Chapter 2

I stood at the doorway for a moment.

Facing the people inside who were knowingly yet anxiously silent, I finally flashed a smile and said, "I just got here. What were you all talking about?"

Then, I turned my gaze to the mixed-race man next to Seraphina, giving him a few extra glances before asking, "And who might this be..."

Seraphina suddenly pushed him further away and walked straight over to link arms with me. "He's a new model at our magazine. I've been in charge of his work recently. Knowing we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, he wanted to come and wish us a happy anniversary."

I gave a noncommittal "Mm-hmm," but avoided Seraphina's outstretched hand.

Walking towards the couch, I sat down in the spot where that man had been sitting earlier.

Seraphina's gesture fell flat, and she seemed momentarily dazed.

Afterwards, she forced another smile at me. "Honey, today's our anniversary. I've prepared a special surprise for you!"

The surprise Seraphina had prepared for me was an interview clip.

In the video, she shared our love story with a face full of happiness: "My husband and I met in college. Back then, he was handsome and excelled in his studies. He was the universally acknowledged campus heartthrob, with many girls secretly crushing on him. I had a secret crush on him for a long time too."But back then, I was quite overweight and not particularly attractive. I was completely mismatched with my husband's type. In his final year of grad school, I knew if I didn't confess my feelings, I'd never have a chance in this lifetime, so..."

She smiled mysteriously at the camera. "I made a bet with him."

That year, Seraphina, who was mockingly called 'fatty' by her classmates, handed me a love letter with trembling hands. She said the school was about to hold a sports meet, and if she could win the gold medal in the 3000-meter run, I had to agree to be her boyfriend for three days.

On the day of the competition, during the final sprint, she accidentally fell, scraping her knee badly. Thinking she had lost the race, she broke down crying in front of the entire school. I walked over and helped her up.

"Three days isn't enough. If I like someone, it's for a lifetime."

Faced with my sudden confession, Seraphina was completely stunned.

She hugged me excitedly, swearing in front of everyone —

"I will love Gunner forever!"

"I will use my life to be good to Gunner. If I ever do anything to hurt Gunner, may I die a terrible death!"

The vows of yesteryear still echo in my ears.Seraphina's face beamed with joy as she reminisced about the past. Images flashed through my mind: her mustering up the courage to confess her feelings for me in college, and her countless nights on the balcony, seeking thrills in the arms of other men. These memories twisted and morphed until her face became completely unrecognizable!

I stared at the screen, my eyes beginning to well up with tears.

Just then, her best friend chimed in unexpectedly, "Look at that! Someone else's husband is moved to tears by a simple interview!"

Seraphina, mistaking my emotion for being touched, wrapped her arm around mine, her face radiating sweetness and tenderness. "It's from last week's interview. The TV station didn't have time to air it, so I asked for the raw footage. Since today's our wedding anniversary, I thought it'd make a perfect gift for you."

She hugged my waist, her eyes locked on mine, brimming with affection.

"Honey, you said it yourself - when you truly love someone, it's for a lifetime."

"You'll always love me and stay by my side, right?"

I forced a sardonic smile. Seraphina had clearly forgotten something else I once said:

Every time she flirted with another man, I'd make a mental note. And when it reached the hundredth time, I'd leave her.

How could someone who's already decided to leave promise forever?