"Two days?"

"She seems really angry this time. I'll bet on a week."

Hansen glanced at the door, which hadn't fully closed yet, and let out a cold smile. "She'll come crying back in less than three days."

"It's been the same all these years. It's honestly getting tiring to watch.

"That's true. There's no way Christine would leave you. Everyone knows how madly in love with you she is."

I let out a self-deprecating laugh and tightened my grip on my purse as I walked to the elevator.

Back at my apartment, I went to the corner of the closet and took out the wedding dress.

I had waited six months for it, but unfortunately, I would never get the chance to wear it.

The wedding dress was custom-made, so there was no way I could refund it.

So, I simply grabbed a pair of scissors and cut it up.

After all, it would just be an eyesore for Hansen if I left it there.

Before I left, I took off my ring and put it on the coffee table.

I didn't take much with me. Other than my personal belongings, I left everything else behind.

After a moment of thought, I left Hansen a note.

It said that he could deal with the house and everything in it as he pleased. There was no need to ask me.

I booked an early morning flight to Harbor City.

My best friend had gotten married there earlier in the year. It was the perfect excuse to visit her and clear my head.

My best friend, Linda Moore, invited me out to shop and have some afternoon tea.

In the evening, there was a small gathering with some old classmates and friends.

After a few rounds of drinks, someone opened the door and entered.

A few of our old female classmates lit up immediately. "Landon Shore? What a rare guest."

"Yeah, big shot, what brings you here tonight?"

Landon replied, "I had a meeting next door. I heard about the gathering here so I thought I'd drop by."

As Landon spoke, his gaze lingered somewhere for a moment before slowly moving away.

Linda pinched me discreetly, "Christine, he's here for you, isn't he?"

I looked at Landon in my drunken haze.

He was slightly taller than Hansen and was dressed in a black coat over a matching business suit.

Landon was incredibly handsome and had a well-built physique as well.

I squinted at him for a moment before I shook my head. "There's no way. We haven't kept in touch for years."

But Linda ignored me and called out to Landon. "Landon, can you do me a favor and send Christine home later? We've all been drinking, and I wouldn't feel safe letting her get a taxi."

I froze and looked up at Landon.

Landon looked right past the crowd and at my face.

After about two seconds, he nodded. "Alright."

"Thank you, Landon," Linda replied.

She grinned and leaned in to whisper in my ear, "Christine, seven years with one man is such a terrible waste no matter how you look at it. If Hansen can play around, then why don't you start anew? Besides, Landon is top-tier. It'd be a waste if you didn't make use of him."

I scoffed. "How do you know he even wants to sleep with me?"

Linda said, "Babe, he's practically undressing you with his eyes. Believe me, I've dated 18 men. I'm much more experienced than you are."

Landon drove me back to my hotel.

When we arrived, I unbuckled my seatbelt and thanked him. "Thanks for sending me back."

Landon glanced at me. "You're welcome."

I opened the door and was about to step out when Hansen's words from that night suddenly sprang up in my mind.

Before I knew it, I blurted out, "Do you want to come up for some tea?"

Landon started kissing me in the elevator.

I was already tipsy, and his kiss was so forceful that I nearly lost my breath.

"Cameras…" I panted as I felt my cheeks flush red.

My legs weakened, and I had to hold on to his waist to stay standing.

Landon glanced at the security camera and turned slightly to adjust the angle. Then, he kissed me again.

When we reached my room and I swiped my keycard, he suddenly stopped me. "Christine, I can still walk away now if you don't want this."

"Why wouldn't I?" I tilted my head to look at him. Then, I pulled him closer with his tie. "You've already kissed me senseless, how could you talk about walking away?"

Landon suddenly laughed. He reached out and brushed his fingertip against my slightly swollen lips. "Then, it'll already be too late even if you regret it later."

It was our first time, and Landon didn't even wait until we got to the bedroom.

My back hurt a bit rubbing against the wall, and I couldn't stop myself from biting him. "Landon, are you a beast? Don't you know how to be gentle?"

His scorching hot palm rested on my back.

After that, he panted as he kissed my neck. "Christine, I can't hold back any longer…"

After five minutes, I finally understood what he meant.

Landon carried me to my bedroom, and I buried my face in the pillow as I laughed uncontrollably.

"Landon, how long has it been since you've been with a woman?" I asked.

Landon looked at me seriously. "It's been a while. I've been busy with work these past few years."

I looked at him in surprise, and I felt my laughter fading.

A moment later, tears suddenly welled up in my eyes. "I'm so sorry Landon, I…"

Stained you.

"Christine, what are you saying?" Landon seemed a bit flustered by my crying.

He wiped my tears clumsily, but they never stopped flowing.

"I shouldn't have messed around with you," I said.

"But you already have," Landon said.

He leaned down and cupped my face as he looked at me, saying with a serious tone, "Christine, since you've already started this, then you need to see it to the end."

On the seventh day in Harbor City, Jerome Sloan, a friend from Gold City, suddenly sent me a message. "Christine, when are you coming back to Gold City?"

I replied, "I don't have any plans to return for now."

Jerome: "Everyone misses you. Jorgie's birthday is in a few days. Why don't you come back and join us?"

Me: "No, just send him my regards. I'll send a gift over."

Jerome: "Alright then. Take care of yourself."

In the room, Jerome handed his phone to Hansen. "Hansen, why don't you call Christine? She'll definitely listen to you."

Hansen stared coldly at the words on the screen.

Then, he suddenly stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. "If she doesn't want to come back, then she can just rot there."

"Hansen, don't be angry. Christine is probably just really upset right now."

"Yeah, she even took her ring off this time. It looks like she's really heartbroken. Honestly, you went a bit too far with that girl…"

"It's already over between us. What else does she want?"

Hansen suddenly snapped in anger. "Listen up, none of you are allowed to contact her. Not even if she dies!"

"Alright alright, we won't. Calm down, you just went to the hospital with a bleeding stomach two days ago."

"You only stopped having stomach issues when Christine was around. It's only been a few days, and you've already wrecked yourself…"

Every word they said made Hansen's face darken even more.

By the end, he simply grabbed his coat and stormed out.

The cold wind hit his face when he stepped outside, but Hansen still felt his chest burning with frustration.

That damned woman. It's been seven days, and Christine hadn't even sent him a text.

So, she was really trying to play this game?

Hansen coldly pulled up her number and blocked it.

She'd better not come back crawling to him.

This time, he swore he wouldn't go soft on her like he always did.

…

Landon called just as I finished typing up the last line of my manuscript and hit the formatting button.

I had been writing magazine columns since university and built up a decent reputation.

Then, I went full-time after I graduated.

Thanks to this, the income was pretty decent.

The freedom made things even better. I could take my laptop and work from anywhere.

So, after the breakup, there was no reason to stay in Gold City just to drown in heartache.

"Christine, what do you want for dinner?" Landon asked with a clear voice. Suddenly, all my exhaustion from working in the afternoon was soothed.

I said, "My brain cells are fried. I'm too tired to think about it, so you pick."

He said, "How about some fondue? I know a place with amazing bone marrow. You'll love it."

Whenever I ate fondue, I always liked ordering some bone marrow as a side.

But Hansen said it looked disgusting, so I gradually stopped.

But I vaguely remembered that Landon had always been someone who enjoyed lighter foods.

"You don't have to go out of your way for me, Landon. I'm not picky with my food anymore," I said.

Landon explained, "I feel like having it too. I still remember that place in the cafeteria that made Cajun food at university. Their bone marrow was really nice."

Hearing him bring that up made me crave it even more. That place was really good.

I ate there for four years and never got sick of it.

"Alright then, fondue it is," I agreed.

Landon offered, "I'll go pick you up right now."

"Okay."

Landon took me to a fondue restaurant in Harbor City that had been around for years.

The place was quite old, and it wasn't that large either, but it seemed to do very well.

But with his full suit on, Landon seemed out of place in this setting.

I watched as he carefully wiped my chair with a napkin.

He seemed oddly practiced in handling these small tasks despite being a rich heir.

"Landon, your ex-girlfriend must have trained you well," I couldn't help but remark.

Unlike me, with seven years in an on-and-off relationship.

The only time I felt really cherished was when Hansen first started pursuing me.

After I graduated from university and moved in with him, I felt like a full-time caretaker.

Hansen had a weak stomach, so I learned how to cook and make nourishing soups.

I took care of everything for him like a devoted little wife.

But now I finally understood.

I loved him so much that I had lost myself. I even forgot the simplest rule in love, which was to love oneself first.

How could I have expected his feelings to last forever?

Landon put some food on my plate and glanced at me. "Who told you I had an ex-girlfriend?"

I was stunned for a moment. "Weren't you always with a girl during university? I think you two even grew up together."

Landon laughed. "Are you talking about Janice Lynn? We did grow up together, but we never dated. I don't even like her. At most, I just saw her as my younger sister."

I remarked, "Then you haven't dated anyone over the years?"

Landon slowly rolled up his sleeves. "I've had a few arranged dates and met up with them briefly. Then, I just ended things since we weren't suited for each other."

"Oh, so there was nothing after that?" I lowered my gaze as I recalled his behavior that night.

His words seemed a lot more believable now.

"Christine, it won't happen again next time," Landon said suddenly.

I was confused by his statement. "What won't happen again?"

He turned his face away and cleared his throat.

Maybe it was the heat from the fondue, but his ears were incredibly red. "You'll see later."

Landon scooped up some bone marrow and placed it on my plate. "Eat."

It wasn't until he sent me back to the hotel, until after I had showered, and until he carried me from the bathroom to the bed that I finally understood what he meant earlier.

But by then, I was completely exhausted.

"Landon…" I glared at him, but my eyes were rather misty, which just made it look attractive.

Even the way I called out this name didn't carry any anger to it at all.

Landon lowered his head and kissed me gently. "Christine, did you feel good?"

I shook my head, refusing to answer him.

He didn't get annoyed. He just kept tenderly kissing me again and again.

I couldn't take it anymore. My body was so overwhelmed that tears started to form. "Landon…"

My nails scratched his back as my voice started to choke up a bit.

"Christine, tell me now. Does it feel good?" Landon's eyes were incredibly red from holding back. The muscles in his arms were tense as his sweat dripped down my skin.

I finally broke down. "It does… It does feel good…"