Chapter 2

Julian glanced at me, hesitating slightly.

"Your husband is sitting right here. Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"He doesn't care about stuff like that."

Seraphina tapped my shoulder, her voice carrying an unspoken warning.

"Right, Cole?"

My fingers slowly curled into a tight fist in my pocket. Looking at Julian, I forced a polite smile.

"Not at all. Go ahead."

As Seraphina and Julian locked arms and knocked back their drinks, the VIP room inevitably erupted into loud cheers and hoots.

"Here, Julian, have a strawberry."

Seraphina held a strawberry up to Julian’s lips, feeding him herself. Julian gave her a deep, meaningful look and didn't pull away.

Watching their intimate, flirtatious display made a sharp pain stab through my chest.

To hide my awkwardness and humiliation, I kept my head down, pretending to scroll through my phone while my mind spiraled out of control.

Though Seraphina and I had been married for three years, I had loved her for far longer than that.

Back in college, Seraphina and Julian were the golden couple everyone envied, while I was merely the lovesick guy who chased after her for four whole years without ever getting a second glance.

After graduation, Julian’s family relocated abroad, and their relationship crumbled.

I stayed by Seraphina's side through every miserable day of her heartbreak. So when her wealthy family pressured her into marriage, she used me as her shield.

We signed a prenuptial agreement before walking down the aisle. She made it painfully clear that she did not love me.

I knew the harsh truth all along. But... so what? I still loved her.

Seeing that their glasses were empty, I stood up, refilled their whiskey, and raised my glass with a smile.

"Julian, welcome back. Let me propose a toast."

Seraphina looked at me, her expression turning unreadable.

Julian quickly stood up. "Thank you for taking such good care of Seraphina all these years. Honestly, I was worried sick about her while I was away."

"It's the least I could do. After all, I'm her husband."

I clinked my glass against his with a cold, fake smile. Catching the fleeting annoyance in his eyes, I smirked and downed the whiskey in one gulp.

Since I had already been drinking heavily at home, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me, making my steps unsteady.

"Since when did your alcohol tolerance get this pathetic?"

Disgust flashed in Seraphina's eyes. "I remember you used to hold your liquor pretty well."

Looking at her, I offered no explanation. Refusing to make a fool of myself in front of this crowd, I turned on my heel, trying to look detached and cool.

"Enjoy the night, guys. I'm heading out."

Seraphina stared at the closed door for a long time. Julian leaned in to talk to her, but seeing her dazed look, he asked softly, "Seraphina, what's wrong?"

Seraphina shook her head, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle.

"Why would I ever care about Cole?... Come on, guys, let's keep drinking!"

Early the next morning, as I opened the front door to leave for work, I found Seraphina sitting slumped against the wall in the hallway, looking utterly lost.

"What happened to you?"

I rushed over and helped her to her feet. Her eyes were blank and hollow, but the moment she saw me, her voice cracked with a touch of vulnerability:

"Cole."

"I'm here."

I looked straight into her eyes. Suddenly, she threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly against her chest.

"Do you... not love me anymore?"

I froze for a moment. This was the very first time Seraphina had ever acted so vulnerable and clingy with me.

"You're drunk. Let me carry you inside."

I scooped her up in a bridal carry and walked into the apartment, but she suddenly leaned in and pressed her lips against the corner of my mouth.

I stopped in my tracks, turning my head to meet her glistening, watery eyes.

"I didn't come home all night. Why aren't you angry?"

Her voice was unusually soft. I gently laid her down on the bed and brushed a soft kiss against her forehead.

"I never stop you from doing what you want, because I trust you always have your reasons."

Seraphina stared at me intently for a long time, then suddenly let out a cold chuckle.

"Cole, your acting skills have really leveled up."

I paused, only to hear her mocking sneer continue.

"To catch my attention, you're playing the aloof, unreachable guy now, aren't you?"

"Though..."

Her tone shifted, and she wrapped her arms tightly around my waist.

"I actually kind of like you like this."

I took a deep breath and coaxed her with a helpless sigh, "My spoiled heiress, I still have to head to work. You stay home and get some sleep, and tonight we'll head over to your grandfather's estate for the family dinner together."

I spent half an hour softly reading bedtime stories to Seraphina until her breathing finally grew slow and steady.

I stroked her hair and whispered softly:

"No matter how our story ends, I hope you never forget me in this lifetime."