The sun rose early on the mountaintop.

Daphne didn't know when she had fallen asleep, but when she woke, Luke was already gone.

Stepping outside, she vaguely heard his voice in the distance, speaking into the phone.

"Don't be mad, okay? I promise I'll be there for your birthday. I already bought that limited-edition bag you love."

A pause. Then, in a quieter voice— "Stop calling me. If Daphne hears, it won't be good."

The moment he hung up and turned around, their eyes met.

His gaze flickered, unreadable. "Daphne, you're up. Did you hear me on the phone?"

"I just got here when you hung up. Why?" she said, her expression calm.

Something wavered in his eyes—guilt, maybe—before he quickly stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her. "I didn't wake you because the fog was too thick. I figured there wouldn't be a sunrise anyway, so I let you sleep in."

Daphne nodded.

Luke seemed to want to say more, but just then, his phone rang again.

Glancing at the caller ID, he immediately said, "Daphne, I need to rush back to take care of some work. It's freezing up here—let me drive you home first."

Without waiting for her reply, he rushed inside to gather his things.

He didn't even notice how pale she was.

Of course. What could possibly be more important than spending Seraphine's birthday with her?

Luke was in a hurry. He drove really fast all the way back. When they reached her apartment, he barely slowed down.

He didn't walk her in.

Didn't even look back.

The car disappeared down the road before she even had time to react.

Daphne ordered takeout and ate alone.

Then, her phone rang. It was her father.

"Daphne, the Kingston family called. They're starting to prepare for the engagement ceremony. This is a lifetime decision. Are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure."

There was a time when she believed she and Luke were happy. But now, she realized—it had all been an illusion.

Maybe this relationship had been a mistake from the beginning.

Maybe he had never really let Seraphine go.

And maybe it was time to put an end to this fragile, crumbling thing between them.

Since Luke loved Seraphine that much, she'd give him back to her. Forever.

She hadn't slept at all the night before, and exhaustion soon crept up on her.

Just as she drifted off, half-awake, half-asleep, she heard Luke's voice.

"Sorry, Daphne, I probably won't be home tonight. There's still work to do at the company."

In an instant, her sleepiness vanished.

Before, when he told her he was working late, she never doubted him. But ever since she saw Seraphine's Instagram, she had realized just how many times he had used "work" as an excuse to lie to her.

This time was no different.

But strangely, her heart felt nothing. Just emptiness.

"Okay," she said. "Go ahead."

There was a brief silence.

Luke hesitated.

She used to question him and press him for answers. But now—now she just agreed, without a fight.

Something about that unsettled him.

He kissed her cheek, as if to reassure himself. "I won't be gone long. I'll be back before you know it. I know I've neglected you lately, Daphne. But we have a lifetime ahead of us."

Then, he turned and left.

Daphne watched him walk away, his silhouette growing smaller, until he was gone.

A quiet voice echoed in her mind, 'Luke, there is no "lifetime ahead of us". There won't be a "next time".'

When she woke the next morning, the sun was already high in the sky.

Luke had not come home.

Then, her phone rang.

It was one of his colleagues.

"Daphne, do you know why Luke didn't come to work today?"

Daphne froze. "He told me he was at the office all night."

Silence.

Then, hurriedly, Luke's colleague said, "Ah, never mind. Forget I said anything."

The call ended.

Daphne slowly opened her Instagram.

And there it was.

The first post on her feed.

[My boyfriend is the sweetest! I was scared of sleeping alone last night, so he came over to keep me company.]

The attached photo showed Luke holding Seraphine close, his gaze fixed on her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

Daphne took a deep breath and dialed his number.

It rang for a long time before he picked up. "What's wrong, Daphne?" His voice was hoarse, as if he had been busy with something.

"Are you coming home tonight?"

"Luke, don't..."

Suddenly, a soft, sultry voice drifted through the receiver, rich with teasing intimacy.

Daphne froze, nausea rising in waves.

There was a brief, fumbling silence before Luke shifted the phone away, his tone suddenly uneasy. "I'll probably be working late. Don't wait up."

And then he hung up.

Daphne forced herself to drink several gulps of water, but the nausea wouldn't fade. She rushed to the bathroom and dry-heaved until the sickness finally dulled to a distant ache.

In all the time they had been together, Luke had barely touched her. She had never seen him lose control around her.

Now, she understood.

It was never about restraint. It was about who he was with. And she sure wasn't Seraphine.

The rest of the day, she scrolled through social media like someone picking at an open wound, watching Luke wash Seraphine's hair, fold her clothes, cook her lunch—all the little things he used to dismiss as too troublesome to do for Daphne.

Then there was the amusement park. The Ferris wheel. The kiss at its highest point.

"They say if you kiss when the Ferris wheel reaches the top, you'll stay together forever."

Daphne saved the photos. She thought, 'Luke, fine. I wish you two a lifetime together. May you never be apart.'

He didn't come home until noon the next day.

There was guilt in his eyes, barely concealed under a layer of practiced nonchalance. "Daphne, you don't look well. Did you not sleep last night?" He reached out to hold her, but she sidestepped him.

The thought of where his arms had been just hours ago made her stomach churn.

Her silence weighed heavily between them. Luke looked at her, an inexplicable tightness pressing against his chest. She was right in front of him, but she had never felt farther away.

"Daphne, I know I've been neglecting you because of work. Our anniversary is coming up. I swear, I'll make it up to you. Let's celebrate properly, okay?"

Daphne forced a smile. "Okay."

Luke visibly relaxed, not bothering to think any further.

When the day arrived, he was in an uncharacteristically good mood, making conversation on the way to the restaurant, coaxing her into laughter. It was a beautiful and romantic French place.

Just as they had placed their orders, his phone rang.

The name on the screen made his brows crease.

He hesitated for only a moment before saying, "Daphne, I need to take this."

She nodded. She already knew who that was.

Not long after, he returned, wearing an expression of conflicted remorse. "Daphne, I'm so sorry. An executive from the company is making a surprise visit. I have to go back and handle it..."

"Okay." She cut him off before he could finish his excuse.

Luke blinked, momentarily speechless.

"Work is important," she said gently. "You're doing this for our future. I understand."

Relief washed over his face, gratitude even. "You're the best, Daphne. I promise I'll make it up to you next time."

'There won't be a next time, Luke,' Daphne thought.

She sat alone, eating the cake she had ordered in advance. When her tears fell, they landed in the frosting. She took a bite.

Bitter. Salty. Not sweet at all.

Afterward, she started packing.

She called a courier service to send off the things she had accumulated over five years. Clothes, books, stuffed animals, blankets—bags and bags filled with them, all going to the orphanage.

She also gathered the gifts she and Luke had exchanged on holidays and anniversaries, stuffing them into a separate box for donation.

Not a single item was a couple's set because Luke had always refused.

"Daphne, I'm too old for that kind of thing. Couple sets are for kids. Don't make me do it, okay?"

She had believed him. Until she saw the photos.

Photos of matching hats, matching gloves, matching backpacks...

With Seraphine, he didn't seem to mind at all.

She was signing for the courier when Luke came home.

He glanced at the packages in the truck. "Daphne, what are these?"

Daphne kept her expression neutral as she found an excuse. "Nothing special. There's too much stuff at home, so I packed up some things we don't use. I'm donating them to the orphanage."

"That's nice," Luke replied simply before stepping through the door.

His reaction made Daphne smile bitterly to herself.

He really didn't care.

The packages on the delivery truck were packed in clear bags. If he had paid even the slightest attention, he would have noticed that the so-called "things we don't use" were actually gifts and keepsakes that belonged to the two of them.

Inside the house, many things were obviously missing, yet Luke didn't seem to notice at all. His eyes remained fixed on his phone, engrossed in conversation.

Was he texting Seraphine?

He had missed their anniversary, and perhaps feeling guilty, had tried to make up for it by showering her with gifts.

But on that very same day, Daphne had seen a new post from Seraphine on Instagram.

[Massive clearance sale! My boyfriend gave me way too many gifts, so I told him to take some back and sell them off. I'm such a thrifty and practical girlfriend! (P.S. Of course, I only got rid of the ones I didn't like.)]

Daphne let out a soft laugh. Then, without hesitation, she dumped every single gift into the trash.

Something in her stirred.

So the next time Luke told her he had plans for dinner, she asked who he was meeting.

At first, he remained calm. But when she said she wanted to join him, his expression changed.

Left with no choice, he admitted, "Seraphine came back last month. We never got around to meeting up, so some of us old friends thought we'd throw a little welcome dinner for her. It's really just a friendly gathering—nothing else."

Luke seemed eager to explain, but Daphne cut him off. "Of course. You and Seraphine are just friends. So as your girlfriend, wouldn't it be natural for me to join you in welcoming her?"

For a moment, he wasn't sure if she was being sincere. But looking into her calm, unwavering gaze, he couldn't find a way to refuse.

So, reluctantly, he agreed.

At the restaurant, Daphne spotted Seraphine right away. She was radiant, full of energy, the kind of woman who commanded attention without trying.

"Luke, you're here!"

She greeted him warmly, throwing her arms around him in a casual embrace. Then, as if only just noticing Daphne, she quickly waved with an apologetic smile.

"Oh! Daphne, you're here too. I was just so excited I didn't see you. You don't mind, right?"

Daphne gave a light smile. "Not at all."

"That's good. I was worried that since Luke and I are so close, you might misunderstand." Seraphine's voice carried a hint of smugness.

Once they were seated, Daphne finally saw just how much Luke cared about Seraphine.

He knew all of her preferences—every dish he picked for her was exactly what she liked. He paid attention to her every need, acting like a perfect gentleman. Meanwhile, his actual girlfriend might as well have been invisible.

Daphne suddenly felt suffocated. She needed fresh air.

The moment she stepped outside, Seraphine followed.

She ran her fingers along the violet gemstone necklace around her neck, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"This necklace is worth 700 thousand dollars," she said. "Do you know why I didn't even have to put in any effort to get this?"

Daphne's expression remained unreadable. "Why?"

Seraphine smiled sweetly. "Because Luke wanted to give it to me. You know, I think I'm really happy right now. So happy that I wouldn't even mind dying like this."

Daphne's lips curled into a small smile. "Is that so? Congratulations."

Just then, Luke appeared, looking slightly concerned. "What are you two talking about?"

Seraphine turned to him with an easy smile. "Luke, don't worry. I was just having a chat with Daphne."

Luke hesitated for a moment before heading back inside.

The moment he was gone, Seraphine's expression shifted. Gone was the delicate, innocent girl. In her place was someone crueler.

"Daphne, don't delude yourself," she said coldly. "Even if Luke and I hadn't spoken in years, I've always been the one he truly cares about."

Without a word, Daphne reached into her bag and discreetly switched on her recorder.

"You love Luke that much?" she asked, her voice light. Daphne knew perfectly well that Seraphine was the kind of person who played both sides. Now that Luke wasn't around, she no longer bothered to hide her true colors.

Seraphine scoffed. "Love? He's just a backup plan. But he's completely obsessed with me. I dumped him once, and still, all I have to do is crook my finger, and he'll come running back like a loyal little dog."

Daphne's expression didn't change. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell him what you just said?"

Seraphine smirked. "And you think he'd believe you? You and I both know that no matter what happens between us, he will always take my side."

Daphne's breath hitched for a second.

She knew it was true.

Even if she told Luke everything, he wouldn't believe her.

Just then, he called out to them again.

Seraphine instantly switched back to her sweet, demure self. "Daphne, I had such a great time chatting with you! Let's go back inside together."

Daphne said nothing.

Luke glanced at her, as if trying to read something in her expression.

But Daphne's face was calm, giving nothing away.