Chapter 1 After we got back together, my boyfriend stopped liking my social media posts. It wasn’t just him. Probably because when he cheated on me with my best friend, I made an incredibly ugly scene by standing on the roof of our apartment building, threatening to slit my wrists. Even our mutual friends stopped interacting with my updates. But our wedding day was approaching. So I didn’t care about these minor changes in his behavior. Until my company required me to handle an after-sales issue personally. For the first time, my phone connected to an international VPN. A notification suddenly popped up on my screen. It was my best friend’s Instagram account. She was getting married. Her entire profile was filled with wedding preparations. The dress, the venue, the party favors. But without exception, every single post had a “like” from a very familiar account. There were many familiar comments underneath. “Ten years of dating! Congrats man, wishing you and the future Mrs. a lifetime of happiness!” “Dude, you actually liked the diamond-encrusted dress? Your taste is still the same as ever, haha.” “Wow, you guys picked a venue so fast! We’ll all definitely be there!” So that’s what it was. Everyone had stopped liking my posts because they were too busy caring about my “best friend’s” updates abroad. Julian was even using his “likes” to help her plan their wedding. The rain that had been brewing in my heart for days finally poured down. I suddenly realized something. Julian hadn’t cheated on me. I was the outsider who had forced my way into their world. The one who needed to leave was never her. It was me. … I kept scrolling through Chloe’s Instagram profile. I saw that they were getting married in Bali. My finger froze on the mouse. Staring at the engagement photo of them kissing, my mouth formed a silent, straight line. That was the place I had begged Julian to take me to for three years. It was the place I had told him I wanted to get married the most. But Julian always refused me. He said his family was traditional and couldn’t break custom. Our ceremony had to be done locally. He gave me that answer three years ago. But the timestamp on Chloe’s post was from four years ago. So he hadn’t agreed to my request, but he had agreed to Chloe’s. Even before Julian and I were officially together, he and Chloe had already gotten engaged in Bali. My heart was filled with absolute absurdity. Because my best friend wasn’t the other woman. I was. I stayed silent for a while and kept scrolling through Chloe’s feed. Her oldest posts traced back over ten years. There was a photo of them when they were just little kids. A young Julian had his arm around a brightly smiling Chloe. “Childhood sweethearts.” Those words flashed through my mind. The decade-long friendship between Chloe and me shattered completely. My chest felt suffocatingly tight, but my confusion only grew deeper. It was Chloe who had introduced Julian to me back in college. And when we eventually got together, she was the one secretly playing matchmaker. But now I find out they were actually engaged? So why? Why did she do this? I couldn’t find the answers in her posts. I stared at her greyed-out profile picture in my contacts. My heart was full of things I wanted to say, but I could only remain silent. Half a year ago, when I discovered they were having an affair, Chloe and I had a massive, explosive falling out, and we both deleted each other from every platform. The click of the front door unlocking broke the silence. I locked my phone and walked out quietly. It was Julian, home from the office. It was late autumn now. The wind outside was biting cold. He walked in wrapped in his usual dark trench coat. Standing in the entryway, he leaned one hand against the wall while taking off his dress shoes. On the shoe cabinet sat a small cake he had brought back for me. The soft yellow light of the entryway illuminated the handsome curve of his lips. He smiled at me and spoke. “What made you willing to come out and greet me today?” I didn’t act as cold as I had been recently. I stepped forward gently, taking his coat. I brushed the dust off the fabric, hung it on the rack nearby, and said: “I just figured some things out.” He paused in the middle of changing his shoes and looked up at me earnestly. “Really? Are you willing to accept me again?” He untied the ribbon on the cake box and pulled it out. Walking quickly behind me, he gently wrapped his arms around my waist. His warm breath brushed against my ear, making it tingle. He chuckled and asked: “Why aren’t you answering? What are you being so mysterious about?” “Mia, we’re getting married. Isn’t this what you wanted the most? You should be happy.” “I brought your favorite cake. Want a bite?” The knowledge that he was simultaneously planning a wedding abroad with Chloe flashed through my mind. I gently pushed him away. Under his increasingly confused gaze, I turned around, stood in front of him, and asked: “Did they say they’re coming?” “Who?” “Our friends. And your parents.” “Mia, don’t make this difficult for me.” His tone suddenly turned awkward and strained. “I asked them, but the last time you… when you lost control and attacked them, they just need some time before they can face you again.” “And my parents, you know how they are. They never wanted me to marry you. They wanted someone with a matching background. We can only get married quietly, let alone—” “Julian.” I called his name, cutting off his explanation. He frowned, looking at me in confusion. I didn’t throw a tantrum the way I usually did whenever this topic came up. I gently hugged him. I hugged this man I had loved deeply for four years. His body went stiff. He was completely caught off guard. He clearly felt uncomfortable with my sudden gentleness. “Mia?” Before he could react further, I let go, stood back, and said softly to him: “Let’s cancel the wedding.” “Cancel it?!” Julian’s eyes were full of confusion, but his voice instantly dropped. He spoke to me with a tinge of anger. “Why?” “I need a logical explanation.” “You were the one who wanted to marry me no matter what, and now you’re canceling it for no reason?” I lowered my eyes and stayed silent. It wasn’t that I wouldn’t explain. It was that I didn’t know how to tell him. Should I confess that I already knew about him and Chloe? That they were the real engaged couple? That everyone wasn’t coming to my wedding because they were boycotting me—they were skipping it to attend his and Chloe’s wedding instead. When I didn’t know any of this, I had caused scenes over these exact issues. Actually, before and after we got back together, I was constantly causing scenes. Because it was unfair. Everyone was hiding it from me, helping him and Chloe conceal their relationship. Even now, I was still being kept in the dark by everyone. But an answer you can’t find is just a problem with no solution. Being lied to is pretty humiliating. Screaming and causing a scene is pretty humiliating, too. So, I’m giving up. “When my mom passed away back then, I needed someone to be with me.” “Seeing you travel thousands of miles to help me handle her funeral, I desperately begged you to stay. I tried to tie you down with a marriage.” “Even when you cheated, I forgave you and got back together. But now… I’m at peace. So, I don’t need this anymore.” Julian’s expression was full of disbelief. He clearly hadn’t expected me to be able to talk about this so calmly now. Back then, I was facing a breakup and the death of my only family member in the world at the exact same time. The two heartbreaks layered on top of each other. Even today, I barely left that bedroom. The anger in his eyes slowly subsided. Instead, a look of heartache surfaced. “Mia, birth, aging, sickness, and death are inevitable, but you still have me.” “I will always be here for your future. There’s no need to say such depressing things.” “We just had a misunderstanding, that’s all!” What sweet words. I wanted to believe him so badly. I even wished I hadn’t learned the truth. That way, I could just stupidly lie to myself. Tears welled up involuntarily and dropped onto his arm. Startled, he quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe my tears away. “Did I say something wrong?” “Mia, don’t cry. You have me. I’m always right here beside you.” I suddenly felt one last, desperate spark of hope. Like a useless person grabbing at a final lifeline. I asked him: “Since no one is coming to the ceremony anyway.” “Let’s skip the wedding. Just come with me to City Hall tomorrow and sign the papers. Okay?” Chloe’s wedding was half a month before mine. If he was legally married here, he couldn’t legally get married abroad. No matter what Julian’s plans were, marrying me here first meant he would stay. Even if he lied to me for the rest of his life. I was willing. But his lips just twitched, his tone hesitant and evasive. “I… I, I…” “Mia, you know I have meetings scheduled with clients. Things at the company are really busy right now.” “Chloe went abroad, and you’re resting at home. The company that the three of us built is now entirely on my shoulders, I…” He gave a lot of reasons. Work. Responsibilities. Awkward timing. The only thing he didn’t give me was the security of a future. I couldn’t understand why he had agreed to marry me while secretly continuing his relationship with Chloe. My eyes dimmed. I didn’t ask anymore. I just nodded. “Yeah. I understand.” Julian sensed my disappointment, and his body froze. He was at a loss for what to do. Until the phone in his pocket rang. He looked as if he had been granted a pardon. He hurriedly stepped out onto the balcony to answer it, using his peripheral vision to watch my reaction. But he forgot that I had laser eye surgery. I could clearly see the screen of his unlocked phone. It was Chloe. This wasn’t the first time they had gotten back in touch. When he was begging me to get back together, he swore up and down that he would never contact her again. Now, not only were they still in contact, but they were planning to get married. I silently walked back into the bedroom. Curled up under the cold covers, I canceled our plans to take wedding photos tomorrow. Then, I bought a “blind box” plane ticket. Wherever the ticket took me, that’s where I would go. In short, my life was no longer going to revolve around Julian. I was woken up the next morning by a call from customer service. The woman on the phone asked: “Ms. Davis, may I ask why you are canceling the photoshoot?” “We have already rented the venue and the outfits, and Mr. Sterling even personally oversaw all the designs.” “If you cancel now, your deposit is non-refundable.” My head was throbbing, a dull, dizzy ache. I spoke with a raspy voice. “Then I don’t want it back.” “Ms. Davis?! That’s five thousand dollars! Our team is top-tier, and Mr. Sterling had to wait a long time to book us…” “I don’t want it.” The other end was silent for a moment before replying: “Understood.” “We will simultaneously notify Mr. Sterling that the wedding photoshoot has been canceled.” The call ended. I noticed that Julian had prepared breakfast for me. But it was already ice cold. I wasn’t feeling well, so I figured I would just heat it up and eat it to save myself the trouble. Right at that moment, Julian texted me. “Mia, I got the notification that you canceled the photoshoot.” Before I could say anything, he seemed to let out a sigh of relief, sending a smiling emoji. “I see you found the sticky note I left on the wall by the dining table. Thank you for understanding. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I turned to look at the sticky note on the table.”There’s an unexpected hurdle with the company’s overseas business. Today’s engagement photoshoot has to be canceled.” I didn’t explain. I connected my phone to the VPN. Chloe had updated with a new post. Their wedding date had been moved up. That was the real reason Julian had left so hurriedly. It was a very beautiful restaurant. I even saw Julian’s parents. And our former mutual friends. Julian was holding hands with Chloe under the table. It was a very lively scene. I suddenly realized something. None of us had actually changed. I was just the only one who had been left behind. In the empty apartment, I ate the cold breakfast. My phone dinged with a notification that my flight booking was successful. The destination was New Zealand. I had heard of it. It was a pretty remote place. I had never been there. But it should suit me. I started packing my bags. Looking at the apartment we had lived in for three years, my vision blurred for a moment. I remembered when the three of us first started the company. We all stood around that very dining table, drinking and making pledges. Everyone was so ambitious, saying we were going to build the company into something great. They had even laughed and joked that when we finally succeeded, they would all come to drink at Julian and my wedding. Now, the place was empty, and everything was different. No one was here. Every time I packed an old item, a memory would flood my mind. The red wine, the champagne, the music tapes, the video of us dancing jazz. They recorded so many anniversaries Julian and I had celebrated in this home. Recalling them now, it was quite sweet. But after letting the memories play out in my head for a second, I threw them all straight into the trash can. Then I went to pack my clothes. It took a long time. Honestly, I threw away much more than I kept. The clothes I actually packed didn’t even fill a few bags. Julian called me halfway through. But I didn’t answer. After a few more rings, he stopped calling. He just sent me a message. A picture, and a check-in. The picture was of him “negotiating with foreigners.” The check-in read: “Just landed. Getting some food.” Thinking that this would be the last time in this life I would ever message him, my attitude was actually quite pleasant. I took a picture of my packed boxes and sent it to him. His reply came quickly. “Why are you packing?” “I’m leaving.” “…” He fell silent, then explained: “Mia, canceling the photoshoot today doesn’t mean our wedding is canceled.” “Don’t be mad. I really ran into some trouble here, but I’ll be back very soon.” “I prepared a surprise for you. The wedding is going ahead as planned. Don’t cause a scene.” I didn’t reply anymore. I didn’t explain that I hadn’t canceled the photoshoot to put on a show or get his attention. After packing for so long, I was just really tired. Too lazy to say anything. I knew Julian’s habits. His “surprises” were never prepared on the day of. He would often hide them in the apartment half a month, or even a full month, in advance. He liked it when I secretly found them but pretended not to know. He said it let a person hold onto the anticipation for half a month. I went to the places he usually hid things. In a box on the second level of the attic… I found a gold bangle I had been wanting for a long time. The design and weight were perfect. This must have been the surprise he was talking about. But right next to it, I found something else. Something he had never mentioned to me. A diary, filled with my mother’s handwriting. I opened it. The very first sentence was:”Mia, this is the truth your mother is leaving behind for you.” I kept reading. My mother’s loving face appeared in my mind. “Mia, Mom never told you the truth about your background.””Arthur Davis, the head of the Davis family in Seattle, is your biological father.” The Davis family of Seattle. A decade ago, they were the most prominent wealthy family in the city. Its patriarch, Arthur Davis, was a business legend. My biological father was actually him? “Mom didn’t tell you because I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to handle it.””But Mom never, ever expected that the daughter of the very person who framed your father—the enemy who caused the entire Davis family to be destroyed over a fabricated embezzlement case—would become your best friend!” Boom. My mind exploded, freezing me in place. What did Mom just say? The enemy’s daughter? Chloe? She was the daughter of the man who framed my father—the man who was eventually executed when the Davis family’s case was overturned? And I had been best friends with her for over a decade? My hands began to tremble. My heart rate spiked. “But by the time Mom finally saw her, it was too late. I was already bedridden and couldn’t speak.””I used a lot of old favors to investigate her.””And I discovered that your arranged fiancé, the eldest son of the Sterling family, Julian, had actually swapped your identities!” My heart tightened, inch by inch. “I only found out later.””Years ago, your father saved Julian’s life. After the Davis family fell, the Sterling family sent Julian to find us.””The Sterling family’s original intention was to return the money and shares that rightfully belonged to our family.””But Julian didn’t do that!””He fabricated a lie.””He claimed that Chloe was the lost heiress of the Davis family! She stole your identity and took everything that belonged to you!” My heart began to ache with sharp, piercing pain. So everything was just a fairytale woven by Julian’s lies. He knew the truth the entire time. Yet he told me his parents didn’t want him to marry me. He acted like an angel, swooping in to save me. Appearing at my mother’s funeral, taking on all the burdens for me. It wasn’t to win me back. He was just paying off a debt. And I, naturally assuming he was trying to win me back, threw myself at him. In reality, from the very beginning, he had already abandoned me. My heart grew colder and colder. A cynical smile crept onto my lips. I laughed at how stupid I was. So easy to fool! Looking at the apartment I had shared with him for four years, my stomach churned. I only felt pure disgust. My phone popped up with another notification from Chloe’s account. It was her bachelorette party. Julian stood beside her, smiling brighter than ever. Chloe’s caption read:”The prejudice of love is always biased.” I wiped away my tears. I changed my flight ticket. I flew out that very night, without looking back. … The morning after the wedding, Julian woke up in the bridal suite. Chloe wrapped her arms around him, whining coquettishly: “You’re not even going to spend our honeymoon with me?” Julian frowned, his mind elsewhere as he stared at his phone, which still had no reply from Mia. “Chloe, don’t forget.” “Mia is my actual fiancée. You’ve already taken half her resources, and even half her identity.” “You have to learn to share me with her. That was our deal. If you intentionally leave a trail for Mia to catch us again like you did last time, I won’t forgive you!” Chloe’s expression instantly went cold. Julian ignored her. He felt incredibly uneasy today, a sense that something major was about to happen. Before boarding the plane, he had sent Mia another message. But she hadn’t replied, and then he happened to lose his internet connection. He sent several more messages that failed to deliver. He was burning with anxiety. The moment he got off the plane, he bought a cake and rushed home. But when he pushed the door open, the apartment was terrifyingly empty. The breakfast he had made for Mia five days ago was sour and rotting on the dining table, swarming with flies. She seemed to have left a long time ago… Holding his nose, Julian frantically scanned the room. He realized that the living room and the bedroom had been stripped bare. All the little decorations Mia had set up were completely gone. Julian’s heart hammered wildly in his chest. Until he saw the glaringly obvious gold bangle sitting on the table. His whole body violently shuddered. A look of pure horror washed over his face! Realizing something, he sprinted up to the attic. He tore open the box. The diary that had been safely hidden there was gone. At that exact moment, his phone finally received a reply from Mia. It was a unilateral declaration.”We’re breaking up.”
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