"I won't eat it then," Tracy cooed playfully.

"You're so greedy. Can you really resist it?" Frank disagreed, snatching the menu and starting to order.

Tracy propped her chin with her hands, smiling sweetly at him.

I sat beside them like a transparent person, watching their harmonious and intimate interaction.

I felt like I was in an ice cellar. The air around me seemed to turn bitter and unusually heavy.

When Tracy first joined Frank's research group earlier this year, he would complain to me every day about how careless and clumsy she was.

At first, I advised him not to be too hard on her.

But later, Tracy's name gradually filled our lives.

He mentioned her name three times in every five sentences he spoke to me.

He went from scolding her to admiring her.

He said she was very much like I used to be, passionate about life, enjoying it, lively, cheerful, and very ambitious.

As I reminisced about the past, Tracy's words pulled me back to reality.

"Eve, I was wrong before, and I apologize. Please forgive me."

She said the words of apology but showed no sign of guilt. Instead, there was a strange sense of superiority.

Her gaze at me was challenging, yet Frank couldn't see it through.

Seeing that I didn't speak, he wanted to hold my hand to remind me.

I avoided it, laughed out loud, and then calmly said, "I'm not angry. In fact, I want to thank you."

"Thank you for waking me up and for making me realize how foolish I was for trying so hard to hold on." However, I didn't say the latter half.

Frank was taken aback, looking at me with confusion. "Why would you thank her?"

"Thanking her for helping me cut my losses in time."

I said with a smile, slowly standing up. "I suddenly find watching you two quite nauseating. Enjoy your meal, I'm out."

Tracy's smile instantly disappeared, replaced by tears in her eyes, looking pitifully at me.

"Eve, have I offended you? Why are you so mean to me in front of Frank?"

Before I could respond, Frank angrily demanded, "Evelyn Felton, what exactly do you want? She's apologized, yet you're still being aggressive. Is this fun for you?"

I looked up into his angry eyes and calmly said, "Seeing you two cornered like dogs is quite entertaining."

After saying that, I ignored their anger and left the restaurant with my bag.

As I walked out onto the street outside the restaurant, I glanced back unintentionally.

Tracy had thrown herself into his arms.

Frank stood there and didn't push her away. He was saying something, probably comforting her.

I smiled bitterly, my eyes reddening.

In a daze, I remembered our past.

Frank and I met in college. We had known each other for four years and had been in love for five.

After graduation, he joined his professor's research institute while I found a job.

When I first started working, I didn't understand the intricacies of human relationships and faced a lot of difficulties.

To cheer me up, he bought a costume and played the clown in front of me.

He said, "As long as you're happy, I'll be happy too, but if you're sad, I'll be sad with you, so you should smile more."

I didn't know why, but such a good man like me had changed, too. I raised my hand to wipe away the tears, suppressing all the bitterness.

Without the so-called love, I threw myself entirely into work.

I didn't have the spare time to indulge in self-pity.

I pushed Frank out of my mind, deliberately avoiding any news about him.

I learned to enjoy lavish meals alone, watch movies, and savor life.

Then, I discovered that without him, I could still live well. He wasn't indispensable.

Previously, my life revolved around work and Frank.

Now that he was gone, the other half of my energy went into self-improvement.

A female colleague, Lila, noticed my changes and teased, "You're preparing for marriage and pregnancy, aren't you?"

I was taken aback and awkwardly smiled, slowly saying, "I don't have any plans to get married for now."

This time, it was her turn to be stunned. "Men are like that. They might be fickle before marriage, but maybe they'll change after getting married."

I stopped my work and sighed lightly, "I don't think marriage can restrain a man who's prone to wavering. Otherwise, why would so many people cheat?"

I felt it was better to cut my losses in time than to end up in a messy marriage.

Moreover, I wasn't dependent on him.

"That makes sense. So you're aiming for a promotion. I heard our department manager is being transferred to a branch, and with your qualifications, becoming the manager is definitely within reach."

Her words ignited my enthusiasm.

I was indeed aiming for a promotion.

I had already missed an opportunity once because I was too absorbed in the love Frank offered, but this time, I had to seize it.

After chatting with her for a few moments, my attention quickly returned to my work.

However, I got so caught up that I lost track of time.

By the time I realized it, the sky outside was already dark, and I was the only one left in the vast office.

I slowly stood up, stretching my stiff body.

After feeling sufficiently relaxed, I tidied up my desk and left.

Just as I reached the gate, I saw a familiar figure.

Frank stood tall, holding some food boxes.

As I walked out, he happened to glance at his watch, looking impatient.

But upon seeing me, his impatience instantly disappeared.

"Eve, you're finally off work."

He strode towards me. I glanced at him indifferently and walked in the other direction.

Frank quickly caught up, grabbing my wrist, his eyes filled with pleading as he spoke cautiously. "Eve, you must be exhausted after working so late. I made this myself, all your favorites. Would you like to try some?"

Everything he did now was what I used to do to appease him after arguments.

He was using my methods on me.

I thought, "See, if he's willing to learn, he can."

But after years of dating, he only understood this after we broke up.

"Frank, this is meaningless."

I looked at him indifferently, my eyes like calm seas without a breeze.

"Eve, I never wanted to break up. We've been together for so long, can't you just not give up so easily? And we're engaged, my mom even gave you such expensive wedding gifts..."

Before he could finish, he realized he had said the wrong thing and immediately looked at me cautiously, adding, "I don't mean for you to return it..."

Seeing him desperately trying to explain, I remembered. After setting the wedding date, his mom gave me an expensive diamond necklace and bracelet.

But I had never worn them, so I forgot about it.

I interrupted him, "I understand. I'll bring them back tomorrow. Not a single diamond will miss."