"Those guys accidentally spilled alcohol on Cynthia's friend just now and she got into an argument with them."

"She drank a lot tonight. I'm worried she'll cause a scene."

One of Cynthia's friends hurried over to explain.

Once I realized what had happened, I couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.

I remembered when I accompanied her to meet with a client. The deal failed and the client purposely splashed wine in my face.

Even then, she didn't get this angry.

Instead, she blamed me for not understanding 'table manners' and said I was the reason we lost the deal.

Seeing Cynthia go up to confront them again, her friend quickly rushed over to hold them back.

"Cynthia! Stop it, stop it! You're getting married soon, please don't make a scene!"

Still, Cynthia roughly shook her friend off.

"Who says I'm getting married?"

"This bastard spilled a drink on my boyfriend! You think we can just let this go?"

"No one's leaving until they apologize!"

Cynthia was drunk and staggered when she walked.

This also embarrassed some of her friends who knew me at the scene.

They couldn't help but look at me.

I smiled coldly, then stepped forward and slapped the man who was confronting Cynthia.

A sudden silence fell over the room.

"You bastard! You fucking dare to hit me, huh?"

After a moment of silence, the other person flew into a rage, lunging at me wildly.

Meanwhile, I just wanted to see Cynthia's reaction.

If she could get this furious for her so-called boyfriend, then what about me, her fiancé?

However, Cynthia shoved me hard in the chest, roaring.

"Why are you here to make trouble? Haven't I had enough chaos tonight already?"

"You're just making things worse!"

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

She then looked at the other man, self-righteously declaring, "Now we're even! Get lost!"

The other party was quite rational, especially after seeing my gloomy face. He didn't dare continue making trouble and finally left while cursing.

After he left, Cynthia collapsed onto the sofa.

Her friend came over, looking flustered. "Frederick, don't think it wrong. Cynthia's just drunk. She didn't mean any of that. This is Richard Stone, an old high school classmate of hers. He just got back from abroad."

I glanced at Richard. There was a faint smirk at the corner of his mouth.

His eyes were full of smugness and disdain.

"Richard, this is Cynthia's fiancé, Fred … "

Before she could finish, Cynthia suddenly shot up from the couch.

"Coworker! He's just a coworker, not my fiancé!"

Her words were like a sudden stab, making my body tremble.

The atmosphere instantly became incredibly awkward.

After a long silence, Cynthia's friend quickly tried to smooth things over, handing me a glass of wine.

"Frederick, let me offer you a toast."

Unexpectedly, Cynthia, who had just slumped back down, sat up again. She glared at her friend and snapped.

"Don't you know he is allergic to alcohol?"

It was true; I am allergic to alcohol and she knew it.

But what I hadn't expected was Richard's reaction.

"Cynthia, you're drunk. Lisa was toasting Frederick, not me."

Only then did Cynthia seem to relax.

"Oh, well, he can drink. He can really hold his liquor!"

"He's the best drinker in the whole company!"

When I heard that, it felt like something in my chest shattered with a loud crack.

It crushed my heart into pieces, leaving it bruised and bleeding.

A few years ago, I remember attending a business dinner. Before going, I had already told her that I was allergic to alcohol.

Still, she quickly insisted that I toast each client individually as soon as we arrived.

She said it would be embarrassing if a man didn't drink at an event like this.

That day, I ended up in the hospital from drinking and she even blamed me for being useless, collapsing after just a little alcohol.

Yet, despite such a harsh lesson, she still hadn't remembered my allergy.

It could only mean one thing: I had never truly been in her heart.

This time, I came holding onto one last shred of hope.

But now, it's shattered completely.

Just then, Richard stood up and said to me.

"Since you're here, why don't you take Cynthia home? I just got back, so I can't really look after her tonight."

"Oh, and remember to make her a cup of ginger honey water when she wakes up tomorrow. She loves it. If she doesn't have it, she'll have a headache all day."

"And don't forget to cover her with a blanket at night. Whenever she drinks too much, she sleeps restlessly."

Every word from Richard told me he seemed to know Cynthia better than I did.

Today, he was just dumping this mess on me.

I stared at the triumphant look in Richard's eyes for a long time, really wanting to punch him.

However, I eventually held back.

I wanted to see just how long they planned to keep up this charade.

On the way back, my eyes burned terribly.

But as a man, I didn't want to cry.

I didn't want to seem so weak.

Five years of dating, plus the four years I spent pursuing her.

I'd loved this woman for a full nine years.

Yet, this was the outcome.

I couldn't help but think about the chat logs I saw earlier.

She said that as long as Richard was willing to return from overseas, she'd dump me, the backup and marry him.

It turned out I'd just been a backup plan all along.

Today, she got what she wanted.

No wonder she'd rushed out so eagerly this afternoon; she must have been going to the airport to pick up Richard.

At this time, Cynthia's phone vibrated. I opened it and found that it was a message from Richard.

However, my gaze immediately fixed on his profile picture.

They'd actually switched to the couple avatars, probably at that gathering just now.

I remember hiring a famous cartoonist to draw a beautiful avatar for Cynthia and me last year.

I excitedly asked Cynthia to change her avatar.

She'd immediately scolded me, calling me childish and telling me to focus on work.

Now, she'd switched to an even more childish one with Richard.

Then, I felt a small box inside Cynthia's bag.

I carefully took it out.

The moment I saw the DR logo, my breathing quickened uncontrollably.

My hands were shaking even more.

The shallow breathing made me lightheaded; the world around me started to spin.

Finally, I still plucked up the courage to open the box.

Inside was indeed a DR diamond ring.

The two letters RS were engraved on the back, which was Richard's name.

I'd begged her countless times to get a DR ring for our marriage.

After all, each man could only customize one in his lifetime.

Still, she'd never agreed.

She said it was just a gimmick.

Yet, she'd simply been waiting for Richard Stone to engrave his name on this most crucial ring.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

Then, while Cynthia was asleep, I used her fingerprint to open Richard's message.

[Honey, don't forget to pick out your wedding dress tomorrow. I'll come pick you up then.]

Boom! Seeing that message, my head buzzed.

I had brought up the wedding dress with her multiple times and she always told me to pick one for her. Whatever I liked would be fine.

She even said that she could pull off any style with her figure.

But the truth was, she never really cared what I chose.

She never even considered appearing in the most beautiful wedding dress at my wedding.

At that moment, I really wanted to punch the car window a few times.

However, when I saw the driver in front of me, all I could do was clench my fists and desperately try to hold back.

Men don't cry!

My fingernails dug deep into my flesh.

I could only use physical pain to replace the pain in my heart.

I tried to let go of this love I'd held onto for nine bitter years.

The next morning, as Richard had said, I still made her the ginger honey water.

She took a sip and spat it out.

"What are you making? Why did you add ginger?"

"Don't you know that I hate the smell of ginger the most?"

I remembered Richard clearly saying she loved the taste of ginger honey water.

Soon, I understood.

She didn't like the taste of ginger honey water; she liked Richard's taste.

She liked the taste of her first love.

Even if this first love had once abandoned her and gone abroad.

However, I hadn't slept a wink last night and had thought a lot about this relationship. Looking at her now, surprisingly, I wasn't angry. I simply poured the whole glass of ginger honey water into the trash can.

After Cynthia put on her shoes, she said coldly, "The company's going public soon; I have a lot to do. Don't cause me any more trouble."

With that, she turned and slammed the door as she left.

I knew she would accompany Richard to pick out the wedding dress.

I quickly had someone investigate the bridal shop Cynthia chose.

Actually, there was no need to investigate. As expected, Cynthia picked the city's most expensive and high-end bridal shop.

It was the same shop I'd already visited four or five times.

Three days ago, I ordered the most expensive wedding dress in the country from here, hoping to surprise her.

Today was supposed to be the day the dress arrived.

However, as I reached the entrance of the bridal shop, I saw Cynthia wearing that very dress, twirling in front of Richard.

Meanwhile, Richard was discussing something with the store manager.

"Richard, I really, really love this wedding dress. I want this one!" Cynthia cooed, clinging to Richard's arm, acting all sweet.

She had never acted like this in front of me.

She was like a completely different person.

Then, Cynthia started earnestly negotiating with the store manager.

"Call that customer and tell them I'm willing to add another $15000 and pay them $15000 in compensation, as long as they're willing to let me have this dress."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but smile bitterly.

It turned out that she was really willing to give him anything for her first love.

She paid for the wedding dress herself, just to be with her first love.

But has she ever thought about where she got all this money?

Naturally, the store manager was swayed by Cynthia's price offer. She turned and went into the back, saying she would call me.

I slowly walked behind Cynthia.

Richard saw me first and his face immediately became a little ugly. Then, he took Cynthia's hand before me and signaled to her with his eyes that I was behind her.

Only then did Cynthia turn around. When she saw me, her brow instinctively furrowed.

"There are so many things going on in the company, why don't you stay in the company and come here!"

However, she was not embarrassed at all and she started to question me.

I looked at her quietly, not wanting to quarrel with her.

Last night, my feelings for her had already died.

There was no point in hurting her anymore. She wasn't worth it.

Seeing that I didn't respond, Cynthia flipped her hair and finally spoke again.

"Frederick, you've seen it yourself. The person I truly love is Richard."

"Don't make a fuss. I'll give you a sum of money and I hope you can leave gracefully."

My gaze remained fixed on her eyes.

I only came here to ask her one last question.

"Cynthia, I just want to know. After all these years, did you ever truly love me?"

Upon hearing this, Cynthia's lips curled into a disdainful smile.

"Frederick Cabot, I know you're head over heels in love with me."

"But today, in front of Richard, I have to tell you honestly: I have never loved you."

"I only agreed to be with you because I felt sorry for you, chasing me for so many years."

"My heart has always belonged to Richard."

Even though it was the answer I expected, Cynthia's words were even more heartless than I imagined.

Well, that's fine.

Since she could be so heartless.

Then why couldn't I?

Just then, the store manager came out of the back.

"Miss Lynch, I'm so sorry …"

Before she could finish, she saw me and looked surprised. "Oh, Mr. Cabot, you're here! This lady, she … "

I interrupted without waiting for her to finish, "It's fine. Give her the wedding dress."

"I hope they can be happy."

With that, I turned and walked out of the bridal shop. Then, I called my father.

"Dad, let's go ahead with pulling the investment. Announce it on the day of Cynthia Lynch's wedding."