When I walked downstairs, I covered my face and cried bitterly.

Maria kept comforting me.

"Paisley, stop crying! It's really not worth it for a man like this!

"These two pieces of trash are perfect for each other!"

Maria started to curse as she spoke.

I was so heartbroken that I couldn't breathe.

Ian wasn't like this before.

Five years ago, when I first met him, he was still a poor student.

Although he was poor, he was good-looking and got good grades.

He was very popular at the university.

In the college, many girls were eager to get him.

However, he blocked my way one afternoon.

"Hello, Paisley. I'm Ian, a freshman in the Department of Economics and Management. Nice to meet you."

At that moment, you couldn't imagine my surprise and joy.

Because I never thought that he and I would have any intersection.

After knowing Ian for three months, I felt more and more that this man was pretty good.

I knew very well that he was pursuing me.

But I wanted to test his sincerity.

Ian was handsome, funny, and considerate to me.

It was hard for me not to have a crush on a boy like this.

During the time he pursued me, I felt happy.

At university, he was always waiting for me.

When I was in class, he was waiting for me in front of the teaching building.

If I didn't have classes, he would wait for me downstairs of our dormitory.

Then he took me for a ride outside the school.

I'd known for a long time that he came from a poor family.

Therefore, I chose all the popular spots, took some photos, posted them online, and I would be in a good mood.

On the weekend, several people from my dormitory and I decided to go hiking together. I jumped on the stairs to show my good mood.

But he always kept reminding me to be careful on the steps.

I laughed at him.

"Ian, I'm not a child. I won't fall while climbing the stairs."

He held me tightly with his hands and looked into my eyes seriously.

"Paisley, don't jump when you walk. It's too dangerous. I'll be sad if you fall and get hurt."

I blushed at his words.

The rest of the way, I was led by him, step by step up the mountainside.

When I reached halfway up the mountain, I couldn't hold on any longer.

"I'm so tired! Oh my god. I'm so tired! I regret coming here to climb the mountain!"

Ian shook his head lovingly and handed over a bottle of water.

"Let's take a break."

I said, "We're going to climb the mountain after the break?"

I looked at him in astonishment.

It was not because of my poor physical strength.

This mountain was six thousand feet high above sea level!

I couldn't make it halfway up the mountain anymore!

"Yes, we have to go to the church on the top of the mountain to pray."

He looked at the misty mountain top and muttered to himself.

"I want the gods to bless us."

The next moment, he turned to look at me and said gently.

"I'll carry you later."

I waved my hands repeatedly. "No way. Aren't you tired, too?"

Ian wiped the sweat off my face and looked at me. "It's okay. I can do it. Trust me, Paisley."

Later, I only managed to complete one-third of the second half of the journey that day.

Later on, he carried me up there.

I looked at the sweat dripping down his face and his determined eyes.

My heart was beating so fast it almost burst my chest.

I knew I was in love with him.

When we were almost at the top of the mountain, the schoolmates around us were all cheering for us.

I blushed and buried my head in Ian's shoulder.

From that day on, Ian and I were recognized as a couple in the eyes of our friends.

When we were dating, Ian was very nice to me.

He always reminded me many things like a housekeeper.

In the summer, I didn't have to squeeze into the cafeteria for lunch. He would go and get me food despite the smell of sweat from my classmates.

We found a quiet, shaded place and ate and chatted.

I never told him what I didn't like to eat.

But after a few meals, he got the hang of my taste.

He looked serious and slightly condemned me.

"Paisley, why are you so picky about food? You should eat more meat! Girls shouldn't only eat vegetables. It's not good for your health.

"Don't deliberately avoid meat just to keep your figure. Your figure is perfect. I like it."

But I felt sweet in my heart.

He always treated everything seriously.

In my eyes, he was just a serious, sophisticated, taciturn cool guy.

Every time I had my period, I was shy and didn't want him around.

But he couldn't be driven away. He cooked for me and went to the supermarket to buy hygiene products for me.

His thoughtfulness always made me feel warm inside.

I had always been curious about what kind of family could raise such an outstanding man.

However, strangely, every time I asked about his family, Ian's face changed.

"I don't want to talk to you about my family. If you trust me, don't ask me about that in the future."

He thought I was worrying about the future.

Therefore, he told me over and over again.

"Paisley, I'm not the kind of person who relies on my family. No matter what my family situation is, with my ability, I will definitely let you live a good life in the future!

"We will graduate in two years. Give me three years. I will make enough money to marry you. I will never let you down."

I wanted to explain to him that I didn't care about his family.

I knew that his family was not rich. And it was like a sharp knife that pierced his chest from time to time.

"I know you're not that kind of girl. You're always so kind and beautiful."

Before I could say anything, Ian spoke first.

I always thought that Ian reacted so strongly because he was afraid that others would say that he came from a poor family.

But later, I found out the real reason.

"I really don't understand. Why would Ian, such a decent man, fall in love with a bitch like Lisa?

"What on earth is he thinking? You're so good. Is it true that he doesn't cherish you now that he has you?

"You've been together for five years, from sophomore year to graduation. How could he just give up on you for a bitch?"

My thoughts were stopped by Maria's indignant tone.

How could he do that?

How could he say such cruel words?

After five years, he actually said that he would marry Lisa immediately if I died!

I shouldn't block the car for him!

"Paisley, get up. Don't be sad. The bastards might be watching you from above. Are you going to let Ian and that bitch off so easily?"

I suddenly raised my head, with my eyes burning with anger.

Why would I let this couple off so easily?

Ian and I were engaged.

A simple cancellation of the engagement could not make up for the love I had invested in the past five years.

His words would not save my life.

"Maria, you are right."

I wiped my tears and looked up at the 20th floor, Ian's home.

In the past few years since graduation, Ian had made a lot of money just as he promised.

He had a small company with an annual income of over a million dollars.

However, he was no longer the man who was kind to me and said he would let me live a good life!

I gritted my teeth and said to Maria.

"I won't let them have it easy!"

"Paisley, don't think about it! Let's go. I'll take you to have fun."

Maria was satisfied to see that I had regained my spirits, and pulled me into the car.

"Let's go! We will be drunk tonight!"

My life was now in countdown.

In the past, because of Ian, I never went out to play.

Now, I would go to drink now!

Maria was the queen of nightclubs. Under her leadership, I didn't have to worry about being harassed.

"Come on, Paisley. Drink some orange juice. Let's forget the past! From now on, no matter whether we live or die, at least we have to live in the present!"

Maria took pity on me because I had a brain injury and tried to stop me from drinking.

But I wanted to drink tonight.

Years of memories had tortured me so much that I felt like dying. If I didn't drink to relieve my sorrow, I would die of depression.

I took the wine glass that Maria had placed behind her and clinked it with hers.

"You're right. My life is limited. There's no need to waste it on irrelevant people! Come on, drink!"

After saying that, I finished the cocktail in the glass in one gulp.

Maria's eyes flickered, but in the end she said nothing.

She knew that I had loved Ian sincerely all these years!

So she knew the calmer I pretend to be, the more devastated I was inside.

After three or four glasses of wine, I started to feel dazed. Under the flickering light, my thoughts were drawn away again.

In my memory, Ian still seemed to be the man who never fought back when I hit him, and who always loved me.

I remembered I had a conflict with my family and was in a bad mood.

I didn't contact Ian when I returned to university.

As a result, he waited at the university gate from noon until evening.

Because if I went home every week, I would definitely return to university on Sunday afternoon.

After a quarrel with my family, I threw my phone and it broke into pieces.

Of course, I couldn't answer Ian's call.

But I didn't expect that this idiot would wait for me for 7 hours!

"Paisley, I called you but you didn't answer. I was worried that something happened to you. I asked all your classmates, but they all said they couldn't contact you. Are you okay?"

When Ian saw me, he walked up to me anxiously and asked me in a low voice.

Under the street light, his handsome face flickered, but the concern and anxiety in his eyes were very obvious.

At that moment, I was moved.

However, the emotions from the quarrel with my family during the day continued to affect me.

I turned my anger towards him.

"Ian, are you stupid? Did I ask you to wait for me? Why do you care so much about my affairs? If you like to meddle in other people's affairs so much, why don't you just become a policeman?"

Ian was confused and could only patiently let me beat and scold him.

"Okay, okay, I'll be a policeman. I'll apply tomorrow. My dear Paisley, please don't be angry, okay?"

That night, he spent a long time comforting me with sweet words.

A girl from the same department fell in love with Ian.

She secretly found someone to make up bad things about me.

After I found out, I went straight to confront her.

I didn't expect that she was not a good person.

It was said that she bullied others in high school.

When I went to see her that day, Maria informed Ian.

When that group of girls wanted to attack me, Ian helped me stop them.

"I'm warning you! Paisley is the only girlfriend that Ian recognizes in this life. If you cause trouble for her, I will teach you a lesson!

"If you are targeting me, I will fight you anytime. If you dare to hurt my girlfriend, I will kill you!"

Ian had always been a calm and composed boy.

That day, because of me, he said harsh words to that group of girls.

Not only the girls, but even I was stunned.

I never knew that Ian could be like this.

I knew that Ian had always cherished me during these years of our relationship.

On the day of his mother's funeral, he was almost hit by a car while chasing the person who killed his mother.

At that time, I chased after him, pushed him away without hesitation.