Chapter 1

The eighth time I proposed to Sarah, she still coldly refused me.

She said she needed more time, and I was planning to keep waiting.

Unexpectedly, I saw her marriage certificate with my brother on social media.

Faced with my questioning, Sarah was very calm.

"Quint is sick and can't handle stress. Don't make a fuss over nothing!"

In the photo, my brother and she were already wearing wedding rings, and her belly was slightly swollen.

I suddenly felt at peace, liked their post, and left a comment.

[Wishing you lifelong happiness! May you grow old together!]

But a year later, Sarah came to me looking haggard and destitute, begging to get back together.

However, her best friend's belly was already heavily pregnant, smiling as she pushed her away.

"Stop it, the baby's almost here. My husband has a darling, he doesn't need someone to clean up the mess."

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1

The comments had just ended.

Sarah's call came in right away.

Without any preamble, she started berating me over the phone.

"Dashiell, don't you ever learn? I just told you not to cause trouble, and here you are showing off on social media?"

"If you're so capable, why don't you go solve the company's problems instead!"

Her tone was like she was scolding an employee, devoid of any personal warmth.

I always thought Sarah and I were in love.

At the very least, I believed she had some affection for me, which is why she agreed to be my girlfriend.

Eight years of love, I've been by her side since she graduated college, up until today.

From having nothing, to now being the chairman of a company.

We've been through so many hardships together.

When we first started the company and faced financial difficulties, I borrowed money from every bank and online lender to help her keep things afloat.

Later, when we couldn't repay the debts, my phone was bombarded with calls, and debt collectors even tracked us down to our rented apartment.

They even sent mass text messages to my friends and family, letting everyone know I was borrowing money without repaying.

Even during those dark days, I never shed a single tear.

Because on the night Sarah found out about this, her eyes instantly welled up with tears of concern, and she held me tight, sobbing in my ear.

She said."Dashiell, I will never let you down in this lifetime!"

Now, let's calculate the time.

It turns out her "lifetime" was only eight years!

I gripped my phone tightly, my fingertips turning white from the pressure.

"How is this showing off? My girlfriend just married my own brother! Of course I have to congratulate them. Otherwise, wouldn't I, as both the boyfriend and the brother, seem impolite?"

The voice on the other end of the line suddenly went silent.

Soon, Quint's sobs came through, one after another, along with Sarah's comforting words.

I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh, the taste of bitterness spreading on my tongue.

I thought this woman had a guilty conscience and was too ashamed to speak to me.

Turns out she was busy consoling her heartbroken newlywed husband.

"Big brother, how can you say that? I had no choice but to ask Sarah for help."

"Don't worry, as soon as I get better, I'll divorce Sarah right away and let you two be together!"

Before I could respond,

Sarah's curses against me came through the phone.

"Quint is still a patient and can't get emotionally worked up. Dashiell, you should know when to stop!"

"I never thought you could be such a cold-hearted and heartless person!"You're so jealous you can't even stand your own brother! Why don't you just go drown yourself in a vat of vinegar!"

"If you make Quint sick with your anger, I'll never forgive you for the rest of my life!"

The words I was about to say suddenly got stuck in my throat.

I listened silently as Sarah berated me over and over, tears unknowingly streaming down my face.

By the end, my heart was riddled with wounds, and I asked her in a hoarse voice.

"Sarah, have you ever truly seen me as your boyfriend?"

The other end of the phone suddenly went quiet.

I nodded gently.

Without waiting for her to speak, I said,

"I understand."

This pause for thought was the best answer I could've received.

During our eight years together, I had suspected more than once that she didn't love me.

Yet in front of everyone else, she always managed to do everything a girlfriend should do.

Her eyes would light up when she spoke, her actions filled with love.

Even for small things like forgetting an umbrella on a rainy day.