Chapter 2

Young people tend to have short memories.

I soon forgot about that incident and continued pursuing Lucas.

For his sake, I even started studying hard and got into the same university as him.

My dad was overjoyed and doubled my allowance.

Lucas was even busier in college.

His scholarship application was rejected, and the financial aid for poor students went to a classmate with connections.

At his lowest point, he could only afford one bread roll from the cafeteria each day, filling up on free soup.

I couldn't bear to watch and offered to support him, but he refused.

He worked three part-time jobs a day, eventually collapsing from exhaustion on the street.

That's when I finally snapped and grabbed him, insisting on giving him money.

"Lucas, why won't you take my money? What are you trying to prove by working yourself to death?!"

I went to his advisor and forcibly paid his tuition.

By then I'd grown up a bit and knew to be mindful of his pride.

So when we ate together, I'd always say I couldn't finish my food and ask him to help.

When we went out, I'd claim I had free vouchers and invite him along.

Gradually, Lucas and I seemed to grow closer.

I supported him all the way through graduation, and to make him happy, I even helped support Emma, his childhood friend.

After graduation, Lucas started his own business.

He'd always had excellent grades and had developed a game app with some friends in college, but they kept hitting dead ends and couldn't secure any investment.

I couldn't stand seeing him so dejected, so I asked my dad to invest in his company.

I remember Lucas was very quiet that night.

As I was almost falling asleep on his shoulder, he suddenly spoke up.

"Aria, why are you doing all this?"

At the time, I thought he meant to ask why I was being so nice to him, so I answered without hesitation:

"Because I like you.

"Lucas, do you like me?" I tugged at his arm playfully. "I've been so good to you. If you don't be with me, you're a big meanie!"

I was just joking at the time.

But Lucas didn't say anything, and I took his silence as agreement.

That's how we got together.

Two years later, Lucas and I got married.

The wedding was a simple affair. Lucas said he didn't like big crowds, so we only invited a few tables of close relatives and friends.

They were all my relatives and friends.

On his side, he was the only one there.

After the wedding, Lucas remained cold towards me.

I was so stupid back then. I thought that was just his personality, and since I'd been chasing him for so many years, even a heart of stone would eventually be warmed by my love if I just kept being good to him.

But I never imagined that his heart truly was impossible to warm.

Because his heart had always belonged to someone else.

Three years into our marriage, our conflicts could no longer be reconciled.

I started to lose patience with his daily indifference. I confronted him, asking if he was in love with Emma.

He just stared at me coldly, saying nothing.

When pushed too far, he'd simply slam the door and leave.

His cold violence drove me increasingly paranoid and crazy. Whenever he came home, I'd interrogate him, curse at him. During our most heated arguments, I'd lose control and say terrible things:

"If I'd known you'd be such an ungrateful bastard, I should've just gotten a dog instead. At least it would wag its tail at me!"

His expression twisted for a moment before quickly becoming calm again.

After that day, he stopped coming home altogether.

Later I found out he'd been with Emma all along.

They had a new home together, and even...

a child.

For years, he had a perfect, happy family outside.

While I guarded our empty home alone, all my love fermenting into poisonous hatred.

Lucas's business took off, and he became even richer than my father.

I had nothing left to hurt him with.

The only thing I had was our marriage.

I bet my life on revenge against him, refusing to divorce him no matter how much money he offered.

He ruined me, so I wouldn't let him off easy either.

The woman he loved would forever remain a mistress hidden in the shadows.

His son with her would always be an illegitimate child born in the gutter.

Lucas didn't dare sue me for divorce. He was afraid the publicity from our marital dispute would affect his company's stock price, and the other board members wouldn't allow it.

So we were stuck in this stalemate for ten years.

No matter how hysterical I became during those ten years, no matter how crazed, even when I finally broke down and begged...

He never softened. He never came back to see me.

I grew thinner and sicker in my daily despair.

In the end, I withered away and died, consumed by depression.