Jack looked like he was in a good mood. The smile never left his face.

Course after course of beautifully plated food arrived, and he kept his manners in check, occasionally placing a few things on her plate.

Seraphine looked up and asked gently, "Are you feeling any better?"

So, she could be caring, just not when it came to me.

He kept cutting into his steak and replied casually, "Much better. It's just my stomach acting up, the usual stuff. As long as I eat on time, I'm fine."

"I can't remember if you had stomach problems back in school," she said.

His knife paused mid-slice as he lifted his gaze to meet hers. "Back then, you were always looking after me. I never had the chance to fall sick."

She looked away. "Is she not taking good care of you?"

Jack set down his utensils, his brows tightening. "Hayden stole five years of your life. And I forced myself to stay with someone else for those five years. But we both know that feelings can't be forced. We've always loved each other. If it weren't for Hayden, we could've been together long ago."

Right. It was all my fault. Now that I was finally gone, they could be together again.

Seraphine seemed to remember everything that had happened five years ago, and guilt flickered across her face. "I'm sorry. I let you down."

He stood up and walked over to her, leaning in. "No. You did nothing wrong. It was Hayden and his powerful family. Back then, we had nothing. We couldn't fight back."

His gaze settled on her face, finally drifting to her lips. Slowly, he leaned in.

In a flash, she turned her head, dodging his kiss. I couldn't help but wonder what went through her mind at that moment. Why did she react like that?

Was it because she remembered what I used to say?

"After we get married, stay away from other men. They never mean well. I'm the only one who truly loves you."

I shook my head. Who was I kidding? As if she ever cared about what I thought.

He froze, awkwardness flashing across his face as he straightened up. "Sorry. That was out of line. I forgot that you were married."

"We're divorced," she said while her fingers instinctively brushed the base of her ring finger. The wedding ring she'd worn for five years was gone, but the faint indentation remained.

He was shocked. "You're serious? Are you really divorced?" However, I caught the way the corners of his mouth curved just for a second.

She stood up and gently pulled him back into his seat. "Yeah. It's over," she said softly.

He covered her hand with his and grinned. "That's amazing news, Seraphine. You don't have to force yourself to be with him anymore." He gripped her hand tightly. "This is worth celebrating."

"It's not that big of a deal. There's no need to celebrate," she replied coolly.

"Of course, we have to celebrate!" he said, raising his voice. "I've waited five years for this day, Seraphine. For me, can we please just enjoy this moment?"

Looking at the joy on his face, she didn't want to disappoint him. So, she went along with it.

The eighth floor of the Haequinn Hotel was home to a private club known as the Golden Den. It was a popular gathering place for Accanne's wealthiest socialites.

After dinner, Seraphine and Jack headed upstairs.

I hadn't intended to follow as I didn't want to see them being lovey-dovey, but my soul moved on its own, trailing them helplessly.

When we reached the eighth floor, they happened to run into Seraphine's friends and a few men drinking in one of the private rooms. Without hesitation, Jack pulled her into the room with him.

The deafening bass thumped through the walls as Jack draped his arm casually around her shoulders as if announcing to the world that she belonged to him.

The ladies laughed, clinked glasses, and filled them again just as quickly. Before long, Seraphine was too drunk to stand on her own.

Her world spun as she squinted at her watch and muttered, "It's midnight already. I need to go home. Hayden never lets me stay out late. It's annoying how controlling he is!"

Jack, who had stayed close to her all night, clearly caught her slurred complaints. His expression darkened slightly, but he kept his arm around her waist, gently saying, "Seraphine, you're divorced now. No one's holding you back anymore, so you don't have to follow anyone's rules. You can drink, stay out late, and do whatever you want."

"Divorced?" Seraphine closed her eyes and gave a bitter laugh. "Right. We're divorced now. We're divorced…"

Yes, we were divorced, and she looked so happy now. I loved her for so many years, and not once did she ever return even the slightest bit of that love.

She swayed as someone handed her another drink, and she downed it in one go. A bit of the liquor trickled from the corner of her mouth, sliding down the curve of her neck.

Jack's eyes darkened as he stared at her, eyes burning with desire. He swallowed hard at the sight of her. "Alright, that's enough," he said, finally stepping in to block more drinks being pushed her way. "She's had too much. I'll take her to bed."

With that, he helped Seraphine out of the room.

She didn't resist, following him in silence as they rode the elevator up to the 60th floor.

"Here, watch your step." He guided her to the door of one of the rooms, pulling out a room card that he had clearly prepared in advance.

"Go on in," he said.

Was I really about to watch them getting intimate, right in front of me? That felt far too cruel.

Inside, Jack helped her onto the bed and bent down to take off her coat. However, just as he reached out, Seraphine suddenly sat up and pushed him away. Her clear eyes were unreadable.

He froze before asking carefully, "What's wrong?"

"I'll get another room," she said, rising to her feet. Her head spun, and she staggered, nearly losing her balance. She stumbled to the door and happened to bump into the floor manager in the hallway.

After the quick word, the manager got her a room. Without looking back, she walked into the new room alone and shut the door behind her. I didn't understand what she was doing. Wasn't this the moment she had been waiting for?

Across the hall, Jack's warm gaze turned cold and then simmered into a quiet rage.

He muttered under his breath, "She's already divorced, and she's still keeping herself untouched for him?"

The next morning, he had composed himself, wearing the same polished smile he always did. He wrapped an arm around Seraphine and escorted her down to the lobby from the 60th floor.

As soon as they stepped into the hotel lobby, they ran into a familiar face.

The hotel lobby shimmered, bustling with people moving in and out.

Jack and Seraphine stood side by side with smiles on their faces as they looked toward a man across the room.

It was the lobby manager. He was someone I had grown up with and my closest friend since childhood, Zedd Fletcher.

I instinctively tried to run over, wanting to warn him not to get involved. However, my soul passed straight through his body. Only then did it hit me again. I was dead.

He stood tall in a black tailored suit, posture stiff and sharp. His gaze, cold and cutting, landed squarely on the couple standing together.

Zedd sneered, "Ms. Evans, you really know how to play, huh? A man is waiting for you at home, and you have a whole parade outside. You're having the time of your life, aren't you?"

Seraphine's eyes dimmed, but she said nothing.

Jack's smile faded. He stepped forward, instinctively shielding her like a protector. "Zedd, whatever happens between the three of us is none of your business.

"Five years ago, it was Hayden who used his family's influence to force Seraphine into marriage. If it weren't for him, she and I would've never been separated. And look at him now. What's he got left? He's nothing but a man living off a woman."

Zedd's gaze sharpened as he glared at Seraphine. "Living off a woman? Don't talk crap. I've never met anyone like Hayden, who gave up his entire career for a woman."

"Shut your mouth!" Jack's face twisted with anger as he stared at Zedd. "You don't know anything about Seraphine. I won't let you insult her like this!"

"You won't let me? Who the hell are you? A homewrecker?" Zedd snapped.

Jack snapped back, "I knew Seraphine first. Hayden is the one who came between us. He's the homewrecker."

Zedd scoffed. "Funny. I remember how you ditched her to chase some rich lady overseas. You left her first."

Jack's eyes darted to Seraphine, guilt flickering across his face. "If Hayden hadn't stepped in, I wouldn't have left Seraphine.

"You've got the timeline backward," Zedd said flatly.

Five years. Even a dog would learn to wag its tail for someone who treated it well in five years. I gave Seraphine my heart, my soul, and all of me. Still, she never once looked at me like I mattered.

Zedd looked her dead in the eye. "You better hope you don't end up falling for him. Because when you realize what you've lost, it'll be too late for regrets!"

He was the first person to see my body at the hospital, the first to fall apart when the news broke. Now, he was the one still standing up for me. I wanted to tell him to stop, to not waste his breath on someone who didn't care.

However, Zedd looked like he wanted to tear them both apart with his bare hands.

I knew he was furious. He was furious at me for being such a fool and furious at her for throwing everything away.

Seraphine finally looked him in the eye, her voice cool and steady. "I don't love him."

Zedd laughed coldly. "I hope you remember what you said today. And I hope it doesn't haunt you for the rest of your life."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away with his fists clenched tight.