Chapter 1

The day I brought an umbrella to my boyfriend Alexander, I discovered I was nothing but his "poor girlfriend" used to provoke the woman he truly loved.

"I'm only pretending to be poor with Lynn because Victoria found herself some broke boyfriend to spite me."

"Love her? Fuck off. A poor woman like that isn't worthy of me."

Two years together, working three jobs to support him. Turned out I was just a cheap toy to make his true love jealous.

That night, I signed the agreement to serve as a volunteer doctor in the border conflict zone.

Between gunfire and death, I carved him out of my heart completely.

Three years later, I returned home as the youngest director of cardiothoracic surgery.

When he knelt at the airport, crying and begging me to come back, I held my new lover's hand and smiled coldly.

"Alexander, didn't we settle everything long ago?"

Lynn's POV

In my supervisor's office, only the soft hum of the air conditioner broke the silence.

I stared at the liability waiver on the desk. Without even blinking, I signed my name without hesitation.

"I won't back out. Half a month from now, I'll depart on time."

Walking out of the hospital, the stifling summer wind hit my face.

I looked down at the simple silver ring on my ring finger and pulled my lips into a self-mocking smile.

When I returned to our rental apartment, less than three hundred square feet with barely functioning AC, Alexander Blackwood was cooking pasta in the narrow kitchen.

He wore a faded white T-shirt. His broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist, and his profile looked especially gentle under the dim yellow light.

Hearing the door open, he turned around. His eyes lit up as he walked out carrying two plates of pasta.

"You're back? Got paid from my part-time job today, so I bought you your favorite cake."

I looked at the cake on the table, packed in a cheap paper bag.

"Thanks, but I don't feel like eating it right now."

Alexander wiped his hands and walked over, habitually pulling me into his embrace. His chin rested in the hollow of my neck, his voice low and slightly pleading.

"What's wrong? Tough day at the hospital? Once I graduate and get a permanent position, you won't have to work so hard. I promised I'd buy you a big house and marry you properly."

If this had been three days ago, hearing those words would have made my eyes water with emotion. I would have hugged him back and told him I didn't mind the hardship.

But now, I only felt nausea churning in my stomach.

Three days ago, I went to deliver an umbrella to him at his part-time job at an upscale club, walking through the rain.

In the underground parking garage, I saw Alexander, the same man who claimed he couldn't afford taxis and rode the bus with me every day, climbing into a multi million dollar sports car.

The window was half-down. His rich-kid friends laughed without restraint, their voices echoing through the empty garage.

"Mr. Blackwood, how long are you going to keep up this 'poor student' act? Living in that cramped apartment with that broke girl every day. Doesn't it hurt your image?"

Alexander held a cigarette between his lips, his expression lazy and cold. The smoke rings he blew obscured his refined features.

"Victoria hasn't broken up with Lucas Ford yet. I need something to do in the meantime."

"True. If Victoria hadn't decided to date some commoner to 'experience life,' the richest guy in our circle wouldn't have gotten petty enough to find himself a poor girl. But that Lynn sure is gullible. She actually believes Alexander could be interested in her. Working three jobs every day to support you. That's priceless."

The rain was heavy that day. I stood in it for a long time. I don't even remember when I dropped the umbrella.

So our two year relationship was nothing but a cheap game, one man's way of provoking his childhood sweetheart.

What I thought was salvation was just a joke in everyone else's eyes, one they could end whenever they wanted.

I closed my eyes and pushed myself out of Alexander's embrace.

"I'm a bit tired. I'll take a shower first."

Alexander looked at his empty arms, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

He walked to the table and picked up his phone. The screen lit up.

It was a message.

I happened to see the screen from where I stood.

"Alexander, thank you for the necklace you gave me today. I love it."

Sender: Victoria Sterling.

Alexander quickly swiped the message away and looked up in my direction. He smiled awkwardly.

"Work message."

I nodded without saying anything and went into the bathroom.