"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.

As they were leaving,Samuel remarked,"You've lost weight."His voice was calm,but the concern in his tone was unmistakable.

Anya was slightly taken aback.For the first time,she offered him a sincere smile."I've been dieting."

"If you lose any more weight,your wedding dress won’t fit."

She paused for a moment,surprised by his serious expression,then chuckled softly."You make a good point.I’ll eat properly."

But in truth,her appetite had been poor lately.Even food had lost its appeal.Still,she chose not to dwell on it.

Her phone vibrated incessantly.She glanced at the screen only to find Chris’s name flashed repeatedly.

Without hesitation,she ignored it.

Samuel,noticing the persistent calls,hesitated before asking,"They seem desperate.Are you not going to answer?"

Anya’s expression remained indifferent,her voice carrying a hint of coldness."It’s just spam calls.There’s no need to respond."

Samuel was visibly pleased by her words.A low chuckle rumbled in his chest as he gazed at her with warmth."I’m really glad we met today."

"I heard you like the sea.I have a house in Corvencia.After we get married,we can live there and we can bring your father over too."

His words were gentle yet firm as if he were carefully mapping out their future.The sincerity in his tone felt unfamiliar to Anya.

Time with him seemed to pass effortlessly.Her father had once told her that Samuel had liked her for a long time,but she found that hard to believe.

Rumors were just rumors,after all.

That night,she returned home,only to be caught off guard the moment she stepped through the door.A figure lunged at her,pulling her into a tight embrace.

Warm breath brushed against her neck.Chris leaned into her shoulder,holding onto her as if he never wanted to let go.

"Anya,I've been waiting for you for so long.Why did you come back so late?Are you upset after seeing the news?"His last sentence carried a hint of caution.

Anya subtly pushed him away,but before she could fully retreat,she was once again trapped in Chris's embrace,his grip tight with unease.

"Anya,don’t leave.None of it is true.The journalists are just spreading rumors to make money.Won’t you believe me?"His eyes pleaded with her,his expression resembling that of a helpless puppy.

Anya’s face remained impassive,her tone indifferent."I believe you,but I'm tired.Can you let me go?"

There was a trace of impatience in her voice,but Chris did not seem to notice.He only held her tighter,taking a deep breath."Anya,I know that even if the whole world doubts me,you’ll always stand by my side."

A flicker of guilt flashed through his dark eyes as he tightened his hold."I knew you were the one who cared about me the most."

In the past,hearing these words would have filled Anya with warmth.Yet,now,they only made her want to laugh.

She had once trusted him wholeheartedly,only to realize he had always treated her like a fool.

Every day,messages flooded in from Carmen using Chris’s account.

Photos of him sleeping.Photos of him holding Carmen in his arms,their poses intimate,their affection undeniable.

Gradually,a pattern emerged.During the day,Chris used work as an excuse to accompany Carmen to pick out jewelry for her,to take her to banquets,to introduce her at the company.

At Roswell Group,everyone already called her"Mrs.Roswell."

Carmen even recorded a video.Her delicate brows arched with pride and her lips curved in a smug smile."Anya,so what if you’ve been with him for six years?In the end,the only woman they acknowledge is me."

She also sent a voice recording.In it,her voice carried a teasing lilt as she asked,"Chris,you've been with Anya for so many years.Why haven’t you married her?"

Chris's tone darkened,laced with irritation,as if he were suppressing some emotion."Carmen,you know the one I love is you."

"It has always been you.The only woman I,Chris Roswell,will ever marry is Carmen Avery.As for Anya?She's nothing more than just a distraction,something to pass the time.I’ll get rid of her soon."

Anya’s expression remained unreadable.Neither anger nor sorrow surfaced.

She printed every photo Carmen had sent,carefully arranging them before placing a single piece of paper on top.On it,she had written just one sentence.

After everything was done,she stared at the inked words and exhaled slowly.It was finally over.