Luke lost his composure. "Stop talking nonsense. Just eat your food."

Everyone fell silent, except for Josh. He turned to Amanda and said, "Come on and have a seat. Luke's just grumpy. Give him a couple of days. He'll come running back."

Another laughed, "We were just betting on when he was going to dump his girlfriend."

"Shut up!" Luke roared. "I'm not breaking up with her!"

His words silenced the room and injured Amanda's pride. She sat down and turned to him, but he turned away.

Unwilling to give up, she placed a shrimp on his plate and said, "Have some of your favorite shrimp."

He glanced at me and pushed it away, a move that made her cringe. But she managed a faint smile. "Alright. I'll have it."

Unable to bear it anymore, he slapped her fork down. "Are you out of your mind? You're allergic to seafood."

His voice was loud, but his tone was tinged with concern. The shrimp hit the ground, the clatter echoing in my chest.

Amanda's eyes welled up. "If you remember my allergy, why can't you remember me?"

She fled the restaurant, tears streaming down her face.

Luke's jaw clenched. Then he chased after her, not sparing me a glance. In front of everyone else, he was always so composed. His anger and passion belonged only to Amanda.

The dinner dragged on. The others gossiped and bet on when Luke and Amanda would reunite.

Tired of it, I stepped outside and overheard Amanda on the phone.

"The money given by that idiot ran out fast," she snorted. "Marrying into the Collins family is my ultimate goal, the ticket to a good life. Luke's girlfriend? No threat. I saw them at dinner, and he denied her."

I trembled, and she paused at the sound.

Seeing it was me, she smirked, "You heard that, huh?"

I kept my voice steady. "People who betray love deserve to be struck by lightning."

"You're just his secret lover," she laughed. "You've got no right to talk about love. A hidden girlfriend? Nah, just my replacement."

Anger surged within me.

Before I could shoot back, her smile turned cruel. She shoved past me, knocking my shoulder hard. "Know your place."

Her footsteps faded, leaving me clutching my chest. The pain was unbearable.

Luke failed me, but Karma always came back around.

Once I calmed down, I went home.

Mike called. "Your fiancé got you an animal biology book with real specimens inside. Pretty cool, right? How are you going to thank me?"

"I'll reward you when I'm back for the marriage," I smiled, but my voice trailed off as I felt Luke's presence.

He had come back at some point without me noticing.

"Marriage? Who're you talking to?" he demanded.

I met his gaze. "It's Mike..."

Before I could finish, he frowned, tossing some papers into my hands. "I already talked to him."

I looked up. "What did you tell him?"

He paused. "Not much. Asked if he knew who my girlfriend was. Good thing he doesn't. Oh, and I forgot to ask about your party."

He didn't know these were my wedding documents. "It's probably no big deal. I won't go."

I smiled bitterly. Of course, he didn't care.

I opened the envelope, and a golden invitation peeked out.

Luke sensed my coldness and pulled me into his arms. His head rested on my shoulder as he explained, "I had to leave the dinner early for something. And yeah, I was a bit harsh. But you know I can't go public. It'd mess up my job at school."

His eyes landed on the invitation. "What's this, Addy?"

I held up the unopened invitation. "My wedding. Wanna see it?"

Luke gaped, then laughed, "Who else would you marry besides me?"

He brushed the invitation to the floor.

"You..."

I looked up at him, but he went quiet, frowning at his phone. His hand twitched, and a few seconds later, he finally lifted the phone to his ear. His lips pressed into a thin line, but there was still a flicker of hope in his eyes.

"I'm not coming," he said.

Amanda said something on the other end, and he pulled away from me. "Where are you?"

He rushed out, slamming the door. The cold air hit my face, matching the chill in my heart.

Luke was usually so calm and gentle, but coldness was hidden behind his façade. It turned out he could be flustered and desperate. He was just alive only with Amanda.

I guessed that was what love looked like.

That evening, Josh called, his voice frantic. "Come to the bar. Some guy is hassling Amanda, and Luke is drinking himself sick over it."

I hesitated but went.

When I arrived, Luke was punching the guy and gripping his collar. "You lost the game. Apologize to her, as you promised."

Josh pulled him back. "Enough, Luke. He's done."

The guy glared at Amanda. Luke swung again. "Don't you dare look at her!"

They fought, and in the end, Josh dragged a battered, drunk Luke out.

He spat blood, slurring, "He apologized. Good. I've made it right."

It was hard to believe the cool and reserved man would show jealousy for once. Even before passing out, he was worried about Amanda.

I took him to the hospital, and he mumbled her name in his sleep.

Seeing his worried expression, I couldn't hold back. "Why are you doing this to me? I'm not a replacement."

He stirred and whispered Amanda's name again. I laughed bitterly, looking away.

Morning came, and my face itched.

I woke to Luke's chuckle, his eyes holding a warmth I hadn't seen in years. He asked, "You looked after me all night?"

I nodded, but my voice was icy. "Yeah, for Mike's sake. Consider this me repaying you for four years of care."

His brow furrowed. "Repay?"

Before he could say more, Josh arrived with a relieved expression.

He pulled me outside and asked seriously, "Are you and Luke together? I figured it out at dinner."

I froze, done hiding. "Yeah. But not for long."

"You saw what Luke did for Amanda at the bar," he sighed. "Keep this up, and you're gonna get hurt."

My face turned pale, but I forced a smile. "I get it."

Turning around, I saw Luke standing there. He shot Josh a glare and said, "You can leave now."

Still weak, he questioned me, "Why did you tell him we're together?"

I jerked up my head, trying to explain, but he wouldn't listen. He patted my shoulder and said, "It's fine. You don't need to explain. I'll go public when the time's right."

"Don't bother. We're done!" I shoved his hand off, my voice trembling from grievance.

Luke froze at my words. "Do you even know what you're saying?"

I swallowed the bitterness. "I know. We're done."

"Stop talking nonsense. Think about it," he sulked, walking away.

I laughed. There was no need to think. I didn't want him anymore.

As I headed down the stairwell, Amanda blocked my path, holding one of my earrings.

She stared at my bare earlobe and taunted, "You took Luke away from the bar, didn't you?"

Uninterested in her games, I moved to step past her, but she blocked me again, her smile twisting into something venomous.

"I didn't see you as a threat," she hissed. "But it's not pleasing to see Luke orbit around you."

I flinched at her glare, and she took the chance to shove my shoulder.

I lost my balance and tumbled down the stairs. Pain seared through my ankle as I grabbed the wall, barely managing to steady myself.

Her heels clicked as she descended, stopping above me. "Does it hurt? Well, a little pain will remind you of your place."

Her malice ignited something in me. Ignoring the agony, I stood and slapped her across the face.

"You think you're protecting some treasure? He's garbage. You think I'm like you?" I snapped.

Just then, the stairwell door swung open. Luke appeared with a dark expression.

Amanda wiped her tears, and he pulled her into his arms. His gaze was icy as he turned to me. "Garbage? I need you to apologize."

Amanda sobbed against him, her trembling seeming to shake him too.

He repeated, "I said apologize!"

"She doesn't deserve it," I countered.

His hand shot out and struck my cheek. "You hit her and won't even take responsibility? Is that what Mike taught you? Did I teach you that?"

My cheek burned, and I clutched it. He wavered, feeling guilty, but it did nothing to thaw the chill in my heart.

The sight of their closeness disgusted me. I yelled, "I did nothing wrong, and you will regret this!"

I flung the wedding invitation at his feet. "You're blind if you can't see my injury. That's your failure, not mine. My wedding is my business. You are Mike's friend, so I'm inviting you. Show up or not. Your choice."

He stepped on the invitation. "Stop right there! Your wedding? Who are you marrying?"

His shouts echoed behind me as I limped away, my ankle throbbing with every step. My eyes were wet with unshed tears.

A doctor spotted me outside and ushered me into a room.

He examined my leg and sighed, "How did you get hurt like this? It's swollen badly. We'll need to put it in a cast."

I turned my face away. "I fell by accident."

Luke passed by, with Amanda cradled in his arms.