At the hospital, I forced myself to keep working through the painful rash on my neck.

Just as the IV drip was finishing, I got an unexpected call from my brother, Michael.

His voice came through the line with a light chuckle before he said, “Rosie, you lost.”

Six years ago, I returned to the country for a friend’s party when I was in a car accident.

Trapped inside the wreckage, it was Mark who risked his life to pull me out.

From that moment, I fell hopelessly in love with him.

So I went against my family’s wishes and chose to stay after graduation.

I accepted a job at Mark’s company as his secretary, all so I could take care of him.

Michael never liked Mark and never believed in our relationship. However, I was too obsessed with Mark to listen to anyone.

So I made a bet with my brother.

I had seven years. If Mark hadn’t fallen for someone else by then, I’d win ten percent of the family shares as my wedding dowry.

If I lost, I’d go back home and agree to arranged dates.

With Mark’s proposal trending all over the internet, there was no way Michael could’ve possibly missed it.

My relationship with Mark ended after six years.

I accepted the loss and replied calmly, “Yeah. I’ll fly back in three days and start going on the dates.”

That night, I dragged my exhausted body back to the hotel, only to find Mark waiting inside my room.

The company had come to Colmar for a retreat, so the employees were staying at the hotel.

Mark, being a clean freak, stayed at his private estate nearby.

Hearing movement by the door, he didn’t even look up.

“Where were you?” he asked coldly.

Kicking off my shoes, I gave a vague reply.

“Nowhere.”

I didn’t offer details, nor did Mark ask for any.

Instead, he casually handed over a pink gift box.

“Lana picked this out for you. Isn’t she thoughtful?

“And about the trending topic, get someone to clean it up fast. Don’t let it damage her reputation. She’s not in a state to handle stress right now.”

I opened the box to find a preserved green rose.

If I remembered correctly, Mark had given Lana ninety-nine preserved roses of various colors yesterday.

She’d even complained on Instagram that the green one was the ugliest.

Now, he was re-gifting it to me.

I gave a quiet “Mm” and set it aside, not saying anything else.

Sensing my off mood, Mark tried to explain. It was something he never did.

“You’re upset? Nothing’s going on between me and Lana…”

As he stepped closer, the strong scent of alcohol hit me. Mixed with it was Lana’s favorite jasmine perfume.

I caught a glimpse of his disheveled collar, under which faint hickeys were strewn across his skin.

I casually stepped aside and pretended to get some water.

“I know there’s nothing going on between you two.”

Then, after a pause, I added, “I’m not angry.”

I had known his answer long ago.

Every time he chose Lana over me, he would say, “We’re just friends. If something were going to happen, it would’ve already.”

Oddly enough, this time, my response set him off.

His face twisted in frustration, and his voice turned cold.

“Then what’s your attitude now?”

“If you know there’s nothing between us, why are you still giving me that look?”

I was slightly speechless.

How was I giving him attitude by not agreeing with him?

I took a deep breath, just about to speak, when his phone rang with Lana’s custom ringtone.

Mark shot me a cold glance before turning away to answer, voice softening instantly.

“Mark, my stomach suddenly feels weird… Can you come check on me? Maybe take me to the hospital?”

“Okay, stay put. I’ll be there soon.”

Before he even hung up, he was already walking toward the door.

Just as he reached for the handle, he paused and looked back at me in a rare move.

“There’s a problem with a client. I need to go deal with it.

“Get some rest. No need to wait up for me.”

He didn’t wait for my reply. He grabbed his coat and left in a rush.

…

I sent my resignation letter to HR’s email.

However, I instructed her to read it after the retreat ended, and we were back home.

Not long after, I got a message from Lana.

It was a photo of Mark in the kitchen, making porridge.

“The baby was kicking non-stop. As soon as Daddy showed up, he calmed down.

“Isn’t that legendary parent-child connection?”

I didn’t rise to Lana’s provocation. I simply blocked her and moved on.

With a quiet, bitter smile, I began packing my things.

The next morning, our itinerary was open. I decided to explore the town I’d always longed to see.

Walking down the storybook streets, surrounded by flowers, I realized it was all fine.

I chuckled bitterly, and something inside me finally let go. Why was I so obsessed with coming here before?

After wandering a bit, I bought a huge bouquet of flowers and turned to head back to the hotel.

That’s when I passed a bar up ahead and heard someone playing the piano and singing.

“I think I’ve seen this film before...”

I stepped forward to walk toward the sound and froze.

That deep, husky voice… It was Mark.

At the end of the song, his tone softened into something warm and lazy. “Live happily ever after with the one you love in a perfect little town.”

Mark always wore suits, never casual clothes. But today, he looked like a young college kid again.

His eyes were full of affection as he gazed at his unforgettable first love from all those years ago.

My nails dug deep into my palms.

Staring at Mark, I remembered just how much he hated singing.

Once, at a friend’s birthday party, I asked him to do a duet with me at karaoke.

He lost it on the spot, throwing the mic and snapping at me. “Can you stop being so childish? I hate singing!”

Yet here he was, pouring his heart out in front of everyone, all for Lana.

The mood was electric as the crowd erupted in applause.

I clapped along too, watching them kiss like a couple in love.

My eyes burned. Still, I smiled as I walked calmly into the crowd.

The moment Mark saw me, his face darkened. “Rosie, seriously? Do you have to follow me everywhere?!”

He thought I was stalking him and didn’t even bother to hide his irritation.

I smiled. “Didn’t you say there was a problem with a client?”

Then I pointed at the lipstick smudge still on his lips. “So that’s what you meant by business negotiation, kissing?”

He scowled at my sarcasm, brows furrowing.

“Rosie, can you stop making a scene?!

“Lana was upset and wanted to hear a song. Don’t blow this out of proportion.”

Behind him, Lana giggled and stuck out her tongue.

“Sorry, Rosie. Don’t blame Mark. I just gave him a kiss as a reward for singing so well!”

At that, Mark patted her head indulgently.

Then he turned to me, his tone softening.

“I was actually going to come find you.

“There’s a fireworks show tonight. I’ll take you to see it.”

His deep black eyes almost held a trace of the old warmth. It was just like when he used to promise to take me anywhere I wanted.

I agreed, just to fulfill a wish from the past.

The town square was packed with people waiting for the fireworks.

At 8 p.m., the fireworks exploded across the sky in a brilliant display.

Couples kissed and cheered in the lively atmosphere.

I turned, only to find neither Mark nor Lana beside me.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

The joyful square descended into chaos.

Panic spread as people scattered in all directions.

I then instinctively started moving toward a safer spot. That’s when someone crashed into me from the side.

In the confusion, someone’s bag chain slashed across my face.

The pain was blinding. I stumbled, nearly falling over.

Through the noise, I heard that all-too-familiar voice.

“Lana, don’t be scared. I’ve got you. Let’s get out of here.”

Mark’s steps never faltered as he shielded a terrified Lana and led her away.

I watched as he disappeared into the distance, cradling someone else. Then I realized, with heartbreaking clarity, that the Mark who once promised to protect me forever no longer existed.

…

Thankfully, a few minutes later, order was restored.

Someone helped me to my feet.

I thanked them, then pressed a hand over my bleeding forehead and made my way to the hospital.

When I went to pay for my medication at the hospital, I discovered Mark had quietly frozen my credit card.

To make matters worse, my phone was completely dead.

Alone in a foreign country, I swallowed the lump rising in my throat.

I began asking around to borrow money. Eventually, a kind young woman helped me out.

Finally, I bought the medicine.

Just as I was about to patch myself up, my phone powered back on, and Mark’s call came through immediately.

“Rosie, where are you? Why haven’t you been answering?

“There was an incident at the square. Where did you run off to? Are you okay?”

I couldn’t tell if the concern in his voice was real or not.

I kept my reply short. “I’m fine. My phone just died.”

The moment he heard I was okay, I could feel him exhale in relief. Then his tone shifted back to cold impatience.

“Get to the airport. Lana’s not feeling well, so we’re flying back.”

Before I could respond, I heard Lana’s teary voice in the background.

“Mark, my stomach hurts so much. Do you think something’s wrong with the baby?

“It’s fine. I can wait however long it takes for Rosie to get here…”

That act of selflessness from Lana was enough to completely drain Mark’s patience.

He snapped at me through the phone. “You have thirty minutes. Get to the airport, now!”

Then he hung up without waiting for a reply.

I changed my ticket and rushed to the airport with my luggage.

By the time I arrived in a taxi, it had already been over an hour.

Still, as Mark’s secretary, I swiftly handled check-in procedures for him and Lana.

I was handing them their boarding passes when Lana clutched her belly and gasped in fake alarm.

“Oh my god, Rosie! You’ve got blood all over your face!”

I hadn’t had time to wash up or change clothes after bandaging my wound.

Mark glanced at me, his face twisting with disgust.

“Rosie, are you insane? Are you trying to scare Lana on purpose?”

The cut on my forehead throbbed. I was so tired, I couldn’t even speak.

I turned and walked toward the restroom to change.

However, Lana followed me in. Her eyes were full of smug provocation.

“You’re such a pathetic simp, Rosie,” she sneered. “You knew Mark proposed to me, and you still won’t back off?”

Her words dripped with venom.

I looked up, about to snap back.

Then I saw her bag.

It was the exact one that had struck me in the face at the square.

I grabbed her wrist sharply and demanded, “This is your bag? Why did you hit me with it earlier?”

Lana’s eyes flickered, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she yanked her arm back and threw herself to the ground.

Alarmed by the noise, Mark burst through the bathroom door.

Lana immediately clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

He rushed to her side and shot me a furious glare.

“Rosie, what is wrong with you?!

“If anything happens to Lana, I swear you’ll regret it!”

He didn’t even give me a chance to speak. He picked her up and left.

I stepped out of the restroom and returned to the waiting area.

Mark’s assistant rushed over, looking conflicted.

She told me the rest of the team was flying back on the same flight. However, Mark had canceled my ticket.

I understood the message loud and clear.

Disobey him, and he’d leave me stranded here, penniless.

In the past, I would have rushed to apologize.

But not this time.

I stared coldly at Mark from a distance.

The boarding announcement came, and I walked toward him.

“Rosie, stay here and think about what you’ve done. Even if you beg, it’s no use. Lana’s still upset!”

However, what he got from me wasn’t an apology.

“I’m breaking up with you.” I cut him off coldly.

After that, I turned my eyes away, unwilling to look at him for another second.

Mark was stunned. Seconds later, he laughed bitterly in disbelief from behind.

“Rosie, you better mean it. Don’t come crawling back on your knees later!”

He stormed off and boarded the flight back home.

I deleted and blocked every way to contact him before walking the other way, onto a plane bound for a different country.

I hadn’t expected the surprise awaiting me once I took my seat.