Chapter 2

At seven o'clock that evening, Dylan's car pulled up downstairs right on time.

Seeing me come down, he stubbed out his cigarette in a trash bin and opened the passenger door.

His movements were as gentlemanly as always.

For a brief moment, I almost believed he was still the man from three years ago who'd promised to treat me well for a lifetime.

I bent down and got into the car.

As soon as I'd fastened my seatbelt, my gaze inadvertently fell on his hand.

The ring finger that should have worn our wedding band now displayed a pink crushed diamond ring instead.

The style was childish and tacky, completely at odds with his usual taste.

I froze slightly.

My heart felt like something had stung it gently.

Dylan also noticed where I was looking.

He glanced down at his own hand, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"The girl doesn't know any better," his tone was flat, as if discussing something trivial. "She replaced my ring. I'll change it back tomorrow."

I shook my head calmly. "No need."

That wedding band—we'd designed it together.

He'd said, "Violet, this is our lifelong promise."

So even later, no matter how badly we fought, no matter how much he hurt me, I never took it off.

But now, I suddenly understood.

Dylan no longer loved me.

If that was the case, why keep deceiving ourselves, forcing him to wear that ring and pretend we still had feelings for each other?

Dylan seemed surprised by my response. He froze for a moment.

He stared at me for several seconds, as if trying to read something in my face.

But my expression was blank.

Calm as stagnant water.

So he said nothing more and closed his eyes to rest.

The atmosphere in the car grew heavy.

I felt tired.

Slowly, I removed my own wedding band.

The car soon arrived at the family estate.

Dylan opened his eyes. "Don't let Grandpa and Grandma notice anything. Don't upset them, okay?"

I nodded obediently and numbly.

After all, I was used to it.

No matter how Dylan humiliated me in front of others, no matter how much he made me suffer, as soon as we returned to the Harper family home, he would immediately put on an affectionate act.

He'd tell his grandparents how well we were getting along.

It was all performance.

I could play along.

But just as we were about to enter, Dylan's phone suddenly rang.

"Dylan, someone drugged me and threw me in a hotel room. Please come save me..." Melody's voice came through.

Dylan's expression grew darker by the second.

"What did you say?" He lowered his voice. "Alright, I'll be right there."

He hung up and immediately turned to leave.

I stood there, somewhat stunned.

"If you don't come, Grandpa and Grandma will definitely be unhappy," I found myself saying. "Besides, how could anything happen to Melody on your turf? Don't be fooled!"

Even I knew what kind of person Melody was.

What she loved most was using various schemes to get Dylan's attention.

I'd seen this act before.

But Dylan acted as if he hadn't heard me at all.

He just threw out a line without looking back.

"Melody is different from you," he said. "She never lies to me."

"As for how to appease my grandparents, figure it out yourself."

With those words, he'd already reached his car.

He disappeared into the night.

Leaving me standing alone.

I watched the direction he'd gone and laughed bitterly.