I lowered my eyes, my thoughts drifting uncontrollably back to the past.

Benedict had me pinned against the office desk.

A strange light flickered in his eyes as he smiled and said, “Don’t you think what we’re doing feels like an affair? Thrilling, isn’t it?”

His sweat dripped onto me as he held me.

“At the wedding, I’ll make our relationship public.”

I smiled at my past self, foolish and pitiful, believing his sweet lies over and over again.

Then I was deceived thirty-two times.

Now, with the divorce agreement and resignation letter in my bag, there would be no next time.

…

Two hours later, my colleagues and I were busy handing over work when Benedict sent me a message: [Send a cup of coffee in.]

He was notoriously picky; the balance of sugar and bitterness in his coffee had to be exact.

In the company, only I could make it taste just the way he liked.

Sighing, I got up to prepare the coffee.

I did not expect to see Anna in the pantry.

When she saw me enter, a disdainful smile tugged at her lips.

“Your temper is improving, Maya. I thought you were about to burst into the office and catch us in the act.”

She deliberately lifted her chin, revealing the glaring red mark on her neck.

“Is that so?” I lowered my eyes and picked up the coffee beans.

“Want a cup? It has excellent notes.”

My calm left Anna momentarily stunned.

She appraised me from head to toe, as if inspecting some strange creature.

“What are you showing off? Do you really not think Benedict would divorce you?

“I’ll tell you the truth. Back then, it was my little joke that made Benedict register his marriage with you.

“That’s why he never had a wedding ceremony.”

“What are you on about, Anna?” said a voice.

Benedict’s tall figure squeezed into the pantry.

His face showed panic as he quietly rebuked Anna.

But Anna clung to his arm like a spoiled child.

“Well, isn't it the truth? You only agreed to marry Maya to appease me.”

Benedict’s expression twisted into something rather ugly.

He seemed ready to argue as he opened his mouth, but said nothing.

His eyes darted nervously, avoiding mine, his face written with guilt and confusion.

I stood frozen, Anna’s words echoing in my ears.

Between Benedict and me, it had always been me taking the initiative.

I had pursued him for five years, from my first awkward confession to finally gathering the courage to propose.

He had never refused me, but he had never truly agreed either.

The day Benedict suggested registering our marriage, I had been so happy I could not sleep all night.

I had believed my love had finally reached him, that he held me in his heart.

But now, the cruel reality cut through every one of my fantasies like a knife.

I let a bitter smile tug at my lips and pushed the brewed coffee in front of Benedict.

“Your coffee is ready, Mr. White. I’ll be leaving now.”

With that, I ignored his flustered expression and silently turned to leave.

That evening, just as I was about to turn in, my phone rang.

It was Benedict.

“Hey Maya. What Anna said this afternoon… It’s all nonsense.

“Don’t take it to heart.”

Benedict sounded worried, as if he feared I would take these words seriously.

“Mm, I know,” I said calmly, which seemed to surprise him.

The silence stretched on before he continued, “Eighteenth of next month is a good date.

“Let’s have our wedding ceremony then.”

I gripped the phone, my fingers tightening unconsciously.

After a pause, I decided I should tell Benedict about the divorce.

“Do you have time tomorrow? The divorce agreement…”

Before I could finish, Anna’s voice suddenly came through the line.

“Are you going to pack or not, Benedict? Hurry up and come over here.”

Benedict dropped his voice but still sounded flustered.

“What did you say, Maya? I didn’t catch that.

“Look, I have to accompany Anna abroad tomorrow for an exhibition. Let’s talk about it when I get back.”

Then the call ended.

I smiled.

I had wanted to speak to him in person, but in the end, he had not given me the chance.

In the following days, I successfully resigned from the company, packed all my belongings, and moved to a new home.

Occasionally, Benedict sent me pictures of wedding decorations.

[So many styles for the wedding…Which do you like?

[The seaside would make a nice venue. What do you think?]

I looked at the exquisite designs without emotion.

Three years of registering our marriage had brought countless expectations and disappointments.

Now that I was leaving, he finally seemed to care about the wedding.

Meanwhile, Anna’s social feed was updated daily.

Either a sweet photo of the two of them or a carefully prepared surprise video from Benedict.

On the day before the scheduled wedding and the last day of the divorce cooling-off period, Anna’s feed featured a proposal video.

In the video, Anna wore a pure white wedding gown, standing in a blooming flower garden.

Benedict knelt on one knee, holding a sparkling diamond ring.

The people around them cheered, “Kiss her!”

The final frame froze on Benedict smiling as he tightly held Anna in his arms.

I watched quietly, and commented [Congratulations], and then promptly blocked Anna.

Soon after, I received a call from Benedict.

He sounded happy.

“I’ll be back tomorrow, Maya.

“The wedding planner has everything arranged. Once I return, we can hold the wedding immediately.”

The next morning, I did not go to the seaside wedding.

By noon, I had not received any calls from Benedict asking why I had skipped it.

It wasn’t until evening that he returned, looking exhausted.

He gazed at me on the sofa, his eyes flickering with guilt and unease.

“Anna wasn’t feeling well, so we had to delay our flight.

“But don’t worry. I promise I’ll make it work next time.”

I was unmoved.

As expected, at the thirty-third wedding ceremony, he had failed to show up once again.

I watched him quietly and pushed the divorce agreement I had prepared onto the table.

“No need for that. It’s over now. Let’s get the divorce finalized.”