Chapter 2

From that day on, Victoria started spreading rumors in their circle.

Saying I used to date Jonathan.

Saying I was a gold digger who specialized in seducing wealthy men.

I was shaking with anger.

The water glass in my hand was trembling so much the water nearly spilled.

But what made me feel even colder was that these rumors reached Sebastian's ears.

He changed.

He stopped picking me up from work like before.

He used to arrive ten minutes early, leaning against his car door waiting for me.

When he saw me come out, he'd smile and open the car door for me.

Now he stopped coming.

His text replies got slower and slower.

They used to be instant.

Then they became a few minutes.

Then hours.

When we occasionally ate together, he would casually drop Jonathan's name into conversation.

"Jonathan got a new car today."

"Jonathan's going to Europe on business next month."

Every time he mentioned it, he would look at me with that penetrating gaze, as if observing my reaction.

That look made me very uncomfortable.

Like an interrogation, watching to see if I'd slip up somehow.

One night at his apartment.

I finally couldn't take it anymore.

His apartment was in an upscale complex on the west side of the city.

The living room was huge, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire city at night.

I put down my water glass and looked at him.

"Sebastian, what's been going on with you lately?"

He sat on the sofa, looking at his laptop screen.

"Nothing. Just busy with work."

"Is it because of what Victoria said?" I cut straight to the point.

Sebastian looked up, his gaze heavy as he stared at me.

"What did you hear?"

"What I heard doesn't matter." I took a deep breath.

"What matters is whether you believe it."

I walked up to him, crouched down, and looked into his eyes.

His eyes were deep brown.

I used to feel safe looking into those eyes.

But now, all I saw in them was coldness and suspicion.

"I'll explain one last time. Jonathan and I are just colleagues. The person I like is you. From beginning to end, only you."

Sebastian looked at me.

"If he's just an acquaintance, why didn't you mention him before?"

I froze.

"Because there was nothing worth mentioning." I looked at him in disbelief.

"I can't exactly report every male colleague I know to you, can I?"

Sebastian let out a cold laugh.

"Don't want to mention him, or feeling guilty?"

My whole body stiffened.

"What did you say?"

"Rain, you really don't need to be so defensive."

He stood up, looking down at me.

"I'm just asking."

He turned and walked toward the balcony, lighting a cigarette.

The lighter flared up, then went dark.

Through the glass door, I watched his back and suddenly felt he was so unfamiliar.

I thought if I was sincere enough, he would eventually believe me.

But I didn't know.

The seed of doubt in Sebastian's heart had already begun to grow wild.

That night, I didn't stay at his place.

I walked alone through the late-night streets.

The wind cut across my face like a knife.

I had no idea that the worst was still to come.