But I didn’t feel any pain at all— because the ache in my heart had already drowned out everything else.

Ever since I was little, I had always been the obedient daughter. My parents protected me well and planned out every detail of my life.

The best schools, the best major—even my future path was mapped out clearly.

The only thing that didn’t go according to plan… was meeting Gavin.

That afternoon, he walked into the wrong classroom and found me in the art studio.

He told me I looked like an angel in that moment.

He chased after me for a full year before I was finally moved.

Back then, he was so gentle. He’d hold my hand as we strolled through campus and whenever he kissed me, he’d do it so carefully— as if he was afraid of hurting me.

He said he wanted to see me the moment he opened his eyes, so we moved in together.

Until the day I graduated.

He looked at me in my graduation gown, his eyes burning with intense desire.

That night, he was especially passionate, especially wild. And from that day on, he started coaxing me into wearing all kinds of outfits.

I complied, shamefully, thinking it was just part of the fun in love. But now I finally understand—what he liked was always the "obedient good girl."

And in his eyes, I had long since become a “slut.”

Late at night, I was awakened by sounds from the living room. "Gavin, do you want me?"

"Be good, Bianca. Let's save your first time for our wedding night, okay?"

Bianca pouted playfully, acting coy. "Then when will you marry me?"

"How about in a week?"

In a week?

It felt like someone clenched my heart tightly—I could barely breathe from the pain.

In one week, he would be marrying another woman. And I... I didn’t even have the right to know.

"Then I’ll let you go for now," Bianca's voice was sweet and dripping with satisfaction.

The bedroom door was suddenly pushed open, rough and forceful.

"Lana, get up. Give the bed to Bianca. From now on, she’ll be living here."

His tone was full of entitlement. "She doesn’t like having other women around. Pack your things and move out tomorrow."

He yanked me up roughly and a sharp pain shot through my wrist. "You sleep on the couch tonight."

He didn’t even glance at me before turning to comfort Bianca.

I stumbled into the living room, collapsing onto the sofa where we once watched movies together, once held each other.

Now, it was the only place left for me in this house.

The bedroom finally quieted down.

Suddenly, I felt someone approaching from behind. "Thinking about me? Perfect. I’m in the mood for you too."

As he spoke, Gavin tried to pin me down on the sofa.

The hands that once touched me so tenderly were now forcefully reaching under my dress.

"Did you miss me?"

In that instant, all I felt was disgust—so sick I wanted to throw up.

"Gavin, do you even know what you're doing?" I struggled with all my strength. "Aren’t you afraid your precious Bianca will hear you?"

"Doesn’t that make it more exciting?"

I turned my head, dodging his attempt to kiss me.

"Why don’t you go touch Bianca? Why come to me?"

"Obviously because you’re slutty enough."

His words hit me like a bucket of ice water to the head.

"Bianca isn’t like you. Our first time will be on our wedding night."

At the wedding night, I shoved him away, my whole body trembling with anger and despair. "Gavin, you're about to get married—why are you still messing with me?"

"Oh, so you're jealous?"

He sat up with a laugh, that smile full of smugness and contempt.

"Bianca is a good girl—she's suitable for marriage. As for you, you've been with me for so many years. Of course I won't abandon you. From now on, you can be my mistress. After all, our bodies are the most compatible."

He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, like he was granting me a favor.

"There are certain things I just can’t bear to do to a girl like Bianca."

I couldn’t listen any longer. I pushed him away and stumbled toward the bathroom.

"Lana, don’t tell me… you're pregnant?"

My heart skipped a beat. I instinctively placed a hand over my lower abdomen.

"My stomach just feels a bit off," I replied. "Don’t worry. I would never have your child."

"That’s for the best."

His voice carried a sense of relief. "Don’t even think about using a child to tie me down. Even if you were pregnant, I wouldn’t want the baby."

That sentence shattered the last sliver of hope in my heart.

Whether the child existed or not—it was never wanted. Just like me—never loved.

I let out a bitter smile and shook my head.

Suddenly, I couldn’t stand staying there a moment longer. I pushed Gavin away and walked out the door alone.

For him, I had endured the shame, indulged his desires and lost myself. And now that he’d found a new "good girl," he wanted to keep me as a mistress.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore—I crouched down under the streetlamp and burst into tears.

Eight years of youth.

Eight years of love.

Eight years of devotion.

And to him, it was all worthless.

Suddenly, a sharp, twisting pain surged through my abdomen, so intense that cold sweat broke out all over me.

Clutching my stomach, my vision began to blur and darken—until I could no longer stay conscious.

"Miss Ward, you’re awake."

When I opened my eyes, a nurse stood by my bed, looking at me with pity. "You’ve lost the baby."

The baby.

My hand instinctively moved to my abdomen. It was as flat as ever, as if nothing had ever happened.

The child was gone. Maybe that was for the best.

At least it wouldn’t have to come into this world and feel the pain of being unwanted by its own father.

At least it wouldn’t have to end up like me—loving in such humiliation, loving with such pain.

The nurse helped me complete the discharge procedures and I walked out of the hospital alone.

There were over a dozen missed calls—all from Gavin and a string of messages.

[Where did you run off to?]

[When are you coming to pack your things?]

[Hurry up and pack, then get out.]

[Bianca’s moving in today.]

I had just lost our child—and he was rushing me to make way for his new lover.

[Then just do me a favor and throw my stuff away. I don’t want it anymore.]

My fingers paused over the screen and I added one more line:

[Including you—I don’t want you anymore either.]

The phone rang quickly—it was a call from Gavin.

In the past, I used to get excited every time he called.

Now, I only felt annoyed.

Without hesitation, I added him to the blacklist.

Eight years of entanglement—it was time to end it.

I dialed my mother’s number.

"Hello, Lana?"

There was surprise in my mother’s voice.

"What made you think of calling Mom?"

"Mom, I want to come home. The flight is tomorrow."

My mother paused for a moment, then asked cautiously, "What about your boyfriend?"

“I don’t want him anymore.”

My mother seemed like she wanted to ask something, but in the end, she just sighed.

“It’s good that you’re coming home. Mom will make you something delicious.”

After hanging up, I dialed my best friend’s number.

"Lana! You finally decided to contact me!" My best friend told me to meet her directly at the KTV.

As luck would have it, the private room next door was where Gavin and his friends were.

"Mr. Hart, you’re getting married in a few days."

"So, when are you going to let us have a go with your little plaything?"

"Have a go? Anytime!"

"She was just someone I used for practice—how could I possibly like a slut like her?"

Used for practice.

It felt like something exploded in my chest and the pain nearly made me lose my balance.

"That’s why you’re amazing, Mr. Hart. You really know how to train her."

"Train? That’s just how she is—born to be a slut."

Gavin’s voice was full of contempt.

"Look at Bianca—even just one teasing word from me makes her blush. Only a woman like that is truly fit for marriage. As for Lana, she’s better suited to be a mistress—good for warming the bed. After all, I wouldn’t bear to mess around with Bianca, but Lana? She’s just for fun."

Just for fun.

My best friend couldn’t hold back any longer. She burst out of our room and kicked open the door next door.

"Gavin, are you even human?"

I followed closely behind her into the room— and saw Gavin sitting on the sofa, holding Bianca in his arms.

The moment he saw me, a flicker of discomfort flashed across Gavin’s face—but it was quickly replaced with contempt.

"Did I say anything that wasn’t true?"

I walked right up to him and slapped him hard across the face. "Gavin, you disgust me."

"Disgusting? When you were under me begging for more, why didn’t you say you were disgusted then? Lana, don’t push your luck! Even calling you a mistress is giving you too much credit! You’re already used and ruined by me—who would still want you?"

My best friend was so furious she almost rushed at him again, but I stopped her.

"Gavin."

I looked into his eyes, my voice calmer than it had ever been.

"From now on, I never want to see you again."

His expression turned ugly. "Lana, don’t you dare regret this!"

I turned around and walked out without looking back, leaving just one sentence behind. "The only thing I regret—was ever meeting you."

The next day, I boarded the plane alone.

Goodbye forever, Gavin.