My girlfriend suddenly told me she had six small beads implanted inside her, blushing as she said it was meant to please me.

The next day, I made soup and brought it to her office. To my surprise, I saw her in the arms of my good friend, Henry Somerset.

Henry wrapped his arm around her waist, his voice deep.

"Baby, you're such a good girl. You really did the implantation as I told. My dumb friend even thought you did it for him. Do you reckon he'll lose his mind if he finds out you and I are getting married soon?"

My girlfriend's voice turned cold. "This is nothing more than a marriage of convenience. I'm warning you not to let Chris find out."

Henry chuckled and moved his hand downward. "Don't worry. As long as you keep me happy, I won't get Chris into trouble."

After hearing all this behind the door, my entire body went cold.

Clutching my phone tightly, I recalled my boss saying he would transfer me to a subsidiary company a few days ago.

I no longer hesitated and sent him a text.

[Boss, I'd like to be transferred to the subsidiary company in Hailborough City in three days.]

After getting my boss' reply, I slumped against the wall, drained of all energy.

Henry Somerset's voice echoed in my ears again.

"Stop kissing me. If Chris runs into us later, you'll be in trouble.

"Oh, right, he still doesn't know you gave me the draft designs of dress and suit he made for his own wedding. I showed him the finished design, and he actually thought we just had the same taste. What a joke! He's so naive, it's almost hilarious."

My face turned pale instantly.

I had been with Jenna Rogers for six years. Everyone in her social circle knew me.

They all knew I didn't care about fame or money. My only hope was that Jenna could have a bright future.

Once, she promised me she'd give me a grand wedding.

I was so happy that I stayed up night after night designing our wedding outfits myself, revising them again and again until I finalized the last version.

But a while back, the drafts suddenly disappeared. I tore the place apart looking for them, but I found nothing.

Jenna hugged me with a guilty expression. She cried as she said, "Maybe I accidentally threw them out with the trash. I'm sorry, Chris."

The effort from countless hours of work and sleepless nights, gone just like that.

Of course, it hurt.

But I still forced myself to comfort her, telling her it was okay, that I could just redo everything.

Now, the truth hit me like a sledgehammer.

My sketches hadn't ended up in the trash at all. She had handed them over as a gift to the man she was actually engaged to.

I couldn't listen anymore. My steps faltered as I stumbled into the restroom.

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Henry.

[Chris, when are you coming back? My fiancee stopped by and left. Otherwise, I really would have loved to introduce you two.]

I stared at my reflection. My face was pale. I splashed cold water on myself, trying to clear my head. Slowly, I walked back out.

Henry was humming to himself. When he saw me, he looked me straight in the eyes with a knowing smirk.

"What took you so long? Did you see my fiancee? She's gorgeous, isn't she?"

I met his gaze, and in that instant, I understood.

He had done all of this on purpose. He wanted me to see everything and to crush whatever feelings I still had left.

However, he seemed to forget something.

Jenna and I had been publicly dating for six years. Even if we couldn't make it to the end, I wasn't some third wheel hiding in the dark.

I swallowed my anger, forced a smile, and said, "Great. You two look good together. I hope you're happy."

After saying that, I turned around and walked away.

Behind me, Henry shouted smugly, "So what if you were together for years? Being able to get a woman to marry you—that’s what really counts. She’s my wife now. You’d better stay away from her!"

I didn't slow down. I straightened my back and forced myself to stay calm as I went home.

Jenna got there before me. When she saw me come in, she immediately smiled and opened her arms like she always did.

"Honey, you're home."

I instinctively stepped aside. Her arms froze in midair, surprise flashing across her face.

I glanced at the skirt she was wearing. It wasn't the one she had worn when she left that morning.

"Looks like you changed your skirt."

The confusion in Jenna's eyes instantly turned into guilt. She smiled and explained, "I spilled coffee on myself today, so my assistant helped me change. Once it's cleaned, I'll bring it back and keep it properly. You designed that dress for me yourself."

Was it really coffee? Or was it ruined while she was fooling around with Henry?

The disgust I had barely managed to suppress on the way home surged back. I almost exposed her lie right then and there.

Still, I was leaving in two days. What was the point of tearing everything apart now?

"Okay. Do whatever you want."

Jenna looked at me with tender concern. "You seem unhappy today. Who made you upset? I'll deal with them for you. Or how about I take you out for a nice dinner to cheer you up?"

After six years together, we knew each other well.

When something was on my mind, she could always tell.

I used to fall for her gentle, coaxing routine every time. No matter how upset I was, she could smooth it over with a few words.

But now, my heart felt completely still.

Before I could answer, her phone rang.

We were standing close enough that I clearly saw the caller's name on the screen.

[Husband.]

There was no need to guess who it was. It had to be Henry.

After she hung up, she said apologetically, "Chris, something urgent came up at work. Wait for me at home. I'll bring you your favorite cake when I get back."

Jenna didn't wait for my response. She hurried out the door.

I forced a bitter smile and silently began packing up everything in the house that belonged to me.

When even three suitcases weren't enough, my eyes filled with tears.

Over the past six years, whenever I felt down, Jenna always found ways to comfort me.

Sometimes it was something small, like street food from a random stall. Other times, it was expensive watches or carefully chosen ties.

All those little moments added up. There were so many that I couldn't even count them anymore.

For six years, everyone believed she loved me wholeheartedly. I believed it, too.

When did that start to change?

Was it when the clothes I bought her, the cups I made by hand, the jewelry I carefully selected began disappearing one by one?

Was it when she grew closer and closer to Henry, lying again and again about working late, meetings, and business trips?

Or was it when she told me she loved me and promised me a grand wedding, while secretly sleeping with Henry repeatedly until she ended up marrying him and turning me into the clueless third wheel?

I had thought of asking her about it. On the way home, there were a thousand questions on my mind.

In the end, I held back.

There was no need anymore. It was over.

I made a phone call.

"I'm leaving the country in three days. On Henry's wedding day, arrange for a courier to deliver a bouquet. Write this on the card. 'Wishing Ms. Jenna and Mr. Henry a lifetime of happiness.' Sign it with my name."

"You don't have to tell them anything. Consider it a special surprise from me as a friend."

After everything was arranged, I received another message from Henry.

He sent me an address and taunted me.

[Tomorrow, I'm rehearsing the wedding with my wife. I've got a gift for you tonight. The question is, do you dare to come get it?]

I hesitated for only a few seconds before deciding to go alone.

The moment I stepped into the bar, I ran into one of Jenna's close friends. She was drunk, leaning against the door outside a private room, and catching her breath.

She squinted at me and grinned.

"Why do you look so much like Jenna's boyfriend? No way. I'm not seeing things, am I?"

She laughed again.

"Jenna's really something! She's about to get married and is still acting like this. Isn't she worried about messing it up? We don't dare say anything in case we let it slip out."

I stared at her slumped figure by the door. My heart sank.

So everyone knew.

Everyone knew she was marrying Henry except me.

Six years of my life turned out to be a ridiculous joke.

I stood quietly outside the room. Through the crack in the door, I saw Jenna, the same woman who had said she was working late, sitting in Henry's lap, drinking one glass after another.

Henry smiled broadly, his arm tight around her waist. They looked inseparable, like a couple deep in love.

Someone suddenly asked, "Jenna, are you really going to keep this from Chris forever? Isn't that kind of messed up?"

Jenna froze. Her expression darkened instantly.

"I'm warning you. None of you is allowed to say a word to Chris. If anyone does, you know exactly what I'll do!" She frowned impatiently and added, "This is just a marriage for power. Even if Chris finds out, he won't blame me. I'll explain it to him, but not now."

She downed her drink in one go, as if trying to drown the unease gnawing at her.

Henry seemed to sense my presence outside. The smile on his face only grew wider. As if deliberately provoking me, he reached up and touched Jenna's face.

"Honey, you act like you still love Chris right in front of me. You know I get jealous."

She laughed softly. "Such a jealous man. Want a kiss?"

She tilted her head up and kissed him deeply.

I watched the scene, numb. The feeling that had been torturing me for days finally let loose.

We had weathered so much together once, supporting each other through everything. Yet now, we had ended up walking away from each other completely.

It was ironic.

I knew Henry was doing this on purpose. Since I was already here, I wasn't going to leave empty-handed.

I silently took out my phone and recorded the nauseating scene. When I finished, I turned to leave.

Just then, Jenna swayed as she stood up.

She seemed to have had enough kissing and suddenly remembered me. She muttered softly,

"Alright, I'm heading back. I need to buy Chris a cake. You guys have fun."

My steps faltered for a moment, but I didn't turn around.

I walked straight out.

That night, Jenna didn't come home, and I never saw that cake.

My phone was filled with photo after photo, all sent by Henry; intimate shots of him and Jenna together.

Two days before I left, my alarm went off.

I didn't alert anyone. Wearing a mask, I quietly entered the hotel.

Henry and Jenna were rehearsing their wedding. They were wearing the wedding dress and suit I had designed.

I watched as they walked step by step across the stage, guided by the officiant.

I watched them gaze into each other's eyes and place rings, which symbolized their love for eternity, on each other's fingers.