Chapter 3

Not long after I got home, a strange number added me on Ins.

The person didn't say a word, but I knew it was Tanya. I didn't know how she got my number.

Soon she posted a new update—a picture of someone's back standing in front of a pot of soup, steam still rising.

"First day back in the country. Finally got to drink the cream of mushroom soup I've been craving."

I numbly scrolled through Tanya's feed. Lucas's figure was everywhere.

When I got to a recent post, my fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

"He flew thousands of miles to spend my birthday with me. I'm not going to forgive him that easily."

The date was our anniversary.

That day I'd made a whole table of dishes and ordered a cake I couldn't usually afford.

But Lucas disappeared for three days without a word.

When he came back, he apologized and told me he'd gone to see doctors, but it still didn't help.

I'd comforted him all night.

Now I just felt stupid and ridiculous.

Lucas came home very late, struggling to pull himself onto the bed with his arms.

He wrapped me in his embrace, his chin nuzzling my neck, kissing me intermittently.

"The doctor said my legs have a great chance of recovery. She's very skilled. In a week I should be able to stand."

He probably didn't realize how obvious the smell on him was—a sickly sweet women's perfume assaulting my nose.

I suppressed the nausea churning in my stomach and pushed him away, staring at him coldly.

The hickey on his neck was glaring. I couldn't help tearing up.

Lucas stiffened for a moment, frowning in displeasure.

"Summer, what are you throwing a tantrum about now? So I came home a little late—I'm doing this so I can stand up sooner."

I wanted to ask him—did I really seem that easy to fool?

Accidentally glancing at his wrist, I froze when I saw the watch.

In the picture Tanya sent me, she was wearing an identical women's version of the same watch.

I'd once passed by a display window where all the watches were astronomically priced. I'd only dared look from afar.

Lucas had seen the longing in my eyes and held my hand, his expression serious.

"Babe, someday I'll personally design a pair of watches just for us."

On his computer, the design file for this pair of watches was named "True Love."

Following my gaze, panic flashed in Lucas's eyes.

"I bought this from a street vendor when I went out. I saw it looked similar to my design, so I bought it for reference."

"I want to design something unique for you."

But Lucas's expression remained serious as always. I couldn't find a single flaw.

As if he were stating a fact.

I wanted to ask him who he originally designed this watch for.

But when the words reached my lips, I realized I didn't even have the ability to speak them.

Staring at the man before me, I signed, "Lucas, let's break up."

Lucas's expression changed dramatically.