She took out her phone and took a few pictures calmly.

The sound of the shutter caused the two people on the bed to whip their heads toward her.

When Caelus Warren saw Ruth, he quickly covered himself and Luna Goldwell with a blanket. “Ruth? W-Why are you back?” he asked with panic and surprise in his voice.

Ruth leaned against the door frame and said with a drawl, “I came back to check what sort of life you want.”

“I-I can explain! It’s not what you think it is! Luna and I are just—”

“You’re not that great, anyhow. Does she really like you?”

Mockery filled Ruth’s eyes as she sized him up.

Then, she looked at Luna in puzzlement.

Before Luna could figure out what she meant, Caelus’s expression turned as dark as a thundercloud. “How could you be so shameless, Ruth? Luna and I really love each other! Do you really have to speak like that?!”

Ruth’s voice turned chilling. “Who’s the shameless one here?”

“It’s all my fault, Ruth! I shouldn’t have fallen in love with Caelus. You can hit me or yell at me if you want, but don’t upload the pictures online! No matter what, I’m your sister. Think about the Lockton family’s reputation!”

Luna was huddled up in the blanket while staring at Ruth pitifully. The next second, she started crying.

Ruth thought. “Yeah, she’s an actress, all right.”

With a sneer, Ruth said, “The Lockton family’s reputation is already ruined because of you and your mistress of a mother.”

When Caelus saw how pitiful Luna looked, his heart ached for her, and he hurriedly gathered her in his arms while cooing at her. “Stop asking her not to upload the pictures, Luna! I won’t let her ruin you, don’t worry! You’re the only one I love, now and forever.”

After saying that, he looked at Ruth, and the panic in his eyes was gone.

He sat up straight and said calmly, “Ruth, since you already know about our relationship, let’s talk. I know that you need a boyfriend and even a husband. I can satisfy that part of your wish.”

When he sensed how worked up Luna became, he patted her shoulder to comfort her wordlessly. “But the only person I love is Luna! Once we get married, let’s just live like before and not interfere with each other’s private lives!”

It was a demand. In fact, it even sounded like he was giving alms to Ruth.

She clenched her fists again and looked down at the takeout in her hands.

Her calm facade broke a little, but she still opened the box. “While I was on my way back, I passed by the restaurant you like. I was thinking about how we could have supper together if you weren’t asleep.”

The aroma of borscht came from the box. Caelus sighed. “It’s useless. There’s no love between us. Ruth—”

Before he could finish, Caelus felt a wave of heat charging toward his face.

“Ah! Are you mad, woman?!”

“What’re you doing, Ruth?! Are you trying to kill us?!”

The pure white sheets were stained red. Caelus pulled Luna out of the way, so they managed to avoid being hit in their faces, but their naked bodies were splashed with scathing hot liquid.