The voice that rang out was arrogant and willful.Anya turned around,momentarily stunned.

Standing in the doorway was a woman with delicate,alluring features and a petite figure.The moment she stepped inside,the air was instantly filled with a familiar scent.It was the same perfume that clung to Chris’s suit.

The moment Anya saw that face,her heart sank and a surge of uncontrollable anger threatened to consume her.

Because this was the woman Chris had slept with that night when he was drunk.

Back then,the woman had been hidden beneath the covers,so Anya could not see her face.However,after Chris had fallen asleep,she came to Anya,smirking,her fingers grazing her own belly as she spoke with quiet arrogance.

"He loves me now.Who knows?I might even be carrying his child.If you’re smart,you’ll step aside."

After Anya saw the woman appear,Chris only stood there,staring at the woman with a dazed expression.And in that moment,Anya realized.

That night,he had claimed he was set up.That it was a mistake.Yet,here they were,hooking up behind her back.

Her blood boiled.She fixed him with an icy stare,forcing each word out through clenched teeth.“Ah!So,this is the relative you were talking about.”

Chris snapped out of his stupor.A flicker of panic crossed his face.He opened his mouth as if to explain,but before he could get a single word out,the woman laughed.

"Miss Morrison,don’t misunderstand.I was only joking.I truly envy you for having such a talented boyfriend!"

At that,Chris’s tense expression softened.He quickly stepped in,his voice calm as he introduced her."Anya,this is Miss Avery,a distant relative from my mother’s side."

Carmen smiled,her gaze filled with feigned innocence."It’s just a dress,Miss Morrison.Surely you’re not so petty as to make a fuss over something like this?"

At those words,Chris’s face darkened and he stared at Carmen with a deadly look."Miss Avery,mind your words."

Carmen merely curled her lips into a smirk before surrendering and said,"All right,all right.Would it make you happy if I returned the dress to you?"

Anya watched their exchange.Even though she had already known the truth,seeing it unfold before her eyes still sent an unbearable chill through her veins.The disappointment in Chris had long since numbed her.

Anya’s lips curled slightly,but before she could even utter the word"No need,"Chris had already cut in.

"Anya,I’ll design something exclusively for you in the future.This dress…it’s just not suitable for you."

The words caught in her throat.

She saw the way he tensed as if afraid she might take the dress away.The way Carmen smirked,eyes gleaming with silent triumph.And in that moment,Anya’s heart turned to ice.

Clenching her fists,she looked at them both,her voice crisp and indifferent."Don't worry.I’m not so poor that I need to steal someone else’s dress."

"Anya,that’s not what I meant.It’s just that the size isn’t right for you,so…"

Anya exhaled sharply and suddenly realized that agreeing to go out with him today was a big mistake.Her tone was cold as she said,"You don’t need to explain anything to me."

Chris stiffened at her cold reaction.He had no idea why her reaction unsettled him since Anya should not know about Carmen Avery.

Before he could say anything,Carmen’s voice cut through the tension."Miss Morrison,my birthday is in a few days.My boyfriend booked a hotel to celebrate.You’re welcome to attend as a guest."

The date she mentioned was the same day Anya was scheduled to meet the Harrington Family.She was about to refuse when Carmen leaned in,flashing a bright smile.

"Miss Morrison wouldn’t still be upset over what just happened,would she?"

Before Anya could respond,Chris’s voice turned sharp."That’s enough.We don’t have time for this."

Anya glanced at Carmen’s pitifully aggrieved expression and remained silent for a long moment.Then,with a calmness that sent a chill through the air,she said,"I understand.I’ll be there that day."

Upon hearing this,Chris was frozen in his place.Carmen,on the other hand,smiled,the corners of her lips curving upward in satisfaction.

"I’ll be waiting for you."

If anyone knew she was about to attend her boyfriend’s lover's birthday party,the entire circle would surely laugh at her.

However,Anya simply let out a cold,mocking smile.

On the way back,Chris spoke to her in a gentle tone."Anya,when we get married in the future,I’ll design your wedding dress myself.Something truly one of a kind,just for you."

His dark eyes gleamed with anticipation as if he could already picture their future."I will never let you be inferior to anyone."

Anya suddenly spoke firmly,"Chris,I don’t care about the dress.What I care about is loyalty.If you ever betray me,there will be no future for us."

His expression stiffened for a brief moment,but then he smiled at her,soft and reassuring."What are you saying?Apart from that one incident,I have never done anything to hurt you.Trust me."

"When we get married,I guarantee your wedding dress will be ten thousand times more beautiful than the one today."

Anya looked at his gentle face,but her heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

If he truly cared,why did he betray her?Why did he trample on the love they once shared?

A wave of sorrow surged within her and she really wanted to confront him to vent out.

However,in the end,she simply closed her eyes.As you wish,I won't love you anymore.

Chris continued talking about wedding plans as if he were trying to soothe her.Unfortunately,Anya’s heart was already in ruins,filled with nothing but cold irony.

Only she knew that there would be no future between them.And she would never marry him.

Anya met Samuel Harrington at noon.Her father had nothing but praise for this man and the moment she saw him,she finally understood why.

Dressed in a crisp white suit,he carried himself with effortless elegance.His calm demeanor and strikingly handsome features seemed to outshine everything around him,making even the most lavish surroundings feel like a mere backdrop to his presence.

Unfortunately,Anya no longer harbored any illusions about men,not after Chris.To her,it made no difference who she married.

The first words he spoke were direct."Miss Morrison,are you willing to marry me?"

She was momentarily taken aback but then nodded without hesitation."Yes."

Her voice was cold and detached,yet across from her,a flicker of joy flashed in Samuel’s eyes.

"I understand,"he said softly."Anya,may I ask you out later?"

"No need.If you have no objections,we can proceed with the engagement."

Her tone was indifferent,her attitude even colder.Seeing her like this,Samuel’s heart clenched in pain.

Before he could say anything else,a familiar voice suddenly rang out with a mocking laugh."Isn’t this Miss Morrison?Why are you with another man?"

Anya lifted her gaze and saw Carmen clinging to Chris’s arm,the two of them looking every bit the intimate couple.

Seeing her,Chris’s expression shifted instantly.He shoved Carmen’s hand away and stepped forward."Anya,why are you here?"

Then his gaze landed on Samuel and his face darkened with anger."Who is he?"

At that moment,Samuel understood everything.

Anya glanced at Chris and the woman still clinging to his arm,then let out a cold sneer."I should be the one asking.Why are you here?"

Chris stiffened.He quickly pulled his hand away from Carmen’s grasp."Anya,it’s not like what you think…"

He started to explain,but Anya had no interest in hearing his excuses.She turned slightly and addressed Samuel instead."I will handle this matter in the next few days."

Samuel gave a small nod,then rose to his feet.He extended a polite hand toward Chris."Hello,I’m Samuel Harrington."

Chris frowned and his eyes were filled with disdain."You?You’re not even qualified to shake hands with me."

The moment he saw this man,a deep sense of crisis gripped him,an unsettling fear that Anya would be taken away.

However,he buried it under layers of arrogance and contempt,unwilling to believe she would ever leave him.

Anya frowned at his blatant hostility,but Samuel remained unfazed.He simply turned to her with a composed smile and said in a gentle tone,"It seems you have some things to take care of.Let’s talk later."

Anya pressed her lips together,nodded slightly and watched as he walked away.

Chris could not help but ask her,"Why are you with someone like him?"

Someone like him?

Anya did not bother answering.

Carmen arched a brow and sneered."Miss Morrison,I wonder if you thought you were having a secret meeting?"

Anya’s gaze fell on the shopping bags Carmen was carrying and she curled her lips into a faint smirk."If anything,you look more like the one sneaking around."

Her piercing stare made Chris tense.He quickly stepped away from Carmen,as if caught red-handed and hurriedly explained.

"Anya,it’s not what you think.She’s my cousin.It’s her birthday today and I just brought her here to buy a few things."

He seemed eager to say more,but Anya had already turned away.Her tone was indifferent."All right,I believe you.Samuel and I were just discussing business."

She no longer cared about their relationship.Even if they truly were together,it would not stir a single ripple in her heart.

Soon,the day of the birthday party arrived.

Carmen wore a sapphire green dress that hugged her figure perfectly,making her fair skin appear even more delicate and luminous.She stood out like a glittering pearl,radiant and dazzling in the crowd.

Meanwhile,Anya sat among the guests,her eyes drifting toward Chris,watching as he gazed at Carmen with something close to infatuation.

At some point,Chris excused himself and left.Anya had just handed over her gift and was about to step outside for some air when,as she passed by a curtain,a familiar,intimate voice drifted from behind it.

"Chris,who do you like more?Me or Anya?"The woman’s voice was breathless,laced with dissatisfaction as she spoke in a coquettish tone.

Behind the heavy curtain,Chris wrapped an arm around her waist,lowering his head to kiss her lips.Their breathing grew heavier,the air between them thick with intimacy.

Anya stood frozen in place,unable to believe their audacity.To be so shameless,flirting openly at a birthday party.

Still,what truly shattered her expectations was Chris’s response.His voice was low and hoarse."Carmen dear,Anya is my responsibility,but the one I love has always been you."

His tone was firm,his gaze locked onto the woman’s flushed face as he spoke with deep emotion."I can give you whatever you want,but I can’t let Anya down."

The woman pouted,unwilling to relent."Then tell me,have you ever loved Anya?If you had to choose between us,who would it be?"

Her words were playful,almost spoiled,but Anya did not hear any hesitation from Chris.Instead,what followed made her laugh,cold and bitter.

"No.Never,Carmen.Do you really not know why I got together with her?"

Anya had originally intended to walk away,but her body refused to move.Her mind went blank,her eyes locked on the silhouettes behind the curtain.

And the conversation was not over.

"When you left for abroad,I pursued Anya just to make you jealous.Otherwise,I wouldn’t have chased her,let alone stayed with her."

His voice was calm,rational,heartlessly so.

"If I had to choose only one,I’d choose you."

At that moment,Anya realized she had already given up on him.But even so,she still felt an unbearable,bone-deep chill.

So,this was the truth.The man who had pursued her and had built a relationship with her over the past few years and even flaunted their love online had done it all just to make Carmen return.

Anya told herself to stay calm,but it felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing her heart,crushing it until the pain became unbearable.She had once believed that,at the very least,they had shared the pure and innocent emotions of youth.

She had never expected that everything had been part of his carefully planned scheme.This man had never loved her.

The muffled sounds of intimacy from behind the curtain continued,making her stomach churn violently.A wave of nausea surged up and she could not suppress the urge to retch.

The sound of vomiting finally ceased in the bathroom.Anya gripped the sink,staring at her pale reflection in the mirror.A wave of ridicule washed over her.

The past six years felt like a harsh slap to her face,a cruel reminder that Chris had never truly loved her.From start to finish,he had been the one who was happy,while she had merely been a pawn,someone he pursued only because another woman had come into the picture.

The thought alone made her stomach churn again.She retched repeatedly,but there was nothing left to expel.

When she stepped out,still unsteady,she overheard the voices of two waiters nearby.

"I heard Mr.Roswell booked the entire hotel just to celebrate Miss Avery’s birthday.That’s so romantic."

"But isn’t Anya Morrison his official girlfriend?I heard they’re very affectionate,so…"

Someone interrupted her with a sneer,"Official girlfriend or not,men will always be men.A man like Mr.Roswell?It’s only natural for him to have affairs."

"Exactly.As long as there’s money,emotions are meaningless."

Hearing this,Anya slowly lifted her pale face,a cold,mocking smile tugging at her lips.She had not seen things as clearly as these waiters had.

At this moment,she felt nothing but pure disgust for Chris.