Initially, I had loved Elliot Lautner for four years and he had pinned after Nikki Stewart for four years. I finally grew tired and turned to accept Kendrick Jefferson, who had secretly loved me for four years.

For three years, he pampered me into becoming the happiest woman in Covington city. Until at Elliot and Nikki's engagement day, his good friend accidentally let something slip, "Kendrick, to fulfill Nikki's happiness, you actually pretended to love Maya for three years. That's ruthless!"

"Tsk, as long as Nikki is happy, it doesn't matter who I marry," he said. I finally understood that all his affection for me was just his unresolved feelings for Nikki.

Forcing back the tears threatening to spill, I dialed my mother's number and said, "Mom, I agree to the arranged marriage you and Dad set up for me."

——

On the other end, my mom gasped in surprise, "Didn't you always oppose the idea of an arranged marriage? Why agree so suddenly? If you truly don't want this, we can cancel it. Don't force yourself."

Taking a deep breath and holding back the tears welling in my eyes, I forced a light laugh, "Mom, you're right. Marrying the right person is far easier for happiness than marrying for love. Give me a week. I'll wrap things up here and come back to get married."

The sound of the door opening reached me and Kendrick walked in and asked, "Marriage? Who's getting married?"

"My childhood friend." I lied casually.

Kendrick hung up his coat, turned around and pulled me into his arms. His warm kiss landed on me. "Your childhood friend? The bride isn't you, right?" he raised an eyebrow at me teasingly.

Yes, Kendrick, it's me. I forced a smile and turned my face away, pushing him back, "Don't. I'm not feeling well today."

"As you wish, honey. After all, we're getting married soon, it doesn't have to be now." Kendrick pinched my chin and turned to the study.

I let out a bitter laugh. Not anymore, Kendrick. We will never get married.

A buzz from my phone notified me of a new message. I glanced at it, it was a post from Nikki: [Had a fight with my fiancé. Feeling so empty, so lonely. Anyone want to keep me company?]

Kendrick immediately rushed out of the study, grabbing his coat in a hurry and said, "There's an emergency rescue mission. I need to go now!"

Before I could reply, Kendrick stormed out, as if he was truly on his way to save lives. Watching his flustered back, leaving without even closing the door, my heart clenched in pain.

He had loved Nikki for seven years, yet hadn't even earned the right to be her lapdog. She granted him the title of Backup Boyfriend No. 1 and he was thrilled for a long time.

I stood up, quietly shut the door and finally let the long-suppressed tears flow freely. Taking the anniversary gift I had prepared for our three-year relationship from my pocket, I tossed it into the trash. Kendrick, since you don't love me, I wouldn't love you anymore.

Half an hour later, I saw another post from Nikki: [He dropped everything to be with me because of our friend circle. He is worthy of being the number one backup boyfriend!]

The accompanying photo showed a man kneeling like a loyal dog at her feet, massaging her legs. On his wrist was the Rolex I had bought for him not long ago.

I let out a cold laugh, put down my phone and started packing. Since I had decided to leave, I didn't want to leave any trace of myself in this house.

The bedroom, living room and study were filled with photos we had taken during our three years together.

I took them down one by one and threw them into an old metal bucket. Taking the bucket to the terrace, I burned the photos one by one. Each photo held memories of our time together.

Only now did I realize that the backgrounds of these photos often appeared in Nikki's posts.

"I really want to see the sunrise on Mossy Hill! I'm sure I can reach the summit!"

The next day, Kendrick took me to climb Mossy Hill and watch the sunrise.

"I heard the local dishes are very popular. Haha, I want to try it."

That same night, Kendrick took me to eat the spicy oyster that I hated. At the time, I didn't realize why he suddenly had so many strange requests.

Now I understood, they were all Nikki's wishes. He couldn't fulfill Nikki's desires, so he used me as her substitute.

Hot tears dripped onto the burning photos and the sharp sizzle pulled me out of my thoughts. I no longer had the patience to recall every scene in the photos. I lit them all at once.

"Cough, cough, cough. What are you doing, making such a smoky mess?" Kendrick suddenly appeared, frowning as he looked at me. "Why did you take down all our photos?"

I replied casually, "I didn't take them down. Look, here they are. I burned them all."

Kendrick's expression froze and he stared at me in disbelief. "Are you crazy? Those were three years of beautiful memories!" As he spoke, he tried to step into the metal bucket to stomp out the burning photos.

But the flames quickly burned several holes in his expensive suit pants. Only then did he unwillingly glare at me, as if demanding a reasonable explanation.

I glanced at him calmly, noticed a bright red lipstick stain on his shirt collar and said nothing. I silently returned to the room.

Not long after, Kendrick came in after showering and handed me an exquisite gift box from behind his back and asked, "Today is our three-year anniversary. Are you upset because I didn't celebrate with you? There was an urgent rescue mission, so I had no choice. But I didn't forget! I prepared a gift."

Seeing that I remained unmoved, he opened the box himself and took out an expensive emerald necklace. He even thoughtfully tried to put it on for me.

I noticed that this necklace had appeared in Nikki's post yesterday. So I said, "A necklace from your Backup girlfriend No. 1? I don't like it. Throw it away."

I let out a cold laugh, took the necklace and threw it into the trash, "Don't bring me discarded garbage that others don't want."

In the trash, the gift I had prepared for him earlier that day still lay there. Our once-deep affection had now become a matching set of trash.

Kendrick's face turned grim instantly. He retrieved both the necklace and the gift I had prepared.

It was the latest model of a Rolex watch he had always wanted. I had saved for a long time to afford it.

Frowning, he looked at me and asked, "The gift you prepared for me, why did you throw it away?"

"Maybe we don't need it anymore." I said casually. I could tell Kendrick was suppressing the anger in his eyes.

"Just because I missed celebrating with you doesn't mean you have to take it so seriously. Calm down. You're an adult. Stop being childish!" With that, he slammed the door and went to the study.

The next morning, he went straight to work without even seeing me. I packed up all my belongings and sent them off by courier.

Late that night, Kendrick's friend, Tristan Jones, called me, "Hey, Maya, Kendrick is drunk. Come pick him up. He's in private room No. 2 at Revolver Bar."

Tristan was our mutual university friend and Kendrick's best buddy.

They had a gathering today and Kendrick didn't even tell me, which made me feel a bit suspicious.

After hanging up the phone, I drove to Revolver Bar. Just as I reached the private room's door, I heard a commotion inside, "Hey, Kendrick, Maya is about to arrive. While she's not here yet, dare to do something exciting?"

"What exciting thing? You're always full of bad ideas ..." Kendrick's speech was slurred, it seemed he was truly drunk.

Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard Tristan laugh slyly again, "Elliot is passed out drunk. Dare to kiss Nikki? If you dare, I'll cover the bill tonight!"

"Don't wimp out, Kendrick. Everyone knows you've been Nikki's backup boyfriend for seven years. If you don't dare to kiss her, you're not a man!"

"Hurry up! Kissing Nikki in front of Elliot won't hurt. She won't get pregnant from it! You coward!"

Through the crack in the door, I saw Elliot passed out on the sofa, deeply asleep.

Kendrick's drinking buddies were all hyped up, eagerly watching him and Nikki as if they were on something.

I saw Kendrick grit his teeth and stand up, walking toward Nikki. She didn't shy away at all, even curling her finger to provoke him, "Kiss me in front of my fiancé if you dare, my Backup Boyfriend No. 1."

"Damn it! If I don't kiss you today, I'm not a man!" Kendrick looked determined, tossing his jacket aside and grabbing Nikki's head to kiss her.

At the moment their lips touched, his eyes met mine through the crack in the door. For a second, time seemed to freeze.

I calmly pushed open the door and walked in. Kendrick let go of Nikki, looking slightly awkward. He forced a laugh and said, "We were just playing a game. It was just pretending, I didn't actually kiss her." His lips, still smeared with Nikki's lipstick, betrayed his words.

Tristan and the other friends quickly tried to cover for Kendrick, "Maya, blame me for the bad idea. Don't be mad at Kendrick. Blame me! I'll punish myself with three drinks to apologize!"

Nikki wiped her lips where Kendrick had kissed her, smiling provocatively, "Maya, you're here. When are you and Kendrick getting married?"

Kendrick glanced coldly at me, then turned and smiled at Nikki, "That's not happening." With that, Kendrick guided me to sit beside him, but his eyes never left Nikki.

The next moment, Nikki picked up a mug of draft beer, tilted her head back and prepared to chug it down.

Kendrick sprang up like a madman, rushing to her side and snatching the glass from her hands and scolded her, "You're allergic to alcohol! Drinking it will kill you!" he yelled.

Nikki glared at him angrily, biting her lip with a sultry expression and said, "My fiancé is right here. Is it your place to stop me?"

With that, Nikki picked up the glass again to drink. Kendrick, truly panicking, grabbed the glass and downed it himself. The next second, Kendrick coughed violently and spat out a mouthful of blood.

This shocked everyone in the room. Tristan cursed aloud, "Damn, Kendrick! Are you for real? Spitting blood just to stop Nikki from drinking? Should we take you to the hospital?"

"It's nothing. I won't die." Kendrick wiped his lips forcefully, his eyes blazing as he stared at Nikki. "If you keep hurting yourself, I'll trade my life for yours!"

Moved, Nikki flung herself into Kendrick's arms right in front of me, crying pitifully, "Why does it matter how good you are to me? I'm about to marry Elliot!"