Chapter 1

The balloon I had let go of drifted slowly, the pop of color particularly jarring in the silent private room. Finally, it dropped limply to the ground.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward, someone spoke up softly.

"Then… Do we still hang up the banner or not?"

Face impassive, I replied, "Go ahead. After all, someone spent considerable effort making it."

I had barely finished speaking when Melissa Barker's eyes reddened. "Marissa, I truly didn't mean for this to happen! I worked overtime till 11 last night to place an order for this banner, so I must have accidentally sent them the wrong thing since it was so late. I'm genuinely sorry!"

Before I could say anything, my boyfriend, Liam Yarrow, was already frowning.

"Marissa, it's just a name. There's no need to make things difficult for Mel. Just pretend that it's your name on there and stop kicking up a fuss."

I stared at him, genuinely confused as to how I was making things difficult for Melissa.

The displeasure in Liam's eyes grew increasingly obvious, but just as he opened his mouth to berate me, someone couldn't stand the tension any longer and stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Marissa, come, have some wine!"

"Right! Tomorrow is the last day you two will be legally single, after all!"

A few rounds of drinks later, the atmosphere once again became lively.

I sat in a chair with Liam beside me, cutting steak. His movements were quick and practiced, as I loved steak, so he had been cutting it for me for nine years.

In no time, he had already cut up the steak.

I opened my mouth to tell him that I had no appetite for them, but before I could, he was already pushing the plate to his right—toward Melissa.

However, when he spoke, it was to me.

"Melissa had her nails done, so it isn't convenient for her to cut the steak herself. Don't overthink it."

It felt as though a piece of sandpaper had been raked across my heart, the sensation numb but painful.

"Mari, for the rest of my life, I'll only ever cut steak for you!"

That was the vow he had once promised me.

I honestly couldn't understand it. How could someone's heart change so quickly?

The plate of steak glared back at me, the sight stabbing into my eyes and making them tingle.

I got up and excused myself to the restroom.

As I made my way back, I stopped outside the private room door as our business partner let out a wicked laugh.

"Liam, you're about to get your marriage to Marissa registered, so why are you still being so sweet to Mel?"

"Exactly! Don't tell me… You're actually thinking of keeping them both? One on each side?"

Liam didn't refute their words, but Melissa piped up, "Hey, now, guys! Don't say such nonsense! Liam is just looking out for me as my senior, that's all."

Despite her words, she didn't sound like she was actually denying things either. On the contrary, it seemed more like she was trying to act coy.

What followed was a bout of teasing laughter, the sounds almost knowing.

I pushed open the door and entered, causing them to hastily change the subject.

Nonetheless, Liam was still smiling from earlier as he pushed a plate over to me.

"Didn't you tell me two days ago that you were craving steak? Here."

With a glance, I knew that this was the leftovers from Melissa.

As it turned out, he did remember me mentioning that I wanted to have steak, but in his heart, I only deserved to have the leftovers from someone else.

Even till the party was over and we ended the night with a group photograph, I didn't touch the plate in front of me.

Yet, Liam hadn't noticed at all.

It was pouring outside, so I waited by the restaurant's entrance for Liam.

A short while later, he arrived in his car. Opening the door, he exited with an umbrella, but then he walked straight past me before pulling Melissa closer and escorting her to his car.

Only once they were both seated did he shout at me, "What are you standing around for? Get in! The rain's only getting heavier!"

I had injured my shoulder last week, so I couldn't afford to get the bandages wet—a fact he had completely forgotten.

With that, the pouring rain seemed to extinguish the last ember of hope in my heart.

My lips twitched into a self-deprecating smile before I charged through the rain and slid into the car.

The entire journey home, Melissa chattered away happily about everything under the sun. From what she would wear to work tomorrow to how her dog had been refusing to eat lately.

Liam responded every now and then, a perpetual smile curving his lips.

It was as though the person who had once told me not to disturb him when he was driving was a completely different person.

I took out my phone. On the screen was the appointment page for registering our marriage at the marriage registration office. The appointment had been made a week ago, and the date would be the day after tomorrow.

My fingers trembled slightly, but ultimately, I pressed the "cancel" button.