Chapter 2

It was already past midnight when I got home.

The living room lights were off, and I sat slumped on the floor for a long time.

When I was twelve, my stepmother threw me out, and I wandered alone for a long time.

Later, I found Denys near a garbage heap, surrounded by stray dogs.

I gave him the only half a bread roll I had.

That winter, we survived by collecting scrap.

He split the money he made into two parts: one to buy food, the other he hid away, saying he'd take me away from there and buy me a house.

He looked at me intently.

"Celine Cox, I'll be good to you for the rest of my life."

Back then I didn't know how much a house cost, and I didn't know how complicated the world would be once I grew up.

All I knew was that when I was at my most helpless, it was this boy, muddy all over and chased by stray dogs, who shared a single bread roll with me.

But the person who came through the hardest times with me had changed after all.

The sound of a key turning came from outside the door.

"Celine? Why aren't the lights on?"

He clearly froze for a moment when he saw me sitting on the floor.

"I bought you a chestnut cake."

Suddenly I didn't know how to face that face.

He reached out and pinched my cheek like he always did.

"Why so glum? Don't tell me you're jealous?"

He laughed.

"It's all a showmance the label set up. Wallis was just a last-minute guest, it was only for the show."

"When she leaned into me, I got goosebumps."

As he said it, he deliberately raised his arm.

"I hate it most when people touch me. You know that."

Looking at the goosebumps on his arm, I suddenly felt how bitterly ironic it was.

When he kissed Wallis, he was more eager than I'd ever seen him.

But now he could tell a lie this smoothly without changing his expression.

Seeing that I wasn't talking, Denys kept trying to coax me.

"If you really don't like her, I'll have the label move her somewhere else."

I asked, "Would you?"

"Of course."

He answered fast.

"Why would I keep someone my girlfriend doesn't like?"

Before, all he had to do was say something like that and I'd believe him.

But now, all I felt was an ache in my chest.

I took a deep breath.

"I went backstage looking for you today."

Something strange flickered through his eyes, gone in an instant.

"Oh?"

"I saw you kiss her."

Denys's expression paused for a beat.

Just then, his phone, lying on the table, rang.

Three characters popped up on the screen.

Wallis Swanson.

Denys answered almost without hesitation.

I couldn't make out what was being said on the other end.

I only saw his tense brow slowly soften.

"Don't be scared. I'll be there right away."

He turned and picked up his coat.

"Something came up at the label, I have to head back."

I reached out and grabbed the hem of his coat.

"If you leave now, we're breaking up."

As those words left my mouth, my heart felt like it was being squeezed hard.

I waited for him to turn around.

Waited for him to bend down and hold me, the way he always had, and murmur soothing words.

But he only looked at me, a hint of weariness surfacing.

"Celine, don't threaten me with a breakup."

"I know tomorrow is your mother's memorial day. I'll definitely come back to be with you."

His tone was certain, as if I ought to believe him so long as the promise was earnest enough.

I didn't let go.

"I'm not threatening you. I mean it."

Denys stood where he was, as if he wanted to say something.

But the phone rang again.

He glanced down and immediately pulled his hand free of mine.

The door closed, and I sat in the dark for a long time before I remembered to turn on my phone.

At the top of the trending list was the news that Denys's new song had gone live.

I tapped in.

On the cover, Wallis stood in the firelight, with Denys holding her from behind.

I opened it, and the familiar melody slowly began to play.

It was the melody of "Little Darling."

He'd once said this was a song that belonged only to me.

But now he'd repackaged that song and given it to another girl.

The comment section quickly flooded with countless messages.

What kind of heavenly love is this?

Denys has finally gone public!

Wallis commented underneath:

Thank you for finally letting me wait for this day.

My fingers started to go numb.

I opened the comment box and dug up a photo from my album.

In it, we were sitting in front of the bridge arch, and he was smiling, full of spirit.

Type, send.

We've been together for twelve years.

I turned off my phone.