As I went downstairs in my pajamas to take out the trash, I received a message.

"Thank you for the gift, I love it! Thank you, Nathan!"

Nathan Roland was my boyfriend, but I didn't understand why she sent it to my WhatsApp account.

When I clicked in to take a closer look, the message was retracted, but I remembered her profile picture.

It was Nathan's new colleague, beautiful, with a great figure.

While I stared at the blank conversation window, I saw Nathan's car parked downstairs.

He had told me he was working late and would be home late.

But at this moment, he was sitting in his car, leisurely smoking a cigarette.

He leaned back in his seat, his lips slowly exhaling smoke rings.

I stood there, stunned, watching him through the car window, unable to move for a long time.

After seven years together, two of which we've lived together, I had never seen him smoke, nor had I ever thought that the first thing he'd do after work wasn't to come home and hold me, but to sit in his car and smoke.

At that moment, he felt like a stranger, and I began to wonder, what was he thinking about right now?

Was he thinking about that girl? What gift did he give her? Was it a reward from a leader to a subordinate?

That night was very cold, probably only forty Fahrenheit degree.

Nathan sat in the car for three hours, and I watched him from downstairs for three hours.

During these three hours, he smoked one cigarette after another.

After smoking, he put on his coat, got out of the car, opened the door to ventilate, and finally closed the door and went home.

As he approached, I didn't move, standing there stiffly.

"Molly, what are you doing here?"

He was clearly startled to see me, his expression completely different from just a moment ago.

"Oh, I came down to throw out the trash."

I wanted to ask him why he would rather sit in the car for three hours than come home.

But I held back and didn't ask.

When we went upstairs, he held my hand and found it was as cold as ice.

"What's wrong? Why are your hands so cold? You should wear more clothes even just to take out the trash, what if you catch a cold? I'll be worried."

Nathan scolded me, taking off his coat and draping it over me.

In the past, I would have thrown myself into his arms, acting spoiled. But today, I just looked at him expressionlessly.

"Why are you so weird today?"

"Nothing, let's go home."

When we got home, Coco, our Bichon Frise, immediately jumped onto his lap.

Nathan loved her, petting her affectionately before going to take a shower.

While he was in the shower, I noticed he had left his phone on the living room couch.

There were almost no secrets between Nathan and me; I could look at his phone whenever I wanted, but I never had.

Staring at his phone on the couch for a long time, I finally decided to pick it up and take a look.

The moment the phone lit up, a WhatsApp message popped up.

[Thank you. I had a great time today.]

My heart sank when I saw the message.

It was still that girl. I remembered meeting her once; she had smiled at me.

She was very beautiful, so I was impressed.

But I didn't know her name, and Nathan hadn't saved her name in his contacts.

Just a colleague? Why not even save her name?

I hesitated for a while, then clicked into the chat.

Opening the conversation, I saw an almost full screen of chat records.

The latest messages were from this afternoon at one o'clock.

Nathan had sent her a message: [Happy Birthday.]

[I didn't expect that a busy person like me would remember my birthday. Thanks!]

[It would be terrible if I couldn't even remember your birthday after knowing you for so many years.]

[So, are there any gifts?]

[The gift is on your desk. Didn't you see it?]

[An LV bag? And it's my favorite one! Nathan, isn't this gift too expensive?]

I saw the photo she sent, and the bag was the one I had been eyeing a few days ago.

Although I graduated a few years ago, I never bought such an expensive bag for myself. I was already 28, and the most expensive bag I owned was a Coach tote.

In all the years with Nathan, the most expensive bag he ever gave me was also a Coach.

But why, when giving to someone else, did he choose an LV?

I spent half an hour scrolling through their chat history and still didn't finish.

They chatted almost every day, constantly sharing details of their lives.

From Nathan seeing a stray cat on the roadside this morning, to what I made him for breakfast, he would tell her everything.

After reading for a while, my eyes started to hurt. I felt terrible, and tears welled up.

Coco lay beside me, nudging my arm with her head.

I weakly lifted my hand and petted her head.

"Molly, have you seen my pajamas?"

Nathan finished his shower, came out wrapped in a towel, and saw me sitting on the couch. He came over and pressed himself against me.

"Maybe I shouldn't put on my pajamas. Should we do something first?"

He held me tightly, his firm chest pressing against my back, his warm breath on my ear.

In the past, I would have turned around and pounced on him on the couch.

But now, I only felt disgusted.

I stiffened, biting my lip, my stomach churning.

I threw up violently, and almost all of my dinner came back up.

Nathan thought I was unwell and turned on his phone to order takeout and some stomach medicine for me.

With his back to me, it only took a few seconds before he turned around and looked at me, his voice hoarse.

"Did you look through my phone?"

I lay in bed, shaking all over.

I didn't look at him or say anything. I just felt so cold, as if I were about to die.

"There's nothing between Angela Roland and me. It was her birthday today, so I just gave her a gift. Don't overthink it."

Angela Roland?

So that girl's name was Angela Roland, and she even shared the same last name as Nathan. What a coincidence.

"Do you remember the most expensive gift you've ever given me?"

I slowly raised my eyes to look at him. "It was 999 dollars, a Coach bag you got during a flash sale. You told me it was a great deal, that it was hard to get."

"Molly..."

Nathan took my hand, trying to explain something, but ended up saying nothing.

"You like her?" I stared at his slightly guilty face and suddenly asked.

Nathan didn't speak.

He turned his head away, not even showing me his profile.

But at that moment, I understood everything.

Nathan and I met in high school. He was a friend of a friend, and at a group gathering, I noticed him right away.

Nathan was very handsome, tall, and the most dazzling, radiant one in the crowd.

I've always been bold. Seeing a handsome guy, I just had to talk to him, so I boldly followed him around for three years.

After the college entrance exams, I confessed my love to him. I thought he would reject me, but he accepted.

We got into the same university, the same major, and after graduation, we worked at the same company.

Later, the company prohibited office romances. For Nathan's future, I decisively resigned and joined another company.

But soon after I left, Angela joined his company.

I never thought that Nathan, who I believed would love me forever, would one day have a change of heart.

I didn't sleep that night.

Nathan knew I was upset and went to the guest room.

Coco slept beside me. I hugged her and only fell asleep in the second half of the night.

When I woke up in the morning, he had already gone to work.

He made breakfast for once and put it on the table.

I touched it; it was already cold, as cold as my heart.

I looked around the apartment we had lived in for two years, then packed up all my things.

Almost everything in this apartment was bought by me, but the place itself was his.

These things disgusted me now, so there was no need to take them, except for Coco.

Before leaving, I sent Nathan a message.

[Let's break up.]

I couldn't find a house yet, so I stayed in a hotel.

I sat on the floor, staring blankly out the window.

Coco kept barking; she probably didn't like the unfamiliar environment and whimpered constantly.

Nathan kept calling me. Watching the screen light up and dim repeatedly, tears streamed down my face.

[Molly, where are you? Stop messing around and come back!]

[There's really nothing between us, why don't you believe me?]

[Molly Jenkins, are you serious? Do you really want to break up with me?]

[You like LV, I'll buy it for you. Can't you stop being so childish?]

He sent me many messages, but I didn't reply to any of them.

Then my phone rang again. It was my best friend calling.

"Hello?"

"Molly, where did you go? You broke up with Nathan? When did this happen? Even if you broke up, there's no need for her to announce it so quickly, right? That bitch Angela already posted it on Instagram!"

Summer Vincent was my best friend from high school and worked at the same company as me. She was also friends with Nathan.

"What did you say?"

I was stunned, not understanding what she meant by "announce" or "Instagram."

"You're driving me crazy!" Summer's voice was on the verge of tears. "I'll send it to you! Check your messages!"

The call ended abruptly, and soon, Summer sent a message.

It was a photo of a girl snuggling in a guy's arms, smiling brightly.

And Nathan, with a gentle smile, had his arm around her.

That smile—I hadn't seen it in a long time. How long had it been? So long that I almost couldn't remember.

At that moment, I felt as if I were plunged into an ice cellar, the cold seeping from my heart to every corner of my body.

After work, Summer rushed to the hotel to find me and immediately started ranting when she saw me.

"Nathan, that jerk! I can't believe you two were together for seven years! Seven years!

"It's bad enough he cheated, but to announce it right after breaking up, isn't that disgusting?

"And that little bitch, purposely saying she likes that LV bag to get Nathan to buy it for her. If she likes it so much, why can't she buy it herself?"

She downed a beer while ranting, practically spitting with anger.

Watching her indignant face, I kept my head down and stayed silent.

"What's with you? Don't let this get you down!"

Summer cupped my face, looking at my red, swollen eyes with a heartbroken expression.

"Molly, tell me honestly, do you still love Nathan?"

Of course, I do! How could I not? He's the man I've loved throughout my entire youth!

"Summer, I love him, but he doesn't love me anymore. He doesn't want me anymore!"

I cried, collapsing into Summer's arms. "Summer, what should I do? What am I supposed to do?"

Before Summer arrived, I had cried in a restrained, controlled way. But in her arms, I was almost sobbing uncontrollably.

"Molly, they probably haven't done anything yet. That little bitch just posted a picture, and Nathan hasn't even acknowledged it! Why should we give up?" Summer patted my back with determination. "We'll get Nathan back! Once you have him back, if you still love him, keep him. If not, we'll kick him to the curb. Don't worry, Molly, I'm always on your side."

I didn't fully agree with Summer. I always believed that fate had its own plans.

If Nathan had fallen for someone else, why should I force it?

There are plenty of fish in the sea, after all.

But a few days later, I received a call from Nathan's company boss.

"Molly, what have you been up to lately? The company's annual party is coming up in a few days, you should come!"

"But I've already resigned!"

"But you were with us for the first half of the year, and your performance was excellent! There's a bonus we haven't given you yet! Everyone misses you, so there's no harm in attending."

My former boss was a woman and I had a good relationship with her.

I didn't really want to go back or see Nathan and that woman again, but Summer said there was money involved, so why not go?

On the day of the annual party, Summer took me to a styling salon, where I got a full makeover and a new dress.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt like I was ready to walk the red carpet, and I was stunned.

"Molly, you look amazing! Nathan must be blind!"

Summer's exaggerated squeals made me a bit hesitant to attend the party.

"Damn! That bitch just updated her Instagram again! Molly Jenkins, get yourself together. We're going to crash this party!"

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through Angela's Instagram.

She had added my WhatsApp account previously for some work tasks. I never saw her posts on Instagram.

The day Nathan and I broke up, I checked her profile on Instagram but couldn't see anything because she had blocked me.

On the way to the party with Summer, I opened her profile again.

This time, it wasn't blocked.

The first thing I saw was a girl in a long pink dress taking a selfie at the party venue. Behind her stood my ex-boyfriend, Nathan.

Nathan, dressed in a black suit, was smiling slightly at the camera.

Angela had posted just this one photo, without any caption.

But just looking at that picture made me feel incredibly sad.

Summer leaned on my shoulder and took my phone.

"Silly girl, stop looking. I'm taking you to get Nathan back right now!"

I forced a smile and stared out the window, my mind blank.