A bone-deep chill settled into my soul, freezing every corner of my being.

While my New Year’s Eve was drenched in solitude and despair, theirs unfolded as a grand spectacle celebrated by an entire city.

Clutching the edge of my coat, I let out a hollow laugh. With the urging of impatient voices behind me in the blessing line, I meticulously wrote, “Eternal happiness, everlasting love,” each stroke deliberate and mocking my own misery. I hung the cloth strip on the wishing tree, the irony biting deep.

With the crisp 1,000 dollars in hand, I headed back home.

When Nolan returned, he carried a velvet box in his hand.

“Baby, I’m sorry,” he said with a practiced tenderness. “I stopped by to pick up a New Year’s gift, so I was a little late. But I made it back in time to spend New Year’s Eve with you.”

A bitter laugh echoed in my heart. What jewelry store would be open on New Year’s Eve?

I had trusted him so blindly, never realizing how painfully obvious his lies had been all along.

He slipped a ruby ring onto my finger, the same one I had casually admired in a magazine at the airport long ago.

Holding my hand, Nolan sighed, his voice laced with what seemed like genuine admiration.

“It’s stunning. The moment I saw it, I knew this ruby was meant for you.”

But my gaze fell on the kiss marks and faint scratches marring his collar, their presence burning into my eyes like searing flames. I pulled my hand back awkwardly, the ring suddenly feeling like a shackle.

“How’s Troy doing?” I asked my tone light but pointed.

Nolan hesitated, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before he forced a faint smile.

“Of course, I put him in his place. It’s disgusting, leaving his wife at home to mess around on New Year’s Eve.”

I fixed my eyes on him, my voice dropping to a soft murmur. “Then don’t spend time with him anymore.”

“Betraying his wife’s love,” I added, each word deliberate, “he deserves nothing less than hell.”

For a fleeting moment, guilt flashed across Nolan’s face, mingling with a trace of panic. He reached out to pull me into his arms.

“Alright, baby,” he said, his tone almost too smooth. “I’ll do as you say.”

As he drew closer, the faint scent of jasmine on him turned my stomach.

Images of their tangled betrayal looped endlessly in my mind, each one cutting deeper than the last.

I pushed him away abruptly, a wave of nausea rolling through me.

Nolan froze, his expression shifting to concern as his gaze darted to my hand resting on my stomach.

“Are you feeling unwell?” he asked eagerly. “I’ll call Dr. Zimmerman right now.”

I shook my head slowly. “Maybe the New Year’s dinner was too greasy. It’s just making me a little nauseous.”

He exhaled in relief, his shoulders relaxing. “Alright. I’ll whip up some cereal to help settle your stomach.”

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

When the cereal was ready, he placed it carefully on the table in front of me, the steam curling into the air. I took a small sip, but my appetite was already gone.

“Sorry,” I murmured, setting the spoon down gently. “I didn’t mean to waste your effort.”

Nolan reached out, his fingers brushing through my hair with an affectionate touch.

“Silly girl,” he said warmly, “even if you only ate a single grain of it, it’d still be worth every bit of effort to me.”

I turned my head, sidestepping his touch, and decided to test the waters.

“It’s so late, and Dione still hasn’t come home. Why don’t you go out and look for her?”

The tenderness on Nolan’s face dimmed noticeably.

“Just scolded her a little, and she stormed out. Don’t know who spoiled her to be this way.”

“She can come back if she wants. If not, so be it!”

As if on cue, the door creaked open, and Dione walked in, her bare legs catching the light.

Nolan’s frown deepened. “Look at the time. You went out without a word and made your sister worry all night.”

Dione’s lips curled in a sly smirk, her gaze flicking to me with subtle intent.

“Sorry, sister. I was on a date. My boyfriend got a little clingy, so I came back late.”

“But you’re experienced; you must understand how hard it is to resist passion, right?”

I nodded, offering a faint smile that never reached my eyes. “As long as you’re back.”

“What kind of boyfriend has you so smitten with? Bring him over sometime, and I’ll see if he’s worth it.”

Dione clung to my hand, feigning coyness. “Hmm, my boyfriend’s amazing. Even brother-in-law knows him.”

I didn’t miss the flicker of unease in Nolan’s eyes.

“But he’s not exactly considerate. When he misbehaves, you have to help me teach him a lesson, alright? Tell him to be gentle like my brother-in-law instead of tearing up my things. It’s freezing!”

As she spoke, her eyes drifted playfully to her bare legs, the bruises on her knees glaringly provocative.

Her bold provocation struck me like a blow, but I steeled myself, swallowing the lump in my throat and refusing to let the tears spill.

Nolan’s glare darkened as he turned to Dione, his gaze sharp with warning. She quickly adjusted her expression, but her eyes flickered to the ring on my finger, and a sly laugh escaped her lips.

“Sister, is that a New Year’s gift from brother-in-law?”

“I guess we really are sisters; we have the same taste in men.”

“Look at this. My boyfriend gave it to me. Doesn’t it look like a set with your ring?”

“He said he wants to keep me tied to him forever. So childish, don’t you think?”

Before I could utter a word, Nolan’s voice sliced through the air, cold and sharp. “Can’t you see yours is a fake? Parading it around like that, don’t you feel ridiculous?”

Dione didn’t flinch. Her lips curled into a serene smile as she leaned forward, pulling a neatly wrapped box onto the table. “Sister, I brought some pears. Let’s split them later. I’ll go take a shower. You two enjoy.”

Her every word dripped with calculated innocence, but her gestures were a melody of provocation.

As the clock struck midnight, the building opposite us came alive, its windows blinking until they spelled out glowing words: "I LOVE YOU."

Nolan dropped to one knee, his gaze filled with reverence. “Baby, these ten thousand lights shine just for you. They’re a symbol of my love. Let’s get married after the New Year, okay?”

My phone buzzed, interrupting his declaration. It was a message from Dione.

"Sister, brother-in-law said the ruby reminded him of the color I bloomed under him for the first time. Are you still sure you want to marry him?"

I glanced at my reflection in the window, catching a glimpse of her twisted smile as she ground her teeth. The words on the screen burned in my mind, igniting a spark within me. I knew then that my time for revenge had finally come.

I smiled gently and nodded. “Alright.”

Nolan’s joy was uncontainable. He lifted me effortlessly and spun me around; his laughter filled with boyish delight. Tears glistened in his eyes, and his voice trembled with emotion. “You’ve given me the most unforgettable New Year’s Eve of my life.”

I let out a soft chuckle, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “The feeling’s mutual.”

His enthusiasm spilled over as he began calling a few friends, eager to celebrate and share the news of our engagement.

Turning to Dione, I smiled faintly. “Why not invite your boyfriend too? The more, the merrier.”

Her eyes darted instinctively toward Nolan, her expression unreadable. His face remained stoic, though a fleeting unease flickered in his gaze. “Do as your sister says,” he muttered, his tone devoid of warmth.

Hours later, Isaiah Crassus arrived, his tie slightly askew, his disheveled appearance hinting at the rush to get here.

What happened next silenced the room. With an air of nonchalance, Dione walked straight to him, her movements deliberate. She perched herself boldly on his lap, her arms sliding around his neck, leaving no doubt about her intentions.

She teasingly placed a cherry against his lips, her gaze, however, drifting back to Nolan, lingering just a moment too long.

Isaiah sat stiffly, the discomfort evident in his posture. His eyes darted nervously toward Nolan, betraying his unease.

I smiled knowingly, tilting my head ever so slightly. “Well, Nolan, it seems your secretary has managed to steal my sister’s heart.”

Nolan swirled his wine with deliberate calm, his expression cold and detached, though the faintest spark of anger flickered in his eyes. It was the same smoldering fury I remembered from the days when we had dated in secret, especially when his senior had insisted on asking for my number.

The moment Isaiah’s lips brushed against the cherry, Nolan moved without warning. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me fiercely, a gesture that was equal parts defiance and possession.

I fought back my rising anger, gently pushing him away, my movements controlled despite the heat in my chest.

Someone broke the tension with a laugh. “Not quite the same. She’s sharing cherries, and you’re sharing saliva!”

Nolan took my hand, his smirk playful yet edged with dominance. “What can I say? My baby’s sweeter than any cherry.”

The sound of glass shattering filled the room, cutting through the laughter. Dione’s wine glass lay in pieces, red wine blooming across her dress as she froze under the weight of everyone’s gaze.

She froze in place, her teeth gently grazing her lip as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, like a wounded fawn caught in headlights.

“Isaiah, can you come upstairs with me to change?”

Isaiah’s gaze flickered briefly toward Nolan, seeking some unspoken approval, before he followed her without a word.

Nolan, on the other hand, didn’t so much as glance their way. He lounged with his friends, the perfect host, his demeanor unbothered, as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

It wasn’t until he stepped away to take a phone call that he finally approached me. His voice dropped to a low murmur as he leaned close, his breath brushing against my ear. “Baby, there’s an issue with a contract. I need to take care of it.”

“Could you handle the guests for me?”

I nodded with a small smile, but the moment he turned away, I excused myself, murmuring something about fetching charcoal. Taking another route, I slipped upstairs unnoticed.

What I found stopped me cold. Nolan, his face dark and barely contained fury, carried Dione into the master bathroom, his movements jerky with frustration. In his anger, he didn’t even bother to close the door.

I steadied my breath, pulling out my phone. With a flick of my thumb, I hit record.

Nolan’s grip tightened as he set Dione in the bathtub, his bloodshot eyes seething with fury. Without a word, he turned on the showerhead, cold water splashing down on her.

“It was all just a show. Where do you get the nerve to flirt with him?”

Dione shivered, her teeth chattering. “Brother-in-law, it’s freezing.”

Nolan’s lips curled into a sneer, his voice dripping with disdain. “Now you’re cold? Watching you throw yourself at another man, I thought you were immune to the heat.”

Dione rose slowly, her fingers grazing the silk strap of her dress, her gaze lowering in a way that left little to the imagination.

“Without this, how would they know how much you care about me, brother-in-law?” she purred.

Nolan’s grip shot out, seizing her chin as his fingers traced her lips. “Did he touch you?”

Dione shook her head, her voice soft but certain. “Every inch of me belongs to you.”

The steam in the bathroom thickened as Dione handed the showerhead to Nolan, her voice a silken whisper, teasing and soft. “Brother-in-law, the water is so hot. Won’t you help me?”

Before she could finish, Nolan’s lips crashed against hers, his other hand tearing away the fragile silk that separated them.

Dione gasped, her voice trembling. "This belongs to my sister—"

"Shut up," Nolan growled, cutting her off with a harsh command, silencing her completely.

I watched the scene unfold before me, my heart numb, my emotions a tangled mess. When it was finally over, I quietly slipped my phone away and moved to the guest bathroom. There, I bent over the sink, my body heaving as I retched violently.

Later, Dione came downstairs with Isaiah, her expression radiant, almost glowing.

Someone couldn’t help but tease, "Secretary Crassus, what did you give Miss Cromwell? She went upstairs to change and came back looking so... different."

Isaiah’s face turned beet red, and he remained silent, eyes glued to the floor.

Dione shyly lowered her head but threw me a challenging glance; her voice laced with defiance. "My boyfriend, of course, showers me with love. Laugh all you want, but I’m happy."

Nolan, now in casual clothes, noticed the pallor on my face as he descended the stairs. His hand instinctively reached for my forehead.

"Baby, are you feeling unwell again?"

I nodded slightly. "Maybe I saw something disgusting... and it made me nauseous."

Panic flickered across Nolan’s face. "What disgusting thing?"

Following my gaze, he saw the grilling offal on the table, and his expression softened, his tension easing.

He quickly put out the charcoal fire, his voice sharp. "Who told you to grill offal? Stop it! Don’t make Isabella nauseous!"

I reached out to stop him, not wanting to be rude to our guests, especially on New Year's.

Nolan flashed me a smile, tapping my nose gently. "It’s fine. My wife comes first."

His friends joined in with teasing smiles. "Isabella, we all know you’re Nolan’s world."

"Remember when Troy slipped you a drink that made you sick? Nolan almost killed him."

"So don’t make us stay. If anything happens to you, Nolan will skin us alive."

A cold gust of wind swept through, stealing the smile from my lips.

If I hadn’t seen his betrayal with my own eyes, his sincere gaze would’ve made me believe I truly was his everything.