Chapter 1

In the eighth year of our marriage, Blake finally bought me roses from the flower shop again after such a long time.

He hugged me with a smile.

"Tori, I got these flowers especially for you."

I pretended not to know that those roses were from a buy-one-get-one-free promotion at the florist, and that the bouquet he actually paid for had been sent to his villa in the suburbs.

Where a girl as vibrant as roses herself lived.

I carefully arranged the roses in a vase, and the next day placed the signed divorce papers right beside them.

From that moment on, I stopped longing for someone else's roses, because my own flowers would bloom by themselves.

The room was a complete mess, with cake thrown everywhere. I sat there in embarrassment.

Dawn had already broken.

Last night was my birthday. Blake had called me saying he ordered a cake for me and promised he'd definitely come home later.

I held that cake, waiting from ten at night until midnight, then until two in the morning, and finally until daybreak.

I never saw Blake, but I did receive a message.

The girl held flowers, wore a golden crown on her head, and was surrounded by people as she blew out candles.

And among them, Blake had his arm around the girl's waist. The two of them looked so intimate.

So intimate that you'd think they were a couple.

Then what about me? What did that make me?

That girl's name was Rosie. She was a college student---young, energetic, beautiful, and full of youth all wrapped into one. No wonder Blake liked her so much.

Rosie sent me another message.

[Did you see? Blake still likes me best. He even said that villa on South Street is really nice and wants to buy it for me.]

[You've lost your youth. You're old and ugly, and you have no sense of romance. What do you have to compete with me? You should just let go now!]

Her tone carried that cocky confidence of youth.

Why do people have such boldness? It's because those who are favored always think they have someone backing them up.

I just never expected that despite believing Blake and I loved each other deeply, we couldn't withstand the test of time.

I learned about this girl a year ago.

That was the first time she contacted me.

The first message Rosie sent me read:

[Hello Mrs. Porter, my name is Rosie. I'm Blake's new girlfriend. I know you must be shocked, but this is the truth. I'm beautiful and young, and I provide emotional value to Blake. If you truly love him, you should learn to let go and let him be with me.]

I thought it was just a young girl with a crush and didn't take it seriously.

After all, Blake and I had been together since college.

Back then he was just a poor guy, a scholarship student who couldn't even afford tuition.

The first time I learned about his situation, I had my father sponsor Blake.

After Blake found out I had helped him, he started trying to repay me, always wanting to do things for me. Later, we naturally got together.

After we got together, he cherished me so much that even if I wanted the moon from the sky, he'd be willing to pluck it down for me.

I remember one time when I had a fever at night during winter, and I suddenly wanted cherries.

He braved the freezing wind and snow, running to three fruit stores before finding one that was still open.

When he came back holding those cherries like flowers, I couldn't help but cry. I was certain he was the only man I could marry in this lifetime.

Perhaps I was too easily moved back then, or maybe the cold air radiating from his body made his heart seem especially warm, beating especially intensely.

After that, he pampered me even more like a little princess.

He never let me step foot in the kitchen or do any dirty or tiring work.

I'm rather particular about cleanliness and don't like using the washing machine for my clothes.

Blake, worried I wouldn't be satisfied, hand-washed all my clothes himself until I was pleased.

Blake always handled matters concerning me personally and wouldn't let the housekeepers touch anything.

I knew he treated me well, so I also gave him my all.

After graduation, my father gave him a high-level position at the company, and after we got married, he even handed over the company's internal and external affairs to Blake to manage.

In these years of our marriage, he held me in the palm of his hand like a little princess.

So how could I believe all of this was fake?