Chapter 1

I had been with my boyfriend for five years, and every single anniversary, he proposed with a mystery box game.

This year was no different. Ethan set out nine identical boxes on the table.

"Chloe, pick the one with the ring, and I'll marry you."

My fingers tightened into fists as I pointed to the one in the middle.

He opened it, then patted my head gently.

"Babe, it's a gold necklace."

"Don't worry. We can always try again next year."

His best friend, Cole, chimed in with a smirk,

"Man, Chloe, your luck is seriously terrible."

"Back then, Ethan's ex drew the ring on her very first try. Though she dumped him right on the spot."

A suffocating lump formed in my throat. I excused myself to the bathroom and cried my eyes out.

On my way back, I overheard Cole asking,

"I've always wondered, how come Chloe hasn't pulled the ring once in five whole years?"

Ethan let out a quiet sigh.

"Sleight of hand, that's all. Honestly, she picked the ring three times over the years. I just swapped them out when she wasn't looking."

"You know I learned magic tricks back then just to make Victoria laugh."

"Wait, bro, you never planned on marrying Chloe?"

"I was going to this year. But Victoria texted me last night."

My vision blurred as tears spilled over my cheeks.

Standing in the chilly draft by the restaurant exit, I pulled out my phone and texted my lifelong rival:

"Every year on your birthday, you joke about marrying me. Were you ever serious?"

Ethan spotted me and immediately took off his coat, wrapping it around my shoulders.

"It's freezing. Why are you standing in the draft?"

He gently cupped my red, swollen eyes.

"Look at you. The wind made your eyes all red."

"Let me warm them up. When we get home, put on a steam eye mask, or they'll be swollen tomorrow."

Numb, I followed him back to our table.

Seeing my silence, Ethan cut my steak into bite-sized pieces.

"Chloe, are you upset because you didn't get the ring?"

"Eat some steak first. Medium-well, just the way you like it."

Ethan was always this gentle and attentive.

He always served me first at dinner, always kept me on the safe inner side of the sidewalk, and even hand-washed my delicate laundry.

Yet his tenderness was never mine alone.

Looking into his soft eyes, I pointed toward the mystery boxes again.

"Ethan, can I try one more time?"

"I really, really want to marry you."

Or at least, I used to.

Ethan gave a helpless laugh and pinched my cheek.

"Alright, just because my girl is sad, one more try."

I pointed to the box closest to him.

"That one."

Ethan opened it, his eyes lighting up.

"Chloe, you're in luck."

A flicker of genuine hope rose in my chest.

"Is it the ring?"

"It's that designer bracelet you've wanted for ages."

My heart sank into ice.

He knew exactly what I wanted.

Yet he always brushed it off with a shiny distraction.

All because Victoria had texted him last night.

He fastened the bracelet around my wrist himself.

"There, don't be mad anymore, sweetheart."

"Next anniversary, you'll definitely pull the ring."

The cool metal pressed against my skin, sending chills through my blood.

Ethan, there won't be a next anniversary.

Just then, a glamorous, striking woman strutted toward our table.

Cole nudged Ethan's arm.

"Bro, isn't that Victoria? Your ex."

Ethan froze entirely.

Victoria looked at me with an aggressive, predatory smirk.

"Mind if I join you guys?"

Before I could utter a word, Victoria slid into the seat right next to Ethan.

She glanced at the mystery boxes on the table and let out a light laugh.

"Ethan, we've been broken up for five years, and you're still playing the mystery box game?"

"I casually said I loved the thrill of mystery boxes back then, and you really took it to heart, huh?"

My heart plummeted.

I had told Ethan years ago that I preferred a stable, certain proposal.

Yet he insisted on mystery boxes every single year.

It turned out it was always about Victoria.

Victoria casually pointed to one of the boxes.

"The ring is right here."

Ethan opened the box. Resting inside was the stunning diamond ring I had chased for five years.

He slipped it onto Victoria's finger.

"Victoria, you found the ring again."

Victoria had tried twice and gotten it both times.

I had tried for five years and never once seen it.

This time, I saw it clearly. Ethan had subtly shifted the boxes before she picked.

His ring was only ever meant for Victoria.

Admiring the diamond on her hand, Victoria smiled languidly.

"I've dated ten guys over the past five years."

"I'm bored of playing around. Turns out, you're the one best suited for marriage."

"My family's breathing down my neck to settle down. Why don't you just marry me?"