Chapter 3

Sophia gazed at Adam with deep affection and tenderness. Once upon a time, she had looked at me the same way and said, "Noah, I want to marry you."

At seventeen, I was always cooped up in the dance studio, training.

Winning awards time after time, I was the envy of many, but it also brought a lot of criticism.

Rumors spread around school that I liked men. The school bullies cornered me in an alley, beating me up and taking compromising photos to post on the school forum.

No one dared to approach me, except for Sophia.

She had grown up an orphan, fortunately raised by my mother.

Facing the bullies' abuse, she shielded me behind her back, "I've already told the teacher. You'd better run away quickly!"

The street corner was dark, but I could clearly see her bright eyes.

"Noah, don't be afraid. I'll always be by your side."

At seventeen, Sophia confessed her love to me.

Eight years later, she was straddling another man, begging for his affection, wishing I were dead.

The pain seeped into my bones, and I couldn't help but curl up.

Adam suddenly glanced at me, "Is Noah awake?"

Sophia, dissatisfied with his sudden stop, coquettishly initiated another kiss, "So what if he's awake? He's lost his legs. It's not like he can jump up and kick your knees."

Sharp sarcasm, passionate gasps.

Every word and sound hammered into my heart.

I had lost my legs, unable to escape, forced to watch them indulge in their affair, powerless.

I closed my eyes in anguish, tears silently flowing all night.

The procedures for returning home were quickly arranged, and Sophia supported me as we boarded the plane.

She struggled to hold my arm, and passersby looked on with pity.

Those glances were sympathetic when they fell on her, but mocking when they landed on me.

How could such a cripple deserve Sophia's devotion?

Adam stepped forward, "Let me carry him. Consider it my atonement."

Sophia gave him a grateful smile, and I was forced to climb onto Adam's shoulders.

The familiar floral scent lingered on his white shirt - it was Sophia's favorite perfume.

The last shred of love dissipated in this foreign land.

After boarding, Sophia covered me with a blanket. I turned to look at her, expressionless.

I gazed at the face that had once fiercely protected me, the face I had embraced countless nights.

But when I closed my eyes, all I could see were images of her passionately kissing Adam.

It made me incredibly sick.

"Sophia, why don't we separate? I'll only hold you back like this."

Sophia froze, tears suddenly flooding her eyes, "Noah, I'd rather die than hear you say such things!"

I had given her a chance for a dignified separation, but she still chose to deceive me.

I smiled and slowly shook my head, "Forget it. I was just joking."

During the eighteen-hour long-haul flight, everyone in the team fell asleep.

I looked at Sophia's peaceful sleeping face and, on a whim, took her phone.

The password was still our anniversary date, but her phone had a dual system installed. I had known about this for a long time; Sophia had told me it was for work convenience, and I hadn't thought much of it.

Until now, when I opened the other desktop, I saw intimate selfies of her and Adam.

Their dating records occupied the photo album.

When I was performing on stage, they were having candlelit dinners;

When I was giving an award acceptance speech thanking her for her support, she and Adam had flown to Sanya for a vacation... Even on the day I fell from the rising platform, she was by Adam's side as he battled a fever.

Only I, foolishly, was trapped in this love snare.

It was truly laughable.

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