Chapter 3

I found myself fiercely missing our first year together.

Two shy young lovers who blushed just holding hands and kissing.

Not like now...

Every time he claimed he had to work at the bar, he was actually out cleaning up Chloe's messes.

He had even abandoned our wedding ceremony once just because Chloe had menstrual cramps.

He left me standing alone at the altar, turning me into the laughingstock of the entire city.

Meanwhile, he was at Chloe's apartment, warming her bed, rubbing her belly, playing the role of the devoted boyfriend.

My phone chimed twice. Chloe had sent two photos.

Inside the bar, the two of them were completely naked on the counter.

Julian's Adam's apple bobbed as he passionately kissed her collarbone.

My hands trembled slightly. I had already guessed he was still with her.

Like marking her territory, Chloe followed up with two texts.

[Serena, he's mine.]

[Stop begging him to marry you. Begged love is so pathetic and cheap.]

A sharp pain tore through my heart. I couldn't wait a second longer.

Grabbing my keys, I drove straight to Julian's bar.

I hadn't expected them to be so desperate that they were already fooling around at the bar in broad daylight.

Before we had even broken up, Julian dared to cheat on me over and over behind my back!

Taking a deep breath, I swallowed the raging fire inside me.

My gaze fell instantly on Julian's hands in the picture. Our couple ring was gone.

In its place was a cheap, plastic strawberry ring—an obvious matching set with the one on Chloe's hand.

I began to shake all over.

Those rings were the only heirlooms left by my late parents. Before they passed, they specifically told me to place that ring on the finger of the man I would spend my life with.

When Julian learned about this, his eyes had rimmed red, swearing he would wear it until his dying breath.

In our five years together, Julian and I had fought countless times.

During our worst fight, I trashed his bar. His face turned pale with disappointment, and he coldly asked for a breakup.

Even during that month-long silent treatment, he had never taken the ring off.

Yet now, for a girl he had known for less than a month, he casually discarded his sacred promise.

Still, a breakup deserved to be delivered in person.

Ignoring the "Closed Today" sign swaying on the front door, I expressionlessly turned my key in the lock.

Pushing the door open, the floor was littered with shattered bottles of vintage wine, the heavy alcohol aroma mixed with the unmistakable musk of sex.

It was obvious how wild things had been.

I looked around, but neither of them was there.

A glass stained with red lipstick sat on the counter, as if silently mocking my foolishness.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Who would have thought I couldn't even find him to break up to his face?

Trembling, I dialed Julian's number.

His voice came through, deliberately hushed.

"You're at the bar? I just closed up and went out with some friends. Call an Uber home, babe. I'll bring you a present tonight."

Leaning against the bar counter, a dull ache throbbed in my hand.

After enduring the pain for a moment, I prepared to drive to the hospital.

Accidentally, my thumb tapped on Instagram.

Chloe had just posted a picture. She was lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV drip.

And the man who just claimed he was out with friends was kneeling by her bed, cradling her bandaged foot with a gaze full of tender worry.

Her caption read: [Things got too wild and stepped on broken glass. Hurts so bad, boo-hoo~]

Julian had liked it and left a comment: [If it hurts, endure it. Who told you to be so greedy?]

Beneath the post, mutual friends flooded the comments with teasing remarks.

[Boss Julian, what delicious treat did you sneak Chloe behind our backs?]

[I want some too!]

[Boss Julian spoils our Chloe so much! When do we get to hear the good news from you two?]

Chloe only replied to the last comment:

[Well, that depends on a certain someone~]

The realization hit me instantly.

No wonder Julian rarely let me visit the bar.

Since none of his staff knew he had a fiancée, he could openly flirt and fool around with Chloe without any shame.

Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them. I wiped them away, but they just kept flowing.

I had lost count of how many times this had happened.

I was no longer his priority.

Chloe's birthday, Chloe's cute pouting, Chloe's late-night drunken calls—any of them could make him abandon me without a second thought.

Completely numb, I dialed a number. "Hello, I'd like to schedule an abortion. This morning, please."

Since this relationship had no reason to exist anymore, bringing a child into this world would only lead to a miserable life.

Lying on the operating table, I gave my lower abdomen one last, lingering caress.

A profound, unspeakable sorrow engulfed me.

This baby could have been born into a loving family, bathed in the warmth of both parents...

But timing is cruel. It arrived just as Julian was cheating on me.

Don't blame mommy, little one.

Blame the twisted fate that brought us together.

After the procedure, as I walked toward the dressing room to bandage my cut hand, a hesitant voice called out from behind me.

"Serena?"