Chapter 2

I don't know what's wrong with me.

Maybe I've been hearing too many people praising Mason and putting me down lately.

Maybe that handmade ring really stung me.

I grabbed her sleeve and asked, barely containing my anger.

"Then why did you give him the ring I carved?"

Seraphina froze, a flicker of panic crossing her face as she tried to explain.

"I just let him try it on for fun."

I scoffed.

"For fun? Then why didn't you buy him a new one?"

She replied.

"You gave it to me. You don't think I'd actually give it to him, do you?"

That answer calmed me down a bit.

I grunted, still not satisfied, and asked again.

"So do you also think I'm not good enough?"

She countered with a question.

"Think what?"

I said.

"That I'm not mature and sensible enough!"

She paused, then said flatly.

"You can be a bit noisy sometimes."

I glared at her angrily and swatted her shoulder.

It wasn't hard, and she didn't make a sound, but Mason's face turned red.

He looked particularly docile.

He quickly squeezed over, grabbed Seraphina's arm, and said pitifully.

"Seraphina, are you okay? It's all my fault for making Mr. Carlisle angry... If he's going to blame anyone, he should blame me, don't let him get mad at you..."He stood in the middle apologizing, drawing curious glances from a few people in the bar.

It was a textbook love triangle drama unfolding before their eyes.

I frowned, wanting to tell him to stop the act, but his voice only grew louder.

Exasperated, Seraphina had no choice but to ask a waiter to take him aside to rest.

But Mason clung to her hand, refusing to let go.

She turned to me apologetically.

"Mike, let's call it a night. Mason just got back to the States and hasn't adjusted yet. I need to get him settled."

And just like that, the birthday gathering I'd been looking forward to ended before I could even finish my first drink.

From that day on, Seraphina's free time was no longer mine to share.

Mason's presence by her side became increasingly frequent.

After the birthday fiasco, whenever I tried to meet up with her alone, we had to sneak around, terrified Mason might find out.

What the hell? How did I end up being the one having an affair?

A fire of frustration burned in my chest, finally erupting at a beachside café.

"Don't you think we're acting like we're having a secret affair?"

Seraphina was holding a cup of cappuccino. At my words, her hand trembled, nearly spilling the foam.

Her fair cheeks flushed pink, her eyes darting away as she whispered.

"What are you talking about..."

I stared at her intently, my tone serious."I'm not making things up. According to our original agreement, I should have proposed to you last year. But now I have to sneak around like a thief just to see you. Tell me, if I proposed to you right now, would you say yes?"

This was indeed a harsh reality.

Seraphina sighed softly, reached out to ruffle my hair, and pulled me closer. After a moment of deep thought, she said, "Since this means so much to you, I'll bring up our relationship to my family first. Once they approve, you won't have to worry about Mason anymore."

Her lips curved into a slight smile as she pulled a bronze ring from her pocket and handed it to me, as compensation for her birthday.

I took the ring and have worn it ever since.

My heart was full of anticipation for the moment we would walk down the aisle together.

But that moment, ultimately, turned out to be nothing but a mirage.

In late October, my childhood neighbor and big brother figure died in an accident.

My aunt's family had grown distant, and during long holidays, my home felt as empty as a shell. Only my neighbor would come over to chat with me.

His passing left a gaping hole in my heart.

On the day of the memorial service, I curled up alone in my cramped rental apartment.

Loneliness engulfed me like a tidal wave, and suddenly, I desperately wanted to see Seraphina.

So I hastily threw on a coat and rushed straight to her upscale apartment.She stumbled upon her embracing Mason, who had just showered and was only wrapped in a towel. She was gently patting his shoulder, softly comforting him.

"It's alright now, Jayce..."