At the dinner table, someone suggested a round of King's Cup, a classic card-based drinking game.

Janice lost the first round, and her penalty was three stiff drinks.

The moment the glasses hit the table, Adrian instinctively reached to grab the one in front of her, but a buddy next to him blocked his move, grinning cheekily, "I get that you two are tight, but you can't mess with the drinking game rules. If you cover for her, the drinks double. That's six shots, Adrian. Think about it!"

Adrian winced at the thought.

Yvette, with her hands propping up her chin, gave Janice a sideways glance. "Janice, you're not a schoolgirl like me. You've been rocking the business scene for years, so this drinking game is old hat for you, right? Three little shots should be a breeze."

Yvette's challenging look was like a punch to Janice's gut.

Janice shot a look at Adrian, who was chuckling nearby, and felt a wave of irritation flood through her.

Without a word, she snatched up her glass and downed the drink in one go. The fiery liquid scorched its way down her throat, searing her stomach, but she gritted her teeth and powered through all three shots.

Yvette was the loser in the second round.

She looked at the full glasses before her, lips pursed in a pout, and kept shooting hopeful glances at Adrian.

Adrian did not hesitate this time. He grabbed his glass and knocked back six shots: "Yvette's my junior, and she really can't handle her liquor."

The room burst into applause and cheers.

There were some curious looks being exchanged, eyes darting between Yvette and Janice.

After setting his glass down, Adrian sneakily reached for Janice's hand under the table, but she snatched it away.

Adrian leaned in, trying to say something, but Yvette's sweet voice cut him off. "Adrian, please check my eye. I think a bug flew into it!"

After one too many rounds of King's Cup, Janice's head was spinning. She lowered it to the table, trying to steady herself.

However, the moment she did, she felt the table shaking in a steady rhythm. Peeking underneath, she caught Adrian's foot stroking Yvette's leg.

When she looked up, Yvette was blushing and nestled in Adrian's arms, playfully pushing him away. "Stop it, don't..."

Adrian smirked devilishly, whispering in her ear, and Yvette's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red.

Janice's stomach churned, and she could not hold back the wave of nausea. She bolted for the bathroom.

After throwing up until there was nothing left, Janice stood up, leaning on the toilet for support.

She stood silently, leaning against the stall door for what felt like forever, her legs going numb. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the bathroom door lock, and then Yvette's sugary voice floated through the air.

"Hubby, when are you going to tell everyone about us? They all think Janice is your wife!"

"Feeling a little green-eyed?" Adrian's voice was muffled, like he was speaking into a pillow. "Hold your horses. Once this new project kicks off in ten days, we're getting hitched right on schedule!"

"But I'm freaking out here. You're not going public with us, and you're shacking up with her. What if you bail on me and marry her instead? She's gorgeous, and her family's got more clout than mine."

Yvette's voice wavered with tears, the hurt clear in her tone.

Adrian let out a derisive laugh. "If I wanted to marry her, I would've said 'yes' when she got down on one knee two years ago. Why would I have traveled the world with you?

"I've been over her for ages. Four years of sleeping together, and I'm bored of her face. Now, I only get that spark with you. Don't believe me? Check for yourself."

"Cut it out! Hey, stop that! What if someone catches us..."

"Don't sweat it, the door's locked." Adrian's voice turned deeper, more intense.

Before long, Yvette's breaths came in quick gasps.

The rising and falling of their whispers pierced Janice's ears from behind the partition, slicing through her heart, leaving her bleeding inside.

Back in college, after each close moment, she would rest her head on his chest, dreamily sketching out her ideal wedding, and he would brush her off with a curt "Not yet."

Two years back, at their graduation, she had gathered her courage and proposed to him on bended knee, only to be told to wait until his studies were over.

She had flown out to see him countless times since, always asking about setting a date, but he would dodge with excuse after excuse.

She had convinced herself that Adrian was just being a typical guy, scared of settling down.

It seemed he was not scared of marriage–just of marrying her.

Janice's world crumbled around her.

She was itching to burst out and give that cheating pair a piece of her mind. Why did they have to do that to her?

However, her anger was so overwhelming that she could not even breathe properly. Her body went limp, and she collapsed against the stall wall, paralyzed and silent.

Time lost meaning until the noise outside finally stopped.

Janice gathered every ounce of her remaining strength to push the stall door open.

The bathroom had a faint, lingering seminal odor.

The mirror over the sink was marked with two large and two small handprints, a stark reminder of the ordeal she had just endured.

Janice's stomach churned, and she clamped a hand over her mouth as she stumbled out of the club.

At that moment, she felt a surge of relief. Only seven more days, and she would be free from him, ready to marry someone else...

Janice hailed a cab back to her place and stood under the shower, letting the water cascade over her, washing away the night.

She did not leave the shower until her skin was pruney from the water's embrace.

Stepping into the living room, she found Adrian sprawled on the couch, stinking of booze.

He squinted at her arrival. "My head's throbbing. Get me a lemon soda, will you?"

She used to cater to his drunken whims, nursing him with lemon soda, a warm wash, and fresh pajamas until he was snug in bed.

Not this time. Janice walked past him, heading for her room.

Adrian caught up and wrapped his arms around her, his breath hot on her neck.

"Why the silent treatment? You're not jealous, are you?

"You've met Yvette. She's a sheltered schoolgirl, timid and not as competent as you. When I take her out, I have to pay extra attention to her, right?"

Janice forced a smile, but it did not quite reach her eyes. A bitter taste lingered in her mouth.

Why was it that the shy ones always got a pass, someone to say 'no more' when the drinks came around? Was she just cursed with an iron stomach?

When he had jetted off overseas without so much as a goodbye, she was the one left to juggle the family businesses, toasting and schmoozing until her stomach was raw. Did anyone ever spare a thought for how green she was, fresh out of college?

The weight of all that unfairness and exhaustion hit her hard, and tears welled up in Janice's eyes.

Adrian noticed, and something in him seemed to soften. He wiped her tears away and pulled out a jewelry box with a pair of diamond earrings that sparkled like tiny stars. He tenderly spoke, "Check these out; the latest from your favorite designer. Do you like it?

"Our families' big project is about to kick off. Just nudge your dad to sign off on it, okay? Once we nail this, I've got an even bigger surprise for you!" He was all hopeful eyes, expecting her to light up like she used to.

Back in the day, she would have danced around in joy over a rusty penny if it came from him. However, staring at earrings that were a dead ringer for the wedding band he slipped on Yvette's finger, they might as well have been thorns.

She did not reach for them, just held Adrian's gaze steady. "This isn't just any collection, is it? It's got wedding bands too, right?"

Adrian's face closed off, and he looked away, his voice tinged with annoyance. "You're starting this again. I'm swamped with the company, no time to even think about marriage.

"And hey, we're good, aren't we? Even without the rings and vows. So let's not rock the boat, not now," he said, his frown deepening, his eyes darting away, clearly done with the conversation.

Adrian had popped the question, and they had even set a date. However, he was saying he was not feeling the whole marriage thing?

Janice let out a derisive laugh and shoved the diamond earrings Adrian was trying to give her.

"Forget the wedding, then. Just don't come crying to me later."

The earrings disappeared into the plush carpet.

Adrian's face turned stormy with anger. "Janice, are you kidding me right now?

"All you do is dream up new ways to hassle me about getting hitched. Six years of non-stop nagging, and my ears are practically numb. Can't you just give me a moment's peace?"

The more he ranted, the hotter his anger flared. In a fit of rage, he grabbed a vase from the table and hurled it to the ground.

"I'm swamped with work, trying to keep the company afloat. Don't you see that? Our families' joint venture is stuck in the mud, and you're not lifting a finger to help. Instead, you sulk and play the jealousy card, expecting me to sweet-talk you!

"You've let me down big time!"

The vase exploded on impact, shards flying everywhere. One sliver zipped through the air and sliced a delicate line across Janice's neck.

That vase was a memory, a piece of their history. They had made it together at a pottery shop the morning after their first night. His hands had guided hers through the cool, wet clay, his warmth seeping into her skin, her cheeks flushing with a mix of shyness and excitement.

He had whispered to her, "We'll mold the clay together, intertwine our efforts. It'll be a symbol–you and me, forever entwined."

Then, Janice pressed her hand to her neck, blood welling up between her fingers.

However, the physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in her heart as she watched the fragments of their love scattered across the floor.

Adrian, suddenly aware of what he had done, stepped forward, his anger dissolving into concern.

However, before he could reach her, the doorbell chimed.

Yvette was at the door.

She lingered at the door, looking like she was about to cry. "Adrian, the electricity in my apartment shorted out, and the power strip just blew up. I..."

Before she could get it all out, Adrian was already by her side, concern etched on his face. "Are you burned?"

"No, I was just making some coffee when I got startled. My hand shook, and I spilled the boiling water on myself."

Tears welled up in Yvette's eyes as she showed him the red mark the size of a coin on the back of her hand.

Adrian's heart clenched at the sight, and he gently took her hand. "Does it hurt? Come on in, I'll get you some burn cream," he said, making room for Yvette to step inside.

"It's fine, it's not that bad anymore," Yvette insisted, but her eyes darted to Janice, who was standing nearby. She hesitated, as if she wanted to pull her hand back.

"I was just so scared, and I didn't know what to do, so I ran over here to you.

"Adrian, could you find someone to fix it?"

Adrian did not release her hand. Instead, he drew her further inside, his voice resolute, "No way! It's too risky to let you stay there by yourself."

"Here's the plan: I'll look for a new place for you tomorrow. Until then, you can crash here."

Yvette glanced at Janice, a flicker of triumph in her eyes that she could not quite hide.

"Is it okay if I stay? I don't want to be in the way, Janice."

Janice felt a pang in her chest as memories flooded in.

The first time Adrian had come back, that woman had conveniently made a call to whisk him away.

The second time, she did not even wait. She just showed up at the door, ready to move in and keep an eye on things.

Then she had the nerve to ask if she was a disturbance?

Janice just stared at Yvette, her face a mask of calm.

Yvette arched an eyebrow, holding Janice's gaze with a defiant spark in her eyes.

It was like there were invisible fireworks crackling between them.

"Just chill out and get comfy!" Adrian cut in, not waiting for a reply, and nudged Janice. "Stop zoning out. Didn't you see Yvette's hand? It's all red from the burn. Go grab some burn cream, now!"

Caught off balance, Janice tripped and crashed to the floor, landing in a mess of broken porcelain.

Sharp shards dug into her knees, and blood started to flow like a mini river.

Adrian, though, was all focused on Yvette, gently pressing ice against her hand. He never looked Janice's way.

Janice gritted her teeth, pushed herself off the ground, and hobbled to the door.

Adrian's voice trailed after her. "Hey, where are you off to? Going to grab some Band-Aids? Don't forget to pick up a fresh tube of burn cream. The one we've got opened might not work as well."

Janice did not look back, just slammed the door shut, his voice cut off mid-sentence.

"Is she ticked off? Is this going to mess up your plan?"

Yvette peeked up at Adrian, her words tripping over each other. "Adrian, I swear it wasn't on purpose, I..."

Adrian's eyes landed on the bloodied porcelain, his forehead creasing.

He turned to see Yvette's tear-filled eyes and pulled her into a comforting hug, whispering, "Don't sweat it about her. She'll cool off in no time. I'll sweet-talk her later; she'll come around.

"Let's see how your hand's doing. We don't want any scars, do we?"

..

In the sterile white of the hospital room, a nurse gently removed the tiny shards of porcelain from Janice's knee. She looked up, concerned about etching her features. "How did these get so deep? This wound won't heal nicely at all, and it's going to scar."

The sting of antiseptic on her raw skin made Janice suck in a sharp breath.

That was when her phone buzzed to life.

Fishing it out from her bag, Janice saw it was a text from Yvette.

[Janice, Adrian was digging for some burn cream and found this. He said it's useless now, tossed it in the trash!]

A picture followed the message.

It was a clean bedsheet, just a crumpled mess, thrown carelessly on a trash heap littered with fruit peels and leftover soup. The once-hidden, dark spots of blood, shaped like plum blossoms, were barely visible.

Janice's world shattered in an instant, and the tears she had been holding back surged forward like a dam bursting.

That bedsheet was a memory of her first night with Adrian. She had meant to wash it, but Adrian had taken it from her, promising to keep it for a special occasion. "I have you now," he had said, "but I owe you a proper wedding. We'll use it again on our wedding night to make things perfect."

There was, marrying someone else, tossing away their past as easily as throwing out an old pair of shoes.

Janice could not stop the tears; they poured out uncontrollably.

The nurse was flustered. "Did I hurt you? Oh, please don't cry. I'll try to be more gentle, okay?"