A few days later, Vivian showed up to pick me up from work again, but this time, Howard was in the passenger seat.

He looked lively and upbeat, completely contradicting the idea of someone with depression.

Despite all the talk about his condition from both Vivian and Howard, I’d never seen him visit a doctor or take any medication.

Howard was chatting energetically about old high school friends and shared memories.

He and Vivian hadn’t just grown up together. They’d gone through elementary school, middle school, and even high school in the same classes.

Vivian explained, “There’s a high school reunion, and we’re allowed to bring guests. I thought I’d pick you up and bring you along. Howard needed a ride, so I picked him up too.”

“Okay,” I said with a nod and then leaned back in the seat, closing my eyes for a nap.

In the past, Howard’s presence between Vivian and me would make me fume, and his smug, arrogant grin always irritated me.

But this time, I couldn’t have cared less. I didn’t even bother to look at him or listen to their conversation.

Howard noticed I was asleep and, realizing his attempts to rile me up weren’t working, gradually fell silent.

I once thought I’d love her forever, that I'd be entangled with her until the end of my days.

But I never expected that such a passionate love could vanish within a single day.

I’d changed and transformed into someone who no longer loves her.

Love made you blind, but not loving brought clarity.

Now I watched as Vivian and Howard performed their little drama, a drama designed to provoke my jealousy and drive me mad.

There was no real love between them, at least not from Howard’s side. No man would tolerate the woman he loved spending night after night in another man’s bed.

When we arrived at the hotel suite, Vivian’s close friends had reserved a table for us.

After we finished eating, everyone started playing Truth or Dare. I chose to sit out, preferring to drink and watch.

Vivian lost a round and picked Dare, which required her to shake hands with Howard for a minute.

Before she could react, Howard grabbed her hand and looked at her with an intense, heartfelt expression.

Vivian was taken aback and quickly turned to look at me.

I gave her a polite, detached smile.

Panicked, she pulled her hand away from Howard.

Her friends quickly jumped in, saying she was shy because her boyfriend was around.

Howard, caught off guard and embarrassed, shot Vivian a frustrated look. “What’s the big deal? It’s just a game, a handshake for a minute. David wouldn’t care.”

Vivian didn’t say anything. She just quietly sat down in a corner, away from everyone.

At that moment, a girl in a white dress, looking as elegant as a swan, pushed open the suite door.

Instantly, several of the guys, including Howard, turned to look at her with a look of pure infatuation.

I recognized that look. It was the unmistakable gaze of someone longing for something they couldn't have.

Someone called out, “Jessica, come join us!”

In that instant, it hit me. Jessica was their class beauty.

Vivian had mentioned her before. Howard had been chasing Jessica for three years without any luck, which had only worsened his depression and led to him dropping out of school during his senior year.

It all made sense now.

Vivian had feelings for Howard, but Howard was smitten with Jessica.

No wonder, despite knowing each other for twenty years and both being single, Vivian and Howard had never ended up together.

Howard's constant meddling in my relationship with Vivian wasn’t about his feelings for her.

It was all about trying to find some form of satisfaction with Vivian to make up for the pain Jessica had caused him.

I gave a faint smile and said nothing.