Chapter 1

The night before my engagement, I scrolled into a post.

"Fell for my carpool buddy—what do I do?"

The poster wrote: "He drives a Maybach. Same commute, same route every morning."

"Last week someone rear-ended me at a red light. I fell. He got out and helped me up..."

Top comment with thousands of likes:

【If you don't tell him, how will he know you like him?】

【What if he likes you back?】

I scrolled down.

The post included a photo from the accident.

A hand reaching out.

On the wrist—a watch.

Patek Philippe. Limited edition.

I zoomed in on that image.

Stared at the watch for a long time.

I picked it out myself. His engagement gift.

Engraved with our initials.

Mine and Lucas's.

...

The post was old, but trending harder than ever.

I clicked on the poster's profile. A girl's heartbreaking chronicle of secret love.

Until six months ago. She thanked everyone who told her to shoot her shot. Said they were together now.

After that, sweet couple updates.

He bought her flowers. Took her out on weekends.

Last month, he gave her a ring.

She posted it.

Fingers intertwined.

"He put it on me himself. Said when the time's right, he'll propose."

I zoomed in.

Stared at it.

For so long my eyes stung.

I designed that ring.

Nine revisions. Countless all-nighters.

Every time I couldn't go on, Lucas would wrap his arms around me from behind. Kiss me softly on the lips.

I'd lean into him. "Almost done. One more draft."

He'd say, "I'll stay with you."

Then he'd sit beside me. Working on his laptop. Waiting.

Now, the design files are still on my computer.

One-of-a-kind.

But later, Lucas told me the jeweler lost the ring.

I believed him. Cried my eyes out.

Lucas kissed the tears from my eyes that day.

Said he'd find an even better ring. Told me not to cry.

Turns out it wasn't lost.

It's on her finger.

Two days ago, she posted again: "He's so busy lately, barely has time for his girlfriend."

I scrolled past.

Didn't like. Didn't comment.

Just set my phone face-down on the table.

Watched the drizzle outside.

Busy planning our engagement gala, probably.

My phone buzzed again.

A new post from her. With location tagged. A restaurant.

"He told me to meet him here at 8. Said he's introducing me to his friends."

Ironclad evidence.

The watch I chose. The ring I designed.

But I still couldn't believe it.

That man was Lucas.

Like I was possessed, I changed clothes.

Called the family driver. Told him to take me to the restaurant.

7:20 PM.

I arrived early.

The hostess smiled, asked who I was meeting. I gave her Lucas's number.

She checked. Led me to a private room.

The hallway stretched long, carpeted in deep red.

My heels made no sound.

At the door of the private room—

Not fully closed. Voices drifted out.

"Bro, you're really rolling out the red carpet for your girl, huh? 8 o'clock dinner, but we're all here at 7:30."

"She's shy. Wanted you guys here early so you don't say stupid shit when she shows up."

"Relax, man. We got you."

Laughter. The clink of glasses.

Through the chatter, someone brought me up.

"What about the one at home, bro? I mean, we all grew up together."

"Clara? Come on. She's the daughter of Lucas's lifesaver, if we're being nice."

"But let's be real—she's just a charity case. The stowaway her mom left behind when she kicked it."

"At best, she's a childhood playmate."

I stood frozen.

Waiting for Lucas to say something.

He'd shut them down. He had to.

Like back in high school, when someone called me an orphan. He didn't say a word—just grabbed the guy and beat him into the ground.

Afterward he looked at me, eyes red with anger and hurt.

"Anyone says that again, I'll wreck them."

He would. He'd tell them to stop.

He'd say I wasn't a charity case.