"Dad,I agree to the engagement with the Harrington Family."

Her father,Gregory Morrison,looked at her in surprise upon hearing her words."Anya,you refused before.And you love that guy from the Roswell Family."His tone was hesitant.

Anya's voice was hoarse as she replied,"You were right,Dad.Chris was never sincere."

Her father had warned her long ago,but it took her three years to truly see what kind of a man Chris was.

Three years ago,when her relationship with Chris became public knowledge,her father,who was an expert in reading faces,had taken one look at one of his photos and advised,"Anya,trust me.This man is cold-hearted,extreme and ruthless.He is completely not husband material."

At the time,Anya knew her father’s abilities were well-respected,so much so that nearly every engaged couple sought his guidance.And time had proven him right again and again.

Almost every time,the marriages he disapproved of always ended in disaster.She did believe in her father’s wisdom,yet she still could not stop herself from falling for Chris Roswell.

At the beginning of their relationship,he was gentle and considerate,doting on her as if she were the only one in his world.With each passing day,she fell deeper in love with him.

Until not long ago...

Anya suddenly received a call from a hotel asking her to come over.However,when she arrived,she found Chris lying in bed with another woman and her body covered in intimate,unmistakable kiss marks.

At that moment,it felt as if her heart had been wrenched from her chest and crushed.A bone-deep chill seeped into her veins.She had never imagined that one day,Chris would betray her like this.

When he woke up,his face went pale.He kept apologizing."Anya,I was just drunk.This was nothing more than an accident because I thought she was you.Please,believe me.I promise this will never happen again."

Anya stared at his regretful expression,her voice hard and unyielding."Do you think I would believe you?"

Chris panicked and his eyes filled with desperation."Anya,I beg you!Please,don’t leave me!"

And yet,it was not long before he showed up at her house.

That day,the rain poured relentlessly over Ashbourne City.Chris knelt in the downpour for as long as the rain fell.

Anya finally approached him,holding an umbrella.His eyes were bloodshot and the moment he saw her,he instinctively tried to stand.But his legs were numb from kneeling for too long and gave out beneath him,so he collapsed before her once more.

A groan of pain escaped his lips,but he paid it no mind.He looked up at her with desperation in his red-rimmed eyes,his voice flustered as he kept apologizing,"Anya,I swear,I don’t remember anything.That woman climbed into my bed on purpose.Please,believe me.I beg you!"His voice was trembling uncontrollably as he pleaded.

Anya clenched and unclenched her fingers,feeling as if a heavy stone was crushing her chest,making it difficult to breathe.

She took a deep breath,forcing down the storm of emotions within her."How do you expect me to believe you?"

Chris gazed at her with deep affection,raising his hand to the sky."Anya,I swear,there will never be a next time.If I break this vow,may I be struck by lightning."

At that moment,a bolt of lightning split the sky,illuminating his handsome yet sorrowful face.Unfortunately,no amount of sincerity in his expression could erase the image that burned the sight of him in bed with another woman in Anya’s mind.

A sharp,unbearable pain tore through her chest as if a knife was carving out her heart,leaving her in utter misery.

Blinking back the sting of tears,Anya stared at his pale face,torn between love and hate.

After what felt like an eternity,she reached out and traced his cold,handsome features.Her voice was soft as she accepted his apology,"Chris,promise me that there will be no next time."

"If you ever break this promise,I will never love you ever again."Her voice was cold and firm,but the pain in her eyes was undeniable.

Chris’s eyes turned red as he pulled her into a careful embrace."No,I swear.I will never let this happen again."

And Anya,against all reason,chose to believe him one more time.

Yet,not long after,one of her friends sent her a message accompanied by a photo.[Anya,don’t be mad when you see this.I never thought Chris would be this kind of person!]

In the image,Chris was lounging on a sofa at a bar,a woman nestled in his arms.The two of them whispered to each other,their postures far too intimate to be innocent.

At that moment,Anya's entire body trembled as an unbearable cold spread through her heart.She had trusted him time and time again,only for him to shatter that trust over and over.

Her father had been right all along.Chris was heartless and she never should have believed in him from the start.

Now,she had finally reached her limit.Anya was done.This time,she would end it for good.

On the other end of the call,Gregory let out a quiet sigh.Though there was sadness in his voice,there was also relief."Anya,I’ve told you before.Samuel will treat you well."

He had never been wrong about people.

Anya’s face was pale,but she forced a small smile.Her voice was soft as she said,"I believe you,Dad."

Gregory sighed again."Mr.Harrington has never given up on you.He has been waiting for you all this time.Whenever you’re ready,just let me know and you can meet him.If you’ve made up your mind,I’d rather you marry early.That way,I can be at ease."

"Who’s getting married early?"

A lazy,amused voice interrupted from behind.Anya's fingers tensed and she hurriedly hung up the call.

Chris stood there,dressed impeccably in a tailored suit,a smug smile playing on his lips.Seeing her reaction,he chuckled."What were you talking about?Afraid I might hear?"His voice carried a teasing lilt,his fair,handsome face filled with quiet arrogance.

Something inside Anya clenched at the sight,so she lowered her gaze and asked back,"Why do you walk in so silently?"

He wrapped his arms around her from behind,nuzzling against her neck like it was second nature.His voice was low,tinged with an almost childlike dependence."Because you were too lost in thought."

As he leaned in,a strong scent of perfume enveloped her senses.Chris had never been one to wear fragrance.The only person who could have left such a lingering scent on him was that woman.

Even though it was not the first time she had noticed it,the dull ache in her chest resurfaced,as piercing as ever.Taking a slow breath,she forced the pain down and asked,"Chris,when are you going to marry me?"

In one sentence,the arms around her tensed.A moment later,he slowly let go."Anya…why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"

She turned to face him,searching his expression,refusing to let any flicker of emotion escape her notice.Then,she repeated slowly,"I just asked when are we getting married?"

Chris's brows furrowed slightly,but he quickly relaxed,slipping into his usual nonchalant demeanor."Anya,marriage is different from love.I don’t want you to feel tied down.Besides,we’re still young.There’s no need to rush."

At that moment,something inside Anya shattered completely.

Over the years,every time she mentioned marriage,Chris always had an excuse.Always a reason.

Now,when she finally saw the truth,she realized that he had never intended to marry her.Because once he was married,he could no longer keep up his charade.

He claimed to fear that marriage would bind her,but the one who was truly afraid of commitment was him.

She could still hear his past promises echoing in her mind."Anya,wait for me.I’m not worthy of marrying you yet.When I inherit the family business,I’ll give you the grandest wedding the world has ever seen."

Once,those words had filled her with warmth and anticipation.Now,they felt like needles piercing her heart,one by one.

Anya forced a smile,though her heart had long gone numb.

She gazed at him steadily,her voice quiet but firm."Don’t lie to me.Where were you today?"

Her unwavering stare made him falter for a brief second,but just as quickly,he composed himself.Anya had been home all day.There was no way she could know where he had been.

Reassured by this thought,he let out a relaxed chuckle and met her gaze."I was at the office all day.I’m exhausted.But why are you asking?"

Anya remained silent,her expression unreadable.Did he think that just because she had stayed home,she would believe whatever he told her like a fool?

The air between them grew heavy.The silence stretched.

Perhaps sensing her doubt,Chris pulled out his phone and held it out to her."Baby,check it yourself.If you don’t believe me,you can go to the company and ask the employees.I was there all afternoon.I didn’t go anywhere else."

Ridiculous.The company belonged to his family.Naturally,his word was law there.

Anya stared at him.Her heart was numb from the ache.

She dug her nails into her palm,trying her best to suppress the storm of emotions raging within her.As she stared at Chris’s sincere and utterly convincing face,an unsettling realization crept over her.

How could someone lie so effortlessly without the slightest change in expression?

If she had not already known the truth and had not seen the video with her own eyes,she might have foolishly believed him.

Thinking of this,a bitter smile curled on her red lips."Tell me,how exactly does one end up smelling like perfume after spending the entire day in the office?"

The moment the words left her mouth,the easy confidence on Chris’s face froze.His red-rimmed eyes lifted to meet hers,his expression instantly turning wounded."I can explain.Maybe…maybe an employee accidentally brushed past me."

Anya was exhausted.Just how close did he have to be for the scent to cling so persistently?

She was done and did not want to ask anymore,but on the other hand,he seemed desperate to prove something.Without hesitation,he pulled out his phone and dialed one of his employees.

A female voice on the other end answered respectfully,"The president has been at the company all afternoon.Miss Morrison,if you don’t believe me,I can pull up the surveillance footage for you."

Beside her,Chris turned to her with anxious eyes."Anya,do you really need to check the CCTV before you trust me?"

The air between them grew thick with tension.Anya’s gaze lingered on the cold sweat forming on his forehead and the subtle,fleeting flicker of panic in his eyes.Then,suddenly,she smiled.

"Forget it,"she said softly.

She had no interest in checking the surveillance footage.If he did not want to marry her,then forget it and she would marry someone else.If he no longer loved her,then she would stop loving him too.

Chris had no idea what was going through her mind.The moment he heard her response,the tension in his shoulders melted away,knowing that Anya would still believe him.

Watching that unconscious sigh of relief escaped him,Anya’s smile turned cold and ironic.

From this moment on,she would waste no more of her time on him.

Whatever he did,none of it mattered to her anymore.

Anya Morrison and Chris Roswell met in college and it was he who had pursued her.

From their university days until now,she had always believed they would get married,build a life together and start a family.

Never did she imagine that after six years of devotion,Chris would betray her again and again.

Having lost her mother in a car accident as a child,Anya had always longed for love,for a sense of security.That was why,after graduation,she had brought up marriage multiple times.

Chris knew this.He knew how much she wanted to be with him,how much she wanted to marry him.And yet,he had turned her down time and time again.

Now,looking back at those moments,she realized that perhaps he had never intended to marry her at all.The thought stung,sharp as needles piercing her heart.

Just then,her phone vibrated with a message from her father.[Anya,I’ve already arranged for you to meet with the Harrington Family on Sunday.]

Anya stared at the screen for a long time.Suppressing the storm of emotions within her,she tapped at the keyboard,hesitated for a moment and finally replied with a single[Okay.].

As if sensing her low spirits,Chris had been unusually attentive over the past two days.He took her out,brought her to the trendiest places and even led her into the most exclusive boutique in Ashbourne City.

The moment they stepped inside,a store employee approached,presenting a luxurious,royal green gown.

The intricate embroidery looked entirely hand-sewn,every stitch crafted with exquisite precision.Tiny diamonds were delicately embedded throughout,catching the light and making the dress shimmer with elegance.

At the sight of it,Chris's expression stiffened.He parted his lips as if to speak,but the moment his gaze landed on Anya beside him,he hesitated and fell silent.

Seeing the odd look on Chris’s face,Anya felt a flicker of unease.Before she could dwell on it,the store employee stepped forward with a bright smile.

"Mr.Roswell,the dress you personally designed has been completed.Would you like to check if any adjustments are needed?"

Then,as if realizing something,the employee hesitated before glancing at Anya."Since you've brought the young lady with you,she can try it on herself."

The moment those words left her lips,a flash of panic crossed Chris's eyes.His expression darkened instantly."What nonsense are you talking about?"

The store clerk was startled by his reaction and fell silent.Realizing she had misspoken,she dared not say another word.

Anya caught the nervous flicker in his eyes.Lowering her gaze,she reached out and lightly traced her fingers over the sapphire-green fabric before looking up at him."Did you design this?"

For a moment,his expression stiffened,but he quickly composed himself."Anya,a relative asked me to design it.I couldn’t refuse."

Chris was a renowned designer of both fashion and jewelry in the country.Every outfit,every accessory Anya owned down to the necklace resting against her collarbone had been gifts from him,tokens of his love.

She still remembered how he once had told her that since they had met in winter,he had designed the Winter Love Song necklace just for her.He had said that after meeting her,she became his only source of inspiration.

There had been many who sought his designs,but he turned them all down.He even publicly declared online,"From now on,I will only design for my girlfriend."

Even his own mother could not persuade him to design jewelry for her.She had only laughed and scolded him,saying,"You will completely forget your mother when you have a wife!"

At the time,they had posted a picture of their intertwined fingers online,drawing admiration and envy from countless people.Now,as she recalled those memories,they felt like they belonged to a distant past.

At that moment,a trace of unease flickered across Chris’s face.He had never done anything against his will.Not even his mother could convince him to design for her.

So,who was this relative who had managed to persuade him?And why did the mere mention of it make him so nervous?

A sinking feeling settled in Anya’s chest.She had a hunch that whatever answer awaited her was something she did not want to hear.

Lowering her gaze,she withdrew her hand from the dress and turned to leave.However,before she could take a step,a familiar female voice rang out behind her.

"Is the dress my boyfriend customized for me ready?I need it for my birthday in two days.Don’t waste my time.I expect it to be perfect."