Chapter 1
"Miss Conley, the sequencing experiment results are in, and your achievements are commendable."
I heard the news I had been eagerly awaiting on the phone, but my voice trembled.
I asked, "Last time, Professor Salazar invited me to join his team for research abroad. I can give my answer now: I want to go."
"Are you sure? I heard you're getting married to Mr. Marshall; long-distance relationships can be tough."
"No problem. The wedding has been canceled." I hurriedly ended the call, worried the other party might sense something was off.
Once I hung up, I turned and started to vomit.
The scene I had just witnessed replayed in my mind, making my stomach churn.
After a heroic rescue, I had chased Luca Marshall for ten years, and he finally said he would marry me.
He brought me into his home and publicly announced our relationship.
He even named a small asteroid discovered by his team after me.
I thought I had finally found true love.
But then, in this evening's meeting room, I saw Luca hugging a young girl, both of them embracing on the sofa.
I thought I was seeing things; that person couldn't be Luca!
Until they left together for a party, I finally saw his face clearly.
He had never taken me to such gatherings because he thought I was worthless except for my looks.
I had thought I wasn't trying hard enough to deserve to be by his side.
I let out a bitter smile at my own foolishness.
Looking back, I realized Luca had been deceiving me all along.
In the bathroom, alongside my usual body wash, was a lip balm that didn't belong to me.
Suddenly, many overlooked details flooded my mind.
I remembered the carefully prepared bento I found untouched in the trash the next day.
I recalled the sleepless nights waiting, reheating meals countless times, yet never seeing Luca on our anniversary.
There were his frequent business trips, late nights at the office, and the women's perfume left in the passenger seat.
Even the disdain and ridicule from his friends when they learned we were getting married.
For ten years, my obsession with marrying Luca led me to excuse these obvious red flags.
Only now did I realize I had merely been a trophy for him to show off to his friends-he never truly loved me.
I stared blankly at the meticulously prepared wedding countdown calendar on the wall, where I had drawn hearts on every day.
I looked at everything I had arranged for this home.
Three days until the wedding.
Yet, Luca had never even glanced at it.
He was so indifferent to the wedding that he hadn't even proposed.
I took a deep breath, feeling as if my heart were pierced by thousands of needles, the pain so intense that my fingers tingled, cold sweat soaking my back.
I gazed at the blank days on the calendar, slowly marking an X through the penultimate day.
Then I began to pack my bags.
But before my suitcase was even full, I received a call from one of Luca's friends.
"Lilly? Luca's drunk. You need to come pick him up." The tone was commanding, as if I were a servant.
After all, when Luca spoke of me to his friends, he always referred to me as the pretty but useless school beauty, lacking any ability, relying on luck for research.
Dating me felt more like charity to him.
I lowered my head in thought for a moment, then grabbed my coat from the hallway, preparing to break up with Luca.
After all, it might be the last time I saw him.
