At our relationship anniversary dinner, my fiancé’s so-called “brother in arms,” Bella Brooks, once again casually ate the shrimp he had peeled for me.

A friend teased, “Daniel Carter, who’s really your girlfriend here?”

Bella instantly hooked her arm through his and laughed. “Oh, come on. Danny is our shared property! Haven’t you heard of sharing?”

“And besides,” she added with a sly grin, “it’s not like he hasn’t already taken care of me in other ways. Olivia’s generous—she doesn’t mind, right?”

My fiancé just pinched her cheek, smiling indulgently. “You never shut up,” he said, without once looking at me.

With everyone watching, I set down my chopsticks and said, “I do mind. It’s disgusting.”

Daniel finally frowned. “What are you making a scene for? She just ate a couple of your shrimp. Bella’s just running her mouth.”

I smiled calmly. “Exactly. And I think her dirty mouth is disgusting too.”

…

For the anniversary dinner, I had booked the restaurant early. Daniel’s friends all came. As soon as the dishes arrived, he picked up the biggest shrimp, deftly peeled it, and placed it—not in my bowl, but naturally into Bella’s.

He didn’t even lift his eyelids, completely ignoring the empty bowl I was holding out.

Bella grinned, popped it into her mouth without hesitation, and mumbled, “Nice, Danny! Still got your peeling skills.”

One of the guys across the table kicked Daniel’s chair with a laugh. “Hey, Danny, whose boyfriend are you, anyway?”

Bella immediately clung to his arm, half hanging on him. “Don’t split hairs. Danny’s public property. Whoever needs him can use him!”

“And besides, it’s not like he hasn’t satisfied me before. Olivia’s the most generous one here—she won’t mind, right?” Her gaze slid brazenly to me, full of challenge.

Daniel swayed under her grip but didn’t push her off. Instead, he reached out to pinch her face again, smiling as if doting on her. “You never shut up. Even eating can’t silence you.”

From beginning to end, he didn’t glance at me once. I might as well have been the flower vase at the table.

The room burst into laughter and teasing. “Wow, Danny, this is every guy’s dream—two women at once!”

I could feel the curious, pitying eyes from everyone around the table.

Setting my chopsticks down, I spoke slowly: “I mind. It makes me sick.”

The room fell silent.

Only then did Daniel look at me, frowning. “What’s your problem? She just ate a shrimp or two. Bella’s just joking around.”

I smiled faintly. “Yeah, and I find her jokes filthy.”

I pulled out my phone, opened a medical appointment app, booked myself an appointment with gynecology, and Daniel one with urology.

Then I turned the screen to the table. “Better get checked. With this whole ‘sharing’ thing, who knows what you might have picked up. Anyone else who’s played with them can join in—the bill’s on me.”

Daniel’s face turned purple as he lunged for my phone. “Olivia Scott, stop being so damn dramatic! Bella and I are just friends. Can you not be disgusting?”

“Friends, huh? You’re jealous over that? And what’s wrong with sharing? It’s not like we’re married yet. When I do get married, you’ll still be the bride, isn’t that enough?”

“We’re just buddies. And even if we had slept together, so what? Why make appointments? Don’t you think I’d know if she had anything?”

That’s when I noticed the half-box of strawberry candy peeking out of his pocket—Bella’s favorite brand.

Last week, when I was on my period and asked him to bring me some chocolate, he said he’d “forgotten.” Yet somehow, he remembered to stock Bella with candy.

What a fool paired with a parasite. I ignored him, bent down, and started packing my bag.

Bella nudged Daniel with her elbow and said in a mock-innocent voice, “I won’t eat shrimp anymore. Don’t be mad at Olivia, be a bigger man.”

When Daniel didn’t move, she quickly turned to me. “Olivia, let me apologize for him. He’s just used to peeling shrimp for me. I hate peeling them myself, and if he doesn’t, I won’t eat them. He didn’t mean any harm. I won’t do it again.”

She even tried to pick the shrimp out of her bowl to give to me. I didn’t take it. Instead, I flipped the plate, sending the shrimp splashing into the hotpot. Oil popped, and a few drops hit Bella’s hand.

Daniel instantly jumped up, grabbing her hand and flipping it over anxiously. His voice shook. “Did it burn? Does it hurt? Let me get you to the sink!”

Bella bit her lip, but her eyes weren’t showing pain. Instead, she said deliberately, “It’s fine, I’m tough. Olivia didn’t mean it…”

Daniel didn’t hear her. He dragged her toward the restroom, but not before shooting me a glare. “Olivia, if you ever hurt Bella again, I’ll make you pay!”

The triumphant look Bella threw me before leaving left me cold inside.

The door closed, leaving only the bubbling of the hotpot.

Jason Lee, one of Daniel’s buddies, gave a nervous chuckle. “Olivia, don’t take it to heart. Bella and Danny have been like that since they were kids. No big deal.”

I said nothing, tightening my grip on my bag strap as I gathered my things. Just as I was about to leave, the door banged open.

Daniel came in, supporting Bella, whose hand was wrapped in his jacket.

“Olivia! Apologize to Bella!” he demanded, eyes wide. “All this over a joke? You flipped food and burned her! What if she’s scarred?”

Bella tugged his arm quickly. “Danny, don’t be harsh. I’m fine—it’s just a little burn. Some cream will fix it. Don’t fight because of me.” She shot me a quick glance, her eyes glittering with smug victory.

Looking at Daniel fussing over her, I remembered last week when I cut my hand badly while cooking. Blood wouldn’t stop, and when I called him for help, he said, “Bella’s scared of thunderstorms, I need to stay with her.” I ended up alone, wrapping it in bandages and taking a cab to the hospital.

“Apologize?” I laughed bitterly, pointing at the strawberry candy in his pocket. “Daniel, let’s get this straight. She’s the one who ate the shrimp you peeled, she’s the one who called you ‘public property,’ and she’s the one who made those filthy jokes at me! I’ve been generous not demanding she kneel and apologize, and you want me to apologize to her?”

“It was just a joke!” Daniel frowned. “Bella was messing around. Why are you so petty? We’re like siblings. Of course I take care of her—that’s only natural.”

“Only natural?” I stepped forward, my voice shaking. “When I was on my period and wanted chocolate, you ‘forgot.’ But you remembered her candy. When I was bleeding and crying, you stayed with her through a thunderstorm. Daniel, in your so-called ‘natural order,’ when has there ever been room for me?”

Daniel’s face turned red. After a long pause, he blurted, “That’s different! You’re not scared of thunderstorms!”

“So because I’m not scared, I deserve to be ignored? Because I’m strong, I should suffer?”

I pulled out my phone, showing him a photo I’d saved from last month—Bella’s social media post. She wore the engagement ring Daniel had given me, leaning into his arms with the caption: My Danny.

When I’d asked him about it, Daniel said, “It’s just a joke between friends. Don’t make a fuss.”

I shoved the phone at him. “This is a joke too? She wore my ring, claimed you as hers, and you still call it a joke? Daniel, you’re not stupid—you’re rotten. You know she likes you, but you still blur the lines and treat me like a fool!”

Daniel’s eyes flickered with panic as he tried to snatch the phone. “Don’t go through my stuff! She liked the ring’s design, so I let her try it on. I’ll buy you another one. What’s the big deal?”

“What’s the big deal?” I yanked my hand away. “An engagement ring isn’t for lending out. Is our engagement also something you can ‘share’?”

Bella suddenly spoke up. “Olivia, it’s not what you think… You don’t even like wearing the ring, so Danny let me try it…”

“Bullshit!” I snapped. “Because I don’t wear it, you get to? Because I don’t eat shrimp, you do? Bella, have some damn shame!”

She clung to Daniel’s shirt, whining, “Danny, she’s just jealous. Hurry and apologize to her.”

Daniel instantly wrapped his arm around her and shouted at me, “Olivia! Stop acting like a shrew! I gave her the ring myself—why are you attacking her? It’s just a ring. I’ll buy you ten more!”

“Shrew?” I looked at the two of them with utter disgust. “Daniel, this relationship is over. Forget the wedding. Go live with your ‘brother.’”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Daniel lunged for my wrist, but I pulled away, leaving him grabbing at air.

“Olivia! Apologize and let it go! We already booked the wedding dress. You’re breaking up over this? You’re insane!”

Jason tried to smooth things over. “Olivia, Danny didn’t mean it. Bella’s just like one of the guys—careless. Be more tolerant.”

“Tolerant?” I laughed through tears as I walked out. “I’ve tolerated her. But who has ever tolerated me? Daniel, I’m not the crazy one. Staying with you would be the real madness.”

Bella pretended to be nervous, chasing after me. “Olivia, don’t be upset. I won’t see Danny anymore.” Then she ran toward the stairs.

Daniel didn’t hesitate—he ran after her. After two steps, he looked back and shouted, “Olivia! Don’t be dramatic! I’ll deal with her and then come find you!”

I didn’t look back, didn’t stop walking.

At the restaurant door, the night breeze hit me, and I finally understood: if someone never put you in their heart to begin with, no amount of sacrifice will ever fill the space between him and his “brother.”

When I got home, I wrapped myself in a blanket on the couch, coughing. Soon after, Daniel came in.

Kicking off his shoes, he muttered, “Bella’s ignoring me. She said my apology to you wasn’t sincere and she won’t see me anymore.”

Every word was about Bella—nothing about my humiliation.

I ignored him, went to the kitchen for a glass of water.

He tossed his jacket onto the sofa, his voice full of irritation. “What do you want from me? Do you need me to fight with her before you’re satisfied?”

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Daniel, you’ve got it backward. You crossed the line with Bella, gave her my engagement ring, and now that she’s mad at you, you’re blaming me?”