Chapter 2

After sitting on the sofa for an hour, numb with disbelief.

I called Leo Davis, Ryan Sterling's assistant.

I wanted to indirectly figure out what Ryan had been up to lately.

When Leo answered, I heard a soft "Shhh" from his end, then the background noise gradually faded.

A moment later, he spoke, a hint of a smile in his voice:

"Lena, are you looking for Mr. Sterling? Bad timing, he just left to meet a client, he's not in the office right now."

Meeting a client without his right-hand man?

That lie was way too flimsy.

I let out a cold laugh:

"No, I'm looking for you."

Leo paused, then chuckled, replying:

"Lena, anything you need my help with, just say the word."

I tapped my finger lightly on the armrest of the sofa, my voice as cold as ice:

"Leo, do you remember how many years it's been since we first met?"

Silence stretched for a few seconds on his end.

Then, his voice came back, tinged with a fawning tone:

"Of course, it's been exactly ten years since we met."

I pressed on:

"Do you remember who saved you back then, when you were cornered in that alley and getting beaten by a gang?"

"It... it was you. You called the police ahead of time and stepped in, stopping that assault, saving me from those thugs, and taking me to the hospital..."

Leo stammered out his reply.

Even though I couldn't see him, I could picture his embarrassment.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the anger boiling within me.

"So, I'm looking for Ryan Sterling now. Is he there?"

"...Yes!"

"Where are you guys right now?"

"The Golden Summit Private Club."

"Room number."

"7008."

I hung up without another word.

Driving while this emotional was an accident waiting to happen.

So, I opted for a cab to the club.

Leo was already waiting for me at the entrance.

The moment he saw me step out of the car, he rushed over.

He took my bag and guided me towards the elevator.

Inside the elevator, he seemed flustered, rubbing his hands together nervously, apologizing awkwardly:

"Lena... I'm sorry, I, I really am. Mr. Sterling just met up with some friends today, I was afraid you'd worry, so I said he was seeing a client."

Just friends today.

What about all the other times?

My face was devoid of emotion. I didn't bother to reply.

If a boyfriend I'd been with for six years could betray our relationship,

how could I expect loyalty from a so-called classmate, based on the flimsy ties of an old friendship?

Leo escorted me to the private room door, then turned and left.

I was about to push the door open, wanting to see with my own eyes who Ryan Sterling had chosen to marry.

But the teasing voices drifting from inside the room made me pause, standing quietly by the half-open door.

Someone joked, "Mr. Sterling is so virtuous, here we all are with ladies on each arm, and he's just sitting there drinking juice."

Another person immediately chimed in.

"Naturally! Mr. Sterling's girlfriend is a top student from the Riverton City Music Academy, the campus belle everyone here envies, a truly supportive partner."

"I heard that when Mr. Sterling was just starting his business, he had cash flow problems. His girlfriend found out and didn't hesitate to quit her job at the music academy, pouring all her savings into helping him. So admirable!"

No sooner had the words faded than a man's voice cut in, sounding quite certain:

"You've got it all wrong!"

It sounded like Sean Peterson, an old friend of Ryan's.

He continued, half-joking, half-serious:

"What six-year girlfriend? Who in their right mind dates someone for six years and doesn't marry them?"

"You guys don't know, do you? He told Lena he wasn't married yet because he wanted to save up enough money to throw her a lavish wedding. But the truth is, he secretly married someone else two months ago."

"Saying he was forced, that she had something on him... please! Like they say, one's willing to act, the other's willing to play along. If he truly didn't want it, no one could have forced him to drop his pants, right?"

Everyone in the room burst into surprised laughter.

Ryan, meanwhile, leaned back on the sofa, a smirk playing on his lips.

Sean continued to spill the beans:

"That girl isn't even prettier than Lena, and she didn't even finish high school. She's just an online influencer from Riverton City. What do you think he's thinking?"

The room fell silent.

Sean, growing even more relaxed, crossed one leg over the other, looking completely at ease.

"Haven't you heard that men never truly grow up? I'm just looking for something new, some fresh excitement."

"You wouldn't know, Lena... she just can't give me that thrill. She's always so cold. Now, just thinking about her calm, controlled face makes me lose my appetite."

"Besides, even if she were a goddess, I've slept with her for six years, a whole 2190 days. I'm utterly bored."

"If it wasn't for having to split half my assets with her if we broke up, I would've confronted her ages ago."

Hearing these words from Ryan's own mouth felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over me from head to toe.

My heart was frozen to the core, the chill seeping into my very bones.

If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I would never have believed these words could come from the mouth of the boyfriend who had always been so compliant with my wishes.

Some sayings are indeed true.

You can never imagine how ruthless a man can become once his heart changes.

To him, you're just a completely superfluous person.

I didn't push the door open and confront him.

Instead, I quietly turned and walked away.

Even for the sake of the past six years, I chose to preserve some dignity for both of us.