Everyone said my girlfriend was a sugar baby, hooking up with some rich guy, but I always brushed it off. Then, when I saw Anya get into that Range Rover for the fifth time, my certainty wavered. I followed her. I nearly broke down, confronting her, my voice raw: “Why? Who is he?!” She tried to calm me. “Babe, don’t overthink. He’s just a friend.” I roared furiously: “Just a friend? No way! I saw everything! How much longer were you planning to keep this from me?!” Seeing my genuine anger, she took my hand, her voice barely a whisper: “I’m sorry, babe. To be honest, you’re actually the other man.” “You… I… this…” I stared at Anya. A moment ago, my gut was burning with rage. Now, after holding it in for what felt like an eternity, I couldn’t string a single word together. Anya’s face was etched with apology: “It’s okay, babe, you didn’t know. This is all on me. I should have been honest with you.” I was still reeling from the shock she’d dropped on me. I looked at Anya, my face a mask of disbelief. The woman who was always so gentle with me, my Anya, was already someone else’s wife. I loved her. I loved her so much. My plan had been to propose the moment I graduated. But now? What was this? How could she be such a player? Didn’t that make me the one breaking up a family? How could I ever accept that? “Babe, please don’t be mad, okay?” Anya’s voice came again, as soft and tender as always. But right now, there was no way I could stay calm. I stared at Anya, disbelief hardening my gaze: “This isn’t just about being mad anymore.” “I just graduated college, and I’m already the other man?” “I’m not that kind of guy, so why am I being forced into it?” “You manipulative jerk, we’re over!” Anya visibly stiffened. Her eyes turned red, and she pleaded, tears welling up: “Babe, please don’t break up with me, okay?” “I don’t want to lose you.” “If you can’t accept this, then for you, I’ll divorce him.” I was utterly speechless. Was this even about divorce anymore? My head was spinning, completely overwhelmed and confused by her. My mind was a chaotic mess. “Babe.” Anya reached out, trying to come closer. I quickly stepped back, avoiding her touch. “Don’t come near me.” “Just go. Let me calm down. You’ve messed me up so badly right now!” Seeing my resolute stance, Anya didn’t press any further. She picked up her bag. As she was about to leave, something seemed to strike her. She pulled a bank card from her bag. “Babe, this is a graduation gift I specially prepared for you.” “There’s thirty million dollars on this card. Use it, and if it’s not enough, just tell me.” I snatched the card, my hand trembling, and challenged her: “What is this supposed to be?” “Are you trying to buy me?” Anya quickly explained: “No, babe, please don’t think that.” “I… I just want you to be happy.” “And you’ve graduated now. You should start building a career. This thirty million might help you launch a business, or chase some dreams.” Her explanation left me with no counter-argument. “Babe, I’m going now. Please calm down. Don’t do anything reckless.” Watching Anya leave. I slammed the bank card against the door with all my might. In that moment, I felt like my world was ending.
I spent a tormenting night alone in my apartment. But I still couldn’t get past it. I had just graduated college. I was supposed to have a bright future ahead of me. I was supposed to propose to Anya, the woman I loved most. But I never would have imagined things would turn out like this. I didn’t want to be the other man. Without a word to Anya, I packed my bags and left the country. Over the next few years abroad, I pursued various advanced degrees. A billionaire investor noticed me, gave me a billion dollars, and sent me back home to spearhead market expansion. I assumed Anya would have forgotten about me after all these years. But as soon as she heard I was returning, she immediately wanted to arrange a celebration. I arrived at the private room Anya had booked. Before I even entered, I heard her talking with her friends: “Anya, your company was on the verge of collapse all these years, drowning in countless headaches that nearly broke you. It’s thanks to Marcus’s unwavering support and his constant, loyal presence that you managed to pull through. I’m so jealous you have such a wonderful husband.” “Seriously! If my husband was even half as good as Marcus, I’d wake up smiling every day.” “Your tenth wedding anniversary with Marcus is coming up. Are you going to go all out this time?” “Yeah, Marcus has poured his heart and soul into supporting you all these years, he’s lost so much weight. I really think you should make a big deal out of your tenth anniversary. It would make him so happy.” Anya remained silent for a long time, then finally spoke: “Marcus is truly good, but our marriage was arranged by our families. It’s not the kind of love I truly wanted.” Her friends frowned, one after another: “Anya, what are you saying? You’re not still hung up on Julian, are you?” At the mention of my name, another friend, Chloe, immediately contorted her face in disgust: “Don’t even talk about him!” “Back then, when Anya’s company was on the brink of collapse, she still gave him the paltry thirty million dollars, her last resort, to save herself. But what did he do? He just took the money and vanished without a trace, didn’t even send a breakup text!” “That kind of man is absolutely not worth trusting. Even if you like someone, it shouldn’t be him!” I stood outside the door, my stomach churning. So, when I left, Anya was facing financial ruin. But even in that dire situation, she still transferred thirty million dollars to me. How could she be so foolish? That was her life-saving fund! All these years I’d been gone, I’d never regretted my decision. I even felt that her hiding the truth and being with me behind her husband’s back was just her playing me for a fool. But in that moment, a wave of bitter regret washed over me. I took a deep breath, composed myself. Then, I pushed open the door. The chatter in the room instantly died. Seeing that it was me who walked in, everyone stared at me with a strange, scrutinizing gaze. One of them asked cautiously: “Julian, when did you get back?” I masked the turmoil inside, offering a faint smile: “Just got back.” “Hmph!” Before I could say anything more, Chloe snorted: “How dare you show your face here?” “When Anya’s company was on the brink of collapse, you just bolted without a word.” “Now that Anya’s company is back on its feet, are you thinking of coming back to swindle her out of more money so you can live it up overseas again?” My face burned. I could only explain: “I didn’t know Anya was in that situation back then. If I had known, I definitely wouldn’t have left.” Chloe’s voice rose several octaves as she yelled at me: “You didn’t know?” “I saw you run faster than a rabbit back then!” “You heartless jerk, you don’t deserve to be here, and you certainly don’t deserve to be in front of Anya!” Another friend chimed in: “Exactly! You knew Anya had a husband, but you still chose to be the other man. Weren’t you just after her money?” “You don’t belong here!”
The shame in my heart made my eyes well up. Seeing Anya remain impassive to her friends’ taunts, I just wanted to disappear. I dropped my gift and turned to leave. But Anya grabbed my arm: “You’re here now, so stay and join us.” Then, Anya looked at Chloe and the others: “Please stop talking about Julian like that.” “He really didn’t know the truth back then. I deliberately kept everything from him.” “He didn’t know I had a husband, nor did he know about the impending bankruptcy.” “I was wrong first.” Anya’s friends fell silent, no longer speaking ill of me. But they still clearly wanted me gone. Just as the atmosphere hung heavy, the door opened again. Anya’s husband, Marcus, appeared at the doorway. Marcus’s expression froze for a split second when he saw me there. He quickly composed himself and walked over to Anya, taking her wine glass and saying with concern: “Anya, your stomach has always been sensitive. You really shouldn’t drink so much wine.” Anya took the glass back from him, saying: “I’m fine. It’s rare we all get together, so I have to celebrate properly.” Watching Marcus’s devoted care for her, a sour feeling twisted in my gut. After that, Anya’s friends kept teasing Marcus and Anya, pointedly leaving me out. I endured a night steeped in bitterness. The next day, Anya sent me a message. [It’s been so long since I’ve had your home-cooked meals. I really miss them.] I replied almost instantly: [Wait for me! I’ll bring it to your office!] I spent two full hours cooking, then carried the packed lunchboxes to her company. When I reached Anya’s office door, I ran into Marcus coming out. “Hey.” I offered a smile and a greeting. Marcus ignored me, pushed the office door open, and walked in. I felt awkward but followed him in anyway. Anya, who was working at her desk, frowned when she saw both Marcus and me enter. “What are you doing here?” Both Marcus and I froze. Neither of us knew who she was talking to. I forced a smile, placed the lunchboxes on her desk, and opened them one by one: “I made all your favorite dishes, the spicy ones.” Marcus’s face immediately darkened, and he yelled at me: “Are you trying to kill Anya?!” I was utterly confused. Marcus explained: “These past few years, Anya has had to drink at countless business dinners to get the company back on its feet. She even ended up with stomach ulcers.” “Now, her stomach absolutely cannot handle spicy food!” At the mention of this, my eyes burned. But Anya picked up her forks: “It’s not Julian’s fault. I wanted to eat it.” She began eating ravenously. Soon, her face became noticeably pale. I quickly urged her: “Anya, maybe you should stop eating.” Anya was clearly in pain, but she gritted her teeth and insisted: “It’s fine. It’s just been so long since I’ve had anything this spicy, I’m a bit out of practice.” That night, I heard Anya had been rushed to the hospital. Marcus was the one who told me himself. My heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds. Anya clearly couldn’t handle spicy food, so why did she eat it? Marcus roared at me over the phone: “After all these years, does she still love you that much?!” “Even knowing how severe the consequences would be, she still ate your home-cooked meal!” “I honestly believe if you gave her poison, she’d swallow it without hesitation!” “Why?!” “I’m the one who loves her most.” “I’m her husband.” “What exactly do I lack compared to you?!”
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