I remember that year at our boxing team’s gathering. I was ready to show off my superstar girlfriend, eager to prove to everyone that leaving the national team to be her bodyguard was the best decision I ever made.

But reality hit hard.

At the party, Aurora walked in just like always, wrapped up in a mask, sunglasses, and a baseball cap, hiding herself away.

My teammates greeted her, but she barely acknowledged them. No autographs, no pictures, nothing.

Of course, she was a big star now, and she acted like it.

She smiled for her fans but wouldn’t even glance at my teammates.

She didn’t seem to remember the sacrifices they made for her. When she was still struggling, they’d stepped in as stunt doubles for a movie. One even got his ribs broken to help her land a role.

My mom saw me floundering and gently asked Aurora to be nicer to my teammates.

But that only made her explode. She slammed her sunglasses on the ground and crushed them, shouting at my mom as if she were some kind of nobody who had to smile at everyone.

My mom was shocked and ended up crying at the table.

My teammates didn’t say a word. They just walked out.

After that, I was never invited to another boxing team gathering.

I confronted her about it, but she brushed it off. She said as a big star, she had to keep up appearances and couldn’t lower herself to smile at just anyone.

“Does it not matter that my mom cried because of you? What about those teammates who helped you?”

I had never been this angry with her before. No matter how spoiled or difficult she got, I always let it slide.

But that day, my frustration boiled over.

What was the worth of a love won at the cost of losing both a career and family?

When my mom saw Aurora and me arguing, she wiped her tears and quickly defended me, praising Aurora for everything she had done.

But Aurora didn’t appreciate it at all; she hadn’t eaten a single bite and rushed out of the gathering.

Later, when Aurora fell ill with uremia and learned that my mom was a match for her kidney transplant, it seemed like the sweet girl I once knew had returned.

She invited our family to her villa for dinner, cooking for my parents herself.

It was the first time in five years that they had visited her home, and it turned out to be one of the happiest days of their lives.

That’s when my mom agreed to donate a kidney to her, unknowingly planting the seeds for her own tragic end.

Just thinking about it made me wish I could jump off a building.

If my mom hadn’t donated a kidney to Aurora, she wouldn’t have suffered kidney failure and died!

If I had stayed with the national team and hadn’t alienated my teammates, I could have raised the money to help my mom!

I had tried to convince her not to donate because she was getting older after all, but she had insisted.

Now I understood that it wasn’t just about Aurora. It was for me.

At that time, Aurora was a top star. If I had married her, a guy like me who left the national team could have found happiness in life.

And now, I could finally let it all go.

I just wanted to rely on myself!

Late help felt like an insult.

“Take your filthy money!”

I yelled as I rushed after Aurora, throwing the cash at her.

Zachary jumped in front of her, forcing a smile. “Jason, don’t get it twisted. I broke up with Tony last month, and Aurora went to Switzerland with me to help me unwind!”

“She turned off her public phone to avoid any interruptions from unrelated people!”

Unrelated people?

I was Aurora’s fiancé, and now I was the unrelated person?

The number she gave me was just for outsiders.

That thought fueled my anger, like salt on a fresh wound.

“Are you still pretending to be gay?” I shot at Zachary, with my voice icy.

Zachary frowned. “Jason, are you really discriminating against my sexual orientation? I could sue you!”

I didn’t hold back. “You clearly like women. Stop the act!”

“Jason! You’re being unreasonable!”

“It’s fine if Zachary likes men!”

Aurora yelled back, glaring at me.

Maybe she thought I was just jealous, upset about her vacationing with her male assistant.

But I knew Zachary wasn’t gay. Any guy could see the way he looked at Aurora.

Yet she thought I was just making a scene.

Thinking back, how ridiculous I had been.

For all those years, I had devoted myself completely to her. I had only cared about her, stepping down as the national team captain to keep her safe, even kneeling to others to help her land a role.

My mother had given her a kidney to save her life, but she died because of kidney failure and a lack of treatment.

How absurd!

I had been so foolish!

After losing everything, I finally understood!

“Take your money and leave!”

I turned and walked toward the elevator, heading out to grab lunch for my dad.

Aurora’s eyes were filled with confusion as she watched me as if I was doing something wrong.

I should’ve been throwing a fit for her, right?

“Are you not going to apologize to Zachary for your rudeness?” she asked, her voice sharp.

I let her words wash over me, not wanting to engage.

I used to be her loyal puppy, but not anymore.

Without looking back, I walked away, determined to let go of my feelings!

“Stop!”

“Jason, you better stop!”

My indifference threw Aurora off balance.

She stomped her foot in frustration.

To my surprise, I had walked quite a distance when she, disregarding her status as a big star, ran after me.

“Zachary has been a huge help to me. He just went through a breakup, so I spent a month in Switzerland with him.”

“I turned off my phone during that time, but I have a private number. I’ll give it to you now.”

As I continued to walk away, she bit her lip, seemingly trying to salvage something. “By the way, your mom donated a kidney to me. She’s in kidney failure, and I feel responsible.”

“I know the director of the capital hospital. I’ll have him find a kidney for you immediately, and I’ll cover all the costs!”

Was she actually concerned for me?

She had no idea that her words were just rubbing salt into my already shattered heart.

If she truly felt guilty, she wouldn’t have been so oblivious about my mother’s health for the sake of an audition!

She had become so hypocritical, so cold, calling her ungrateful would be an understatement.

“I should’ve told you my private number, but I honestly forgot.”

She wrapped her arms around mine, her eyes flickering with a hint of desperation.

If this had been a while ago, I would’ve felt a pang of hurt, questioning if I was being too harsh.

But now, my heart was completely numb.

I felt nothing.

“Go to your audition. Don’t let me hold you back from making money!”

I yanked my arm away from her grip, looking at her with icy indifference. “We’re done. Don’t come looking for me again!”

“Done?”

Aurora froze, as if I had slapped her. “You want to break up with me?”

“Oh right, I sent that text to your public number. I’m just an outsider now, so breaking up seems fitting!” I replied, completely unfazed.

“Jason, are you out of your mind?”

“Do you dare to say that again?”

“Kneel!”

“As long as you beg me, I might forgive that slip of yours!”

“Otherwise, you’ll never have another chance to marry me!”