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.

Back in the hall,Chris had already changed his clothes,but every time she got close,she could smell the strong scent of perfume that still clung to him.

She seemed to understand how the smell on his body had tainted him.Carmen approached with a flushed face,her voice sweet and smug."Anya,I really love the necklace you gave me."

Chris glanced at Anya,concern lacing his tone."Anya,where did you go just now?I couldn’t find you anywhere."

He looked as if he genuinely cared,but Anya could no longer muster any emotion.Her expression was empty as she answered numbly,"I went to the bathroom."

He seemed about to say more when her phone rang.It was Gregory.His voice came through the receiver,calm yet firm."Anya,have you met Samuel?What do you think of him?"

Anya did not answer his question.Instead,her voice was soft but resolute."Dad,I will follow your arrangements."

Gregory spoke gently,"If there are no issues,the Harrington Family has set the wedding for the 28th of this month.I’ve checked the date and it’s a good one."

"Okay."

As soon as she hung up,a hand suddenly grasped her wrist."Anya,who are you going to marry?"

She turned to see Chris staring at her,his face filled with nervousness,completely different from the look he had just moments ago.The contrast was almost laughable.

Had he been pretending for so long that he could not stop himself from acting?

Her tone was calm and indifferent."It’s not me."

With just one sentence,Chris let out a breath of relief.His stiff posture eased as he said,"I thought you were leaving me because you were marrying someone else."

He even looked aggrieved as he spoke,but Anya had no patience for his nonsense."Don't overthink it."

Back home,Anya received a message from Carmen.Attached were pictures of Carmen and Chris naked on the balcony.

They had the audacity to do this,so brazenly,in front of so many people.Truly,they were a perfect match.

Carmen's message followed shortly after.[Stop pretending.I know you saw it.Anya Morrison,even after six years,the only person he will ever love is me.]

Anya's reply was brief.[If you like him so much,take him.I won’t be giving out gifts for free anymore.]

With that,she blocked Carmen’s contact.Since Carmen wanted him so badly,they could have each other.

Then,she began packing.She gathered everything at home,every gift Chris had ever given her,every carefully designed piece,every outfit.

That day,Anya received a message from Chris,which was a hotel address along with a selfie of Carmen nestled in his arms in an unmistakably intimate pose.

Carmen's tone was smug as she taunted,[Anya,you have no idea how much Chris loves me.He won’t even let me get out of bed.He’s so cruel.]

[Compared to me,you are nothing!]

Anya did not bother replying.Instead,she sent the photo straight to a news agency.She had no time to waste on their affairs.

To her,they were nothing more than strangers now.

That night,she burned every piece of clothing Chris had ever given her,watching as the flames consumed the beautiful fabrics,reducing them to ashes.Her face remained expressionless.

In her heart,Chris had become synonymous with the word filth.The mere thought of him filled her with utter disgust.

The next day,news of Chris’s infidelity exploded across social media,landing him on the trending list and shocking countless people.

[What the hell!Doesn’t he still have a girlfriend?]

[Oh my God,six years of dating and he still cheated?How am I supposed to believe in love after this?!]

[I used to admire their relationship.His girlfriend must be devastated...]

Anya,however,had no time to dwell on the public's reaction.

She was busy since Samuel had taken her to get her wedding dress custom-made,even inviting the most renowned designer in the country to create something exquisite just for her.