Chapter 2

The delivery man carelessly handed me a crumpled package, which had a small tear due to its poor quality. It bore a label indicating a flash sale from an online marketplace, with a notice that items could be snagged for just a penny.

"This is for Mr. Dashiell. You two live in different neighborhoods, but your building numbers are the same, so there was a mix-up. I'm really sorry about that," the delivery man apologized with a regretful expression.

I wasn't really listening to him, though. I just stood there, leaning against the doorframe, stunned.

Dashiell is Faye's childhood sweetheart. He came from a comfortable middle-class family. They went to school together from elementary all the way through high school. Later, when Faye's father passed away and her mother fell seriously ill, their family fortunes declined. That's when she and Dashiell gradually lost touch. Before we got married, Faye had assured me they were just ordinary friends. I was so smitten with her at the time that I rashly agreed to believe her.

But do "ordinary friends" really send each other Valentine's Day gifts?

Seeing that I wasn't responding, the delivery man awkwardly took his leave after retrieving the package.

It took me a while to shake off my disappointment. I shuffled back to the bedroom, my body feeling as if my soul had been sucked out of it. On the bed, there were still indentations from the graphics card I had just unpacked, as if to constantly remind me that all that love and affection wasn't meant for me.I quickly tore off the outer packaging of the express delivery, and inside was a pink men's apron.

Faye had always wanted a child, but due to my poor health in earlier years, she could never conceive. I had refused, but I never expected her to send me an apron directly. Was this mocking me?

I searched my heart and realized I had never been so disappointed before.

My palms were burning hot, but couldn't suppress the coldness in my heart. These two gifts were worlds apart.

Just as I was feeling heartbroken about this, Faye called.

"Where are you? Why are you dawdling? My friends are all waiting."

Faye's impatient voice came through. It was very noisy on her end, the chatter making my ears hurt.

I took a deep breath, suppressing my emotions, and slowly spoke, "I'll be there soon."

Faye didn't notice anything off in my tone, just urged me a few more times before hanging up.

I gripped my phone tightly, looking at the apron that resembled a rag, all crumpled up, just like my heart.

Regret, anger, and pain surged in my heart. I couldn't believe what Faye had done.

I thought I must go and ask her in person if she truly cared for me. I quickly changed my clothes and rushed to the address Faye had sent me.I stepped up to the doorway and heard the shrieks and laughter of women inside. Peering through the crack, I saw fruit peels and paper scraps strewn across the floor, with a group of people partying joyfully in the private room.

Gritting my teeth, I tried my best not to show any anger as I grasped the door handle. Just then, I heard Faye's familiar voice.

"So what did you get your man for Valentine's Day? I noticed he's taking his sweet time showing up - maybe he wasn't thrilled with the gift?"

"As if he could ever be unhappy with anything I give him!" Faye boasted proudly, pulling out her phone. "Check it out - I snagged this men's apron for a penny during a flash sale. Didn't have to spend a dime and still solved the gift problem. It's absolutely perfect!"

As soon as Faye finished speaking, the whole group erupted in laughter, praising her cleverness and saying they'd learned something new.

"No wonder you've been hustling to make money lately. I thought you bought that Rolex and 4080 as gifts for your man. Turns out they were for Dashiell."

"Hey, if you care about the guy so much, why don't you just marry him already?"