However, when I stopped appearing around Mark frequently, he started to get clingy, even preparing lunchboxes for me every day.

That was actually the moment I realized he could cook—I had really been so good to him that he had no issue enjoying all the conveniences I brought for him.

But now, our roles were reversed—I refused to eat his cooking.

After I gave him the cold shoulder for a long while, he seemed to feel hurt and remembered his sweet Sophie, and he started visiting her for some tender comfort.

But that was fine—no one would be around to bother me, and I could fully focus on my studies.

Still, one day, I got an urgent text from a close friend.

While I was still confused, I saw that Sophie had just posted a new photo with Mark online, both of them snuggling and smiling blissfully.

There was soon another, but it was a photo of Mark alone on the same beach, sulking.

It was captioned: [Why can't a good man like me get the attention of my beloved?]

Sophie replied beneath it: [Let's marry in three years if you're still single.]

I naturally understood Mark's intention—he wanted my attention and was trying to make me jealous.

But I didn't care about him now and certainly wouldn't get jealous.

As such, I replied to Sophie's reply: [All the best!]

To no surprise, I got Mark's call in just ten minutes, flustered as he asked, "What time are you leaving work? I'll pick you up."

"It's fine. I can get home myself," I replied.

Still, he spoke before I could hang up, "There's a gathering with my old classmates tonight, and I'd be embarrassed if I didn't bring my girlfriend."

I was about to say no when I remembered that some of Mark's old classmates were postgraduate supervisors, and I could use the connections to potentially help me in my studies.

So, after hesitating for a while, I agreed.

In the evening, Mark came to pick me up.

As he lowered the window, I immediately saw Sophie's face.

Before I could speak, she smiled at me in embarrassment and said, "I'm sorry, Lilian. Mark and I attended the same high school, so he decided to give me a ride..."

I nodded in silence as I got in the backseat, while Mark cleared his throat. "Hey, Lilian… Sophie's feeling a little carsick, so just let her ride shotgun this once, okay?"

I nodded again, but his words were pointless.

Sophie would always ride shotgun as long as she existed.

As for Mark, he was spying on my reaction through the rearview mirror.

His heart sank when he saw that I remained exceedingly calm.

Reaching out, he brushed Sophie's hair behind her ear and asked loudly on purpose, "Did you wear the ring I gave you today?"

As he spoke, his eyes remained glued to the rearview mirror, as he must presume that I would snap from jealousy as usual.

But I wouldn't—not for a long while now.

Even so, Sophie raised her hand so that her ring could gleam on her finger as she sighed. "Of course! How could I ever forget about our promise?"

Seeing that I wasn't responding, Mark leaned over and gave Sophie a peck on the cheek, sighing affectionately. "You look so beautiful today…"

Sophie lowered her head shyly, as the hormones between them flared like animals in heat.

However, Mark's face turned pale when he saw that I had turned to look outside the window, unaffected no matter how much he flirted with Sophie.

Annoyed, he shoved Sophie away while his fingers turned pale from clenching around the steering wheel, feeling a sort of fear that he had never felt before.

Even as Sophie looked on in shock after being pushed, Mark gritted his teeth as he jammed his foot on the gas pedal, sending the car lurching forward.