Chapter 1

The flight had been rescheduled at the last minute and I returned home dragging my luggage.

I had imagined a warm welcome from my boyfriend, but instead, I found a pair of crumpled lace panties scattered carelessly on the floor.

And there she was, the "good apprentice" I had personally introduced to him, stepping out of my bathroom. She was wrapped in my bath towel.

She shared a room with my boyfriend.

"Your apprentice just borrowed the bathroom. If you’re angry, go vent it elsewhere, but don’t take it out on Mia."

However, as soon as I packed up my belongings and walked out, he clung to me, refusing to let go.

It was because he had been planning to propose to me at a concert in two weeks without even bothering to share anything about it with me.

What he did not know was that by then, it would mark the day I tore apart the pristine image he held so dear.

***

The moment I had inserted my key into the door that evening, I realized the door was not locked.

I pushed it open, my brows furrowed in doubt and saw the two pairs of shoes in the entryway.

My heart immediately sank.

One of them was a pair of male shoes and the other was a pair of female shoes.

My eyes glanced at the dining table nearby, where a bright yellow dress was scattered around.

Perched on top of it was a pair of pale white lace panties.

I squinted and stared for a long time before the sound of water running in the bathroom came to a stop.

I looked up and saw a girl walking out from behind the door.

She was wrapped in my towel, her damp hair framing her face like some picture of innocence and allure.