Briefly, We Met

When Isaac Sterling returned, I was scrolling through Instagram. The headline dominating both the business and entertainment sections featured a photo of him and Grace Webb walking hand in hand. Matching rings gleamed brightly on their ring fingers, almost painfully so.

Meanwhile, the group chat titled “The Exes Club” had exploded with messages.

[No way. Is Isaac really getting married?]

[He was so sweet to me in bed last night. I refuse to believe it!]

[Seriously, what’s so special about Grace? Just because her wealthy family could help Isaac's business?]

[I'm devastated. I gave him my whole heart, and this is what I get in return.]

The dozen or so women in that chat were all former lovers Isaac had financially supported at one point or another. In the group chat, they shared stories about their time with him and showed off the gifts he’d bought them. Sometimes, they even compared notes about their experiences in bed with him. As for me, I had always stayed silent, never joining in on the conversation.

Then suddenly, someone tagged me.

[Sadie, weren't you one of those top university graduates? Think of a solution for us.]

Another person immediately mocked me. [Why ask her? She’s useless. Isaac doesn’t even visit her more than three times a month.]

My fingers tightened around my phone. They weren’t wrong. Among all the women Isaac kept around, I was probably the least favored.

I never fought for attention. I never made demands. I never cried or caused a scene. No matter how many women came and went around him, I rarely reacted, and it wasn’t because I didn’t care. It was because I had once cared, and it changed nothing. So eventually, I learned how to be the obedient lover he wanted.

Just as my thoughts drifted away, a warm body suddenly pressed against me from behind.

Isaac lowered his chin onto my forehead and asked softly, “What are you looking at?”

I locked my screen and replied, “Nothing.”

He kissed my cheek before slipping an arm around my waist and carrying me toward the bedroom. As I buried my face in his coat, a faint scent of roses drifted into my nose. It was a woman's perfume.

By now, I was long accustomed to Isaac seeing other women. However, this was the first time I'd ever found evidence of it on him. Whenever he came to visit me, he was always meticulous. Not just perfume, but even a single strand of another woman’s hair would never make it back to me.

Yet today, he’d slipped up, or maybe it wasn’t a mistake at all. Maybe it was a sign of how much he indulged that woman, and the only person who could make Isaac break his own rules was probably Miss Webb. After all, they were about to get engaged.

Isaac gently placed me on the bed before he shrugged off his coat and loosened his tie.

“You're getting engaged, aren’t you?”

His hand paused halfway through unfastening a button. “Have you been reading nonsense online again?”

I looked up at him and said, “Congratulations.”

A frown immediately formed between his brows, and his expression darkened. “Sadie, be reasonable. My marriage to Grace is a necessary business arrangement. The Webb family's support will be important for the company's future growth.”

I let out a quiet laugh. “I know. You can get married, and we can end things here and part on good terms.”

He suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Sadie, stop being stubborn. Grace and I are just putting on a show. Once the company is stable, I'll cut ties with her immediately. Just be patient a little longer.”

I closed my eyes, hiding the tears gathering behind them.

Over the past seven years, I had endured far too much for Isaac. For his sake, I had lowered myself into the role of a hidden lover and forced myself to act understanding while he spent countless nights with other women. And now, I was simply exhausted, mentally and physically.

When I didn't respond, Isaac assumed I had accepted it. He heaved a sigh of relief and pulled me tightly into his arms.

“Sadie, don't be upset. I'm doing all of this so we can have a better future together. I'll be traveling for work next week. If there's anything you want, just tell me. I'll bring it back for you.”

I lowered my gaze, concealing the coldness in my eyes. Then, I said calmly, “Just focus on your trip.”

However, this time, I simply wouldn't be waiting for him anymore.