Chapter 3

Anna put down her phone and felt a lump in her throat.

She was afraid that Collin had already seen through the love she pursued and found it was nothing but a shattered dream.

Over the past five years, she had been wrong.

Perhaps Anna's sudden departure from the estate had worried Braeden. When she left the hospital, some bodyguards closely followed her and feared that she might get lost.

She found it amusing.

She looked down, and a message from Braeden arrived. "Honey, things at the company are tough. I won't be back tonight. Go to bed yourself."

Anna couldn't be bothered to reply.

Just a month ago, Braeden was still planning surprises and gifts for their anniversary.

But he seemed to have completely forgotten about it.

Yet, it didn't matter anymore.

On a social media platform, Carol posted a new photo.

She was wearing a pristine white wedding dress, with a diamond-studded crown on her head.

"The guy who loves me stays up all night helping me choose my wedding dress."

Braeden was about to marry another woman, but he kept deceiving Anna.

Anna stared blankly at the photo, and her heart ached with a gnawing pain.

The style of Carol's wedding dress was once her favorite, too.

On the eve of the ninth time they planned to get married, Braeden had suddenly told her that her wedding dress had been accidentally stained by the wedding dress boss and that she couldn't wear it.

Anna had no choice but to pick another one, which was simpler and casual.

Now Anna knew that the dress had probably been reserved for Carol all along.

Anna clutched her phone tightly, and her whole body trembled with pain.

He had long decided not to marry her, but she foolishly awaited the tenth time he pretended to plan to marry her.

Carol continued to post more photos on her social media.

"A stunning sapphire ring, a gift from my husband, with a six-digit price tag."

The dazzling blue ring was around Carol's finger, and on the counter lay a diamond bracelet, tagged "Complimentary Gift".

Anna touched the promise ring she had worn for five years.

When Braeden had placed it around her finger, she couldn't stop her tears of joy.

Back then, she had treated the ring as a rare treasure and would feel uneasy even taking it off for a minute.

And now, he had placed a larger, more precious gemstone ring around Carol's finger and proposed to her.

He said she was his wife.

Anna couldn't understand how his heart could be split in two and how his love could be divided.

But she suddenly got it.

He just didn't love her.

Anna took off the ring and placed it on the bedside table.

Braeden returned the next morning.

As soon as he entered, he went straight to Anna and planted a deep kiss on her forehead. "Honey, I'm sorry. I just realized while signing documents that our anniversary passed two days ago."

Anna's heart ached dully as she listened to him continue, "I brought you a gift to make up for it."

With that, he took out a beautiful gift box from his pocket and slowly opened it.

It was a bracelet.

"Do you like it? This new pavé diamond piece from Cartier is perfect for you." Here, let me put it on for you."

Anna's heart sank heavily.

It was the same "complimentary gift" she had seen in Carol's photo the night before.

She controlled her trembling hands and let Braeden clasp the bracelet onto her wrist.

"Oh, by the way, the bracelet was a bit large, so I had them remove a diamond and make it into a ring. It's for me. Now we have a matching set of couples' jewelry, don't we? It's unique, just for us," Braeden said excitedly. He was oblivious to Anna's growing pallor. "I installed a discreet tracker in the bracelet and a receiver in the ring, so I can see what you're up to anytime. I'm sorry, honey. I'm too busy and often not at home, so this is my way of protecting you. You don't mind, do you?"

Anna held her breath

and gestured to reply to him. "I don't mind. Thank you."

Braeden smiled brightly

and gently stroked Anna's hair. "My good girl."