After accepting his proposal, Arthur Sterling and I ran into his gold-digging first love while traveling abroad. Due to domestic abuse from her ex-husband, the woman’s memory had regressed six years—back to the year before she eloped with a rich man. Upon seeing Arthur, she smiled brightly, throwing herself into his arms and calling him "Artie." Not only did he not push her away, but he also took her to the hospital, paid her medical bills, and settled her debts. From then on, every time I mentioned our wedding, the woman would suddenly have a "medical episode." The first time, I was trying on wedding dresses. I watched his hurried retreating back, becoming a joke in the eyes of onlookers. The second time, the woman had a sudden somatic symptom attack and smashed our newly taken engagement photos. He said she didn't do it on purpose. The third time, he missed our appointment to finalize the wedding venue decorations, leaving me forgotten on a mountaintop for a whole day and night, just to read her bedtime stories. I tolerated it again and again, until the woman called the police, claiming I stole her engagement ring. When the police questioned us, Arthur held her and avoided my trembling gaze. "That ring... does indeed belong to my... fiancée." No wonder the ring was too small. It turned out that from the very beginning, neither this ring nor this man ever belonged to me. For three days and three nights, I counted on my fingers, enduring a full seventy-two hours. It wasn't until a letter of forgiveness from Mia Lin arrived that my innocence was finally restored. Arthur’s last messages were from three days ago. 【She’s sick, she didn't do it on purpose. There’s no need for you to hold a grudge against a sick person.】 【Apologize early, get out early, don't be stubborn.】 【Once Mia gets better, I will make it up to you.】 The silent police officers filled my mind; I felt as if I was being choked. It felt like I was back in that dark, cold, cramped room at the detention center, a chill creeping up my spine. It had been a year. A full year. Mia’s illness remained the same, but Arthur’s heart was increasingly biased toward her. In the past, I could still talk myself into staying. Now, only one thought remained in my mind: I couldn't convince myself anymore. I was tired. Returning home, I opened the door. In the entryway, all my shoes had vanished. In their place were various pairs of high heels, the styles Mia liked. I froze at the door. A woman's voice came from inside, getting closer. "How did you get in?" Looking up, the guarded and surprised look in Mia’s eyes was incredibly genuine. This was the home I had lived in for four years, yet she pointed at me, warning me with the tone of the lady of the house. "Ms. Jones, I don't know why you are so obsessed with Artie, but he is my fiancé. As a woman, don't you have any self-respect?" "I shouldn't have let you out so quickly just because we're both women!" My gaze fell on the sparkling ring on Mia’s ring finger. During those three days in the detention center, I only had one sentence from beginning to end. "The ring is mine, not hers." The police even thought I had delusions and contacted a doctor for a psychiatric evaluation. The facts proved that I did have delusions. Only the delusion wasn't about the ring, but about Arthur’s heart. I took a deep breath, suppressing the sourness in my heart. "Where is Arthur Sterling? Tell him to come out." As my voice fell, the man emerged from the bedroom. Mia, as if finding her protector, hid behind him, her voice trembling. "Artie, hurry and kick her out! Tell her to stop harassing you!" He stroked her hair, comforting her gently. "Don't be afraid. I'll kick her out right now." But when he faced me, his tone was like frost. "Chloe Jones, you'd better leave right now, this instant, or I'll call the police." Since Arthur brought Mia back to the country, I had lost count of how many times I'd heard this sentence. Every time, his explanation was the same. "Just bear with it a little longer, Mia will be better soon." I bore it again and again, and now I even had to give up my marital home. I curled my lips in a ridiculous smile and bumped into the cabinet behind me. The wedding photo of Arthur and me that used to be there had been replaced by a wedding photo of him and Mia. The dazzling smiles of the two of them starkly contrasted with me, making me look like a comical clown. I felt as if I had been pricked by a needle, all color draining from my face, and I stumbled out the door. The rain outside was falling even harder. Behind me, Arthur made no attempt to make me stay; his entire focus was on Mia. Worried she might catch a cold, he decisively closed the door. The loud slam of the door echoed continuously in my heart. I opened my phone and, unsurprisingly, received a message from Arthur. 【Just bear with it a little longer, it will pass soon.】 For the first time, I didn't reply instantly. I dialed the number for the wedding planning company. The previous nine weddings were forced to be canceled due to Mia’s illness. The tenth time, I wasn't waiting anymore. Arthur, I don't want you or the wedding anymore. 2 I had nowhere to go, wandering around until I stopped in front of the rental apartment Arthur and I used to live in. Pushing the door open, a strong musty smell hit my face. Before Arthur’s startup succeeded, we had lived in this two-hundred-square-foot apartment for three years. During the hottest, most restless summers, he would prop up his head and fan me on the bamboo mat until his arm ached and trembled. During the coldest, most biting winters, he would frequently change the cold towels on my forehead when I had a fever, staying awake all night. Once, we had an argument. He rushed out of the house, pulled me into his arms. "Chloe, don't go. If you leave, my heart goes with you." The time he forcefully brought Mia back to the country, I screamed at him hysterically. "Didn't you hate her for leaving you and running off with a rich guy?!" With his back to me, his tone was calm. "That's all in the past." To this day, I finally understood how selfish Arthur was. He got over that hurdle in his heart and reconciled with Mia. But he left me in that sweltering summer, questioning a floor full of shattered pieces. The rain fell heavily, thunder crashing. Curled up on the hard bed frame, I woke up with a start, instinctively reaching forward for warmth like I used to. "Arthur, I'm cold..." The cold wall made me completely awake, unable to fall back asleep. I opened Mia’s social media account; she had updated it again. It was a series of photos of Arthur making a late-night snack for her. I kept scrolling back, and when I reached the last photo of the "Love Fried Rice," my heart stopped. When Arthur used to work as a cook, he made me a bowl of "Love Fried Rice" every night, flattering me. "This is the Love Fried Rice exclusively for Chloe." The promises of the past echoed in my ears. But the person who made those promises was far away, by someone else's side. I closed my eyes. The pattering rain outside the window seemed to fall right into my heart. The next day, while I was washing up in the bathroom, I heard Arthur’s voice from outside. My movements paused, a moment of expectation rising. Did he remember that today was our anniversary and specifically come looking for me? The next second, Mia’s voice shattered my illusion. "Artie, is this where we used to live?" Arthur was silent for a moment before replying softly. "Yes. So you have to get better quickly and remember all our memories together." He effortlessly erased my existence, like wiping away an inconspicuous water stain. A ringing filled my ears. My heart was fiercely gripped, hurting so much I couldn't breathe. Arthur approached and pushed open the bathroom door. Our eyes met. He lowered his voice, launching a preemptive strike. "Chloe, what is wrong with you? Tracking us all the way here!" "Mia’s condition just showed some improvement. Whatever resentment or hatred you have, can't you wait until she's better to act out?" He closed the door too fast. I had just reached my hand out, and my fingertips were forcefully crushed. The fingers are connected to the heart. The pain shot straight to my core, and I couldn't help but let out a miserable scream. The sound drew Mia over. The door opened. Her face suddenly turned pale, as if she had suffered a massive grievance. "Ms. Jones, how long are you going to keep harassing Artie?" "Artie already said he has no interest in you, the only person he loves is me!" "Please, I'm begging you, stop harassing my fiancé, okay? Please let us go!" She became emotionally agitated and had an asthma attack. Arthur expertly pulled out an inhaler to calm her breathing. Finally, he picked her up, giving me a fierce glare before leaving. "Mia Lin, are you satisfied now?!" From beginning to end, he never noticed my swollen, purple fingers. While treating the wound, my tears fell like pearls from a broken string. I remembered a time when I was wronged at work. Arthur rushed over without a second word to back me up. Because he was in such a hurry, he got into a car accident taking a corner and broke a rib. I scolded him for risking his life, but he brushed it off. "If it's about my Chloe, even if I really have to risk my life, I'm willing." Who could have thought that the person who hated seeing me wronged the most back then would be the one giving me the greatest grievance now? In this moment, my heart was completely shattered. 3 The next day, I picked a time when Arthur wasn't around to get my luggage. I found that he had thrown all my things into the storage room. The plushies he used to give me were gathering dust in the corner, and the photo album I gave him for his birthday was torn to shreds. Looking at the mess on the floor, I finally understood. What I had been desperately protecting for the past year was nothing more than what Arthur discarded without hesitation. Just as I finished packing my things, a familiar voice came from behind. "Next time you come to the house, you can let me know in advance." I turned around, feeling it was incredibly ridiculous. Catching the sarcasm in my eyes, Arthur coughed lightly. "I was afraid Mia would overthink seeing these things, so I temporarily put them here..." I was too lazy to listen and calmly interrupted him. "Just throw it all away." Arthur froze in place, seemingly thinking he had misheard. After a moment, he sighed helplessly. "Chloe, there's no need to say things out of anger. I know I've neglected you a bit lately." "Once Mia is better, we'll get married." It seemed the wedding planning company hadn't notified him yet that the wedding was canceled. Right, the only person he cared about was Mia. "Arthur, let's break up..." The last three words were drowned out by Mia’s customized ringtone. Arthur’s expression instantly softened. "Yeah, I found the earring. I'm coming to find you right now." "Be good, wait for me there, don't move around." The call ended, and his tone instantly dropped ten degrees. "Mia will be home for the next few days. Don't show up and trigger her again." I watched the man's retreating back, my eyes full of sarcasm. That night, I had just booked my flight ticket when the police broke down the door again and took me away, wearing only my pajamas. This time, they even put handcuffs on me. In the deep autumn night, I shivered as I was escorted away. Only after interrogation did I find out that Mia had called the police again. She claimed she lost a set of jewelry and, upon checking the security cameras, found that I had sneaked into the house. She generously gave me two choices. Either apologize publicly and admit to the theft. Or she would press charges, and based on the value, I would face at least three years in prison. I sat stiffly in the police station all night. The coldness I hadn't felt during those three years in the rental apartment all rushed to my heart. Like ice-sealed needles attacking from all directions, piercing my heart. At eight in the morning, Arthur arrived. With red eyes, I stared dead at him. "I didn't steal anything." He pursed his lips tightly, his tone indifferent. "I know, but that's not important." "Chloe, be good. Just apologize and you can come out." "You don't want the wedding delayed for three years, do you?" He reached out, wanting to hold my hand. I instinctively recoiled like I was electrocuted. At the same time, tears fell, my heart turning to ash. "Arthur, what exactly am I in your eyes?" This time, he didn't answer. Ultimately, following Mia’s demands, I publicly apologized online, admitting to shamelessly seducing Arthur and stealing her belongings. Once the apology letter was made public, it caused a massive uproar. Countless netizens cursed me for being shameless and a disgrace to women. Friends who knew me deleted me one after another, wishing they could stay as far away from me as possible. Some netizens even started "shipping" Arthur and Mia. Digging deeper, they discovered the two had been together since graduating high school. On one hand, they praised Arthur for his unwavering loyalty, not forgetting his first love even after becoming successful. On the other hand, they praised Mia for being a well-deserved virtuous wife, accompanying Arthur from obscurity to vast wealth. From beginning to end, only I looked like a clown who loved but couldn't be loved. Two days later, I walked out of the police station. The sky outside was clear, but my heart felt like it was covered by a dark cloud. Mia stood outside, holding Arthur’s arm, using a magnanimous tone. "Ms. Jones, I hope you truly turn over a new leaf after this incident." "Don't steal other people's things, and don't covet someone who doesn't belong to you." I no longer had the grief and anger of the past; I nodded numbly. "Yes, thank you, Ms. Lin. I won't harass your fiancé anymore." As I spoke, a flash of panic crossed Arthur’s face. He quickly suppressed it and drove away with Mia. He probably thought I was still throwing a tantrum, speaking out of anger. But this time, I was serious. Tonight at 8 PM, I will completely leave his world. 4 Before leaving, I went to a temple. Three years ago, I was pregnant with a child. At that time, Arthur's career was on the rise, and I accompanied him to various social engagements. I only found out I was pregnant after I lost the baby. Back then, Arthur's eyes were red, and he slapped himself hard across the face. "Chloe, I'm the one who failed you and the baby." After I was discharged from the hospital, the two of us lit an eternal lamp for the child at this temple, and it had been lit for four years. Before leaving, I just wanted to take one last look at this child. As soon as I stepped into the main hall, I froze in place. Not far away, Mia was holding onto Arthur, standing in front of the child's eternal lamp, acting coquettishly. "Artie, I heard the eternal lamps here are really hard to get. If you extinguish this person's lamp and light mine, won't she cause trouble for you?" "Just a little trouble. As long as you can live a long and healthy life." Arthur was actually going to give the child's eternal lamp to Mia! Anger flared up violently. Before Arthur could extinguish the lamp, I rushed over and blocked it. "No one is touching this lamp today!" The two of them were caught off guard by my shout. Mia reacted, biting her lip, looking incredibly wronged. "Ms. Jones, enough is enough!" "You wanted to steal the ring Artie gave me, you wanted to steal the jewelry he gave me, and now you even want to steal the eternal lamp Artie is giving me!" "Have you no shame?!" Her voice was neither light nor heavy, just enough to attract the attention of other visitors in the temple. My face was livid, my jaw clenched tight. "Mia Lin, I will say this one last time: I have never stolen anything of yours!" But she acted even more wronged, hiding behind Arthur and tugging at his sleeve. "Artie, quickly drive her away! I don't want to see her anymore!" Arthur squeezed her hand and pointed towards the hall doors. "Chloe Jones, leave immediately. I don't want to say it a second time." I couldn't hold back my roar any longer. "Why should I leave? You two are the ones who should leave!!" "Arthur Sterling, do you have any conscience left? Have you forgotten whose lamp this is? Aren't you afraid the child will..." A slap unexpectedly exploded on my face, cutting off all my words. The metallic taste of blood quickly spread in my mouth. I stood frozen in place, my eardrums continuously torn by Arthur's disappointed words. "Chloe Jones, can you calm down!" "Look at yourself right now, what's the difference between you and a lunatic!" I stared up blankly, looking at myself through Arthur's eyes. Pale face, red and swollen cheek. Indeed ugly, indeed manic. Indeed, as the man said, I was crazy. Driven completely crazy by him! The pent-up anger of a whole year completely erupted, and I lunged towards Arthur. But Mia resolutely blocked him. It was just a tiny scratch, but Arthur reacted as if he'd gone mad, kicking me away. I crashed into the eternal lamp behind me. With a bang, the lamp fell to the ground and extinguished. Scalding wax splattered onto my calf, just like the blood the child left on me the day of the miscarriage. Winding, solidifying, turning into eternal pain, deeply carved into my heart. Arthur picked up the unconscious Mia, his voice turning cold. "Making such a scene, are you completely satisfied now?" "Chloe Jones, killing the child once wasn't enough, you had to kill him a second time!" "What right does someone like you have to be a mother!" He left without looking back. I stood rooted to the spot, looking at the solidified wax on the ground. Laughing and laughing, tears welled up. Finally, I collected the wax into a box. As night fell, I went down the mountain and took a cab to the airport. Before boarding the plane, I received a message from Arthur. As always, high and mighty. 【Mia is awake, come over and apologize to her.】 If it were in the past, I definitely would have questioned him hysterically again. But now I had no strength left. I just calmly blocked all his contact information. Then I walked straight towards the boarding gate, never looking back.
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