Chapter 3

The birthday party was winding down.

Most of the guests had left when Lucas and Melody finally reappeared before everyone.

Lucas had changed into a high-collared formal suit, while Melody's neck bore several suggestive marks.

The atmosphere between them was so intimate it was almost tangible.

If this were the old me, I would have rushed forward in fury to demand an explanation.

But this scene had played out countless times in my past life.

My heart had long since gone numb.

I tilted my head back, drained the wine in my glass, and turned to leave.

Lucas caught sight of the indifferent expression on my face and slowly frowned.

For the first time, he took the initiative to stop me.

"Claire, what are you sulking about now?"

"I'm your fiancé. How can you leave without saying anything? Where are your manners?"

"Apologize to Melody and me right now, or forget about getting your birthday present this year!"

Lucas was clutching a ring box in his hand.

Melody took the box from him and waved it triumphantly in front of me.

"Claire, Lucas specially custom-made this for you! He put so much thought into it!"

My eyes followed the movement of the box, and I naturally noticed the custom ring on Melody's ring finger.

It was from the same brand as the box in her hand.

I pulled at the corner of my mouth sarcastically. "Put thought into it? I'd say he put more thought into that custom ring on your finger."

Melody suppressed her rising smile, feigning innocence.

"How could that be? Mine is just a free gift that came with the present Lucas bought for you."

Melody opened the ring box and tossed it at me carelessly.

I didn't reach out to catch it.

The box and a silver necklace inside fell to the floor together.

Lucas frowned deeply, his voice sharp. "Claire, why didn't you move? Didn't you see the gift I gave you fell?"

"Pick it up right now!"

Hearing this, I laughed self-deprecatingly.

"A free necklace that came with buying a ring, and you have the nerve to call it a gift?"

Melody picked up the necklace with a pained expression, looking at me reproachfully.

"This is Lucas's thoughtfulness!"

Thoughtfulness? Like I hadn't received enough of his "thoughtfulness" before?

Since I could remember, every birthday I'd received piles of careless gifts.

Tree leaves Lucas randomly picked, model toys he didn't want, paper balls he'd crumpled when irritated.

Whatever was at hand, that's what he'd give me.

Yet back then, I treasured each one, carefully preserving every single item.

In my past life, after we got married, I'd shown them to him like presenting treasures.

What I got in return was only his merciless mockery.

"Claire, are you a garbage collector?"

"You pick up everything I throw away. How pathetic!"

Hearing those words, I felt my heart shatter into pieces.

But Lucas didn't think he'd crossed any line.

He even spread this story far and wide.

From then on, everyone in our circle looked at me with mockery.

Recalling how people pointed and whispered about me in my past life, my mood instantly darkened.

I casually tossed the necklace onto the table, preparing to leave.

But Lucas spread his arms wide, blocking my path, glaring at me furiously.

"Claire, how dare you throw away the gift I gave you."

"Pick up that necklace right now and wipe it clean, or our engagement is off!"

"When that happens, even if you beg on your knees at my door for three days and nights, I might not agree to marry you!"

I looked down at Lucas and pulled my lips into a slight smile.

"Lucas, I never planned to marry you in the first place."

The air instantly froze.

Everyone present looked back and forth between Lucas and me.

Lucas paused for a moment, then laughed mockingly.

"Claire, everyone knows you've chased me for ten years. How could you possibly marry someone else?"

"All those friends of mine witnessed how you pursued me. They wouldn't want to marry you either. Oh, and Sullivan has been at odds with you since childhood—you two fight every time you meet. Would the Foster family even let you marry him?"