Chapter 1

I had been in a relationship with Fabian for five years, but he never proposed.

When I asked him about it, he coldly said that if I insisted on marriage, we should break up.

I packed my suitcase and moved out without looking back.

In a private room at a bar, he casually held a beautiful girl and said nonchalantly, "Just wait, she'll regret it sooner or later."

But all he got was the news that I had been proposed to and was about to get married.

He ended up being the one who regretted it first.

At my wedding, he pleaded with tear-filled eyes:

"I won't allow you to be with anyone else. I haven't agreed to you getting married."

I slowly peeled his hands off me and leaned into my new husband's embrace:

"What does my marriage have to do with you?"

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News reports say that if couples date for a long time without getting married, they likely won't have plans to marry in the future.

My finger paused on my phone screen as I read the news, and the bad feeling in my heart deepened.

Fabian and I have been dating for five years. Several couples around us who've been together for less time have already gotten married. My best friend has also hinted at asking when Fabian and I will tie the knot.

But Fabian has never talked about marrying me.

He hasn't shown any intention of proposing either.

My face went pale. After hesitating for a moment, I opened Fabian's chat and tentatively asked him:

"If I proposed to you, would you say yes?"

Fabian replied quickly, his voice message tinged with amusement.

"Xanthe, I think we're good the way we are now. Look, we've known each other for so long and have been dating for years. I feel like this is the most suitable state for us."

"Marriage is so restricting. I think our dating status is just fine."

"You're not thinking of proposing to me, are you? Don't joke about that. Even if you did propose, I wouldn't accept."

But he's always known that because of my childhood experiences, how much I've wanted a complete family.My eyes gradually reddened, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of my palm. The pain brought me back to reality.

After turning off my phone, I stared blankly at my reflection on the darkened screen.

A weariness I'd never felt before washed over me.

For the first time, I didn't reply to Fabian's message.

Fabian hadn't noticed anything off about my mood.

That night, he didn't come home either.

By the time I got home from work with groceries and prepared dinner for both of us, he finally sent me a text:

"I'm having dinner with friends tonight, so just make something for yourself."

I looked at the meal I'd spent two hours painstakingly preparing on the table and felt my lips twitch.

I couldn't even muster a smile.

All I felt was hurt, mixed with anger, desperately wanting to be released.

I had planned to wait for Fabian to come home so we could talk about our future.

But I waited from dusk until late into the night, and he still hadn't returned.

Just as I was about to lose my patience and call him, my phone suddenly lit up with a message.

It was from Fabian's best friend.

"Sis, Fabian's drunk. Can you come pick him up?"I hesitated for a moment, but concern for his health won out. I grabbed my jacket and phone, then dashed out the door.

By the time I reached the bar, it was already two in the morning.

The place was still bustling, packed with a sea of people.

I found the private room according to the address and was about to push open the door.

In the next second, I heard the voice of Fabian's childhood friend:

"Fabian, I gotta say, you and Xanthe have been dating for five years now. When are you planning to tie the knot?"

My hand froze mid-air, the door half-opened.

I held my breath, eager to hear Fabian's response.

He was lounging lazily on the couch, the cigarette in his left hand flickering on and off. He let out a scornful laugh:

"Why the hell would I marry her?"

His friend was taken aback. "Wait, what? You've been together for so long, and you're still not thinking about getting hitched? You two aren't planning to date for over a decade without getting married, are you?"

"Plus, isn't your girl an orphan? Abandoned by her parents when she was little? I remember when you first got together, she mentioned wanting to start a family soon..."

He cut off his friend's words coldly, his tone resolute:

"I'm not going to marry her."

"Why does dating for five years mean we have to get married? Isn't just dating fun enough? Marriage is such a ball and chain."His friend cautioned him:

"Aren't you just stringing your girl along? Aren't you afraid she'll find out what you're thinking and break up with you?"

"She won't," Fabian's voice was filled with certainty, "She's love-starved and sensitive. Who else would want her besides me?"