Chapter 1

The sky was completely dark.

Today was the first anniversary of my engagement to Joe.

I opened WhatsApp, but the top chat window remained silent.

There were only a few people left in the office. Andrea, who was on my team, was fiddling with her newly bought phone. Suddenly, she leaned over to me, tapping the screen noisily with her long nails.

"Jane, doesn't this person look just like Mr. Tucker?"

On Instagram, there was a photo from a party, filled with glitz and glamour.

Two figures were surrounded in the middle. The man was tall and handsome, and the woman was sexy and alluring.

Their bodies were tightly pressed together, intimately close like a couple in love.

Andrea smirked maliciously. "Maybe I'm wrong. Isn't Mr. Tucker supposed to be celebrating your engagement anniversary with you today?"

My heart tightened.

The man's stern eyebrows, high nose bridge, and those slightly parted thin lips in the photo were identical to Joe's.

My hand trembled slightly as I held the phone.

Everyone knew I was Joe's fiancée.

He was an eligible man with good looks, a good family background, and strong capabilities. Right after getting his master's degree, he took over his family's company without missing a beat. He was born to be at the top, someone people looked up to.

Countless women liked him.

And he never turned them away.

I was just his childhood sweetheart.

People only knew our families had been close for generations. No one knew that we met for the first time on our engagement day.

"Are you coming home tonight?"

"I have a meeting."

His brief words mirrored his cold attitude towards me since our engagement.

It felt like a one-person show on my part.

Seeing me silent, Andrea pouted and left for home.

Suddenly, I got a text message.

I didn't want my emotions to be swayed by his every move.

But paying attention to Joe had become an ingrained habit.

I read the text.

"At home?"

He sent two words, cold and dismissive as usual.

He must be bored. Otherwise, why would he seek me out for amusement?

I didn't reply and set my phone aside.

A moment later, another notification sounded.

"At home?"

I stared at the screen. The glaring light made my face look pale.

He didn't send any more messages until the screen went dark again.

“So be it. That was his last bit of patience with me.” I thought.

I tossed my phone into my bag and put on headphones to focus on today's interview recording.

When I finished work and stepped out of the company building, I immediately saw Joe standing by his car.

Wasn't he supposed to be dancing with Faith at the party? Why was he here?

Seeing me come out, he smiled. His stern eyebrows softened into a more affectionate look that dispelled his usual aloofness, drawing curious glances from passersby.

"Why didn't you answer my calls?"

I was taken aback and pulled out my phone. Sure enough, there were two missed calls from half an hour ago.

"Sorry, my phone was on silent."

"Why are you working so late today?"

"I work late every day," I said flatly.

Joe paused before curling his lips into a smile again.

"Are you mad?"

"So you ignored my messages on purpose, right?"

He reached out to touch my head.

I sidestepped his hand.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to take you home."

His smile grew wider. "I found you weren't home when I got there."

"I brought your favorite cake. Let's go."

He reached for my hand again.

"Joe, you..."

"Joe!"

Two voices called out simultaneously.

I turned around.

Faith was dressed in a professional outfit that accentuated her curves. She walked over in stiletto heels, her long curly hair bouncing.

"Joe, have you been waiting long?" Her cheeks were flushed as she looked at Joe with sparkling eyes before seemingly noticing me for the first time.

"Oh dear, Miss Vaughan is here too?"

She called Joe in such an intimate way, something even I had never done. But Joe seemed used to it and didn't find it inappropriate at all.

"I’m sorry, but girls always take time to change clothes," Faith said shyly while tucking her hair behind her ear. Her eyes stayed glued to Joe as she spoke to me, "Mr. Tucker is giving me a ride home. Are you tagging along?"

Sensing my gaze, Joe said, "It's too late for Faith to go back alone. I'll give her a ride."

"Yes, Miss Vaughan, we stayed out quite late tonight and didn't want you to overthink it, so Mr. Tucker brought back some cake for you."

She smiled sweetly, "But I didn't expect you'd still be out this late. What a coincidence."

So taking me home and bringing me cake was just incidental.

Even more so because it was Faith's "generosity".

In Joe's mind, I would always be the backup option.

Suddenly everything seemed dull.

I felt tired of this relationship.

"No need. I have things to do and will go back on my own."

With that, I turned and walked back into the company building without looking back.