The day before my wedding, my fiancée, Rebecca Grant, suddenly declared she was marrying my best friend, Leo Dalton. Double-crossed and humiliated, everyone waited for my spectacular downfall. But then, Scarlett Monroe, a prominent socialite and CEO from the Capital City, descended from the sky, as it were, and declared her feelings for me. Scarlett and I married. After that, I settled into life as a devoted homebody, teaching at the university, managing the household, and learning to be a stay-at-home husband. Some time later, at a business gala, I went to pick up a heavily intoxicated Scarlett. I overheard her brother speaking sympathetically about me: "Scarlett, isn't the Dalton Mall you've built opening soon? You've sacrificed so much to pave the way for Leo, even your own marriage, manipulating Ethan. How long do you plan to fool him?" Scarlett's voice was filled with a bitter resignation. "As long as Leo is happy, I will clear every obstacle for him." It dawned on me then: all the affection, all the profound love, could be an act. I, Ethan Hayes, was just another pawn in their elaborate game. So, I decided to walk away. … Clutching a thermos of hangover remedy, with Ms. Davies, my secretary, by my side, I hurried to the gala at The Grand Crown Hotel. The server informed me that Scarlett was resting in the VVIP suite. Before I could even push open the door, a strong scent of alcohol wafted out. Through the door, I heard a familiar male voice: "Scarlett, isn't the Dalton Mall you've built opening soon? All these years, you've sacrificed so much to pave the way for Leo, even your own marriage, manipulating Ethan. How long do you plan to fool him?" A jolt of confusion hit me. I was about to push the door open when I heard Scarlett's voice, tinged with bitterness and heavy with drink: "Brother, as long as Leo is happy, I can keep up this act for a lifetime. I will clear every obstacle for Leo." I was struck by lightning, my hand freezing mid-air. Ms. Davies, beside me, gave me a knowing but sympathetic look, her gaze anxious. So, everyone knew. Only I had been living in a fool's paradise. The elegant strains of the cello from the hotel lobby seemed to twist into a discordant shriek in my ears, utterly grating. "Ethan loves you so much. What if, one day, he finds out the truth?" "He never will." Inside the warm hotel, a shiver ran down my spine. I lowered my voice, speaking to Ms. Davies. "Ms. Monroe has had too much to drink today. Bring her out in a moment. I'll wait for you in the car. Remember, don't say anything you shouldn't." I sat in the car, staring blankly at the starry ceiling. Years of memories flashed through my mind like a slideshow, frame by agonizing frame. Rebecca, my fiancée, had suddenly broken off our engagement, causing a scandalous uproar. Everyone waited for my spectacular downfall, but then Scarlett appeared, claiming she had loved me for a long time. Caught in the eye of the storm, I was moved by her, deciding to marry her, creating a heartwarming tale in the Capital City's elite circles. Now, it was clear: this marriage, woven from deceit, was nothing more than a cruel joke. Ms. Davies helped Scarlett into the car. Seeing me, Scarlett paused, surprised. Her misty eyes cleared instantly, and she leaned her head against my shoulder. "It's just a gala. Ms. Davies could have picked me up. You work hard teaching and writing papers for your students; you don't need to be running around." I forced a tender smile. "I was just worried about you." She embraced my arm, her voice soft. "The company's new mall opens tomorrow; I might be busy very late. You go to sleep first, don't wait for me. The weather's been erratic lately, so take care of yourself." Late that night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I remembered I'd left my headphones in the study. In the study, a few pages peeked out from a drawer under the desk. Usually, this drawer was locked. On an impulse, I pulled, and it opened. Inside were design blueprints for all of Scarlett's company's current and future development sites and commercial properties, along with a watch box. I flipped through the blueprints, page by page, and suddenly realized that the names of these plots and properties, even some of their floor numbers and logos, all, without exception, featured the word "Dalton": Dalton Mall, Dalton Heights residential complex, Dalton Jewelers… Although I was an architecture major, Scarlett had always told me she had her own team, and I rarely interfered with company affairs. It became chillingly clear: every corner of her business world was etched with her endless love for Leo. I opened the watch box. It was empty, but the certificate was still there. It was for a Richard Mille Gem-Set Crystal timepiece. I had always liked this watch; I'd even opened my phone once to look at it repeatedly. Scarlett had glanced over and said, "Ethan, a watch like that, worth ten or twenty million, is highly overpriced, and too flashy for school. How about I get you an iWatch instead?" I remembered that yesterday, in a picture on social media, Leo Dalton was wearing that very Richard Mille watch on his wrist. I walked out to the balcony. The night was deep, the wind cuttingly cold. My eyes burned, a familiar prickle of tears. My phone screen lit up, a message popping in: "Mr. Hayes, are you sure you've made up your mind?" "I have." It was time to leave. The next morning, as I was leaving the house, I called out to Scarlett. "I'm going to Paris tonight." She looked surprised. "Why so sudden?" My heart ached, but I feigned nonchalance. "Paris University is hosting an international academic exchange. I just got the notification." She kissed my cheek lightly, not sensing my sorrow. "Don't work too hard. Come back as soon as the conference is over." I couldn't help but marvel at how perfectly someone could feign such profound affection. Since everything was a lie, it was time for me to completely exit this farce. I remembered the address of her new mall from the blueprints and drove directly there. After today, I would completely disappear from Scarlett's world. This would be our last farewell. Inside the mall, a designated area had been set up. Scarlett stood out vividly in the crowd, her high heels clicking, her aura commanding as she mingled with guests. Leo's handsome face broke into a smile. He raised his glass to Scarlett. "Ms. Monroe, congratulations!" Scarlett's eyes shimmered with complex emotions as she clinked glasses with Leo. "Mr. Dalton, it's thanks to your top-notch design that our Dalton Mall is so magnificent, attracting so many customers right from its opening." She emphasized "our mall." My heart clenched. I walked towards them. Scarlett's eyes widened in surprise when she saw me, then quickly softened into her usual gentle expression. "Why are you here?" I forced a smile. "What? Am I not welcome?" Scarlett put down her glass. "How could you say that? I was just worried about distracting you from your work." Leo glanced at me, his eyes full of hidden meaning. Just then, Ms. Davies hurried over. "Ms. Monroe, it's time for your speech." Scarlett said to me, "Then you rest a bit. I'll be right back." With that, she hurried onto the stage. I picked up a glass of champagne and sat down. Leo walked over, his voice dripping with mockery. "Long time no see, Ethan. My… dear brother. What? Starting to check up on her now? Why don't you just tie Scarlett to your hip! How does it feel to be a kept man?" He leaned in, his voice a low sneer. "You better remember, you'll always be my inferior." He laughed heartily, and as he raised his hand, the Richard Mille watch on his wrist glinted, painfully bright. Leo and I were once the best of friends, so close we decided to study architecture together. But after my fiancée, Rebecca, broke off our engagement and married Leo, we became bitter enemies. Betrayed in both friendship and love, I was utterly devastated. Just when I thought my life had plunged into endless darkness, Scarlett's appearance brought light back into my world. After deciding to marry Scarlett, she suddenly told me, while we were preparing for an international architecture competition: "Ethan, aren't you very fond of the academic environment at the university? Why don't you give up your company work and just focus on teaching and writing papers?" Moved, I immediately sold my architectural design firm and withdrew from the competition. The ultimate winner of that international architecture competition was Leo Dalton. He became an internationally renowned architect, while I became "Professor Hayes," busy with lectures and grading. Thinking back, Scarlett must have been clearing obstacles for Leo from the very beginning. I looked up at the interior of the mall. The structural design was incredibly familiar, so familiar I wondered if I was hallucinating, yet some parts were modified in an awkward, ill-fitting way. My heart began to pound violently. I had an old design blueprint saved on my computer. After abandoning my architectural career, I hadn't opened it again. How did my old design blueprint become Leo's design now? And how was it built into a mall by Scarlett? I suppressed the confusion churning in my mind, casting a cold glance at Leo. Just as I was about to speak, I heard him bellow, "Ethan! What are you doing?!" "Ah—" Before I could react, Leo suddenly stumbled and fell, clutching his calf and lying on the ground, his face contorted in pain. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. "Quick! Call an ambulance!" "Someone fell! Get a doctor!" People crowded around, their gazes complex as they looked at me. Amidst the clamor, I saw an all-too-familiar figure. "Leo!" It was Scarlett, my wife for three years. Her face filled with panic, she rushed off the stage, pushing me aside. She knelt by Leo, asking anxiously, "Is your leg okay?" Just then, a doctor arrived. Scarlett carefully helped Leo onto a stretcher. She stood beside me, barely suppressing the fury on her face, and said, "I know you two had a falling out, but you shouldn't have pushed him. Don't you know he just recovered from breaking his leg skiing a while ago?" I looked at her, as if I had never truly known her. My voice trembled slightly. "Why? The design of this mall… it's so similar to the blueprint on my computer?" Scarlett frowned. "How would I know? What blueprint? Architectural design uses standard software, it's normal for things to look similar!" I couldn't help but give a bitter, wry smile. My home computer, apart from the housekeeper, was only accessible to her. Sensing my displeasure and suspicion, she changed the subject. "I was too rash just now. I was just worried it would affect our future business partnership with the Dalton and Grant families. After all, Leo is still our chief designer, and I don't want you to have trouble." Seeing my expression, Scarlett softened her tone, grasping my hand tightly. "Let's have lunch together. I'll ask Ms. Davies to find a place. I'll come over after I've dealt with things here. I'll handle the Daltons and Grants." I nodded. I almost admired Scarlett now, for being able to act to such an extent for Leo's happiness. When I entered the Starlight Hotel's top-floor restaurant, which offered the most expansive view, I received a few messages from Scarlett: "Leo's leg is fine, just a scratch." "Rebecca also said she won't press charges." I stood by the window, quietly watching the birds fly by, and replied to Scarlett: "Hm, that's good." Just as I was about to put down my phone, Leo sent me a stack of photos and a string of messages. "Oops, wrong recipient." I zoomed in on the photos. Leo was drinking tea, selecting items. The slender hand of the person opposite him wore a familiar Van Cleef & Arpels limited edition bracelet – a birthday gift I had given to Scarlett. I sat on the sofa, waiting for a very long time, until the sun began to set. Scarlett didn't come. I called Scarlett. It connected instantly.
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