Chapter 2

Adrian and I had agreed on seven o'clock.

I sat in my car until past nine, staring at nothing, before I finally walked in.

I tied my hair up, scrubbed off the heavy makeup, and walked into the restaurant in a loose, casual outfit.

When Adrian saw me like this, he froze for a moment.

Then quickly recovered his usual composure.

He didn't scold me for being late. Didn't ask why someone who usually obsessed over her appearance had shown up looking like this.

He simply went through the motions of a date.

Set out my cutlery, then produced the gift he'd prepared in advance.

A small tiara encrusted with diamonds.

"Want to try it on?"

He placed the crown on my messy hair.

He tilted his head, studying me.

"Hmm... doesn't quite work. You'd really need to dress up for it."

The meal passed in silence.

Without me proactively making conversation, Adrian certainly wasn't going to speak.

Midway through, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it and picked up his eating pace.

The girl had probably arrived at Bayamon Residences. Adrian was in a hurry to deliver the key.

"What did you get me?" Adrian finally asked.

The gift exchange—that was the official end of dinner.

I said nothing. Just shook my head.

"Nothing?"

"Fine."

Adrian didn't dwell on it. He grabbed his car keys and headed for the door.

"I've settled the bill. Just have your driver come get you."

"Something came up at the office."

All these years, all he ever left me was his back.

I tipped my head back and willed the tears to stay where they were.

People drifted away one by one until the vast restaurant held only me. A waiter finally emerged and asked softly, "Ma'am, shall we still bring out the cake?"

Tonight, I'd planned to cut a cake with Adrian.

Then I was going to take him to our home at Bayamon Residences, where I'd hidden a surprise for him.

"No, that's alright."

I shook my head and drifted toward the exit like a ghost.

Jane had sent me a flood of messages.

I opened them. One was a social media post raving about how incredible the company benefits were.

@jessicac_: OMG！the whole place smells incredible?? flowers everywhere and there are literally rose petals in the bathtub. the vibes are UNREAL

@jessicac_: i'm going to work for this man for the rest of my life！

Comment 1: What company puts their employees in Bayamon Residences??

Comment 2: Your boss is probably into you. He said it's employee housing to save your dignity, but come on—it's a luxury apartment.

...

Within minutes, the comments swelled into the thousands.

Everyone was convinced the boss treated her this way because he liked her.

Poster: [Photo]

Okay your comments are scaring me a little. You don't think it's actually true, do you?

The photo was aimed at a closet.

Inside hung a beautiful lace nightgown. The box beneath it had been opened—inside were several packs of ultra-thins.

Jane's call came through immediately.

"Nancy, what the hell is going on?"

"How did this woman end up in your and Adrian's new place?"

My mind was chaos. I wanted to speak, opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

I went back to the post.

Poster: Apparently, I heard from coworkers that she's become a doormat for him.

Poster: She turned down a bunch of arranged marriages to be with him, nearly cut ties with her family, and after marrying him she basically lives like a bitter housewife (coworker's words, I'm just repeating them).

Comment 3112: I work at the same company. Can confirm—the boss clearly doesn't seem into her. During the last company retreat, he secretly asked the coordinator to put them in separate rooms.

More and more messages like this.

Every single one hammered home the same truth: no matter how much I gave, Adrian would never love me.

Sincerity doesn't always earn sincerity in return.

Because some people have stones where their hearts should be.

I don't remember how I got home.

All I remember is the moonlight following me the whole way, and the tears that didn't stop.

It was two in the morning before Adrian finally came back.

I raised my swollen eyes to look at him. "Adrian. Let's get a divorce."