2
After transferring the seven–figure compensation to Mia’s account, I received a message from Lucas.
He invited me to a party tonight, saying there would be new people.
10:59 AM
<
I stood outside the private room for two minutes.
Lucas was sitting in the corner of the sofa, his arm around his childhood friend Rachel as they played a game.
When Rachel got tired, she clung to Lucas’s arm and whispered in his ear.
Lucas smiled, gently pinching her cheek.
The ambiguity was thick in the air.
Someone like Mia had probably been forgotten long ago.
Lucas’s philandering was like a powerful air conditioner that suddenly cuts off.
A person who’s gentle to everyone is actually cruel to everyone.
Fortunately, I was even more gently cruel than him.
Just as Rachel was about to lean in closer to Lucas, I pushed open the door.
Lucas’s face lit up with joy, and he immediately stood to greet me.
Rachel’s face darkened, and she furiously tapped on her phone.
“Ava, I’ve missed you so much. Thank you for your hard work. When we get home, I’ll make it up to you…”
Lucas’s sweet talk came as naturally as breathing.
I let it go in one ear and out the other, never taking it seriously.
“It wasn’t hard. But in the future, you need to be more careful and avoid these accidents. I can help you keep things under control, so they won’t
reach your parents‘ ears.”
I was always generous and considerate.
No matter how many women Lucas flirted with outside, I never cried, made a scene, or acted out. I even took the initiative to clean up his
messes.
His friends were dying of envy.
But I simply didn’t love him.
Lucas led me to a secluded corner of the room.
“Ava, let me introduce you to a new friend. He’s one of my brother’s business partners, and I’ve been asked to entertain him recently…”
As the neon lights flashed by, they illuminated two faces from deep in my memory.
My college first love and his affair partner.
It took all my strength to clench my fists and not make a sound, but I still showed the biggest loss of composure in nearly three months.
“Noah, did you see that? Ava’s expression just now was so ridiculous, still as stupid as ever…”
Contemptuous, frivolous, malicious female voice.
I once broke down and cried under such a voice.
Now, it only took me two seconds.
I took the initiative to raise my glass and greet them with a smile.
<
P
“Hello, I’m Ava, Lucas’s fiancée.”
Zoe, wearing a wine–red spaghetti strap dress, turned her head haughtily, disdainful of me.
Instead, it was Noah, hidden in the darkness, who accepted my toast. His voice was low and bewitching.
“Lucas is lucky to have such a good fiancée.”
14
M
Compared to before, Noah had become more sophisticated and less cold.
C
Lucas joked, “Brother Noah, are you envious? I can introduce you to onto a crooked tree. Find someone you can show off…”
some
quality girls. Someone as outstanding as you doesn’t need to hang
A blatant insult to her face.
Zoe finally realized and glared at Lucas.
Lucas didn’t flinch, smiling softly and innocently.
Zoe had miscalculated.
Lucas might seem good–natured, but he was actually sharp–tongued, playing dumb to outwit others.
Zoe had offended me, so he targeted her.
The air froze.
Noah smoothly mediated the situation.
“Thanks for your kindness, Lucas, but I’m a man of singular taste. Once I’ve found someone I like, I don’t change easily.”
“New clothes might be nice, but old friends are irreplaceable. The more people you meet, the more you miss the sincerity and companionship of your first love.”
He seemed to be defending Zoe, but his gaze fell on my face.
I turned away, pretending to look at my phone.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise at the door.
Usually, I dea! with one mistress a month, but today I’ve encountered three in one day.
The girl standing at the door with her arms crossed and glaring was Ella.
Two months ago, I had seen her at Lucas’s friend’s rock climbing gym.
That day, Lucas had complimented her a couple of times, and Ella had blushed, finding ways to talk to him.
After lunch, Lucas told me he was going to the hotel next door to take a nap.
Not long after, Ella disappeared too.
I pretended not to see or hear anything.
Rachel couldn’t find Lucas, so she asked me. I said I didn’t know.
Rachel was frantic: “Ava, can’t you control him more?”
I never controlled Lucas; in fact, I indulged him.
Men can’t be controlled; the more you try, the more they resent you.
