Even though I knew Yuri could never forget Yara, I never imagined he would brazenly bring her to our future marital home, losing himself in passion with her.

Tears the size of beans rolled down my cheeks as I suppressed my nausea and fled from the place I once saw as a warm harbor.

That day, I didn't go back home, nor did Yuri ask about me even once.

On Instagram, Yara posted for the first time in five years, featuring a massive diamond ring.

"I knew you were waiting for me all along. I accept your proposal!"

Meanwhile, Yuri's background picture changed to four big words made up of hearts: "Wait for me to marry you."

I stood there, stunned for a long time, laughing and crying simultaneously.

In the five years I was with Yuri, he never mentioned marriage. When I brought it up subtly, he always brushed it off with a busy work schedule.

It turns out, it wasn't that he was busy; it was because, in his heart, his wife was never going to be me.

The next day, I went home, dry heaving as I packed my belongings. I threw away everything Yuri had ever given me. Only then did I realize how few things he had gifted me over the years, their worth dwarfed by even a bouquet of 99 roses.

It became glaringly obvious how a man's love or lack thereof is. I had been fooling myself all along.

That evening, Yuri nonchalantly invited me to a party. On the way, he remained overly considerate until a phone call came in. Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes in the middle of nowhere and, full of apologies, asked me to get out of the car.

I looked at the deserted road in disbelief. "But we're nowhere near the party."

Yuri locked the car doors, "Freya, I have an emergency. Please understand."

Before I could say a word, he hit the gas and sped away, leaving a trail of black exhaust fumes that made my eyes sting.

What emergency could he possibly have? He just wanted to rush to Yara's side.

After a long, arduous trek, I finally reached the villa in the hills, only to see Yuri laughing and chatting freely with Yara and others.

"Mr. Clayton, is this your girlfriend?" someone teased.

Yuri raised Yara's hand, the diamond ring on her ring finger glinting prominently. "She's my fiancée."

"And what about Miss Ashcroft?" someone else asked.

Yuri's face stiffened momentarily before he forced a smile, "Miss Ashcroft and I are just business partners."

A taut string in my heart suddenly snapped. I trembled all over as understanding dawned on me.

I had cut off ties with my family, spending all my savings to move to a new city with the penniless Yuri to start a business. He was reluctant to be seen as a man who depended on a woman, so for five years, to everyone but our closest confidants, we were merely business partners.

I had cried and thrown fits, but Yuri always sincerely promised, "Once I achieve success, I'll publicly acknowledge you so you'll never feel wronged!"

Now, he openly paraded Yara around, while I was relegated to the shadows, like a mouse hiding from the light.

"Yuri," I called out, suppressing my emotions as I walked over nonchalantly.

Yuri glanced at me, his disdain plainly visible for an instant before he quickly masked it.

"Freya, you're finally here. Everyone's been waiting for you."

He turned to introduce me to others, "This is Miss Ashcroft."

I kept my face impassive and smiled lightly. "Yuri, you left me in the middle of nowhere to pick up your assistant. I'm lucky I made it here at all."

Yuri's face turned ashen. He smiled helplessly, "Yara twisted her ankle, so I had to pick her up."

I remained silent, finding his smile unbearably piercing.

Walking 10 kilometers from the outskirts had left my feet bloodied and aching. I said nothing more and turned to leave.

While looking for a quiet place to sit, I bumped into Yara as she left the restroom. She was beaming, a kiss mark still visible on her lips.

Yara looked at me and grinned suggestively, "Sorry, he just couldn't wait even for a moment."

We both knew exactly whom she meant by "he."