"What? Quit messing around."

"I know how things are done in Larkwood City. People there only have the simplest form of weddings, so what's this engagement you're talking about?"

"That only happens when people from wealthy families get married. Are you from a wealthy family?"

"I know you're just saying this to make me worry and try to win you back. But even if you want to make things up, there should be a limit." 

I stared at the screen in a daze.

I had never expected David would reply to me almost immediately, much less send such a long string of messages. He had never done this before. 

In the past, I always had to wait forever to get a reply from him. I had never thought I would get the instant replies I had longed for only after our breakup.

But I no longer wanted any of it. After all, it was already over between us.

David was right about one thing, though. After Selene's retu

Jasmine went to the same college as David and me, and she had witnessed everything in our relationship.

Back then, when I wanted to leave my hometown with David, she had been against it as much as my parents were.

"It's true that love requires tolerance and accommodation, but why are you always the one accommodating him? Besides, there are far better opportunities in Larkwood City than in the small city he's from. Why don't you try to make him stay?" she asked.

Of course, I had tried. But no matter what I said, the only response he had given me was that his friends and family were in the other city.

At last, he had said, "Then, we'll just have a long-distance relationship."

I couldn't bear to do that. I was afraid our relationship would be affected by the long distance, and I wanted to see him every day.

Back then, I told my family with certainty that we would have a good life toge

David didn't come home after that day.

That was how he usually handled things after we had a fight—there would be no explanations, much less apologies. He would simply give me the silent treatment, making me question myself in turmoil until I was defeated. Then, he would just comfort me a little, and we would make up.

But I had only been suffering because I loved him. Now, I couldn't care less.

I packed up my things instead.

Our home was filled with matching items for couples that I had decorated myself. There was barely anything that truly belonged to me.

It turned out I hadn't been myself in a long time. 

After the long weekend, I officially handed in my resignation.

My manager, Katie Morales, accepted it right away and asked, "Are you returning to Larkwood City? I can almost hear the wedding bells for you and Mr. Linton."

"I'm returning by myself," I replied while shaking my head.

"Oh, you can quit pretending. My best friend works in the HR Department at Ascendia Group. Mr. Linton has already applied to transfer to their headquarters in Larkwood City. The company allows employees' partners to seek a position there as well, and he has already submitted his request. Didn't he do all that for you?" she asked. 

"You're a graduate from an elite college. Not only have you left your hometown, but you also humbly worked as a receptionist at a small company like ours. You've truly suffered a lot. Fortunately, things are going to be a lot better in the future," she added.

I was stunned.

David had never mentioned that to me.

Both of us were design majors. Design was the kind of profession that would make one so busy that they lost track of time.

He said that at least one of us had to have more time to take care of things at our home, so I became that person. While he made a name for himself in the industry, I was nothing more than a receptionist at a design company next door.

I was home-oriented and had wasted enough of my potential.

The partner that David was taking along with him was probably not me. But I didn't explain that.

Ms. Morales was right about something—after all my struggles, things were going to be a lot better in the future.

That night, my colleagues held a farewell party for me. When it came to an end, I was tipsy as I walked through the hallway and heard a familiar voice.

The door to the private room was ajar, and David looked drunk as he sat inside. He had a complicated expression as he held a cigarette between his fingers, the glow of its embers flickering.

"Won't I regret not taking Darina with me? No, I won't. It's true that at first, I requested a transfer to the headquarters for her. She'd cut ties with her family for me, and I knew how horrible she felt about it. I wanted to go back to Larkwood City with her. But I can't say no to Selene after she asked me about it," said David.

His friend shook his head and said, "Have you ever thought about it? Selene hasn't accepted you after all these years. Once you guys get to Larkwood City, the chances of the two of you getting together would be even slimmer."

David gulped, laughing at himself as he replied, "You just have to give your all for once in life. This is the last time. And if Selene still doesn't accept me, then I'll give up and get married to Darina."

I clenched my fists so hard that it hurt.

Back when Selene had just returned to the country, I had thought I wouldn't lose.

She was just a dream for him, while I had spent years by his side. All my contributions and my memories with David had filled me with confidence.

But it turned out he had never woken up from that dream of his.

How could he assume that I would just wait for him forever?

"Darina?" Selene called out.

She came out of the restroom, a rare glint of wariness crossing her eyes.

"You've found out, haven't you? There's no point anymore. David has already submitted the name of his partner. I'm not going to let this opportunity slip by, no matter what," she said.

I finally understood what was going on. She had only been spending time with David and stringing him along because he was still of use to her.

Still, I couldn't help my confusion.

"Since you're just using him and never even liked him, why must you prove to me how good he was to you?" I asked.

There was no need for her to upload those Instagram posts and send those messages over and over again to provoke me and assert her dominance.

She crossed her arms and sneered.

"Even if it's something that I don't want, I don't want others to be too comfortable using it," she said.

I suddenly thought it was hilarious.

David was just like me. He had wasted years loving the wrong person, only to be treated as an object in return.

As I turned around to walk away, Selene blocked my path.

"Even now, I don't want him to leave feeling guilty for you," she said. 

She suddenly clapped her hands with all her might, creating a loud slap, and then she let out a scream.

David practically rushed over without missing a beat, shoving me aside.

"Your girlfriend seems to be a little upset about your job transfer," said Selene, holding her face, though there wasn't a single injury in sight.

My head slammed into the wall from the force of David's shove. When I reached up to touch it, I felt blood on my fingers.

But David's eyes were only filled with rage. 

Before he could open his mouth to question me, I gave him a tight slap.

"It wasn't my doing before, but it is now," I said.

My blood was smeared across his face, perfectly reflecting the mess our relationship had become.

"Darina, you look just like a shrew right now," said David as he turned his darkened face. 

"Didn't you say you want a breakup? I've agreed, so you have no business caring who I'm taking along with me. I won't console you anymore. Don't come crying to me when you regret it."

He glared at me and helped Selene into the private room before slamming the door shut, separating us into two different worlds.

I had never expected that our relationship would end in such a miserable way.

Slowly, I turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

The wound on my head hurt a little, and my heart ached for some reason as well.

Fortunately, no matter how painful or how bad my injuries were, they would recover one day. Everything would pass eventually.

…

That night, I boarded a plane and left the city I had lived in for three years, returning to a home that I hadn't set foot in for just as long.

Judging by David's character, I thought he would never come looking for me again. We would both fade out of each other's worlds.

To my surprise, he texted me a week later.

"I'm surprised that you're being so stubborn this time that you would rather hide and cry alone than contact me. What are you doing now?" he asked.

I didn't see the text until that night because I had been busy all day. I simply replied indifferently, "I just got engaged."

"What? Quit messing around."

"I know how things are done in Larkwood City. People there only have the simplest form of weddings, so what's this engagement you're talking about?"

"That only happens when people from wealthy families get married. Are you from a wealthy family?"

"I know you're just saying this to make me worry and try to win you back. But even if you want to make things up, there should be a limit." 

I stared at the screen in a daze.

I had never expected David would reply to me almost immediately, much less send such a long string of messages. He had never done this before. 

In the past, I always had to wait forever to get a reply from him. I had never thought I would get the instant replies I had longed for only after our breakup.

But I no longer wanted any of it. After all, it was already over between us.

David was right about one thing, though. After Selene's return, it was true that I had lied a few times and said that I was unwell.

Whenever Selene faced even 

Chapter 5