Enzo was a master of deception, weaving lies as easily as breathing, luring her in with honeyed words.

Hailey shook her head. “You two go ahead. I have work to do.”

Enzo ruffled her hair lightly, his voice dripping with practiced affection. “I’m innocent, you know. My mom’s the one insisting I go on this honeymoon. Be good, okay?”

She gave a small nod and turned toward the bedroom, only to be jolted by the sudden, feral barking of an Alaskan Malamute.

The dog lunged, eyes burning with hostility, its bared fangs flashing as it sank its teeth into her neck!

“Hailey!”

“What the hell? How can you just let it bite someone? That’s disgusting!”

At the sharp call of its owner, the Malamute immediately released her and padded over to Allison’s side, its gaze still fixed on Hailey with unhidden malice.

A sharp sting seared through her skin. Blood trickled from the fresh scratches on her neck.

She had always been terrified of dogs, yet Enzo had let Allison bring one into the house.

And when she turned to him, hoping for even the slightest trace of concern, all she found was a flicker of reproach directed at her.

His gaze barely lingered on her before shifting to the dog. “Hailey, listen to Allison . Go get a rabies shot yourself. I’ll take Hailey to the pet hospital.”

That “Hailey,” was he talking about her or the dog?

Hailey went alone to get her rabies shot.

Meanwhile, her phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.

[The weather is lovely today. After all the twists and turns, we’re finally back together.]

She glanced at the screen. A photo of Enzo and Allison on a cruise glowed mockingly in the dim light.

Under the golden hues, love bites trailed down Enzo’s neck and collarbone, bold, shameless.

Below the post, his comment sat like a knife to the heart: [As long as you’re happy.]

Enzo didn’t bother hiding his relationship with Allison. He never had.

Hailey said nothing, but an inexplicable urge rose within her to call Maddox.

The call barely rang before a lazy chuckle came from the other end, followed by the sound of ice clinking in a glass.

"Babe, what now? You can’t be this clingy. I’m busy."

Ignoring his teasing, she spoke softly. "I want to go home."

Maddox stilled. The light clink of his glass being set down echoed through the line. Then, with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the people around him.

A scoff followed. "Someone bullied you again? Didn’t I tell you if someone pushes you, push back? Do I really need to teach you that?"

His tone carried a trace of reprimand. "Letting yourself get trampled on like this? Stay put. I’m coming to get you."

"Okay."

Maddox was Hailey’s stepbrother, always playful and never one to take things too seriously. But the faint tremor in her voice made his chest tighten for a split second.

Not long after, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Jasmine, her voice practically glowing with excitement over the thumping bar music.

"Babe, get out of there already! Why are you still wasting your time on that deadbeat husband?"

The contempt in Jasmine’s tone was unmistakable.

Hailey needed an escape, something to drown out the mess inside her head, so she agreed to meet up for drinks.

When Jasmine spotted her downing bottle after bottle, she let out a low whistle.

"Whoa, sis, what’s with you tonight? Did that sorry excuse for a husband finally decide to ignore you?"

Hailey slumped against the sofa, her eyes glazed with unshed tears, her voice hoarse.

"We’re getting divorced. And the marriage certificate he gave me? Fake. Turns out he already registered a real one with someone else."

Jasmine stilled, her expression darkening before she suddenly exploded.

"Holy shit! If that’s true, I swear I’ll kill him! Who the hell does he think he is? You liking him was his greatest privilege, and now he pulls this? Screw him!"

"Don’t be mad. Just dump him already. I’ll find you someone a hundred times better."

Having Jasmine beside her was already a comfort.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but Hailey simply waved a hand, her voice a little too carefree. "It’s fine. I’m heading back to Belmond anyway. You know my brother, Maddox? He’s so handsome. So, so handsome, way better than him."

Jasmine scoffed, shaking her head.

But when Hailey muttered that she wanted to break up, Jasmine stilled, disbelief flashing across her face.

She had chased Enzo for three years. Back then, she only had eyes for him; her whole world revolved around him. Letting go now… how could that not hurt?

By the time they stumbled out of the bar, the city was already cloaked in midnight haze.

Jasmine got called away, leaving Hailey alone. She took a few unsteady steps, about to hail a taxi, when she suddenly froze.

A familiar figure stood at the street corner.

Allison.

A group of thugs surrounded her, their sneers cutting through the night. She was crying, her red-rimmed eyes gleaming under the dim streetlight.

The moment she spotted Hailey, she looked as if she had grabbed onto her last shred of hope.

"Help me! Please, save me!"

The thugs only laughed, reaching for her clothes.

Just as Hailey turned her head, a voice sliced through the night, cold, furious, laced with unrelenting rage.

"Get lost! All of you, get the hell out of here!"

With a single, brutal kick, the man sent several thugs sprawling to the ground. Then, his entire demeanor shifted. He turned to Allison, his touch achingly gentle as he whispered, "Don’t be scared. I’m here."

Something twisted deep in Hailey’s chest. A weight settled there, heavy and suffocating.

Without another glance, she climbed into a taxi.

Yet, just before the door shut, she caught his gaze, sharp, filled with blame and resentment.

She forced herself to ignore it. It had nothing to do with her.

Just then, a chat window, silent for half a year, suddenly flickered to life.

"I won’t be coming home tonight. She’s not feeling well. Don’t scare her."

"Tomorrow, bring me a birthday cake."

That night, the house was unbearably quiet. So quiet that even the walls seemed to echo with loneliness.

Hailey started packing.

One by one, she burned the love letters she had written, each carrying his name. Meaningless. Every single one of them.

The red scarf she had once knitted for him was thrown into the flames, unraveling into nothingness.

The origami stars she had folded, each one hiding whispers of love, reduced to nothing but ashes.

The diary where she had carefully recorded every moment of his proposal, crumbling, turning to dust.

It was as if she were erasing three years of devotion, one burned memory at a time.

By morning, Hailey had made a cake and prepared to take it to the hospital.

In less than a week, she would be gone. A simple cake, just a final act before she left for good.

But when she arrived at the hospital, an unexpected sound froze her steps.

Soft, intimate. The unmistakable sound of a kiss.

For a brief moment, she hesitated at the door before knocking.

As soon as she stepped inside, she watched as Enzo took the cake from her hands, only to feed it straight to the Alaskan Malamute beside him. A slow, indulgent smile tugged at his lips.

"Didn’t you love eating cake the most? Go on, enjoy."

Hailey barely reacted. She only lifted her head, only to be met with a sharp accusation.

"Was it you? Did you bribe those thugs to hurt Allison on purpose?"

The words were so absurd, so ridiculous, that for a moment, she could only stare.

Did he really think she was that cruel? That she would sink so low just to harm another woman?

Did evidence mean nothing to him at all?

She sat down in silence.

And in that instant, Allison clung to Enzo, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist as she pouted up at him. "Enzo, it hurts."

Enzo’s gaze flickered toward Hailey as if caught in the act. He shoved Allison away too hastily, an overreaction that only made things more obvious.

"We're just friends," he said stiffly. "Don't misunderstand."

His words denied everything, but the guilt shadowing his face betrayed him.

Hailey studied him with cool detachment, tilting her head slightly, a slow, knowing smile curving her lips. "Of course. You two are good friends, aren’t you? But if you’re going to say that, at least wipe off the kiss mark on your neck first. It’s really quite embarrassing."

At that moment, she felt untouchable, unshaken, and invincible.

Without hesitation, she reached into her bag, pulling out the marriage certificate. Then, right before his eyes, she began slicing it apart, shredding every last illusion.

"Didn’t you say it was fake?" Her voice was light, almost amused. "Fine. Let it be fake. If you didn’t want to marry me, you could’ve just said so. I wouldn’t have forced you. Why put on such a ridiculous act?"

A mocking smile played on Hailey’s lips.

Enzo stood frozen as if struck by lightning.

Without another glance, she turned on her heels, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor as she strode out. Behind her, the scene inside the hospital room remained frozen in time, the half-eaten cake discarded on the floor, Allison’s smug satisfaction, the flicker of panic in Enzo’s eyes.

His face turned deathly pale. She knew.

She had found out about the fake marriage certificate.

Allison, however, clung to him, her voice syrupy sweet as she twisted the knife deeper. "Brother, don’t be angry. We’re the ones truly married. She’s just a homewrecker trying to ruin us. Just ignore her."

She had always been the one his family had chosen for him.

And yet, at this moment, Enzo felt like he had been thrown into an ice pit. His heart was hollowed out, an unbearable emptiness swallowing him whole.

A sudden, desperate need clawed at him; he had to see Hailey.

Without hesitation, he shoved Allison aside, ignoring her shrill protests as he stormed out. He never looked back.

Outside the hospital, Hailey’s phone buzzed with a call. A friend was inviting her to a farewell gathering.

She didn’t hesitate to accept.

Just as she was about to hail a taxi to the restaurant, a firm hand suddenly grabbed her from behind.

His voice softened, coaxing.

"I was wrong about this. Please, don’t be mad, okay? My mom said that there are times I have to play along with Allison. It’s just an act, don’t take it to heart, alright?"

Hailey almost laughed out loud.

Even now, he was still trying to fool her.

Did she look like an idiot?

The taxi she had called pulled up. Just as she stepped forward to leave, Enzo’s anxious voice followed her.

"Where are you going? I’ll go with you."

She frowned. Unbelievable.

The Enzo she once knew wouldn’t have bothered. He would have waved her off, impatient and dismissive.

Coolly, she replied, "I’m going out for drinks and food with Jasmine. You want to come too?"

"I do."

Exhaustion pressed down on her. "You don’t need to."

"We’ll take my car."

Enzo was relentless. He dismissed the taxi and drove her himself.

By the time they arrived, Jasmine had already ordered drinks. The moment she saw Enzo stride in, her lips curled into a scoff.

"Oh, look who it is. President Rainford. Not busy keeping your little girlfriend company? What brings you here with our Hailey?"

Enzo, ever the gentleman when it came to Hailey’s friends, silently pulled out a chair for her.

Jasmine, unimpressed, decided it wasn’t worth the energy to argue any further. The meal, however, was anything but pleasant.

Hailey exchanged a helpless glance with Jasmine, but neither said a word.

Midway through dinner, Jasmine’s sharp gaze caught an incoming call: Allison.

A frail, pitiful sob echoed through the phone.

"Hailey ate the cake… and now she’s passed out. Please, come check on her."

Right on cue.

Hailey didn’t so much as blink. At the mention of the cake, she simply leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her expression indifferent.