Chapter 2

"Are you serious?" Johnson asked me.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"No particular reason. I just don't like her anymore."

Johnson was silent for a moment on the other end, then said: "Alright, let's find a time for both families to have dinner together and discuss calling off the engagement."

I agreed and picked up my racket to take the court.

After the match ended, I won the men's singles championship, and thanks to my stellar performance, our class also won the team competition.

I became the hero. Many classmates started clamoring to celebrate at a bar.

"You guys go ahead. Killian isn't feeling well today, so I'll stay with him."

Victoria's words plunged the atmosphere to freezing point. Everyone looked at me, including the teacher.

Because they all knew Victoria and I had grown up together and were engaged.

I looked at Victoria, my eyes stinging.

Twenty years. She'd left an indelible mark on my heart, but in hers, I apparently didn't even measure up to Killian, whom she'd only known for a few months.

"Victoria, the mood's so good, don't be a buzzkill," a classmate urged her. "Besides, tonight is to celebrate Leopold, so it wouldn't be right if you didn't go."

Killian also said: "Victoria, you should go. I'll be fine on my own."

After speaking, he covered his mouth and coughed twice.

Victoria immediately looked anxious, reaching out to pat Killian's back, her tone reproachful: "You say you're fine, but how can I feel at ease when you're like this?"

Seeing my expression darken, the surrounding classmates quickly laughed: "Victoria is too kind-hearted, worried about leaving sick Killian alone."

"Yeah, yeah, having such a kind classmate is our blessing."

Kind-hearted?

In that moment, my heart ached!

Just because of kindness, she could give away my clothes, shoes, watch, even my money to Killian without my permission?

Did she even know I was her fiancé with whom she had an engagement? Or did she know but just not care?

"Why aren't you guys leaving yet? Whatever, I can't be bothered with you. I'm taking Killian to the hospital."

Victoria helped Killian leave, then turned back after two steps and said to me:

"Oh right, I almost forgot to mention—you only won the championship because that hundred-thousand-dollar racket gave you an unfair advantage. Your actual skill level is just so-so."

Hearing this, I laughed and nodded: "You're absolutely right!"

Childhood sweethearts for twenty years, but we'd never reach a happy ending.

"That's too much. How could she say that?"

My roommate felt indignant on my behalf.

"Yeah, Leopold prepared for months for this tournament, leaving at four in the morning every day and not coming back until ten at night."