Martin had been down on one knee when he gave Stacy that ring, looking up at her face nervously as he spoke with a crack in his voice, "Will you be my girlfriend for the rest of our lives? I really love you, and I won't marry anyone but you."

It was such a vague promise that anyone slightly rational would be skeptical of, but Stacy had bought it.

And how moved she had been then, was exactly how devastated she was now.

Collecting herself, Stacy left, her fingers now empty save for the faint traces on her ring finger, while that clearly expensive ring lay on the bathroom sink.

It was not until 10pm when Martin rushed into the room, and immediately dropped on one knee in front of her as she sat on the couch.

Before she realized what was happening, he pulled out the ring she had left and gently slid it on her finger, looking into her eyes lovingly, "Didn't you know you lost this? How could you be so clumsy? Don't ever lose it again—it's proof of our marriage."

Despite that loving gaze, Stacy couldn't find the affection she felt years ago.

In fact, any feelings she had were corrupted irreversibly.

Staring fixedly into Martin's eyes, she avoided his question and asked, "Where were you today?"

She sharply noticed the flicker of guilt in his eyes, but that lasted for just a second before he answered, "Had to go to the office, and you were gone when I returned to the hospital."

All Stacy felt was endless weariness from his response, and quietly turned back to the tv.

Martin thought she was just upset he didn't report where he had gone, and sweet-talked her.

"Why don't we go horse riding tomorrow?" He asked. "You've always wanted to do that, right? And the doctor was just suggesting that you need the sun."

Stacy didn't refuse, as she was too tired to deal with his web of lies, and keenly waited for the day when she would finally leave.

-

When they arrived at the stables the next day, Stacy noticed that Rachel was there too.

It was the first time they met, and only ever heard about others speaking about her.

She carried a strong presence and was obviously an heiress, the perfect match to Martin if they stood side by side.

Even as Stacy felt pained, she thought that Martin wouldn't bother with her now that the real owner showed up.

To her surprise, Martin kept his arms firmly around her as if he never saw Rachel, let alone look her way.

"Let me teach you how to ride a horse," he said, and picked a docile horse for her, holding her hand as he taught her everything.

Stacy really was interested in learning horseback riding, and slowly forgot about her jealousy.

When she said she was tired after thirty minutes, Martin helped her off her horse.

Just two minutes after she sat down, however, she noticed that Rachel was gone.

And another two minutes later, Martin told her, "Just sit tight. I'll get you a drink."

Stacy was just feeling something from his meticulous attention, but her heart abruptly turned placid again.

As Martin left, she followed him quietly to a quiet place, where Rachel was already waiting and immediately threw herself into his arms.

Although Martin caught her, he was frowning, "I told you—we have to pretend we don't know each other before we get married. Our families will be affected if Stacy causes a fuss."

He had indeed said that before, but Rachel simply pouted, "I missed you. And it's not like she knows."

She was naturally talking about Stacy, who watched as Martin's creased brow smoothing out like he couldn't do anything about Rachel.

Stacy watched as they then kissed, their tongues intertwining.

Her heart felt like it was cut again, and she clenched her knuckles, not knowing that her nails were cutting into her own palm.

She listened to their gasps and moans, but eventually stopped hurting and left, returning to the lounge while feeling light-headed.

It was not until thirty minutes later that Martin returned with their drinks, putting hers in front of her while apologizing, "Sorry, darling—had to take a call. Didn't keep you waiting, did I?"

Being called darling left Stacy remembering the sight of him swapping spit with Rachel and she felt sick to the stomach right then.

As she quickly drank to quell her impulse to retch, Martin sharply noticed her palm and took her hand, utterly worried as he asked, "What's this?"

It was only then that Stacy noticed her palm, but was merely surprised for a moment until she gently pulled her hand out of his grasp, saying nonchalantly, "Must have been holding the lead rope too tightly."

Still, Martin was worried and insisted on taking her to treat the minor injury.

Stacy didn't want him to touch her, however, and freed herself from his grasp again. "No. I'm going back to the horse."

When Martin started after her, she said, "I want to ride alone."

He stopped following her at that.

Though Stacy rode very slowly, she was spacing out and never noticed Rachel directing her horse toward hers, their horses crashing into each other before she realized what had happened.

Though caught by surprise, she released the lead rope and leapt off, dropping into a nasty roll as she landed.

As she looked up, she found Rachel falling off her horse too, and straight into Martin's arms.

As soon as Martin let her down, she grabbed his arm and gasped feebly, "The baby…"

Stacy watched him pause before picking Rachel up again, and turned toward her as if it troubled him, "She's pregnant. I'll take her to the hospital for now, alright?"

The sight of him holding Rachel so tightly left Stacy feeling a pang of bitterness, but she smiled bitterly as she murmured, "Yeah."

And with her permission, Martin dashed off, while Stacy watched as he ran so anxiously, her bitterness almost showing.

A trainer came up to her just then, helping her to her feet, "Are you injured, ma'am?"

She had jumped off just in time so wasn't hurt that badly.

And such bumps and bruises would never measure up to her heartache.

"Thanks, but I'm fine," she told the trainer, shaking her head and bearing the pain as she left the stables.

She felt deja vu as the car that was supposed to take her home was gone, but it didn't hurt like the last time.

After all, she had expected that.

After getting an Uber, she went home alone, falling asleep early from the days of exhaustion.

She didn't wait up for Martin, as she didn't care if he ever returned.

However, she woke up the next morning to see him sitting on the bed, watching her.

He was smiling at first, but when he saw her gaze turning gloomy as if she didn't even see him, he started to feel a curious panic.

He scrambled to pick up the box he had put by the bedside drawer before he knew it, pulling out a bracelet and putting it around her waist.

Then, he gently kissed the back of her hand as if it were really precious to him. "Sorry I didn't take you to the hospital right away. Rachel's my friend, and she's pregnant—I have to take care of her, don't you agree?"

Friend?

Stacy lowered her head, hiding her sardonic smile.

Then, she glanced at the bracelet—she recognized it, as she remarked that it was beautiful offhandedly.

Remembering what she had overheard, she murmured, "It's not worth it…"

It left Martin flustered, and he quickly asked, "What are you saying? What's not worth it? You're really worth it, darling—you're not just worth this too, you're worth everything good in the world."

Stacy laughed faintly as she looked up at him, "So, there's this soap opera I just watched yesterday. The female lead was in a relationship with the male lead, but she got engaged behind his back. Everyone's arguing about whether the male lead should forgive her… What do you think?"

Martin was busy fondling her hand, and replied nonchalantly, "No way. She shouldn't be forgiven."

"I think so too," Stacy replied, gently pulling her hand out of his grasp, and spoke before he could hold it again, "I'm hungry."

"I'll cook," Martin quickly said. "Just wash up. I'll get you later."

As he excitedly headed downstairs to do so, Stacy watched him act like nothing ever happened and took off the bracelet.

She wasn't worth that expensive thing, just like how she wasn't worthy enough for him to sacrifice his family's ambitions.

-

It was going to be Stacy's birthday in two days. Martin usually accompanied her on her birthday. This time, he suddenly said that he was busy that day, so he celebrated her birthday a day in advance.

This time, Stacy didn't ask why he was busy.

If she could, she wouldn't even celebrate her own birthday.

But when she said that, Martin shook his head and said sternly, "No chance. I said I'll celebrate every birthday with you."

Stacy snorted as she thought to herself that this was going to be the last—that he wouldn't be around for her birthdays from now on.

Putting the candles on her birthday cake, Martin sang her a birthday song as he always did.

As she closed her eyes, she wished quietly that she would really have a new life after leaving Martin, and blew out the candles.

Martin smiled at her, asking what she wished for.

'Leaving you.'

Stacy thought as she simply kept her eyes on the cake as she cut it.

Seizing the time when Martin wasn't around on her birthday, Stacy packed her things, before gathering the photos she had taken with Martin over the years and burned everything in the garden.

There was no reason to keep that stuff as the sentiment they embodied was gone.

She took none of the things that Martin had given her too, and took only that which was hers, just like how Martin was no longer hers.

With that done, she registered a new SIM card. The current card wouldn't be used as she left, as she had no reason to contact the people she knew now.

And once that was done, she sat in the garden, swiping through trending videos when she reached an interview video.

She recognized Rachel, standing at the center of the video, while a single hand was holding her around the waist.

So Martin was busy keeping her company as she tried on wedding dresses.

"Please be understanding as the groom is refusing to show his face on stream," the news anchor disclaimed, before moving on to the first question, "So how did you two meet?"

Rachel giggled. "It's an arranged marriage…"

"No way!" The anchor exclaimed right then. "You both look so very much in love!"

Rachel smiled shyly as she looked aside when Martin spoke, "Is there a reason arranged marriages can't be true love?"

"Oh, right, yes, apologies," the anchor quickly nodded. "So when's the wedding?"

Martin turned so that the camera only caught the side of his face, but his loving gaze was not disguised at all. "In four days. It will be the wedding of the century—you'll see."

All the livestream comments were offering their blessings, while Stacy felt her heart clenching, like a hand seized her heart and squeezed it violently.

The sun that should be offering warmth felt like it was gone, as every comment of blessing on video was a blade slicing through her flesh.

She laughed self-deprecatingly—she had nothing, and was just a caged bird, never to see the light of day.

That night, Martin returned with a box containing a dress.

Seeing that it was meant for bridesmaids, she fought back her bitterness to ask calmly, "Are you asking me to be a bridesmaid at your wedding?"

"What?" Martin blurted blankly, his heart skipping a beat as he thought Stacy caught on.

Stacy giggled and calmly repeated, "Is that not a bridesmaid's dress?"

Though relieved, Martin promptly threw the dress on the floor and exclaimed panickedly as he rushed up to hug her, "I'm sorry—I didn't know it's that type of dress. I'll get you a new dress in a few days, okay? Also, who would you be a bridesmaid to? You're the only bride for me."

Stacy calmly stayed in his arms and thought of Rachel.

-

Over the next few days, Martin stayed in the house constantly.

Stacy had no idea why at first, until the second day when she overheard him on the phone, "That's enough. I'll just placate her for now, okay? So that the wedding won't be ruined. Just be good, okay?"

Stacy smiled silently as she listened—so they were worried she had caught on and would crash their wedding.

They were truly paranoid.

Then, the night before Martin's wedding, he was holding Stacy firmly in his arms and said, "Be a good girl and don't go out tomorrow, okay? I'll have a surprise for you in the evening."

Stacy didn't want to say anything, but he was bent on her responding, so she gave him a nonchalant grunt.

Martin woke up before dawn the next morning, giving her a peck on her brow before leaving.

Stacy quietly opened her eyes, listening to his car's engine speed off into the distance.

She lay still on her side, quietly staring outside the window until daybreak.

It was when she picked up her phone that she noticed the wifi was disconnected, and the tv was as well when she tried to turn it on downstairs.

The maid came up to her then, saying nervously, "Sorry, Mrs. Spencer. There's no connection today since they're fixing the cables in the area."

Stacy stayed impossible and said quietly, "Then I'll go out for a stroll…"

The maid shook her head. "M-Mr. Spencer was asking for you to stay at home to wait for him."