Chapter 3

My heart felt as if it had been pierced by a very fine needle.

A delayed, intricate pain began to spread.

The smile on my face was nearly impossible to maintain, thankfully the hall suddenly went dark.

I turned my face away, to an angle where Cort couldn't see, instantly reverting to an expressionless mask.

But the music that rose from the stage in the next second plunged me into an abyss.

Amidst a wave of gasps, Cort gazed at the radiant girl on stage, his face beaming with pride.

My heart sank rapidly to the bottom.

Melody was taking her bow on stage: "Thank you all for coming to my concert."

"The song I just performed is my new work, independently written and composed, called 'Love is a Battlefield'."

"It was inspired by my husband, and my brother."

A flash of undisguised delight crossed Cort's face, shattering the last shred of hope in my heart.

My throat bobbed a few times as I tightly gripped Cort's hands, my voice trembling:

"Why is this song identical to my 'Remembrance'?"

Cort's expression froze for a moment before he quickly regained his composure, feigning ignorance:

"Perhaps it's just a coincidence. Doesn't it happen all the time that artists share the same thoughts...?"

Words that even a fool wouldn't believe, now used to fool me.The stage's big screen displays the creative draft, and Melody speaks confidently.

Yet I can only stare at the handwriting on the draft.

The flowing script, the habitual tail hooks at the end of each line, all reveal it.

This is Cort's handwriting.

This song was my tribute to my mom after she passed away.

I only showed it to Cort.

How this song ended up here, who did it, goes without saying.

Well, our marriage is all about serving Melody's happiness, let alone my work.

Something in my chest shatters into pieces.

Giving off its final echoes.

I let out a laugh, but my eyes are full of cold.

Seemingly noticing my change, Cort's expression falters briefly, then he grabs my hand.

"Stop overthinking. Go back and change first, I'll make up for your birthday tonight."

This is already the second promise.

This time, he similarly failed to keep his word.

Just before leaving, a phone call cancels today's plans:

"Serenity, I have to entertain an important client who's visiting unexpectedly tonight, next time..."

"Go ahead."

He wanted to explain more, but unexpectedly, my one sentence chokes him up.

Not waiting for him to say another word, I hang up the phone.Looking down at the outfit I had spent nearly three hours putting together, I realized my grand preparations had come to an abrupt end.

I let out a bitter laugh.

Cort, there won't be a next time.

That night, I didn't sleep a wink.

I gathered up everything in this mansion that belonged to Cort and me.

And sorted it all out.

I took our wedding photo out of its frame and burned it.

After five years of marriage, this was our only real photo together.

I packed up all the jewelry and donated it to an orphanage.

The ties and clothes I had bought for him, I burned in a metal basin.

As the flames flickered, Melody's messages kept popping up one after another.

[Serenity, haven't been checking your social media lately? I'll just send these to you directly then.]

[I'm just borrowing your brother for tonight, I'll return him to you tomorrow. Don't be mad, sis.]

She sent over photo after photo of her and Cort looking cozy.

The nauseating stench seemed to seep through the screen.

I retched a few times before typing back: [I hope you two are stuck together forever. Don't come out and ruin anyone else's life.]

After replying, I made a phone call:

"Mr. Langdon, it must not feel good always being under the Prescott family's thumb. I have a deal for you."

After selling all my shares to the rival company.