Chapter 2

I boarded the plane.

I looked at the pitch-black sky outside the window and closed my eyes.

...

Sebastian and I shared the same hometown and were college classmates.

We met during a college alumni gathering while I was in my sophomore year and Sebastian in his junior year. We'd only met once, but Sebastian was smitten, launching an intense pursuit.

Breakfast deliveries, saving seats, doing part-time work to buy gifts - he did everything expected in a college romance.

Though I was reserved, I couldn't resist Sebastian's tenderness, and it didn't take long for me to fall for him.

Sebastian had hand-washed my underwear during my menstrual periods.

Sebastian had saved three months of salary to buy me a handbag.

Sebastian had emptied his pockets just to give me all he had.

But Sebastian, the one who said he loved only me, was celebrating another woman's birthday in a different city just two days after our wedding.

I couldn't believe it.

I told myself that I only believed in what I saw with my own eyes.

...

Driphia.

When I arrived at the address, it was already 3 AM.

There were no hotels nearby, but there was a 24-hour coffee shop.

I ordered a coffee and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the twilight gradually fade as the sun slowly rose.

The coffee shop's location was perfect, right across from the entrance to the residential area.

I saw it immediately when Sebastian walked out of the complex gate with a young woman on his arm.

It was 9 AM at that moment.

In that instant, I felt my blood turn to ice.

My Sebastian, the one who claimed he loved only me, was hugging the waist of that girl, chatting and laughing, as they headed to a breakfast place.

I watched them enter the restaurant. I watched the two of them stand by a table near the door. I watched Sebastian use a napkin to wipe the chair clean for the girl, and then I watched him seat her.

It was as if my blood was about to freeze.

In the first few years of our relationship, Sebastian had been just as caring with me.

He wiped down restaurant tables for me to sit at, warmed up my water before giving it to me, and cut my fruit into bite-sized pieces.

He had been meticulously taking care of me.

It was the reason I fell for him and had such deep feelings for him.

Now, it all seemed ironic and absurd.

t turned out that he could offer tenderness to anyone.

I took a sip of my now cold and bitter coffee.

When I put down the coffee cup, my face had returned to its usual calm demeanor.

I picked up my phone and recorded a video of the two of them interacting.

Then, I intentionally dialed Sebastian's number.

I saw Sebastian rush outside in a panic to answer the phone.

"Jennifer, why are you calling at this hour?" Sebastian's voice was as gentle as ever.

I replied calmly, "I have the day off today and just wanted to check in on you. What are you doing?"

"I'm at a client's office. Have you had breakfast?"

"No, I don't feel like it, and I can't eat."

"What's wrong?"

"I was watching a TV series last night, and the male lead was a scumbag. He cheated on his wife, and nothing bad happened to him. It got me all worked up." My voice was detached.

However, Sebastian didn't detect anything unusual and responded seriously, "Silly, it's just a TV show. Don't overthink it; you're only upsetting yourself. Be a good girl and have breakfast. I'm quite busy."

"Alright."

In my memory, Sebastian had always been straightforward, not one for sweet talk or lies.

What I saw one after the other had opened my eyes to a whole new side of him.

The image of the past had been shattered into pieces.

After waiting for another ten minutes or so, the two of them finished breakfast and walked hand in hand into the residential area.

I had a plan in mind, so I followed.

Once they entered the complex, I approached the security guard with a friendly smile.

After I offered him a cigarette, the guard became even more friendly.

"Bro, I have a friend who lives here. I think it's either in Building 3, Apartment 301, or maybe 302. Can you check for me?"

Naturally, the security guard obliged, "What's your friend's name? Let me check."

"We're from the same village. I used to call her Elaine. Could you check if there's a name like that?"

The guard laughed, "That name is too rural. Your friend can't be very old, right? She definitely wouldn't have a name like that. Hang on; let me check. Apartment 301 is registered to Mohamed, and 302 is Sebastian. It seems both are men. Is your friend married?"

My heart skipped a beat, but my expression remained calm.

"She's not married, so neither of those can be her. Maybe she's renting a place? I'm pretty sure she lives in Building 3, Apartment 301, or 302."

The guard thought for a moment, "Could it be Miss Gilbert? Miss Gilbert lives in 302, and she's been here for about three years. I saw her and her boyfriend just enter the building. Do you want me to call them for you?"

I verified that her last name was indeed Gilbert.

I got the information I wanted and pretended, "No, her last name is not Gilbert. Is this Stoudwood Complex?"

The security guard chuckled, "No, no. You're in the wrong place. Stoudwood Complex is in the other direction, about two kilometers away."

I thanked him and left.

As soon as I turned around, I couldn't hold back the smile that had been building.

It had already been three years. So, it was true that I was the only fool, wasn't it?