Chapter 2

5

The reason Connor was so confident I wouldn't leave wasn't just his arrogance-it was my endlessly demanding parents.

I had a younger brother, born when I was fifteen. From the moment he came into this world, I existed only to serve him.

My parents' approach to raising me shifted overnight-from "You need to grow up strong and independent" to "You need to think of your brother first in everything."

My status in the family plummeted from cherished only child to unpaid servant.

Connor knew this was my Achilles' heel better than anyone else.

The day after I moved out, my parents' calls started flooding in. I hesitated for a long time before finally answering.

The anticipated barrage of insults hit me like a freight train, my mother's shrill voice threatening to pierce my eardrum.

"Connor told me you're divorcing him? Who's going to send over the monthly allowance now? Your brother's math class, taekwondo lessons, tutoring sessions-do you think those are free?"

I took a deep breath, holding the phone a little further away, my patience wearing thin.

"Mom, Connor cheated on me."

There was a brief pause on the other end before the yelling resumed, even louder this time.

"Connor explained everything! It was just necessary for business! You're at home doing nothing while all the burdens fall on his shoulders-can't you just let it slide?"

I hung up, desperate for a moment of peace.

Rosalie, who was driving, kept glancing at me. After a long silence, she finally spoke.

"Mabel, you know I've got your back. If you need anything, say the word. My boyfriend is a lawyer-he'll help you get the best settlement possible."

I thought for a moment before nodding and murmuring, "Thank you."

6

That night, Rosalie and I drank ourselves into oblivion at a bar.

It felt like this was the natural state of adulthood-polished exteriors during the day, but by night, the masks came off, revealing the fragile side underneath.

We cried, then laughed, then somehow ended up reminiscing about the past.

Those innocent, beautiful days felt as distant as forgotten springs, their memories buried deep, like seeds in the soil, shaping the colors of seasons yet to come.

In other words, they were gone-reduced to dust.

In my drunken haze, Rosalie and I might have done some outrageous things at the bar.

Whatever they were, we got kicked out. On the cold, dimly lit streets, I screamed into the night like a wild animal, shedding all inhibitions.

For once, I allowed myself to do the things I'd always wanted to but never dared.

Amid the quiet streets, I spotted a lone, handsome man.

Grinning like a fool, I let out a few unseemly chuckles before launching myself at him.

My memory of the night was hazy, but I recalled grabbing him and doing something... probably not very polite.

I remember asking, "What's so great about kissing other people's lips?"

Then slurring, "Oh, I see... They're indeed pretty great to kiss."

The next morning, I woke up at Rosalie's place.

Hungover and disheveled, but somehow, that night of reckless abandon gave me a strange, newfound courage. My wavering heart had finally made a decision.

7

When I handed Connor the divorce agreement, he flipped through it with a sneer, his gaze dripping with contempt.

"Leaving with nothing? Mabel, after all the time you've spent freeloading off me, now you want to squeeze me dry on the way out too? Aren't you embarrassed?"

I stared at him, and for a fleeting moment, my heart ached despite itself.

The same face that now sneered with disdain was the one that, five years ago, had shyly confessed to me, blushing so deeply he could barely get the words out.

"Mabel, I swear on everything, I'll love you forever."

Now, that same face was spewing venom.

It was as if those five years of love had vanished in an instant, leaving Connor and me as bitter adversaries.

Suddenly, I didn't feel like fighting anymore.

I just wanted to leave-to escape this prison where every moment was haunted by memories.

But then, Connor grabbed me.

His warmth pressed against my skin-so familiar, so inviting. For a second, I almost wanted to give in. But the revulsion overwhelmed me.

"Mabel, forgive me. Can you really walk away from everything we've had?"

His hand tightened around my neck as he pinned me against the couch, his movements rough and domineering.

As his lips inched closer, my mind flashed to that video-Connor kissing someone else just as fervently.

The nausea hit me like a wave. His lips, having touched another woman's, suddenly felt filthy.

I shoved him away with all my strength, but he pressed down on me even harder.

"Let's take a trip down memory lane," he growled.

My stomach churned violently. As he leaned in, I dry-heaved, my whole body convulsing with disgust.

Connor noticed the change immediately, loosening his grip and letting me go. I bolted to the bathroom.

Behind me, his voice called out. "Mabel, if you're pregnant, you shouldn't get so worked up."

I barely registered his words, too dizzy to focus as the room spun around me. My entire world seemed to dim.

Connor followed me, patting my back gently and muttering something I couldn't make out. I wanted to shove him away, but my body felt weak and unresponsive.

Then the doorbell rang.

Connor hesitated for a moment before leaving to answer it.

I thought it might be Rosalie and tried to steady myself, ready to go find her.

But instead, a sultry, unfamiliar voice drifted through the hallway, dripping with flirtation. "Connor, why didn't you pick up? I've already booked the romantic getaway suite. Are you ready?"