Chapter 1

I had been with her since I was eighteen.

From a kid washing cars to the Head of Finance at her company, and from a damp basement into the luxury villa she bought.

She never brought up marriage. I always thought the timing just wasn’t right.

Until a handsome new intern joined the firm. Three months after they met, on his birthday, she accepted his proposal.

Her best friend couldn't bear to watch me stay in the dark, so she secretly texted me the news.

It turns out ten years really can’t compete with three months.

Staring at the location pin her friend sent, my hands shook so hard I could barely hold my phone.

When I arrived at the hotel, the private dining room was loud and lively.

I pushed the door open. The first thing I saw was her arms wrapped around that boy.

I picked up a flute of champagne from a passing tray and walked straight up to her.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you," she replied on reflex.

Then she saw my face. She froze completely.

"What are you doing here?"

I didn’t look at her. I just swirled the glass in my hand.

"A proposal is a huge milestone. Why didn't you let me know?"

Chloe’s face turned pale. She reached out, trying to grab my arm.

"Ethan, go home first. I’ll explain everything later."

I pulled back, avoiding her touch. My voice stayed dead calm.

"There’s nothing to explain. I was just curious."

The intern stood up, biting his lower lip, looking at me with wounded eyes.

"Ethan, I’m sorry. I was the one who asked Chloe to keep it quiet."

His voice was soft, clear, and innocent.

"I was afraid you’d target me at the office. I was scared people would talk."

I let out a soft laugh.

"Don’t worry. I’m not that kind of person."

I locked eyes with him and said slowly,

"Then again, when someone plays the home-wrecker, people talking is only fair. Wouldn’t you agree?"

His face drained of all color, and tears spilled down his cheeks right on cue.

Chloe instantly stepped in front of him, shielding him behind her back, glaring at me.

"Ethan, that’s enough! Whatever you have to say, we say it at home."

She protected him like he was a piece of fragile porcelain.

Looking at her, I suddenly felt like I was looking at a total stranger.

Ten years. It took me a whole decade to truly see through someone.

"Fine. Carry on, then."

I set the champagne glass on the table, turned around, and walked out.

Stepping out of the hotel lobby, the cool June night air hit my face.

I stood on the curb and called an Uber home.

Neon lights blurred past the window one by one, while yesterday’s memory kept replaying in my head.

Just yesterday, I was standing in front of the mirror, trying on a crisp new shirt, wondering if I should propose to Chloe this weekend.

Ten years together. I thought it was finally time to settle down.

How pathetic.

I was eighteen when I fell for her.

That year, my younger sister was diagnosed with kidney disease. My family sold everything we owned and still couldn’t cover the surgery bills. I dropped out of college to scrub cars at a local wash.

Chloe came in to get her car detailed. She saw my raw, peeling hands, and told me, "Hey kid, come work for my company. I’ll teach you."

She taught me how to read ledgers, how to build financial statements, and how to navigate the corporate world.

From a basement to a mansion, from a car detailer to the Head of Finance, it took me ten years.

Everyone said I was the poor boy who struck gold. For a long time, I almost believed it too.

Except in fairy tales, the princess marries the prince.

My princess chose to kneel before someone else.

I drew in a deep breath and rolled the window down.

The wind rushed in, stinging my eyes, but I didn't shed a single tear.

From this moment on, Chloe and Ethan were strangers.

It was past eleven when I got home.

I didn’t turn on the chandelier, leaving only a dim foyer light glowing as I sat down on the sofa.

I had lived in this villa for five years. I took care of every single corner of it.

I picked the sofa. I measured the curtains. I handpicked the dishes in the kitchen set by set.

Yet the deed carried only Chloe’s name.

An overwhelming exhaustion washed over me. I leaned back and closed my eyes.

My head was a messy blur, filled with echoes of the past decade.