Chapter 1

I’m a strict vegetarian, but my best friend, Chloe, is a hardcore carnivore.

Brandon and I had been in a ten-year relationship. Just before our wedding, he said he wanted to take me out for a private celebration.

It wasn't until we arrived at the restaurant that I realized he had booked an all-meat steakhouse feast.

There wasn't a single green leaf in sight.

Sitting with us in the private booth was Chloe, who had just returned from studying abroad. Brandon was standing, busy carving steaks and putting them on her plate, while she devoured them with pure satisfaction.

"I’ve missed this so much since I left the country," she said, her mouth full.

Looking at the man who was supposed to be my fiancé, fussing over Chloe and piling her plate with meat, I raised my fork. I had no idea where to even start.

Halfway through the dinner, Brandon finally remembered that I couldn't eat meat.

With a casual flick of his wrist, he pushed a small plate of greasy, cold onion rings—a complimentary side dish the waiter had just brought out—in front of me.

His voice was completely flat, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

"Chloe just got back. Don’t ruin her mood."

"Just make do with this tonight. Next time, I’ll take you to a fully vegan place."

Chloe wiped the corner of her mouth and chimed in.

"I honestly don’t get what’s so great about eating grass anyway. Brandon is the only one who has the patience to put up with your pickiness."

Looking at the table, there wasn’t a single dish ordered for me.

So, this was what he called "putting up with me."

The two people in front of me were sharing food from the same plates, laughing and whispering with an intimacy that left no room for anyone else.

I was completely, invisibly shut out.

During that entire dinner, I stared at those cold, greasy onion rings.

They sat under the dim restaurant lights, glistening with a nauseating sheen.

Compared to the expensive steaks on the table, they looked cheap and pathetic.

Maybe to them, I was just like this complimentary side dish—something cheap, tasteless, and easily discarded.

I slowly put my fork down. Suddenly, everything became clear.

People with different tastes can never truly share a table.