Chapter 3

"Is work still that busy? You’ve been staying so late every night." I looked up, staring straight at him.

Liam’s hand cutting the steak hesitated for a barely noticeable second.

"Yeah. A major project is wrapping up, and it’s been a headache."

His tone was perfectly normal, even carrying a hint of playful complaining. "Once this phase is over, I'll take you on a trip. I'll make it up to you."

"Oh." I nodded, acting casual. "By the way, you always have this scent on you lately. Did the office get a new air freshener? It’s pretty unique."

His hand holding the fork went stiff. He looked up at me, a flash of panic crossing his eyes before he quickly covered it up.

"Really? Maybe... it's a colleague's perfume. The office air gets pretty mixed up." He forced a smile, looking a bit strained. "You don't like it? I'll be more careful."

A colleague's perfume. A sweet, fruity scent. Vanessa's absolute favorite style.

I didn't push further. I just ate in silence.

The dinner ended in an almost suffocating quiet.

Suddenly, Liam put down his utensils and stood up. "I almost forgot. I have another surprise."

He walked into the study.

When he came out, he was holding a beautifully wrapped velvet box. He walked over to me and got down on one knee—just like when he proposed three years ago.

He opened the box. Inside was a diamond necklace with a star and moon pendant, sparkling brilliantly under the candlelight. It was gorgeous, and very expensive.

"I saw you dog-eared this page in a magazine last time. I figured you'd like it."

He looked up at me, his eyes full of sweet anticipation. "Do you like it, Chloe?"

I looked at the necklace, then at him.

The dog-eared magazine... right, I did do that, but even I had forgotten about it.

In this moment, a massive wave of absurdity and disgust washed over me.

He remembered a dog-eared magazine, he remembered a casually mentioned wine, he remembered every superficial detail.

But he had given his true passion, and perhaps another "anniversary surprise," to Vanessa.

"It's beautiful," I said dryly, without reaching out to take it.

The excitement on Liam’s face slowly froze, turning into confusion and a hint of anxiety.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Or... do you not like the design?"

I took a deep breath and finally looked him dead in the eye.

"Liam," my voice was quiet but crystal clear. "Is this your only surprise?"

He froze.

I picked up the phone that had been sitting on my lap, unlocked it, and turned the screen toward him.

The Whisper post, specifically Vanessa's latest comment about her "third-anniversary surprise," was displayed clearly in front of his eyes.

Time seemed to stop.

The color drained from Liam's face instantly, leaving him deathly pale.

Watching him react like this, the last shred of my hope withered away.

"This necklace," I said slowly, each word dropping like ice on a stone floor. "Does Vanessa have one too? Or did you get her something even more special for your other 'surprise'?"

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### Chapter 4