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.

That evening,Chris came home reeking of women’s perfume.The scent was so strong it was as if he had not even bothered to conceal it.His disregard for her was so much so that he still acted intimately as if expecting her to play along.

Did he really think she would continue to cooperate?

Anya watched him coldly,sneering in her heart.It did not matter,though.Her wedding was only two days away.Without hesitation,she began packing her suitcase.

At that moment,Chris returned from his date with Carmen.The smile on his face stiffened the instant he saw her sorting her belongings.

"Anya,what are you doing?"

A sense of unease spread through him,his reaction turning frantic as he reached to snatch her suitcase away.

Anya looked up,her expression eerily calm."I’m going on a trip."

Chris froze,a flicker of guilt flashing across his face."I thought you wanted to..."He hesitated,swallowing the word‘leave’.

Lowering his head,he wrapped his tall frame around her in a gentle embrace.His voice softened."Anya,I’ve been busy with work lately.I know I’ve neglected you,but I will..."

Before he could finish saying‘accompany you’,Anya cut him off.

"I understand.You’re busy with work.This time,I want to go alone.I’ve already made plans with a friend and it wouldn’t be convenient to bring you along."

In six years together,she had never traveled without him.This was the first time she did not want him there.

A strange sense of unease crept into Chris’s heart,a flicker of panic stirring within him.But the moment his eyes fell on the necklace lying on the ground,that unease spiked into full-blown alarm.

"Anya,isn’t this the one I gave you?"His voice was low,his expression dark as he stared at her,waiting for an answer.

Anya met his gaze and smiled indifferently."Yes,you gave it to me.I’m planning to donate it.There are too many and it would be a waste to keep them all."

Chris could not believe it.She used to cherish everything he gave her,yet now,she wanted to give them away?

Seeing his reaction,Anya’s smile deepened slightly."Rather than letting them collect dust,wouldn’t it be better to put them to good use?"Then,she added,"By the way,I’m leaving tonight."

The wedding was in Calveris,not here.She had already booked her flight.

Chris’s expression stiffened.He wanted to stop her,but there was nothing he could say."You’re leaving for a few days?I really can’t bear to be apart from you."

Anya remained nonchalant."I don’t know."

That night,a car pulled up at the door.The driver glanced at Chris with a slight frown before turning to Anya."Miss,please get in."

She nodded,calmly pried Chris’s hand off her arm and stepped into the car without a second glance.

Watching her leave,an inexplicable tension gripped Chris’s chest.He instinctively moved forward,grabbing the car window as it rolled down."Anya,wait for my call.Take care on the road."

Anya gave no response.The car sped off,leaving him standing there,his chest tightening with disappointment.

The next second,he pulled out his phone and sent a message to Carmen.

In the car,Anya received a video call from Chris.She hesitated for a few seconds before finally tapping to accept it,only to be met with a pale white body on the screen.

She stared at the video,watching as Carmen straddled Chris,her fair arms wrapped around his neck,her gaze dripping with arrogance and triumph.

Chris held Carmen tightly in his arms,his eyes hazy with desire.His voice,hoarse and filled with emotion,murmured over and over again,"Carmen,Carmen...I love you so much..."

Anya ended the call without a word.

Without hesitation,she recorded the entire video and forwarded it to the Roswell Family group chat,attaching their intimate photos as well.

Then,she left the group and blocked Chris.