“Roger really has great taste — so thoughtful!”

Compliments filled the room one after another, each word landing like an invisible slap across my face.

Expressionless, I walked forward.

While everyone’s eyes were still fixed on the new bracelet, I reached out and picked up the green bracelet.

The noise in the room dulled instantly.

Dozens of curious, expectant eyes turned toward me — some amused, some waiting for drama.

Emily noticed my movement too; her brows furrowed slightly.

I held the green bracelet firmly in my palm, then lifted my gaze to meet hers — calm, steady.

My voice wasn’t loud, but it cut cleanly through the silence and chatter.

“Since this old-fashioned green bracelet no longer suits Miss Simpson, then it should go back to where it belongs — my mother,” I said evenly,

The private room fell utterly silent.

Emily opened her mouth, as if to say something, but no words came out.

She clearly hadn’t expected me to be so blunt — or to bring up my mother.

A flicker of malice crossed David’s eyes before he forced a smile.

“Bro, there’s really no need for this, right? Emmie was just trying on the new bracelet. Why get angry over a bracelet? It’s her birthday today. Can’t we all just keep things pleasant?”

“It’s not about getting angry,” I replied evenly. “Since she doesn’t want it anymore, I’ll take it back — no need to let my mother’s good intentions go to waste.”

I didn’t bother looking at their faces after that.

I carefully tucked the green bracelet into the inside pocket of my jacket, then turned and walked out.

Behind me, I heard Emily’s sharp, mocking laugh rise above the silence.

“Take it back then! You think I care about that stupid bracelet? It’s old and tacky — I wouldn’t wear it even if it were free!”

David quickly followed after me, grabbing my arm. His voice was low but loud enough for the nearby guests to hear.

“Roger, don’t be rash. She didn’t mean it — she’s just angry. If you walk out now, this will blow up…”

I yanked my arm free with force.

He stumbled back a step, the fake concern on his face almost cracking apart.

“Save it, David,” I said coldly, giving him a sharp look. “You’ve overplayed your act.”

“David! Don’t bother with him! Let him go!” Emily’s voice cut through the air, sharp and shrill.

I didn’t look back. I walked out of that suffocating private room without a word.

Outside the hotel, the night wind carried a bite of cold.

Leaning against the car, I lit a cigarette.

The smoke filled my lungs and only then did the knot of frustration in my chest loosen a little.

My phone buzzed. It was a notification from the social app.

Someone had replied.

Without even checking the photo they sent, I typed out my location. “Come over. I’ll be waiting.”

Less than twenty minutes later, a girl pulled up on a shared e-bike by the curb.

She jogged over, her voice cautious. “Are you… the one? I’m Nelly.”

I looked up at her — a textbook e-girl look with short skirt, tight top, colorful hair, heavy eyeshadow.

But unexpectedly, there was a hint of shyness in her eyes and her voice was gentle.

“Yeah.” I flicked away the cigarette butt. “Come on, I’ll take you somewhere.”

Nelly nodded and followed obediently.

Once in the passenger seat, she sat quietly, careful not to touch anything she shouldn’t.

I drove to a nearby bar I often went to — not the fanciest place, but decent enough.

We found a booth and I ordered her a beer while I got myself a Coke.

She sipped her drink in small, quiet gulps, barely talking, though every now and then she’d sneak a glance at me.

“Um… you…”

She had just started to speak when a familiar wave of laughter and chatter came from the entrance.

I looked up — and couldn’t help the cold smirk tugging at my lips.

Speak of the devil.

Emily, David and the same group from the private room walked in, lively and noisy as ever.

David was leaning close to Emily’s ear, whispering something that finally drew a faint smile to her lips.

But then, they spotted me — and the girl sitting beside me.

Emily’s steps faltered.

Her smile froze, then slowly sank away.

Her eyes, sharp and cold as a blade, swept over me before landing on Nelly with open contempt.

A quick flash of satisfaction passed through David’s eyes before he slipped on a mask of just-right surprise and concern.

“Well, look who it is—Roger!” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried easily across the room.

“So fast? Already got yourself an e-girl to wreck you?”

He deliberately emphasized the word “wreck,” drawing a few muffled laughs from the people behind him.

His gaze swept over the girl sitting across from me like he was appraising merchandise, the corner of his lips curling into a mocking smirk.

“Come on, Roger—seriously? Even if you’re mad at Miss Simpson, you don’t have to stoop this low.”

He gave a soft, derisive laugh. “Compared to Miss Simpson, this kind of girl is like heaven and earth apart.”

He sighed, shaking his head in exaggerated dismay. “Have your fun if you must, but don’t take it seriously. Be careful—you might catch something filthy and ruin your life for good.”

His words were venomous and cruel.

Beside me, Nelly stiffened violently, her head drooping even lower.

Her fingers tightened around her glass until her knuckles turned white.

“You’re right,” I said quietly.

A woman who always went out of her way to flatter Emily immediately chimed in, her gaze sweeping over Nelly from head to toe with open disdain.

“With that outfit and vibe, she doesn’t look like a decent woman at all. Roger, since when did your taste get this bad?”

Another man snorted. “Exactly. She’s not even worthy compared to Miss Simpson.”

“Roger, are you trying to slap Miss Simpson in the face on purpose?”

“Probably just lashing out,” someone added with a sneer. “He can’t get the best, so he settles for the worst.”

“So cheap…”

They kept talking, one after another — their voices weren’t loud, but every word carried a sting.

Standing among them, David wore a faint smile, pretending to mediate. “Alright, alright, let’s not go too far. Maybe Roger just got confused for a moment.”

Emily’s face stayed cold the entire time. Her chin lifted slightly, as if watching a farce that had nothing to do with her.

Only the tightly pressed lips and the fury flickering in her eyes betrayed what she truly felt.

She probably thought that being with a girl like this was the greatest insult to her.

I ignored their buzzing, fly-like voices, lifted my glass of cola, took a slow sip, then looked straight at David.

“Are you done talking?”

David’s smile didn’t falter. “Roger, don’t get the wrong idea—we’re only doing this for your own good…”

“For my good?” I cut him off, turning my gaze toward the proud woman standing beside him. “Emily, keep your dog on a leash. It’s barking too loudly—I find it annoying.”

Emily’s expression changed instantly.

David’s smile froze for a brief second, but he quickly covered it up with a sigh.

“Roger, how could you say that to Miss Simpson…”

I ignored him and looked toward Nelly, who still had her head lowered.

Her shoulders trembled slightly. I couldn’t tell if it was fear or anger.

Emily shot me a cold glance, the corner of her lips curving into a mocking smirk.

“Let’s not disturb this lovely pair of mutts,” she said icily. “We’re going to drink.”

She turned around and David immediately followed, his hand hovering just behind her waist in a mock display of care.

The group clustered around them as they made their way to a large reserved booth not far away.

Even through the pulse of the music, I could feel David’s gaze cutting across the crowd every now and then—each glance laced with that thin, cold sneer he didn’t bother to hide.

I couldn’t be bothered to respond.

“Nelly,” I said casually, leaning back against the seat, “Call your friends over.”

“As many as you want — it’s on me tonight.”

Nelly froze for a moment, then looked up at me, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

I gave her a small nod.

Only then did she take out her phone and start typing.

Before long, the entrance of the bar grew lively. Groups of young girls began showing up, three or five at a time.

Each one was dressed differently, but all of them were strikingly colorful and boldly styled.

They soon found our booth, giggling as they squeezed in. The once-spacious seat instantly became packed.

“Nelly, is this the handsome guy you were talking about?” A girl with bright pink hair leaned forward, looking me up and down boldly.

A girl in a cropped top beside her picked up the thread, grinning. “Not bad. You’ve got good luck. He’s actually pretty handsome!”

They were a lively bunch — no need for an invitation. They ordered drinks on their own, started shaking dice, playing games and moving with the beat of the music.

Their bright laughter rang out, contagious and full of energy.

In no time, the atmosphere around us was completely transformed — loud, vibrant, alive and our table’s buzz soon drowned out Emily’s side entirely.

Laughter, the clatter of dice cups and bursts of teasing blended into one lively, unstoppable rhythm.

The noise and laughter caught the attention of nearby tables; a few people couldn’t help but stare.

David glanced over several times, an ambiguous expression flickering across his face.

Emily, however, sat with her back straight and rigid, never once turning around.

I played a few rounds of dice with the girls — whenever I lost, I drank cola.

They shared random, nonsensical stories and I occasionally added a comment or two.

In that simple, rowdy and chaotic atmosphere, I felt a lightness I hadn’t known in years — something close to peace, almost happiness.

By the time everything wound down, it was already deep into the night.

I paid the bill and left with Nelly.

Fate really had a sense of humor. In the parking lot, we ran right into Emily and David, standing beside their car.

Emily’s gaze fell on us.

She let out a cold laugh, the disdain in her tone almost tangible.

“Roger, that was so fast. Don’t tell me it’s your first time meeting and you’re already rushing off to get a room?”

David stood beside her, silent, his lips curled in a faint, mocking smile as he watched like it was a show he’d paid to see.

I opened the car door and motioned for Nelly to get in first. Then I turned to Emily with a careless smile tugging at my lips.

“Why not?”

Without waiting for her reaction, I got into the driver’s seat, shut the door and started the engine.

The car drove smoothly out of the parking lot. In the rearview mirror, I could still see Emily standing there — her face looked absolutely terrible under the dim lights.

I didn’t go home. Instead, I stopped by a nearby five-star hotel.

“Two adjoining king rooms,” I said.

Nelly froze for a second, giving me a slightly surprised look. But she didn’t say anything — just stood quietly to the side.

Once the check-in was done, I handed her one of the key cards. “Get some rest early.”

She took it and murmured softly, “Thank you.”

I nodded. We went to our respective rooms.

After a shower, I lay down on the bed. In the darkness, my phone screen lit up — it was a new post from David’s social media.

It was only one photo.

The camera was angled from above — he was shirtless, leaning against the headboard, one arm wrapped around a drunken woman.

The caption read:

“Every bit of warmth I longed for in this mortal world is you. Finally, I waited long enough. Thank God I never gave up.”

The woman’s face was blurred, her long hair falling messily over her shoulders. But from that side profile and the familiar background behind her, I knew immediately that was Emily.

And the place they were in was the master bedroom of the home I had painstakingly prepared for our marriage.

I smiled faintly and left a comment under the post:

“Since the mood’s already set, why not go get the marriage certificate tomorrow?”