Isobel rushed back into her bedroom and squatted on the bathroom floor. Trembling, she rested her back against the icy cold wall.

Holding the toilet, she vomited. The bile juices burned her throat.

Memories of that night when Anthony accidentally impregnated her flooded her.

Anthony was heavily drunk that night and had forced himself on her. She could not break free from his aggressive advances.

Although he had been calling her name while going at it, she knew something was wrong. She figured that he must have been fantasizing about another woman to treat her that harshly.

The man whom she loved—and loved her back—would never assault her like this.

That was the first time she suspected him of cheating.

To avoid an unwanted pregnancy, she took a morning-after pill. She never thought that the pill would lead to an ectopic pregnancy instead.

After the surgery, the doctor informed her, "Ms. Sutton, I fear you might never conceive, given the state of your health."

At the same time, Sasha had gotten pregnant with Anthony's baby and received blessings from the family.

Isobel nearly fainted from the physical and psychological pain. Before she lost consciousness, she saw Anthony running toward her with a worried look.

"Belle!"

…

Anthony and his family were at her side when she woke up. Even their family doctor was there.

Anthony looked a little tired and disheveled. His bloodshot eyes suggested that he had experienced a sleepless night.

Their concern felt insincere to her, and she refused to respond to anyone. However, Sasha's scream immediately sliced through the awkward silence.

"Ouch! That hurts—"

The people around Isobel immediately left for the next room. She stared at the ceiling. She had no tears left to cry.

Later, Anthony was the only one who returned to Isobel's room. He explained that his family was extremely worried about his late cousin's baby, which was why they overreacted.

Isobel listened expressionlessly. She asked no questions.

The family she had wished for was no more. It was all an illusion.

She had been too naive but would not make that mistake again.

A week before Isobel's planned departure, Sasha suddenly visited her as Anthony's secretary.

Crossing her arms, she haughtily marched up to Isobel. "Stop faking it, Isobel. You know that Anthony has been cheating on you.

"Did you really think that he loved you? He would never marry you—a girl from a family in decline—if it weren't for your high-profile relationship.

"Stop dreaming of marrying into wealth and leave the city, Isobel. It's less humiliating than getting dumped.

"I'm carrying Anthony's baby. As for you, you probably cannot conceive. Am I right?

"You shouldn't blame Anthony for two-timing, though. He's a beast in bed with me, but he's probably not that interested in your body."

Isobel kept her emotions under control. She set her cup of tea on the table and went up to slap Sasha across the face.

Sasha held her cheek and gasped, "How dare you!"

Ignoring Sasha, Isobel was about to call security when Anthony barged in.

Sasha immediately behaved when she heard his voice. Head hung low, she said tearfully, "Ms. Sutton, what exactly is it that you hate about me? I'm just here to pick up some documents for Mr. Johnson. Why would you hit me?"

Anthony went through many emotions when he heard that. He stared at Isobel with panic.

"Belle, what's—"

"Yeah. I slapped her. Anything wrong with that?" She stared back at Anthony.

"N-Nothing. I'm sure you had your reasons." He walked over to Isobel before yelling at Sasha, "Did anyone ask you to enter her office? How dare you cry when you're the one who upset Belle!"

"Antho—Mr. Johnson, I…"

"Get lost right now! You're barred from coming into Belle's office again!"

After the security escorted Sasha out, Anthony hesitated to speak to Isobel. He wanted to ask why she slapped Sasha.

Isobel made up an excuse. "Well, she said my office decor was in poor taste."

Yet, he believed in that amateur lie. Hugging Isobel, he said, "Oh, she deserved it, then. Belle, you always have great taste."

She snickered silently. After all, she wouldn't have fallen in love with Anthony if she had good taste.

After Anthony made sure that Sasha wouldn't say anything out of line, he left quickly, claiming that he was needed at work.

Isobel followed him closely. As she expected, she saw Sasha waiting for Anthony not far away.

He kissed the spot where Sasha had been slapped. It took him a while to soothe her before they entered the car lovingly.

Isobel felt numb to it all. As she rubbed her tired eyes, she quietly went home.

…

Two days later, Anthony called a press conference to announce the launch of the candy flagship store by the river in Halthorne City.

On that day, he would show up with his lover, Isobel, to officiate the launch.

When Isobel saw the news, she looked at the birthday gift she handed to Anthony, thinking, "Anthony, I won't be going to the launch as your plus-one. I hope my birthday gift comes as a surprise to you."

Anthony hardly had time to go home while juggling work and an affair.

Meanwhile, Isobel received stack after stack of photos of Anthony and Sasha at home. Sasha herself had sent out the photos.

Love could be faked through performative acts. All the details in the photos were so similar.

Anthony had rented out an amusement park for Sasha, just as he had done for Isobel's 16th birthday.

Isobel contacted the photographer who had been capturing moments of her and Anthony for years and had all the negatives destroyed—including those taken at the amusement park.

Anthony and Sasha were pictured hanging a love lock at a famous bridge—just as he had done with Isobel on their second anniversary.

Isobel spent an entire day searching for the lock she and Anthony had once placed there. It was engraved with the words "Anthony & Isobel, together forever".

Weathered by time, the inscription had faded. Isobel borrowed a hacksaw, cut the lock off, and scraped away every trace of their promise.

Aside from the endlessly spinning vinyl records in space, there was nothing she could not erase.

Isobel vowed to destroy every proof of their love.

She gathered the photos of Anthony and Sasha and placed them in that gift box that was to be opened on Anthony's birthday.

…

On the eve of her departure, Anthony unexpectedly returned home.

"Yeah, just do as I said. Tomorrow..."

"What's going on tomorrow?" Anthony made her jump when he suddenly spoke from behind her.

Isobel froze for a moment before hanging up. She turned to look at him.

"Nothing. It's your birthday tomorrow. Of course I have a surprise in store for you. No more questions from you!"

Anthony chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

"Alright. I won't ask."

"Why are you home early today?"

"Tomorrow is the grand opening of the flagship store. I came home to go over the details with you. Also, I've booked the best stylist to come over. You'll have the most stunning entrance."

His gaze rested on her as if admiring his most exquisite masterpiece. But Isobel was no longer drowning in that look.

"Anthony, we've been together for more than seven years. Do you think I've ever done anything to betray you?"

Anthony's heart skipped a beat. He wondered what prompted that question.

"Of course not, Belle."

"And would you ever betray me?"

"Never," he answered firmly. "You are my love. I will never betray you."

At that moment, Isobel finally realized that Anthony's promises and vows weren't meant for her. They were meant for himself.

He was looking for excuses to convince himself that, as long as he loved Isobel, it didn't matter if he occasionally dated, kissed, or slept with someone else.

Isobel smiled, her gaze calm.

"I never said that you betrayed me. Why are you so nervous?"

"Belle, baby, you have to believe me."

She said nothing.

Anthony had noticed something was off about Isobel lately. But her behavior didn't seem like that of a woman who had discovered the truth. Otherwise, she would have been crying, screaming, and questioning him.

In the worst case, he would immediately cut things off with Sasha and get down on his knees to beg for Isobel's forgiveness.

He held her tightly. She was the one person he couldn't afford to lose.

Just then, his phone vibrated. Isobel caught a glimpse of the message.

Sasha wrote, "Do you want to have a peek at my legs, darling?"

A photo followed it.

Another text came in. It read, "Waiting for you."

Anthony quickly turned off his phone.

Seeing Isobel sipping her tea as if nothing had happened, he hesitated before speaking.

"Belle, I have to head back to the office tonight to oversee the final prep for the opening. I won't be coming home.

"Let's meet at the launch tomorrow, okay? I promise I'll take a whole month off to be with you after that."

A month off? Just wait and see. She tightened her grip around her teacup.

"Okay. Go ahead." She smiled.