Chapter 3

Lyanna, utterly exasperated by my actions, leaps to her feet and shouts at me:

"Damien! What's with the attitude?"

"I'm working myself to the bone every day, and you can't even send a caring text. Now you're giving me the cold shoulder at home?"

"Look around! What kind of boyfriend acts like you do?"

How ironic. She's the one who cheated, yet she has the gall to flip this on me.

I turn away, my face an emotionless mask, and coldly retort:

"If you can't stand it, then let's just break up."

Lyanna's eyes flash with annoyance, clearly believing I'm just throwing a tantrum.

"Come on, Damien. This is going too far."

"Is it because Joseph and I have gotten closer? I've told you we're just friends. Can't you man up and show some maturity instead of being jealous all the time?"

I let out a bitter laugh, my gaze piercing into her as I demand:

"Friends?"

"Friends drop everything to take care of each other? Friends strip naked and sleep in the same bed?"

My blunt words catch Lyanna off guard. A flicker of panic crosses her face, but she's still trying to defend herself.

"You..."What nonsense are you talking? How could you possibly have seen us doing anything inappropriate?"

I pulled out my phone, found the screenshots and videos I'd already recorded, and tossed them into her lap.

"Take a good look for yourself!"

My voice was filled with barely contained rage.

After Lyanna saw clearly, a flicker of guilt appeared in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and replied to me with feigned calmness:

"This is fake. I've never done anything like this."

"With how advanced face-swapping technology is these days, who can guarantee that person in the video is actually me? It must be someone's malicious prank."

Faced with her barrage of excuses and lies, I gave her a look of utter disappointment and said:

"Lyanna, do you think I'm that easy to fool?"

Knowing she was in the wrong, Lyanna lowered her head and bit her red lips, trying to reach for my hand.

"It's just a small thing. You're not really going to get angry over this, are you?"

As she got closer, the lingering scent of men's cologne surrounding her enveloped me.

I recognized it as the brand Joseph often wore.

A wave of nausea suddenly welled up inside me, making me want to throw up.

So I discreetly stepped back, avoiding her hand.

Lyanna, of course, noticed my movement. Her hand froze in mid-air as she looked at me in bewilderment.

"Are you avoiding me?I gazed at the face I had loved for so many years, with only one thought in my mind.

Unfamiliar. Too unfamiliar.

Perhaps this was the real her all along, and I was the fool who never truly saw into her heart.

Then, with a sense of resolution, I spoke:

"Lyanna, let's break up."

I had said her name countless times, but never as calmly as I did today.

So calm that it didn't stir even the slightest ripple in my heart.

Hearing this, Lyanna's expression turned cold, her words coming through gritted teeth:

"Damien, what do you mean?"

"I mean it's over between us. Let's free each other. I'm giving you your freedom."

Upon hearing my response, she was stunned.

We had been together for seven years, and no matter how angry I got, I never mentioned breaking up.

This was the first time, and it would be the last.

Lyanna's expression turned to one of embarrassed anger, her voice suddenly rising:

"Damien, are you saying you don't want to get married anymore?"

"I'll assume you're not thinking straight today. Come find me when you've come to your senses!"

She stormed out, slamming the door and leaving me standing there.

We didn't argue often.

Because I could never bear to see Lyanna upset, I would always be the first to give in and make peace.To the point where she believed I would repeatedly lower my standards and forgive her, this time being no exception.

But I have a heart too, and it can hurt.

So this time, I'm not willing to do it anymore.